Let's go to Proverbs chapter 6. Proverbs chapter 6. And just to say that before you leave this morning, please pick up this free little booklet.
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This is your summer reading for you, one for everybody. It's called Visible Grace, Seeing the Church the Way Jesus Does.
So as you come this morning, how do you perceive, how do you think about the people around you?
Well, as we begin to see the church, as Jesus looks at us today, we will see a display of his amazing grace, which will overflow in thankfulness to God for one another.
It's only a little short book, which I like, and it's got big words. So yeah, very easy to read. Visible Grace, pick up your free copies there this morning.
Let's pray and ask for God's help as we look at his word together.
Father, thank you for this book of Proverbs.
Please help us, please help us, by the power of your spirit, to take on board your word that would filter into our hearts and change us into wise people who love Jesus and love his ways.
Encourage us all today, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Amen.
What do you hate?
Or what is detestable to you?
I don't mean do you dislike broccoli or loathe pineapple on your pizza.
I mean, what do you see around you that causes outrage and disgust.
Well, the recent events in Northern Ireland angered and upset me.
To see a young, pregnant mum having her windows smashed and her living room destroyed, all because she came from a different country.
The scenes of communities handing out what are called non-white people was disgusting.
Or the daily accounts we see on our news screens of innocent children being maimed and killed angers me.
Bombs and bullets dropped and fired, causing devastation and heartbreak.
The pictures of communities being destroyed are at times unbearable to watch.
So what do you hate to see?
What is detestable to you?
Well, if we look at chapter 6, wisdom will tell us what is detestable.
Verse 16.
There are six things the Lord hates.
Seven that are detestable to him.
Haughty eyes.
A lying tongue.
Hands that shed innocent blood.
A heart that devises wicked schemes.
Feet that are quick to rush into evil.
A false witness who pours out lies.
And a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
That's a lot of things, isn't it?
That the Lord God hates and detests.
But there's one that stands out above all the rest.
You see, verse 16 is a way of highlighting something.
It's like getting your yellow highlighter and marking what is the thing that God detests the most.
Verse 16.
There are six things the Lord hates.
Seven that are detestable to him.
It's a way of saying that of everything I hate, the most detestable is the sevenths.
Look at the end of verse 19.
A person who stirs up conflict in the community.
God hates conflict.
God detests conflict.
In fact, we should treat conflict with the same attitude that God does.
Look at what God says to his church.
I have it written on the screen.
Warn a divisive person once.
Then warn them a second time.
After that have nothing to do with them.
You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful.
They are self-condemned.
You see, conflict is serious, isn't it?
It is detestable.
In chapter 5, wisdom taught us the dangers of sexual freedom.
Well, in chapter 6, wisdom teaches us the dangers of conflict.
Proverbs teaches us that there are campers.
How many people?
Two people.
There are those who go the way of wisdom and the way of folly.
And wisdom will show us that conflict is dangerous.
And those who sow seeds of peace are wise.
So let's look at three things about conflict.
How it starts.
How it works.
And how we can bring healing to conflict.
So first, how conflict starts.
Where does it begin?
How does it start?
Well, look back at verse 12.
A troublemaker and a villain.
Who goes about with a corrupt mouth.
Who winks maliciously with his eye.
Says one thing.
But means another.
Signals with his feet.
Leads you into thinking of going one way.
But is actually going another.
And motions with his finger.
Points to one course of action.
But is taking another.
Who plots evil with deceit in his heart.
He always stirs up conflict.
You see, conflict is something that rises up from inside.
Verse 14 tells us that deceit is in his heart.
He always stirs up conflict.
Go back to chapter 4, verse 23.
Chapter 4, verse 23.
Above all else, guard your heart.
For everything you do.
Flows from it.
You see, our desires and our choices.
And our behaviours and our attitudes.
All come from within inside.
From the heart.
That's why we need to guard our hearts.
From sowing seeds of conflict.
It comes from deep within.
In fact, the seeds of conflict have their roots in the great conflict.
We know that story, that account recorded for us in Genesis 3.
The first conflict ever to take place.
The attempt to push God off his throne and overtake his rule.
Adam and Eve turned against God's good and loving rule.
And it set off a tsunami of chaos and destruction
that continues to flood and destroy our lives and communities.
That conflict with God
ended in conflict with everything else.
They suffered a conflict within themselves
filled with shame and guilt.
They suffered conflict with each other
as they began to blame each other
and try to suppress and rule one another.
They suffered conflict with creation itself
as disorder and decay set in.
The conflict was deep.
And so every generation since
continues to follow from our first parents.
The impact we see and experience
all around us.
What we see on the television.
