How to make Relationships Work

Genesis 3

Nothing hurts worse than a broken relationship

Nothing hurts worse than a broken relationship

Why rise in divorce?Estrangement? Separation? Layoffs?Betrayal?

A fierce battle began A fierce battle began long ago long ago

between God and Satanbetween God and Satan

for the eternal for the eternal souls of men.souls of men.

For Your Eternal Destiny is for your RelationshipRelationship

For Your Eternal Destiny is for your RelationshipRelationship

The Battle

How art thou fallen from heaven, How art thou fallen from heaven,

Lucifer…For thou hast said, I will ascend into heaven, I

will exalt my throne above the stars of God ...

I will be like the most High. I will be like the most High.

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell. - Isaiah 14

Satan’s Offer to Man

Gen.3:5 - For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and

ye shall be as gods...

Adam’s Obsession Adam’s Obsession

“… knowing good and evil”

He was like God! He became obsessed with

right and wrong rather than walking with God

He didn’t need God anymore.He didn’t need God anymore.

Nobody, could tell him what to do!

His way was as good as God’s way.

Now Adam makes the rules and does what he pleases.

God’s Reaction

Gen:3:9: And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (Not what have you done?)

God was concerned for their relationship!

Obsession with good and evilObsession with good and evil

Is a way we hide from ...God in our religionGuilt in our good worksUsing Guile to put down

others

Relationship vs. Religion

Faith vs. Works

Grace vs. the Law

This Destroys RelationshipsThis Destroys Relationships

Marriages Wayward ChildrenChurch Division

Nothing hurts worse than a broken relationship

Nothing hurts worse than a broken relationship

Divorce, estrangement, and separation are some results of man playing God and ignoring his relationship with God.

Mt:27:46: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Nothing else couldmake Him cry out

We must knowWe must know

Where the real battle isWhose side we are on How to restore our relationship

with God and with man.

Lest Satan Lest Satan should get an should get an

advantage of us advantage of us 2Cor 2:112Cor 2:11

Lest Satan Lest Satan should get an should get an

advantage of us advantage of us 2Cor 2:112Cor 2:11

for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Salvation’s goal is to:Salvation’s goal is to:

Replace religious obsession with good and evil works

With loving relationshipsFirst with God by faithThen with Man by good works

GOOD WORKSCAN NOT SAVEGOOD WORKSCAN NOT SAVE

Church

Baptism

Worship Isa:29:13 “... this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Isa 1:12-13 “... who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; ... the calling of assemblies, ... it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

1Cor:1:17 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Religious works can not saveReligious works can not save

What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

Man working his way up to God

Godreaching in love down to man

Saved Ephesians 2:8

Justified Romans 5:1

Forgiven Ephesians 1:7

Righteous Romans 3:22

Eternal Life John 5:24

Heaven John 14:1

Lost Luke 19:10

Condemned John 3:18

Unforgiven Acts 13:38

Unrighteous Romans 1:18

Dead in sin Ephesians 2:1

Hell Revelation 20:14

Under LAW Under GRACE

For by grace are ye savedFor by grace are ye saved

By faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

- Ephesians 2:8,9

For what is a man profited,For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?- Matthew 16:26

We are not of them We are not of them

who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.- Hebrews 10:39

He which converteth the sinnerHe which converteth the sinner

from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.- James 5:20

Many sincere Christians todayMany sincere Christians today

Turn weapons off the enemyAnd onto each other

Galatians 5:15: But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

How Did We Get Here?How Did We Get Here?

Satan’s OfferAdam’s ObsessionGod’s ReactionMan Worships Good & Evil!

Rom.16:17 - mark them Rom.16:17 - mark them

which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Divisions come from obsession with Divisions come from obsession with

Arbitrary expectations‘Holier than thou’…attitudesPersonalities - Are ye not carnalVenting - scape - goatChildish “I’ll take my toys

home”

Rom.16:17 - mark them Rom.16:17 - mark them

which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Offenses come from obsession withOffenses come from obsession with

Small - ‘petty’ attitudesWeak or defiled conscienceBitterness - lack of forgivenessFeelings on fingertipsPride - “I deserve better…”

Great peace have they

which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. - Psalm

119:165

SolutionsSolutions

Return to your first loveBury the hatchet at the crossExpect inconsistencyBear “one another’s burdens”

Be not many mastersBe not many masters

Store up forgivenessJudge not that ye be not

judgedOut of thine own mouth will…Illustration: the unjust steward

Build relationshipsBuild relationships

Love = “Do good, suffer...”Forgiveness in advanceUnity - Great commandment

Be obsessed with loveBe obsessed with love

Love is the fulfilling of the lawThis means shed blood if

necessaryOvercome evil with good Not evil for evil, railing for

railing

No apology necessaryNo apology necessary

Why? He gave forgiveness “while we were YET sinners”

Few will apologize.Demanded apologies implies

BitternessPrideJudgement

Galatians 6:1Galatians 6:1

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

How many times ? 7 times?How many times ? 7 times?

No, forgive 70 times 7Until you can’t remember how

many timesUntil you do not remember

what happened

Be obsessed with forgivenessBe obsessed with forgiveness

Forgive us our trespasses as we…Put forgiveness on Christ’s accountLest any root of bitterness…defiledLook forward to opportunities to

forgiveIn everything, give thanks

UnityUnity

They were all with in one accord…

By this shall all men know that you are my disciples…

Be ye kind tenderhearted, forgiving ...

Receiving

the end of your faith,Even the salvation of your souls. -

1Peter 1:9

When you die, only two things will really matter...

Who you lovedWho you lovedWho loved youWho loved you

Thou shalt love Thou shalt love

the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all

thy soul, and with all thy mind… Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Mt.22

He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life.

Your part God’s part

1 2 3 Rom 8:31-39

John 3:36John 3:36

Copyright © 2000 by Dan Ondra