Recovery After The Wreck Series

A House United Series

Recovery After the Wreck

May 22, 2011

Introduction

A The issue is not the issue in conflict at a church.

1 The issue isn’t carpet color, worship styles, how long the preacher’s sermons are, who does (or does not) take communion, etc.

a The issue is really if we’re going to let the devil come between us, or if we’re going to allow Jesus to come between us.

b If the issue is not the issue, then the apparent enemy is not the real enemy.

aa We’d like to say we have an issue with that person or this person, but that’s not the problem.

bb For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:12 (NASB)

c These spirits want to bring division/strife into our families & churches.

2 I’m going to identify 3 spirits that seek to gain access to our homes/house of worship. Their goals are all the same.

a The goal is to get a person (or a group of people) to try (in an ungodly way) to assume another person’s position of authority, thus creating division.

b Ancient character flaw. And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day...Jude 1:6 (NASB) In a home, this is what happens when children try to call the shots, make the rules, say how it’s going to be, what they will or won’t do.

aa That’s not God’s established order in the home!

bb Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6 (NASB)

Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.14 You shall strike him with the rod and rescue his soul from Sheol. Prov 23:13-14 (NASB)

Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; he will also delight your soul. Prov 29:17 (NASB)

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Eph 6:4 (NASB)

Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.10 "Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ’Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’ Deut 4:9-10 (NASB)

’Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you. Deut 5:16 (NASB)

c In a church, there can be those who try to tell the pastor/leadership what to do, how things are going to happen, do or nor do, call the shots.

aa Not God’s established order for the church.

bb And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ...Eph 4:11-12 (NASB)

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers , to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28 (NASB)

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction...1 Thess 5:12 (NASB)

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness...1 Peter 5:1-2 (NASB)

• Rather preach the truth & be in trouble here than preach a lie & be in trouble there.

B Whenever our model doesn’t stack up to Scripture, Scripture always wins because it’s the higher law.

1 The spirits that attack homes/house of God will always try to being division, rebellion, & the conflict that splits relationships.

2 God doesn’t bring conflict, division, confusion.