Today my cup is filled with Door county Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee. My heart is filled with the Holy Spirit and my mind is filled with anticipation of seeing the sun come up on a crisp Wisconsin morning.
I hope the title of today's message di not alarm you. I am one who enjoys a good old fashioned Western Cowboy movie or novel. John Wayne is one of the actors I still love to watch on a cold winters night.
In many of the old cowboy movies and novels I have partaken in there have been stories about two parties who are having a disagreement over land boundaries, water or gold. It usually leads to a shoot out or small war between the groups or families. Most of the time the battle is fueled by greed. So to get the upper hand one party or both will hire professional gun slingers who are fast with their guns to help win the battle. These gun slingers don't care who is wrong or who is right. They just shoot people for money.
As an elder in our church I am often called upon by someone to listen as they explain how someone has wronged them. They usually want me to talk to that person and "straighten them out". People figure that if they get to me and explain their side first they will have me on their side. I see this happen to our Pastors also.
Well this "gun slinger" and our pastors did not fall off of the stage coach yesterday. I always refuse to "open fire" and ask the "wronged party" if they have read the Biblical correction principals of Matthew 18. In most instances they haven't. It is important to be Biblical in corrections. When followed correctly most "range wars" do not get beyond step one. This can be a teaching moment.
The first step is always to be in prayer about the situation and to make sure that your own heart is clean and free of sin.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you
Secondly during this prayer time ask yourself this question. Am I doing this to save a relationship, correct a brother out of love, or to just win an argument? Let the Holy Spirit show you where your heart is.
Then read!!!!!
Matthew 18:15-17New Living Translation (NLT)
Correcting Another Believer
15 “If another believer[a] sins against you,[b] go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
In verse 15 there are two points go privately is the first step. To go privately also means to keep one's mouth shut about the subject and not enlist the help of gossip mongers as do gooders who now know the other person's business. Most times this happens when people say "please pray for me as I confront this other person."
Secondly if the matter is handled in the first step and you are also not part of the problem then this is another opportunity for you to drink a big cup of shut up juice and move on in love with that brother or sister. The matter was settled in private. No need to discuss it with others less the guns of revenge be opened up on you. If it is not solved in step one .....................
Then and only then do you move on to the other steps enlisting help.
Follow these steps and most often you will have built a relationship back instead of creating a holy war.
Don't take your guns to town son! ( Popular Country Western Lyrics)
God bless. May all your battles be little ones.
Marty
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