The Aztecs' religion was to sacrifice humans to make the sun god happy so that food would grow. People mostly were happy to die because they thought they would go straight to heaven. It was how you died, not how you lived that determined whether you would go to the sun god or the dark and dismal underworld. And these people strongly believed in the afterlife.
They felt so right, but were so wrong.
It’s a paradox.
Paul persecuted christians.
In Acts chapter 9, Saul-soon-to-be-Paul was passionate about the law and could not stand
christians.
He collected christians and persecuted them. It was his mission in life.Only to find that he was so wrong.
Saul uttered threats with every breath, eager to kill the Lord’s
followers.
There are people who want to kill God’s work today.
Paul asked, "Who are you Lord?"
The Lord said, "I am Jesus, the one you persecute. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen."
In our relationships and in life, we can be so convinced that we are on the right mission when all the while we are on the wrong mission.
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It’s time to get off of the wrong mission and to get onto the right mission.
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When God is going to do something new in your life he will send a new relationship.
Saul was about to change and become Paul.
Why was he so special that Jesus would intercept his mission?
Because he was getting ready to write 75 percent of the new testament.
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
If you’re not careful, you’ll start focusing on the wrong mission.
Imagine a person who lives well, treating others fairly, keeping good relationships... Ezekiel 18:5
There is nothing more difficult than maintaining healthy relationships
If you’re going to marry someone (get into covenant with someone), you want someone who has a trail of good relationships.
Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!” Matthew 19:10
The disciples asked Jesus why get married? Jesus said it requires a certain aptitude and grace to be married and if you are capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, then do it. But save society from you, if you aren’t capable of being married well.
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3 ways God helps you get things right in a relationship that has been so wrong
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1. God asks you to go back before you can go forward.
If you take your gift to the altar and remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift on the altar. Go and make right what is wrong between you and him. Then come back and give your gift. Agree with the one who is against you while you are talking together. Matthew 5:23-25
Jesus said – if you bring your gift to the alter and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift, be reconciled to your brother, then come offer your gift.
If you know someone who has something against you, Jesus expects you to restore that relationship, it's YOUR responsibility.
Jesus is not concerned as much about your gift to him than your ability to relate to others and to heal relationships because nothing spreads His Kingdom faster than healthy relationships and restored relationships.
Jesus wants to know how your relationships are doing.
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Everyone wants to arrive, but no one wants to take the trip.
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You need to go back and restore some things before you can move forward.
2. Jesus will ask you to focus on the root, not just the fruit.
.
They get mad at what someone says instead of asking why they are saying those things.
In our society and culture, we try to change behavior without reaching into hearts.
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Rules without relationship = rebellion
__________
When a parent puts rules on a child without relationship, you lead them down the road to be the most rebellious child in the neighborhood. They want relationship.
Most americans pride ourselves in the ability to know what our kids should do, to tell them what to do, but few of us model to our kids how it looks.
Why are you acting this way, why are you treating me this way, why don’t you love me the way I need to be loved?
Anyone who breaks even the least of the Law of Moses and teaches people not to do what it says, will be called the least in the holy nation of heaven. He who obeys and teaches others to obey what the Law of Moses says, will be called great in the holy nation of heaven. Matthew 5:19
So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The things that come out of your mouth come out of your heart.
Change the trajectory of their heart and you change their mouth.
(Anger is a form of depression - but that's a different message.)
3. God will always ask you to be confident in who you now are in Christ.
____________________
If you operate in any other image than
what you are in Christ,
you are operating from the wrong place.
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Paul said, "My old self has been crucified with Christ.[a] It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." ~ Galatians 2:20
Paul says, I am no longer going to love you the way I used to love people or the way I used to relate to people, I was angry, violent, and not tolerant of those who are different. Now that I’ve been crucified in Christ, it is no longer I that lives, but Christ in me and I live by faith because of him who loved ME and gave himself for me, therefore I can love you and give myself to you, because vertically I have been loved by God thoroughly, so horizontally I can love you with God’s love.
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You have to experience the vertical healing of God before you can give love horizontally.
_____________
When you experience personal crucifixion, the new you rises up and can love the unlovable, can talk to those who are difficult. It is Jesus loving them through you.
One of the things that families need from men, they need a man who can model what Christ is. Men need to get on the cross with Christ.
Women, you can be the most loving mom, but unless Jesus has captured your heart, there will always be a struggle in you to love as Jesus loves.
How many of you have relationships that need to be restored?
How many of you have something that needs to be reconciled?
In a 50 city book tour last year, 80 percent of the people raised their hands with those questions.
In your congregation today, 80 percent of you raised your hands.
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Who do you need to talk to? Go back before you can go forward.
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Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
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Pastor Sergio De La Mora, visiting pastor at Faith Church St Louis the weekend of August 4-5, 2012 has an engaging book, "The Heart Revolution". Check it out.
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