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May 13, 2018

Transformational Relationships

Transformational Relationships

Speaker: James Gallaher

Series: Transformation

Category: Sunday Morning

One can have all the promises the world has to offer: material possessions, financial success, even a great family. But without intentional and meaningful relationships in our lives, we can be completely bankrupt.

Opening Scripture:
Matthew 6:31-33   Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Many people think that if they get enough of these things their worry will go away. The problem is that it never solves the problem which is why this principle is so important.

Seeking first the Kingdom puts everything in perspective.

Philippians 4:11   Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Contentment for Paul wasn’t found in what He had or did not have but in trusting first in the One who cared for him.

It was out of this relationship that all of the other necessities for contentment flowed.

We first encounter this at the beginning.

Genesis 2:18-23   Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

Perfect environment, perfect provision, and perfect relationship and yet still missing that vital part. Adam had everything but he was still alone.

This should make all of us stop and ask ourselves if what are we pursuing will have any effect on what we are seeking.

King David found himself in a similar postion except that he had none of the comforts that Adam had. David was being pursued by King Saul only to find himself alone in a cave, and he writes these words.

Read Psalm 142    

“No one regards me, no one cares about my soul…”

So God responds:

1 Samuel 22:1-2   So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.

Have you ever felt like this? 

But God always knows what we need and out of this came 3 men who walked closely with David.

2 Samuel 23:13-17   Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, while the troop of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord; and he said, “Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

We cannot overlook the fact that God provided exactly what David needed because of his response to God. These are the same men who in 1 Samuel were distressed, in debt, and discontented. 

David did something that many people miss, he trusted in God’s provision and adjusted his focus. Scripture tells us what the conditions of these men were, but David chose to focus on something different. 

Philippians 4:8   Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

You choose what to focus on and what you focus on makes things bigger. It’s like looking at things through a magnifying glass. 

David chose to magnify the things in them that brought out their best. He focused on what the world had missed.

Understand the power that you have to magnify things in other people, both good and bad.

Matthew 6:33   But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Too often people seek first the things they believe will bring joy instead of seeking the One who is joy. It always begins with our relationship with Him.

One problem I see is that a lot of people don’t love themselves. This is were Jesus’ words change the game.

John 13:34   A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Christ always sees and believes the best for us. Will we love others the same way?

David could have turned those away who came to him and remained alone in that cave. Instead, he chose to seek God’s presence and chose to trust in God’s provision.

You may be seeking happiness, hope, or relationships. Seek Him first. God hears your need and has what you need.

It is time to trust and take a risk in letting others come along side of you.

Shift your focus on those around you and magnify the good things you see in them.