Three Things That Can Make Any Relationship Stink

Yesterday, we discussed seven follies most people assume are significant. Examples included such as sins such as sexual immorality, anger, and unforgiveness. Today, I’d like to point out three sinful follies we might see as minor, but we should view them with great concern when they manifest in our lives. Because these little sinful follies can become huge problems, especially in our most meaningful relationships. Too often, it’s the little things that often add up to create the most significant stench within our lives spiritually.

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. -Ecclesiastes 10:1 (ESV)

1. Criticism

It may not seem like that big of a deal to point out what you dislike. You may even feel entitled to do so, but it is a sin to live with a mindset of cynicism that constantly fuels a mouth of criticism.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. -Colossians 3:12–14 (ESV)

2. Lack of empathy

It is impossible to live as a Jesus-follower without compassion. Jesus, himself, consistently modeled a lifestyle moved by empathy. And, just as Paul’s exhortation to the Church at Colossia warns against criticism, it also identifies compassion as an expectation and directive. Meaning it is a command, not a suggestion. And, therefore a lack of empathy can be a sinful act, even though it may not feel like that big of a deal to turn a blind eye to the needs of others.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. -Colossians 3:12–14 (ESV)

3. Discontentment

It may not seem like a big deal to express discontentment with your house, wardrobe, car, job, church, family, or financial status. But this little thing can become a very big deal. For instance, discontentment cost Adam and Eve the paradise of Eden. They had everything except one thing, yet discontentment focused them on this one thing outside their grasp. Paul cautioned us in this regard by sharing his testimony of the benefits associated with contentment. And he further explained that this kind of lifestyle creates anything but a “stench” spiritually. Instead, it becomes a sweet-smelling savor unto God!

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me….Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:10–13, 18–19 (NKJV)

When we stop to evaluate if we have the dead flies of which Solomon spoke in Ecclesiastes 10 – little sinful follies – poisoning our hearts and souls, it allows us to seek God’s help to remove the things that stink up our lives spiritually. This repentant action gets our hands clean, hearts pure, and minds renewed as we begin to overcome our “stinking thinking” and remember that God shall supply all our needs as He is the one who strengthens us! Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we remove criticism, lack of empathy, and discontentment – the spiritual flies of death – as we reclaim the beautiful fragrance that is pleasing to God in our lives.

I know Jesus will help you in this regard because of the events recorded in Matthew 10, 12, and Luke 11. In each of those instances, Jesus is found to be discussing His acts of casting out the enemy. But each time, he chooses not to call this enemy’s name as we would expect it, Satan or the devil. Instead, Jesus calls him Beelzebub. This intentional act by Jesus is very intriguing because the direct definition of the name Beelzebub is “Lord of the Flies.” Wow! Jesus states that the spiritual flies the enemy lords over and sends into your life will have no authority when Heaven shows up. Jesus can and will cast it out!

The enemy loves to use dead flies to poison the sweet-smelling fragrance of our lives. He craves the opportunity to create a stench that brings destruction to your life. He wants to disrupt the good name of your reputation, as referenced in Ecclesiastes 7:1, but even worse, he wants to disrupt the name of Jesus as a result of your lifestyle choice.

Don’t allow this stench to enter your life. Let Jesus cast out the flies of the and the lord of the flies altogether. You can overcome your follies and live a life that is a sweet-smelling savor unto God as you do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens you! You can run off the flies in our life… You can overcome your little sinful follies… all you need is the name of Jesus! He will help you overcome every hurt, habit, and hang up – every fly of death!

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/bybm_0IrRE8

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You'll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post blogs every Monday, Thursday, and Friday morning.

---

People of the Bible: Samson

Book of the Bible: Judges 13-16

Who was Samson?

• He was a judge of Israel

• He was a Nazarite meaning:

  • He couldn’t drink alcohol, eat unclean food, or cut his hair

• God had given him super strength

Before Samson was born, an angel appeared to his parents and told them that they would have a son and he would begin to deliver the nation of Israel from the hands of the Philistines. When Samson was born he was dedicated as a Nazarite and God blessed him as he grew. God gave Samson superhuman strength that he used to save himself in many situations.

Cool Things Samson Did:

• Killed a lion with his bare hands

• Caught 300 foxes, tied their tails together, and set them on fire to destroy the Philistines’ crops

• Killed 1,000 Philistine men with a donkey jawbone

• Constantly broke free after the Philistines tried tying him up

• Broke the doors of a metal gate that the Philistines had trapped him in

During this time, the Israelites were under heavy oppression from the Philistines. But, God used Samson to fight back and he began to free the people from the Philistines. However, Samson started hanging out with the wrong people and it got him in trouble.

