Building Strong Relationships

The Power To Build Strong Relationships

Sermon By: Minister Daniel Blackman | Time: 10:00 AM

THERE IS POWER IN THE BUILDING OF STRONG RELATIONSHIPS

Question: “Jesus wept – why did Jesus weep?”

1. John 11:1-45 concerns the death and resurrection of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha and a friend of our Lord. Jesus wept (John 11:35) when He gathered with the sisters and others mourning Lazarus’s death. Jesus did not weep over the death itself since He knew Lazarus would soon be raised and ultimately spend eternity with Him in heaven. Yet He could not help but weep when confronted with the wailing and sobbing of Mary, Martha, and the other mourners (John 11:33). The original language indicates that our Lord wept “silent tears” or tears of compassion for His friends (Romans 12:15).
   • If Jesus had been present when Lazarus was dying, His compassion would have caused Him to heal His friend (John 11:14–15). But preventing a death might be considered by some to be a chance circumstance or just a “minor” miracle, and this was not a time for any doubt. So Lazarus spent four days in death’s grave before Jesus publicly called him back to life. The Father wanted these witnesses to know that Jesus was the Son of God, that Jesus was sent by God, and that Jesus and the Father had the same will in everything (John 11:4, 40–42). Only the one true God could have performed such an awesome and breathtaking miracle, and through this miracle the Father and the Son were glorified, and many believed (John 11:4, 45).
2. Luke 19:41–44 the Lord is taking His last trip to Jerusalem shortly before He was crucified at the insistence of His own people, the people He came to save. Earlier, the Lord had said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it” (Luke 13:34). As our Lord approached Jerusalem and thought of all those lost souls, “He saw the city and wept over it” (Luke 19:41). Here, wept is the same word used to describe the weeping of Mary and the others in John 11:33, so we know that Jesus cried aloud in anguish over the future of the city. That future was less than 40 years distant; in AD 70 more than 1,000,000 residents of Jerusalem died in one of the most gruesome sieges in recorded history.

Answer

Even though both situations caused Jesus to weep He wept for two different reasons. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus had a close relationship with Jesus they believed in Him and Jesus considered them friends.  Jesus knew their ultimate fate would be eternal life but he wept in this instance because of the personal relationship.  In the second instance most in Jerusalem did not believe and therefore did not have life.  Jesus wept because he knew the consequence of the choice that they made.

Six Ingredients of Strong Relationships

1. Habitual Fellowship –Relationships are somewhat like a garden. Without proper care and attention the weeds take over. Be sure to support one another’s interests through attention and encouragement.
   1. Mary, Martha, Lazarus
   2. Enoch Walked in Habitual Fellowship with God (Genesis 5:22)
   3. Noah lived and walked in Habitual Fellowship with God (Genesis 6:9)
   4. Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then
2. Effective Communication –Emphasize that each person’s ideas are valid and everyone should have the chance to share happy news as well as what’s bothering them. Being a good listener is essential in the communication process. Listening displays respect. It shows family members you care about what concerns them.
   • Joshua 1:6-8 (AMP) 6 Be strong and confident and courageous, for you will give this people as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers (ancestors) to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do [everything] in accordance with the entire law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be [a]
3. Unconditional Love –Every day family members contribute in ways that are worthy of appreciation. It is important to be aware of their efforts and express your gratitude with meaningful words and gestures. This can be done simply by saying, “Thank you for doing the dishes,” or perhaps leaving a quick note where they can find it. It is also important to appreciate others not only for what they do, but also for who they are! This helps to increase the recipient’s self-esteem and deepens a caring bond between family members.
4. Commitment (Faithfulness)-‘Putting family first’ means that everyone takes time to consider how their decisions will affect the other members of the family. They are concerned about one another’s welfare and happiness, and seek to structure their lifestyle in ways that promote unity and harmony.
   • Hebrews 11 Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. ² For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval. ³ By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed andcreated [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. ⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which it was testified of him that he was righteous (upright, in right standing with God), and God testified by accepting his gifts. And though he died, yet through [this act of] faith he still speaks. ⁵ By faith [that pleased God] Enoch was caught up and taken to heaven so that he would not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found because God had taken him; for even before he was taken [to heaven], he received the testimony [still on record] that he had walked with God and pleased Him. ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.
5. Be Solutions Driven –Members of strong families demonstrate the ability to stand firmly together during a crisis. By utilizing effective communication skills and maintaining a positive outlook, families can deal with difficult times and find strength that will sustain them through any crisis.
   • Be on the solutions side, and not on the problem side.
   • If you bring a problem to a person, you should have at least 3 solutions to the problem. Be part of the answer to the problem that you are bringing.
   • When people know that they will be required to be part of the solution, they bring a lot less problems to your attention, because they realize they have personal grievances not problems that need to be made public.
6. Values and convictions –Identifying and practicing a set of deeply held values and moral standards is an essential component of strong families. Some families demonstrate these beliefs through participation in organized religion while others involve themselves in worthy causes. Parents can express values by having open discussions about cultural trends, reading books to children which contain moral messages, or making a written document that states, “This family believes…” and posting it where everyone can see it. The most effective method, however, is allowing your children to observe you practicing your ethical convictions. Children may not hear everything we say, but they see everything we do!
   • Lead, guide, provide and take all of the blame

Romans 8:30-38Amplified Bible (AMP)

³⁰ And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].

³¹ What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us? ³² He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against God’s elect (His chosen ones)? It is God who justifies us [declaring us blameless and putting us in a right relationship with Himself]. ³⁴ Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us. ³⁵ Who shall ever separate us from the love of ^[a]Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written and forever remains written,

“For Your sake we are put to death all day long;
We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.”

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. ³⁸ For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers,

 

• Tags:

• Share Post