Category Archives: Conflict

Aid, Bible, Conflict, Fellow worker, Helping, Scripture

HELP EACH OTHER

PHILIPPIANS 4:3

“Indeed, true companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

I like to help people when I can. Don’t you? If I am able and available, I like to lend a hand. I also like to help people who just need a listening ear. In my ministry, I often have that opportunity. Men need to talk but are usually afraid to get too personal too quick. I understand that, but I am called to listen and point them to the Word. I have to be honest, though. I haven’t always done that with my own family. Don’t point your finger at me. I bet you could say the same thing.

Paul loved these two women mentioned in verse 2, Euodia and Syntyche. Paul said they had “shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel.” They were fellow servants. Paul obviously wanted them to come to the same mind about some issue they were arguing about. He knew their squabble could infect the whole church. It must have been pretty serious to have reached Paul’s ears in Rome. So, he calls on the church to come alongside them to end this.

APPLICATION

My Pastor has been preaching a series on relationships the past several weeks. You can listen to these at https://www.youtube.com/@CorrytonChurch. The past couple of sermons have been about dealing with conflict. I wish Euodia and Syntyche had heard ths message. It was pretty powerful. Matthew 18:15-19 gives us some good advice on dealing with conflict within the body of Christ. Don’t you wish every believer would practice these words of Christ?

I was reminded of a verse I had not heard in a while in my pastor’s sermon. Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Isn’t that just the truth? I love to walk. When I walk with someone, we have to agree on the path we are taking, the speed to walk and how far we are going to walk. If we don’t do that, we are not going to be walking together. The same is true in our Christian walk with fellow believers.

The Greek word Paul uses for “help” is an interesting word. It can mean to clasp, seize, to conceive, help or take. That’s a pretty broad definition, isn’t it. It’s the strong compound word, sullambanó. The first part of that compound is sun, which is that inseparable “with.” In other words, we are to help closely. Try that today. Be that kind of friend. Perhaps you will need that yourself one day.

O Lord, help me help others today in way that can spur them on their walk with Christ.

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Bible, Conflict, Fighting, Scripture, Testimony

CONFLICTS

PHILIPPIANS 1:30

“experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”

Raise your hand if you like conflict. That’s what I thought. No one chooses to have conflicts in their lives. If we had our druthers, we would rather live in peace and quiet. Am I right? The older I get the less I like conflicts. My memory verse this week fits this well. Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Sounds easy, huh? Not really.

Paul didn’t have to go far to find conflict or opposition. Remember, right after he got saved and started preaching, he had to escape in a basket over the wall of Damascus from those who sought to kill him. So, when Paul talks about conflicts, we need to sit up and listen. He knew what he was talking about. The word he uses here for “conflict” is agon from which we get the word “agony.”

APPLICATION

Agon is only used five other times in the New Testament (Colossians 2:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7 and Hebrews 12:1). Let’s look at a couple of those. Paul uses agon in Colossians 2:1 this way. “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf…” Here, he calls it a struggle. Aren’t all conflicts a struggle – a struggle not to say the wrong thing, a struggle to not lash out in defense? 

In 1 Timothy 6:12 and 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul uses agon to describe the good fight of faith. In 1 Timothy he is telling Timothy to fight the good fight. In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul is saying he has fought the good fight of faith. A good fight? Sounds kind of strange, doesn’t it? Paul is telling us that there are some fights that are worth it. Our fight against the forces of evil for the kingdom of God is worth it.

As you face conflicts (and you will), remember the words from Proverbs. Your discretion will make you slow to anger. And it is to your benefit to overlook or forgive transgressions against you. It is not easy, but it is worth it. Let God use these conflicts to shape and mold you more like Christ.

Father, I am not able in my own flesh to face conflicts with a godly attitude. I need You to fill me and teach me.

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Bible, Conflict, Fighting, Race, Scripture, Struggles

STRUGGLE FOR OTHERS

COLOSSIANS 2:1

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,”

Have you ever struggled for someone else? It could be a physical struggle, emotional struggle or even a spiritual struggle. In my daily prayer time, I have lists I pray through. There are some people on these lists I really struggle for as I pray. I have been praying for their salvation for years. But I keep on struggling, begging God for them.

Paul was struggling for these believers and for those in Laodicea. You may remember John references the church in Laodicea. It is referred to as the lukewarm church. Perhaps Paul knew of their struggles in their faith. Paul was interceding for these believers. He wanted to see them walk in victory, not defeat.

