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As we come into this family with God there are levels of relationship that God brings us into. They are
We talked about level 1 (making a commitment) and level 2 (staring to build relationships) our previous lesson. Let's continue with level 3.
Level 3 -- Partnership
The third level that we move into is a higher level of commitment, and that is of partnership. Partnership means that I am going to be doing my part. And that's the way it is in any household, in any family. Let me give you an example. As the kids grow up, you give them more chores to do--at least that's the way it supposed to work, isn't it? I know you have family jobs and responsibilities. It is not supposed to be one person doing all the work. Sometimes you feel like you're doing all the work, but if you're in a family, you share responsibilities; you all have a part and you all have a place. That is the way families are to be operated, where everybody has a part, everybody has something to do in order to contribute to the family. When you do this in your church relationships, you are moving to a level of "partnership."
1 Corinthians 9 says, "We are partners working together for God, partners working together for God." In fact, the word for fellowship is the Greek word "koinonia" and many times or sometimes, is even translated as "partner." It means, "I am coming along side and I am relating to people in an awesome way there and I am pulling my weight and they are pulling theirs."
There's a mental picture that comes to me, it's kind of like a dog sled team. In other words, everybody on the team is pulling their weight. What happens if a dog decides he doesn't want to pull his weight? First of all, he's going to get jarred around and everybody else is going to have to pull a little harder. You see, we all have a talent and when God made you, He designed you in a certain way. He fashioned you in a certain way.
But if one decides that they are not going to do their job, then they are going to lag behind and they end up causing greater drag for everybody else. I think God wants you to know that when He made you, and designed you. He fashioned you in such a critical way and unique way that nobody else can fulfill the job that you have. Ephesians 4:16 says, "The whole body is fitted together perfectly as each part," (that's you)and "each part does its own special work it helps the other parts grow so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."
Each of you has a unique part. And if you are not fulfilling your part, then your part is being missed. I mean, we have to compensate for your absence. I know some people say, "Well, you know, if I don't go, somebody else will do it." In a way that is true, but then the dog sled team will have to pull some more. Your vacancy is felt. God made you. He fashioned you and designed you in a very special way, so that he could bring a very unique contribution to the church and to His family.
Nobody else can fill the spot that you can fill! So don't believe the lies that say, "Well, somebody else will do it--somebody else will fill in the blanks here." If you are not in your spot doing your part, then we are compensating for that. We would much rather have you be in your place doing your part. And that's what being a part of the family is about, sharing responsibilities, entering into a partnership. The truth is we can do a lot more together than we can do alone.
Level 4 -- Kinship
Level 4 is kinship. It is loving believers behaving towards each other like family. God wants to move us to the next level and in the next level. I enter into a new relationship with the people around me. I begin to see them as family. In fact, you know, some churches actually call their small groups "kinship groups". I like that, 'cause it talks about "kin" and a lot of it is that word "kin," "kinship," "kinfolk."
We don't use that word that much nowadays. Sometimes when you think of "kinfolk," what kind of images that pop up in your mind?
The bible says that we are like family to each other. You know, the bible tells us that we are family, therefore we have to learn how to love the other members of the family of the Body of Christ, as family.
Romans 12:10 says, "Be devoted to each other like a loving family." I don't know if you know what loving family looks like. I don't know if you had a loving family, if that was your history. But you may have a perception of what a loving family is to be like, but that is how God wants us to relate with each other in the church. He wants us to be committed to each other, like a loving family, You may be committed to our blood family, but how committed are you to the family of God? How committed are you to the other people in the Body of Christ?
That is what God is teaching us and telling us to do here. You may not be familiar with John 3:16, but not familiar with I John 3:16. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world..." Here's I John 3:16. It says, "We know what real love is because Christ gave us His life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters."
We like that first half of that verse--we are glad that Jesus gave His life up for us. But that other part looks like a lot of work. In fact, it looks like a lot of commitment here. It might even require a little sacrifice. Do you see the word "sacrifice" in that verse? I mean, it may not be spelled out like S-A-C-R-I-F-I-C-E, but it's in that verse. Do you see it in there? It's in between the lines: commitment.
You'll never fulfill God's purpose for your life unless you learn how to love and relate to your brothers and sisters in Jesus because you need what God has given...there are some gifts to use. We are gifts to each other, And we need to learn how precious our brothers and sisters in Jesus really are. We don't always see their value. We have value in other things. I mean, if a person is lying on their death bed and they are getting ready to die, and they're just got a few minutes and moments left, they don't say, "Could you bring me my diplomas? I would kind of like to look at them one more time." They don't say, "Could you bring me my trophies? Where is that watch I got, that gold watch, when I retired?" And you don't hear them say, "Bring me my palm pilot." I mean, these are things that we hold dear to us in this life until right before we are about to die.
But who are you going to call next to you when it is your time to leave this world? You want your family and your friends, the people that you are close to; the people that you love. They are the ones who you are going to bring close to you, and they are the "things" that have really value. Unfortunately, we don't always see them as being the things that have value in our life until the very end.
In this life we see all these other things--accomplishments--and all these other things that have high value. But what has the highest value are people, your brothers and sisters in the Lord.