Relationships is very key to human existence. God will judge us based on: 1. Our relationship with Him; 2. Our relationship with one another; and 3. Our relationship with His creation. When you miss the ultimate, your relationship with God, you spoil the other two...because it is the foundation of any good, healthy relationships and being. A people who commit suicide, enter into depression, etc have a challenge in building relationships.
This is a highlight on Building Healthy Relationships.
2. God is a God of RELATIONSHIPS,
FELLOWSHIP, COVENANTS & SACRIFICES.
Relationship is the core – the heart of God
– the cardinal area of our existence.
God will judge us on the basis of
relationship.
How we related to Him through His Son
How we related with our fellow humans
3. Closer to God
– closer to one
another.
Far from God –
far from one
another.
Relationship is
being
connected by:
Birth
Marriage
4. PRINCIPLES IN RELATIONSHIP
1. Relationship helps us to know and Understand the other
party (God/Man)
Know – to understand, discern, be aware.
We know people through interaction not psychological
classes.
2. A strong positive relationship creates an atmosphere for
answered prayer.
The atmosphere of hope, confidence and expectation for
answers
strong assurance of divine answers.
5. 2. A STRONG POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP
CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE FOR PRAYER.
Mark 11:25-26, “25And whenever you stand
praying, if you have anything against
anyone, forgive him, that your Father in
heaven may also forgive you your
trespasses. 26 "But if you do not forgive,
neither will your Father in heaven forgive
your trespasses."
6. “7In the same way, you husbands must give honor to
your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you
live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she
is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her
as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. 8
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize
with each other. Love each other as brothers and
sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults
when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a
blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he
will bless you for it…” 1 Peter 3:7-12.
7. Relationship is what Christ stressed in all His teachings.
Matthew 18:21-35 – (the unforgiving servant)…
3. A Strong positive relationship opens the heart to a lifestyle of
giving.
It is hard to give where there’s no relationship.
We need first of all to amend relationships for our gifts to be
accepted before God. (Matthew 5:21-26)
Open your heart in giving to the needy around you…Deut.
15:7-11
People in need are not a burden but an opportunity for us to
serve Christ by serving them.
Cornelius – Acts 10:1-4
8. 4. A Strong positive relationship provides an avenue
for the growth of ministry, gifts, talents and skill –
which is the beauty of man.
An unwelcome environment rebels people and it’s
unattractive.
Proverbs 27:17 tells us that “Iron sharpens iron; so a
man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
You cannot develop in skill, ministry, and gifts without
people working on you.
At least you need somebody in your life. You need
people. And you need God.
9. Treat every person God brings your way
with great care. Value them and tap the gift of
grace God has placed in their lives.
Every Joshua needs a stammering Moses.
The people you associate with tells a lot how
far you will rise and how deep you will be
grounded. The anointing you seek is in serving
people around you.
2Cor.4:6-7
10. 5. Everything rises or falls on Relationship.
• The way up the ladder is through building a healthy
succession of strong steps of relationship. The way down is by
neglecting to nurture the network that led you up.
• Your relationship with those ahead and above you will give
you favor before them providing an opportunity for lifting. 2
Kings 2:9, 15; John 1:29.
• Your relationship with those with you will make you their
preference, their choice, their hero when an opportunity for
lifting comes. 1 Sam.23:16-18.
• Your relationship with those under you will provide security
and confidence, for they shall see you as their shelter of
refuge. 1 Sam.22:1-2.
11. 6. Openness & Faithfulness are the Foundations of
Healthy Relationship.
Love can never be concealed. Love is open.
“12This is my commandment: Love each other in the
same way I have loved you. 13There is no greater love
than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my
friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you
slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves.
Now you are my friends, since I have told you
everything the Father told me.” John 15:12-15.
Friendship is a true mark of a healthy relationship.
12. 7. A strong positive relationship stands
because there’s an ending mutual submission
one to another.
Submission is letting go what I want for the
sake of meeting the needs of the other.
Submitting to God means foregoing my
demands and going to meet His need of
worship and reverence.
It is simply saying not my will but let your will
be done.
13. 8. A Healthy Relationship with God and
People shuns us from covetousness.
Covetousness is wanting and looking for
more than what you have or need. It is
being acquisitive, greedy & materialistic.
It affects those who have and those who do
not have….it is embedded in the hearts of
men.
Luke 12:13-31.
14. From Luke 12:13-31
Life is more than food, the body more than
clothes (possessions). (v.23).
Learn from the natural course of things and
lift God’s praise daily and at all times
(Ps.34:1-2)…(24)
Covetousness causes our hearts to be
gloomy toward God - dry without any
melody to sing to Him.
15. From Luke 12:13-31
Be content with what God gives you.
Let your faith entirely rest on God for He is
ever gracious towards us… (v.29).
Focus on God and His kingdom (v.31).
The rich man is not the one who has much,
but the one who wants little. Child of God, cut
down the list of your needs.
Possessions are good but one danger with them is
that they can easily possess us.
16. 9. Healthy Relationship releases our faith
into extra ordinary works in service of
our Savior and Lord.
Luke 17:3-6
Forgiving our trespasses heals and
restores fellowship and relationships.
Any relationship stands if there’s non-
ending forgiveness one to another.
17. 10. Relationship reveals a bright or fallen
countenance.
Have you walked to a person who is grieved or
dumped in a relationship? Have you ever been in a
sour relationship and every thing seems hitting on the
rocks?
Esther 1:10-12.
The queen Vashti decided to publicly dishonor the
king. Immediately the king’s face changed
Many gloomy faces in the Church, work-places,
shopping malls reveal relationship hitch people are
going through. People are hurting….
18. BUILDING A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD
James 4:8
“Draw near to God, and He will draw
near to you. Cleanse your hands, you
sinners; and purify your hearts, you
double-minded.”
19. Scripture and experience teach that it is we, not
God, who determine the degree of intimacy with
Him that we enjoy.
We are at this moment as close to God as we
really choose to be.
Everything in our Christian life and service flows
from our relationship with God.
when our communion with Him is close and
real, it is gloriously possible to experience a
growing intimacy.
20. RELATIONSHIP
CIRCLE
"Draw near to
God, and He will
draw near to you.
Cleanse your
hands, sinners,
and purify your
hearts, double-
minded people!"
(James 4:8)
21. •If we draw near to God, he will reciprocate and
draw near to us. Drawing near to God is
spending time with Him, worshiping Him,
praying and talking to Him, inviting Him into
every aspect of our lives.
the formula for drawing near.
keep a short sin account
Ask the Lord to examine your heart, your
motives, and the things that make you do what
you do.
Bring your heart under His lordship
22. A person who is double-minded is drawn in two
completely different directions.
his loyalty is divided and he vacillates between faith
and unbelief.
A double-minded person is unstable in all his ways
and his spiritual walk is inconsistent
he tries to serve God and his own interests at the
game time.
We are not going to get very far with God by playing
spiritual games.
If I really want to know Him, I'm going to have to get
serious about my relationship with Him.
23. Desiring God
Our desire for God is a gift we must
regularly open and engage if we are to fully
realize and enjoy it.
there is one place and one place alone to
which Christ wants you to be when it comes
to Him, and that is closer.
Remember… followers of Jesus refuse to
follow at a distance; if you’re not moving
closer, you’re moving away.
24. YOUR TURN
Are you moving closer to Jesus Christ?
Where are you in your relationship with
Him?
Are you pressing in, leaning against His
chest, looking into the storm to see if it is
Him?
Is that what you desire?