Pushing the Limits
Notes
Transcript
Pushing the Limits
Pushing the Limits
Far too often we try to push the limits of what we know we should not do.
Christians often find themselves trying to see how much they can “get away with” without actually crossing the line and sinning - have you ever felt that way?
Should we really be flirting with sin and trying to get as close to the edge as possible, or should we have a different focus?
What does the Bible say?
9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
God knows our heart and wants us to seek him first - this is a choice we must make every day
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
Our one focus should be to grow closer to God and glorify him in our lives
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
We should be asking God for direction - AND following his lead!
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
God not only sees our actions, he sees our motives
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
We must flee the dangers of sin and pursue righteousness
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Paul is particularly concerned about their closeness to idolatry...
What should I do?
Scripture gives overwhelming support that our focus should not be on pushing the limits, but rather on being committed to doing all things in a way that clearly glorifies God and draws us closer to Him in obedience.
Some good questions we must ask ourselves are:
1. How well are my thoughts and actions pleasing God?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
2. How well are my thoughts and actions drawing me closer to God?
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
God is not pleased when our desire is to push to the edge of what we think is “okay”
He does not want us going in the direction that leads us away from Him!
However, God is pleased when we make decisions that draw us closer to Him in obedience.
Let us apply these principles to every aspect of our lives, so that in all we do, we will continually be pursuing Him and His righteousness.