Communication is the basis of all human cooperation. It is a God-given ability that must be cultivated and developed.
Communication reflects the nature and character of God. He is the source of all communication. In eternity past, the triune God was in perfect communication and fellowship with Himself. He created man to be in communication with Him as well. But sin broke that communication and left man at enmity with God.
As soon as sin entered the world, people began to suffer communication breakdown. They began to lie to one another and to God. Hatred soon drove them to violence and even murder.
Sin inhibits communication. It causes us to build walls to hide behind instead of bridges to reach out to others. Our own selfishness causes us to communicate hatred and criticism.
Many families are plagued with communication problems. Husbands and wives often don't know how to talk with each other. In many cases, parents and young people cannot talk without yelling. Even the kids may not get along.
Misunderstandings always result from communication breakdown. It leads to judging, condemning, and criticizing. It causes us to develop self-justifying techniques, and we never really get honest with each other. What are the keys to effective communication?
Honesty. We cannot really understand one another unless we get honest about ourselves and our needs. How many times have you sensed that someone was upset, but when you asked what was wrong, the response was "Nothing!"
Lying is a denial of the truth. We learn it from earliest childhood, and we perfect it throughout our adult years. All too often we are afraid to be honest with God, ourselves, and others. That is when communication breaks down. If you really want to communicate, be honest.
Sincerity. People can tell when you really care about them, and when you don't. Sincerity is another key to genuine communication. The Scripture tells us that we are to love one another and bear each other's burdens (see Galatians 6:2). We can do that effectively only when we really care about one another.
The Scripture urges us, Let not the sun go down upon your wrath (Ephesians 4:26). When we do get angry or upset about something, we are to resolve that conflict immediately. Don't let even one day pass without eliminating your anger. Learn to forgive each other and be reconciled together.
Encouragement. Everyone needs to be encouraged. Negative communication tears people down. Positive communication builds them up. The apostle Paul urged believers to use their mouths to edify (build up) one another. Thereby, we minister grace to all who hear us (Ephesians 4:29).
One of the greatest ministries you could ever have is to become a spiritual encourager. Use your mouth to cheer everyone up, not to tear everyone down.
Every church is plagued with spiritual critics who spend their time finding fault with everything and everybody. As a rule, you will never find these people working or serving effectively themselves. They are too involved cursing the darkness to light a candle to help out.
Kindness. Nothing overcomes conflict like kindness. It can melt hard hearts, heal wounded spirits, and change belligerent attitudes. The Scripture says, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).
Here the apostle Paul urges us to act like Christians, and not like pagans. Don't blow up! That only makes things worse, such behavior is not of God. It is a worldly and selfish response to problems, and is certainly not a biblical response. Overreactions drive people away from us. Bitterness destroys communication and prevents us from being effective witnesses for Christ.
A sweet disposition attracts others to us. When couples are courting, their communication is filled with sweetness and kindness. After marriage, they may begin to take each other for granted, no longer giving time and effort for each other, as they once did. When the flame of love begins to flicker, they wonder what went wrong.
Start communicating kindness again both by words and actions. It will turn indifference into compassion, and bitterness into forgiveness.
Purpose. Too many people spend their whole lives talking about nothing. Time is precious and words are powerful. Use them to their fullest. Don't waste your life on small talk. Learn to talk about things of eternal and spiritual significance.
The Christian understands the meaning and purpose of life in a way the unbeliever never could. You have something to say that the world needs to hear. Don't waste opportunities. Make opportunities to tell others about Christ.
Your ability to communicate is one of the greatest gifts you have. Use it to the glory of God. Point others to Christ. Tell them about heaven and how to get there. Encourage fellow believers. Talk about the blessings of God in your life. The Bible says, Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Colossians 4:6).
Monday, November 02, 2015
About funding and generous giving!
No KMM missionary whether at home or overseas receives a guaranteed salary. Each depends upon God to provide the necessary funds for living costs and ministry expenses. God provides through His people who choose to become partners in the ministry of Koinonia Mission and Ministries.
Prayer and representative Partners are those who commit themselves to pray regularly on a personal level for us and our needs and ministry overseas!
