Abiding in Biblical Prosperity Discovering all I have is God’s | how to steward it for His glory Session 7: Stewarding Relationships Big Ideas: 1. Why do relationships matter? 2. What relationships am I called to steward? 3. How do I steward these relationships? True Spiritual growth occurs by the Spirit of God, through the Word of God, alongside the People of God, over time. John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is of no help at all. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Luke 8:15 [15] As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (ESV) Community. …the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone…” Genesis 2:18 “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgement.” Proverbs 18:1 “Look carefully at how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 “...do not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some…” Hebrews 10:25 There are legitimate reasons like sickness or work or travel or legal issues to not gather. The key word here is neglect. A choice to de-prioritize biblical community… And let me say, as a Church we gag at the idea of check-the-box christianity. But the body of Christ NEEDS one another. Us, you. You, us. We are at war with the king of hell. His aim is to distract, disconnect, or deceive us in regard to the relationship we have as a part of the Body of Christ. He wants to separate us from the flock like a wolf does a sheep, yes, to take us out individually, but also because of the ripple effect the isolation of one can have on the body. Relationship: the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected; the state of being connected; the way in which two or more people or groups regard and behave toward each other. 1. Why do relationships matter? Genesis 1:26–28, 31 [26] Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. [28] And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth… [31] And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. (ESV) • Relationships matter because people matter. Imago Dei: made in the image of God. Why do I steward the relationships? Because, what God values is valuable. Who God creates, I am called to care for. All people, as fallen and messed up as they, and I, are, each bear His image. Humans have inherent dignity, value, and worth that comes from God. • Relationships matter because it is not good to be alone. The first thing in all of creation which was NOT GOOD was Adam’s solitude. It wasn’t a mistake on God’s part, but an incomplete reflection of Himself to have a one person world. So God made Eve for Adam, commanded they be fruitful and multiply - fill the earth with relational stewards. • Relationships mattered to Jesus • Relationships are one of the most intimate avenues through which God shows his grace and mercy to people. Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 [9] Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. [10] For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! [11] Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? [12] And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (ESV) Scientifically, emotionally, physically, spiritually, economically, mentally, and eternally, relationships are God’s good gift given for the good of all people. His heart is that we steward them for His glory and the good of others, all in response to the grace of God in Christ Jesus. • Companionship, help, comfort, warmth, strength, counsel, perspective, provision, discipline, courage, victory, accountability, forgiveness, growth, etc. 2. What relationships am I called to steward? My relationship with… 1. With Jesus (John 15, the whole bible) 2. With Spouse (Gen 3) (Col.3:18, 19) 3. With Children/Parents (Psalm 127, Ephesians 6:4) ( Col. 3:20-21) 4. With the Body of Christ (too many to count) 5. With Co-workers (Col. 3:22-4:1) 6. With Neighbors (Matt. 22:39, Proverbs 3:28, Luke 10:25-37) 7. With Strangers (Luke 10:25-37, Matt. 28:19, 8. With Enemies (Luke 6:27-31, Matt. 5:43-47) Two main categories of relationships. • Relationships within the Body of Christ • Relationships outside the Body of Christ Matthew 22:36-40 [36] “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” [37] And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment. [39] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [40] On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Stewarding Relationships Within the Body of Christ God is a relational being. He chose to create people to be in a relationship with, to be the recipients of His love and grace, and to respond to Him relationally. We are called to be the BODY of Christ. We’re not the CELL of Christ, or an ATOM of Christ. Ephesians 4:1–6 [1] I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—[5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (ESV) Paul does not urge that walking worthy of Christ is church attendance, how much you give, if you go on a mission trip, if you wear the right things or associate with the right denomination. Paul is saying, ‘look, if you want to walk worthy of Christ, treat His body well.’ Relational Stewardship ingredients: 1. Humility 2. Gentleness 3. Patience 4. Bearing with one another in love (not tolerating people, but embracing them even in the midst of annoyance) 5. Maintain Unity of the Spirit Humility: the feeling or attitude that you have no special importance that makes you better than others; lack of pride. True humility seeks to bring glory and honor to God and looks out for the interests of others Gentleness: Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. Patience: the ability to endure difficult people and situations without giving into anger or giving up hope. The fruits of the Spirit and works of the Spirit are necessary. He is the key in both our inner transformation and our outward expression of God’s love to others. We’re not passive participants. It doesn’t just leak out of us as we sit back and watch the world burn. We have to practice these things, feeding on the Spirit’s fruit and feeding it to others. The big motive behind stewarding relationships? (3) eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eager: Wanting to do something very much. Maintain: To enable a condition to continue. Something is already present, we play a role in keeping it going. Galatians 3:26-28 [26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. [27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Our unity is deeper than any man can create, because it is birthed and forged by the Spirit of God in each of us as equal members of the body of Christ. We can’t break the Holy Spirit, but we can either break or strengthen the relationships we have with others who are indwelt with the same Spirit. “The foundational strength of a healthy biblical community is not in the pulpit or the Sunday gathering. It is found in the depths of a horizontal community with vertically driven intimate abiders in Christ striving to grow together. The small gathering is a space where people are seen, cared for, and held accountable in their discipleship journey with Christ.” - Nate Sweeney Without unity of Spirit, there would be no authenticity in the church, no accountability, no confession between each other leading to our healing and restoration, no communion of the saints, no trust. We’d be a bunch of people checking religion’s box trying to outdo one another in phariseeism. But by the Spirit, we outdo one another in showing each other honor, love, and service in order to build one another up in love and strengthen the bond of peace that exists between us BECAUSE of Jesus’ finished work and the active, empowering, unifying Spirit He gives us. John 17:20–23 [20] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV) How we steward relationships within the body of Christ also reaches beyond discipling and encouraging one another. It instructs the world on who God is. John 13:34–35 [34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Relationships outside the Body of Christ Why are secular relationships so important to steward? • People matter. • People need Jesus. • We are called to make disciples. “As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” John 20:21 We have been sent. We are called to diffuse the aroma of Christ to a dying world. To make Him known everywhere we step foot. The relationships we steward with non-believers may be the only glimpse of Jesus they ever have. VERSES ON RELATIONSHIPS Proverbs 17:17 [17] A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (ESV) Proverbs 27:17 [17] Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (ESV) Colossians 3:12–16 [12] Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, [13] bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (ESV) Romans 12:9–10 [9] Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. [10] Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (ESV) Romans 12:16a [16] Live in harmony with one another. James 5:16 [16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (ESV) John 13:34 [34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV) “The hell of aloneness! We simply were made for nothing less than a one-another existence. Unbelievers can enjoy only a dim shadow of this reality, but for those of us in Christ, we have been swept into the glory of inter-personality, and we have a resource in the gospel to enjoy honesty of life with others…We were made to be together, to speak to each other, to share our hearts, to laugh together, to co-enjoy a beautiful flower. The pain of a sorrow is doubled when endured alone but greatly lessened when borne by another alongside us; likewise the satisfaction of a joy is doubled when celebrated with another yet lessened when enjoyed alone. We pant for a bonded spirit with others, for shared hearts, for togetherness. Often our idolatrous pursuits through sexual immorality, overindulgence in alcohol, or social media platform-building are all simply misplaced longings for human fellowship. If we traced those heart-eroding pursuits down to their source, we would find, among other things, simply an absence of real Christian fellowship.” • Dane Ortland 3. How Do I Steward These Relationships? Remember, people matter. Follow Jesus’ example and rely on the Spirit in every interaction with others. Regard people as image bearers with value and worth given them by God. Feast on His fruit so that it grows in and out of you. Make Christ known in every relationship, within the family of God and with those outside by expression your love for Jesus and the other person. TAKE AWAYS 1. What relationships do I need to learn to steward faithfully? 2. How am I stewarding my relationships within the body of Christ in regards to accountability and discipleship? 3. What role do I play in maintaining the unity of the Spirit? 4. Do I have relationships out of order?