Living at Peace in the Face of Conflict-It Can't Be Done Alone

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Series:    Living at Peace in the Face of Conflict                                              2/24/08

Sermon  Title:   It Can’t Be Done Alone                           James 3:13-18

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?  Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?

Sheep Video

Mom – baa baa black sheep is eating my wood.

Why don’t you share?

But I was here first.          

Maybe the gray sheep was a Christian?

Living at Peace in the Face of Conflict

We can have healthy relationships if we follow the guidelines laid down for us in Scripture, and as the Lord changes us.

Fruit of the Spirit

Objective:  Proposition

It should be the pursuit of every Christian to live in peace because of the realities created if we don’t.

Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

Effectiveness in teaching in the realm of the church is so much more than what we say – intellectual prowess – impressive knowledge – recall of facts and information.

Living in Peace – What happens if we don’t?

It should be the pursuit of every Christian to live in peace because of the realities created if we don’t.   

            Reality #1

                        You become a tool in the hand of the Enemy

                                    Look at what James says about origins

                                    Vs. 15 – Not from above – but is earthly – natural – demonic

                                    Vs. 17 – But the wisdom from above is. . . fruit of righteous

                                                Earthly – doesn’t go any higher than the earth

                                                Natural – psuchike

                                    Natural man incapable of understanding the things of God

                                    Demonic – pretty self explanatory

                                    The basic question:  Which kingdom are you a part of?

                                    Which kingdom do you want to honor?

                                    Paul said this to the Corinthians – I cannot speak to you as spiritual – but

                                                as babes. . .

            Is this what you really want?

           

            It should be the pursuit of every Christian to live in peace because of the realities created                        if we don’t.        

            Reality #2

                        You will contribute to destructive  behavior  and broken relationships.

                        God is not pleased when his children sow discord.

                                    Vs. 16 – When the origin of your wisdom is earthly – natural – demonic                                                    what is the result?

-          Disorder – more commonly used in the New Testament as referring to the destruction of the peace of a group by disputes or by disorderliness of conduct.

-          Instead of enlightenment of encouragement and help – discord.

-          Every evil thing – left to our own devices the product is not good

-          We fall victim to our human pride and ambition

It should be the pursuit of every Christian to live in peace because of the realities created if we don’t.   

Reality #3

            You can avoid pain and being a pain.

                        James is very clear here – in fact he is rather graphic.

                                    -Bitter jealousy, harshness

-Selfish ambition – the term is derived from a family of words depicting the day laborer, one who worked for hire.  It developed the negative sense of one who pursued only his own interests.

-Arrogant – they waned to get ahead of others.

                                    And of course this is to lie against the truth.

Look at the opposite –

            Pure – free from defilement

                        THEN:

-          Peaceable

-          Gentle – considerate of others, making allowance for others

-          Reasonable (easy to be entreated) – obedient, compliant

-          Full of mercy and good fruits – sensitive and giving aid

-          Unwavering – not pulled to the right or the left with people or the truth

-          Without hypocrisy – no lying, deceit or pretense

-          Vs. 18 – by these actions we are demonstrating our nature as children of God

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