Handling Disunity on the Sidewalk (Part 2)

WEBVTT100:00:00.560 --> 00:00:06.440I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours and me, Lord,200:00:06.919 --> 00:00:10.509I am your. Welcome to theGospel Center, Pray Life podcast.300:00:10.949 --> 00:00:14.310This week's episode is taking up wherewe left off on last week's episode.400:00:14.630 --> 00:00:19.910So this is part two of dealingwith disunity on the sidewalk. Stay tuned,500:00:20.550 --> 00:00:32.579Lord, I felt show passish touchyour heart. Use Me, Lord,600:00:35.929 --> 00:00:39.210in this next section. What wedid was we kind of make a700:00:39.289 --> 00:00:44.729summary Statement and then talk about theverse that supports that statement and maybe you800:00:44.810 --> 00:00:47.850might have some stuff to add.Sure, with each of those. So900:00:48.009 --> 00:00:53.600the first one participate fully in thesame spirit. You have the same spirit1000:00:53.640 --> 00:00:56.439in the verse. That, Ithink, exemplifies that, or one of1100:00:56.479 --> 00:01:00.479them is Philippians two, one,twenty three. Therefore, if there's any1200:01:00.560 --> 00:01:03.950consolation in Christ, if any comfortof love, if any fellowship of the1300:01:03.989 --> 00:01:08.310spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like minded,1400:01:08.349 --> 00:01:11.189having the same love, being ofone accord and of one mind,1500:01:11.790 --> 00:01:17.310letting nothing be done in selfish ambitionor through selfish ambition or conceit, but1600:01:17.430 --> 00:01:22.420in lowliness of mind. Let eachesteem others better than himself. Yeah,1700:01:23.180 --> 00:01:26.340one of the points with this passageand with the passes that we read in1800:01:26.459 --> 00:01:33.170Ephesians. Is Humility? Yeah,not thinking ourselves to be more important because,1900:01:33.170 --> 00:01:36.329after all, we've got it allfigured out theologically. Yeah, that's2000:01:36.370 --> 00:01:41.930a point of pride. A lotof a lot of times our theology can2100:01:42.129 --> 00:01:46.370really get ahead of our heart,like it's our head in front of our2200:01:46.450 --> 00:01:49.319heart rather than being led by theHoly Spirit. Now I don't mean to2300:01:49.400 --> 00:01:53.439say that we just be led byour feelings, our emotions. We need2400:01:53.480 --> 00:01:56.799to be led by the word ofGod. But if you imagine that,2500:01:57.079 --> 00:02:00.790or if you're deceived enough to believethat you've got it all figured out theologically,2600:02:01.310 --> 00:02:06.629then relationally you ain't got it allfigured out. In this life currently,2700:02:06.750 --> 00:02:15.069with our fallen minds and our incompleteunderstanding of certain theological truths, we2800:02:15.270 --> 00:02:17.340have to be willing to say inhumility, I ain't got it all figured2900:02:17.340 --> 00:02:20.659out. I got some stuff figuredout, I got some plain truths in3000:02:20.699 --> 00:02:23.860God's word. But even Paul saysin First Corinthians, believe chapter thirteen,3100:02:23.900 --> 00:02:29.259it says now we see in aglass or in a mirror dimly like we3200:02:29.340 --> 00:02:31.889don't have the full picture. We'vegot what God has given us in his3300:02:32.009 --> 00:02:37.650word and it's sufficient. God's Wordis sufficient for us to live and too3400:02:37.810 --> 00:02:39.449and to do the things that Godhas called us to do. But we3500:02:39.610 --> 00:02:43.969don't have all these things figured out. There's still some stuff that's yet to3600:02:44.009 --> 00:02:46.560be figured out. We have toleave allowance for that with other brothers and3700:02:46.599 --> 00:02:51.240sisters in the Lord so that wedon't just in pride, disunify with people3800:02:51.240 --> 00:02:54.759because, after all, or notof our same theological or as cutological or3900:02:54.800 --> 00:02:59.590so teological stripe or whatever they theycan't possibly know as much as I do.4000:02:59.710 --> 00:03:02.669My mom always taught us to tosay, you might be right,4100:03:02.710 --> 00:03:07.750yeah, you might be right.She said those were important words to learn4200:03:07.789 --> 00:03:10.030to express to another human being insteadof just saying you're wrong, I'm right.4300:03:10.069 --> 00:03:14.219Yeah, you might be right,and then a discussion can follow that.4400:03:14.500 --> 00:03:20.539Yeah, so, okay, aimfor restoration, peace, comfort and4500:03:20.620 --> 00:03:28.530agreement. And and the verse thatspecifically says that is Second Corinthians Thirteen,4600:03:28.530 --> 00:03:34.129verse eleven. Okay, it sayit's finally, brethren, Farewell, become4700:03:34.289 --> 00:03:37.729complete, be