Spirit-led In Conflict

Transcript

Spirit-Led in Conflict LaVon Sperling
When there is conflict………YOU………..take the initiative! Nov. 17, 2015
Are you aware that you may have offended someone?
1. GO to the brother whom you have offended. Matt. 5:23,24
Are you personally aware of a brother who has sinned (against you)?
1 . The first responsibility for dealing with this is on each individual, not church leaders.
2. Is this only a sin against me? 1 Peter 4: 8 I can cover the sin with my forgiveness.
3. Look at the log in my own eye and consider my motives for speaking to the offender.
4. GO with the intent to restore, in a spirit of gentleness. Gal. 6:1
5. Show brother his fault in private. Matt 18: 15-17
6. Issue to be addressed should be SIN.
7. Attempt to speak with your brother face-to-face.
8. If your brother sees his wrong and repents, you have gained your brother. Matt. 18:5
What if the meeting does not go well?
1. Drop it. I can choose to do that if it is only against me. 1 Cor. 6:7
2. Carefully choose another trustworthy person to go with you to approach the offender. Matt. 18:16
3. Pursue peace but know that it may not always happen. Rom. 14:19 and 12:18
4. God has graciously provided an “out” for the individuals involved in this contact. This is for their relief and protection.
What if a friend improperly comes to me telling me of another’s sin?
l. Urge the one who has first-hand knowledge to approach the sinner.
2. If they are unwilling and you do not have first-hand knowledge of sin, use caution.
3. Satan is out to destroy reputations and the growth of the believer and relationships
between believers.

Why is it important to reconcile?
1. God commanded it.
2. Small offences build over time.
3. Lack of unity between believers ruins our testimony to the world.
4. Misunderstandings can be cleared up much easier when individuals deal with an issue soon after the problem occurs.
5. Lack of unity between believers is confusing to new believers.
6. Sin undealt with spreads.
How can I approach my sister in the right spirit?
1. Love seeks the good of the other person. Eph. 4: 15
2. With the meekness and gentleness of Christ. 2 Cor. 10:1, Gal. 6:1
3. With comfort – least they are overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 2 Cor. 2:7
4. In truth – Eph. 4:25…….without exaggeration or half-truths.
5. With courage – tell her what her fault is. Matt. 18:15
6. With hope – stand on the truth. Heb. 12: 12, 13
Why does this even matter?
1. John 17:21. I ask that they may all be one so that the world may believe that you sent me.
2. John 17:23 So that they may be perfected in unity.
3. John 17:23 So that the world may know that You love them.
What does instruction do for me if I listen to it? From Proverbs:
6:20-22 ____________________________________________
8:35 _______________________________________________
9:9 ________________________________________________
11:14 ______________________________________________
13:18 ______________________________________________
15:5 _______________________________________________
22: 17-19a __________________________________________
What if I don’t listen to counsel?
1:30, 31 ____________________________________________
5:23 _______________________________________________
12:1 _______________________________________________
13:18 ______________________________________________
29:1 _______________________________________________
What happens when I try to reconcile with others?
1: 24, 25 ____________________________________________
9: 7 ________________________________________________
12: 18 ______________________________________________
12: 20 ______________________________________________
13: 14 ______________________________________________