How Do You Handle Conflict?

PRAY OVER THIS

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18

 

PONDER THIS

When considering reconciliation within the Church, the first thing you need to do is to consider your relationship with the person who has sinned against you. He or she is your brother or sister. This is somebody that has come out of the womb of grace, somebody who, along with you, calls God Father. And you must consider that relationship even when you are at odds with that person. You may argue, “Maybe he’s not a brother. Maybe he’s never really been saved. Maybe he just has his name on a church roll.” Well, if he’s not a brother, then he’s lost and he’s blind, and he deserves the pursuit of God in unity and prayer even more because he needs to be reconciled to God. But if he is a brother, then to harm him is to harm yourself because you’re both spiritual siblings and members of the same body.

How do you treat people when you feel at odds with them? Does that reflect Christ? Why or why not?

Why do you think we often abandon a loving response when we start to have conflict with others?

PRACTICE THIS

Express love to someone with whom you have had difficulty.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Five Rewards for Generosity

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (Romans 12:13)

What are the rewards if we trust God’s promises, give lavishly, and open our homes to each other and the needy?

The suffering of the saints will be relieved or at least diminished. That is what this verse means when it says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints.” We lift a burden. We relieve stress. We give hope. And that’s a reward!

The glory of God is displayed. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Lavish giving and open homes display the glory and the goodness and the worth of God in your life. The reason God gives us money and homes is so that by the way we use them people can see they are not our God. But God is our God. And our treasure.

More thanksgiving to God is unleashed. “The ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12). God has given us money and homes not just to make us thankful, but by our generosity and hospitality to make many people thankful to God.

Our love for God and his love in us is confirmed. “If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). In other words, when we give generously and open our homes, the love of God is confirmed in our lives. We are real. We are not phony Christians.

Finally, we lay up treasure in heaven. “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail. . . . For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:33–34).

Lavish giving and open homes are close to the center of life in Christ. The reasons we don’t open our moneybags — our checkbooks — and homes as often as we should are rooted in the bondage of fear and greed. The remedy is the pleasure of Christ’s presence and the certainty of Christ’s promise: “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Our reward is the display of God’s glory, the good of others, and the joy of treasuring Christ together forever. Therefore I exhort you, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

John Piper 

Bible Study

Matthew 25:35-36

[35] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Hebrews 13:16

[16] Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Hebrews 6:10

[10] For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

2 Corinthians 9:12

[12] For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

Christ is the Only Way to Harmony

PRAY OVER THIS

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” Matthew 18:15

 

PONDER THIS

We shame God the Father when we don’t get along as brothers and sisters. It disgraces Him. It also discourages the faithful. There’s nothing worse than being in a church where there’s not harmony, and there’s nothing sweeter than being in a church where there is harmony. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). Our Lord Jesus, in John 17:21, said, “that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” Did you know our unity is a form of evangelism? It tells the world we are Jesus’ Church because we have reconciliation and peace with one another. Outside of God, profound peace with one another is not possible. We may be able to get along when we are only talking on the surface, but as soon as we become close to one another we find conflict. Reconciliation is only possible through Christ.

Satan loves to see brothers and sisters who cannot get along. The cause of Christ is hurt more by church squabbles and fusses than by false doctrine. This is a perplexing problem that can only be resolved in Christ.

Is there anyone in the Church you are not at peace with? How can you pray for that person? What can you do to live at peace?

What are some arguments you have had with people in the Church? How have you sought to resolve them?

PRACTICE THIS

Take a step toward reconciliation with someone you are at odds with, whether praying for that person or seeking counsel about how to reconcile.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Finally and Totally Justified

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33)

Paul could have said here, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” and then answered, “No one! We are justified.” That’s true. But that is not what he said. His answer instead is, “God is the one who justifies.”

The emphasis is not on the act but on the Actor.

Why? Because in the world of courts and laws where this language comes from, the acquittal of a judge might be overturned by a higher one.

So what, if a local judge acquits you, when you are guilty, if a governor has the right to bring a charge against you? So what, if a governor acquits you, when you are guilty, if the emperor can bring a charge against you?

Here’s the point: Above God, there are no higher courts. If God is the one who acquits you — declares you righteous in his sight — no one can appeal; no one can claim a technicality; no one can call for a mistrial; no one can look for other counts against you. God’s sentence is final and total.

Hear this, all you who believe on Jesus, and become united to Christ, and show yourself among the elect: God is the one who justifies you. Not a human judge. Not a great prophet. Not an archangel from heaven. But God, the Creator of the world and Owner of all things and Ruler of the universe and every molecule and person in it, God is the one who justifies you.

The point: unshakable security in the face of tremendous suffering. If God is for us, no one can successfully be against us. If God gave his Son for us, he will give us everything that is good for us. If God is the one who justifies us, no charge against us can stand.

John Piper 

Bible Study

Isaiah 50:7-8

    [7] But the Lord GOD helps me;

        therefore I have not been disgraced;

    therefore I have set my face like a flint,

        and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 

    [8]     He who vindicates me is near.

    Who will contend with me?

        Let us stand up together.

    Who is my adversary?

        Let him come near to me.

Revelation 12:10-11

[10] And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. [11] And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Romans 16:20

[20] The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

John 12:25-26

[25] Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Has Does Your Heart Respond to God?

 

PRAY OVER THIS

“Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!’” Jeremiah 18:3-6

 

PONDER THIS

Imagine a forest fire sweeping through an area that comes across a stump primed for burning. The fire comes sweeping along and the stump has rosin and pine tar on it, so it burns brightly. And then it goes out. Then, maybe the underbrush grows up again in three or four years and another fire comes along, burning furiously. When it gets to that stump, it may ignite it again, but it doesn’t burn nearly as brightly, not nearly as long, and the fire goes out. There may come a time in later years when the fire roars and comes through, but when it comes to that blackened and charred stump, it doesn’t even glow. The fire jumps right over. That happens in congregations too.

I have been preaching when the power of God’s Spirit would move across the congregation like a fire and souls would come forward weeping, saying, “I want to give my heart to Jesus Christ.” But some will sit there untouched. They don’t feel a thing. The fire of God’s Spirit never moves on them. They have eyes but they don’t see. They have ears but they don’t hear. I want to beg of you: While the clay is soft and pliable, come to Him, even if you’ve messed up, and He will receive you.

What are some things that lead you to grow cold toward God?

When was a time you had a passion and desire for God? What happened? What is different now?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray and ask God to fill you with His Spirit and a passion to know Him more.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers