2023-09-06_Wednesday Service. Developing christ-like relationships, with Parkie Maturity Pastor, David Kiniti

Turn with me to Romans, chapter 16, and I will read verse 3 to the first part of verse 5.

Romans 16 · chapter mention

Romans, chapter 16, verse 3 to verse 5A.

Romans 16:3

And the Bible says great Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus, they risked their lives.

Okay, so let's continue from here.

They risked, the NKJV says let me pick it once more from the NKJV says great Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers or co-workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

Likewise greet the church that is in their house, our Father in heaven.

We thank you for this opportunity to listen to your word.

We open our hearts in the power of the Holy Spirit that you may speak to each one of us in a very special but also a very specific way.

You are a relational God and, as we talk about empowered relationships, I sense in my spirit that there is a special anointing this month that is working on relationships, and I pray that, lord, as your word comes to your people, that that anointing, indeed, will yield testimonies upon testimonies of relationships that have been revealed, new relationships developed, broken relationships being mended and even those without a relationship, with you coming to you.

Thank you for Priscilla and Aquila and as we look at their relationship, we pray that you are going to minister to our hearts today.

In Jesus' name, we pray as the words people say this evening.

Briefly, I would like to share with us on the subject developing Christ-like relationships.

Developing Christ-like relationships and just as I have prayed and being starred in my spirit as I thought through this the theme for this month, which is empowered relationships enabled ministry I'm starred in my heart that there is a release of anointing that is mending relationships.

Maybe you didn't hear me right and maybe it is not about you.

Let's say it's about your neighbor, the one seated next to you.

It's not about you, but I sense in my spirit that God is releasing a very special anointing that is working on relationships, because relationships are very dear to God.

God created us for relationships.

He created us to relate with himself.

He created us to relate with one another.

He created us to relate with the universe and the world that he created.

It is a God of relationship.

God exists in our relationship.

God, the Father, god the Son, god, the Holy Spirit.

That's why he's able to say let us make man.

In Genesis, chapter 1, verse 26.

Genesis 1:26

God is a God of relationship.

God is also a God who heals and redeems relationships.

After this coming Sunday, I'll be addressing the subject redeeming empowered relationships and in advance I am telling you that you are in empowered relationships In Jesus name, the relationships that form your life.

God is interested in them and God would want to use them, not only to reveal himself more to you, but also to use them to bring glory and honor to his name, to use them so that you can achieve his purposes on earth.

Let me also bring to our attention that the first attack of the enemy was an attack on relationship.

It was not an attack on material things.

It was an attack on relationship, casting doubts on the relationship that was in existence between Adam and God, eve and God, man and God.

And that's why he showed up and said did God really say, do you really trust him?

Casting doubts and one of the things that the enemy will always do is cast doubt on your relationship with God.

Are you really saved the way you have been behaving this week?

Are you really going to heaven?

Some of the things that are happening in your life that are crisis situations.

The enemy is reminding you.

Are you really going to heaven?

Do you think God is at work when your life, relation-wise, is messed up?

But I am here to remind you.

God has paid the price for your relationships, and so your relationships matter to God, and we need to guard the relationships that God has given us with everything that we have.

As I said earlier, the devil had nothing to do with all the trees that were in the garden.

He had nothing to do with.

It was not about the trees, it was not about the animals, it was not about the things that God had created and given to Adam at his disposal.

It was about relationship.

Then he said do you really trust this God?

Let me tell you a secret.

There is something he is hiding from you, and the moment Adam and Eve ate of the fruits, the first thing they did was to hide.

So if it is their fault, the first thing they did was to put a very sophisticated password.

Do you know those passwords?

You cannot even guess.

They go something like this like a gear, like somebody shifting gears.

You cannot guess the gear number, what?

So?

They put a password, a sophisticated one, so that God, in their imagination, was no longer able to see what is happening.

But the second thing that we see is that there was no longer the lovey.

Is it called lovey-dovey?

Is that a bad word?

I hope not.

You know those lovely, lovely things.

You are the born of my born and the flesh of my flesh Turned to this woman, this woman, she became a dangerous person.

She became an enemy of progress.

It's no longer darling.

It was this woman.

Relationships, however, there is goodness.

Christ came for your relationships, your relationship with yourself, your relationship with God and relationships around you.

And today I want to briefly focus on developing Christ-like relationships and say that Christ-like relationships are those that follow the model of Christ, and we know that our Lord, jesus Christ, modeled authentic relationships that cut across all the barriers of relationships.

If we had time, we would have looked at some of those barriers, but just quickly mentioning the ethnic barriers, the status barriers, the rest barriers, the language barriers, Jesus was able to penetrate.

