Setting: Contemporary Worship
Length: 29:41

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Occasion: Guest speaker at the Living Hope Community Church
Sermon Title: Making the First Move
Main Scriptures: Genesis 3:16; Matthew 5:23-24, 18:15f; 1 Peter 3:7

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The Most Basic Principle of Reconciliation

-when you were young, you thought about living happily ever after

-but quickly, you realize that it’s not always going to be sunshine

-my counsel to you is…don’t be surprised
-as long as we are on this side of heaven, relationships are going to be hard
          -conflicts will arise
-and though you love each other, it will be a continual struggle to build a healthy relationship

-it is inevitable
-I say this because that’s the way it was decreed to be

-that God actually declared the husband and wife to be at odds with each other?
          -yes…
-yes, He did….after the fall

-take a look at Genesis 3:16

                    Your desire will be for your husband,
                             and he will rule over you."

          Genesis 4:7                 

-because of the fall….because of the entrance of sin

-so, don’t be surprised that your relationship is breaking down

-believe it
-but….DON’T accept it
-even though sin has entered the world
-God’s grace has entered as well through His son, Jesus
-and by His grace, you can do something about it
-by His strength, you can fix a broken relationship

Making the First Move

-this is emphasized is Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:23-24
23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Initiative…

-what I find most striking about this passage is that it is NOT clear whose fault it is

-back to Matthew 5, I find it powerful that Jesus is telling us to make the first move regardless of who is at fault

Ambulance

-but reality is….
          -a broken relationship on earth creates a broken relationship in heaven

-and since men are called to be spiritual leaders, let me give you this example
-let me say that the way you treat your wives affects your relationship with God
-the classic passage on this principle is found in
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives,
and treat them with respect as the weaker partner…

So that your prayers are not hindered

WHY must we make the first move?

May God’s style of reconciliation be your style of reconciliation
          -and may His strength be yours as you make the first move

Click for the traditional worship version:

The emphasis on making the first move and speedy reconciliation should be balanced with the following teaching on sensitivity
to timing issues:

For further insights into Genesis 3:16, click:

For further insights into Genesis 4:7, click:

* the emphasis on making the first move is intensified by the reality that sin grows if left unattended. This reality is brought out in the sermon, "The Biology of Sin". And this reality of sin growing and making our situatin worse should press us to get into counseling asap. I have always felt that it is it never too early to get into counseling, but usually too late. To learn more, click the counseling link.

For more insight into the reconciliation process, click the workshops on conflict resolution:

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