10 Commandments for Corrective Communication (4)

Scripture Reading

Text: Matthew 5:21-24; 18:15-22

Announcements

Today, and then this coming Friday, we have students that are participating in the North Carolina Christian School Association’s Fine Arts Competitions. Pray for travel safety and then also that they would seek to glorify the Lord with their talents.

Our Master Club young people along with parents and MC leader will be headed to the Master Club Regional competitions this coming Saturday which are held at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown, NC. Pray for travel safety and then also that they would seek to glorify the Lord with their talents.

Continue to turn in your Faith Promise Commitment Cards.

We will, again, meet this Saturday morning at 10 AM to continue our Tract Month.

From the Headlines

I do not spend too much time reading “the news.”

I have pretty much limited myself to the following sources:

AFN - American Family News

The Epoch Times

Updates from Commentator Todd Starnes & Dr. Robert Malone

This morning, through the Epoch Times, I found myself at the website for the American Conservative reading an article entitled, Naomi Wolf & The Ancient Gods. The writer of the article, Rod Dreher, a Jew, shares thoughts from two individuals: Naomi Wolf, a former adviser to President Clinton, and a Messianic Jewish pastor, Jonathan Cahn. (At the start, I must acknowledge that I do not know the spiritual condition of any of these individuals.)

In [one of his books, The Return of the Gods, Messianic Jewish pastor, Jonathan] Cahn puts forward the thesis that ancient Near Eastern gods like Moloch, Asherah, Baal, and others, to whom humans were sacrificed, and did not go away (because they are demons, not mere fiction), but were suppressed by Judaism and then the spread of Christianity. Yet as Christianity declines in the West, says Cahn, we are seeing these ancient gods return.

But I think it is possible that for four thousand plus years — and then for two thousand — God’s covenant has in fact largely protected the West, and that we have had His blessing for so long that we have taken it for granted; and that in the last few years, we have released our hold of God’s covenant – and that God has simply, as He warned us in the Old Testament that he could — withdrawn; and left us to our own devices — so we can see for ourselves how we will do when we depend on humans alone. In the absence of God’s covenant and protection in the West, great evil is flourishing.

One of the weirdest things about our current moment is the creeping realization that the [Christian] fundamentalists, at whom I often sneered myself, were right about most things.

Again, I do not know the spiritual condition of any of these individuals but the point that I making is this: People are starting to question, “What is going on in our world,” and they don’t have a good answer.

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/naomi-wolf-the-ancient-gods/

Naomi Wolf, in her article which Rod Dreher referenced, wrote:

What we have lived through since 2020 is so sophisticated, so massive, so evil, and executed in such inhumane unison, that it cannot be accounted for without venturing into metaphysics. Something else, something metaphysical, must have done that. And I speak as a devoted rationalist.

I concluded that I was starting to believe in God in more literal terms than I had before, because this evil was so impressive; so it must be directed at something at least as powerful that was all good.

https://brownstone.org/articles/have-the-ancient-gods-returned/

All of this is illustrative of God’s Word:

Turn to and read Romans 1:16-28.

Ephesians 6:10–12 KJV 1900

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

All of this should give new meaning to the verses that we have been memorizing in 2 Timothy chapter 2:

Message

Philippians 1:27 KJV 1900

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

The Ten Commandments to Corrective Communication

1. Thou shalt go to thy brother first before going to anyone else.

Matthew 18:15 KJV 1900

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

2. Thou shalt have examined thyself before approaching thy brother.

Psalm 139:23–24 KJV 1900

Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

3. Thou shalt listen before speaking.

James 1:19–20 KJV 1900

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

4. Thou shalt have searched out the facts before going to thy brother.

Proverbs 18:13 KJV 1900

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, It is folly and shame unto him.

Proverbs 15:14 KJV 1900

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: But the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

5. Be honest & Be humble.

Ephesians 4:25 KJV 1900

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Matthew 23:12 KJV 1900

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Another word for “honest” is “truth.” If our desire is to properly resolve the situation at hand and restore a relationship, then we must deal in truth!

Being honest and being humble go hand in hand.

To be honest means that you are dealing with the truth.

To be humble means that we are committed to the truth.

What is the opposite of “humility?” Pride.

What does pride deal with? Error.

When Lucifer, in his pride, said, “…I will be like the most High,” (Isaiah 14:14) was he dealing with truth or error? He was dealing with error.

Pride will keep us from seeing the truth. We will only see those things that we, in our pride, want to see.

You can’t truly communicate with others unless you are honest.

Likewise, you cannot truly communicate with others unless you are humble.

What will being honest and humble allow you to do?

It will allow to “speak the truth in love.”

It will allow you to receive the truth in love.

It will keep you from grieving the Holy Spirit.

If you are going to resolve and restore, you are going to need the help of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, in John 14:17, calls the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of Truth.” The Holy Spirit deals with the truth, not error.

John 14:17 KJV 1900

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

And, in Ephesians 4:30 we have been commanded:

Ephesians 4:30 (KJV 1900)

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Therefore, we must be honest and humble.

It will allow you to see the situation from the other person’s “point of view.”

Pride says, “I want the other person to see my ‘point of view.’”

Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

What allowed Christ to “see” our “point of view?” Humility!

If God were to only see things from His point of view He would say, I demand holiness, but because He can also see it from our side He also is willing to say, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” (Romans 5:20)

Empathy has been defined as “Seeing with the eyes of another; Listening with the ears of another; Feeling with the heart of another!”

With all of these “commandments,” we do need to be cautious of our own heart’s condition, our spirit, our attitude. I was reminded of that as I was studying Proverbs chapter 15 (which well reference in an upcoming point):

Proverbs 15:12 KJV 1900

A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: Neither will he go unto the wise.

Dr. David Sorenson, about that verse, wrote:

One who mocks the truth does not take criticism well. Moreover, such characters are not interested in advice from the wise. A clear picture is painted throughout Proverbs and that is how that fools, scorners, and those of that ilk do not take criticism well.

We should therefore consider how we receive criticism when it comes.

Commandment #5: Be honest & Be humble.

6. Keep current.

Ephesians 4:26 KJV 1900

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Seek to resolve conflict as quickly as possible.

If we do not keep current we will either…

Blow Up and hurt others or we will…

Shut Up and hurt ourselves (and eventually blow up)!

In the end we will not only hurt ourselves but others as well!

The best way to help us understand this principle is with an illustration: Carrying a load of bricks.

If we do not keep current and if we allow unresolved offenses to remain in our lives, we will become like Ahithophel - which is a whole other message! (2 Samuel 15-17; 23:34; 11:3)

Ahithophel was one of King David’s trusted advisors.

However, he was also Bathsheba’s grandfather.

Ahithophel became bitter when David had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed. He never took the steps necessary to resolve and restore with David.

He was bent, not on resolving the situation with David, but on seeking revenge!

In the end, Ahithophel’s bitterness cost him his life.

Instead, we must “take it to the cross and leave it there!”

“Leave it there, leave it there,

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;

If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out—

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”

And…Keep Current

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Colossians 4:3–4 KJV 1900

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

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