Your First Ever Relationship

Relationship are complex, complicated things. 2 or more humans trying to work things out can be difficult. Everything in our world is so jacked up that we shouldn’t be surprised when relationships are broken too. And sometimes we get relationships wrong. Or worse, we just decide that relationships aren’t worth it so we might as well be alone. It might surprise you to find out that Jesus does not want us to be alone. In fact, it was never God’s design for us to be alone. Even though it starts that way.

Goal means you are aiming or trying to achieve something.

Gen 1:3-25 (Summarize creation)

God was in relationship BEFORE creation. (Trinity)

God wants relationship FOR you, not just from you or with you. He wants you to have a deep connection with other human, just in the right time and order.

The main reason He wants relationship for you is because relationship keeps you from believing the lies of the enemy.

Eccl 4:9-10,12

-You can tell if a relationship is from God if it is helping you.

-If the people around you are keeping you in chains, get rid of them.

- They can even help each other succeed in failing (toxic)

Relationships where purpose is not known will open the door to the devil.

Before God gives you someone, He wants to give you a few things:

1) Place

a. God gave Adam a place he had nothing to do with making.

b. Learn the lesson God is teaching you in the place He put you

c. We fight where God has placed us, who He has placed us with, even the church

i. Be an agent of change

d. Adam did see why he was there

2) Purpose

a. If you ignore the place, you miss the purpose.

b. While you’re trying to figure out the “who”, God is trying to show you why He has placed you there.

3) Provision

a. God made trees grow for Adam, Adam didn’t

b. If you have to provide for what God has called you to do, it isn’t Him

c. God only funds His plans (God’s will God’s bill)

4) Identity

a. God made us to be like Him

b. If you find your identity in anyone else, you are missing your identity

c. The enemy will distract you with the world from your identity

d. Don’t try to change the name God gave you.

e. Don’t accept what someone says about your identity when they don’t know their own.

5) Parameters

a. God sets boundaries to keep us safe, not punish us.

b. If you don’t have a standard before the relationship, the relationship will set the standard

c. Eccl 4:9, 2 are better than 1. Even at messing up.

d. 1 Cor 10:23

i. The real power of being a Christ follower is knowing that you can do whatever you want, but you don’t have to.

A mature Christian will set parameters, enter into relationship with another believer, even a young one, and the younger will remind the older of the parameters.

Illustration- 2 Peters 1:3

Ping-Pong balls- Negative relationships

Huge glass container- our life

Water- God

Anything worth doing is worth doing continually.

When the lies come back, they can only stay on the surface. (Balls on the water)

He’s not holding it back from you. He’s holding it back for you!