September 15, 2024 - How to Experience God's Design for Healthy Relationships, Part 2 - Pastor Paul Vallee

PART 2 Nicolaus Zinzendorf grew up in a devout Pietist Lutheran home in Germany in the 1700's. He came to know Jesus at six years of age, and during a trip through Western Europe, he went to an art museum where he experienced a powerful moment with God, the Holy Spirit, while viewing Domencia Feti's portrait of Christ crucified, entitled ‘Behold the Man.’ Zinzendorf was convicted noting, I have loved Him for a long time, but I have never actually done anything for Him. From now on, I will do whatever he leads me to do. Zinzendorf opened his estate to persecuted Moravian believers, and a plot of ground was set aside for them, calling it Hermhut, meaning, ‘The Lord’s Watch.’ The population grew to three hundred people from various Christian backgrounds, but divisions arose among them. Zinzendorf, concerned about their spiritual wellbeing, broke them up into small bands of two or three people to begin to share and pray with each other. Then, differences began to heal on August 13, 1727, at a service during the communion time, the congregation was gripped with such emotion that weeping began, with confession of sin and reconciliation. Shortly afterwards, an around-the-clock prayer ministry began that lasted for one hundred years. This continuous intercession initiated the sending of missionaries, which, was not happening in the Protestant realm. The gospel was now carried to many parts of the world, so that at the time of Zinzendorf’s death thirty-three years later, Hermhut had sent out 226 missionaries.” When we experience God’s presence, which affects our relationships with those around us, amazing things begin to happen. This incredible account is one of many answers to Jesus’ prayer found in John 17. Last week, I began a message on ‘How to experience God’s design for healthy relationships, where we look at the impact of having a right relationship with our heavenly Father. Today, we are going to continue that message as we examine Jesus’ prayer and how it relates to his disciples and to those who would believe as a result of their message. When we get our relationship right with God, like they did at Hermhut, we also will begin to see greater transformation in our relationships.