INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• In a world torn by conflict, we need folks who are willing to be Peacemakers.
• Christians are called to be those peacemakers.
• Conflict is a part of the world we now live in, but God needs us to stay above the fray.
• Last week we looked at the concept of trying to prevent conflict before it starts, but that cannot always happen, sometimes we forget about prevention and go right into conflict with others, but more times than not, we get pulled into the conflicts of others.
• What do you when that happens? How does a peacemaker make a positive difference once a conflict has already begun?
• What can you do as a Christian to help bring peace to a situation?
• When we get drawn into conflict situations, what we say, our words can either throw water on the fire or our words can throw gasoline on the fire.
• As peacemakers our goal should always be to try to help defuse the situation, so what we say and how we say it is very important.
• This is one of the most stressful part of counseling for me is realizing every word I say can start a new fire as I try to help put out the existing fire.
• Our goal is to do no harm, so in order to accomplish that goal we are going to think about the issues we will examine together this morning.
• These items give us something to think about before we speak, before we risk our words doing more harm than good.
• Let is turn to Ephesians 4:14-16, we will start with verse 14.
• SLIDE #2
• Ephesians 4:14 (ESV) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Will my words help one discern the truth from error?
• The context of this part of the chapter is something important for us to understand, in the previous verses starting in verse 11 Paul tells us that the church is given apostle, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, etc… for the building up the saints.
• Look at verses 12-13
• SLIDE #4
• Ephesians 4:12–13 (ESV) 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
• When we deal with people, when we get drawn into conflict and have the change to be a peacemaker, we need to realize our goal, we are trying to help people grow and mature in Christ.
• We are not trying to take sides, or help destroy others.
• Before we offer our two-cents or give counsel in these high-stress situations, we need to remember we are called to try to help put the fire out, not start another larger fire.
• That brings us to where we are with our first point.
• Many times conflict begins because one cannot discern the truth from error. Sometimes people get into conflict because one or both of the parties involved because they believe or following a false premise.
• In the direct context of the passage, people were being drawn into conflict because people believed what the false teachers were selling them, and then they would fight for and stand for things that were not true.
• Look at verse 14 again.
• SLIDE #5
• Ephesians 4:14 (ESV) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
• One of the ways people are harmed is by falling for false information.
• When people get caught up in things that are not true, they get hurt.
• We need to make sure that we do what we can do to try to guide people in the way of truth.
• For an individual to be properly equipped and functioning in the body, they need to develop the ability to discriminate between truth and error. This is one of the significant results of growth and maturity.
• When we look at a situation and see that someone has fallen prey to false teachings, we need make sure our words promote the truth.
• When people fall for things that are not true, they can get tossed about from one position to another because they are not anchored to the truth.
• The image used in our passage is one of a ship in the midst of a storm in which the ship was no longer under the control of the captain.
• When we try to help people we need to make sure what we say leads them in the truth.
• People will do many things to get people to fall for things that are not true, the word translated CUNNING was a word that referred to the dice used by a gambler.
• Dice games were notorious for being rigged yet people still believed they could win.
• IF we are going to do no harm, we need to make sure we are promoting truth.
• Have you ever been drawn into a conflict that was based on things that we not true?
• It is so easy to get caught up in the emotion of what is going on and if we do that we can easily fall into promoting the conflict.
• Let’s look at verse 15 to see another principle to follow.
• SLIDE #6
• Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
• SLIDE #7
II. Will I be able to deliver my words of truth in love?
• Of the principles we are looking at today, this one may be the most important of all, can I deliver my words of truth in love?
• I like the way verse 15 starts, RATHER.
• Instead of dividing folks by promoting things that are error, we are to not only speak the truth, but we are to speak the truth in love.
• We have to always do a heart check to make sure that what we say is motivated by love.
• Many times we can speak the truth but we can do it in a way that will do a lot of damage or in the context of our message, it can do a lot of harm.
• SLIDE #8
• 1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (ESV) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
• This passage reveals that right actions with wrong motives are harmful.
• When we possess the truth but we deliver it without love, we can and will do harm to those we want to help.
• When we have the opportunity to help people with our words, our attitude toward the situation or the people involved is important.
• SLIDE #9
• Galatians 6:1–2 (ESV) Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
• Our attitude can be a major factor in the restoration of those who are in conflict.
• IF we cannot say what we have to say in love, we will pour gas on the fire if we say it.
• Now this does not mean that we LOVE telling the truth, but we speak the truth in love.
• Love will keep us humble, realizing we could just as easily be in the conflict. It will also ensure that we are trying to be a help to the person and situation.
• What we are called to do is to try to bring people together; in love we are to try to guide them in the direction of truth.
• Let’s turn to verse 16 for another issue to think about.
• SLIDE #10
• Ephesians 4:16 (ESV) from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
• SLIDE #11
III. Will my words promote unity or inspire division?
• Each conflict we face opens up an opportunity to either unite or divide.
• In the context of the passage in particularly verse 16, the theme focuses on being united, working together in the body of Christ so we can build up the body of grow.
• Building one another up in love is important to God.
• God does not want folks who stir trouble; He wants us to build one another up in love.
• SLIDE #12
• Titus 3:10–11 (ESV) As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
• When we are about to try to help those in conflict, we have to ask ourselves if our words are truthful, spoken in love and will my words promote unity or inspire division?
• We need to do what we can to help one another resolve the issue and come together for the benefit of the kingdom.
• Conflict by its very nature can drive wedges in relationships; those wedges can be very hard to remove.
• A Peacemaker will do all they can to make sure what they say does not drive the wedge deeper.
• When you deal with someone who is seeking your counsel or wanting to bend your ear, be careful how you deal with the situation because you can make it worse.
• Think about what you are going to say, think about what you are going to do because you could by your words and actions make the problem worse.
• Before taking up arms and storming the Bastille make sure your actions will promote unity, that your words have the goal of bringing reconciliation.
• Too many times we get caught up in the emotion or in the excitement of a good story and we lose all sense of objectivity.
• The Old Testament would not let one be condemned without the testimony of at least two people, but many times we will hear PART of an issue and then storm the Bastille with the injured party instead of prayerfully seeking a resolution that will bring unity.
• Lord knows I have stormed a few towers before knowing all the facts.
• In the context of the passage, we see that God’s church works best when we are all working together, striving for the same goal.
• SLIDE #13
• Philippians 2:1–2 (ESV) So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
• Instead of assuming the worst intentions of others, let us season our thoughts and actions with the same grace God shows us.
CONCLUSION
• Conflict is no fun. It causes a lot of pain and hurt. WE are called to be Peacemakers.
• Three things to think of before we interject our thoughts and words into a conflict.
• SLIDE #14
• 1. Is what I am going to say going to help a person discern the truth from error?
• 2. Can I say what needs to be said in love?
• 3. Will what I am going to say promote unity or inspire division?
• The overriding principle we need to realize is that we are called to do no harm. Let’s do all we can to be a blessing, not a gas can!
• Always remember Colossians 4:6.
• SLIDE #15
• Colossians 4:6 (ESV) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
