Relational Attributes of God - God “Is” / God “Exist”

Prior to this series, we had established the significance of understanding yourself as a relational being, through the word of God. We did emphasize that our relationship with the Father is priority. The question is, how well do you know God as a relational Father? How well you know Him in the context of relationship will have an impact on how you relate with Him. He is relational. We will look at a few scriptures that communicate this aspect in order to help us understand Him to a place where we desire to relate and fellowship with Him. Amen.

The many attributes of the Father that we have come to know so far are embedded in His nature as a relational Father. For example, the attribute of faithfulness, goodness, kindness is best expressed in the context of relationship. So there is absolutely no doubt that He is relational.

I will say this, there is more to Him than anyone can talk about. As you relate with Him, you will discover more about Him and your relationship with Him will get better and better. Amen! A relationship occurs between two or more spirits, concepts, objects, or people. Therefore, if you say that you are relating with a spirit, a person, a concept or an object, you are confident about the existence of that spirit, person, concept or thing. Amen.

And because we are looking at our relationship with the Father, let’s begin by establishing the truth that “God exists”.

He is not an idea. He is not a product of an imagination. He is not a myth. He is not an illusion or something we are trying to make happen. God truly exist. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that anyone that comes to Him must believe that “He Is”/”He exists”. Coming to Him in this context of our study will be, relating with Him. If you believe that God Is / God Exists then your journey to relating with Him becomes easier. If you do not believe that God Is / God Exist, then there is a definite problem that needs to be addressed. Amen.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Emphasis Mine

  

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Emphasis Mine

When we talk about His existence, we are referring to His present state of being. The God of the now! Not yesterday or the future. He is present and ever-present. He is real. He exists. When you come to Him for whatever reason, in this case, relationship, have this truth in mind about Him. When you relate with Him, you can be sure that you will receive all the attention you need. Amen.

Let Us Agree In Prayers

  

My prayer for you is that of an agreement

i)                Receive grace to consciously develop a desire to approach relationships from a kingdom perspective.

ii)              Study the word in order to understand how to do relationships better.

iii)            Understand your place in the context of relationship and excel in it.

iv)            Become an asset in your relationships by consciously equipping yourself with relational skills.

v)              That you will not depend on your wisdom in order to do relationships but you will depend on the wisdom of the almighty God.

vi)            That you will be a great example in your relationships. Sharpening those with whom you are in relationships as they do likewise.

vii)           That your success in relationships will increase as your failed relationships decrease.

viii)         That you will seek opportunities to invest in yourself so that you become an outgiver of the revealed truths as concerns relationship.

ix)            That relationship will no longer be a topic you shy away from but a topic you embrace not from a place of perfection but of godliness.

Therefore, Father my prayers for us all is that because we now know better, we will choose to grow, choose to live excellently and choose to prevail in the area of relationships.

In Jesus Name. Amen.

Conclusion

As we come to the end of this series, our desire for you is that you will continue to grow and become better in your relationships. So much has been covered in this series in an attempt to get you started in the right direction. Where ever you are in relationship, how far you have gone into your relationship should not stop you from desiring to improve on how you do relationships. Give yourself the opportunity to grow and do better – from glory to glory. Learn from the word and also learn from great examples around you. Desire excellence in the area of relationships. Do not allow the lies of the enemy keep you stagnant. Amen.

For the purpose of concluding on this series, I will do a brief recap of all that has been covered. We began by rediscovering, reestablishing and understanding our place in the context of relationship and the highlight of that teaching was that it was for the purpose of relationship that God created us and that relationship is His idea. So let’s learn how to do relationships better by relating with Him first. We said relationship is spiritual, therefore, the word of God provides the necessary tools to help us handle relationships in a godly and knowledgeable manner. We went further to look at 10 possible questions a person should consider asking themselves with answers from scriptures, before getting into any relationship. Then, we later examined a few Bible characters who demonstrated the kingdom approach in relationship. Amen.

In the next series, we will attempt to look at our Father from a relational perspective. Learning from Him relational traits that will enlighten us, and help us approach relationships better. Stay tuned!

They Demonstrated Kingdom Purpose In Relationship

·       The case of Jesus

John 6:38 (NIV)

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

Jesus was in relationship with the Father and the focus of Jesus while here on earth was to do only the will of His Father. A statement of purpose. Meaning that, at every given time you find Jesus, he was going about the will of His Father. Amen.

