The Relationships of the Spirit
Greetings and good morning brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series
where we seek to explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years,
the heavenly Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them
with you. This morning we will ponder our lives as we seek to the relationships of the spirit.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
The Relationships of the Spirit
"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye
also love one another" John, Chapter 13, Verse 34.
Brothers and sisters, as we live our lives, we are of a necessity related to people in our lives in
various ways. These relationships can be physical, intellectual, emotional, moral, or spiritual. In any
given relationship some or all these types are almost certainly to be found, but the dominant
relationship should be spiritual.
Physical relationships are subject to change; intellectual relationships are subject to fluctuations.
Emotional relations are like the wind, here one minute, gone the next. Moral relationships while
stable are dependent upon the morality of the person and may prove substantially inadequate for a
certain required task. Only spiritual relationships remain constant. All other relationships are based
upon something that a person does and are qualified by how well the person does what she is
supposed to do. But these qualities are only temporal, and subject to change even when one person
does not desire a change.
The heavenly Father is spirit, and his relationships with his children are spiritual. Spiritual
relationships are characterized by stability. These relationships are based upon the value of a person
irrespective of what they may or may not be able to do. Spiritual relationships are based upon the
supreme value that the Father places on us. We have value simply because we exist.
The very fact of our existence conveys a value, a value that is supreme above all other values of
existence. Spiritual relationships are characterized by unconditional acceptance, unconditional love,
faith, goodness, patience, mercy, and loyalty. Spiritual relationships are reflective of the relationship
that we share with the Father.
When we look at the kind of primary relationships that we have with our brothers and sisters, we
unmistakably reveal the kinds of relationships that we have with the Father. Because God is our
Father, then we all must be spiritual brothers and sisters, thus establishing the spiritual relationship
that we have with one another.
When our relationships are based primarily on physical and emotional needs, we have no real true
relationships for physical and emotional relationships cannot command the level of loyalty that is
required to continue a relationship in loving and satisfying harmony. Intellectual relationships may
last longer but still fall short of the desperate need of our souls for true spirit relationships. Moral
relations when fully embraced can bind and hold relationships together. But these relationships can
never approach the sublime satisfaction of the relationships of the spirit.
It becomes apparent that loyalty fails in relationships because they are not primarily spiritual. All
relationships no matter at what level they may begin must eventually give way to the spiritual
embrace if they are to be binding and satisfying, if they are to be mutually satisfying of that
indescribable hunger and that unquenchable thirst that only the spirit can satisfy.
The basis of spiritual relationship is moral consciousness. The acceptance of moral obligation will
definitely hold a relationship together if honored by both parties, pending the more substantial and
eternal relationships of the spirit. Moral consciousness is the badge of candidate for sonship with
God. Thus quality of our relationships points at once to the level of spirituality in us, signifying
whether we have an active relationship with the Father of all spiritual relationships.
The relationship of the spirit recognizes the inherent value of a person, the potential for growth. It
recognizes that it is impossible to truly worship God and not maintain a spiritual relationship with
our brothers and sisters. And though we may go from physical and emotional relationships, one after
the other, we will never find true happiness in relationships whose primary base rests upon these
temporal but non-eternal terms. Only the absolute basis of the spiritual love of the Father for his
children can keep relationships afloat. The consciousness of divine love as manifested by loyalty
binds our souls to each other and allow us to love one another, as Jesus loves us.
This concludes today's message on understanding the relationships of the spirit. We hope you find
something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day. Until next time, this
is Dr. James Perry.
Inspirational Messages
By Dr. James Perry
Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done!
The Relationships of the Spirit
