Living Between the Extremes - Lesson 8 - Biblical Boundary #6

Would it be cause for a lost person to reject the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior?

We know that some people we come across
Had their shoe laces tied together
When they left the house in the morning.

We learned last week that we are not allowed to blame others for our mood.
We are also not allowed to blame others for our sin.

That’s what Adam and Eve did.
Eve blamed the serpent,
And Adam in a way blamed the Lord,

Genesis 3:12, ‘And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.’

Now what of others?
When the shoe is on the other foot.
How are we to be when others are blaming us?

Opening thoughts…





1 Cor. 10:31-33, ‘Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.’

‘…that they may be saved.’
Is our primary focus to prove ourselves to be right?
Or is it to give glory and honor to the Lord?

Your thoughts…





I mentioned bringing honor to the Lord.
Let’s think of the word please.
Here are some synonyms:

satisfy, gratify, give pleasure to, make happy, delight, make somebody's day, thrill and entertain

Would the Lord use those words to describe us?
What about our neighbor?
are our actions for the good of others or
our own gratification.

Romans 15:2, ‘Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.’

Can you give us a practical example as to how we can do this?





In trying to please men we should not be trying to gain applause,
and we should not strive to please them any further than will be for the glory of God.

So what is another way of saying bring glory to God?
People getting saved.
Troubled Christians getting back on track.





1Corinthians 9:19, ‘For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.’

So what practical advice can you give us here, rather than saying you need to serve others?





Have you ever been with someone that rubs you the wrong way?
Been with someone who puts you down with his or her little verbal jabs?
Have you ever been that person?

I have learned that I need to communicate with different people in different ways.
My wife one way,
Children another,
Big Mike and John Pertell another,
People in the store another.

It’s not me changing or being different.
It’s me communicating in the way that is most effective.

1 Corinthians 9:22, ‘To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.’

I gave the example of verbal communication,
Can you give us an example here?





What’s in it for me?
What can I get out of this marriage?
What can I get out of this friendship?

Will this look good on my resume?
Will others give me a pat on the back when they hear about what I’ve done?
How will God reward me for this?

1 Corinthians10:24, ‘Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.’

Two parts there.
If we are seeking our own wealth we are wrong.
If we are not seeking someone else to increase we are wrong.

What advice do you have for us here?





This lesson’s Biblical Boundary is,
Would it be cause for a lost person to reject the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior?

1 Timothy 4:1-5, ‘Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.’

Verse 1
Let’s make sure we are not the departed.
Let’s be careful of seducing spirits,
They are all around us.
Whispering in our ear, talking on the television and at work.
Wrong doctrine is also all around us.
Let’s be aware and prepared.

Verse 2
Lies are also around us.
In advertising,
In the media
Even in Christian circles.
Let’s make sure our conscience is still clear.
Let’s also be aware of those who are seared.

Your closing thoughts…





Conclusion

Answer – It is a heart issue.
Prayer will reveal the answer in the gray areas.
The revelation will not contradict His written word.

I believe we blur the lines
and turn the black and white into the subtle shades of gray
that make others not want what we have.

One foot in the white,
One on the black.
If the world sees us we can simply lift our white foot.
If our church friends see us we can lift our black foot.

Let’s not live in the gray.
Let’s find the answer in His Word.
Confirm it in prayer.
And walk as He has told us to.

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