Managing disputes in the church

The church is a gathering or an assembly of those that believe in Jesus Christ.

This community consists of all who live in faith, love and hope for eternal life.

Apostle Paul said it in Ephesians 4, I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.

Endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you; with all malice.

And be kind one to another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.

The above definition shows that the church is a gathering of spirit-filled individuals.

As it grows in number, there will be influx of different kinds of people, which I would group as Spirit-filled believers, unbelieving believers and those who select what they will accept in God’s Word and jettison the rest.

That is why today’s church is increasing daily with saved and unsaved souls.

But the Bible says ‘the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

And I, brethren, could not speak to you, as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as babes in Christ fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal.

For where there are envy, strife and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? I Cor. 2:14-15

We have born-again believers, sanctified, holy and unbelievers, who cunningly find their way into the workforce.

These are the people that create problems in churches and because most churches are not ready to lose their members, they condone their excesses.

Why would someone be in the church for years and still remains a baby Christian?

He or she may be the one troubling the church of God and yet unknown to the authority.

Such people brag that they started the church with the G.O. and deep down in their hearts, they are very far from being believers indeed.

The question is: how did these people get into the workforce of the church or who appointed them as workers?

How did they get enlisted into the workforce and even became leaders in various positions?

But you and I know that the work of God cannot be done carnally, without the Holy Spirit’s directives.

As Director General and in charge of revelation in every matter concerning the church, He knows who we are and what we can do.

He reveals what is in man at any time, but if you undermine Him, He keeps quiet because you did not do the right thing at the right time.

This carnal approach of selecting workers in God’s vineyard has created problems in the church of God.

The root cause of disputes in the church today was as a result religious leaders abandoning the Holy Spirit, particularly in areas of choosing people to be in position of authority and promotion, remuneration, contract, and even in conflict resolutions.

For instance, when church allows carnal men/women to handle issues, there will be constant murmuring, which will lead to court cases.

When one is not born-again indeed, he is not yet a believer and why should he/she be given assignment?

If the workforce were strictly for Spirit-filled believers, then constant crises would have reduced.

Anybody who is not broken in heart cannot be Spirit-filled and is not qualified to be a leader in the church.

Church matters should be settled within the church, but if you are enlisting unbelievers in your workforce, be ready for trouble, because a carnal man believes in spilling the beans to the devil.

We all know that people who are possessed by marine Spirit, occultic, witches, wizards and some parading themselves with all sorts of charms are everywhere, even in the church looking for whom to devour.

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Obedience N.O
The Servant of God
Obedience To God Assembly, Lagos