Purpose

Conflict Resolution

Posted on December 2, 2021January 20, 2022 by Rob Collins in Messages

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

This verse in Romans 12:18 has always been intriguing to me. However, I feel that it is very appropriate to share today since we are just a week out from having celebrated Thanksgiving in the United States and, just a few weeks away from celebrating Christmas and New Year’s. The reason that I feel that this verse is appropriate, especially for this time of year, is because this is the time of year when we are around people that we may never be around any other time of the year, except for these special occasions that we celebrate together as family and friends. This verse is intriguing to me because if you break it down, it’s obviously about living at peace with everyone! But, it doesn’t start out with that declaration. It starts out by saying, if it is possible. And then it says, as much as it depends on you! So is Paul saying that it may not be possible? And is he also saying, but if it is possible, then do everything that you can that is dependent upon you to live at at peace with everyone and for it to actually happen. Therefore, if you can, do everything that you can, that is dependent upon you to live at peace with everyone!

Also notice that he says, everyone! Not just those people that you like or that you get along with naturally, but everyone. That means even those difficult, antagonizing and challenging people in your life. Anyway, part of the equation of living at peace with everyone will be navigating through being offended, being disappointed, being frustrated, mutual disagreements with one another and dealing with strong opinions and condescending comments. And, another part of making it possible and doing everything that you can to live at peace with everyone will be- engaging in loving, constructive conversations, while learning the art of conflict resolution. Conflict Resolution is defined as: a way for two or more parties to find a peaceful solution to a disagreement among themselves. The disagreement may be personal, financial, political, relational or emotional. When a dispute arises, often the best course of action is negotiation to resolve the disagreement. However, this takes love, courage and wisdom to navigate through the process, while coming to a successful and peaceful resolve for everyone involved. So, if it is possible and as much as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone!

Here Are 10 Ways to Know That You Desire Conflict Resolution:

When you want to resolve the issue of conflict more than you want to prove your point or be right.
When you want to hear what’s being said- more than you want to be heard.
When you are more concerned with bringing a resolution to the conflict, than you are with being right or winning the argument.
When the other person’s need is greater than your ego.
When you listen, and truly hear what the other person is saying.
When you’re wrong, and you recognize it.
When you’re in the wrong and you admit it.
When you stop saying the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong way, for the wrong reason just to prove a point.
When you don’t talk until you have something that is worth hearing.
When you consider how the other person feels, above how you may be feeling.

Seeing the Greater Purpose

Posted on May 27, 2015June 25, 2019 by Rob Collins in Blog

Seeing the Greater Purpose – 2 Corinthians 4:7-17
I recently watched the “Youngstown Boys.” It’s a ESPN short film about former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and his players from Youngstown, Ohio. Here is Tressel’s thoughts regarding Maurice Clarett: “People wanted me to give up on him, but you don’t easily give up on someone you love. Your goals and perspective are constantly being revised because of circumstances, but your purpose, the reason you are here on the earth, supersedes circumstances; what you are going through, and why? Maybe that’s why his goals (speaking of Clarett) didn’t come to pass. It’s because they didn’t align with his purpose. However, the entire time, it was his goals and the adversity that he experienced that led him to a greater purpose.”

We have probably all at one time or another found ourselves in a place of fear, frustration, or failure, focusing on our circumstances, while forgetting there may be a greater purpose to what we are going through. Let me say it this way: “We focus so much on what we are going though, that we sometimes fail to see there might be a purpose behind, what we are going through.” The purpose may not be the circumstance itself, the purpose is usually far greater and farther down the road than we can even think or see. You need to ask God for the wisdom to see the greater purpose while finding the courage to confront the circumstance allowing you the strength and the grace to sustain through the season of the whatever it is that you may be facing.

Here are some quotes regarding mindsets, perspective and belief:
– Maurice Clarett – “when you have the right mindset everything else just lines up.”

– Joel Osteen – “opposition is not meant to stop you but establish you.”

– Darius Daniels – “all God’s promises are occupied with opposition.”

– Mark Batterson – “adversity is the seed bed of opportunity.”

– Robert Alan Collins – “adversity & opposition are not meant to destroy you – they are meant to develop you while revealing God’s purpose and your destiny.”

– Rick Warren – “Every storm is a school. Every trial is a teacher. Every experience is an education. Every difficulty is for your development.”

