Breaking Free The "Onlys"

"It's just the way I am…"

"It's just the way I am…" If our Jesus isn't powerful enough We need a new Jesus

Brokenness causes Brokenness

Brokenness causes Brokenness Wholeness produces Wholeness

Brokenness causes Brokenness Wholeness produces Wholeness When Wholeness touches Brokenness Brokenness is made Whole

Leper

Woman with the Issue

Your brokenness…?

She took great care of him Suffering with grace to do so Everyone agreed- "She's a saint!"

Everyone said he was a loving husband She was lucky to have Such a great "catch"

Flat Pepsi…

What dysfunctional behaviors Have you seen masquerade as love?

What dysfunctional behaviors Have you seen masquerade as love? - Jealousy - Possessiveness - Controlling - Manipulative - Self-centered

Self-centered: - For what I can get out of it

Self-centered: - For what I can get out of it - For as long as I am Interested/benefitting

Self-centered: - For what I can get out of it - For as long as I am Interested/benefitting - Because it makes me happy To make you happy

Self-centered: - For what I can get out of it - For as long as I am Interested/benefitting - Because it makes me happy To make you happy - To be seen as loving and giving

only We can only love To the extent That we know God's love

The secret to God working in you is God working through you

only We can only love To 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

shows his love God shows 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

only We can only love To the extent That we know God's love

Agape: Unconditional, others-centered Seeking their best interests When they don't deserve it Even when it costs

Agape: Unconditional, others-centered Seeking their best interests When they don't deserve it Even when it costs I can't- and won't- outside of God's love in me

The secret to God working in you is God working through you

only My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only 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)

Doesn't originate with us The greatest love Coming from us to others Doesn't originate with us

- Humility - Gratitude - Grace towards those who 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 problems Loving People Isn't to do better in loving them But to drawer closer to God

God isn't into better God is into new

God isn't into better God 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 love Is broken by the agape love of God

Only Love doesn't wish Love does The Only way to love: Actions Love doesn't wish Love 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.

not 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 not 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 wish Love 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 Heather a Dr. Pepper…because, Love Does

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

Love doesn't wish… Love Does.

Only Only if my love for God Translates into obedience Do I love God

Only Love doesn't wish. Love does. Only if my love for people Translates into the action of serving Do I love people

Only I Only love God If I love people

can't don't If I can't love people I don'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…Agape Not emotion or warm fuzzies Love is action, not just words

Unloving is part of brokenness When Wholeness touches Brokenness Brokenness is made Whole

Jesus is example And 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 because He 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.