Impress: Week Four – The Gap                                                                                                                                                          Jim Putman

• What we have discovered so far
• Gods plan – abiding in Christ, a part of the spiritual family, a plan for the home sphere, so that we can defeat the enemies in our life.
• Proactive and Reactive –this week –my home sphere is broken -what now?

We have been given the plan but because of sin in the world there are gaps.

Gap Examples:

• Single Parenting
• Divorce
• Marriage when the other isn’t a believer
• A Marriage where the other isn’t playing their part
• Unequally Yoked
• Kids with parents who aren’t believers
• Grandparents are raising their children

The enemy loves to fill gaps with lies so that the gaps grow and destroy you

• Its too late
• I cant do anything if other parties don’t do their part
• I can fix it all myself –I will do every ones part

John 8:44–45 (NIV) ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

This week – what do I do when there is a gap in my home sphere –

Remember when I see there is a gap its an invitation to come to Him and change

1. Confession –I am wrong – Jesus is Lord — leads to forgiveness

• I will humble myself before the Lord and accept His forgiveness

1 John 1:5–2:2 (NIV) ⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. ⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. ¹ My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

                  Psalms 103:9-14

2. Repentance is a change of direction for yourself –closing the gap

• If I have wronged others I will seek reconciliation
• If I have been wronged –I will forgive and move forward to close the gap
• With Gods help I will step into the gap – Back towards His plan

                  2 Corinthians 7:8–11 (NIV)

3. I will allow Gods gap fillers (His people) to help me fill in the gap

• I will allow Gods gap fillers into my life –His people – His church
• I will ask for help from other believers – wise counsel – support—even accountability – it takes time to make changes in patterns

4. When I see a gap in other peoples lives –I don’t judge or passively observe – I step in to be a gap filler -this is Gods plan

• I will make myself available to minister to others –I will become a gap filler for others

Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV) ³⁰ “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.1 Peter 4:8–11 (NIV)

Galatians 6:2² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

James 1:27 (NIV)               Romans 12:16–21 (NIV)

Individually and Collectively – the church gave – and served

Acts 2:42–47 (NIV) ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 6:1–6 (NIV)

What do I do with my specific issue?

1. A person who is unequally yoked

• Pray
• With support from other believers step into the spiritual gap
• 1 Peter 3:1–6 (NIV)

A single parent – a grandparent

• Notice Lois and Eunice took on the role of living out faith
• Notice Pauls part in the life of a fatherless young man
• A single person

2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV) ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

1 Timothy 1:2 (NIV) ² To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. You became a Christian later in life – you didn’t raise your children in the Lord –start now sharing what you are learning – what you regret

• Become known for something else over time
• Step into the gap when you see one

Ephesians 5:15–16 (NIV) ¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

James 3:17–18 (NLT) ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. ¹⁸ And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Colossians 3:12–14 (NLT) ¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

   For Small Group Discussion

Opening Question: Have you ever tried to build something without plans or with poorly written instructions? How did it go?

Main Point: There is often a gap between the model for family we see in scripture, and the reality we find ourselves in. God provides a spiritual family within the church, designed to fill those gaps.

Main Scripture: Acts 6:1-7, 1 Timothy 1:1-2

Head Questions

• How did the church step in to care for the widows in Acts 6? What role do you think the church plays in filling in the gaps?
• Why does Paul refer to Timothy as his “true son in the faith”? What do you think their relationship was like?

Heart Questions

• Who has invested in you that is not a part of your immediate family? What did that relationship mean to you?
• Did you grow up in a traditional family? How have your family experiences shaped your view of family?

Hands Questions

• What is an area that you could benefit from asking for help from the church family? How can you stand in the gap for other people in our church? Additional Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4,John 13:34-35, 1 Peter 4:10, Matthew 25:40

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