The Apostle Paul in Acts 16:25-40 experienced hardship but there was a greater purpose to what he was experiencing. He was falsely accused, beaten and thrown in prison. This passage tells us that at midnight in shackles and chains held confined in the darkest part of the prison cell Paul began to sing praises to God at midnight. Why? Because he enjoyed being falsely accused? No! Why? Because he was glad to be in jail? No! Why? Because he loved the sting of the stripes on his back? NO! It was because Paul realized there was a greater purpose and although he may not have understand at the time, he praised God and trusted Him in spite of his circumstances. The greater purpose was the Philippian Jailer and his family being saved.

Here are 7 things we can learn form this:

1. Be careful what you say and how you say it.
2. Don’t complain about what God may be using.
3. Your response could be a key to someone else’s future and freedom.
4. Sing God’s praises and don’t magnify the circumstance.
5. God can use the natural to produce the supernatural.
6. Don’t allow your response to be based on assumptions.
7. The trial ends when God’s purpose is accomplished.

Here are some examples of – “maybe there is a greater purpose that I don’t see, but I can trust God praise Him in spite of my circumstances.”

*Paul & Silas – “maybe the stocks and chains weren’t meant to keep Paul bound – maybe they were to loose the spirit of God’s love.”

*Paul & Silas – “maybe the cell doors opening weren’t meant to set Paul free – maybe they were opened to open the heart of the Philipian jailer.”

*Gideon and His Mighty Army – “maybe the depletion of Gideon’s army wasn’t to set him up for defeat – maybe it was to prove you can trust God because He is faithful!

*The Children of Israel and the Red Sea – “maybe the Red Sea wasn’t meant to the delay the promised land – maybe it was meant to destroy Pharaoh’s Army.

*Daniel in the Lions Den – “maybe the lions den wasn’t meant to destroy Daniel – maybe it was to prove to Daniel and everyone else that you can rest in the midst of intimidation, fear, and being devoured.”

*Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – “maybe the fire wasn’t meant to destroy the 3 Hebrew Children – maybe it was meant to destroy what bound them, while proving to everyone that you can walk through a fiery trail without losing your faith or being destroyed!”

*Jesus – “without a betrayal there wouldn’t have been a trial – without a trial there wouldn’t have been a cross – without a cross there wouldn’t have been a death – without a death there wouldn’t have been a tomb – without a tomb there wouldn’t have been a resurrection – without a resurrection there wouldn’t have been redemption for all mankind!”

In all of these scenarios from the Bible there was a greater purpose. Don’t get discouraged, there may a greater purpose to the circumstances you are facing. You may never know or totally understand, but you can trust God and praise Him in the midst of what you are going through right now, because there could be a greater purpose to what you are going through. What you thought would destroy you, God used to develop you. Don’t despise what you are going through, there may be a greater purpose!

I Know “You Are” But What Am I?

Posted on March 25, 2014June 25, 2019 by Rob Collins in Messages

When I was a kid growing up we played this game. Well I’m not even sure if it was a game? Nevertheless this is what we would do; When someone said something that we didn’t like or didn’t know how to respond. We would say, “I know You Are But What Am I? For example if someone would say, “you are ugly.” You would say, “I know You Are But What Am I?” Not always the nicest response but it was a response to defer a negative comment. This phrase became the title of a message I recently shared at our church. (A message inspired and developed while listening to a message by pastor Steven Furtick). This is a powerful and impacting message of truth that needs to be both heard and received. The reason I say we need to receive it is because I know how most of us grew up. We were instructed to never think of ourselves more highly than we should. And we still shouldn’t. That is not in arrogance and pride. I believe there is difference in arrogance and confidence. Arrogance points to self and confidence points to God. Someone said, “we need to have GODCONFIDENCE.” Regardless of your view we must all realize that we are part of the equation in regards to the plans of God. God chooses to use people to accomplish His plans. So if we are always looking to self and making excuses for ourselves we will do more debating than doing. We must also remember this is not about “who you are?” or “who I am.” Its about who He is and He is the “I Am.” Let’s pick up the story of Moses in Exodus 3….

