Navigating Tension: Building God-Centered Relationships

Devotional

Day 1: The Necessity of Agreement in Relationships

In relationships, whether romantic, platonic, or professional, having a shared direction and purpose is crucial. Amos 3:3 teaches us that two cannot walk together unless they are in agreement. This doesn't mean that you must agree on every single detail, but rather that your core values, goals, and beliefs should align. Misalignment in key areas like spiritual beliefs, financial goals, and personal values can create significant tension and stress. Understanding and addressing these areas can help reduce relational stress and foster a more harmonious relationship. [03:34]

Amos 3:3 (ESV): "Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?"

Reflection: Think about a relationship in your life where you feel tension. What are the core values or goals that might be misaligned? How can you initiate a conversation to address these differences and seek common ground?

Day 2: Guarding the Temple of God

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we must protect them from negative influences. This includes being cautious about who we date, befriend, or partner with in business. Unequally yoked relationships can lead to spiritual and emotional turmoil, as highlighted in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. It's essential to be discerning about the people we allow into our lives, as their influence can either draw us closer to God or lead us away from Him. [15:58]

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (ESV): "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?"

Reflection: Reflect on your current relationships. Are there any that might be leading you away from God? What steps can you take to guard your spiritual well-being and align your relationships with God's will?

Day 3: The Spiritual Battle in Relationships

Relationships are often the battleground for spiritual warfare. The enemy uses relationships to infiltrate our lives with negative influences. Being discerning about who we allow into our inner circle is crucial for maintaining spiritual health and integrity. It's important to recognize that not every relationship is beneficial, and some may be used by the enemy to distract or derail us from our spiritual journey. [28:39]

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Reflection: Consider a relationship that has been particularly challenging for you. Could there be a spiritual battle at play? How can you pray for discernment and protection in this relationship?

Day 4: The Danger of Compromise

Compromising on God's standards in relationships can lead to long-term consequences. Whether it's dating someone who isn't a believer or forming close friendships with those who lead us away from God, these compromises can defile the temple of God. It's essential to stand firm in our faith and not let our affections drive our decisions. Compromise might seem harmless initially, but it can gradually erode our spiritual foundation. [33:07]

James 4:4 (ESV): "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you have compromised on God's standards? What steps can you take today to realign your actions with your faith and stand firm in your convictions?

Day 5: Taking Inventory of Relationships

Regularly assessing our relationships to see if they are moving us towards or away from God is vital. If a relationship is leading us away from God, it's time to make changes. This might mean distancing ourselves from certain people to protect our spiritual well-being and align our lives with God's will. Taking inventory of our relationships helps us to ensure that we are surrounded by people who encourage and support our spiritual growth. [40:42]

Proverbs 13:20 (ESV): "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."

Reflection: Take a moment to list your closest relationships. Are they helping you grow closer to God or pulling you away? What changes can you make to ensure your relationships are aligned with God's will for your life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we delved into the complexities of relationships, focusing on the tension that often arises within them. Whether you're married, dating, or single, tension is a universal experience. We explored how tension can be a sign of misalignment in various aspects of life, such as spiritual beliefs, financial goals, and personal values. Amos 3:3 reminds us that two cannot walk together unless they are in agreement, emphasizing the importance of shared direction and unity.

We discussed how dating can sometimes be a facade, where individuals present a version of themselves that isn't entirely genuine. This can lead to tension and disillusionment once the true nature of the relationship is revealed. The sermon also highlighted the dangers of being unequally yoked with unbelievers, as stated in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. This principle extends beyond romantic relationships to friendships, business partnerships, and other associations. The key message is to guard the temple of God, which is our body, from influences that can lead us away from Him.

We also touched on the spiritual battle that takes place in our relationships. The enemy often uses relationships to infiltrate our lives with negative influences. Therefore, it's crucial to be discerning about who we allow into our inner circle. For those already married, the focus should be on how to be a light in your spouse's life and how to protect your relationship from external negative influences.

The sermon concluded with a call to action: to take inventory of our relationships and make necessary adjustments to align them with God's will. Over the next three weeks, we will continue to explore how to relieve relational tension and build stronger, more God-centered relationships.

###

Key Takeaways

1. 18. [15:58]
3. The Spiritual Battle in Relationships: Relationships are often the battleground for spiritual warfare. The enemy uses relationships to infiltrate our lives with negative influences. Being discerning about who we allow into our inner circle is crucial for maintaining spiritual health and integrity.

4. The Danger of Compromise: Compromising on God's standards in relationships can lead to long-term consequences. Whether it's dating someone who isn't a believer or forming close friendships with those who lead us away from God, these compromises can defile the temple of God. It's essential to stand firm in our faith and not let our affections drive our decisions.

5. Taking Inventory of Relationships: Regularly assessing our relationships to see if they are moving us towards or away from God is vital. If a relationship is leading us away from God, it's time to make changes. This might mean distancing ourselves from certain people to protect our spiritual well-being and align our lives with God's will.