Financial Partners are those who wish to partner with us in our ministry to invest financially so that together we can minister to people. Some could send checks monthly, quarterly and annually. Some give when God provides them extra funds. All gifts to the ministry are receipted immediately and no gift is too small or too large to give.
Advocates provide an opportunity to share and spread the word of mouth about our ministry. Through meeting others may come to partner with us, by one of the ways we’ve mentioned above. An advocate could be someone who simply shares our mission and vision with friends, family and co-workers. They could assist our ministry by helping us get invited to share at church, Sunday School, a Bible Study or at their home with friends.
Prayer and representative Partners are those who commit themselves to pray regularly on a personal level for us and our needs and ministry overseas!
Financial Partners are those who wish to partner with us in our ministry to invest financially so that together we can minister to people. Some could send checks monthly, quarterly and annually. Some give when God provides them extra funds. All gifts to the ministry are receipted immediately and no gift is too small or too large to give.
Advocates provide an opportunity to share and spread the word of mouth about our ministry. Through meeting others may come to partner with us, by one of the ways we’ve mentioned above. An advocate could be someone who simply shares our mission and vision with friends, family and co-workers. They could assist our ministry by helping us get invited to share at church, Sunday School, a Bible Study or at their home with friends.
About Mision y Ministerios Koinonia
First, I want you ask your help to register a new missionary agency under the name of Koinonia Mission and ministries with offices in Tarapoto then in other cities like Lima, Pucallpa and abroad. I need your help to achieve God’s will.
Koinonia Mission and ministries main goals are:
Second, I want to write this letter to ask you heartily your participation to develop this independent ministry to reach Peru and the nations around for kingdom of God. I understand that you were always and are still interested to spread the word but time and money to go is not often available and this stops our real desires. I agreed with you and don’t believe God is calling everyone to be full time missionary in the field. This is not an easy task for all.
To be honest, I experience indifference from "called Christian" and their lacking of vision for world missions and evangelism. However, missions and people able to pay 24 hour and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts to give generously.
Koinonia Mission & Ministries, with your partnership, could develop the following projects:
1. Church planting
2. Radio programs for non Christian Station
3. Christian Schools
4. Boarding Houses
5. Network of Libraries
6. Printing Press
7. Small Businesses
Please, I covet your partnership as an associated individual to run Koinonia Mission in Peru. You are important for God and don’t need passport, visa, and air ticket to get to get there. Only with a disciplined time of Prayer and generous heart to give as God leads you to share His blessings with others in His full time service. ¨ If you don’t go…Support others with prayers, any type of resources available.
Koinonia Mission and ministries main goals are:
*To communicate the gospel according to Matthew 28: 19-20; Acts 1:8.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28: 19-20 NIV)
Acts 1:8 (New International Version)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
*To associate and to involve individuals from different Christian emphasis interested to reach Young people.
*To develop a Church planting Ministry. The outreach method: I want to use any any type of Business either teaching English as a second Language(ESL) for High School/Colleges students, Graphic and Web design, or renting computers with access to Internet. I need your constant prayers to see where the needs are. Developing countries like Peru has so many areas where our attention is needed.
*To serve the churches and the community thru' Christian Education and Literature.
Second, I want to write this letter to ask you heartily your participation to develop this independent ministry to reach Peru and the nations around for kingdom of God. I understand that you were always and are still interested to spread the word but time and money to go is not often available and this stops our real desires. I agreed with you and don’t believe God is calling everyone to be full time missionary in the field. This is not an easy task for all.
To be honest, I experience indifference from "called Christian" and their lacking of vision for world missions and evangelism. However, missions and people able to pay 24 hour and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts to give generously.
Koinonia Mission & Ministries, with your partnership, could develop the following projects:
1. Church planting
2. Radio programs for non Christian Station
3. Christian Schools
4. Boarding Houses
5. Network of Libraries
6. Printing Press
7. Small Businesses
Please, I covet your partnership as an associated individual to run Koinonia Mission in Peru. You are important for God and don’t need passport, visa, and air ticket to get to get there. Only with a disciplined time of Prayer and generous heart to give as God leads you to share His blessings with others in His full time service. ¨ If you don’t go…Support others with prayers, any type of resources available.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Monday, August 04, 2008
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Peru won to Christ by a joint work!
