Churches that Heal Pt.2
Relational Connection
Part 2 – Churches That Heal
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Senior Pastor, Dr. Janet Cook
©2020 Praysers Ministries, Inc. d.b.a. River of Life Community Church
Note: Unless otherwise indicated all scriptures are taken from the NKJV
Last week we learned about 3 essential ingredients Grace, Truth and Time.
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
- Grace is God’s unmerited favor towards him people. Grace is something we have not earned and do not deserve.
- Truth describes how things really are. Jesus said his word is truth.
- Dr Henry Cloud says: Truth is the skeleton life hangs upon; it adds shape to everything in the universe. God’s truth leads us to what is real, to what is accurate. Just as our DNA contains the form that our physical life will take, God’s truth contains the form that our soul and spirit should take. Cloud, Henry. Changes That Heal: The Four Shifts That Make Everything Better…And That Everyone Can Do . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
In the parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13:6-9
“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”
WHAT IS BONDING? Bonding is the ability to establish an emotional attachment to another person. It’s the ability to relate to another on the deepest level. When two people have a bond with each other, they share their deepest thoughts, dreams, and feelings with each other with no fear that they will be rejected by the other person. Cloud, Henry. Changes That Heal: The Four Shifts That Make Everything Better…And That Everyone Can Do . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
According to Dr Cloud, our foundation as human beings should be bonding to others. Babies growing up without connection are malnourished physically, mentally, and emotionally.
The scripture emphasizes the importance of bonding:
Psalm 22:9 “But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.”
- An infant learns to trust
- Love bonds are developed
Loving God and Loving Others
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
- Everything in the law hinges on loving God and loving others.
- To become mature and responsible requires us to bond with others.
Love bonds and Fear Bonds
“Based upon our experiences We will develop love bonds or we can develop fear bonds. The fear bonds and love bonds we experience during our formative years determine the way that we motivate ourselves.
When we use fear we threaten ourselves with what will happen if we do not get to work on time, do not lose weight. Do not save money, or if we get our spouse mad. We think about things that could go wrong. We worry and feel guilty. We run from shame and blame others. We become paralyzed. We operate way under our potential.
Love bonds on the other hand, motivate us to remain faithful under pressure, to help others to be all they were created to be, to be willing to endure pain in order to be close to those we love, and to tell the truth even when it hurts. We think about how God sees others. We are not controlled by fear because we know there is always something more important that demands our attention and devotion.” The Life Model, Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You; Shepherd’s House, Inc., Van Nuys, CA 91406, 1999, p. 16
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
1 John 4:18-19 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”
Story from Changes That Heal, How to Understand Your Past to Ensure a Healthier Future; Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1990, p.46.
Who are you talking to? Are you willing to be vulnerable and share?
Open Up Your Heart
2 Corinthians 6:11-13
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children —open wide your hearts also.
Closing Prayer
Ephesians 3:16-19
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
In Jesus Name, Amen.