Relationships - Part Three

REVIEW

Father God is above all things, relational: God did not come to a fallen creation because heaven was lacking order or holiness. He considered all of heaven and its perfection along with his own holiness secondary to restoring relationship with a messy and broken creation. Consider the following:· We are beings created in relationship - we were created in the image of a triune God in relationship. [1]“Let us make man in our image” – we are created in the image of a relationship. · We were created for relationship - God created us in His image to be in relationship with Himself. We are called [2]“the bride”, “children”, “sons and daughters”, “brothers and sisters”; everywhere is the paradigm of intimate relationship. · We continue to exist by relationship - We continue to exist as a creation only as long as we are willing to pursue and cooperate in relationship.

God hides his kingdom behind relationships and integrity.

Dr. Henry Cloud

Your relationship with God is the Alpha relationship; it will determine quality of all other relationships.

1 John 4:20 The Message

20 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see?

Relationships are indicators of spiritual maturity…

John 13:35 The Message

35 This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

Decide once and for all: Who is your Alpha relationship?

“So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.

Proverbs 9:10 Translation (TPT) 10 The starting point for acquiring wisdom is to be consumed with awe as you worship Jehovah-God.

To receive the revelation of the Holy One,[a] you must come to the one who has living-understanding.

Proverbs 9:10 KJV 1900

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 6918. קָדוֹשׁ

6918. קָדוֹשׁ qâdôwsh, kaw-doshe´; or

קָדֹשׁ qâdôsh, kaw-doshe´; from 6942; sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary:—holy (One), saint.

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 998. בִּינָה

998. בִּינָה bîynâh, bee-naw´; from 995; understanding:—knowledge, meaning, × perfectly, understanding, wisdom.

Discernment - The ability to judge properly.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary Discern

Latin discernere, from dis- ‘apart’ + cernere ‘to separate’.

Psalm 68:6 NLT

6 God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Proverbs 18:24 NLT

24 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

“Friend”

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 8276 II. רֵעַ

8276 II. רֵעַ (rēaʿ): n.masc.; ≡ Str 7453; TWOT 2186a—1. LN 11.55–11.89 fellow countryman, neighbor, i.e., one who is of the same race, or social/geographical group (Ex 2:13); 2. LN 11.55–11.89 neighbor, i.e., one who lives in close geographical proximity, and by implication the same national group

“Real Friend”

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 170 אָהַב

170 אָהַב (ʾā·hǎḇ): v.; ≡ Str 157; TWOT 29—1. LN 25.33–25.58 (qal) love, i.e., have an affection based on a close relationship, sometimes in comparison to other persons with a lesser relationship (Ge 22:2; 24:67; 25:28; Est 2:17), note: this relationship can be familial, proper romance, or attraction; (qal pass.) be loved (Dt 21:15(2×),16; Ne 13:26; Hos 3:1+); 2. LN 25.1–25.11 (qal) like, i.e., have a desire for an object based in desirability, with a focus on a preference of one thing over another (Ge 27:4), note: qal ptcp. as noun, see 170.5; nif ptcp. as a 2Sa 1:23+, see 5533.5; piel ptcp. as a noun, see 4396.5; for another noun, see also 173

Galatians 6:10 AMP

10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers].

Qualify the relationships with the non-believers, don’t avoid them. (The sandals of the preparation of peace)

God likes to bring us into relationships and often does to fulfill our calling.

Satan also uses relationships, but to thwart our calling.