Sunday Words of Encouragement April 8, 2018

Our Sunday School teacher went to Haiti a week ago for a youth spring convention at the church that God planted through Band of Brothers. He shared wonderful photos and videos this morning. God at work is so wonderfully amazing!

Pastor started his new Sermon series title “Relation Slips”.
Some outgoing people have many relationship, some introverts only have a few. However, many we have, when we hit bumpy times do we look to blame the other or look to ourselves? Are we depositing enough credits into the affection account or over withdrawing?

Any time there is a relation slip, there is stress. Often our day to day situations are beyond malfunctioning and more like dysfunctional. John Maxwell, leadership expert, has stated “The Bob Principle” as: When Bob has a problem with everyone around him, Bob is usually the problem.

We are all dysfunctional to a degree although some hide it better than others. It is important to remember that you are not alone. We have all been born with the sin nature and all fallen short of God’s standards.

Point: A functional relationship with God will lead to functional relationships with people.

You may think your relationship with God is healthy but most likely it is not. Matthew 7:21-23.
Have we come to accept a relationship that is less than it should be? Sin made us dysfunctional, but God wants us to function properly.

Sometimes men are hopelessly confused. We must look in the mirror and then take action. We must throw away the old nature and put on the new nature. Ephesians 4:17-24. This requires us to act, as it doesn’t say someone else (even God) will do this for us.

Our old (human) nature is a slave to sin. But when we believe in Christ, we have a new life and a new view. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. When we view those around us as God's sons and daughters it will changes how we view and treat them.

Is your relationship with God fully functional? It requires that we invest into the relationship: spend time, study His word and apply His views to life. He wants you to have the new life; to be fully functional; to have Life more abundantly.

Today start a new life by looking at the person in the mirror.

I chose this song video for today: New Beginnings

Verses for Today:
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (NIV)
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Lord I pray that I put of the old and put on the new. Help me live fully in the example of Christ.