The Strategy...
I believe that Peru must be won to Christ by Peruvians in partnership with brothers and sisters in the LORD from other parts of the World. That the only shared way there will be enough witnessing believers to fulfil the vision is through the discipling and training of local Christians that God is placing in leadership in the churches.
I must focus most of our resources on the discipling and training of leaders who will in turn repeat the process until growing, witnessing churches are multiplied across the city. I believe that especially in the early stages, leaders are best developed in the context in which they will minister.
I emphasize smaller, highly contextualized, local training programs which provide theological education as an essential part of the larger process of leadership development. I believe that while Biblical leadership requires knowledge and skills, it is ultimately based on character. I believe that there is no substitute for relationships in developing character.
I am committed to structured discipleship models which faithfully and effectively impart knowledge of the Bible while facilitating teacher-disciple relationships in the context of life and ministry.
I believe that Peru must be won to Christ by Peruvians in partnership with brothers and sisters in the LORD from other parts of the World. That the only shared way there will be enough witnessing believers to fulfil the vision is through the discipling and training of local Christians that God is placing in leadership in the churches.
I must focus most of our resources on the discipling and training of leaders who will in turn repeat the process until growing, witnessing churches are multiplied across the city. I believe that especially in the early stages, leaders are best developed in the context in which they will minister.
I emphasize smaller, highly contextualized, local training programs which provide theological education as an essential part of the larger process of leadership development. I believe that while Biblical leadership requires knowledge and skills, it is ultimately based on character. I believe that there is no substitute for relationships in developing character.
I am committed to structured discipleship models which faithfully and effectively impart knowledge of the Bible while facilitating teacher-disciple relationships in the context of life and ministry.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Our Logo
Logo: The dove means the Holsy Spirit, the Book is the scriptures, the principles of the gospel is the Cross and the sun means JESUS the Morning Star
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Is Koinonia: Mision y Ministerios Charismatic
If you mean are we pentecostal, the answer is no. If you mean are we open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the answer is yes.
We believe that the word “charismatic” should not be limited to specific manifestations of the work of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, but “charismatic” does refer to the fact that every Christian receives a gift, or gifts, from the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:7,11). In Romans 6:23, Paul states “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift (charism) of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This means that all who are born again, receiving the gift of life in Jesus Christ, are by virtue of the gift “charismatic” in the broadest sense of the word (Ephesians 4:7).
What is the purpose of the work of the Holy Spirit? Obviously, it is to bring individuals to new life in Christ for their own sake, but it does not end there. When Jesus spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower His followers individually and the Church corporately which occurred on the day of Pentecost, He said that the Spirit’s power would have a particular purpose: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you shall be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:18)
Because of this primary function of the Holy Spirit to bring men and women to saving faith in Christ, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church sees the evangelization of the world as an urgent priority:
“The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations.” (The Essentials of the Faith).
Basic to all we have said here is our conviction that all Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit (II Timothy 3:16), and that He illumines our minds to understand the truths of God’s Word (John 14:26; 16:13).
We believe that the word “charismatic” should not be limited to specific manifestations of the work of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, but “charismatic” does refer to the fact that every Christian receives a gift, or gifts, from the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:7,11). In Romans 6:23, Paul states “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift (charism) of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This means that all who are born again, receiving the gift of life in Jesus Christ, are by virtue of the gift “charismatic” in the broadest sense of the word (Ephesians 4:7).
What is the purpose of the work of the Holy Spirit? Obviously, it is to bring individuals to new life in Christ for their own sake, but it does not end there. When Jesus spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower His followers individually and the Church corporately which occurred on the day of Pentecost, He said that the Spirit’s power would have a particular purpose: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you shall be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:18)
Because of this primary function of the Holy Spirit to bring men and women to saving faith in Christ, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church sees the evangelization of the world as an urgent priority:
“The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations.” (The Essentials of the Faith).
Basic to all we have said here is our conviction that all Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit (II Timothy 3:16), and that He illumines our minds to understand the truths of God’s Word (John 14:26; 16:13).
Friday, April 28, 2006
How to Get Along with Others?
The Value of Cooperation
Learning to get along with others is one of the most important tasks of life. It is the key to an effective witness to a lost world.
