Having a 4some in Relationship

God has a 4some that’s central to the perpetual celebration of His majesty

Rev 4:6-8

Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

⁸ The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"

As I begin to look at God’s 4some, I saw how each one met a specific need

I want a 4some, too – actually, I need & deserve a 4some

Need a Man / Woman:

The Crown of God’s Creation

Men & Women are of the Ultimate Value to God

      Made in the image of God – “God is love”

Masterpiece, fearfully & wonderfully made

Value themselves – Self-esteem

Value others – appreciate & celebrate

When we turn to relationships

Appreciate difference – Value Masculinity, honor femininity

Gloria Steinem: a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle

Need a Lion:

King of the jungle – the Lion signifies Majesty, with its beauty & strength

Lion is most social of all cats; the only one living in family –

Pride w/ male at the center

• Male lions are responsible for security & protection
• Female lions do most of the hunting

Men

Protector, or Covering – responsibility for

Family Commitment

Women

Respect

• Not conditional respect – “he has to earn my respect”
• Love is unconditional – so is respect

Need a Flying Eagle:

Majestic – flies higher & faster than most birds

Vision is the eagle’s strength

An eagle can spot a rabbit up to two miles away – even camouflaged

When it rains, the eagle will fly above the cloud

Men

Must have Vision – a plan & a strategy for the family

Fly above the storm – when difficulty comes / be consistent

Women

Admiration – wind beneath wings (help to soar)

A man wants his woman to be his cheerleader – Celebrate and praise your man 

Treat him like he’s her champion

That energizes and inspires him to achieve more

Nest – place to lay head

A man needs a home that is a refuge – for restoration and recovery

A man needs space, because that’s how he sorts out problems

Gotta have an Ox:  (dullest & lacking the majesty of the others)

Strong, beast of burden

Willing (& trained) to serve & work (for another)

Used for plowing & threshing – able to do boring, repetitive work

Able to be yoked & paired – Submission

Work for the other

Produces Provision

Sacrifice – give their lives 

Serving & Doing the Things for the other person that are not comfortable

Things that produces growth in relationship

Men 

Affection – says I care, it’s safe, I give comfort 

          Giving without expecting anything

Conversation (men don’t have the need for conversation, esp. re: feelings)

          Listen without solving the problem

Women 

Direct Communication

Honesty  

Sex – a basic, primal & vital need in a man.  It is God’s idea. 

Just like a woman expects her husband to meet her emotional needs

          The man trusts his wife to meet his sexual needs for the rest of his life

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.

As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times;

And always be enraptured with her love. 

For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman,

And be embraced in the arms of a seductress?”  – Prov 5:18-20

Take a closer look at these 4 creatures: 

Ezek 1:4-6, 10-12

Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. ⁵ Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.

⁶ Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings.

¹⁰ As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.

¹¹ Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies. ¹² And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went.

Not 4 creatures with unique qualities

But 1 person with 4 different strengths 

Ezek 1:12 shows the flexibility to respond to whatever the need demands

Each person should work to have all 4 strengths in a relationship 

Don’t focus on who the other person is supposed to be

Start by focusing on who you are supposed to be