of good comfort,be of one mind, live in peace,4800:03:38.250 --> 00:03:40.090and the God of love and peacewill be with you. HMM.4900:03:40.639 --> 00:03:45.080BE OF ONE MIND, agree withone another. Mind says yeah, and5000:03:45.240 --> 00:03:47.879also says in verse twelve, Greekone another with a holy kiss, right.5100:03:49.080 --> 00:03:51.120So, yeah, you to dothat too. You need yeah,5200:03:51.280 --> 00:03:53.599no, I'm just not in thecovid days. And Not in the covid5300:03:53.639 --> 00:03:59.509days you can greet one another withthe air kiss, right, you're with5400:03:59.629 --> 00:04:03.870your mask bump. All Right,okay. So Romans fifteen, five to5500:04:04.069 --> 00:04:10.659six. Okay. Points out anothermain point which we started touched on.5600:04:11.219 --> 00:04:15.620What is the goal? And thegoal is to glorify God. Yeah,5700:04:15.819 --> 00:04:18.100absolutely so, you got that right. Should be always five the goal.5800:04:18.339 --> 00:04:21.620That should always be the goal.Now, may the God of patience and5900:04:21.699 --> 00:04:26.689comfort grant you to be like mindedtoward one another, according to Christ Jesus,6000:04:27.370 --> 00:04:30.370that you may, with one mindand one mouth, glorify God and6100:04:30.490 --> 00:04:34.370the father of our Lord, JesusChrist. Yeah, so, I mean6200:04:34.449 --> 00:04:39.240I think we're giving you guys enoughscripture to know that unity is important,6300:04:39.639 --> 00:04:43.600that this is important to God,and it's not something that even in the6400:04:43.720 --> 00:04:47.480early years of Christianity they didn't haveto do with and an address. They6500:04:47.560 --> 00:04:51.240had to address it constantly, Paul. That's why I mentioned so many times.6600:04:51.319 --> 00:04:55.829If it's such a pervasive issue,then there's going to be a lot6700:04:55.870 --> 00:04:58.470of scripture yeah, talking about howto guide, do it that, and6800:04:58.709 --> 00:05:00.829you've got this done amic going onthat I mentioned when we first started.6900:05:01.110 --> 00:05:04.670The Devil knows how to divide andconquer. Yeah, you know, and7000:05:04.870 --> 00:05:09.500so he's sadly very good at it. He is very good at it and7100:05:10.300 --> 00:05:13.980more often than I think we wouldcared to admit, we fall prey to7200:05:14.060 --> 00:05:15.259some of those some of those tactics. Yeah, we got to fight that,7300:05:15.379 --> 00:05:18.459we got to fight this unity,because it's it we're we're green with7400:05:18.540 --> 00:05:21.810Satan if we allow it to continue. Yeah, so, especially if we're7500:05:21.850 --> 00:05:25.449the cause of it. Yeah.But so the next two are kind of7600:05:25.490 --> 00:05:28.689the I'm going to combine them.Don't be haughty, shoot for harmony and7700:05:28.769 --> 00:05:30.730don't be arrogant. They kind ofhear the same thing. Yeah, and7800:05:31.329 --> 00:05:36.160a good one. Romans twelve.Two verses in Romans twelve actually addressed that.7900:05:36.839 --> 00:05:42.639Romans twelve three maybe might be thebest one. Okay, for I8000:05:42.720 --> 00:05:45.800say, through the grace given tome to everyone who is among you,8100:05:45.920 --> 00:05:48.399not to think of himself more highlythan he ought to think, but to8200:05:48.519 --> 00:05:51.990think soberly, as God has dealtto each one a measure of faith.8300:05:53.029 --> 00:05:57.589Yeah, thanking soberly, thinking rightlyviewing ourselves rightly that yeah, I'm not8400:05:57.790 --> 00:06:00.629perfect. Ain't got it all figuredout. I'm doing my best to try8500:06:00.629 --> 00:06:04.660to figure out and with the guidanceof the Scripture and the Holy Spirit and8600:06:04.819 --> 00:06:09.579the accountability of my local church,I'm trying to do the best I can8700:06:09.660 --> 00:06:12.339to figure these things out before theLord. But I ain't got it all8800:06:12.379 --> 00:06:15.699figured out. Yeah, be humble, yeah, and don't be arrogant.8900:06:15.180 --> 00:06:20.089Next, love lavishly. Collect Colossiansthree fourteen. There's plenty of verses,9000:06:20.290 --> 00:06:24.490yeah, in the Bible that talkabout the power of love, but Colossians9100:06:24.490 --> 00:06:28.370three and fourteen is is a isa really good one. Okay, but9200:06:28.490 --> 00:06:30.970above all these things, put onlove, which is the bond of perfection.9300:06:31.529 --> 00:06:34.759Love is the bond of perfection.Yeah, mind sets, which binds9400:06:34.800 --> 00:06:39.519everything together in perfect harmony, andharmony is what we're seeking. Yeah,9500:06:39.600 --> 00:06:42.839but to be bound together and perfect. You know, I'll say pect harmony.9600:06:43.079 --> 00:06:46.470The word perfection actually can mean maturityas well, and it is a9700:06:46.629 --> 00:06:51.310mark of maturity for the believer tobe able to seek unity, to be9800:06:51.350 --> 00:06:57.149able to unify, even in spiteof certain flaws and in whatever these things9900:06:57.189 --> 00:07:00.069might be, to be able toseek unity to be able to overlook other10000:07:00.189 --> 00:07:04.339people's flaws, or at least apparentflaws to you, because some people's flaws10100:07:04.420 --> 00:07:08.500to us, or actually flaws inthe way that we see right, they're10200:07:08.500 --> 00:07:12.740not like us and therefore we seeflaws. Yeah, but a mark of10300:07:12.860 --> 00:07:16.490Christian maturity is to be able tounify even in spite of those things and10400:07:16.569 --> 00:07:19.689meet people where they are, youknow, and so we need to see10500:07:19.730 --> 00:07:23.930unity by meeting people where they areand you never know where you might bring10600:07:24.129 --> 00:07:27.769them. If you can recognize that, hey, maybe you're not as far10700:07:27.889 --> 00:07:30.240long as you should be, butbut you recognize with the spirit of unity,10800:07:30.839 --> 00:07:34.360you can disciple and possibly, andI think we're going to get there10900:07:34.399 --> 00:07:39.360with Paul and Barnabas. That's oneof the issues that happens as a result11000:07:39.639 --> 00:07:46.269of how that issue of disunity wasdealt with. Pursue peace and mutual understanding11100:07:46.310 --> 00:07:55.029in Romans Fourteen nineteen is a goodverse for looking at that goal, to11200:07:55.269 --> 00:08:00.740pursue peace and mutual I'm sorry,up building, not not understanding. Okay,11300:08:01.180 --> 00:08:03.660yeah, so, therefore, letus pursue the things which make for11400:08:03.819 --> 00:08:09.779peace and the things by which onemay edify another, Edifi for an and11500:08:09.180 --> 00:08:13.089mind set up building, but Ilike edify, yeah, that you're edifying.11600:08:13.129 --> 00:08:16.410You're building them up for the workso that they can continue in the11700:08:16.490 --> 00:08:22.129work. So recognize in Romans Twelve, four twenty five, this is an11800:08:22.129 --> 00:08:31.839important one. Recognize the differences mayhave a God ordained purpose. Differences may11900:08:31.000 --> 00:08:37.799not necessarily be a bad thing.They may be something God has specifically planned.12000:08:37.840 --> 00:08:45.149Yeah, in bringing you together.I know that I've personally experienced growth12100:08:45.309 --> 00:08:48.110in my life and my walk withthe Lord by being around people that maybe12200:08:48.230 --> 00:08:54.350necessarily aren't of the same denomination asme. I mean, you can learn12300:08:54.350 --> 00:08:58.419a like to be eclectic in thethings that I listened to as far as12400:08:58.980 --> 00:09:03.580preachers and teachers like. I listenedto people that I don't necessarily align with.12500:09:03.379 --> 00:09:07.340So triologically, their doctrine of salvationsmaybe not the same as mine,12600:09:07.419 --> 00:09:11.090but I listened to them because Ican learn stuff from them. Right,12700:09:11.450 --> 00:09:15.809and we're always going to have peoplethat don't exactly align with everything that we12800:09:16.450 --> 00:09:20.769agree with or the we believe theologically. Again, I'm talking about peripheral issues,12900:09:20.889 --> 00:09:24.000things that are not necessarily the centraltenets of the faith. Yeah,13000:09:24.480 --> 00:09:31.279and this scripture speaks to that.Who are you to judge another man's servant13100:09:31.440 --> 00:09:35.039to his own master? He standsor falls. Indeed, he will stand,13200:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.519he will be made to stand,for God is able to make him13300:09:37.519 --> 00:09:43.429stand. One person esteems one dayabove another and another esteems every day alike.13400:09:43.789 --> 00:09:48.509Let each be fully convinced in hisown mind. And so again this13500:09:48.590 --> 00:09:52.590is kind of this issue of theseperipheral things, and maybe we could apply13600:09:52.669 --> 00:09:56.019it directly to people who think thatyou should worship on Sunday or you should13700:09:56.019 --> 00:10:01.860worship on Saturday. There are peoplewho would think that maybe we should the13800:10:01.980 --> 00:10:05.340Lord's Day is actually the Sabbath isactually on Saturday. There's Ay. Well13900:10:05.460 --> 00:10:09.169know, the Lord's Day actually ison Sunday, and so he's maybe talking14000:10:09.210 --> 00:10:11.570particularly about that, and that isa sense. That is a point of14100:10:11.649 --> 