And our passage, our theme passage, is in the book of John, chapter four, and we see Jesus penetrating that ethnic barrier to relate with the Samaritan woman.

Jesus was able to penetrate through all barriers to establish authentic relationships.

I have read a small portion of Romans, chapter 16, but if you read the entire passage Paul is addressing, it's basically a greetings passage.

Romans 16 · chapter mention

It's a very interesting greetings passage and Paul is addressing about 30 or so, or rather in that passage we have about 30 or so people mentioned representing what I would call Christ-like authentic relationships.

In verse one he talks about Phoebe, who is a deacon, and says that she had been a benefactor to many and also to Paul.

She supported Paul financially and in many other ways.

He also talks about a penethas, whom he refers to as a dear friend and most likely the first fruit of Paul's ministry.

In verse five B says this was the first man to come to Christ in this area of Asia.

That's what Paul refers to, this guy over Kaia.

Then he talks about a lady called Mary.

In verse six, whom he refers to as a hard worker, he talks about Andronikas and Junior.

Andronikas and Junior and he refers to them as fellow Jews and prison mates.

He talks about ampliators and he refers to him as a dear friend in the Lord.

In verse eight, then, he talks about urbanus and stikis.

He refers to them as core workers and dear friend.

In verse nine he talks about a palace and he said this was a man who was tried and tested.

He talks about Herodion, says he's a fellow Jew in verse 11.

He talks about the household of Nasesas and he says this was brethren in the Lord in verse 11 B.

Then he talks about typhena and trifossa, says this were hard working women in the Lord.

He talks about a passes and refers to him as a dear brother, a dear sister and a hard, a dear friend and a hard working woman in the Lord in verse 12.

Then he talks about Rufus and he refers to this one as the one who is chosen in the Lord.

Then he talks about the mother of Rufus and says not only was this the mother of Rufus, but was also a mother figure to him in verse 13.

Then he talks about somebody called Asincritas, flegon, hamas, petrobas, another Hamas, and then other brothers and sisters.

They were other brothers and sisters.

He also talks about Timothy, whom he refers to as a core worker.

Then he talks about Lashias and Jason and Sospata.

He refers to them as fellow Jews in verse 21.

Then he talks about Thatias and he calls him.

This is the guy who wrote.

He's called Amanuesis.

I learned that new word today.

I'm still learning to pronounce it, amanuesis is that guy who writes on your behalf.

I am not talking about Amanu man, I am talking about Amanuesis.

I know that, manu, people are dealing with three things at the moment, so we are not going to go into that, but be encouraged in the Lord.

He talks about Gaius as a guy who provided hospitality to him and those he was with.

He talks about Erastus, who is referred to as a director of public works in the city.

Then he talks about somebody, quartas, and he says this was a brother in verse 23.

About 30 people representing different relationships.

This tells us.

In this diversity of relationships, you can classify them some were personal, some were ministry, some were mutual, some were supporters, some were sons, some were co-workers, some were congregants, some were junior to him, some were senior to him, and so on and so forth.

Yet these relationships meant a lot to him.

In fact, we can say that, nevertheless, they seem to be very special to his personal life, to his spiritual life, to his ministry goals and objectives, vision, calling and career, to his persecution, to his survival, to his legacy, and the list can go on and on.

You need relationships in your life, and especially then, if you're going to achieve God's purpose over your life, you need Christ-like relationships, and in a moment we will be looking at what they are like.

So dear were relationships to Paul that, even after all these greetings, he urges the Romans to be wary and to protect relationships and to be aware of those who are causing divisions.

In verse 17 and 18, he says I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.

Keep away from them.

That is what he encourages.

Keep away from people whose work and ministry is to cause divisions as far as relationships are concerned.

Because he goes ahead to say that such people are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ.

In other words, I can refer to them that they are actually agents of Satan, because, remember, that was his ministry In Genesis.

He came and asked the question did God really say there are people who are asking you about your relationships?

Do you really believe it is?

Do you?

You know people who come not to build your relationships but to cause division?

Paul is saying such people are not agents of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In fact, he says such people are agents of their own appetites.

I don't know whether there are some people who are coming to mind who have recently demonstrated their own appetites in your life.

And how do you know that they're demonstrating that?

It's when they are causing divisions, it's when they are asking do you really believe we need to guard relationships?

One of the relationships then mentioned is that of Paul and this couple that is referred to as Priscilla and Aquila, and it is from this relationship of Priscilla, paul and Aquila that I would want us to draw three principles that will help us to develop Christlike, authentic relationships, and the three principles are one foundation, two, building, and three refining.

In that very short passage that we have read, it says greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus.

They risked their lives for me.

Not only I, but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful for them.

And then, in verse five, he says greet also the church that meets at their home.

If you're going to develop Christlike relationships that will accelerate you, that will assure you of achieving God's purposes in your life Number one you must found your relationships on the Lordship of Christ.

Your relationships must be founded on the Lordship of Christ, and this is what I am referring to as common faith.

Your faith is very important.

The Bible says in that verse that we read verse three greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers, in Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus here represents and refers to the common faith that they had in that relationship.

If your relationships are going to succeed and take you to the next level, my brother, my sister, if you are going to achieve God's purposes and plans in your life, I invite you today to interrogate whether your relationships are founded on the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Because when relationships are founded on the Lordship of Jesus Christ, something happens.

There is a breaking of all barriers barriers of class, barriers of race, barriers of tribe, barriers of age.

Ego is broken at the Lordship of Jesus Christ in a relationship.

Forgiveness is received at the Lordship of Jesus Christ in a relationship.

I may not forgive you because you have asked for forgiveness, but I can forgive you because Jesus Christ is Lord and he has forgiven me.

Now, if you have somebody who has such a reason for forgiving you, you can be assured that you will receive more forgiveness than sometimes you ask for it.

The Bible says in Acts, chapter 18, verse 1 and 2, again just cementing this relationship, saying that after this, paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

Acts 18:1

There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla.

Because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to live Rome, paul went to see them and to stay with them.

A number of things that we can observe from this passage is that most likely, for example, priscilla may not have been a Jew, because we are clearly told that Aquila was a Jew.

We are not told whether Priscilla was a Jew.

A barrier to break.

There Again, you will find that a number of times it is Priscilla who comes first and not Aquila.

Now, the moment, you keep addressing Kate and then David.

Every other time, there must be something.

The right order is David, then Kate, but here we see Priscilla Aquila.

Priscilla is a woman like many other women.

We have seen Paul having a relationship and having praises for women who are significant In the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Even the barrier of gender is broken because it is Paul who says there is no longer Jew, there is no longer gentile, there is no longer slave, there is no longer free.

We are all equal and have become one in Christ.

I want you to think of your marriage or your relationship, where you are equal in Christ and you are viewing one another.

In fact, paul says we no longer view others from that perspective because now we have been redeemed, we no longer view each other as this woman, we no longer view each other as this man, we no longer view each other as this guy.

We view each other from the lenses of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

And this is what Paul is talking about.

Again, when you continue reading.

Maybe Aquila may not have been as learned as Paul, because it is Priscilla we see in terms of theology, in terms of leading the church, it is Priscilla we see at the forefront.

This man may not have been as learned, in fact, I dare say he may not even 3.

That takes place in these differences because in Christ our diversity becomes complementary and not divisive.

My wife is slightly short.

I am tall.

There are things she picks for me that are below my waist, but there are things I pick for her that are up here above her head.

Our diversity becomes a force of strength and not divisive.

If all of us who are the same, there will be no need to have more than one person.

But secondly, not only are they founded on the Lordship of Christ, but they should also be built on mutual sacrifices.

Mutual sacrifices, and this is what I'm referring to as the unconditional love, verse 4,.

This is what the Bible tells us in Romans, chapter 16, verse 4.

Romans 16:4

It says that, referring to Priscilla and Aquila, paul says these guys risked their own necks for me, for my life.

And then it says to whom?

Not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

They risked their lives, they sacrificed something.

There is something they sacrificed for this relationship.

Paul doesn't tell us what exactly the issue was, but for him to say that it was life-threatening, it must have been a sacrifice of great multitude.

What are you sacrificing for your relationship?

When we talk about an conditional love that brings about sacrifice, we are talking about a love that covers a multitude of sin.

We are talking about a love that embraces the weaknesses of the people that we are in a relationship with.

We are talking about a love that is giving, a love that is selfless, a love that is patient, a love that is gentle, a love that sacrifices.

It says that they risked their own lives.

They risked their own necks.

It means they were just miraculously saved, but they were ready to take the bullet for Paul.

What are the sacrifices in the relationships that you are in?

Are you the only living sacrifice?

It's supposed to be mutual, because if there is nothing mutual that pains you out for the sake of your relationship and pains me out for the sake of my relationship, then your relationship is not being built, it will remain stagnant.

It does not go far.

Sacrifices are the building blocks of relationships and therefore the question should be what can I bring into the relationship, not what can I get out of the relationship?

