Cross Creek Community Church, Pastor Dave Martin – Oct 18, 2015

“Relational Health”

Romans 14:1-23 & Selected

  • Have you ever anxiously waited to receive word back from your doctor concerning a test/biopsy/procedure?
  • Getting results normally prompt tremendous relief or greater anxiety/concern… We want to be healthy physically! We realize should illness strike, being “unhealthy” affects every aspect of our lives… Getting “hit” sucks the wind out of our sails… Uprooting and changing our comfortable normal routine of everyday life
  • There is nothing better than to enjoy good physical health… “Get moving & get healthy” is true in many ways…
  • Muscle tone, cardio vascular, digestion, mentally, etc… Exercise is great for our overall physical health
  • “Get moving & get healthy” is true physically and spiritually… Today we’re speaking on Relational Health

Introduction: I brought a suitcase with me this morning, as people we all have suitcase’s

  • People are different: Backgrounds, traditions, preferences, convictions… We’re all different. Age, height, weight, builds, personalities, likes, dislikes… We store up things and carry our “suitcase” through life… Various backgrounds, experiences (good/not so good), parents, friends, raised Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, or no religion… In the suitcase of my life I have also built traditions… Preferences can change whereas Convictions we will stand upon no matter the cost and is vital in the Christians walk with God… An example: Attorney David Gibbs who represents Christian parents/homeschoolers said, “The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a person's religious convictions are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution, but one's religious preferences are not.”
  • All believers are on different levels of growing spiritual maturity… Faith begins as a mustard seed when by grace you are saved from sin through belief in Jesus Christ… Faith grows as we spiritually mature… Still carrying our suitcases, EVERY true saint of God is now in the process of growing surrounded by a world of people whom we must relate with… We are able to relate in healthy Biblical ways or unhealthy unbiblical ways played out in strained relations… In case of every believer…
  • There’s a tension between Legalism, License and Liberty… Legalism: faith in my works, my thoughts, my ideas, my judgments… License: I’m free in Christ and do anything I want, if they don’t like it, tough. Or I’m saved, got my ticket to heaven and can live anyway I want. Immorality, drunkenness, License… Liberty, by God’s grace I’m God’s masterpiece saved unto good works, Eph 2:10… Mature, growing in Christ… Paul tells us in 1Co 6 the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God then lists sexually immoral, adulterers, homosexuals, drunks, greedy. Then says, “that is what some of you were… you were saved”

1 Corinthians 6:12 12 "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. -- Liberty in Jesus Christ is sweet!

  • We do not use our Christian freedom to engage in and justify our sins… Is it helpful? Will it enslave?

NOW, understanding all our differences, our spiritual faith level, our tensions between legalism and liberty… All the things we carry around in life’s suitcase… What does God want us to learn, Rom 14? (Two sections)

  1. Accept Weak Believers, vs1-12 and II. “Build-up one another”

Romans 14:1-4 1 “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? ...”

  • Dealing relationally with other Christians… In the world, in your home, on the job, in church is tough
  • Accept weak brothers and sisters in Christ and knock off judging everybody! W/O passing judgment!
  • What’s wrong with them being a vegetarian… They should eat a big juicy steak and Lobster!
  • God says, don’t look down on them who doesn’t come up to your self-imposed standard of perfection
  • Legalism is truth without love (Read 1Co 13:1-3)… Passing judgment “That church/pastor is… liberal…
  • Deceived, lifted in spiritual pride, we easily can set ourselves up as judge, jury and executioner… Who died and left you in charge? Who are you to judge? Why should I accept weaker brothers?

WHY?