00:10:18.649disunity sometimes, but it's not agospel issue. Now, of course,14200:10:18.690 --> 00:10:22.559if people are saying unless you worshipon the Sabbath, unless you worship on14300:10:22.639 --> 00:10:26.759Saturday, you're not saved, willPaul directly addresses that? He's talking about14400:10:26.759 --> 00:10:28.960that actually here and he talks aboutthat in other places, and that will14500:10:28.960 --> 00:10:33.279be an issue of contention. Yeah, but if just is an issue of14600:10:33.399 --> 00:10:37.669preference, that should not be somethingthat disunifies us right, right, and14700:10:37.909 --> 00:10:43.470and sometimes even differences can can pointout something that God really wants us to14800:10:43.590 --> 00:10:46.190know about you. So how aboutthis one? Stir one another two good14900:10:46.389 --> 00:10:52.820works and encourage and so encouraging eachother is very important when you're in a15000:10:52.980 --> 00:10:58.340very difficult ministry like abortion, sidelockministry is so this is he brews ten,15100:10:58.500 --> 00:11:03.690twenty three and twenty five. Butwe all need encouragement and one of15200:11:03.730 --> 00:11:09.450the horrible parts of disunity is itcauses great discouragement, and we know that15300:11:09.649 --> 00:11:13.409from talking to our many missionaries havetold us this is an issue. So15400:11:13.490 --> 00:11:16.250did you have that one? HeBrews? Hebrews ten, twenty three to15500:11:16.450 --> 00:11:20.320twenty five. Yeah, let ushold fast the confession of our hope without15600:11:20.399 --> 00:11:24.559wavering for he who promised his faithful. Let us consider one another in order15700:11:24.559 --> 00:11:30.279to stir up love and good works. MMM Yeah, can unity does that15800:11:30.440 --> 00:11:33.629helps us encourage one another, tostir each other up in love and good15900:11:33.669 --> 00:11:39.110works? Yeah, yeah, okay, see, can speak truth. He16000:11:39.230 --> 00:11:45.629can speak truth. Is is definitelyimportant in learning how to help us all16100:11:45.750 --> 00:11:50.419to UNIFIGH. So Effesians for hundredand twenty five. Okay, speak to16200:11:50.500 --> 00:11:54.019that issue. Therefore putting away lying, that each one of you speak the16300:11:54.059 --> 00:11:58.899truth with his neighbor, if weare members of one another, if they're16400:11:58.899 --> 00:12:01.889out there lying, yeah, weneed to we need to to address it.16500:12:03.370 --> 00:12:05.409It does need to be addressed,that's for sure. That's a point16600:12:05.490 --> 00:12:09.009of I won't say contention, butthat's the point that we need to address.16700:12:09.049 --> 00:12:13.090Yeah, but there's a way toaddress that in such a way that16800:12:13.169 --> 00:12:20.159that honors the Lord and doesn't lenditself to this that just disunified spirit that's16900:12:20.200 --> 00:12:22.600out there. One of the thingsthat we teach, because there are times17000:12:22.720 --> 00:12:26.399when people need to be addressed,even people who are volunteers with us.17100:12:26.559 --> 00:12:33.190We were under our charge, butstill addressing those things in a matthew eighteen17200:12:33.190 --> 00:12:37.710spirit where you know, Jesus issaying, if you find fault in your17300:12:37.750 --> 00:12:39.990brother, between you and him,go and deal with it and then,17400:12:41.029 --> 00:12:43.860if he doesn't repent, then youbring another brother and then if he doesn't17500:12:43.899 --> 00:12:46.419repent, then you bring it beforethe church. Right. And so if17600:12:46.460 --> 00:12:50.539you find a false of some money'sout there on the sidewalk lying or whatever17700:12:50.620 --> 00:12:54.100they might be doing, this dishonoringthe Lord. A unifying way to deal17800:12:54.100 --> 00:12:58.090with that is the take them tothe side and talk to them just between17900:12:58.129 --> 00:13:01.529you and them. Now this issomebody who maybe is volunteered under you,18000:13:01.769 --> 00:13:03.409but maybe it's someone who's not,who's just out there on the side of18100:13:03.409 --> 00:13:07.809what they're doing, their thing.I have seen these situations play out and18200:13:07.889 --> 00:13:13.600it's not where someone lied, butsomeone was saying something that was not theologically18300:13:13.679 --> 00:13:16.639in line and maybe they didn't know. It's possible they didn't know and they18400:13:16.639 --> 00:13:20.080didn't know. Okay, and ina situation where they were addressed out loud18500:13:20.200 --> 00:13:24.840publicly and it just added to theconfusion, it offended the person even more,18600:13:24.919 --> 00:13:28.710rather than just addressing it. NowI've seen it done in the way18700:13:28.750 --> 00:13:31.190I'm talking about, to where it'sbeen addressed to the side. That person18800:13:31.309 --> 00:13:35.309was not embarrassed because they whatever theywere doing that was wrong was not called18900:13:35.309 --> 00:13:39.070out in front of everybody, andthe situation turned out far better in that19000:13:39.190 --> 00:13:43.580scenario than the one where, Hey, your mother Blahah but you know,19100:13:43.779 --> 00:13:48.740yeah, there's a matthew eighteen progressionof the way to deal with these things.19200:13:48.899 --> 00:13:52.899God's words always the best. Yeah, and and I believe that's the19300:13:52.940 --> 00:13:56.250way to do with it. Whenyou when you finding fault and someone's Heather's19400:13:56.450 --> 00:13:58.210lying, and something that I thoughtof when I as I was just reading19500:13:58.289 --> 00:14:03.210it, is that sometimes we're lying, not purposely. I honestly never tell,19600:14:03.409 --> 00:14:07.409as far as I know, apurposeful lie out on the sideback,19700:14:07.450 --> 00:14:11.679but sometimes even a pro abortion personwill tell me, well, you just19800:14:11.759 --> 00:14:16.279said, it's not true. Mostof the time they're wrong. Yeah,19900:14:16.360 --> 00:14:20.200what I've said is true, butI had been saying something that I actually20000:14:20.399 --> 00:14:22.519was all off. I went homeand checked it and and I was off20100:14:22.639 --> 00:14:26.669by a few weeks and what Iwas saying and I and I corrected it.20200:14:26.870 --> 00:14:31.629Yeah, so never discount the possibilitythat you could be yourself. Make20300:14:31.669 --> 00:14:35.789sure that what you are speaking istruth. Be Aware of that. This20400:14:35.990 --> 00:14:39.419is similar to that. Be Waryof those who spread false doctrine, and20500:14:39.700 --> 00:14:46.220Romans six seventeen deals with that,because when, when you when there are20600:14:46.299 --> 00:14:50.700people spreading false doctrine, because falsedoctrine is not of God, and so20700:14:50.019 --> 00:14:54.250that's going to be that's going tobe a source of disunity. Yeah,20800:14:54.330 --> 00:14:58.289absolutely, and you know, there'sa sense in which it needs to be20900:14:58.330 --> 00:15:01.450a source of disuse. Exactly.People are spreading false doctrine. We should21000:15:01.450 --> 00:15:05.409not unify with that. That's right, but those issues again, can be21100:15:05.450 --> 00:15:09.960addressed in such a way that honorsLord, rather than just pointed out and21200:15:09.120 --> 00:15:13.879just in front of everybody or whatever. These can be dealt with in a21300:15:13.000 --> 00:15:18.559one on one basis and I believethat lends itself more to actually a restorative21400:15:18.600 --> 00:15:24.789yeah, situation where things turn outbetter than just calling people out. Yeah,21500:15:24.029 --> 00:15:30.190and so it's important again that ourmotives ultimately are not just to correct21600:15:30.309 --> 00:15:33.870people but to bring glory to thename of Jesus. And course, correcting21700:15:33.950 --> 00:15:37.259false doctrine does bring glory to thename of Jesus, but there's a way21800:15:37.299 --> 00:15:41.860to do it. One man said, you can be practically right and relationally21900:15:41.019 --> 00:15:46.220wrong, and we want to makesure that we're relationally right and practically you22000:15:46.340 --> 00:15:50.690with well, theologically biblically right inthe way that we deal with these things.22100:15:50.730 --> 00:15:54.610And so Paul says in this passageis the Romans sixteen, verse seventeen.22200:15:54.649 --> 00:15:58.529I urge you, brethren, notethose who are who cause divisions and22300:15:58.690 --> 00:16:02.370offenses contrary to the doctrine which youlearned and avoid them. So there is22400:16:02.370 --> 00:16:06.279an avoidance, and I'll say oneof the reasons why, personally, I22500:16:06.399 --> 00:16:10.080am so strong and so heavy onthis idea that you've got to be a22600:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.279part of a local church to volunteerwith us to be one of our sidewalk22700:16:14.360 --> 00:16:18.269missionaries and come and train here atour boot camp here in Charlotte, you've22800:16:18.309 --> 00:16:21.549got to be a part of alocal church. I want to talk to22900:16:21.590 --> 00:16:25.549your pastor. That's one of thereferences when people fill out our application to23000:16:25.710 --> 00:16:27.990become a sidewalk missionary, for forus to consider to take them on as23100:16:27.990 --> 00:16:32.940a sidewalk missionary, they've got togive us their pastoral reference. I've got23200:16:33.019 --> 00:16:36.019to call their pastor. I'm goingto have a conversation with him. That's23300:16:36.019 --> 00:16:41.100important to me so that if theyslip into this, I can hold them23400:16:41.139 --> 00:16:44.299accountable. I can go to theirpastor and I can talk with their pastor23500:16:44.659 --> 00:16:48.049about holding them accountable. And sothat's a that's a point that to me,23600:16:48.210 --> 00:16:53.649is very important because I've seen peoplewith this sort of spirit who come23700:16:53.730 --> 00:16:59.370out there and they cause disunity andcause division, do some real damage and23800:16:59.450 --> 00:17:03.680if they can't be dealt with ina church context, it's really hard to23900:17:03.720 --> 00:17:07.599deal with those people. Right now, that suits I say the all that24000:17:07.759 --> 00:17:11.319to say that there is a pointwhere we need to disunify and say that24100:17:11.440 --> 00:17:15.869person's not with us, but yetstill to have that as our constant mantra.24200:17:17.069 --> 00:17:18.789Like I wouldn't make up a signthat said this person's not with me,24300:17:19.069 --> 00:17:22.710with a narrow yeah, with anArrow. I've been tempted to do24400:17:22.829 --> 00:17:26.390that, I have to, butI wouldn't do that because I don't think24500:17:26.430 --> 00:17:30.819it would help the scenario. Idon't think it would bring more more clarity24600:17:30.859 --> 00:17:33.740to the situation. It would bringmore confusion. Yeah, but that is24700:17:33.779 --> 00:17:37.819a powerful verse. Avoid them.Yeah, those that cause because of false24800:17:37.940 --> 00:17:41.819do false doctrine, are creating divisionon the any wherever you are. Avoid24900:17:41.900 --> 00:17:45.730them. Yeah, I guess you'vegone through the Matthew eighteen process, you25000:17:45.769 --> 00:17:48.769would assume. Yeah, and andif that has been in effective, avoid25100:17:48.849 --> 00:17:55.970them. So it's a serious issue. Yeah, so critical in in restoring25200:17:56.049 --> 00:18:00.319unity. Always, Collossians three hundredand thirteen talks about this. Yeah,25300:18:00.319 --> 00:18:04.720it's forgiveness, to forgive graciously.If someone has wronged you in a spirit25400:18:04.759 --> 00:18:10.559of disunity, to forgive them andif you have wrong someone yourself in a25500:18:10.680 --> 00:18:15.230spirit of disunity, that you askfor forgiveness. One of the things that25600:18:17.029 --> 00:18:18.990I have experienced over the years.I know you have as well that as25700:18:19.069 --> 00:18:23.269much as you strive for unity,as much as you want to be unified,25800:18:23.710 --> 00:18:26.700and as much as our teams areon the same page, I mean25900:18:26.779 --> 00:18:30.539we're we're together, we're connected,we love each other, we care about26000:18:30.539 --> 00:18:34.539you each other. There's going tobe times where people are going to argue.26100:18:34.579 --> 00:18:38.420There's going to be times where someonetalks over another person and somebody just26200:18:38.500 --> 00:18:41.730in a bad mood and they getoffended in there like yeah, and and26300:18:42.210 --> 00:18:45.609they want to come to you orcome to me and say, Hey,26400:18:45.690 --> 00:18:48.809this person did that and it's notwe're always wanting them to matthew eighteen.26500:18:48.930 --> 00:18:51.369Deal with it between you and them. Right, but we have to be26600:18:51.490 --> 00:18:55.250aware that these things are going tocome up and there's going to be in26700:18:55.329 --> 00:18:57.480the midst of the battle, there'sgoing to be maybe some friendly fire,26800:18:57.680 --> 00:19:02.480whatever. That's why we have tobe understanding, like this passage is talking26900:19:02.480 --> 00:19:06.880about. Be Gracious, be patient, be willing to forgive. Yeah,27000:19:06.920 --> 00:19:10.269that person might have said something thatoffended you. Hey, listen, it's27100:19:10.390 --> 00:19:12.109life. It's going to happen.Yeah, and and deal with it in27200:19:12.150 --> 00:19:17.470a biblical way. Don't just internalizeit and stew over it, deal with27300:19:17.549 --> 00:19:21.990it and then forgive. Yeah,your wife recommended. I read a book27400:19:22.029 --> 00:19:25.380called the Bait of Satan. Yeah, because and that deals with this.27500:19:25.700 --> 00:19:29.380That that the the problem. Ifyou don't have a forgiving spirit, if27600:19:29.380 --> 00:19:33.180you're holding grudges, if you letthose things fester, it grows into bitterness27700:19:33.259 --> 00:19:37.460and it is, it is oneof Satan's greatest tools. Yeah, and27800:19:37.740 --> 00:19:41.849so you need to learn to justlet that go in the