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
flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall see visions:
[29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour
out my spirit.
2. There comes a GREAT FALLING AWAY... we know this means numbers, but this
also means a dilution and a spirit of compromise and loosing of ACCEPTED
STANDARDS of righteousness and holiness.
WE MUST STUDY WHY PEOPLE QUIT...
2 Thes. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
3. The third ISSUE to become a YARD STICK...
A MODEL... A NORM... A PATTERN... A CUSTOMARY BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE
VERY WALL OF THE CHURCH IS AN ATTITUDE OR TO BE HONEST WITH YOU
A SPIRIT OF BEING OFFENDED...
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another,
and shall hate one another.
B. I CALL THIS OFFENDED... HURT... AND DYING...
C. OFFEND MEANS:
ACTION OR ATTITUDE...
WOUNDED, TO WOUND THE FEELINGS... TO ANNOY... IRRITATE...
TO DISPLEASE OR ANGER... TO DO ANOTHER WRONG...
V. IT TAKES THREE INDIVIDUALS TO HURT AND OFFEND...
THERE ARE THREE SOURCES THAT PERPETUATE STRIFE IN A FAMILY,
WORK PLACE OR CHURCH. IF YOU CAN ELIMINATE ANY ONE THE POWER
OF STRIFE WILL BE LIMITED...
1. THE INDIVIDUAL THAT IS BITTER AND ANGRY...
a. We have people that demand their way... My way or the highway...
b. There are many CONTROLING SPIRIT...
c. MANIPULATION IS ACCOMPLISHED MY ANGER FITS AND TEMPER TANTRUMS...
James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and
lie not against the truth.
d. Where there is MANIPULATION and CONTROLING SPIRITS there is always a
trail that leads to and from CONFUSION...
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
e. TO BE BIBLICALLY HONEST STRIFE COMES FROM SELFISHNESS AND PRIDE...
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence,
even of your lusts that war in your members?
[2] Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and
war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
[3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon
your lusts.
2. SEPARATOR OR TALEBEARER, BUSYBODY...
TATTLE TAILS ARE A LEARNED BEHAVIOR...
a. World War II had a motto: LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS...
James 1:26 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.
b. FOR STRIFE TO GROW YOU MUST HAVE A MIDDLE MAN OR A MIDDLE WOMAN
TO CARRY THE MESSAGE FROM WHO SAID IT... TO WHOM THEY SAID IT ABOUT...
Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that
repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
c. TATTLETAIL PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED THIS BEHAVIOR... and this
GROWS INTO HABITUAL BEHAVIOR... IT IS REINFORCED BY REPETITION...
1 Tim. 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and
not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
3. THE PERSON THAT LISTENS TO THE BUSYBODY OR TAILBEAR IS AS MUCH
PART OF THE PROBLEM AS THE OTHER TWO SOURCES...
a. You need one mouth and two ears to keep the TRAIL OF TEARS going...
Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no
talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
b. Any person that will tell the BUSYBODY my EARS ARE NOT GARBAGE CANS
will become a better person...
VI. ARE WE EVALUATING OUR ACTIONS, MOTIVTES AND RESULTS?
A. WE REAP WHAT EVER KIND OF FRUIT WE SOW...
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth
in all good things.
[7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap.
[8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth
to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well
doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
B. WE REAP IN PROPORTION TO HOW MUCH WE SOW...
C. WE CONTROL WHAT POWER WE CHOSE TO RELEASE...
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love
it shall eat the fruit thereof.
D. DO WE KEEP DOING THINGS THE SAME AND EXPECT A DIFFER
OUTCOME?
I have written in one on my Bibles these words from:
"LIVING WITH JESUS TODAY" By Juan Carlos Ortiz...
We have a phenomenon in the church today which I call the
"ETERNAL BABYHOOD OF THE BELIEVER."
We have members of our churchs who after years of hearing messages
are just the same. They continually need a minister to keep after them,
changing their diapers, putting talcum powder on them and checking
that their milk is not too hot.
The church seems more like a hospital than an army. Sometimes we fool
ourselves because we grow numerically, we think this is growth. But to grow merely
in numbers is not spiritual growth. Cemeteries also grow numerically.
To have a 100 people without love, then 200 people without love,
IS JUST GETTING FAT.
VII. THERE IS GREAT POWER IN UNITY...
A. My approach is more as the need for unity... and agreement...
Matthew 18:19 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.
B. ONE MIND... ONE ACCORD... FOCUS? LOVE
Philip. 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of
one accord, of one mind.
C. ENDEAVOUR... TRY HARD... EARNEST ATTEMPT...
Ephes. 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
VIII. WHY WILL PEOPLE QUIT... ???
QUITING CAN BE A REVELATION ... THEY WERE NOT WITH US...
A. It is easier to quit anything than it is to BE FAITHFUL and FINISH the work
that is before us...
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us,
they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be
made manifest that they were not all of us.
B. We must address the power of disunity... that opens the doors to quitting.
I would first approach as the need for unity and how disunity weakens the whole body...
IX. WHY WILL PEOPLE QUIT... ???
QUITING CAN BE A REVELATION ... THEY WERE NOT WITH US...
A. Offended, hurt and dying is a SYMPTON OF AN INTERNAL PROBLEM...
B. FEW PEOPLE HOLD THEIR WORDS AND ATTITUDES TO BE ACCOUNTABLE
AND SELF EVALUATION...
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us,
they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be
made manifest that they were not all of us.
C. FUSSING AND HARD WAYS....
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked
no more with him.
D.ARE YOU GOING TO LEAVE ALSO...
X. THERE IS GREAT POWER IN UNITY... THERE IS GREAT POWER IN DISUNITY...
A. PAUL HAD TROUBLE AS TWO WOMEN IN THE CHURCH HAD A DISAGREEMENT
THAT COULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE DECLINE OF THE BODY....
Philip. 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of
the same mind in the Lord.
B. Paul knew this fuss between these two ladies had a potential of spilling over
into the SPIRITUAL WORK BEFORE THEM...
C. Strive is a bad thing and it stops unity... IN THE HOME, AT WORK, IN THE CHURCH...
D. DISUNITY IN THE HOME SUGGEST A LACKING OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFES...
1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving
honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the
grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
E. Divison opens Satanic doors and shows carnality...
Mark 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom
cannot stand.
Luke 11:17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided
against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
1 Cor. 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you
envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
F. WE ARE TO WORK TO BUILD UNITY WITHIN THE BODY...
Ephes. 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ:
G. IF WE ARE TO AGREE WITH OUR ADVERSARY QUICKLY,
HOW THE MORE SHOULD WE AGREE WITHIN THE FAMILY AND CHURCH?
Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him;
lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee
to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
CONCLUSION:
CRITICAL SPIRITS OF JUDGMENT AND BEING EASILY OFFENDED MUST BE
OVERCOME AND ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED...
Think about the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHITE WASHED AND WASHED WHITE.
We must know the difference...
You can never overcome the negative crowd, YOU MUST OVERWHELM THEM...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
PASS IT ON?
