THE TWISTER (MAINTAIN BALANCE)

SERIES: GAMES PEOPLE PLAY-RELATIONSHIPS

TEXT: LUKE 6:12-19

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.

The promise of the game twister is very simple. Spin the spinner and then place the proper hand or foot on the proper color. Relationship management is life management. Jesus Christ came to teach us spiritual lessons. He modelled for us relationships management and intelligence.

Twister game teaches us how to stretch relationships. Relationships require flexibility and comprise. If we are always rigid we will then live a path of broken relationships behind us.

Although twister does require stretching and flexibility you can be the most stretchy and flexible person and still lose. The number one trait needed in twister and one that I think most of us are missing in our relationships we often feel pulled in 100 different directions. The issue is that you only can be pulled in so many different directions before you fall. Therefore, you must learn to balance.

In a car balance is achieved through alignment. That is true in twister as well. If you can keep everything aligned so that your center of gravity is maintained, then you will stay balanced.

Jesus Christ modelled for us balance. I want to point you to one example in which Jesus modelled for us balance which is accomplished through alignment-Luke 6:12-19.

• Jesus Christ spend time in solitude with God.
• He named us from all of the disciples present to be His closest circle.
• John later tells us in John 15 that the 12 disciples relationship would go from servant to friend.
• Then Jesus Christ is surrounded by a massive group of people who need to be healed and set free.
• To win, navigate and manage relationships like Jesus Christ you are going to have to manage your time and energy and keep your time balanced properly between isolation, friends and assignments. If you lose balance between these three areas, you will probably struggle in every area. Let us learn:-

1. ISOLATION

• Most of us in this room don’t like, nor practice isolation or quiet time.
• Most of us don’t like alone time because when you are alone you deal with you and God.
• Jesus Christ knew that time in isolation is not time alone, but time alone with GOD.
• We struggle to have healthy relationships with others because we don’t take time necessary to get along with ourselves and with God to deal with our issues.
• We allow people to drown out the voice of God that can only be found in silence and in quite with the Living God.
• If we don’t get alone with God to sort out our issues, then we carry our issues to the people.
• People don’t have power to sort out our cares and issues.
• Remember it was in isolation that Moses had his insecurities laid bare before God.
• Remember it was when Jacob was left alone in Bethel that his selfishness and trickness was revealed.
• Remember it was in isolation that Jonah was confronted with his rebellion and anger with God.
• It was in isolation that Jesus Christ set his face like flint for the cross!!
• In isolation we are forced to face us and we are forced to find strength that isn’t from us but from God.
• We need these moments when we pull away to face people to deal with us by face to face encounters with God.
• Bonhoffer said “Beware of the brother who cannot be alone.”
• You cannot be healthy around others if you won’t spend time alone with God.

1. FRIENDS

Immediately after solitude, Jesus knowing that we are created for relationship, He called 12 men to spend His life with.

• We all need friends and we all have assignments.
• Many of us don’t have true friends as we think.
• There are true friends and unfriendly friends.
• Jesus never called every disciple His friends.
• Jesus had more than 12 disciples, but 12 He calls friends.
• Here is what you should look for in a friend. Friends earn the right to be called friends by loving.
• Good character-1^st 15:33.
• Loyal love-Prov. 17:17. A friend loves at all times and a brother is burn for adversity.
• A true friend will stand by you at all times including bad times.
• Willing to hurt you to help you-Prov. 27:6, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
• Real friends won’t sit by and watch you destroy you, they will speak up-Prov. 18:24.
• The friends in our life help fix us!
• To be balanced you must have true friends.

ASSIGNMENTS

• Jesus did not only spend time with His friends. He surrounded Himself with the masses-these people where His assignments.
• Jesus spend a lot time with people who needed to be fixed.
• But Christ confused friends and the masses.
• Our assignments love our gifts not necessary to love us.
• There are people around you who don’t necessarily love you, but need your help, counsel, healing, money and materials.
• Most of the people who needed Jesus to heal them did not necessarily want to have a deeper relationship with Him.
• Some people come to you not because they love you, but they only need your help.
• Jesus was assigned to the masses, but He kept a balance between isolation with God, friends or disciples and the masses or the needy.
• There is nothing wrong with the fact that some people want to be around you, because you help them.
• Consider such people as assignments brought to you by God for your life is to help people.
• But never give your life to the masses, but give your life to your friends.
• To the masses give them your gift, they love your wisdom, insight, anointing, money and time.
• The balance is the key, you need time alone with God, you need time and safety of friends, you need to help the masses.

CONCLUSION.

• Examine your balance. Are you spending time and energy on all three areas?
• Are your relationships out of alignment?
• Spend time alone. Don’t run away from you.
• Make sure you have a circle of friends in your life that are full of character, loyal in love, willing to speak up and consistently reliable in every season of life.
• Don’t run away from your assignments, but don’t make a mistake of thinking and treating the masses as friends. Keep the balance to win in relationships.