Message Notes
Extreme Makeover              

Overhauling Your Significant Relationships

April 25, 2004

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸Love never fails…

 

1) With God’s help, learn to be PATIENT
Love is patient… it is not easily angered… always perseveres…

 

Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

 

HOW? Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
 

2) Practice the REAL F Word: FORGIVENESS
Love is kind...It is not rude… it keeps no record of wrongs...

Matthew 18:21-35 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
²²Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. ²³"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. ²⁵Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
²⁶"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' ²⁷The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
²⁸"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
²⁹"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
³⁰"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
³²"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' ³⁴In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
³⁵"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."  

 

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

 

Matthew 7:3-5 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

The rule: Cut the other person a lot of slack. After you are done, cut them some more slack! Then finally, cut them a little more slack! (Hint: We need to cut other people some slack)

 

How do you get there?

Pray for them

Communication and spending time together

 

3) INCREASE your constructive communication
     a. Vertically – by praying for them AND with them

Matthew 5:43-44 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…

 

     b. Horizontally – by spending time with them. Relationships Decay!

 

Seek outside help if necessary. Email Pastor Randy at randy@fosm.net for help in finding a suitable counselor. 

 

4) The Main Ingredient for success in your significant relationships: Commiting your Life to Jesus Christ

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

 

Jesus, today I acknowledge that my pride has often created conflict and hurt feelings and breaks in my relationships.  So today, I humbly ask for your help. Jesus Christ, I admit to you that I am messed up. I realize today that I am not living my life for you. I realize my sin has offended you, so I turn from my sin and ask for the forgiveness that you freely give. I turn to you, Christ, and ask you to be the leader of my life. I give you everything I am and everything I will be. Amen.