Dealing conflict situations

TEXT: JOSHUA 22:7-34

INTRODUCTION:

Conflict is serious disagreement and argument about something important. If two people or groups are in conflict, they have had a serious disagreement or argument and have not yet reached agreement. Sometimes these quarrels result from evil desires battling within us-we want more possessions, more money, higher status, more recognition. When we want badly enough to fulfil these desires, we fight in other to do so (James 4:1-3). Instead of aggressively grabbing what we want, we should submit ourselves to God, ask God to help us get rid of our selfish desires, and trust Him to give us what we really need.  According to the Bible there is nothing inherently wrong with conflict.  Disagreements happen.  But the manner in which we are to resolve our conflicts is extremely important. Conflict can become the catalyst to greater understanding, intimacy, and depth of relationship; or it can bring anger, bitterness, and broken relationships.

HOW CAN CONFLICTS BE AVOIDED?
 CONFLICTS CAN BE AVOIDED THROUGH NEGOTIATION.

When the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar at the Jordan River, the rest of Israel feared that these tribes were starting their own religion and rebelling against God. But before beginning an all-out war, Phinehas led a delegation to learn the truth, following the principle taught in Deuteronomy 13:12-19. He was prepared to negotiate rather than fight if a battle was not necessary. When he learned that the altar was for a memorial rather than for pagan sacrifice, war was averted and unity restored.  As brethren as individuals, and even as nations, we would benefit from a similar approach to resolving conflicts. Assuming the worst about the intentions of others only brings troubles. Israel averted the threat of civil war by asking before assaulting. Beware of reacting before you hear the whole story. When you face conflict, step back from the hostilities and consider whether you and your brother and/or sister have common goals that are bigger than your differences. Appeal to those interests as you work for a settlement.

-DISCUSS how mere assumptions and gossips cause and aggravate conflicts among brethren

-READ 2 Samuel 16:1-4 and compare it with 2 Samuel 19:24-30.

What do these passages teach us about hasty judgments or condemnation of our brethren?

-Read & Discuss 1 Cor. 6:1-7. Should brethren drag each other to court of law? Also read 2 Tim.2:24-25.

What offence may be so hurtful that a believer can never forgive another believer of it?

Conflict begins when good confronts evil. The two cannot peacefully coexist. One must triumph.

Proverbs 13:10 . . . Pride leads to arguments.

Proverbs 28:25 . . . Greed causes quarrels.

Proverbs 30:33 . . . Anger causes quarrels.

Pride, greed, anger-these are all aspect of our sinful human nature, and these are the things that bring us into conflict with other people.

MEMORY VERSE:

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tight to what is good (Romans 12:9 NLT).

 Church of Eternal Life Jos, Plateau State.

Operating at Divine speed

TEXT: PSALM 18:25-36

INTRODUCTION: The speed of something is the rate at which it moves or travels. It is the rate at which something happens or is done. When something is provided by (coming from) or relating to God, it is said to be divine. DIVINE SPEED therefor, is speed (progress) that is provided by God, regulated (controlled) by God and associated with God. When a child of God allows God to determine when and how he “moves”, he is said to operate with divine speed. For maximum blessing, we all must move with divine speed in 2014 and the rest of our life.

A. HIND’S FEET: This is a commonly-used phrase that derives from the Bible, and it is used in the Holy Text to describe a person’s ability to overcome a challenge that has been affecting them or worrying them with ease and success (Ps.18:33). A hind is a female red deer. This kind of deer is able to move easily and rapidly across the rocks and uneven terrain of the mountains and mountainous landscape. It will leap from rocks without losing footing, suggesting that those with hind’s feet are able to overcome things easily, and elegantly. Thus the bible verse means that God has inspired his believers and empowered them to overcome the obstacles which confront them, doing things that would otherwise be difficult or impossible without divine aid.

Question: According to Psalms 18:33, who secures our feet? Compare this with Proverbs 3:1-12. 

B. DIVINE TIMING: The reason God likes to make us wait from time to time is to not only test our faith in Him and to properly prepare us for what He is making us wait for, but to also develop the fruit of patience and determination in us. The fruit of patience is one of the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit, and it is one fruit that He loves to try and develop in all of us, especially in the fast-pace world in which we all now live. This very valuable quality lines up with God’s own character and how He likes to work things out. In His dealings with us, God considers The Timing Factor. It is very important when He will want to make something specific happen.

Discuss: The following verses: Galatians 6:9; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Lamentation 3:25-26; Psalm 130:5-6; Psalm 145:1; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 31:15; Psalm 62:1-2, 5-6; Psalm 39:7-8; Psalm 40:1-2; Psalm 37:34; Psalm 37:7; Psalm 25:5, 21; Habakkuk 2:2-3; Ecclesiastes 3:11, 17; Isaiah 8:17, 40:31; Proverbs 27:18; Titus 1:2-3; John 7:6; Mark 1:14-15; Acts 1:7; 1Tim. 6:14-15; 2Thessalonians 2:6-8.

As you can see from reading each one of these verses, God does like to work on a specific set timetable – and even Jesus Himself had to wait for God’s timing on some of the things He ended up doing. And not only did Jesus, the apostles, and many in the old testament have to abide by God’s specific timing on when He wanted them to do something, but there are verses showing that God will still continue to run things according to His own set timetable in the years ahead, including how He will work your life and when He will want to make certain things happen in your life.

C. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES: Jesus Himself had to wait until He was 30 years old before God baptized Him with the Holy Spirit and anointed Him with His power to go on His three and half year miracle ministry before He went to the cross to get all of us saved. Jesus had to wait again for 40 days before He ascended to the Father after His resurrection from the grave. Moses was in the back side of a desert for 40 years before when was sent in by God to rescue the children of Israel from the Egyptians. The Israelites had to wait for 430 years before God delivered them from the Egyptians. David had wait for 13 years before he became King of Israel. Abraham had to wait 25 years for the birth of his son Isaac. Noah had to wait for 120 years from the time God told him to build the ark until the time of the flood actually occurring. The apostles had to wait 10 days after Jesus had ascended before they had received the Holy Spirit in the upper room.

As you can see from these specific examples from the Bible, God likes to make us wait for some of the major chess moves He will be making in our lives.

MEMORY VERSE:

In God’s strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall (Ps. 18:29 NLT)

Church of Eternal Life Jos- Plateau state.