What the World Needs Now - Humble Bridge-Builders, Part 2

Are you a relational bridge builder were buried. Is your heart right now filled with anger and bitterness for love and concern.

How do Christians live like Christians in the season of the provision and rancor in our country today statement. Thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge ship and Living on the Edges of international discipleship ministry featuring the Bible to this program. Ship continues his new series called world needs now as we get going to picking it up for you left off previous program was the intense role talking about some of the same relating Jesus teaching about internal attitudes of anger and resentment you actually call them murder in God's eyes for so even if our thoughts of payback or vengeance have never seen the light of day in God's economy is accountable as anyone will open your Bible. Now, if you have one to Matthew chapter 12 let's get set for part two of Chip's message with the world needs now is humble bridge builders rock here somewhere in my pocket when what I did with this rock represents Peapod murder any grudges that I have any bitterness and resentment in my heart in a little while working on give you a chance to really name the rock just between you and God hurt feelings. Ex-boss X mate current situation were to ask you to come in only if you have done it to drop the rock and say I'm gonna release that person of what I hope happens to them. The vengeance the payback.

The motion and where necessary writing gets harder socially make some we may have this rock all next week is your thinking.

I'm not ready do that yet. Then put in your purse, but in your pocket every day I keep hearing around this rock and if we were better friends. I would bring you an extra rock every day, every day didn't drop. I just put another one in your pants know when your first because that's what it's doing to you because some of the words of Cloutier mouth and EO. Of course they deserved it. Okay, we'll get to that. Of course they deserved it and was 90%. Therefore the same with me. I know that. But God is going to call you and call me to go. Not only ask for forgiveness if necessary, but make it right.

Whenever possible, as far as it depends on you and what you recognize is that you are as much of the murder, and I'm as much of a murder as David or Paul or Moses and most of have done it with our lips and we done with our heart, and there is only one hope and is the hope that we can come and that the body of Christ, his death on the cross paid for our sin and his blood was shed for us and he hasn't given us mercy, and he has forgiven us and we got what we don't deserve, and the only reason to drop this rock is not because they deserve it, not because there that person not because it's can be better mental health but willing to drop this rock because I can't receive mercy and take what God is given to me that I don't deserve and I'm gonna not. He's not to pass judgment because of Jesus, so neither my note doesn't mean you hang out with them doesn't mean that everything's going to be wonderful. And when you have a clear sense that you have forgiven that person that I'm can ask you to turn your attention and begin to thank God. If Jesus of every one of the commands has this level of probing underneath of it in the spirit of God went all the way through this room all the way around and we were to seeing what's going on inside.

I will tell you the cross and become very precious and you'll be so deeply grateful that you will walk out of this room forgiven and cleansed and anything you've ever said anything you've ever thought any assassination with your lips be clean. Will Jesus now applies this to his audience and he applies it because were not done. He gives us to very quick parables. Matthew chapter 12 Jesus has just talk with the Pharisees who externally are squeaky clean, and he says to them in verse 33 either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree that is true and and the fruit bad for the tree is known by its fruit. Another is not your intentions is not how you sing says your life. Your outward evidence. You brood of vipers, how can you speak good, when you are evil, that hears his point for out of the abundance of your heart the mouth speaks.

The good person out of the good treasure brings forth what is good and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil.

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give an account of every careless word they speak every slander, every gossip, every little post on Facebook every passing on every click, every side conversation every screening out of a child that doesn't understand what they did wrong. Every harboring resentment in your heart and you say well it's her, it's her turn to apologize. I'm tired of apologizing guy every time we make up it's always me. I'm not going there anymore and so you just keep drifting for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you be condemned on or about you that scares me to death, as it should. Well, Lord Jesus. This is hard for us to hear. I'm sure it was hard for them to hear help. Therefore, the parable priorities to applications very, very short parables. Therefore, if your offering your gift at the altar and there remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar first go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift. Underline the line if your offering your gift at the altar at times have changed.

Very unfortunately, if you are a follower of Yahweh you didn't think that offering gifts was sort of. Maybe I will, maybe I will.

Depending how I feel you would understand that he owns everything, and the first 10th of the produce. The first 10th of the cow, the goat, the first child has to be paid for and you bring your offering and if you send you to bring a sin offering. And this is the holiest moment. This offering is going to represent an act of mercy of God's coverage and that blood is going to remind you that in the future God's world going to bring them aside so this is there's no more holy moment, giving required. God owns everything I bring the very first in the very best. Few things to do would be more important.

The word is required. Prayers required giving is required, and now he is if you could hear this through the ears of his first century listeners they would be thinking.

This is one of the most sacred holy moments. This is how you get right with God businesses. This is how you you tell him that there's no idols that my first and best is to you.

This is this is a sin offering. This is how my sins are to be held off is or something more important. If there you remember not look at it. Look at look at the look at the text.

This doesn't say if you're there and you remember you have something against your brother, you're mad.

