Walking in Relationship
TEXT: Ps. 42:1-6; Eph. 5:21-33
Memory Verse: Can two walk together except they be agreed? Amos 3:3
Introduction: The problem in our society today is as a result of the break in
our relationship to God and to each other. God created us in order to relate
with Him but the fall brought a sharp change in man’s relation to His creator,
which eventually leads to all kinds of evil in our society. There are several
types of relationship. There is creator - creature relationship, family
relationship, relationship between colleagues, classmates, friends, and people
of the same profession; there can be discipleship relationship of master and
servants. However, in this study, we will limit ourselves to the first and the
second. But firstly, we will look at what relationship is.
A. WHAT IS RELATIONSHIP? Relationship between two people or groups means a link,
contact, association between them. When there is no link, no contact, no dealing
together, no connections then, there is no relationship and the people concerned
cannot relate. If you don’t communicate, you can’t relate, relationship is based
on communication Amos 3:3. Let’s give other definition.
B. CREATOR – CREATURE RELATIONSHIP: Gen. 3:8; Ex. 24:1; Lev. 1:1; Isa. 1:18;
55:6; Matt. 11:28-30; Jams 4:8.
For anyone to enjoy every other relationship his/her relationship with the
creator must be intact. It should be noted that sin broke this relationship but
salvation through Jesus restore the right relationship back to normal Jn. 14:6.
However, if there is any problem that has ravage the church of God, it is this
broken fellowship with God that has caused a lot of misconduct: in our behaviour,
attitude, thinking, relationship with other people, hence we find it difficult
to relate even with fellow Christians, not to talk of unbelievers. We must
return unto God Hos. 14:1-2; Rev. 3:15-19.
Let’s learn a lesson from the life of the prodigal son who arose and returned
unto his father who accepted him completely Lk. 15:11-32. What are those things
that hinder a man’s relationship with God? And how can we overcome these
hindrances and be in good relationship with God?
C. WALKING AS A FAMILY: Eph. 3:14-15; 5:21-33 According to God’s divine plan,
family is the medium through which God want to accomplish His purpose and raise
Godly children Gen. 1:28; Mal. 2:15. But for man to do this effectively, there
has to be a correct relationship with God, then between husband and wife,
parents and children.
One terrible assault that the enemy has done to the church is in making sure
this relationship did not work. No wonder, many Christian homes are battlefield.
This was not the plan of God for family.
The family is designed by the Lord to be a beautiful expression on earth of the
loving relationship that there is in heaven.
God designed marriage and the family to work – and with His life flowing into
it, it does! Love (God’s kind of love) is the all-important key to a family’s
success. Family without true love of God will be filled with self-centeredness,
disobedience from the wife, rebellion from the children, which in turn makes the
man react in tyranny. What then are the characteristics of a true and God’s kind
of love?
(i) THE CYCLE OF LOVE
The Lord’s pattern for the family, however, is a cycle of love. Through our new
birth in Christ, God’s love is once again “poured into our hearts by the Holy
Spirit Whom he has given us” Rom. 5:5. The Bible shows us how this love is
expressed through each member of the family Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4. This passage
reveals to us the all-important principles for a happy and successful family.
The husband’s expression of love is GIVING (5:25-33).
The wife’s expression of love is SUBMITTING (5:22-24)
The children’s expression of love is OBEYING (6:1)
Note the key phrase for each member of the Lord.
The husband loves “as Christ” The wife submits “as to the Lord”. The children
obey “in the Lord”. What are those things that can break this cycle of love?
(ii) THE HUSBAND Eph. 5:23,25; 1 Pet. 3:7; Col. 3:19
The husband is not a dictator over his wife any more than the Lord Jesus is a
dictator over us, but rather he is the head in the same way Jesus is the Head.
He is to lead, protect and provide, always with her good in mind. He loves her
as Jesus loves the Church; he gives himself unselfishly and totally for her to
bring her full potential as a person to fulfillment.
Note how the apostle Paul addresses “husbands”! Please note women, the message
is not for the wives to preach to their husbands; it is written to the husbands
alone.
How then can a husband show genuine and God’s kind of love to a wife who refuses
to submit?
(iii) THE WIFE: Eph. 5:22-24; 1 Pet. 3:1-6; Col. 3:18
Note how the apostle Paul address “wives”…it is not for the husband to tell his
wife to submit to him; it is written to the wife alone Pro. 31:10-31.
Submission is not slave-like. It means to ‘fit’ or ‘adjust yourself to him’. In
the image of God, Adam was created a social being – he needed someone of like
kind to fellowship with, and work with, to fulfill God’s call and purpose for
him.
“The Lord God said: it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper
suitable for him..”. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep;
and while he was sleeping he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place
with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib (part) he had taken out
of the man, and He brought her to the man” Gen. 2:18-25.
The husband and wife are a complement of one another. The two together are one
complete whole – “one flesh” Gen. 2:24. Each fills the part that the other is
missing. The wife expresses her love to her husband by “submitting” to him –
fitting herself to his side! It should be noted that marriage is between one man
and one wife, it is supposed to be unbreakable except by death. Matt. 19:3-8;
Rom. 7:1-3. Is it possible for a wife to submit completely unto her husband,
how? And in which areas? How about unbelieving husband?
Husband and wife should relate with their father and mother in-laws from both
sides in love and see them as their parent and take care of them together not in
isolation.
(iv) PARENT
“Fathers, do not exasperate (provoke/irritate) your children; instead, bring
them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” Eph. 6:4 (NIV); Prov. 22:6.
Children should learn what the fatherhood of God is like through their parents
and so, in the characteristics of God as our Father, are the essential
principles in the raising of our children:
1. Keeping our word Jer. 1:12
2. Being consistent James 1:17; Mal. 3:6
3. Loving discipline and disciplining in love Heb. 12:4-13; Prov. 13:24; 19:18;
22:15; 23:13
4. Expressing love 1 John 3:1
5. Giving a focus for living 1 John 3:2-3; Rom. 8:28-29
The family is very important and precious to the Lord. The great desire of His
heart is for “godly offspring” Mal. 2:13-16.
Why are many children becoming rebellious? What can we do to help this
situation?
D. WALKING AS A SINGLE: 1 Tim. 4:12-16; 2 Tim. 2:22-23
The Church of the Lord Jesus is a Family – and we are to relate to one another
as such Eph. 2:14-19; Heb. 2:11.
Young people who are as yet unmarried are to treat one another as brothers and
sisters “with absolute purity.”
As a Christian, a single person has one goal in life:
“…An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs… An unmarried woman (or
virgin) is concerned about the Lord’s affairs. Her aim is to be devoted to the
Lord in both body and spirit…” 1 Cor. 7:32-34.
As they walk with their hearts and lives focused on the Lord, the Lord will
bring along their path the one to whom they are to be joined and then, they will
glorify and serve the Lord.
Many singles today are earthly minded instead of being heavenly minded. What
could have caused this? What can we do to help this situation?
CONCLUSION: Brethren, each of us will give account of ourselves unto God at the
end of our life. So be careful the way you live your life in relating with God,
your wife, your husband, parents, children and others in the church and society.
Rom. 14:12; Rev. 22:12.
Rev Debo Adeyemo ppraise@skannet.com
