This message is about liberating grace – grace that frees us. Do you ever feel frustrated with God because you feel his expectations on you are unreasonable? Does your relationship with God feel more like a burden than a blessing? Perhaps you are inflicted with perfectionism. First, there were some self-evaluating questions. Do you ever find yourself feeling the following:

  • Do you feel guilty when you relax knowing you have a lot to do?
  • Do you often feel discontented about yourself or your situation?
  • Do you tend to see what is wrong with things rather than what is right?
  • Do you use these phrases: “I have to,” “I should be able to,” “I must,” “I ought to”

 

GRACE: THE GRACE THAT FREES US

Message by Todd Lester – August 6, 2017

Galatians 3:3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
 

HOW PERFECTIONISM HARMS

1. IT DEFEATS MY INITIATIVE

Ecclesiastes 11:4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

2. IT DAMAGES MY RELATIONSHIPS

Proverbs 17:9 Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

3. IT DESTROYS MY HAPPINESS

Ecclesiastes 7:16 So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?
 

HOW TO R.E.L.A.X. IN GOD’S GRACE

REALIZE NO ONE IS PERFECT

Psalm 119:96 Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.

ENJOY GOD’S LOVE AND GRACE FOR YOU

1 John 3:1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

Romans 8:31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

LET GOD HANDLE YOUR PROBLEMS

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Proverbs 14:30 A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

Phillipians 4:11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

ACT IN FAITH, NOT IN FEAR

Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Colossians 2:6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.

EXCHANGE YOUR PERFECTIONISM FOR GOD’S PEACE

Matthew 11:28-29 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

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