DEARLY BELOVED 3
CREATE TO RELATE
Create to Relate is a key part of the Megamorphic Vision. The Create to Relate strategy is one that wants to see people become relational go-getters, affirmation zone tone setters, people who are intentional and set the tone. Recognizing God's priority of great relationships with God and one another. The term Create to Relate is used because it sums up the whole process of discipleship. CREATE TO RELATE: VIBRANT, VIRTUOUS, VINTAGE RELATIONAL ECSTASY. Vibrant: living, pulsing with energy, a vitality. Virtuous: full of Godliness, honor, respect, discipline, accountability, love. Vintage: stand the test of time and get's better with age.
VIBRANT, VIRTUOUS, VINTAGE RELATIONSHIPS
GOD GIVEN CREATIVITY
We have The Creator within us, the loving power of the Holy Spirit we should not simply rely on ourselves. Every relationship is an opportunity to prayerfully engage with our Creator and creatively co-labor towards blessing that person whether it be materially, eternally, relationally or all the above.
Relationships, whether friendships, family, coworkers, romantic, they aren’t always easy. It can be hard relating to people, but we can be excited that we can grow to shift from “seems hard” to focusing that it is an opportunity to be creative. Prayerfully seeking ways to serve others, seeking words of encouragement, words of knowledge, speaking into situations that only the Holy Spirit can provide.
INTENTIONALITY
At Create to Relate, we want people to be relational go-getters, affirmation zone tone setters. We read in Genesis 1:3: "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." Mat 3:17: "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased". Why did God say those things, because that’s being intentional. God affirmed what was created,, He affirmed His son and did so affirming His creativity while in the affirmation zone. When we are intentional, we are focusing on building relationships, great relationships.
We can set aside relationship factors of difficulty and engage “Lord, we can’t seem to get along, show me how to improve this relationship.”, "Lord, show me how serve this person”. “I speak growth!”, “I release ingenuity”, “I command reconciliation”, “Thank you Lord, I see ideas”, “I expect fresh connection Lord”. “I put aside tension, awkwardness”, “I focus on who this person is”, “I release acceptance”.
SET THE TONE
Jesus engaged with people in many creative ways. One of those ways is in command mode! We see that He walked up to Simon and Andrew while they were fishing (Mark 1:16-17) and said “follow me, I’ll make you fishers of men” and they followed him! He set the tone of action, boldness. He didn’t go up to them and say “Hey, you can follow me if you want, if you think it’s cool”, no he was in command mode.
We see how other’s engaged with Him, He sat and allowed Mary to washhis feet with her tears and hair (John 12:3) We see how Mary bowed down and washed Jesus feet, she was setting the tone of worship, engaging with Christ in a new way that those in the room had never seen or done before. That’s encouragement for us, showing how we too can set the tone, determining how others will engage with us.
We can engage with others and set the tone by giving eye contact, using the person's name, body language, etc. We can be deliberate in our tone of voice, in talking about weighty matters, in seeking growth in our relationships.
CAN DO ATTITUDE
To grow as a tone setter, we need to grow our can do attitude. When we are in relationship situations, in a situation where there is clear need for growth, what ever it is: THIS CAN HAPPEN. Having the mind set, no matter what’s going on, that we have VICTORY.
The bottom line is: nothing can get in the way of building great relationship! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philipians 4:13. Romans 8:38-39: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
RELATIONAL ECSTASY
What is relational ecstasy: building and growing great relationships, having a recognition that that’s what God wants, GREAT RELATIONSHIP, sharing in creativeness and relating to one another, LIVING in great relationships with others and most importantly with God!
In terms of relationships, God’s preference is having the whole team together. Bringing all nations together, whole crowds, everyone! We believe God wants to increase people’s appreciation and their understanding of how they can be apart of ecstatic gatherings.
THE GREAT COMMISSION: Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
We need to recognize that relationship isn’t a personality issue. Asking ourselves “do we count this person as dearly beloved, as part of us?” God focuses on relationships because He loves us, He wants great relationships with us and wants us to have great relationships with others! He is building and preparing an eternal relationship with us, He set the first step in place with Jesus dying on the cross. We will spend eternity in these vibrant, virtuous, vintage relationships!
Are we building our relationships for eternity?
John 17:3: "Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent".
The relationships we are building here on earth can be for eternity. Are we treating others as better than ourselves, are we seeing them as a member of the same team? Are we scared to tell others about Jesus? Eternal life is to know Jesus, to know Jesus is to have a relationship with Him, a VIBRANT, VIRTUOUS, VINTAGE relationship with Him and walking in that relationship, we can recognize that we are all dearly beloved, we are cared for, and we can share that with others: through creativity, setting the tone, being in command mode, building vibrant, virtuous, vintage relational ecstasy with God and one another.