Day 20

Purpose Driven Life

Restoring Broken Fellowship

"God has restored our relationship with HIM through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships" 2 Corinthians 5: 18

Relationships are always worth restoring

because life is all about learning how to love, God wants us to value relationships and make the efforts to maintain them in stead of discarding them whenever there is a rift or conflict in fact the bible tells us that God has given us the ministry of restoring relationship

Broken fellowship is a disgraceful testimony to unbelievers - if you want God’s blessing on your life and you want to be known as a child of God you must learn to be a peacemaker

"Blessed are the peaceable " who are never disturbed by anything Jesus said "blessed are those who work for peace" those who actively seek to resolve the conflict peace makers are rare because peacemaking is hard work

peace making is not avoiding conflict

running from a problem

pretending it doesn’t exist

Or

being afraid to talk about it

it actually cowardness

Jesus the Prince of Peace was never afraid of conflict on occasion he provoked it fro the good of everyone

Sometime we need to avoid conflict sometimes we need to create - sometimes we need to resolve it so we need to pray continually to the Holy Spirit for Guidance

Peacemaker is not appeasement - always giving - acting like a door mat - allowing others to run over you - was not what Jesus had in mind - he refused to back down on many issues - Standing His ground in the face of evil opposition

*** HOW TO RESTORE A RELATIONSHIP...

"God has called us to settle our relationships with each other " 2 Corinthians 5:18

Talk to God before you talk to that person

Pray to God first instead of gossiping to a friend, you will often find or discover that either God changes your heart or he changes the other persons with out your help - All relationship go smoother if you would just pray more about them, -

Tell God your frustrations:- Cry out to HIM - He is Never Surprised your upset by your anger, hurt insecurity, or any other emotion, so tell him how you feel.

When you expect anyone that only God can fulfill you are setting your self up for disappointment and bitterness - no one can met all your needs

Except God

Apostle James said Many conflict comes from prayerlessness " What causes fights and quarrels among you ? You want something but don’t get it ... you don’t have because you do not ask God " James 4:17

Instead of looking to God we look to others to make us happy and then get angry when they fail us God said "why don’t you come to me first"?

Always take imitative

Whether you did the offending or get offended God expects you to make the first move, don’t wait for the other party. - Acting quickly also reduces spiritual damage - sin including unresolved conflict blocks our fellowship with God and keeps away prayers from being answered 1 Peter 3:7 Proverbs 28:9

"To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish senseless thing to do" and "you are only hurting yourself with your anger" Jobs 18:4

Sympathize with their feelings - your ears more than your mouth - before attempting to resolve any disagreement you must first listen to peoples feelings.

Listening says "I value your opinion, I care about our relationship, and you matter to me "

Confessing your part of the conflict

if you are serious about restoring a relationship you should begin with admitting your own mistakes or sin - Jesus said "it’s the way to see things more clearer" first get rid of the log from your own eye then per haps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friends eye"

Since we have blind spots you - may need to ask another party to help you evaluate your own actions before meeting with the person with whom you have conflict -

Attack the problem

you cannot fix the problem if you’re consumed with fixing the blame, "gentle responses defuse anger, but a sharp tongue kindles temper fire"

Proverbs 15:1

Resolving a problem to how you say it is important as what you say it is important as what you say if you say it you offensively it will be received defensively

NAGGING never works

NOW YOU ARE NEVER PERSUASIVE WHEN YOU ARE ABRASIVE !!!!

***Cooperate as much a possible

"Do everything as much as possible on your part to live in peace with everybody "

Peace cost - sometimes your pride - sometimes self centeredness

***Emphasize Reconciliation, not resolution

it is unrealistic to expect everyone to agree about everything - reconciliation focuses the relationship while resolution focuses on the problems - if you have need to resolve issues stop right now pray to God then pick up the phone and begin process

Day 20

Thinking about my purpose

Point to ponder: Relationships are always worth restoring

Verse to Remember: "Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody" Romans 12:8

Question to Consider: Who do I need to Restore a broken relationship with today?

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Half way through 40 day challenge..

Day 20... Restoring Broken Fellowship

Relationships are always worth restoring.

Because life is all about learning how to love, God wants us to value relationships and make the effort to maintain them instead of discarding them whenever there is a rift, a hurt, or a conflict. In fact, the Bible tells us that God has given us the ministry of restoring relationships.

For this reason a significant amount of the New Testament is devoted to teaching us how to get along with one another. Paul wrote, "If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, . . . Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends." Paul taught that our ability to get along with others is a mark of spiritual maturity. If you want God's blessing on your life and you want to be known as a child of God, you must learn to be a peacemaker.

Who do you need to contact as a result of today's broadcast? With whom do you need to restore fellowship? Don't delay another second. Pause right now and talk to God about that person. Then pick up the phone and begin the process. It takes a lot of effort to restore a relationship. That's why Peter urged, "Work hard at living in peace with others." But when you work for peace, you are doing what God would do. That's why God calls peacemakers his children.

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From the Journal

7 biblical steps to restoring a fellowship

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Talk to God before talking to the person

Always take the initiative

Sympathize with their feelings

Confess my part of the conflict

Attack the problem, the person

Cooperate as much as possible

Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution

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Why do you need to contact as a result of this chapter? With whom do you need to restore? Fellowship? Don’t delay another second? Pause right now and talk to God about that person. Then pick up the phone and begin the process. These seven steps are simple but they are not easy. It takes a lot of effort to restore a relationship. That’s why Peter urged, "work hard at living in peace with others" 1 Peter 3:11 But when you work for peace you’re doing what god would do. That’s why God calls peace makers his Children.

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Father give me clear vision to see how to est restore a broken relationship. I need wisdom, humility, love, and courage to do the right thing and take the first step to restoration