Good morning family!
Did you know that our AGREEMENT AND HARMONY are powerful forces within the body of Christ? God endorses HARMONY and good covenant relationships between believers ~ that’s why Satan so cunningly tries to destroy our relationships. Psalm 133:1-3 says,
- How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.
Look at the way God sees HARMONY! Let’s choose to do what the Bible tells us to do as it concerns our relationships. It’s wonderful to be around wonderful people, but what do we do when we run into irate, unlovely people? The Word of God tells us in Luke 6:32, 35:
- If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!…Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
There is POWER IN AGREEMENT between two believers. This is why Satan attacks marriages and other relationships within the body of Christ. Satan is always seeking to destroy the power of our UNITY. Matthew 18:19 (AMP) declares,
- Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
The Scripture declares in Deuteronomy 32:20 that one can put a thousand to flight and two can put ten thousand to flight. Do you see how important it is in the kingdom of God that we be of one mind and live harmoniously together with the body of Christ?
Satan wants to destroy our relationship with God and with other people. He wants us to hate ourselves and feel guilty and ashamed. However, God created us to have fellowship with Him and with the body of Christ. He first established a relationship with man in the Garden of Eden. He wanted to commune and have fellowship with Adam and Eve.
John 10:10 says that Jesus came so that we might have life and have it in abundance, to the full, until it overflows. By spending time in His Word and His presence, we can experience joy and peace that surpasses all understanding. Our walk with the Lord affects every aspect of our relationships.
HARMONY in relationships is a powerful force and so is our imagination. Satan always wants us to imagine the worst outcomes in life. Our relationships within the kingdom of God are based on covenants ~ exchanging strengths for weaknesses. We must understand the purpose of our relationships or we’ll abuse them.
Take a look with me at James 3:14-16. It says,
- But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
Contention comes from pride; pride produces strife, then strife affects our physical bodies. We should choose our battles wisely and refuse to allow the enemy to overtake our relationships. We shouldn’t hold on to offenses. Instead, we should ask the Lord to help us to let them go.
Forgiveness is very important in Christian relationships. When we forgive, it blocks satan’s inroads into our lives. Mark 11:25-26 tells us,
- “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Let’s choose today to forgive anyone who has wronged us and to release them to the Father. If we’ve committed sins, let’s confess them and when we do, 1 John 1:9 tells us that He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Walking in the light,
Lisa Gordon
Assistant Pastor
Jesus City Church