As the Feast of Tabernacles approaches, we look forward to God’s Kingdom. We refresh and clarify our vision, refining ourselves and praying to endure until the end that we may be saved. As we look around, we are currently engulfed in a world of chaos and confusion. And yet, we can see hope—we can see Bible prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes. That is exciting, and we should be looking to Jesus Christ and awaiting His return, ever so diligently refining ourselves and analyzing how we can become like Him!

Jesus Christ was the most powerful and competent man that has ever walked the earth. He was knowledgeable and refined, yet He had a sincerity of heart. This made Him the most effective “people person” who has ever lived. He associated with sinners and publicans. He had compassion on the multitudes who were without a shepherd. He was sincere when He engaged people and people immediately sensed His genuineness. He looked out for the best interests of others (Philippians 2:4-5).

While we don’t possess the ability to read peoples’ thoughts, motives and hearts, we, walking in Christ’s example, ought to also seek to develop the skills necessary to serve our fellow man. That’s why God is calling us: We’re being trained to work with people both now and in the Kingdom!

Question

As members of the family of God, we are to serve, love, edify and build one another up. “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another”! (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Therefore we should ask ourselves: “How many new spiritual relationships will I build this year at the Feast, and will I be there this year for my brothers to pick them up when they’ve fallen in this spiritual war that rages around us?”

Jesus Christ’s Example

Jesus Christ said to have love one for another and that by this would people know that we’re God’s people (John 13:34-35). How can we love one another if we don’t even know one another? You might say, “I know everyone in my congregation!” And you may very well know their names, but do you really know them? Have you spoken to them intimately about their lives, family, spiritual battles, studies, current events? Do you know enough about that person to pray for their most intimate struggles and battles? Jesus Christ did. Do we walk in His example?

Are we best friends with our brothers and sisters in Christ? How intimate is your congregation? Do you remember the days when the Spirit and power of God were the discussions at church on the Sabbath? Are our conversations today superficial?

Jesus Christ had intimate relationships with the apostles. He knew them, their backgrounds, their families. God and Jesus Christ genuinely care about our lives, battles and success! If the Spirit of God is within us, should we not yearn to build up and aid our fellow brothers in the great war that we fight together against the prince of the power of the air?

Soldiers

As bombs are showering, bullets impacting, dirt spewing into the air day in and day out, how close are soldiers of war? If you were a soldier in war, how close would you be with the guys on your right and on your left? The ones you depend on to save your life. Would they be your brothers? If you spent a few years in the trenches fighting beside them, how close would you be?

Discouragement is one of Satan’s greatest weapons. If Jesus Christ promises to not give up on us, then Satan must get us to give up on Jesus Christ! In 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Paul wrote, “Now, we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all”! (ASV, emphasis added). Paul passionately directs the Thessalonians to encourage the fainthearted here. Now, at some point in our spiritual war we all will become fainthearted, tired and discouraged. Brothers and sisters in warfare, how can we encourage one another if we don’t know each other well enough to know when one is discouraged? We are our brother’s keeper!

This year we should make it a goal to refine our people skills, to meet new people, spend time with the elderly, learn about their calling into God’s truth, talk about spiritual battles they’ve overcome and the lessons they’ve learned in their lives. Let’s take this knowledge and build meaningful relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ—to support and aid them in time of need and to pick them up when they’ve fallen. One of the most powerful acts of service, and one that anyone can do, is to build positive relationships of meaning.

How many new spiritual relationships will you build this year at the Feast, and will you be there this year for your brothers to pick them up when they’ve fallen in this spiritual war that rages around us?

How To

Growth is only obtained through discomfort. “Make your life uncomfortable” was the motto from one of my first business mentors. He realized that as human beings we can only grow, develop and better ourselves through situations of discomfort. For some of us, going out of our way to talk to others is a great challenge and fear, let alone actually spending the time to get to know someone!

Breaking the ice is the most difficult part of striking up conversation and building a relationship. When you get that insecure feeling in your gut that tries to keep you from going and talking to someone, take a deep breath and say to yourself “make your life uncomfortable.” Walk over to the person, make eye contact (sincere eye contact) and introduce yourself. “I’m ________ from _________. We haven’t met yet. Where are you from?”

Principles of Meaningful Conversation

Give that person your utmost attention; make them feel like they’re the only person in the world. Complete focus, thought and concern on what they’re saying is key! We need to listen more intently and with more focus than ever before! Listen as Jesus Christ did to all that he came into contact with, Jews and Gentiles alike.

Ask questions regarding what they’re talking about. This lets them know that you’re listening, shows that you genuinely care and lets them know they’re not talking to a wall.

Don’t look around, constantly looking for someone else to go and say “hello” to. This body language tells people that you’re busy, rushed and don’t have time or interest in real conversation. This is a sure way to keep conversations and relationships superficial and meaningless.

Five key subjects that you can keep anyone talking about for hours:

Home town. Where they are from? What environment did they grow up in? How did it shape their life and who they are?

Business. What do they do for work? Do they love it? Is it fun? How did they get into it and how has it changed since they’ve been in the business? What lessons have they learned from it?

Background. What schools have they attended? Where else have they lived? What other jobs have they worked? Have they learned spiritual lessons from them? Can they see how God shaped their lives?

Family. Most people love to talk about family. Wife, husband, kids? How many, how old, what do they do, what are their hobbies?

Hobbies. What do they do in their free time? Are they into sports? Skiing, running, going to the gym, movies, art, scotch, wine?

The key here is to have a sincere desire to understand where this person has come from, what’s shaped their thoughts and beliefs and why they are who they are. If we as Christians can approach every relationship this way, we will have a better understanding of people and be of better use to God the Father and Jesus Christ!

Topics of Conversation in the Church:

• How they found the Truth
• Recent study topics
• Current events and Bible prophecy
• Favorite Feast sites
• Struggles in life

SIX WAYS TO MAKE PEOPLE LIKE YOU—Dale Carnegie, “How to Win Friends & Influence People”

• Become genuinely interested in other people
• Smile
• Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language
• Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves
• Talk in terms of the other person’s interests
• Make the other person feel important—and do it sincerely