How
to Resolve a Stubborn Conflict
by John Ojewole
Memory
Verse: Proverbs 16:7
(NKJV) When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
TEXT: 1
Samuel 24:1–22
Introduction: Matthew 5:44
“You can safely assume that you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”-- Anne Lamotte
I.
Ignore the Natural Instinct to Fight
Back
1
Samuel 24:4–7; 1; 18:11, 17, 25; 19:1, 10, 11, 15, 20–21, 22; 23:8, 15; 24:2;
26:2; Proverbs
26:20; 26:17; 16:32
“The
Lord forbid that I should do this
to my lord the king and attack the Lord’s
anointed one, for the Lord himself
has chosen him.”
“You
and I too must trust God enough not to take hostile actions against enemies,
even when we have opportunity.” -- Lawrence O. Richards
“So
tender was his conscience that he condemned himself for even deviating so
slightly from the respect due to the anointed king.” -- H. D. M.
Spence-Jones
“The
verb is a strong one, and means to crush down. It shows that David had to use
all his authority to keep his men, vexed by Saul’s pursuit, from killing him.” --
H. D. M. Spence-Jones
II.
Avoid
the Temptation to Sit Back and Wait for the Other Person to Make the First Move 1 Samuel 24:8–15; Deuteronomy
32:35; Romans 12:19–21; Matthew 18:15
“Can
there be a more horrible object in existence than an eloquent man not speaking
the truth?”—Thomas Carlyle
“The longer a conflict festers and grows, the more slanted our views of others become. What began as a small point of contention can turn into a major misconception.”-- Greg Breazeale
ILLUSTRAITON: Forgive
the Guilty
III.
Commit to the Wellbeing of the
person who once wronged you
1
Samuel 24:16–22; 15:28; 23:17
“Evidence of true reconciliation is continuing love and goodness.
Conflict always gives us a chance to get closer to one another, grow in our own understanding of ourselves and others, and glorify our God.”-- Greg Breazeale
“Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive”-- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Conclusion: Romans 5:8; 1
John 4:10
