CONFLICT RESOLUTION

SIMON PETER, a servant and apostle (special messenger) of Jesus Christ, to those who have received (obtained an equal privilege of) like precious faith with ourselves in and through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ…For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)… 2 Peter 1:1-10 (AMP)

Being saved is the beginning of the journey and not the end. Thus once saved is not forever saved.

The only constant in the life of a believer is CHANGE and that change is towards becoming more like JESUS. The change is a change of LIFESTYLE.

There has to be a deliberate addition to your life. If these additions are not taking place, it will bring about unfruitfulness. There is nothing in scriptures that was written by accident.

You cannot add knowledge until virtue is added. There is a follow-up upon each other of these qualities. The more you grow in God, the lesser men need to supervise and correct you. We have on our inside a ‘regulator’ that allows us to know what to do, change, etc. The more of the word we know, the more light comes. Your discovery in God brings you to a place of excellence. In exercising your faith, you develop virtue. If there is no deliberate, calculated effort to change, you’ll not make progress in your walk with God.

A contentious life will not take you anywhere. There’s no way you will make progress if you are contentious.

HOW TO RESOLVE ISSUES

What water is to fish is what relationship is to man. 

“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. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector…”  Matt. 18:15-20

If you have an issue with someone, go and tell the person first and if you cannot tell him, forget it. You are first and foremost a Christian before anything else.

ORDER IN RESOLVING ISSUES

As seen in the above scripture,

- Tell it to the person first. If this doesn't work,
- Go to the person with one or two persons. If this fails, 
- Tell it to the church (authority in charge)

Where there is nobody that can talk to you or call you to order, your life/time on earth is limited.

Verse 18-20 is simply showing the authority the church has in resolving issues. As a Christian, you are only permitted to go by the rule of the word of God.

The church is God’s government on the earth. And as a true Christian, you have to learn to honour every man and give every man their respect.

“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine… Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses”. 1Tim. 5:17-21.

We have to learn to honour those who labour in the word and prayer such as your Pastor, also your parents, church leaders/authorities, etc. Doing these is part of what will accelerate your progress. There are certain openings in your life that are tied to it.

- One way to honour your Pastor is by living your life by the word of God he preaches.
- Mind how you receive words against an elder and what you hear against an elder.
- God is a God of principles and the word must remain what governs us and remain our guide at all times.

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?...I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?” 1 Cor.6:1-7

Scripture calls it a shame for a brother to take his brother to the court of law. Paul is asking if there was no wise person/believer in the church who can preside over the matter. Let your stand in every matter be the stand of the word of God. We must allow God to be God in our lives, this way, we can be sure that we’ll always have His backing.

Everybody you have seen going up or make progress has been cheated, hurt, deceived, etc. at one time or the other. Don’t live your life in a way that those who can speak into your life are unable to do so.

The strongest of men are the easiest to go down

Anybody you make God outside of God in your life, God will remove such persons from your life

Whatever you put your confidence in that’s not God, will eventually become your downfall

- Don’t enter into what you cannot handle, that’s usually the takeoff point.
- Do good, we should feel free to interact and connect and if there are issues, let it be dealt with by the rules of the word of God.

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Heb. 13:17

We should be submissive to those who are placed as leaders over us because our actions or inactions can cause grief in their hearts and that will not be profitable to us.

- Don’t sow the seed of discord. Parents also are to be wary of sowing the seed of discord among their children.

HOW TO MEASURE/KNOW THOSE WHO ARE RULING WELL

- Are you being fed with the knowledge of God? Jer. 3:15, 1 Sam.12:3
- Is it the good and right way that’s being taught? 1 Sam. 12:23.
Where there is no love there is no life, and no life, no God.
- Is Christ being revealed? Is He being taught? Eph.4:11, 1 Cor. 11:1, Acts 1:1
- Is there an ample supply of the word of God, or are you been starved? Acts 20:28, John 6:68

Summarily,

- The greatest tool in the hand of the enemy to stop us is our emotions, so let’s not give in to our emotions and sentiments.
- Let us be governed by the principles of God’s word
- Let’s stop sowing the seed of discord especially among brethren.
- Live free from offenses, bitterness... etc, so you can be free

Where there’s no love, there’s no power
Make sure your lifestyle does not cripple anybody’s faith.