And let me say this as you bring into the relationship, you will always get.

When it is mocho, sometimes I take bread home, and when I take bread home in the evening, I'm not sure whether today I'll be able to pass by the supermarket, but if I do, when I take bread home, I receive many hugs, praise the Lord.

Those are benefits of sacrifice, hallelujah.

And they are mocho.

They are people who receive me with songs and dance because I have come with bread.

What are you sacrificing that is worth a celebration in your relationship?

This guy did not sacrifice bread.

They sacrificed more than bread.

And one of the challenges we are having today in relationships there are no sacrifices.

In relationships, there are no sacrifices.

No one is sacrificing time.

No one is sacrificing even their joy.

No one is sacrificing, at times, you know, those things that you think are so precious to you so that they can come in as a building block for that relationship.

David said I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing.

Many of us.

The reason why our relationships are not growing, it's because they cost us zero.

They cost us nothing.

They don't even cost us some time on our knees praying and trusting the Lord for revival.

They cost us nothing.

I pray that the Lord may revive the deposit of sacrifice in your heart so that you can start depositing something in the relationships that you hold dear.

In Jesus' name.

There is an anointing for relationships.

There is an anointing that will start working on relationships.

Some of us may have given up on some of our relationships, but I'm saying this bring them to the foundation of Jesus.

Bring them to the foundation, to the building blocks of sacrifice and conditional love, and see what will happen.

But thirdly, christ-like relationships are developed.

They are refined on the journey.

They are refined on the journey.

Verse five talks about what, at the end of the day, is achieved from when Paul and Aquila and Priscilla first met in Corinth and went together to Ephesus.

Right now, paul is talking about a church that has been planted, that is established, that meets in the household of Priscilla and Aquila.

He says in verse five greet the church that meets in their house.

And this talks about shared goals.

Relationships are made, they don't just happen.

Is there something you are pursuing and believing together in a common destiny?

One of the common goals that brings Priscilla and Aquila and Paul is ministry.

For some of you it may not be ministry.

It could be marriage.

For some of you it could be business.

For some of you it could be friendships.

Claws need friendships that minister to each other.

You don't just meet and then you expect that from today onwards we have become friends who will never, ever disagree.

We have just met.

What I am sensing is that now we are friends, we will never disagree.

I will never leave you.

I will never and never and never.

Those never are not true.

They are unrealistic expectations.

But then we can say, as we pursue this goal, as we pursue these common, shared objectives, we will start creating and developing the chemistry.

Look at the things that Paul and Aquila achieve together with Priscilla because of their shared goal they achieve evangelistic to us, to Corinth, to Ephesus, and later on we see Aquila and Priscilla going back to Rome.

The Bible says in Acts, chapter 18 Paul stayed in Corinth for some time.

Acts 18 · chapter mention

Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed to Syria accompanied.

They have just met, but they have started a journey.

Relationships are refined on the journey.

Some of us want ready-made relationships.

I am here to tell you there are no ready-made relationships.

It is as we go that you discover this guy works like this, this is how he works and you work like this.

So how do we create chemistry?

You start adjusting to the way he works so that together you can create the rhythm.

Because you are looking at the goal, because what you're looking at is the goal, you don't start being petty about how he's working.

You start enjoying that.

We are getting closer to the goal as the journey continues.

We are getting closer to the goal.

It is becoming a reality.

If it is a family, it is becoming a reality.

Somehow now we are two years in this marriage, somehow we have knocked each other down.

We have lifted each other up, but we know our goal is still ahead of us.

There are better days ahead of us.

Let us keep working, let us keep refining these relationships.

It is five years, it is ten years.

I still don't understand her.

She still doesn't understand me.

We have been singing together and serving together this long, but there's things that you still do that I do not get.

I don't understand.

It sounds to me like we have just met again, but because we have a shared goal, we have something big that we are looking at together, we continue with the rhythm.

In that way, the relationship becomes sweeter.

It is the same with Jesus as we work with the Lord.

Every day there is something new that he reveals.

That makes our relationship better.

They had a big goal.

It is the preaching of the gospel.

It is the church plant established.

It is the Gentiles reached.

They also had a marketplace goal.

It was tent making.

They lifted each other in terms of career.

There was marketplace growth.

There was challenge, there was impartation.

They had a goal.

What is your shared goal?

Stop focusing on these small things.

Lift up your eyes and see the goal and as you see the goal, pieces of the relationship start coming together.

And it is out of this, after a long journey, that Paul is able to say I preached in a pheasance, but now there is a church that is established, more people are being reached because there was a journey that focused on a big goal.

