Conflict, The Stewardship of Conflict
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
announcement:
announcement:
july 16 ~ work day
July care portal training we can do this in a small group setting
Introduction
Introduction
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Stewardship?”
faithful in the little
Typically we think of Money, Position, or something task oriented.
What about our minds and attitudes?
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
What I hope to show you today is this, “Conflict can be an opportunity to Glorify God.”
Listen to some verses regarding conflict in the Scripture.
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
these verses highlight how conflict is mostly self centered
In his book
Reference Book: The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, by Ken Sande (Baker Books, 2nd ed. 1997)
Ken Sand lays out some simple principles that can help guide us towards conflict resolution in every day life.
Why focus on resolving conflict?
Because it is inevitable
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
The reality is, in a broken fallen world we will always find ourselves in situations designed to disrupt.
Christians are called to a higher standard of conduct because of our connectedness to Christ. The Scriptures are full of references supporting the idea that we engage the world through the filter of Christ
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
It is our relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ, that enables us to engage conflict in a remarkably different way from the world.
Our first principle of resolving conflict Biblically is that our aim is to “glorify god.”
What does it mean that we would “glorify god?”
To Glorify God is simply to Worship Him.
In other words, You can do conflict with others in such a way that it is actually worship.
In his sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to let our faith shine:
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
With our aim being to worship, or glorify, God, it stands to reason that conflict isn’t necessary and “dirty word.”
When Jesus said in John 16:33 that would would have trouble, the word used for trouble is “thlipsis” (Th-a-leep-sis)
Which has the idea of pressure, burdened, trouble…
God knew that Conflict would bring with it pressure....
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
For the Believer, even if it appears from a wordly perspective that we are loosing, through Christ, we are able to maintain hope even in the most difficult of circumstances.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
So how are we going to Glorify God in Conflict?
By Trusting him
So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Trust - to be confident or sure of. The object of our confidence is God and not man. What god desires for our lives is better than our own will.
Heart - Inner Part, the Inner Man, the will, the heart, the understanding.
Lean - To lean upon, to support oneself… we need to lean on Jesus
Our own Understanding - knowledge or wisdom
In all your ways - Your path, your journey
Acknowledge -
To know, to learn to know, to find out and discern
There’s work involved here… that our hearts would be oriented towards learning the ways of God.
Make Straight - to see or perceive rightly, to make things clear
Paths - Your way of living, When trusting God becomes our default, our automatic predisposition.
One of the best things we can do in all our circumstances is to keep top of mind the thought
“How can I please and honor the Lord in this situation?”
Hell is a place that is absent of Gods presence
C.S. Lewis said, “We must picture Hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance, and where everyone lives the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance, and resentment.”
Sounds like the DMV to me!
some of us are creating our own hell on earth.
The real issue as we begin to delve into resolving conflict is this, “What is the orientation of your heart? Are you only for you or are you focused on what God would have of you?”
Let’s take some time this morning to pray together asking God to guide us: I have some prompts here that I’m going to share and I just want each of us to spend 30seconds asking God for his help.
Ask God to reveal places in your heart that you are more focused on your desires rather than his.
Ask God for repentance and a renewed focus on seeking to bring Glory and Honor to him
Ask God for Grace to be dependent upon His
Wisdom, power, and love.
Ask God to grant us the desire to Obey everything He has commanded.