Conflict between Palestine and Israel.
Both blaming atrocities on each other.
The ongoing battle between Ukraine and Russia.
This week it was reported
that over 350,000 people
have been killed
and one million have been wounded
in that conflict.
Men, women and children
blasted to their death
because of the seeds of conflict
that arise within the human heart.
But we don't have to look at the battles
that are out there.
We see it close to home, don't we?
Families fall out.
They don't speak to one another.
Marriages break up.
Friends separate.
People leave their churches.
conflict all starts
because of an unguarded sinful heart.
We're obsessed with being right,
taking offense,
getting even,
holding grudges.
It comes from within
and it's dangerous.
Proverbs reminds us
that a perverse person
stirs up conflict
and gossip
separates close friends.
Or this one,
an angry person
stirs up conflict
and a hot-tempered person
commits
many sins.
You see,
God has created
a good
and beautiful world.
Harmony,
beauty and joy.
A world of peace,
wholeness
and well-being.
God looked at it all
and it was good.
But conflict
has destroyed it all.
That's why God
hates conflict
and detests conflict
because it ruins nations,
it destroys communities
and it shatters families.
It turns upside down
the good
that God had intended.
So first,
how conflict starts.
It starts from
an unguarded heart
where the seeds
of conflict
begin to flow out.
So second,
how conflict
works.
How it works out
in day-to-day life.
Let's look at
verse 16 to 19.
Do you see the progression
there in those verses?
Each of the first
six images
that we have
all lead towards
the seventh
and final conclusion
which is a person
who stirs up
conflict
in the community.
You see,
conflict gets worked
out in our life
in many different ways.
Let's go through them
and maybe there's some
that we might recognize
in our own life.
first,
in verse 17,
haughty eyes.
It's that look
you receive
from someone
when you walk
in the room.
That sense
of superiority,
unspoken words
communicated
by a look
of dissein,
what are you
doing here?
It leads
to racial segregation
and class
division.
who am I
looking down on?
Or what about
our
lying tongues?
It's those words
that flow
so naturally
when I'm confronted
with the truth.
No,
I didn't say that.
I didn't do that.
Or promises
that we
fail to deliver on.
Oh,
of course
I'll do it.
when we have
no intention
at all.
It just leads
to distrust
and hurts
and relationship
breakdown.
What lies
am I telling?
Or third,
as it says
there in verse
17,
hands that shed
innocent blood,
violent hands,
a punch,
a slap,
grabbing hold
of your wife's
shoulders,
a wagging finger
in the face
of colleagues,
threatening gestures
to your child.
It leads
to domestic
abuse,
uncontrolled
anger,
retaliation
and further
violence.
How have I
used
my hands
this week?
or fourth,
verse 18,
a heart
that devises
wicked schemes,
wicked
hearts.
It's those
selfish desires
that pursue
what I want
regardless
of the effects
or impacts
on other people
so long
as the outcome
always suits
me.
We call it
emotional
manipulation.
and all it
does is
leads to
suffering
and heartache
for those
who are
closest to
you
as we
pursue
what
I want.
What
desires
are
festering
in my
heart?
feet.
Or then,
feet,
18 rather,
feet that
are quick
to rush
into evil.
It's that
intentional
decision.
You know
what it's
like to
walk across
that room
and tell
that person
what you
really think.
Just let
it all
out.
or taking
that step
back again
to your
spouse
because you
have to
have the
last word.
It leads
to hurts
and division
and long
lasting
communication
and breakdown.
Where will
my feet
take me
today?
Or
verse 19.
A false
witness
who pours
out
lies.
A false
testimony.
It's those
half-truths
or twisted
truths
that make
others look
bad
and always
seem to
make me
look wonderfully
good.
It's the
stories that
we tell.
Did you
hear about?
Wait till
I tell
you what
they did.
It leads
to gossip
and rumours
and ruins
the reputation
of others.
How am
I speaking
about others
in the
church
today?
Haughty
eyes,
lying
tongues,
violent
hearts,
hands,
wicked
hearts,
evil
feet,
false
testimony.
They're
all
symptoms
of
something
much
bigger
and
greater.
Verse 19,
a person
who stirs
up conflict
in the
community.
You see,
the seeds
of conflict
are sown
in our
everyday
words,
actions,
and thoughts.
They may
seem just
so tiny
and so
small,
innocent
and harmless.
But seeds
grow,
and when
they're fully
grown,
lead to
conflict.
You see,
conflict isn't
restricted to
bombs and
bullets on
a battlefield.
It starts
with the way
I look at
someone,
the words
I use,
a gesture
I make,
an action,
a thought.