APPLICATION

The word translated as “struggle” is agón. It appears eight times in the New Testament and has a variety of translations. In Philippians 1:30, it is translated as “conflict.” “experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Over in 1 Timothy 6:12 it is “fight.” And Hebrews 12:1 it is “race.” All of these involve a struggle.

Think about your family or friends. Are you struggling before God each day on their behalf? Who are you praying for right now? Stop and make a list. Lists are good. They help us remember. Make that list and when your prayer is answered, celebrate.

I have people in my family who need Jesus. I am claiming them for Him. I want them to spend eternity with me in heaven. I bet you have people also. Be active in their journey. You don’t have to shove Jesus down their throat, but you should at least be praying for them. Now go make that list.

Father, You know all those for whom I am praying. Speak into their lives today.

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Accountability, Advice, Allies, Battles, Bible, Conflict, Confrontation, Direction, God's Will, Harmony, Relationships, Scripture

STRAIGHT FOOTED

GALATIANS 2:14

“But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?’”

I used to love to mow grass. Just the task of getting it done and seeing the finished job was calming. That probably sounds strange, doesn’t it? In my last children’s home job, I would occasionally hop on our zero turn mower and mow some of the large fields on campus. The key to keeping a straight line is to look down the field and find a spot to go towards. You have to watch your tire tracks to keep them straight also. My dad taught me that. Going straight just made the field look nicer once I was done.

Paul and Peter aren’t mowing grass in today’s verse. But the principle I just shared is applicable. Paul saw that Peter was not walking straight in regards to the teachings of Christ. The Greek word for “they were…straightforward” is orthopodeo, which is from two Greek words – orthos (straight) and pous (foot). This word is only used here in Galatians 2:14. Peter had strayed from the straight path. He was off course, and Paul had a moral and spiritual obligation to confront him publicly for this public display.

APPLICATION

Sometimes we do things that are not “straight-footed.” We get off course. We stray. We are headed down the wrong path. Isn’t it great when someone confronts you? Not really! No one wants that. But it is so necessary. I have had to confront friends who were not walking straight. Friends have confronted me, as well. John tells us in 1 John 5:16 “If anyone sees his brother or sister committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will, for him, give life to those who commit sin not leading to death.”

Even Jesus gave us instructions in this matter. In Matthew 18:15-17 we read, “15 ‘Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that ON THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY MATTER MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17 And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.’”

Now, all that may sound too confrontational for you. I understand. It’s not easy to confront a brother or sister. It’s not easy to be confronted. But if we live that way, holding each other accountable in love, we would have so much less need to do it. As for you, be willing to receive correction when given. None of us are perfect. Amen?

Oh Father, thank You for friends who will confront me in my sin to help lead me to walk “straight-footed.”

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Battles, Bible, Conflict, Correction, End Times, Family, Fighting, God's Will, Home, Love, Relationships, Scripture

FATHERS AND CHILDREN

MALACHI 4:6

“‘He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete destruction.’”

One of the things we teach in the ministry I am serving with, Every Man A Warrior, is father-son and father-daughter time. Most men don’t spend time with their children, thus the breakdown of relationships. When fathers do spend time with their children, they need to do a few things. They need to make it safe, ask questions, make it about them, pray with them, shut up and listen and finally, speak building blocks of truth in their lives.

Isn’t it amazing that Malachi talks about father and children in his very last sentence? He is still speaking about Elijah (whom we mentioned in yesterday’s blog). We are not told how he will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children or the children’s hearts back to their fathers, but he does. Why? So the Lord “will not come and strike the land.” Let’s look closer at what this means.

APPLICATION

When family units breakdown, society crumbles. I am not just talking about the single households. I am talking about the extended families – Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Parents, children, aunts, uncles, cousins. The biggest breakdown today is faith, or should I say lack of faith. When one person in the family is walking with the Lord and others are not, it can cause extreme division.

Lest we be surprised, our Lord talked about this in Matthew 10:21-22. “‘21 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”

Another passage is in Luke 5. Verses 51-53 are Jesus’ words again. “‘51 Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; 52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”

Now, before you decide to throw in the towel, look back at today’s verse. The Lord says through Elijah He will draw families back together in faith. I believe that. I know faith unites. May we all pray that for all of our families. May we be united in the love of Jesus and rejoice in what He has given us.

Father, thank You for this final promise in Malachi. Praise You for families and what they mean to You and eachother.

P.S. For my frequent followers, I will be taking a short break after today’s blog. I will pick back up on January 1. Pray that the Lord shows me where to go to next in our daily study. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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