Samson became friends with a Philistine woman named Delilah. Samson liked Delilah, but he didn’t know she was secretly working with the Philistine army. Delilah’s job was to find out how Samson received his super strength and if it was possible for him to lose it.

Delilah begged Samson over and over again how he received his strength and he eventually told her. He told her that if his hair was ever cut then he would lose all his strength. Delilah then told the army that if they cut his hair, they could defeat him. So they snuck in his room while he slept and they cut his hair and captured him since he had no strength.

The Philistines gouged Samson’s eyes out and they made him their slave. One day when Samson was tied up, he prayed that God would give him strength one last time. God answered Samson’s prayer and he tore down the whole Philistine temple, killing 3,000 people. In this act, Samson killed more Philistines than he ever did in his life, but he also died when the temple came down.

We can learn many things from Samson, but what we learn most is the consequences of having bad friends. God was using Samson in great ways, and God wanted to continue to use him. But Samson chose a bad friend and that relationship got in the way of his relationship with God and it caused him to lose his strength, be captured, and eventually die.

Samson reminds us of another guy God used in the Bible, Jesus. But unlike Samson, Jesus chose good friends and never let anyone get in between his relationship with God. Jesus was able to fulfill everything God had called him to do because he stayed focused and always listened to what God was telling him to do.

Key Takeaways:

• Choose Your Friends Carefully

• Stay Focused

Parents, 3treesKIDS will be covering “Samson", both in-person and online this week. Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.

To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.

Seven Questions to Evaluate Your Relationship with God

But in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. - 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NKJV)

Paul reveals that there can be multiple vessels in the same house. Specifically, using the description of “a great house,” he shares that there can be gold, silver, wood, and clay vessels; but he clarifies that not all of them are for honorable use. There are dishonorable vessels too. His point: it’s not enough to just be in the house – even a great house – you have to personally choose to be a vessel that brings honor to God.

He further clarifies that to encourage honor in the vessels of those following God, Timothy must remind his audience of these things, “Shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase more ungodliness. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace...avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife…a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…” (2 Timothy 2:14, 16, 22-25 NKJV)

First, the things that we must move away from:

1. SHUN inappropriate conversations

2. FLEE immature lusts

3. AVOID arguments with irrational people

4. REFUSE to quarrel needlessly
   

Now, the things we must do:

1. PURSUE faith, love, and peace

2. BE gentle

3. DEVELOP the ability to share Scriptural truth

4. EXEMPLIFY patience

5. DISPLAY humility when correcting someone

Continuing in our posts evaluating Samson's life, we again acknowledge that he was called to holiness. He was called to be set apart. But he became a dishonorable vessel.

You do not want to become a dishonorable vessel.

So, how do you know what type of spiritual vessel you are, honorable or dishonorable? First, you must choose to evaluate your life.

1. Have I surrendered my life to Jesus?

2. Am I shunning unholy things?

3. Am I fleeing immature lusts?

4. Am I pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace?

5. Am I avoiding strife-filled conversations?

6. Am I a gentle, teachable, and patient person?

7. Am I patient when attempting to correct others?

God wants to do something very awesome in your life! But you have to make sure you are a vessel unto the Lord, fully surrendered to do His will through you. Samson never learned this lesson!

Samson was always fighting against everyone else and could not seem to control the lust of his flesh. As a result, he never surrendered or expressed passion for God until his dying breath.

What if Samson had just surrendered to God?

What if he had nurtured his parents’ passion for God in his own life?

How would his story be different?

Samson can’t change his story. His life is concluded, and it is heartbreaking. But your story is still being written. You can change your story. You can be the vessel that God uses to bring glory to Himself. You can be the “honorable” vessel God uses to impact the lives of others! Allow God to do something extraordinary in your life. It’s time to pivot from a causal and meaningless relationship to a meaningful and powerful relationship with God!

You don’t want to end your life thinking about the “what if’s,” you want to live your days celebrating and remembering all the very awesome things God did for you and through you!

Please allow us to help you take your next step with God and join a meaningful community. REGISTER FOR A SMALL GROUP HERE: https://www.3trees.com/groups

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/1oio3Vr_UE4

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.