forgiveness. Being27900:19:41.970 --> 00:19:47.049able to forgive others is critical.Yeah, and absolutely process. Yeah,28000:19:47.450 --> 00:19:51.329so be grounded in truth. That'skind of I hope we have made it28100:19:51.450 --> 00:19:56.799clear how important that is. Colosshomsto eight directly deals with that, but28200:19:56.720 --> 00:20:00.599to to speak the truth. Andthe only way you can speak the truth28300:20:00.640 --> 00:20:03.240and be grounded in truth as ifyou know the truth. Yeah, where28400:20:03.240 --> 00:20:06.720do we find that, Daniel?We find it in the word of God.28500:20:06.880 --> 00:20:11.109That's right, always, always,and and that's the only place to28600:20:11.150 --> 00:20:15.190find it. And we've already talkedabout the matthew eighteen approach when all else28700:20:15.230 --> 00:20:18.950fails, and I think that iskind of to if you're going to be28800:20:18.150 --> 00:20:26.539calling through the whole process of MatthewEighteen. Hopefully you've tried other ways before28900:20:26.579 --> 00:20:32.180you go into calling a pastor orwitness or whatever to come against a fellow29000:20:32.180 --> 00:20:36.730Christian, but seek wisdom and assistancefrom the church. Yeah, and when29100:20:36.809 --> 00:20:44.529all else fails, absolutely so practicalsuggestions derived from all of this. Now29200:20:44.769 --> 00:20:49.559you've you've gone over the sources ofdisunity, you've gone over the goals of29300:20:51.319 --> 00:20:56.559the people that are out there,you've gone over the biblical rationale for unity.29400:20:57.160 --> 00:21:00.720What do we do with with allof that? And I think I29500:21:02.960 --> 00:21:07.309wrote eight main areas and I don'tknow. I can read them and if29600:21:07.309 --> 00:21:11.549you feel like you want to answeron any of the the first one asked29700:21:11.589 --> 00:21:18.190questions of the group to help themclarify their goals. Just don't do and29800:21:18.309 --> 00:21:22.660assume that they're evil or assume youknow their motivation. Ask Them Questions,29900:21:22.859 --> 00:21:26.259sure, find out they're, whattheir goals are and why they're doing what30000:21:26.339 --> 00:21:30.380they're doing. Secondly, to commendany positives in the group that you're conf30100:21:30.539 --> 00:21:34.210fronting. Okay, people always respondbetter when they first of all hear a30200:21:34.210 --> 00:21:41.849kind word before you last them praywith and for each other. Sometimes we30300:21:41.970 --> 00:21:45.569forget about doing that with with groupsthat we're not really unified with. Yeah,30400:21:45.730 --> 00:21:49.519but praying with them can make aworld of difference. Seek compromise,30500:21:49.599 --> 00:21:53.680but be careful on this one.Seek compromise, but never a biblical truth.30600:21:53.839 --> 00:21:57.039Yeah, you can't compromise on Biblicaltruth, but maybe there are other30700:21:57.160 --> 00:22:02.509things you can compromise on. Maybeyou can compromise on where they stand,30800:22:02.750 --> 00:22:07.349yeah, or or where they holdthe sign that you would prefer they not30900:22:07.549 --> 00:22:11.029hold it. Maybe you could compromiseon a different position up the street or31000:22:11.069 --> 00:22:17.420whatever. Yeah, with that signnumber five affirmed their purpose, if not31100:22:17.539 --> 00:22:19.140their methods. I've heard you dothat so many times, Daniel, with31200:22:19.420 --> 00:22:23.099some of our our friends out therethat are not the same as us.31300:22:23.299 --> 00:22:29.220Yeah, we really don't agree withtheir methods, but I've heard you thank31400:22:29.339 --> 00:22:33.369them for for just their faithfulness andbeing there, for their zeal. Yeah,31500:22:33.769 --> 00:22:37.490if not how they bring things about, how they how they do things.31600:22:37.369 --> 00:22:41.609Rebuke privately, not publicly. We'vesaid that many times. People will31700:22:41.650 --> 00:22:48.440always receive it better. Very importantdiscern if it's disunity or diversity and always,31800:22:48.440 --> 00:22:51.559always go to scripture. Yes,just support your views. And the31900:22:51.599 --> 00:22:56.079other point here that I think hopefullywe touched. o't. We thoroughly touched32000:22:56.119 --> 00:23:00.789don't. Is that just because youperceive this unity doesn't mean that it's actually32100:23:00.789 --> 00:23:03.950this unity. We have to checkour own hearts, right, because again,32200:23:03.990 --> 00:23:08.190if just because somebody's not doing itlike you would do it, doesn't32300:23:08.269 --> 00:23:11.980necessarily mean they're doing it wrong,because that can be prideful, right.32400:23:12.259 --> 00:23:15.619Just just remember that point, right. And so now we're going to end32500:23:15.819 --> 00:23:22.180with talking about what happened, okay, with Barnabass and and Paul, because32600:23:22.220 --> 00:23:26.779they I love what one author andI put in the article that we will32700:23:26.819 --> 00:23:30.289post. You'll be able to findthis article, but he summarized. Paul32800:23:30.369 --> 00:23:36.009and Barnabass did have different gifts,different perspectives and even different callings, but32900:23:36.170 --> 00:23:37.930they remain to the end, onein the faith and in the bonds of33000:23:38.049 --> 00:23:44.119love. Their parting was a division, but not a divorce. I love33100:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.640that line. Yeah, it wasa division, not a divorce. So,33200:23:47.119 --> 00:23:51.440but they still spoke with one onevoice and one love, which was33300:23:51.519 --> 00:23:56.069Jesus Christ. But so, whathappened? What happened to these two?33400:23:56.190 --> 00:24:00.950They separated. Yeah, they wentin their different ways. And what was33500:24:00.990 --> 00:24:04.029the result of that? Was thatgood? Bad? In different yeah,33600:24:04.029 --> 00:24:07.269I mean I think it was agood thing. It seems that well,33700:24:07.390 --> 00:24:11.220I mean in one sense they wereable to get more work done. Yeah,33800:24:11.339 --> 00:24:14.900so Barnabas is able to go withJohn Mark in one direction, Paul33900:24:14.940 --> 00:24:21.380and Silas go in another direction,and seems, all things said and all34000:24:21.460 --> 00:24:25.009things done, that at the endthen, toward the end of Paul's life,34100:24:25.089 --> 00:24:30.650he actually wants John Mark to comeand in commends him. Yeah,34200:24:30.210 --> 00:24:37.210so that a wonderful example of God'sredemptive power through yeah, unifying and in34300:24:37.410 --> 00:24:40.960love and a voys absolutely, it'sawesome. You know, it's an awesome34400:24:41.160 --> 00:24:45.640it's that awesome reality that if we'llseek with pure motives to honor the Lord,34500:24:47.160 --> 00:24:51.039to do what's right in his side, to seek unity, to strive,34600:24:51.200 --> 00:24:53.670to endeavor to keep the unity thespirit in the bond of peace,34700:24:55.150 --> 00:24:57.549got all onto that and there willbe unity. Yeah, even though there's34800:24:57.549 --> 00:25:00.869going to be diversity, there canbe unity in the midst of that diversity.34900:25:00.990 --> 00:25:03.829So here's a great quote I love. I love this quote from it.35000:25:04.029 --> 00:25:07.460I think it was a quote.I don't have it in quotes.35100:25:07.539 --> 00:25:11.420Maybe I came up with this.Wow, it's really good yourself. So,35200:25:11.460 --> 00:25:15.059yeah, in the division of PallenBarnabass, just as you said,35300:25:15.059 --> 00:25:18.900the result was positive and in factmark was restored to become a leader in35400:25:18.299 --> 00:25:22.730the early church and to successful ministryventures were accomplished through that. But listen35500:25:22.769 --> 00:25:32.250to this. Disunity divides, butdiversity multiplies. So diversity multiplied the effects35600:25:32.490 --> 00:25:37.319of the ministry so that more peoplewere reached for the Lord when those diverse35700:25:37.759 --> 00:25:45.240gifts, rather than just being shutdown, were were encouraged. Yeah,35800:25:45.440 --> 00:25:48.920and we went, they did goin different directions. Yeah, but the35900:25:48.319 --> 00:25:52.829the fine no, result was Godwas further glorified. Yeah, and that36000:25:53.190 --> 00:25:59.150is ultimately the goal, that JesusChrist is glorified and what we do.36100:25:59.509 --> 00:26:03.710Yeah. So, guys, weappreciate Y'all just tuning in and sharing this36200:26:03.869 --> 00:26:07.259podcast and we appreciate if you guyswould shoot us over an email let us36300:26:07.259 --> 00:26:10.579know what you think of the podcastlelet us let us know some ideas that36400:26:10.700 --> 00:26:14.900you have, some guests that maybewe should have on to interview. Let36500:26:14.940 --> 00:26:18.059us know maybe some of the questionsthat you have that you'd like for us36600:26:18.099 --> 00:26:22.250to try to tackle from a GospelCenter perspective. So you can reach out36700:26:22.250 --> 00:26:23.930to me, D parks, atcities for lifecom. You can reach her36800:26:23.970 --> 00:26:33.680vcassey Org, at cities for Lifecomand until next time. God bless give36900:26:33.839 --> 00:26:45.680me our love for love. Giveme our love for gratitude. I know37000:26:47.000 --> 00:26:56.029it will cost me my life.Nothing's too precious, and some that you