You see,
if we
don't
guard
our
hearts,
those
seeds
will
seep
out into
our
marriages
and into
our
families
and into
our
church
and into
the wider
community.
It's
deadly.
God
detests
it.
So,
how
conflict
starts,
how
conflict
works
out
in
day-to-day
life,
and then
third,
how
conflict
can be
healed.
Look at
where
conflict
leads
for end
of verse
14,
chapter 6.
He
always
stirs up
conflict.
What's
the
consequence?
Therefore,
disaster
will overtake
him in
an
instant.
They
will
suddenly
be
destroyed
without
remedy.
Deceitful
hearts
end in
disaster
and
destruction.
End of
verse 15,
there is
no
remedy.
We
cannot
fix
our
own
hearts.
So,
where
does
healing
come
from?
Where
do we
get
healing
for all
the
conflict
in
this
world
and
in
our
lives?
Well,
as we've
seen
through our
studies in
Proverbs,
God's
wisdom
is
ultimately
worked
out
through
his
son,
Jesus
Christ.
Go
with me,
please,
as we
look at
two
examples
in
Ephesians
chapter
one
of
how
we
see
conflict
being
healed,
where
we go
to
for all
our
conflicts
and
all
our
fallouts.
Two
big
applications
for us
this
morning.
The
first
one is
the
gospel
of
Christ.
The
gospel
of
Christ
brings
healing.
In
chapter
one of
Ephesians
we see
God's
plan
and
purpose
for
the
nations,
the
communities
and
the
families
of
the
world.
Look
at
the
end
of
verse
10.
His
purpose
in
Christ,
this
is
God's
purpose
in
Christ,
is to
bring
unity
to
all
things
in
heaven
and on
earth
under
Christ.
This
is God's
plan and
purpose
for the
nations,
to bring
all
people,
all
things,
to
restore
them
under
the
loving
rule
of
God's
King,
Jesus
Christ.
Remember
how
Genesis
brought
that
conflict
and
separated
them,
put them
against
God?
Well,
his
purpose
is to
unite
all
again
under
the
rule
of
God's
Son.
His
purpose
is to
bring
an end
to
all
conflict,
to
unite
people
together,
to
restore
where
there's
been
hostility
and
to
heal
where
there's
been
division.
So
think
about
a
conflict
in
your
life.
Think
about
a
relationship
that
has
maybe
broken
down,
where
hurt
has
been
replaced
with
trust.
Can
God
bring
healing?
Can
God
bring
restoration?
Yes,
he
can.
How
can he
do it?
Well,
go to
chapter
two
of
Ephesians.
The
context
here in
chapter
two
is of
a
deeply
divided
community.
He's
writing
to
a
church.
Jews
and
Gentiles,
people
from
Israel,
people
from
Palestine.
But
in a
sense,
it
can
apply
to
all
divisions
of
people.
And
look
how
God
will
bring
about
unity
in
the
conflict.
Chapter
two,
the
end
of
verse
15.
End
of
verse
15.
His
purpose,
God's
purpose,
was to
create
in
himself
one
new
humanity
out of
the
two,
thus
making
peace.
And
in
one
body,
the
body
of
Christ,
to
reconcile
both
of
them
to
God
through
the
cross
by
which
he
put
to
death
their
hostility.
At
the
cross,
as
Jesus
dies,
he
steps
in
as
the
ultimate
mediator.
Someone
has to
pay
for
all
the
conflict.
Either
we
die
or
Christ
dies.
So
God,
in
his
goodness
and
in
his
grace,
sends
his
son
Jesus
Christ
to
take
the
consequences
of
our
conflicts
on
himself.
In
the
context
here
in
Ephesians
2,
he
takes
the
sin
of
the
Jew
in
one
hand,
the
sin
of
the
Gentile
in
the
other
hand,
and
he
dies
in
their
place.
End
of
verse
15,
his
purpose
was to
create
in
himself
one
new
humanity
out of
the
two,
thus
making
peace.
Now
what God
has done
then is
wonderfully
true for
us today.
Christ's
death on
the cross
brings
peace
and ends
hostility
as
divided
parties
come to
Christ
so
healing
can
begin.
But of
course if
Christ is
refused
then as
we saw
in
Proverbs
disaster
will
overcome
them,
there will
be no
remedy
outside
of
Christ.
Judgment
will be
their
reward.
But if
we come
to Christ
in
faith,
we
are
restored,
we
are
reconciled,
we
become
part of
God's
family.
Verse
15,
we become
part of
a new
humanity,
we receive
a new
identity,
we become
brothers and
sisters in
the Lord
Jesus.