That should be our story. Our purpose should be to do only the will of the Father not otherwise. By so doing, we will be great examples in our relationships for others to emulate.

·       The Case of Paul, Timothy and Titus

2 Timothy 1:11 (NLT)

And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.

Emphasis Mine

2 Timothy 4:5 (NKJV)

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Emphasis Mine

Titus 1:5 (NKJV)

For this reason, I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.

Emphasis Mine

Add meaning to your life by living purposefully because God created you for a purpose. Amen.

Paul, Timothy and Titus functioned in many offices. The goal of these verses is to help us see how kingdom purpose was emphasized in their relationship as Paul functioned in his purpose in the kingdom and encouraged Timothy and Titus to do likewise. Amen.

They Demonstrated Knowledge of the Kingdom Identity in Relationship

I will read for you a few examples from scriptures of individuals who demonstrated knowledge of kingdom identity.

·       The case of Paul - 2 Corinthians 1:1 (NKJV) - Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

·       The case of Jude - Jude 1:1 (NKJV) - Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James

·       The Case of Peter - 1 Peter 1:1 (NKJV) - Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Notice how these individuals established their identity.

After mentioning who they are, they went further to establish whose they are, then their association with others. Amen.

Our emphasis is this, in every relationship, if you are only identified by your name, there is a problem. Those who relate with you should be able to know you by your name and also know your identity in Christ. It should not be hidden but rather known. Paul said I am Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ. Jude said, I am Jude a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and Peter said, I am Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. Amen. So let’s emulate them and do better in our relationships.

Notice that your identity in Christ precedes your relationship with others.

Paul said, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, Jude said, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.

Peter said, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

Always remember that your identity in Jesus Christ precedes your relationship with others. By so doing, you will be demonstrating knowledge of kingdom identity in relationship.

  

He Demonstrated Knowledge of the Kingdom Reward System In Relationship

·       The case of David – 1 Samuel 17 introduces us to the battle relationship between David and Goliath of Gath, a very familiar Bible story. Our emphasis in this story is on the kingdom reward system in relationship. David learned of the threats the Israelites were receiving from the Philistines and he also heard of the rewards that will be offered to the man that kills Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:25 (NIV)

Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.”

Emphasis Mine

The understanding here is that David heard the rewards, but even after hearing, he inquired on two different occasions to be certain that what he heard was true. Once he got confirmations about what the reward will be, he engaged himself into this battle relationship. Won the battle and got the rewards. Amen.

The story of David and Goliath is a great example that demonstrates the truth about the kingdom reward system in relationship.

They Demonstrated Kingdom Priority In Relationship

·       The case of Esther – Esther demonstrated kingdom priority in relationship when she found herself in the palace against her will. A decree was passed by King Ahasuerus and all the young virgins were assembled and extensive body treatments were done to prepare them for the king, after which he will choose who will be the next queen. All these happened after queen Vashti had been dethroned. Amen. This is what I will like us to learn from Esther, in the context of relationship and kingdom priority. Esther 2:15 (NKJV) Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go into the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.

 From a practical perspective, the name Hegai in Hebrew means “word”; it also means “meditation”. By implication, Esther only requested what the word advised. So, although in a relationship she did not choose for herself, she still allowed the word to remain priority. Amen. She is a great example.

The case of Paul and Onesimus – When you read Paul’s Epistle to Philemon, it gives you a better appreciation of kingdom priority in relationship. Summarily, Philemon was a member of the church in Colosse at the time. Meanwhile, Paul was imprisoned in Rome. Onesimus escaped from his slave master Philemon. Upon his escape, Onesimus made his way to Rome, where he eventually met with Paul who led him to Christ. Amen. I want us to see that, first, Paul did not plan to get into any relationship with Onesimus. Secondly, Paul was imprisoned and by implication, his condition was not conducive, nevertheless, that did not stop him from developing a relationship with Onesimus for the purpose of leading Onesimus to Christ. In addition to that, he even encouraged Onesimus to return to his slave master Philemon. Amen.

These are just a few examples of individuals who demonstrated kingdom priority in relationship. Let’s emulate them. Amen.