Thrust: Spiritual relationships don’t just happen but are intentionally forged through the Spirit for God’s pleasure.

It is not good for man to be alone. (Gen 2:18)

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Ps 133:1)

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I. God-Desired Relationship

I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Gen 12:1-3)

A. A Separated Relationship

I will make My dwelling among them… I will be their God, and they shall be My people ... be separate from them… I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me. (2 Cor 6:16-18)

B. A Special Relationship

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in ONE SPIRIT we were all baptized into ONE BODY — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of ONE SPIRIT. (1 Cor 12:12-13)

C. A Spiritual Relationship

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II. Christ-Centred Relationship

A. Preeminence of Christ

i. Christ the Be All and End All

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the Head of the Body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. (Col 1:17-19)

• 1) Christ is before all things (v.17)
• 2) Christ is the Head (v.18)

…the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. (Col 2:19)

• 3) Christ is the Beginning, the Firstborn (v.18b)

Because I live you too will live (Jn 14:19)

… it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Tim 1:10)

• 4) In everything, Christ is Preeminent (v.18c)
• 5) In Christ, all the fullness of God dwell (v.19)

Indwelling fullness - pleroma (Col 1:19)

For in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form (Col 2:9)

Christ is FULLY GOD.

ii. Christ the All-Sufficient One

B. Presence of Christ

• Its Essentiality
• Its Ubiquity - present, appearing, found everywhere

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (Mt 20:18)

…behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Mt 28:20)

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III. Spirit-Motivated Relationship

A. Spirit Inspired

B. Spirit Infused

I … beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3)

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IV. Elim-Adopted 3-2-1 Approach

Desired Outcomes

• a) Biblical Knowledge Expanded
• b) Spiritual Attitudes Modified
• c) Life Skills Acquired

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. - Mother Teresa

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Conclusion

• 1) Spiritual relationships bring great pleasure to God
• 2) Spiritual relationships will always enthrone Christ as preeminent
• 3) Spiritual relationships are anointed, led, facilitated by the Spirit
• 4) Spiritual relationships are established intentionally

Challenge: Go forth and foster loving relationships!