Sunday November 30, 2014 Pastor Edith Baker. Title: I’m in a Relationship –Really? TEXT: Psalms 116: Focus on verse 12 1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 6 I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Nothing can bring more joy to our life than a beautiful and fulfilling relationship. The depth of a good relationship is beyond understanding And, nothing can bring so much pain as a broken relationship with someone dear to you. 7 Elements of a healthy relationship There is a phrase that encompasses these 7 elements: Mutual Benefit When both parties of a relationship receive benefit of that relationship. Are you really in a relationship with Jesus? 1. Love. Most people think that love is a feeling, but Love is much deeper than a feeling. Love is a commitment we make to always treat that person right and honorably. This is the basis of all healthy relationships. The first commandment in Exodus 20, is to - Love the Lord with all thine heart. Love is a root element in a relationship. We sing Oh, how I love Jesus. So, how do we show our love for Jesus? Malachi 1. “ if I am your father– where then is my honor? You offer me polluted bread, when you decide what you will sacrifice you get your blind sheep” 2. Serving Heart. Zig Ziglar says frequently that “you can have everything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want out of life.” The concept he is talking about is having a heart and life that is focused on serving other people. The Bible puts it this way: Philippians 2:4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 3 Honest Communication. Communication is so important because it is the vehicle that allows us to verbalize what is inside us and enables it to connect with another person. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, Says the LORD, Whatever is going on in your life…whatever is troubling you…what questions you have for me…Is there something you don’t understand…come..sit with me, talk with me…I love you…don’t you love me and want to talk with me about it? Lets reason this all out together 4. Patience. So often relationships break down because people give up and lose patience with each other. Patience wins out. Those who give up on relationships too early, or because the other person isn’t perfect, often forget that their next friend, their next spouse or business partner will not be perfect either! Job didn’t give up on God! Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; James 5:11 5. Loyalty. Loyalty is a commitment to another person. What a powerful and secure feeling of knowing that you have a relationship with someone who is loyal to you and you to them—that neither of you is going anywhere even when things get tough. Wow, how powerful! Jobs loyalty: Job, in the midst of all his trouble, pain and sickness, his voice rang out loud and clear of his loyalty to God, in this one verse; “Though you slay me, yet I will trust you 6. Pleasure. All good relationships have some element of Pleasure. Pleasure brings enjoyment to the relationship and that is important. The pleasurable and fun things we did initially in a new relationship after a while can be taken for granted or simply fall by the wayside and we stop creating these things. So remember to consciously create these things between you and Jesus for these are the glue that hold the relationship together. In Revelation 2:4 Jesus ask John sends the letters to 7 churches in Asia, the church of Ephesus receives this message “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Revelation 4:11 to mind: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” 7. A Common Purpose. This, in terms of our salvation and our bond with Jesus Christ, is the most important element. Purpose. If we are going to have a relationship with Jesus we need to get a clear vision of his purpose, and that must also become our purpose Job 14:14 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. “I would that all come to repentance and be saved” “I came into this world to save sinners” He told Peter, upon this rock I will build my church…is he here building, or is that our responsibility, carrying out his purpose? Come to me all ye who are burdened and heavy laden and I’ll give you rest. God instituted this type of relationship with ancient Israel when He said, I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people (Leviticus:26:12) Is our Purpose aligned to God’s Purpose? Because, in the end this is propably the most testing element of our relationship with God. When we understand that HIS PURPOSE must be OUR PURPOSE JESUS SAID – MY PURPOSE IS God’s PURPOSE. Paul and many of the apostles stated THEIR PURPOSE was the same as JESUS. The person with whom you are in a relationship, that is the person who will bring pleasure to your life. Laughter, …..Fun, …..entertainment,…. excitement,…. fulfillment, release. A phrase that encompasses these all....... Mutual Benefit. When both parties of a relationship receive benefit of that relationship. Jesus talked of it often, but I think the one verse that stands out above all the rest is a very simple verse and it denotes a level of intimacy; one-on-one, very personal and very attention Revelations 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. What does ‘SUP” mean? - Where we get the term ‘Supper’ Dine with. Have a meal with. Sup as in supper or dinner. Eating was a very private thing. Sharing a meal usually meant that you had a relationship with that person. I will sup with him – you invite me into your world with what you have, concerns, issues, you give me your supply, and I’ll sit and talk with you and refresh you through our spiritual relationship. He has proven his love for us in this relationship. Do we love him, have we proven our love for him Is there a ‘Mutual Benefit” in your relationship with Jesus? Jesus left heaven, came here to live in poverty, feel the pain of rejection, accusation, hated, beaten, killed in the most cruel and public manner possible. John “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” John was making a very pointed statement. Jesus would become a sacrifice on the altar of our sins and our iniquities, Isaiah says; “he was lead like a lamb to the slaughter” In this relationship we say we have with Jesus, what has been our sacrifice, where is the mutual benefit to him? What have we done in alignment to the purpose of Jesus.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 21:52:48 +0000
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