MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS

READ: Ephesians 4:7-16

But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:15-16 (NASB)
Withdrawal is the first thing that happens to weaken the offended person. Relationships are the greatest source of inputs and strength for a believer. When you withdraw, you cut yourself off from your source of power, strength and wisdom. Notice how God considers our relationships as a source of supply. You are who you are by the supplies that come from every joint in your life.

When relationships created by God to bless and strengthen you are destroyed, your weaknesses and hollowness will soon be revealed. When people leave churches, they become ghosts and phantoms of what they were called to be. They were destined for greatness but crashed to the ground because they cut themselves off from their blessings, strengths and supplies.

Many wars were lost because the supplies to the soldiers did not reach them. If you send one million soldiers to war, you must have supplies for these men. They will be hungry every day! They will be thirsty every day! They will be sick every day! You will need to supply all their needs every day!

When Hitler sent out millions of soldiers to attack the Soviet Union, he had to supply them with food and clothing to keep them alive. In the end, the distances involved and the difficulties on the ground made it impossible to continue sending supplies. Many of the soldiers perished from cold and hunger. They were soundly defeated because they lacked the necessary supplies to survive the winter in Russia.

Do you want to be soundly defeated in battle? If you want to survive your battles you must stay connected and maintain the supplies of wisdom, guidance and counsel God has given you. Maintain your essential relationships! Do not cut off the very pipeline that supplies you with water.