Conflict Resolution Series

From The Problem to the Solution

8 – CONFLICT RESOLUTION

This morning, we’re continuing with our sermon series entitled FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION

I trust that you have been gaining some valuable principles in your life as you have faced, are facing, or will face all of your problems

And by way of reminder, we told you that in order to get FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION…

--1. Acknowledge The Problem

--2. Make a "Word" Decision

--3. Find Your Evidence

--4. Learn to Listen

--5. Patience Works

--6. Giving Thanks in All Things

--7. Tapping Into the Anointing (The Anointing Is the Difference)

Now, this morning, we’re going to be covering a very, very, very important issue as it relates to going FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION

Because in every area of our life, whether it’s…

--marriage

--work

--family

--business

--church

We’ll never really go FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION until we learn how and deal with this thing called conflict resolution

So, this morning, let’s look in the Word of God as we read…

Matthew 18:15-20 (KJV) "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (16) But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (17) And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. (18) Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (19) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

INTRODUCTION

When you think about it, really Christmas is all about *****CONFLICT RESOLUTION*****

Because we’re celebrating the fact that Jesus came into this world as a little baby in Bethlehem, and the reason He came, was to bring man in his sinfulness and God in His holiness together

That is the ultimate when it comes to CONFLICT RESOLUTION

And as we’ve been talking about going from the PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, one thing is absolutely certain – and that is that some problems are caused by THE PEOPLE WE KNOW

And if we’re going to go FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, then we need to know how to resolve conflict

In fact, if you’ll remember last year, I preached an entire series of messages on the Ten Commandments

And we told you how that the first two dealt vertically with God and the final eight dealt horizontally with others

And the absolute bottom line truth of the 10 Commandments was that you must not only *****GET***** it right with God, you must, if you’re going to serve Him, *****KEEP***** it right with others

And without question, this issue of conflict resolution has done more damage and been more successful at stopping…

--revival

--the move of God

--churches from growing

--evangelism

Than any other thing the devil has used

In fact, the devil would rather we fight among ourselves, that fight himself

And I have discovered that the greatest hindrance to an old-fashioned revival is not…

--pornography

--gays and lesbians

--abortions

It’s been this issue of CONFLICT RESOLUTION

And not only in the church, but in…

--marriages

--families

--countries

And if we’re going to go FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, we must deal head on with this issue of conflict resolution

Now, concerning conflict resolution, I want us to look at the passage we have before us this morning, and there are three things that I want you to understand…

1. THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT IS CERTAIN

Notice what Jesus said…

Matthew 18:15 (KJV) "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee…"

In other words He was saying – LOOK, THERE’S GOING TO BE PROBLEMS

And lest we think it’s somebody who offends us, Jesus said in another place…

Matthew 5:23-24 (KJV) "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; (24) Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

In other words, there are coming times when either people will hurt you or you will hurt people, IT’S A FACT

And over and over in the Word of God, you’ll read…