Youth Service by Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

BATTLESHIP

SERIES: GAMES PEOPLE PLAY-RELATIONSHIPS

TEXT: GENESIS 13:1-12.

 

The single most significant impacting force in our lives is relationships. Therefore, we must learn the games people play, so that we can manage relationships to win! There is our relationship with God-vertical relationships and there are horizontal relationships with family, church, school, work place and society in general. “Battleship” game is an old game. The battleship game was released in 1967, by Milton Bradley and included the plastic boards and pegs. It is believed that battleship was there even before 1967. Russian soldiers played it before the First World War (WW1). This game has been computerized and a movie called “Battleship” was screened in 2012.

The concept of “battleship” is that 2 players set where they could not see where the opponent’s grid and each person would place their little plastic battleships on the grid. Then each person would take turns calling out a location on the grid to try to hit one of the opposing ships. Once a person’s fleet of ships is sunk, they lose and the game is over.

Remember that relationship management is life management.

No one can escape relationships because we were all born into relationships.

You and I must learn how to navigate relationships.

Already we have learned about managing access and providing equal love but no equal access, we have also talked about maintain balance between isolation, friends and assignments. Some people in your life are not friends but assignment people given to you by God, so you can help them. These people are not there committed to a relationship with you, they only need your help, money, services, gift etc. not your love. Jesus Christ had His Father in heaven, 12 disciples and the multitudes, so cannot be a friend to multitudes.

In relationships you must be authentic. Authenticity is being real. Being real is essential to having fruitful relationships. Let us discuss:-

ABRAHAM AND LOT RELATIONSHIP-Gen. 13:1-12.

  • In relationships we need to make each other stronger, bear one another’s burdens, and carry one another to Jesus Christ through prayer.
  • We need to believe the best for one another, we need to rally one another.
  • However, there are some relationships that sink us rather than strengthen us.
  • Now, both Abraham and Lot were very rich and were being blessed by God daily.
  • Both of them had herds and flocks, their wealth was increasing.
  • Their both families were expanding very fast.
  • However, the land could not support them both.
  • The town was not big enough for both of them.
  • There was a big problem, divisions and conflict between Abraham’s and Lot’s men.
  • There was a conflict over resources and fights were common in the fields.
  • There are conflicts that are caused by poverty.
  • There are conflicts that are caused by riches.

LESSONS TO LEARN.

To correctly navigate relationships, you need to know:-

  • The solution in some relationships is space.
  • Abraham and Lot realized that the only way they are going to survive this and still remain in relationship is to create space between them.
  • Sometimes what God removes from your life is just as significant as what He places in your life.
  • Some of you are wounded and wallowing in pain, disillusionment and want to force fellowship with some someone that will result in both of you sinking.
  • Both Abraham and Lot are being blessed but they must separate.
  • You see Abraham and Lot used to call each other every 30 seconds, but now they don’t talk for 30 days!!
  • Too many of us start forcing relationships, but we are sinking each other-You need to separate to allow space.
  • Sometimes addition comes through subtraction.
  • Abraham and Lot were not adding any value to each other.
  • Abraham and Lot were not blessing each other-conflict is a terrible thing.
  • There are seasons in life that if you don’t experience death subtraction, then you will experience death and distraction.
  • Abraham and Lot were surrounded by real enemies and threats, real adversaries and if they are distracted by their relationship issue, then they will be destroyed.
  • Their enemies already knew that Abraham and Lot were in a conflict.
  • Are you in a distractive relationship? Are you trying to save the relationship at the cost of your testimony?
  • To get to your final destination you must allow space.
  • Some relationships are allowed by God to get you to some place in life.
  • To get to your final destination you must allow space.
  • Some relationships are short term don’t make them long term, otherwise chaos will occur.
  • You can usually sense the end of the season because if the relationship generates peace continue, if it produces chaos terminate it.
  • If the relationship used to draw you away from God terminate it.
  • If the relationship used to make better but now it makes you bitter, terminate it.
  • Relationships can sink.
  • On order for you to manage some relationships you are going to have to allow space!!
  • Both parties are still being blessed but at a safe distance.
  • We must learn to make an adjustment before there’s a problem.
  • You have to get out of range, you may not be out of relationship, but out of range.
  • If you are visible, you could be shot and sunk, get out of range. Abraham created space for Lot, he made the adjustment and moved on.
  • Making adjustments is the right thing to do.
  • Lot chose the best land.
  • When you create space in a relationship, trust God.
  • Lot was so selfish that he chose the best land, Abraham did not fight for his preference.
  • Where ever you are God will take care of you. He will bless you where you are.
  • Space id godly and it is a gift.
  • Some of us need to get space and some of us need to give space.
  • Abraham gave Lot the space he needed but kept safe distance to rescue him.
  • You do not give them up, but you give space.
  • Stay connected so you stay blessed but get out of range, this is how you maneuver through family difficulties and friend relationships.
  • I want them blessed but sometimes for them to be blessed and for me to be blessed there is going to have to be space!!
  • I don’t want you to sink me and I don’t want to sink you.
  • So, I adjust to give you the space you need!

CONCLUSION

  • Give me some space! I will give you some space.
  • The single most significant impacting force in our lives is relationships.
  • We must learn the games people play so that we can manage relationships to win!
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Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

Rev, Dr. Willy Mutiso is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Athiriver. He is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.

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