God & Moses are having a dialogue & Moses is trying to convince God of why he couldn’t do what it was that God was asking him to do, the very thing that God was sure he could do. Moses was saying, “I Know You Are But Who Am I?” I don’t think we give it much consideration but I believe we often try to persuade the “I Am” with the “who am I?” When in reality what God wants us to do and expects us to accomplish has more to do with Him than it does us, but we still play a vital part. How we view ourselves determines the outcome of what is to follow. God puts His confidence in us & we put our confidence in Him but very little happens because we spend the rest of time debating what He has put His confidence in, (us). It’s hard to believe isn’t it? God puts His confidence in us. He knows you. He made you. He designed you for a purpose and He is desiring for you to fulfill His plan and accomplish your purpose in life. That’s unbelievable isn’t? Especially knowing yourself the way you do, right? But remember God knows you better than anyone. He created you!

I think we all can relate to Moses on so many different levels. Moses went from saying, “Here am I!” to “Who am I?” in a matter of moments. When Moses felt the weight of who God is, he remembered who he was. And what is so amazing about all of this is in the presence of God Moses opinion of himself changed, however God’s opinion of Moses never changed. Some how we feel we have to change our selves, or be more, or be better than we are, and all the while God is saying, “I know who you are, I made you.” The Bible tells us that we are “fearfully” and “wonderfully” made. Its says that we are made in the image of God. You don’t need to tell God what He already knows. Before you were, He knew you. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. If God is calling you to do something He will equip you. If there is something you don’t have you must not need it! Trust God to do what it is He wants to do through you.

You don’t need to give Him a check list of your shortcomings or a resume of your strengths. He already knows! We spend more time talking about what we are, or what we aren’t then we do talking about who He is. We say, “Yeah but Im shy,” He already knows that. Moses was trying to tell God He wasn’t qualified for the job and why, but God was saying, “I know, but “I Am!” and I will be with you. Its not who you are in and of yourself; it is who you are because he is with you. He knows your capabilities, and short comings. He knows what side of the tracks you grew up on and He know your family’s history. (remember Gideon? Oh yeah, thats another story.) He knows your education level and your communication capabilities. He knows you are not consistent, faithful, patient. He is aware that you are not organized and knows that you are a procrastinator, yet He still chooses to use you, Wow!

Like Moses most of us don’t doubt God. We doubt ourselves. But when we doubt ourselves we are doubting what He created and the purpose He created us for. Most of us would say, I am never ___________ enough. Thats because our confession and God’s *confession are not always the same. God says. “we can.” We say, “we can’t.” Confession means many things, but it also means saying what God is saying. You don’t have to prove or disprove what God has already spoken. You just have to be obedient by believing it and doing it. Moses spent more time convincing God why He couldn’t do it then he did believing that if God was with him he could do it.

Andy Stanley says, “we should be more worried about making a difference then we are about making a point.” We all have a point and we feel it is valid. But the question we should ask is does our point make a difference. What point are you trying to make? Especially to God. We try to make a point that we are inadequate and God is saying, “I know but if you could do it on your own you wouldn’t have to depend on me. And I want you to depend on me to see it accomplished.” What would happen if we would surrender ourselves to God and say, “Maybe I can’t? But you can. And I trust you to be with me, and to accomplish your plan while I fulfill my purpose in you.” God simply told Moses, “I will be with you.” God is saying, “I Am” and Moses is saying, “but who am I?” Creation debating with the creator. The clay questioning the potter. And yet we do the same thing today. And yet like Moses, God chooses to use us.

When God speaks truth He wants us to receive there is always an inner voice that will come against that truth. Moses doesn’t doubt God He doubts himself but in dong so he is doubting the very thing God wanted to use, (himself). The voice of the inner enemy always speaks in 1st person. The devil internalizes the argument so we are saying whatever it is to ourselves. (“I’m so ________.” “I never will _________.”) It’s not just the things in our past that comes up. It’s also the those things in the present that we have never got right or haven’t had the courage to deal with yet. We need to hear God’s voice above all other voices. He knows you, He created you, He loves you! If you needed it to accomplish what it is you need to do then you would have it, if you don’t have it you don’t need it. You need Him. Believe Him and trust Him and see what happens. Insecurity is the ultimate insult to God. When we debate our short comings with God we are insulting His judgment. *(quit trying to convince God of what He already knows).

Deficiency is lacking something that is needed. Here’s the deal. We are all lacking something in some area of our lives or the other. We are never strong enough, decisive enough, patient enough, loving enough, or good enough. God is saying whatever you don’t have I will give you. (the words, the strength, the courage). God wants you to believe in yourself and lean on Him at the same time! He said to Moses, “I made you.” *(when you doubt the product you insult the manufacturer) God is saying, “I am.” (Moses is Saying I know you are but “who am I?). And God could say, “you are who I created, and you are the one I am putting my confidence in. It’s not about who you are its about who “I am.” You see this passage tells us that God heard the cries of His people and He was now choosing Moses to answer their cry for help. Who needs your help? Who has been crying out for God to send someone or to do something? Quit debating with God and allow Him to use you! Believe in yourself and lean on God.

