Reading: Pursuing Perspective, Part 4 - Slides

Restoring Relationships
Transforming Justice

Lecture 23

Pursuing a Healthy Perspective on Conflict

Part 4

Seeking God’s Presence - Worship

Four attributes of a person God can use as His ambassador in a conflict wildfire.

Seeking God’s Presence - Worship

Four attributes of a person God can use as His ambassador in a conflict wildfire.

The first attribute is humility.

Seeking God’s Presence - Worship

Four attributes of a person God can use as His ambassador in a conflict wildfire.

The first attribute is humility.

The second attribute is a desire to please God.

Seeking God’s Presence - Worship

Four attributes of a person God can use as His ambassador in a conflict wildfire.

The first attribute is humility.

The second attribute is a desire to please God.

The third attribute is faith.

Seeking God’s Presence - Worship

Four attributes of a person God can use as His ambassador in a conflict wildfire.

The first attribute is humility.

The second attribute is a desire to please God.

The third attribute is faith.

The fourth attribute is love.

Love

Even if we have the faith that is required to please God, the Bible tells us that our faith means nothing if it is not empowered and motivated by God’s love.

 … and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2b

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6

Love

Scripture tells us that God is love and that He pours His love into His people through the Holy Spirit. 

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 1 John 4:16

… because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

Love

The love that God provides is more powerful than fear.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Love

We were created for a love relationship with God that results in an overflow of Heavenly Kingdom love into our relationships with others – even those with whom we are in conflict. 

Love

One of the teachers of the law ... asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31

Love

Our love for others is the authentic manifestation that we know and love God.

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20

Love

The love of Jesus Christ should manifest itself even in our relationships with those we meet in our Wildfire stories who might consider us their enemy. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, . . . Matthew 5:43-44

Lecture 23

The fourth attribute of a person God can use in conflict is love. 

Without love, even great faith means nothing. 

God’s love is shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit.

God’s perfect love casts out all fear. 

God intends for us to give away the love He gives to us.

Lecture 23

The love of Jesus Christ can manifest itself in the relationships we experience in our conflict stories - even with our enemies.

By seeking the Lord at the Peacefire, we position ourselves to receive His love for others.