We become
God's
very own
people,
the church.
We become
one big
family where
love and
compassion are
found.
You see,
in the
church,
this
gathered
people here
today becomes
a living
example of
a community
where
conflicts
end and
peace
rules.
Look at
chapter 3,
verse 10.
Chapter 3,
verse 10.
Why did
God do
this work
of
reconciliation
and bringing
peace?
verse 10,
his intent
was that
now,
through the
church,
the manifold
wisdom of
God should
be made
known to
the rulers
and the
authorities
in the
heavenly
realms
according to
his eternal
purpose that
he accomplished
in Christ
Jesus our
Lord.
God's
wisdom
is to
bring
healing
to
his
people
and that
healing is
experienced at
the cross
and is now
displayed in
the church.
God is
saying,
look what
wisdom has
done.
Look at the
local church
in the local
community.
Look how
people have
been restored
and been
forgiven
and how
peace
now reigns.
so if we
want to
experience
healing,
let us
go to
the cross,
see what
Christ has
done and
experience
peace in
our life.
So first,
the way to
healing is
the gospel
of Christ
and as
we're seeing,
secondly,
healing comes
through the
church of
Christ.
You see,
if the
church is a
display of
God-ending
hostility,
then we
are to
live out
that unity
to a
world that
has their
eyes fixed
on us
saying,
look at
them.
Look at
chapter 4
verse 2.
Ephesians
chapter 4
verse 2.
Be
completely
humble
and gentle.
Be
patient,
bearing
with one
another in
love.
Make
every effort
to keep
the unity
of the
spirit
through the
bond of
peace.
So wisdom,
are we
going to
sow seeds
of peace
or are we
going to
sow seeds
of discord?
How do we
keep the
unity?
Well, he
goes on to
tell us,
chapter 4
verse 25.
It's all
about how
we live.
Therefore,
each of you
must put off
falsehood.
Speak
truthfully
to your
neighbour,
for we
are all
members of
one body.
Verse 29.
Do not
let any
unwholesome
talk come
out of
your mouths,
but only
what is
helpful for
building others
up according
to their
needs,
that it
may benefit
those who
listen.
or verse
31.
Get rid
of all
bitterness,
rage and
anger,
brawling and
slander,
along with
every form
of malice.
Be kind
and
compassionate
to one
another,
forgiving
each other,
just as
in Christ
God
forgave
you.
You see,
the reality
is we
can all
sow seeds
of conflict
when we
don't guard
our hearts.
But we
can,
because of
Christ and
his spirit
at work
within us,
sow seeds
of peace.
No,
the church
is not
perfect,
but the
church is
God's
display model
to a
watching
world of
how we
resolve
conflict.
Do you
see it
there,
chapter 5,
verse 1?
we follow
God's
example
as dearly
loved
children
and live
a life
of love
just as
Christ
loved us
and gave
himself up
for us
as a
fragrant
offering
and sacrifice
to God.
You see,
as we
gather as
God's
people,
we are
to bring
each other
back to
the cross
and see
what he
has done
for us
where we
choose
not to
hold on
to hurts
or seek
revenge
or withhold
forgiveness.
Instead,
we follow
the Lord's
example.
We sow
seeds of
peace.
we show
acts of
love
and compassion.
We share
the gospel
of Christ
and we
welcome
a hurting
and broken
people
to come
to Christ
and to
know peace
and healing
within.
The way
of wisdom
is the way
of healing
for all
of our
relationships.
Our
relationships
to God
and our
relationships
with one
another.
Let's just
take a
moment
to reflect
and think
of these
things as
we pray
together.
there.
Amen.
Lord God, would you please give us a heart and an attitude
that hates conflict and detests division?
Would you give us a heart that will continually run to Christ
and know forgiveness where we need it?
The help of your Spirit to sow seeds of peace
through our words, through our actions, and through our thoughts.
Would you help us to be a community
that reflects the beauty and the wisdom
of a God who ends hostility and brings peace?
Help us by your Spirit that we would be a welcoming community
to those who are hurt and broken by conflict,
that they may receive love and compassion.
Thank you, Father, for this church.
Thank you for one another.
Thank you for your grace to us in our life.
And thank you for the work you are doing in our lives
in mending and bringing us back to you time and time again.
Thank you, Lord.
Please send us now with your Spirit
to be those who sow peace
and stay clear of conflict.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
We're going to sing together
how great the chasm that lay between us,
how high the mountain I could not climb,
how we run to Christ
for all of our needs.
Let's sing this
and sing it in a way
that encourages us
as we start into a new week
to go as God's people
into his world.
Let's stand together
if we're able to
and we'll sing.