Relationships and Associations

Message Summary:

In today’s message in our series, Kingdom Economics, Pastor John Carter taught us about the law of association and the obtaining of destiny. In His Word, God is very clear that one of the primary ways that He will bless us is through the associations, or relationships, in our lives. Remember the old saying: “Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.” Your future is tied to the relationships in your life that God has brought to you. God wants to sow divine connections and associations into your life that will steer you toward your destiny.

But likewise, we must be careful of trying our lives in relationship to people who will sandbag our lives, or slow down our destiny like an anchor. We have to be careful of ungodly connections and counsel. If we are not careful, we can get close to people who are not really serving the Lord. And the problem with that is what is in them can get in you if you are not careful to protect and guard your life. The goal in this life is to be aware and to discern the people that God is leading and guiding you to connect together with because they are destined to be a part of your destiny. We must be very guarded regarding our heart relationships, those intimate relationships that have the most influence on our lives.

We have to recognize that there are different kinds of relationships, and each level of relationship has it’s own level of access in your life:

• Family

• Companions

• Church

• Community

• Divine

The most important skill we can cultivate as believers is to learn how to keep the connections in our lives in the right level of relationship. It can be very destructive when we give companions a level of intimacy that doesn’t belong to them. Our destiny is tied to our relationships. That means we have to be very careful to tie our lives to the divine connections that God has placed in our path to help us to reach our destiny.

Scriptures:

• [Psalm 1:1-6 NKJV] 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

• [Proverbs 13:20 NKJV] 20 He who walks with wise [men] will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the “law of association” mean?

2. Why is God invested in the relationships that we forge?

3. Why do we need to be careful about who we associate with?

4. Why is our destiny tied to our relationships?

5. How do we determine what level of relationship to give to people?

Life Application:

Over the next week, as you study the key scriptures, ask yourself the following question: If you look at your relationships, do you have divine connections? These are the relationships that God has brought into your life to move you toward your destiny. Or do you have relationships that are holding you back, pulling you down, or keeping you stuck in place? While it may be painful, it might be the season for you to cut some unhealthy soul ties with the relationships that are pulling you away from your destiny, so you can make room for the relationships that will help you run toward your destiny. Ask the Lord to help you! He has your back!