You're angry she did that to me. He did that to me that's not what it says what to say.

Look at it if you're there and you remember your brother has something against you, what you have a TIF with someone and you know if it's like me is 98% their phone 2% Michael but but things are right, and I'm kidding.

Okay if you're new I'm just messing with you little.

I usually say it's 51% their phone 49% fees and still what I want you to get is the principal and the principal is very clear and very powerful right relationships trump religious requirements. Every time right relationships trump religious requirements. Every time don't go and read your Bible, don't go and pray, don't put something in the offering.

If you have a relationship with someone he goes. This is the priority.

Nothing more important because the kingdom of God is about love and it's really about love.

If there is a relationship with your mate with.

When your kids with your friends with your ex was someone at work with someone in your small group with a coworker.

Make it right because that will be the good works that Bill C. Glorify your father is in heaven, and if there a brother or sister in Christ Jesus, that I died for everyone. You have to come together the barriers or defensiveness, blaming, excuses, pride, all that's not fair or a self-righteous fulfillment of this hall.

Yes I was going to do something and you know I remember that that time we had an argument in an tone of voice.

It was 99% your fault, but since I'm so spiritual I would ask you to forgive me for my 1% please and I hope you feel like a real heal because you are a scumbag and but I'm following the Bible. No, this is even in your heart you feel like it's 10% you 90% them. Oh God, if it was 1% apart from your holiness.

I have no hope. I humble myself before you. I completely own my 10% and sensors large levels of denial.

It's probably at least 40 but it doesn't matter I asked you to forgive me and I go and say you know that altercation we had in that conversation the keeps coming around how I handled that was wrong, will you forgive me I'm sorry and you don't bring anything up about anybody else or them parable number two is the parable of urgency. Jesus is settle the matters quickly. Your adversary is taking you to court doing what you still with him on the way or he will hand you over to the judge in the judgment handed over to the officer returned to prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you paid the last penny.

Now he's giving them in their cultural mindset but circle a few words because guess who the adversary is Jesus saying the adversary is God. He went through. You've heard it said if you do still physically kill someone he others the Old Testament law. I say to you. If you have these emotions, hate, anger, bitterness, if you say these things work.

There's contempt I tell you, it starts with this court, the Supreme Court and then how so he brings them back, notice your adversary quickly underline quickly notice the words you hand you over to the judge, circle judge and the judge circle judge Weigel to the officer circle officer returned to prison. I mean how many work you get.

This is a crisis. This is not you know I probably admit that relationship right you know a lot of bad things up a lot of my heart. Yeah, I'm not.

I'm angry, but everyone's angry and you know if they lived in my situation that they grew up in my you know I came from a dysfunctional family and you know, in light of her addictions are his addictions are my unreasonable boss. I think that understands memo he doesn't understand murder is murder. You are the salt of the earth to the light of the earth make it right and make it right now. This is one of the services where the conversation in the car going home isn't well did you like the message of course not. Was it interesting yeah for not good reasons. This is about you meeting God in the next few minutes you experiencing a level of forgiveness and cleansing and mercy and love and with all your heart, purpose, and you can give that away. The principle here is clear and powerful. Delayed obedience will result in dire consequences. There are some of you that have physical issues, relational issues, financial issues and health issues that are related to unresolved conflict and anger, and murder in words judgment of God.

I can't tell you who, when, where, why, what I can tell you is these kind of patterns God has his favor on some people and God has his love on everyone but his love.

Sometimes when there's patterns like this I call it the velvet vice of discipline and he's trying to get your attention and I'll tell you what you can you can keep dissing him and it and that by so get tighter and tighter and tighter and tighter until you come to a breaking .60 God if your genuine child of God will take you to the mat because what you're doing is killing you and destroying others, I found a few quotes from a little book that I picked up recently. Bitterness always feels justified bitterness creates the illusion of control and power.

When we embrace bitterness.

We reject grace. And here's the part with, no matter who this person is remember the good and the good will grow. Isn't it interesting when we have a problem with the person, especially family member, especially with you. One of our kids are a major or an in law or for a coworker. You know like there was at one time they were pretty diverse and anyway it was way back when before they and and and what we do is, and we take we take the incident. We take the thing and we put little box in it and that's that's who they are now forever and ever and ever. They were never kind, they were never helpful.

They never loved you. You know that's not true, and it feeds your soul's light bulb look but will poison you turn to the back page. I did not want to leave you to some vague devices so I wonder what I should do want to talk to you and then give you the time to learn to take some humble steps to building a bridge like you to answer these questions quietly.

