#1 Perspective: CREATIVE USE OF CONFLICT.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are called according to HIS PURPOSE.
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?
Amos 3:3 CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER UNLESS THEY AGREE?
2 Cor.12:9- 12 is this ... God’s grace is sufficient for thee, for God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. MOST GLADLY THEREFORE WILL I RATHER GLORY IN MY INFIRMITIES, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME. THEREFORE I TAKE PLEASURE IN INFIRMITIES, IN REPROACHES, IN NECESSITIES, IN PERSECUTIONS, IN DISTRESSES FOR CHRIST’S SAKE: FOR WHEN I, AM, THEN, AM STRONG.
Perspective: choice of a view point; capacity to view things in their true relationship or relative importance; to look through; to see as it appears; illusion of depth and distance; mental view.
Friends, let us ponder a deep thought:
PERSPECTIVE:
CREATIVE USE OF CONFLICT?
A preacher friend sent me an illustration and immediately my spirit raced, and in the next four hours, I received four sermons that have absolutely burned into my inner man.
Here is the story adapted my way: ...
The sun was shining so bright, so the turtle pulled over to take a nap.
While he was napping, a snail came creeping ever so slowly, and saw a big bump.
The snail very slowly climbed up on the back of the turtle, the snail rested on top of the turtle.
Later the turtle was awaken and started his journey.
In great excitement the snail started screaming, "WHEEEEE, WHEEEEEE!"
From the snails perspective this was the most exciting, fastest experience of his whole life.
The snail lost his breath with all the speed?
(I ponder, what if the snail had crawled upon a rabbit?)
Life is how we look at things.
Our focus, our attitudes, our motives.
Most know, I am between 6’2" and 6’3" and I weigh 270.
I see things from a different angle than my 5’1", Linda, my wife of 31 years.
I go into a home and see dust on top of refrigerators.
Linda has never seen the top of a refrigerator from her perspective.
Well, there are much greater differences than that.
We play Monopoly, I want to own every piece of property, every house and motel, and ALL the money in the bank!
If Linda is winning, she offers to loan me money to keep me afloat?
I think something, Linda feels something?
I say, "How can you feel that, that logically is so stupid!"
She replies, "I don’t care what you think, I feel..."
When you are dating OPPOSITES ATTRACT,
after a few years of marriage ... OPPOSITES ATTACK.
I don’t care how smart or rich you are you cannot avoid all conflict.
Conflict is not good, conflict is not bad.
Conflict is neutral!
It is how we approach conflict that will make or break us.
I think all good, healthy relationships must come to realize and understand the dynamics of PERSPECTIVE.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are called according to HIS PURPOSE.
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?
One thing that we often forget is GOD HAS A PURPOSE!
Do you know God’s purpose?
God’s purpose is much more than "JUST HANGING ON."
Storms, testing, trials are sure, but glory awaits and liberation comes.
Do we trust God?
Do we know that God knows what is best for you?
Do we know that God has a plan and turns negative situations
into a purpose of growth?
The easy way can lead to laziness and death.
Many see conflict as terrible and pray to be exempt.
God says, " I HAVE A PLAN, I AM BUILDING A MAN!"
My point of view can be different and we can still have agreement.
Amos 3:3 addresses a real problem with a question...
CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER UNLESS THEY AGREE?
We must see God loves variety, and many angled perspectives are better than one sided opinions.
We are called to COMPLEMENT, something to fill the void, complete, to make perfect. We need each other. Problems can accomplish the work of God.
No electrical circuit can be complete without a positive and a negative? Take one terminal lose from your battery and try to start the car?
Linda has been a balancing effect to me.
My board has been a great blessing to me.
Sometimes this process feels like a grinder,
and this has seemly caused pain, but that is not true.
We build each other.
Where I am weak, she/they are strong.
Not everybody can be the quarterback on a team.
To win many people have to stand in their place.
My sons’ football coach would often yell,
"STAY HOME, STAY HOME!"
The opposing team would try to pull players out of their defensive positions
and then prey upon their weakness to fall for the fake.
A scouter for the team is looking at the next opponent and is not able to watch his team play. But every good team has scouters.
