How To Get Along With Each Other Series

Introduction:

Your Christianity will be tested to the limit by your ability to get along with one another…

If Christians cannot get along with each other, what hope is there for those who know not Christ?

We need to learn how to get along with each other.

• At home

• In the church

• At work

• At school

• In the broader community

“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

However, it is easier said than done. ?

HOW can we get along? As always, the Bible has the answer.

** Let me teach you 5 principles about getting along:

1) Walk in the Spirit

Truth: Carnality is the number one reason for strife!

“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3)

A person that struggles to get along with others is carnal. That is, they are living according to their sinful flesh, not according to the Spirit of God within them. They are immature and disobedient.

Carnality is the number one reason for strife

SEE Galatians 5:17 “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

If you walk in the Spirit, you will get along with almost anyone!

ILL – I cannot be a good husband without being a good Christian. It is simply not possible.

• I cannot love my wife unselfishly

• I cannot forgive her unceasingly

• I cannot serve her with humility

• I cannot submit to her willingly

• I cannot lead her carefully

• I cannot disagree with her graciously

E.g. Picking out a lounge suite: could have been strife!

If I am walking in the flesh, and not submitting to the Spirit of God, then I will be a selfish, ungrateful, unkind, careless, angry, rude, overbearing, and unforgiving husband.

Carnality is the number one reason for strife

You need to walk with God and walk in the Spirit if you are serious about getting along with people.

2) Treat people well that treat you poorly

SEE Romans 12:14, 17, 19-21

If I cannot treat people well that have hurt me and offended me, then I am not much of a Christian.

I cannot be reactionary – I must live and act on purpose. I cannot allow the actions of others to determine my actions; I must allow GOD and His Word to determine my actions.

SEE Matthew 5:43-48

Remember: “He who angers you controls you.”

ILL – David could have killed Saul on at least two occasions. Why didn’t he? After all, it would have been self-defence. David always treated Saul with respect and honour, even though Saul mistreated David and even tried to kill him.

Answer: David was a man after God’s own heart.

1 Peter 3:8, 9 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

I can tell how good a Christian you are by how well you treat people that hurt you and mistreat you.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

We must guard and protect our hearts.

SEE Hebrews 12:14-15

Guard your heart against:

• Bitterness

• Anger

• Envy

• Jealousy

• Malice

• Hatred

• Pride

• Revenge

• Selfishness

Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let ALL bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

Explain bitterness: Feelings of hurt and resentment rooted in past mistreatment. These feelings and issues have not been resolved, & forgiveness has not really been practised. Result: PROBLEMS!

You need to constantly monitor your heart and spirit to make sure that deadly things like bitterness are not infecting you.

If you want to protect the health of your relationships, be sure to protect your heart.

4) Bridle your tongue

SEE James 3:2-10

LET US ALWAYS SEEK TO SIN NOT WITH OUR LIPS:

“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” (Psalms 39:1)

Nothing will wreck your relationships as quickly and as surely as a loose tongue.

Also, nothing is evidence of a weak spirituality as much as a loose tongue: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.” (James 1:26)