Real Christianity Part 7: How to Handle Conflicts!

There Are Conflict “Triggers!”

Conflict Trigger #1: Unchecked

James 4:1 (NIV)

What causes fights and quarrels among you (among Christians)? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

Conflict Trigger #2: !

James 4:2 (NIV)

You desire but do not have, so you kill (destroy whatever or whomever gets in your way). You covet but you (by self-effort or manipulation) cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

Conflict Trigger #3: !

James 4:3 (NIV)

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (on yourself).

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) Love does not demand its own way!

1 Corinthians 13:4,5 (MSG)

Love cares more for others than self … isn’t always “me first.”

There Are Conflict “Treatments!”

Conflict Treatment #1:

We need to check our spiritual !

James 4:4 (NIV)
… Don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-17 (MSG)
Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. ¹⁶ Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. ¹⁷ The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Conflict Treatment #2:

We need to examine our relational !

James 4:6 (NIV) — God opposes (literally “fights against”) the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Conflict Treatment #3:

We need to be spiritually and relationally 

• Submit control of our life to God!

James 4:7 — Submit yourselves to the Lord!

• Recognize and resist evil influences!

James 4:7 – Resist the devil, and he will run from you.

Ephesians 6:12-13 (NLT)
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities … against mighty powers in this dark world … evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

• Get as close to God as we can!

James 4:8 – Come near to God and he will come near to you.

James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.