God tells Moses He will be with him. Moses says, “suppose I do decide to do this who do I say sent me? God answers, “I Am.” He says, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the God who was, and is, and who will be. He is the God of your grandparents. He is God in your present state and He will be God in your tomorrow and the next day. He is the God of the past that is full of failures and disappointments. He is the God in the present that is full of difficulties and decisions. and He is the God of the future that is full of the unknown. He is the “I Am.” He has and is, and always will be. And He told Moses, “I will be with you.” And He will be with you too!

It’s not who you are it’s who He is in you… He is “I AM!”

Moses said, “I’m not clever with words” and God said, “I know but I Am!”

We say things like this:

– We say, “I’m not good enough”, and God says, “I know but “I Am.”

– We say, “I’m not patient enough” and God says, “I know but I Am!”

– We say, “I’m not sufficient enough” and God says, “I know but I Am!”

– We say, “I’m not faithful enough” and God says, “I know but I Am!”

– We say I’m not______ enough. But God says, “I know, but I AM!”

He made you! He knows you! He loves you! He is with you! He is “I Am!” And you can. Not because you know you can, but because you know “I Am!”

What You Wouldn’t Choose, God Will Use

Posted on May 8, 2013June 25, 2019 by Rob Collins in Messages

The Things You Wouldn’t Choose God Will Use.
Gen. 50:20 / Rom. 8:28

Joseph’s story is complicated but the timing of God is evident. Joseph was 17 years old. He was his daddy’s favorite. God gave him dreams and his dad gave him a coat. The dreams and coat made his brothers angry. Angry to the point they stripped him of his coat and through him in a pit but had second thoughts and took him out of the pit and sold him to some foreigners as the passed by, but he was bought by a wealthy man named Potiphar who took him to Egypt where Potiphar’s wife lied against him so Potiphar had him thrown in prison where he interpreted a butler and baker’s dream and later was remembered by one of them causing him to find favor with the Pharaoh by interpreting his dream. Pharaoh gave him all authority and when a famine came Joseph was able to bless his family, and others, even the brothers who through him in the pit. The pit changed Joseph, but it didn’t change his brothers. Not everyone will get it but the key is that you do.

Here is what these scenarios of Joseph’s life represents:

1. The Pit represents what others do to you that you have no control over.

*There will be things that will happen to you that you will not have control over. People will do things,and say things, that you can’t be responsible for. The greater issue is not what happens to you, but how you respond to What has happened to you. Joseph couldn’t get out if the pit on his own, and you can’t either. You need the help, the favor, and the grace of God to help you. He will be reaching out, as you reach up.

2. Potiphar’s House represents someone else’s word against your word.

*Potiphar’s wife was “hot to trot”. She was “miss hotty totty”. She wanted what she wanted when she wanted and when she didn’t get it, she lied. There will always be those times in life when it is your word against someone else’s. You won’t always be able to prove you are right. The important thing is that you know and God knows and sometimes that is all that matters. If you do the right thing God will honor you and that is what truly matters.

3. The Prison represents waiting and feeling overlooked and forgotten about.

*if you have lived a little there have been times that you have been or felt overlooked. God is a God of “timing” and “order”. He is a God that moves in seasons. If you are waiting it feel you are being overlooked you must remember there is a reason for this season. While you are waiting, God is working. Trust Him!

4. The Palace represents God’s favor, grace and blessing that is more about others.

*All of us desire God’s blessing and favor on us. Most of the time we make it “all about us” when in fact it is all about god and others. Remember, you are blessed to be a blessing.

God used every process of Joseph’s journey to get him at the right place at the right time so that God could use him to bless those that meant him harm. Joseph wouldn’t have chosen any of the scenarios that he had to go through but it was ultimately the pit that promoted him to the palace. If Joseph’s brothers would not have thrown him in the pit Joseph might have been walking a round town in a multi-colored coat interpreting people’s dreams while he and his family starved to death. Joseph’s brothers didn’t change both Joseph did. Not everyone will get it the most important thing is that you do.