The Greatest Challenge Facing Pastors:
Getting Along with Others
Getting Along with Others
(And How You Can Help)
The Solution: Ephesians 4:25-32 How to Get Along
Ephesians 4:25–32 (NIV)
25 Therefore
each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor,
for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do
not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not
give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no
longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may
have something to share with those in need.
29 Do
not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is
helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit
those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with
whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all
bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
How to Get Along with Others
1. Be truthful
2. Speak encouragement
3. Get rid of the junk
4. Be kind, compassionate,
forgiving
1. Be truthful
Lots of human relationship problems
could quickly be resolved if people would just speak up and speak out. Sometimes we fear hurting people’s feelings
so we don’t say what we should. That can
lead to confusion, mistrust and frustration.
Martin Luther said, “Peace if
possible, but truth at any cost.”
Ephesians 4:15 (NIV) Instead, speaking
the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head,
that is, Christ.
Remember that love is the
most important of Christian qualities.
2. Speak encouragement
Have you ever heard someone
say, “If you don’t have something nice to say; say nothing at all.” Well, it is biblical.
The tongue is a powerful
weapon.
James 3:5–6 (NIV) Likewise the
tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a
great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a
fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person,
sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Matthew
12:36-37 (NIV) But I tell you that men
will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they
have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and
by your words you will be condemned.”
Your tongue can be a
destructive weapon that destroys and tears down, or it can be a powerful
building tool helping others grow and prosper.
3. Get rid of the junk
Matthew 12:33–37 (NIV)
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree
bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say
anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35
The good man brings good things out of the good
stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up
in him. 36 But I tell you that men
will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they
have spoken. 37 For by your words you
will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
I hate it when Christians
make excuses for their sin. We have been
set free from sin and therefore should not still be living a life of sin!!
4. Be kind, compassionate,
forgiving
“To err is human but to
forgive is canine, uh, I mean divine.”
But why can’t forgiveness be
“human”?
The Fabulous Five
—
“I was wrong.”
—
“I’m sorry.”
—
“Please forgive
me.”
—
“I forgive you.”
—
“I love you.”
Fruit of the Holy Spirit:
Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV) But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things
there is no law.
How many of these “fruit”
pertain to human relationships? All nine
(9) of them!
Conclusion
1. Ask
God to forgive you.
2. Ask
people to forgive you.
3. Forgive
yourself.
4. Live
differently.
Let’s
pray.
(audio version of this message can be found here on Hamlin Assembly of God website)