Our world is filled with conflict. Every day we hear the news of another outbreak of violence somewhere around the world. People are in conflict with one another. Nations are at war with each other. Even families are being torn apart by internal strife and conflict.
Conflict is one of the greatest problems in the Christian church today. Believers cannot get along with each other. People are becoming divided over the most petty things. Some are upset with the music. Others don't like the color of the new carpet. Some are bothered by the deacons. Still others are angry with the pastor. All this is an indication of immaturity and carnality. It certainly is not of God.
When divisiveness grips a congregation, a church cannot experience the power and blessing of God. In my years in the ministry, I have witnessed the tragic destruction of many a church because people simply could not get along with each other. When that happens the devil has a field day, and the cause of Christ suffers.
Conflict also tears families apart. It divides husbands from wives, parents from children. It feeds on bitterness and produces rebellion. In the end it can lead to wife abuse, child abuse, teen-age runaways, divorce, and even murder.
God's ways are love, joy, peace, and patience. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we will produce these qualities. When we are not, conflict will always result.
Causes of Conflict. The ultimate cause of all personal conflicts is sin. Whether the sin is selfishness, bitterness, greed, or anger, it feeds sinful attitudes and sinful behavior.
Sinful actions always produce conflict. Selfishness feeds greed and anger. Bitterness produces jealousy and contempt. One sin leads to another, and soon your life becomes cluttered with sin.
Sin complicates life. The consequences of sin complicate life terribly. Sin can result in divorce, loss of a job, illegitimate pregnancy, suicide, murder, imprisonment - the list is endless. It always leaves life in a mess. Sometimes the mess can be cleared up fairly easily, but sometimes you have to live the rest of your life with the consequences.
Resolving conflict. Solving conflicts involves decision making. You must decide that you want to resolve the conflict. Problems don't just go away by themselves. You must decide to take corrective actions to resolve and eliminate conflicts. Learn to tackle every problem God's way. This means understanding and putting into practice His principles for human cooperation.
Don't be satisfied with feeble, halfhearted efforts. Give it all you have and God will bless you for it. Don't wait for the other person to come to you. Go to him first. Take the right step. Make the first move. You will be glad you did. Try these steps first:
Acknowledge the conflict. Stop pretending nothing is wrong. Admit it to yourself first, then to the one with whom you are in conflict.
Admit your responsibility. If you are part of the conflict, you are part of the solution. Be honest. Confess your faults before you ask someone else to confess his.
Ask forgiveness. Don't assume you will be forgiven. Ask for it. Don't make excuses. Admit your part in the conflict and ask forgiveness for the wrong you have done.
Grant forgiveness. If the other person forgives you and asks you to forgive him, do it. Be willing to give to another what you are asking for yourself.
Make reconciliation. Forgiving each other is not enough. You must be reconciled to one another. Forgive and forget. Bury the past and begin to build a better relationship for the future.
The joy of fellowship. One of the great blessings of the Christian life is fellowship with other believers, building spiritual friendships with those in whom Christ lives. Genuine fellowship can occur only between true believers who are indwelt by the Spirit of God.
The biblical term for fellowship is the Greek word Koinonia, meaning "to have in common." Fellowship occurs between those who have a relationship based on commonality. For Christians this should be automatic, since we all have Christ in common. When He is in control of our lives there is no conflict.
The night before Jesus went to the Cross, He prayed for His disciples, That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us (John 17:21). Then our Lord added the powerful and convicting statement, That the world may believe that thou has sent me. Our fellowship and cooperation is essential as a testimony to a lost world. People will never believe that we know God if we cannot get along with one another.
Lack of unity and cooperation is the greatest hindrance to the spread of the gospel in the world today. We cannot win the world to Christ while we are fighting among ourselves. Yet, the Christian church is more divided and segmented today than ever. May God help us to learn what true Christian unity and fellowship are all about.
The necessity of cooperation. The local church is a spiritual family. Therefore, it must function as a family. Each of us has a place of service and responsibility. To be truly effective, and to accomplish the ministry to which we have been called, we must learn to cooperate with one another.