1. Because God Accepts You, vs1-3 for God has accepted him… God accepted flawed you too, didn’t He?

2. Because God Sustains You, v4 To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

3. Because God is Lord over You, vs5-9 5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

4. Because God will Judge You, vs10-12 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" ([Isa 45:23)]

Romans 14:12 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

  • Maybe it’s time to get rid of some things you’ve been carrying around all your life & get serious w/ God
  • God is BIG enough to handle that person you’re so critical of… Played out and heard many ways: “I just can’t stand them”… I’m ms spiritual, that person hasn’t arrived to my standards yet” “I would never eat meat bought in the marketplace but sacrificed to a pagan god…” “you aren’t even saved…”
  • Individually we will all give an account of himself… Not of your wife, husband… but yourself to God
  1. Build-Up One Another, vs13-23

15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil… 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (making every effort to build, as in building a building – it’s mutual)

  • We accept weaker brothers without judging them… We then make EVERY EFFORT to edify, build-up

1 Corinthians 8:9 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. [an offense, to stub your toe][When we offend someone it can become “bait” for Satan]

  • Living out our freedom in Christ we must be careful, cautious, on guard we don’t tear-down/mess-up
  • Seeking peace and mutual edification… I’m free to eat meat or drink wine, BUT because I’m more mature in Christ, I choose not to do so, not become an offense to someone… Relationally healthy
  • Gray areas are issues that Scripture does not take a dogmatic stance on, or at the very least, issues that Scripture does not discuss in depth. Instead, the Bible gives Christians the liberty to make God-glorifying decisions based on their convictions… Examples: Eating or drinking certain things, dating, kissing, clothing, music, movies, dancing, working mothers, birth control… Spiritual preferences (gray) versus spiritual principles (Black/White)… Conflict happens when we turn preferences into principles
  • Remember Rom 14:5 “Let every man be fully persuaded/convinced in his own heart”
  • Always ask, does this honor God? Is this sin? Negatively affect others? Testimony to unbelievers? Go against my conscience? Is it unwise? (If Bible calls something sin 1Thes 4:3-5, it is sin – don’t do it)

“GRAY” Area’s…

  1. Don’t cause to stumble, v13

Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

  1. Don’t grieve to trouble, v14-15a

14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.

  1. Don’t wreck your brother, v15b

Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.

  1. Don’t lose your witness, v16-19

16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil… 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

  1. Don’t destroy God’s work, v20-21

20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.

  1. Don’t promote your liberty, v22-23

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves… Rom 14:23b “…everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

  • Be careful allowing things in your life that’s outside the area of faith… If you have a Holy Spirit “check mark” don’t do it, listen to Him, walk in the Spirit and you will not participate in the lust of the flesh…
  • Get moving & get healthy! … Relational Health: “Accept weaker brothers”, wives, husbands, children… Stop judging people by your legalistic standards… Let it go! You get engaged with God
  • “Build up one another” rather than tearing them down… Take inventory of your suitcase, begin building Godly/Biblical convictions in the essentials BUT show acceptance & love without judging in the non-essentials

Get moving & get healthy - what are you waiting on… Take the next step of faith in your life? What’s your excuse? Why do we procrastinate? Looking at world events, Jesus is coming soon! Wake up from your slumber… Become spiritually and relationally healthy! Clean out your suitcase of life, begin building healthy relationships today…

PPTX #21 - Relationally live each day for Christ!

I read a story that was in the LA Times a while back. “My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister’s bureau and he lifted out a tissue wrapped package. ‘This,’ he said, ‘is not a slip. This is lingerie.’ He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite. Silk, handmade and tipped with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. He said, ‘Jan bought this the first time we went to New York eight or nine years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. I guess this is the occasion.’ He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes that we were taking to the mortician. His hand lingered on the soft material for a moment then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me, ‘Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion! Every day you’re alive is a special occasion!’ I remember those words and thought about them through the funeral and the days that followed an unexpected death. I thought about all the things that my sister hadn’t seen or heard or done. I also thought about all the things she had done without realizing that they were special. I’m still thinking about those words and they’ve changed my life. I’m not saving anything anymore. We use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped or the first flower blooming. ‘Someday’ and ‘one of these days’ are losing their grip in my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing or hearing or doing I want to see it and hear it and do it now. I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, procrastinate or save anything that would add faith or laughter or substance to our lives. And every day, every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself ‘This is a special day.’” Relationally live each day for Christ not yourself!

Where do you get the faith to begin a fresh start toward spiritual health? Only one source. Jesus Christ.

Get moving & get healthy: For Healthier Relationships…

 Think Humbly - Live Obediently - Grow Spiritually - Love Unconditionally - Reach the World for Jesus

Let’s Pray

John 13:34-35 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."