Christ Jesus has not engaged or appointed us to fuel or hold conflict or divide his people. As children of God called by the name of Christ Jesus and set apart for his glory and honour, we must be of one heart. Christ Jesus wants us to approach conflicts or disputes in obedience to what the bible has prescribed as obedience to the word of God which is counted as righteousness. God’s approaches are unlimited.
Seek divine patience
Conflicts are based on anger, hatred or resentment. Such an attitude cannot accommodate settlement but oppose the same. We need a big heart in order to cool off and that is called patience. Except by divine intervention we cannot exercise the spirit of patience. James 1:19-20 says let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Patience enables us to speak slowly and defers anger in a potential conflict situation or extinguishes conflicts and disputes all together.
Ephesians 4:26-27 says be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. We need patience in order to vacate or overcome anger before the day ends. Patience and self-control are fruits of the spirit, Galatians 5:22-23. We must be channels for Christ Jesus in order to display his perfect patience through us. We cannot invite Christ Jesus to a negotiation table with a boiling heart which is good for nothing but destruction. With divine patience, we are sure to sail through because of Christ.
Paul says in Romans 12:12 that rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. We cannot achieve patience without prayer or hope in Christ Jesus in order to resolve conflicts of any kind in the community of Christians and beyond. Romans 12:19 says beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Patience is a sign of maturity and a fruit of the spirit for it allows God direction and preference to lead. We must in times of conflict exercise the patience of Christ Jesus that made him to endure and to die such a painful and shameful death on the cross for us.
Work with the Holy Spirit
In everything we do, we need the Holy Spirit for it is the spirit of God. To the extent that division is the tool the enemy uses to disperse the body of Christ or to divide us, we need the Holy Spirit in order to maintain our unity with Christ Jesus. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot overcome conflicts. Romans 5:5 says God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. We hurt the Holy Spirit when we sideline him in any situation because he is the enabler. Ephesians 4:30 says do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
If we are sealed with the blood of redemption, then we must be prepared to engage with the Holy Spirit always in all our conflicts and battles. Even in situations of conflict when we lack knowledge of how to approach it, the Holy Spirit being our Counselor will guide us with wisdom, Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12 assure us that when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit helps us to resolve all our issues as God wants of us because we are one body in Christ Jesus. May the Lord write the tools for settlement on the tablets of our hearts and for our easy remembrance, access and application through the Holy Spirit. May the gracious Lord revive us to embrace him as the Lord of Host and be called Christ-like and not by lip service. May the Lord wash us, sanctify us, redeem us, and use us for his purpose in Christ Jesus as we endeavour to unite his people to the glory and honour of His holy name.
Prayer
Dear Lord God Almighty, we have come to the truth that a divided house shall not stand and we shall bear the consequences of a divided people. Avail your Holy Spirit to us to help us to rebuild our unity and be one in Christ Jesus just as you are. Grant us the mind of Christ Jesus to commit to unity that we may overcome the world as you did. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray, Amen!!