In his instructions to the church of Galatia, the apostle Paul wrote, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted (Galatians 6:1). This is the great task of the church. We are to encourage the faint-hearted, and we dare not become judgmental in the process!
God has entrusted a ministry of reconciliation to us. As we preach the gospel to the unsaved, we are to urge them to be reconciled to Christ. God has also given us a ministry of restoration. We are to rebuke, correct, and restore fellow believers who fall into sin. Ours is not a task of condemnation, but one of hope and help.
If the church is to reconcile and restore, how much more do individuals and families need to do the same. We need to learn how to get along with each other to the glory of God. You have God in your soul, Christ in your heart, the Holy Spirit in your life. There is no excuse for disunity and conflict in the Christian life. Nor is there any excuse for conflict in our churches or homes. Where Christ is in control, He produces peace, not conflict. He gives us joy, not sadness, love, not hatred. He is sufficient to meet our every need.
When you allow Christ to control your life He will help you overcome conflicts. When you submit to Christ, He will produce meekness and gentleness in your life. As the source of peace and unity, He is the opposite of selfishness and arrogance. When He controls you, you will be able to control yourself. When He controls your family, petty arguments and conflicts will disappear.
Nearly one million marriages end in divorce every year in America. That is one of our great national tragedies. Divorce is tearing the fabric of our society apart. It has even become a serious problem in many of our churches. But it does not have to be that way. Jesus said that people get divorced because of the hardness of your hearts (Matthew 19:8). This should never be the case with spirit-filled believers.
Christians are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. But we cannot be very effective if our light has gone out and our salt has lost its flavor. We cannot hope to change the world until we change ourselves.
Getting along with others is a way of life. At times it involves denying ourselves and "turning the other cheek." Other times it involves the development of positive spiritual qualities in our lives. Whichever the case may be, you are the key to your ability to get along with others. Stop making excuses. Stop blaming someone else. You are the one who can make a difference by letting God control your life.
You can learn to get along with others. The more you do it, the more you will enjoy it. In fact, you will come to enjoy life itself in a new and fresh way. May it be said of Christians today, as it was in ancient times, "Behold, how they love one another!"
Learning to get along with others is one of the most important tasks of life. It is the key to an effective witness to a lost world.
Our world is filled with conflict. Every day we hear the news of another outbreak of violence somewhere around the world. People are in conflict with one another. Nations are at war with each other. Even families are being torn apart by internal strife and conflict.
Conflict is one of the greatest problems in the Christian church today. Believers cannot get along with each other. People are becoming divided over the most petty things. Some are upset with the music. Others don't like the color of the new carpet. Some are bothered by the deacons. Still others are angry with the pastor. All this is an indication of immaturity and carnality. It certainly is not of God.
When divisiveness grips a congregation, a church cannot experience the power and blessing of God. In my years in the ministry, I have witnessed the tragic destruction of many a church because people simply could not get along with each other. When that happens the devil has a field day, and the cause of Christ suffers.
Conflict also tears families apart. It divides husbands from wives, parents from children. It feeds on bitterness and produces rebellion. In the end it can lead to wife abuse, child abuse, teen-age runaways, divorce, and even murder.
God's ways are love, joy, peace, and patience. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we will produce these qualities. When we are not, conflict will always result.
Causes of Conflict. The ultimate cause of all personal conflicts is sin. Whether the sin is selfishness, bitterness, greed, or anger, it feeds sinful attitudes and sinful behavior.
Sinful actions always produce conflict. Selfishness feeds greed and anger. Bitterness produces jealousy and contempt. One sin leads to another, and soon your life becomes cluttered with sin.
Sin complicates life. The consequences of sin complicate life terribly. Sin can result in divorce, loss of a job, illegitimate pregnancy, suicide, murder, imprisonment - the list is endless. It always leaves life in a mess. Sometimes the mess can be cleared up fairly easily, but sometimes you have to live the rest of your life with the consequences.
Resolving conflict. Solving conflicts involves decision making. You must decide that you want to resolve the conflict. Problems don't just go away by themselves. You must decide to take corrective actions to resolve and eliminate conflicts. Learn to tackle every problem God's way. This means understanding and putting into practice His principles for human cooperation.
