Only in community - Ps. Dennis Varty


Ephesians 1:5    God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. (NLT)
 
Ephesians 2:19    So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. (NLT)
 
Romans 12:5   so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (NASB)
 
Some things can only happen in the context of community.
 
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (NIV)
 
1 Peter 4:10  As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (NASB)
 
You are an answer to someone else's problem/question just as they are an answer to yours. Building relationships with others is very important. God uses people to speak to us.

1.   Being Known - I know and you know.
 
2.   Wearing a Mask - I know but you don't know.
 you are not in a safe place when you know things about yourself that you need to change, but you are not letting anybody know. You need people that you can take the mask off with - people that you have no secrets with. Its not a position of faith to pretend that all things are wonderful when you know you have issues to deal with.

Psalms 32:3, 5  When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long...Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." And you forgave the guilt of my sin. (NIV)
 
Silence makes you ill! You have to make the decision to take the mask off. It is a lot easier for you to take the mask off, than to wait for God to take the mask off.

3.   Blind Spot - I don't know but you know.
 
You need someone to be honest with you.

Proverbs 27:6    Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (NIV)
 
Ephesians 4:15   but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, (NASB)
 
Hosea 4:6  "my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge... " (NIV)
 
4.   Realizing my Potential - I don't know and you don't know, but God knows.
 
Proverbs 18:24   A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NASB)

Created 7 months ago