### [15:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:26] - Introduction to Relationship Tension
[02:19] - The Universality of Tension
[03:34] - The Importance of Agreement
[05:24] - Recognizing Tension in Relationships
[06:25] - The Facade of Dating
[09:56] - The Danger of Ignoring God's Voice
[10:50] - Understanding the Source of Tension
[12:46] - Manifestations of Tension
[13:32] - Affections and Restrictions
[15:08] - Unequally Yoked Relationships
[18:45] - The Impact of Idolatry
[20:22] - Guarding the Temple
[24:41] - The Influence of Relationships
[28:39] - The Spiritual Battle
[33:07] - The Danger of Compromise
[40:42] - Taking Inventory of Relationships
[45:37] - Relieving Tension in Relationships
[47:09] - Prayer and Commitment
[49:18] - Invitation for Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Amos 3:3, what is necessary for two people to walk together? How does this relate to relationships? [03:34]
What does 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 say about being unequally yoked with unbelievers? How does this apply to different types of relationships? [15:08]
In the sermon, what are some examples given of how dating can be a facade? [07:57]
What does the pastor say about the spiritual battle that takes place in our relationships? [28:39]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of agreement in Amos 3:3 apply to the different aspects of life mentioned in the sermon, such as spiritual beliefs, financial goals, and personal values? [03:34]
Why does the pastor emphasize the importance of guarding the temple of God, which is our body, from negative influences? [20:22]
How can being unequally yoked with unbelievers lead to spiritual and emotional turmoil, according to 2 Corinthians 6:14-18? [15:08]
What does the pastor mean when he says that relationships are often the battleground for spiritual warfare? [28:39]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current relationships. Are there any where you feel a significant misalignment in key areas like spiritual beliefs, financial goals, or personal values? How can you address these misalignments? [03:34]
Have you ever experienced a relationship where you felt you were presenting a version of yourself that wasn't entirely genuine? How did that affect the relationship? [07:57]
In what ways can you guard your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, from negative influences in your current relationships? [20:22]
Think about a time when you ignored God's voice in a relationship. What were the consequences, and what did you learn from that experience? [09:56]
How can you be more discerning about who you allow into your inner circle to maintain your spiritual health and integrity? [28:39]
If you are married, what steps can you take to be a light in your spouse's life and protect your relationship from external negative influences? [30:19]
This week, take inventory of your relationships. Are there any that are leading you away from God? What changes can you make to align your relationships with God's will? [40:42]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "No matter where you are, this series has to do with something that we all face in our relationships, and it's called tension. You know, nothing like a tension breaker than a good massage, right? So we're going to break the tension, but we're going to massage you with the word of God so that you can understand what God really has for you." [02:19] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Because here's the truth of God's word. In the Bible, in Amos 3.3, it says, How can two walk together unless they're in agreement? Now, agreement doesn't mean that you agree on everything. Agreement means that you have defined the direction that you're going. That you're headed somewhere." [03:34] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Fortunately for God, there's grace and forgiveness. You don't have to relive your past. We're looking to the future. Looking ahead. But as we're walking into this, there's something that you need to know about the tension that we feel. Because every relationship has tension. But you need to know the source. And you need to know how to deal with it." [10:50] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You cannot connect yourself with Satan and it not affect the temple. You've got to guard the temple. The temple is where God resides. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and you were born again, you are the temple of the living God. Your body is his temple. You carry him wherever you go, when you lie down, when you get up, when you go to work, when you go to school. You are the temple of God." [21:24] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Don't let your affections drive your life. Let the word of God drive your life. Amen. I love Krispy Kreme, but they won't let me move in. I love chocolate, but I can't eat it all the time. We have to tell our desires who's in control. Because every desire you have does not mean it is a God-generated desire." [22:16] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Because direction is determined in a lot of different areas of your life, in a lot of different faculties of life. It's determined with your kids. It's determined with your relationship with God. It's determined with your job. It's determined by your financial goals. All these things affect the tension." [04:15] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Sometimes our affections drive our decision when our affections are the very thing that's restricting us. And you're listening to your heart or you think you're listening to your heart. And we make a choice and that choice gets us into a situation. But we're restricted because our desire is saying yes and God is saying no. And we let our desire drive our life instead of God driving our life. We always wind up in the wrong direction. We always wind up in the wrong destination." [14:26] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "What you get around will one day get in. What you get around will one day get in. So if you're dating, you think, You know what? I know they're not a believer, but I'm going to win them to Jesus. I would be on the beach in Hawaii retired if I had a dollar. Every time I heard that. Love them." [22:16] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You cannot have fellowship with Satan and fellowship with God in this area of your life because you have given control over to just a little bit of God. You have given control over a little piece of your life. This is exactly how it works. Greg, how do I get it out? You don't stir it in. You don't get a super blender to make it look like it's gone away. You got to expel it, right? You got to expel it to get it out." [37:05] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Because many of you got married together because you were unified. You were on the same page. You were heading the same direction. And now for some reason, you got distracted and began to chase something else. And God's saying, no, get away from it in the name of Jesus. If anything I could get you to do is to get away from it, is just understand what God's trying to do here. He's not trying to limit your life. He's trying to free your life." [38:12] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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