Don't be satisfied with feeble, halfhearted efforts. Give it all you have and God will bless you for it. Don't wait for the other person to come to you. Go to him first. Take the right step. Make the first move. You will be glad you did. Try these steps first:
Acknowledge the conflict. Stop pretending nothing is wrong. Admit it to yourself first, then to the one with whom you are in conflict.
Admit your responsibility. If you are part of the conflict, you are part of the solution. Be honest. Confess your faults before you ask someone else to confess his.
Ask forgiveness. Don't assume you will be forgiven. Ask for it. Don't make excuses. Admit your part in the conflict and ask forgiveness for the wrong you have done.
Grant forgiveness. If the other person forgives you and asks you to forgive him, do it. Be willing to give to another what you are asking for yourself.
Make reconciliation. Forgiving each other is not enough. You must be reconciled to one another. Forgive and forget. Bury the past and begin to build a better relationship for the future.
The joy of fellowship. One of the great blessings of the Christian life is fellowship with other believers, building spiritual friendships with those in whom Christ lives. Genuine fellowship can occur only between true believers who are indwelt by the Spirit of God.
The biblical term for fellowship is the Greek word Koinonia, meaning "to have in common." Fellowship occurs between those who have a relationship based on commonality. For Christians this should be automatic, since we all have Christ in common. When He is in control of our lives there is no conflict.
The night before Jesus went to the Cross, He prayed for His disciples, That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us (John 17:21). Then our Lord added the powerful and convicting statement, That the world may believe that thou has sent me. Our fellowship and cooperation is essential as a testimony to a lost world. People will never believe that we know God if we cannot get along with one another.
Lack of unity and cooperation is the greatest hindrance to the spread of the gospel in the world today. We cannot win the world to Christ while we are fighting among ourselves. Yet, the Christian church is more divided and segmented today than ever. May God help us to learn what true Christian unity and fellowship are all about.
The necessity of cooperation. The local church is a spiritual family. Therefore, it must function as a family. Each of us has a place of service and responsibility. To be truly effective, and to accomplish the ministry to which we have been called, we must learn to cooperate with one another.
In his instructions to the church of Galatia, the apostle Paul wrote, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted (Galatians 6:1). This is the great task of the church. We are to encourage the faint-hearted, and we dare not become judgmental in the process!
God has entrusted a ministry of reconciliation to us. As we preach the gospel to the unsaved, we are to urge them to be reconciled to Christ. God has also given us a ministry of restoration. We are to rebuke, correct, and restore fellow believers who fall into sin. Ours is not a task of condemnation, but one of hope and help.
If the church is to reconcile and restore, how much more do individuals and families need to do the same. We need to learn how to get along with each other to the glory of God. You have God in your soul, Christ in your heart, the Holy Spirit in your life. There is no excuse for disunity and conflict in the Christian life. Nor is there any excuse for conflict in our churches or homes. Where Christ is in control, He produces peace, not conflict. He gives us joy, not sadness, love, not hatred. He is sufficient to meet our every need.
When you allow Christ to control your life He will help you overcome conflicts. When you submit to Christ, He will produce meekness and gentleness in your life. As the source of peace and unity, He is the opposite of selfishness and arrogance. When He controls you, you will be able to control yourself. When He controls your family, petty arguments and conflicts will disappear.
Nearly one million marriages end in divorce every year in America. That is one of our great national tragedies. Divorce is tearing the fabric of our society apart. It has even become a serious problem in many of our churches. But it does not have to be that way. Jesus said that people get divorced because of the hardness of your hearts (Matthew 19:8). This should never be the case with spirit-filled believers.
Christians are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. But we cannot be very effective if our light has gone out and our salt has lost its flavor. We cannot hope to change the world until we change ourselves.
Getting along with others is a way of life. At times it involves denying ourselves and "turning the other cheek." Other times it involves the development of positive spiritual qualities in our lives. Whichever the case may be, you are the key to your ability to get along with others. Stop making excuses. Stop blaming someone else. You are the one who can make a difference by letting God control your life.
You can learn to get along with others. The more you do it, the more you will enjoy it. In fact, you will come to enjoy life itself in a new and fresh way. May it be said of Christians today, as it was in ancient times, "Behold, how they love one another!"
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