Breaking FreeBreaking Free

The "Onlys"The "Onlys"

"It's just the way I am…""It's just the way I am…"

"It's just the way I am…""It's just the way I am…"

If our Jesus isn't powerful enoughIf our Jesus isn't powerful enoughWe need a new JesusWe need a new Jesus

Brokenness causes BrokennessBrokenness causes Brokenness

Brokenness causes BrokennessBrokenness causes Brokenness

Wholeness produces WholenessWholeness produces Wholeness

Brokenness causes BrokennessBrokenness causes Brokenness

Wholeness produces WholenessWholeness produces Wholeness

When Wholeness touches BrokennessWhen Wholeness touches BrokennessBrokenness is made WholeBrokenness is made Whole

LeperLeper

Woman with the IssueWoman with the Issue

Your brokenness…?Your brokenness…?

She took great care of himShe took great care of himSuffering with grace to do soSuffering with grace to do so

Everyone agreed- "She's a saint!"Everyone agreed- "She's a saint!"

Everyone said he was a loving husbandEveryone said he was a loving husbandShe was lucky to haveShe was lucky to have

Such a great "catch"Such a great "catch"

Flat Pepsi…Flat Pepsi…

What dysfunctional behaviorsWhat dysfunctional behaviorsHave you seen masquerade as love?Have you seen masquerade as love?

What dysfunctional behaviorsWhat dysfunctional behaviorsHave you seen masquerade as love?Have you seen masquerade as love?

- Jealousy- Jealousy- Possessiveness- Possessiveness

- Controlling- Controlling- Manipulative- Manipulative- Self-centered- Self-centered

Self-centered:Self-centered:

- For what I can get out of it- For what I can get out of it

Self-centered:Self-centered:

- For what I can get out of it- For what I can get out of it

- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting

Self-centered:Self-centered:

- For what I can get out of it- For what I can get out of it

- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting

- Because it makes me happy- Because it makes me happyTo make you happyTo make you happy

Self-centered:Self-centered:

- For what I can get out of it- For what I can get out of it

- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting

- Because it makes me happy- Because it makes me happyTo make you happyTo make you happy

- To be seen as loving and giving- To be seen as loving and giving

We can onlyonly loveTo the extent

That we know God's love

The secret to God working in you

is God working through you

We can onlyonly loveTo the extent

That we know God's love

We love because he first loved us- I John 4:19

Created in his image

Created in his image

Fallen

Created in his image

Fallen

Murder of a brother

God's righteousness demands justice

Yet he still loves

Jesus dies

God shows his loveshows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us- Romans 5:8

In Christ Jesus we have:

- An example

Jesus means we have:

- An example- The power to follow

We can onlyonly loveTo the extent

That we know God's love

Agape:

Unconditional, others-centeredSeeking their best interestsWhen they don't deserve it

Even when it costs

Agape:

Unconditional, others-centeredSeeking their best interestsWhen they don't deserve it

Even when it costs

I can't- and won't- outside ofGod's love in me

The secret to God working in you

is God working through you

My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the onlyonly way we'll know we're living truly,

living in God's reality.

It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when

there is something to it.

For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than

we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer

accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God!

- John 3:18-21 (Mssg)

The greatest loveComing from us to others

Doesn't originate with usDoesn't originate with us

- Humility

- Gratitude

- Grace towards thosewho don't know yet

(there was a time when you didn't…)

Problems loving certain people…

- Spouse making you mad

- Negative towards spiritual family

- Whole groups of people

The answer to your problemsLoving People

Isn't to do better in loving them But to drawer closer to God

God isn't into betterGod is into new

God isn't into betterGod is into new

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me

- Psalm 51:10

The chain of unhealthy loveIs broken by the agape love of God

The OnlyOnly way to love:Actions

Love doesn't wishLove doesn't wishLove doesLove does

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down

our lives for the brothers.

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his

heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Little children, let us notnot love in word or talk but

in deed and in truth- 1 John 3:16-18

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and

one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,”

without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

- James 2:15-16

Love doesn't wishLove doesn't wishLove doesLove does

"Yesterday after marriage counseling she turned right onto the street and

passed a house…

Then she saw this…

She thought to herself…“Self, Love doesn’t wish. Love Does.”

And pulled into the driveway.

This is Hazel. She 81.

Heather told Hazel to go have some tea while she mowed the rest of her lawn…

I get this text message…

I think to myself…"Self, how are you so lucky?"

Instead of seeing Hazel drinking tea on her porch, Heather hears another lawnmower come from around the corner…

Hazel has 2 lawnmowers.

Hazel gives Heathera Dr. Pepper…because, Love Does

Heather drinks her Dr. Pepper and cleans off her heels.

Love doesn't wish…Love Does.

OnlyOnly if my love for GodTranslates into obedience

Do I love God

Love doesn't wish.Love does.

OnlyOnly if my love for peopleTranslates into the action of serving

Do I love people

I OnlyOnly love GodIf I love people

If I can'tcan't love peopleI don'tdon't love God

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he

who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God

whom he has not seen- 1 John 4:20

The secret to God working in you

is God working through you

Love is…AgapeNot emotion or warm fuzzies

Love is action, not just words

Unloving is part of brokenness

When Wholeness touches BrokennessBrokenness is made Whole

Jesus is exampleAnd power to follow

Do I have a hard time:

Loving the unlovely?

Loving those close to me?

Loving groups of people?

Is my love:

Dysfunctional?

Jealous, Manipulative, Possessive?

Self-Centered?

"We love becauseHe first loved us…"

The answer is Jesus

- Knowing him- Walking closer

"I will NOT do better…

I WILL walk closer"

As a church…Pray for, center on, walk with

Love doesn't wish.Love does.