Peace and Unity in the Church

Forgiveness requires one person, just you. Someone hurts you, discourages you, offends you, you have the right and the ability by God's enabling to give them forgiveness. And that's a one person affair, you. Reconciliation requires more than one person. Let's see the difference. If you and someone that you care for disagree about something, or if an affair occurs that causes friction between you, You can just say, that's my brother. That's my sister. I'm gonna let that go. [00:10:41] (51 seconds)  #ForgiveAlone

If you say to me that I did this to you, and then I say to you, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, that's not an apology. That's like me punching you in the face and then saying, I'm sorry your nose hurts. That's not an apology. What would be an apology? If per chance I punched you in the face, which I haven't punched anyone in the face since sixth grade, And then I got myself handed back to myself after that. If I punch you in the face, I'm supposed to say, if I'm truly apologetic, I shouldn't have done that. Forgive me. I'll never do that again. Now that's an apology, isn't it? [00:15:26] (49 seconds)  #TrueApology

When someone hurts you or offends you, you have two choices. The first choice is to just cover it in love. Say, he was in a bad mood. Cover it in love. Oh, but you're not covering it in love if it's still bothering you. You say, oh, I'll just forgive them. But you haven't forgiven them if it's still bothering you. If you're offended by anyone in this building, you have two choices. Number one, just cover it in love. Say, God, you know, I'm a let that go. [00:11:51] (40 seconds)  #CoverInLove

If the whole church says simply, if this particular song is not my preference, I know that my brother or sister at the other end of the pew is maybe really being ministered to by that style of music. So operating in unity says, I will defer my personal preference for the benefit of a brother or sister who has a different personal preference. That's the only way to have unit. If each individual in the church determines that their personal preference is the only way that they can be unified with the others, then we can't have unity in the church. It would be impossible. [00:07:27] (45 seconds)  #UnityOverPreference

There's no reason to take action to save your reputation. That's what vindictiveness is. That's what taking strategic purposeful action is vindictiveness. And it always comes back to this. We always want to make sure our reputation is maintained. Hey, but you forgot your reputation is in Christ. And if you're pleasing to God, doesn't really matter if your neighbor likes you or believes you or thinks of you highly. Not really. It doesn't matter. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. [00:25:18] (53 seconds)  #ReputationInChrist

A divided fractured church is not a church where people don't appreciate each other's differences. It is a church that's determined to go in different directions. Giving peace to someone sometimes requires forgiveness. And sometimes forgiveness has to be granted not on the basis basis of earned merit of the person who needs forgiveness. Sometimes we just give that to them. We just give it to them. And do you know that you're required to forgive and not hold on to a grudge? Forgiveness requires one person, just you. Someone hurts you, discourages you, offends you, you have the right and the ability by God's enabling to give them forgiveness. [00:10:02] (59 seconds)  #ForgiveToPreservePeace

As the church gets larger, it's impossible to be friends with everyone, but it is necessary and vital that we hold no ill will toward one another. Because if we do that, then there's a barrier between you and your brother or sister that the scriptures don't allow. Sometimes this simply requires forgiveness. Not everyone's personality is going to mesh perfectly. We're all so peculiar. I know I'm peculiar. Pastor Ike says, Lee, you're very quirky. I said, but I don't think so, but right back at you, Ike. [00:04:51] (45 seconds)  #HoldNoIllWill

But I want you to understand, in the body of Christ, we are still one. In this human realm where we live, and work together, and go to school together, and go to church together, and live in the same neighborhood, at the human level, the relationships can be strained. So what do we do? We cover it in love and forget it. Let it move on. That's covering it in love, or we confront with gentleness. Now what happens if you confront in gentleness and you just can't get together? You just disagree. What do you do then? Covered in love. [00:13:55] (43 seconds)  #CoverOrConfront