Appropriate Biblical Responses To Difficult People

Appropriate Biblical responses To Difficult People I Pet. 3:13-18

I Pet. 3:13-18 - Peter wrote, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."

Paul wrote, Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:21)

Jesus said, In the world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33) Jesus said, As the Father has sent me, so send I you. (John 20:21) Paul also wrote, We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. We give no offense in anything that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as servants of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love; by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (2 Cor. 6:3-10)

Ask the Lord to help you use the following aspects of the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, to take the offensive against difficult peoples behavior, attitudes and perceptions:

* Whiners Do all things without complaining and disputing. That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. (Phil. 2:14,15)

* Martyrs After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. (I Pet. 5:10)

* Perfectionists Paul wrote, Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6)

* Arguers Paul wrote, And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient. In humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth. (2 Tim. 2:24,25)

* Dominators (Controllers) Paul wrote, Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:33-36)

* Apathetics Paul wrote, Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. (Rom 12:9)

* Over-Reactors Paul wrote, Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for the good things in the sight of all men. (Rom. 12:17)

* Legalists Paul wrote, Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which perish with the using according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. (Col. 2:20-23)

* Spiritualists Paul wrote, Let love be without hypocrisy. (Rom. 12:9)

* Humanists Paul wrote, Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we speak, not in words which mans wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (I Cor. 2:12,13)

* Traditionalists Mark wrote, For the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? Jesus answered and said, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men& (Mark 7:5-7)