Do you have anger or bitterness, or resentment toward anyone, past or present. If you just quiet before God will bring someone to mind. If you do have you murdered anyone in your heart are with your lips. Is there anger, bitterness, resentment when someone's name comes up, or someone talks about someone you have a visceral reaction that's negative and when you confess the sin right now and receive God's full forgiveness. I'll give you time to really process this. But he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But you have to come clean. You have to admit you have to agree yes this is me. Can you think of anyone that might feel angry or resentful towards you, for any reason we you commit to make that relationship right as far as it depends on you and maybe you can't. But there's usually something you can do as far as it depends on and then as you go through this process at your own pace and have the Holy Spirit give a seal in your heart of peace that yes you've dealt with this now and then stop and thank God for his love and kindness and remember the great words of David who sends greatly and murdered.

Oh Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive so full of unfailing love to all those who ask for your help.

12 today I want to give you some time right now to process what you this was heavy. In fact, it was very heavy but depending on what you do with the truth that you just heard today can be a game changer game changer for you, but also the people around you because if you let go. If you'll be willing to be honest honest with God and honest with yourself about who you're angry at, and what's inside your heart and who you want to pay back in who you think needs to change and would you be willing to forgive them. Would you be willing to look at him the way Jesus looked at people when they failed would you be willing to say Lord I am so angry inside and I'm so concerned and I think if our country goes down this path, or if people believe that or if these certain things happen and I get all those concerns, but what God wants. Most for you is to be in right relationship with him more than any cause more than a movement more than anything else would you be willing now to say Lord we you please forgive me. Would you take the sword a metaphorical rock that you hold in your hand that's blocking your heart it would you be willing to release that and say Lord I can trust you with the future and I can trust you with my future. I don't agree. I'm deeply concerned. But I want to be a part of the solution.

I want to be a humble bridge builder. I want to be the kind of person that even my enemies would meet and they would respect and possibly even embrace or listen to something that I might say because I would treat them with dignity because I would treat them the way Jesus would treat them if you were living in my body. And Lord, since you do. First we you forgive me when you cleanse me and then today I choose. I commit to forgive and to release those that I have anger and animosity and thoughts that I know that are wrong. God please help me today.

And Lord I'm asking you to help come out of my thinking couple come out of my words help it come out in my actions. Lord help me be Jesus in our world, to everyone, even those with whom I so deeply disagree, amen triple. Be right back.

Just a quick reminder this message humble bridge builders is from chip series. What the world needs now he's in Matthew chapter 5 reminding us of Jesus. Specific instructions during a time of deep hurt, turmoil and political strife time all-too-familiar for us today, but what better comfort and encouragement. Good to hear from our Lord the priorities and counsel uppermost on his mind for the people hearing them firsthand.

Then and now for us. It's our sincere hope that you'll share this message with a friend of family member on social media anywhere you can communicate with others who need wisdom, and the Lord's guidance during these distressing days of access free MP3s and series discounts go to LivingontheEdge.org hapless nurse just capture what's up in our previous program I mentioned that a couple of the principles in your series on spiritual warfare really apply to the series to I would you take a minute go over those absolutely day principle number one is is that there is an invisible world that is just as real as the visible world, and the second principle is that were involved in a spiritual battle between good and evil, between God and Satan that plays out in our real life and relationships today and so as we see these things happening around the world. We need understand there's two things happening.

There's real issues between people. But there is an invisible battle angelic forces that are waging war seeking to influence the minds in the hearts of people toward division toward hate toward murder and what we need to understand as followers of Christ is when and how do we recognize spiritual warfare. What do we do when it comes, and make sure were fighting the right battles. So in order to do that we've created what we call spiritual warfare cards and let me take just a minute to describe what they're like in these cards will will have about six categories will talk about the general principles of spiritual warfare. I will talk about what to do when you're actually attacked others very specific promises in God's word about how to respond in spiritual warfare.

Understanding how the enemy works.

The most common lies that he comes at you with and then here's the thing.

These are the kind of card you want to review and have clear in your mind. I taught all my kids these basic verses so when it happened in our home when they were facing things at different times. It would be on the tip of their tongue.

This is a kind of thing you want to provide for your friends, your family, your kids may be a coworker. Someone at church and ate easy format where you can understand this is spiritual warfare and this is how I respond and it's at your fingertips. We need to not just remember, but know how to live out greater is he that is in us than he does in the world chip. I think your reminder about reviewing these cards so the truth comes quickly to mind is really helpful. Knowing the truth about the spiritual battle going on around us gives us the power we need to see it to stay calm and to battle like Jesus did with truth and grace whether there for you or to give as a gift to help and encourage someone else. I hope you'll pick up a set or two while discovered supplies last.

For all the details on our newly revised spiritual warfare.

Scripture cards Special offers on the app give us a call at AAA 333-6003 or visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org I hope you'll do it today. You know a great way to stay engaged and connected to chip by Living on the Edge is with the chip and remap. You'll get free access to all of Chip's recent messages is message notes and much more. Not only that, but it couldn't be easier to call or email directly from the yeah will be with us again next time. When Chip continues his series with the world needs now till then, this is Dave Drury saying thanks for listening. this Edition of Living on the Edge