Having Courage to Confront

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Having Courage to Confront</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Solutions to Our Spiritual Needs"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id185.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Developing Loyalty to God"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Joshua 22 “Having Courage to Confront” Berean Bible Church, March 18, 2001pm</B></div> <div>      One of the easiest things to do in our relationships with others is to talk about people and their problems  — with other people.  One of the hardest things to do is to talk about it only with the one with the problem. We must have the courage to confront other believers when it is necessary. This is difficult, and it should be. Several sections of Scripture challenge us to caution, warn, instruct, and admonish one another (Deut 13.12-19; 1 Thess 5.14, 2 Thess 3.14-15, Col 3.16).</div> <bR> <div>      Here are three lessons for confronting appropriately.</div> <div> <B>I.  Confrontation must be based on the right standards (22.11-14)</B>.</div> <div>      A. We must know what issues should be confronted (vss. 11-12). Deuteronomy 12.1-14 instructed that there should be one central altar; not just anyone could set one up. So Israel was very justified in examining this situation. Our confrontation should be based on our convictions of the clear teachings of Scripture, not preferences. And we should avoid pettiness and legalism. Matter appropriate for confrontation include immorality, lying, gossip, strife, and pride.</div> <div>      B. We must know in what manner confrontation should occur (vss. 13-14). Follow the pattern in Mt 18.15-17; discuss it one-on-one first. Investigate it, and get the facts. Then there may be cause for taking another believer to discuss the matter. We often discuss the problem with everyone but the person in question. This is wrong.</div> <div>      Both the issue confronted and the manner of confrontation must be consistent. Confronting the right issues in the wrong manner is wrong. Confronting wrong issues the right manner is also wrong.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II.  Confrontation must be focused on reconciliation (22.15-29)</B>.</div> <div>      The goal of confrontation is restoration to fellowship with God and to community with the church (Gal 6.1). Punishment or destruction is not the goal. And when it is settled, put it behind you. Forgive and remember you forgave.</div> <div> A.  Request for reconciliation (vss. 15-20).</div> <div> 1.  Reconciliation with God (vs. 16).</div> <div> 2.  Reconciliation with community of believers (vs. 17-20).</div> <div>      Sin is dangerous for everyone! In Numbers 25, Israel joined Moabite women in worshiping the Baal of Peor, and 24000 people died. In Joshua 7, Achan sinned and 36 soldiers at Ai and he and his family died. </div> <div>      We will become spiritually weak if we tolerate known sin in our midst. Paul O’neill, the 1994 AL Batting Champion with the Yankees) said, “If the team wins, we all had a good year; if we don’t win, then it doesn’t matter who had a good year.”</div> <div> B.  Response to the request (vss. 21-29).</div> <div> 1.  Regarding God (vss. 22-23). God knew their intention, and they were open to his dealings.</div> <div> 2.  Regarding Israel (vss. 24-29). This altar was designed to be a witness to their unity with Israel.</div> <bR> <div> <B>III.  Confrontation must be handled with grace (22.19, 30-34)</B>.</div> <div> A.  We must be willing to sacrifice (vs. 19). Are we willing to go out of our way, to give much of ourselves to help someone in their walk?</div> <div> B.  We must be willing to listen (vss. 30-34). Israel understood and accepted. Ephesians 4.2 tells us to “be patient, bearing with one another in love.”</div> <div>      We all have the limitation called sin, so we can understand each others failings; but we can also encourage each other in doing something about it.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2001, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>