A few questions for reflection as we wind up and pray.

And the first one is do you have relationships in your life that you really value?

Just think for a moment Are there relationships that that will move you, that will move your tears when you think about them because of how much you value them?

But the second question we need to ask ourselves is what are they founded on?

A relationship is as strong as its foundation.

If the relationship is founded on somebody's pockets, I'm telling you, pockets get torn.

If the relationship is founded on somebody's looks, I'm telling you, oh my goodness, when that face is washed up and there is no more makeup, the difference is from here to the other place they call whatever.

I'm telling you, if the relationship is founded on how he smiles, I can assure you many times it's for the camera.

When people are sleeping, they don't smile.

There is no, there is a big difference.

But when it is founded on Christ, then all these things become but useless, because Christ gives that relationship value.

Relationships that are founded on the Lordship of Christ turned the taste of time.

Christ is Lord, even over relationships.

But secondly, how much are you sacrificing for the relationships that you hold dear?

It's a reflection.

Have you been to that place where you sacrifice?

You risk your neck, because sacrifice is the building block of relationships.

And I asked earlier are you the only living sacrifice in your relationship?

You may want to consider whether there is unconditional love.

What have you sacrificed for your relationships?

And I want to encourage us tonight Feed your relationships with sacrifices and sacrifices and sacrifices, and let there be a sweet aroma of sacrifices spicing your relationship, even with Christ.

But finally, is there one big thing that is a shared goal that can help you overlook everything else Because of that goal?

If there isn't, then your relationship will not be refined.

But I am here to say that it is the tears of pain and joy, it is the smell of sweat, it is the sigh of relief, it is the sound of victory, it is the soiled hands, it is the prayer vigils, it is the break of dawn that matures our relationship.

And I'm here to encourage you tonight Don't give up on us, don't give up on that relationship, because our God is able.

Amen, hallelujah, shall we be on our feet as we pray tonight in Jesus' name, hallelujah.

Just take a moment, one minute, as we come to a close, think about those questions.

Are your relationships founded on Christ?

There's a song that we sang and said On Christ, the solid rock, I stand.

All other ground is sinking sand, and this is the reality of life.

It's the reality of relationships that all other grounds are sinking sand, only the foundation in Christ.

And some of us may want to bring our relationships to Christ tonight in prayer.

If you take a moment and just close your eyes and say, lord, I am bringing this relationship to you.

It could be a relationship with a parent.

It could be a relationship with a colleague.

It could be a relationship with a brother or a sister in Christ.

It could be a relationship with a brother or a sister you know blood brother, blood sister.

It could be a relationship at the workplace.

For some it could be the relationship, your relationship with Christ that needs renewal, that needs a fresh touch.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

On Christ the solid rock, I stand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

On Christ, the solid rock.

We can bring everything.

We bring our relationships.

Tonight, lord, I pray with someone offline.

I pray with someone in the sanctuary tonight, somebody who is standing for their relationships.

For some it's a relationship with you and I pray tonight, father, may you strengthen that relationship.

Those who may have been doubtful, I pray today, strengthen their faith so that they can see you for who you are a God of relationships.

Tonight, I know there are some who are struggling with relationships with their parents.

Father, I thank you.

There is redemption.

A small sacrifice may make the difference.

Harkening to your voice may just make the difference.

Giving that relationship a second chance may just make the difference.

So tonight, lord, I ask for healing.

I ask for healing, I ask for restoration.

But, lord, I also realize there are others who are in toxic relationships that are not grounded on Christ.

They are not founded on Christ, they are not built on sacrifices, they are not refined because of shared goals.

I pray for those relationships.

May your wisdom now reign over such relationships, lord.

Make your voice clear on such relationships In the name of Jesus, those that, lord, you plan for redemption.

Redeem them, those that should not even be in existence in the first place.

Deliver your children from them.

Let them break loose tonight in the mighty name of Jesus, so that indeed they can enjoy Christ like relationships.

We bless you, lord, and we give you glory in Jesus name.

We pray and God's people say Amen.

God's people say may the Lord bless your relationships in Jesus name.

May the Lord release a fresh anointing over that relationship in Jesus name.

May the Lord release new joy over that relationship in Jesus name.

May the Lord bring healing on that relationship in Jesus name.

May the Lord give new purpose for that relationship in the mighty name of Jesus.

May the Lord redeem you in that relationship and cause you to see him as a relational God, because I bless you now in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and God's people say Amen and I'll be the grace of our Lord, jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit Be with us now and forevermore.

Amen and amen and amen.

God bless you.