Overwhelm The Negative

OVERWHELM THE NEGATIVE....

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

At least two parts, probably three...

I. WE ARE IN A WAR... THE ENEMY IS SEEKING TO KILL, STEAL, AND DESTROY...

IS CONFLICT MY ENEMY?

A. I received this note from a pastor of a church. I have pondered and weighed these

words in my heart. Wish I could wisely answer this pastor.

Wade:

I have been feeling for the past couple of weeks that we have what I am calling a

"critical spirit" at work in our church. It doesn't seem to just a handful of people,

it seems that everyone is biting everyone. I want to speak about it this Sunday.

So you have any suggestions for me on this topic. This is thing is trying to cause

division and I want it stopped. This weekend I had two or three people come to

me with some stuff and I talked to them about this critical spirit and that we had

to fight this spiritual battle by spiritual means. Any suggestions you

have are welcome.

Pastor ????

B. Many know I recently taught a class in Kentucky School of Ministry about

CONFLICT RESOLUTION.

CONFLICT is neither good or bad... IT IS WHAT WE DO WITH CONFLICT...

C. There is a very great danger of PLACING A OSCILLATING FAN on the

STINK of a SKUNK? Dumb? Dumber? Dumbest?

D. ATTITUDE will determine HOW WILL I APPROACH THIS?

Have you ever heard where a leader shot himself in the foot?

E. DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE LADY CHURCH MEMBER THAT APPROACHED

THE PASTOR IN A CRITICAL SPIRIT? She told the Preacher his neck tie

offended her...

So he pulled out his pocket knife and allowed her to cut the tie off.

SHE WAS SO PROUD!

She returned the Pastor's pocket knife and then he addressed the lady church

member and said:

HONEY YOUR TONGUE OFFENDED ME!

II. EVER SEEN WHAT SHARKS DO WHEN BLOOD IS RELEASED INTO THE

WATER AROUND THEM? I CALL THIS THE "TASTE OF BLOOD!"

A. What may start seemingly innocent can infect our attitudes and words.

B. THERE IS A GREAT DANGER THAT AS WE BITE ANOTHER WE DEVOUR

OURSELVES...

Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye

be not consumed one of another.

2 Cor. 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that

I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings,

wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

C. BITTERNESS ALWAYS BACKFIRES...

THERE ARE SEVEN DEADLY SINS, AND OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS ANGER

AND DISAGREEMENT AND A LACK OF UNITY MIGHT BE THE MOST FUN... I HAVE

EVERY RIGHT TO BE ANGRY...

IT MAY SEEM LIKE A LOT OF FUN TO LICK YOUR SORES AND WOUNDS AND TO

SMACK YOUR LIPS OVER THE INFECTIONS OF HURT AND OFFENSES AND

DIFFERENCES LONG PAST...

SURE YOU CAN ROLL YOUR TONGUE OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE OF

CONFRONTATIONS AND DIFFERENCES IN THE PAIN AND BITTERNESS YET TO COME...

WE CAN EVEN ENJOY THE TASTE OF EVERY MORSEL OF GLOOM, PAIN AND

DESPAIR... WE CAN DEVELOP A TASTE OF BLOOD WHERE WE WILL THRIVE IN

THE CONFLICT TO COME...

YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY GIVING THE SAME BACK TO THOSE THAT OFFENDED

YOU...

IN MANY WAYS WE BECOME EXPERTS IN STRIFE AND DEVOUR EACH OTHER

UNTIL THIS WAR BECOMES A FEAST FIT FOR A KING...

BUT THERE IS ONE HUGE DRAW BACK...

FOR YOU MUST REALIZE THAT THE BITTERNESS YOU ARE WOLFING DOWN IS

YOURSELF AND THE SKELETON THAT IS BEFORE YOU IS NO MORE THAN

A REFLECTION OF YOURSELF...

III. SIGNS WITHIN THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH... OF BITTERNESS AND CONFLICT

HEADING US TOWARD THE SECOND COMING...

A. In Matthew 24, Jesus comes to the MOUNT OF OLIVES and Jesus sat down

and starts TEACHING ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL LESSONS called:

WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGN OF THY COMING?

B. Jesus lesson is sharp and to the point.

Jesus warns of the DECEPTION that is coming to the church...

He warns of false teachings... a false teachers...

He warns of WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS...

Jesus warns of DYSFUNTIONAL FAMILIES OPERATING IN HATRED...

JESUS WARNS OF DIVISONS IN FAMILIES AND NATIONS...

He warns of FAMINES...

He warns of PESTILENCES...

He warns of earthquakes...

Of INIQUITY ABOUNDING AND MANY OTHERS THINGS...

IV. THERE ARE THREE SIGNS WITHIN THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH THAT WE

WILL BE ABLE SEE AND MEASURE... CAN YOU IDENTIFY THESE?

A. THERE ARE 3 SIGNS: KNOW THEM...

1. One of the very visible signs will be the OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Records will reflect across denominational lines there has been a great out

pouring of God's sweet spirit.

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all