We need waterboys, statisticians, camera analyzers, a pep band, bus drivers, someone to work the chains.
I know where the men that work the chains have seen something, sent word to the coach and helped win a game.
Every good coach has people high over the field, looking down on the teams. This advantage point can see things differently and identify, then report a weak or strong area.
We must see and understand from more eyes than our own.
Sometimes in church/family, we expect everybody to see on the same level and agree completely.
This perspective is stupidity.
A good church/family, needs some thorns to keep us in line?
You can have the best saw made for wood cutting, but any valuable wood workers know sandpaper is needed.
What seems to feelings as a rubbing or wear away, can be an opportunity for growth and Divine Deliverance.
Abrasives have a reason. They smooth or polish.
Ask Paul?
When Paul saw the perspective that thorns have a purpose, he re-directed his prayer life.
2 Corinthians 12:7. Three times Paul prayed from the human perspective, "Lord, remove this thorn NOW!"
Wisdom seeks the safety of counsel, Proverbs 11:14.
The lesson of the thorn in 2 Cor.12:9- 12 is this ...
God’s grace is sufficient for thee, for God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. 9I love this next lesson.) MOST GLADLY THEREFORE WILL I RATHER GLORY IN MY INFIRMITIES, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME. THEREFORE I TAKE PLEASURE IN INFIRMITIES, IN REPROACHES, IN NECESSITIES, IN PERSECUTIONS, IN DISTRESSES FOR CHRIST’S SAKE: FOR WHEN I, AM, THEN, AM STRONG.
A great artist was given a huge piece of marble.
For several months the artist craved a great horse out of the marble.
The horse he fashioned was a masterpiece.
You could see the veins and the muscles on the masterpiece.
At the unveiling in a museum, someone questioned the great artist,
HOW DID YOU DO IT?
The artist replied, It was easy, I took stone, and knocked everything that did not look like a horse off...
God is allowing life to shape and mold us more like Jesus.
God will pull you through,
if you can stand the pull.
To few of us have really submitted to the realization that:
THORNS HAVE A PURPOSE AND THAT THERE IS CREATIVE US OF CONFLICT.
Nothing creates more deep seated anxieties than the FALSE ASSUMPTION that life should be free from tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, peril, or the sword.
NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THOUGH HIM THAT LOVED US. FOR I AM PERSUADED.... Romans 8:34--39.
Are you persuaded?
Get that head up, those eyes focused.
Remember this:
SOMETIMES THE WORSE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO US ARE THE BEST THINGS THAT EVER HAPPENED.
Would we know Daniel without mean enemies out to destroy him and the lions den?
Would we know Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego without the terrible trial of the fiery furnace?
Would we know Namaan if he had had contracted leprosy?
The conflict of Jezebel/Ahab that made Elijah run in fear and distress,
also caused him to BE STILL and hear the STILL, SMALL VOICE? ...
"Elijah, What are you doing here?"
David started target practice on rabbits.
David was learning and polishing his skills.
The time in the field was not aimless uselessness,
God had a plan.
Later, He faced a bear.
He then faced a lion.
All life had been preparing David.
His battles were stepping stones to increased victories.
His defeats were learning processes.
One day David will hear a giant taunt God and God’s people,
his shepherd boy experience had been preparational.
1 Kings 19:13. Goliath was David’s chance to release the plan of God.
The disappointments of Ziglag were teaching tools of the Most High.
Sometimes God calms the storm,
other times God let’s the storm rage,
and God calms the believer.
We must start to see all problems from the perspective of opportunity, opportunity of releasing the move of God.
Today, God knows you.
God knows your problem.
God has a plan.
There is a creative plan to deliverance if you want to find it.
There is a PROMISE, there will be a PROBLEM, but GOD HAS THE DIVINE PROVISION. Faith sees beyond.... THORNS HAVE A PURPOSE!
You are in a battle, there is a plan.
There is a purpose.
Don’t misidentify who the enemy is.
Don’t use your preparational time for lazy naps.
Study, dig wells, and dream ...
you will learn that we must find creative use of conflict.
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
Enlarge my hands and pass this to others?
