Unmasking Our Confilict

(2 Corinthians 4:2) (MSG) “We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes… Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open…”   (James 5:16) “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”   (Proverbs 14:13 TLB) “Laughter cannot mask a heavy heart. When the laughter ends, the grief remains.” The Title Message:  Unmasking Our Conflict.   The Conflict Masks: Dominate it.   Ignore it. Whine about it. White flag it. End it.   (James 4:1) “What causes fights and quarrels among you? (James 4:1) “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?” (James 4:2) “You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight.” (James 4:2) “You do not have, because you do not ask God.”   Living Mask Free in Conflict: 1. Look within myself. (Matthew 7:3-4) “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” 2. Talk to God first.   (Philippians 4:6) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:7) “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Proverbs 18:13) “He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame.”   3. Let God do a work in me. (1 Peter 1:6-7 TLB) “So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here. These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return.”   4. Don’t expect from man what should only come from God. (Psalm 33:22 NLT) “Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.”