Extraordinary Relationships

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EXTRAORDINARY DREAMS #4: EXTRAORDINARY RELATIONSHIPS
(February 2010 – Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)

OPEN ILLUSTRATION: Making donuts: I took a shortcut, didn’t let dough rise as long as it said, they were heavy, not as good. We’re used to Tim Horton’s, drive-thru, instant mentality. Today we will look at the most important missing ingredient from extraordinary relationships:

REVIEW JOSEPH’S STORY FROM THE LAST THREE WEEKS: (Gen. 37-44)
Joseph had a dream that God was calling him to be a great leader. Joseph’s brothers hated him, threw him in a pit, and sold him as a slave. As a slave, he was accused of rape and ended up in prison. While he was in prison, Joseph became a dream releaser. Because of Joseph’s integrity and faithfulness, the Lord promoted him to the second in command in Egypt. As a famine ravaged the world, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for food.

THE BIG IDEA: God wants us to pursue peace and walk in forgiveness towards all people. This is the key to experiencing extraordinary relationships.

JOSEPH’S STORY:
“1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Make everyone go out from me!" So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:1-5).

1. Joseph pursued peace in his relationship with his brothers:
• Joseph said: “Please come near to me.” (v.4).
• He could have taken on the victim mentality and written off his brothers.
• Joseph rather pursued PEACE. He chose to FORGIVE them.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” (Hebrews 12:14-15).
• When we don’t walk in peace and unity, it affects our relationship with the Lord.
• When we get bitter, it causes trouble and defiles many people.
• Don’t hang around with bitter, unforgiving people, they will defile you!
“You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will… be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others… They will betray their friends… They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
• QUOTE: “Notice that they will have a form of godliness or “Christianity,” but they will deny its power. How will they deny its power? They deny that Christianity can change them from being unforgiving to forgiving. They will boast of being followers of Jesus and proclaim their “new ... next page »