For a few weeks I’m going to be writing based on a spiritual growth campaign we’re hosting at our church called Connections, how to have the relationships we really want by learning to powerfully connect with people out of the love we receive from our connection with God.
Our world needs a loveolution.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We can start a loveolution by learning to connect with others the way Jesus connects with us.
“Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us, but to give everything to us. Love like that!”
— Ephesians 5:2 (MSG)
We are to love because of God, by the power of God, for the glory of God!
This is what Jesus meant when He talked about abiding or remaining in Him.
“I am the Vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit...”
— John 15:5 (NIV)
“God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us.”
— I John 4:17 (MSG)
Some promises we can look forward to as we start a loveolution.
As we make God-like connections, we can expect Him to bring God-like resurrections.
“And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers...”
— Malachi 4:6a (NKJV)
We will come alive with joy and start to see great fruit in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit...”
— John 15:7-8 (NIV)
“We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.”
— Ephesians 4:16 (MSG)
We will see walls broken and strongholds come down in our hearts and families.
“Receive this truth: Whatever you forbid on earth will be considered to be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be considered released in heaven.”
—Matthew 18:18 (TPT)
Often God heals and restores our past as we step out to help others experience healing in their lives.
Our relationships inside and outside the church will go from simply transactional to transformational.
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one –I in them and you in me– so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you loved me.”
— John 17:22-23 (NIV)
Growth and progress in our relationships will accelerate and multiply as we unite to grow together. This is the reason why we are doing a church-wide spiritual growth campaign.
“Two can accomplish twice as much as one...”
— Ecclesiastes 4:9 (LB)
Greater focus with unity and greater support produce exponentially more results.
“I got gaps, she’s got gaps, together we got no gaps.” — Rocky
Things we will do to multiply and accelerate our growth in the Connections Campaign.
We will release and activate our faith by praying bold, audacious prayers together. Prayer puts God in the middle of a relationship or situation; once you do that nothing is impossible. We supersize our little faith by joining it with everyone’s faith to become a mountain-moving size faith.
Faith is refusing to allow the experiences of your past to define what your expectations for the future can and should be!
We put roots down in the study of God’s Word so our faith can grow.
Connection Challenge:
a. Read the following 6 posts from Ephesians on Connections.
b. Read or listen to the book of Ephesians at least once a week for 5 weeks!
c. The book, The Connection Codes by Dr. Glenn and Phyllis Hill is recommended reading.
Activate your love by joining a life group or dream team at your church. The power to live a life of love doesn’t just come from learning a concept, it must come from putting into practice an intentional lifestyle.
“But above all these things put on love which is the bond of perfectness.” — Colossians 3:14 (NKJV)
You don’t feel it and do it; you do it and God will then help you feel it. For every post, there will be a different connection activation.
How we start the loveolution in our hearts and homes
Let God love you as you’ve never let God love you before. We aren’t called to show people our love but to give people God’s love.
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
— I John 4:10 (NIV)
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
— Romans 5:5 (NIV)
God has given us the two things most important for lasting connection: allowing us to be safe and vulnerable.
1. He assures us and lets us know we are enough.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” — Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV)
2. He promises He will never leave.
“Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
— Romans 8:39 (NIV)
Choose to see and treat people in line with the value that God puts on everyone.
Connecting with others begins with a shift in our mind, moving beyond tolerating, ignoring, or just experiencing people, to truly seeing people and fueling their self-worth and identity because of how valuable they are to God.
People draw near to those who make them feel bigger inside and withdraw from those who make them feel smaller.
Connecting is more than talking; it is partnering with God to help others feel their worth.
Becoming a true Connector who starts a loveolution is a life-long journey that begins with an absolute commitment.