D.L. Moody once remarked, "I believe Satan exists for two reasons: first, the Bible says so, and second, I've done business with him."   Whether we know it or not, we have all done business with Satan.  In light of our present world and society a more penetrating question might be, "Have you ever done business for Satan?"

 

In the past week, I have done business with Satan.  That is correct!  In a small and fragile window of seven days, I was mediating no less than five church conflicts.  I was able to clearly identify a common thread or stronghold in each conflict.  I will tell you later what it is.

 

Terrorist leader, Osama bin Laden, was killed in his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan on Sunday evening, May 1, 2011.  The Navy SEAL team that killed him was made of the best-trained troops in the world known as the SEAL Team Six.  They are known as the "Naval Special Warfare Development Group" and they specialize in under-cover operations.  Their primary goal is to attack the enemy and remain undetected.  For a few minutes, I am going to talk about a different kind of enemy and warfare.  I am doing so because I clearly see his under-cover operation and undetected attacks in the church.

 

What is the main arena for such spiritual warfare?  We know for a fact that Satan attacks through circumstances.  Right?   He comes to assault our homes, our jobs, our businesses, our schools, our health and even our personal problems in order to tempt, discourage and endanger us.   While these covert tactics are true to his nature as our spiritual enemy, I don't believe they are his primary assaults.    

 

Now back to the five simultaneous church conflicts.  As church leaders, when we do business with Satan we soon discover that his best and most effective covert attack is present.  Here goes.  He attacks the church through relationships.  In marriage, the husband and wife can be the primary tool of Satan against each other.  With children, Satan can use the parents or vice versa.  In friendships, he will use us to attack those who are close.  In these five church conflicts, Satan's primary weapon against the church is through other believers.  What?  Not each other?  How lame is that? 

 

The relational conflicts in scripture are too many to mention, but take for example Judas and Jesus.  "Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father . . .During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him" (Jn 13:1-2).  When Satan wanted to strike out at Christ, he didn't use the great Roman army.  He used a relationship.  The Apostle Paul invited Barnabas to join him on a tour to the cities where he preached the Gospel.  In turn, Barnabas asked John Mark to join their trip.  Due to a previous incident, Paul had lost confidence in John Mark and Acts 15:39 states the problem, "And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him . . .".   What was Satan's favorite tactic here?  It wasn't a difference of doctrine or even philosophy that separated two brothers, but a relationship. 

The tactical trend continues.  Satan's primary arena in warfare is relationships right in the church.  He is using lust, immorality, slander, gossip, bitterness, anger and much more to tear down those precious relationships between our brothers and sisters.  My challenge to us all is that we would simply BE ON THE ALERT.  Too many of us in the church have been wounded by friendly fire.  We need to stand up to our enemy and claim all our victories in Christ.  "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  (1 Cor 15:57)   Working together as a community of believers is no easy task.  Being a part of a loving community means that we all take the effort to build a culture of peace right in the church.  Why?  It is because the culture of the world is at war with a culture of peace that God wants.

 

We are to have peace with GOD in a relationship of salvation (Col 1:19-20).  We are to have peace with OTHERS in perfect unity (Eph 2:11-18).  We are to have peace within YOURSELF as we live for Him daily (1 Jn 3:21-24).  This kind of peace with God, others and yourself will happen when Christ remains central in our lives; when God's Word remains authoritative; and when the church takes responsibility for its actions.    

 

Because we are a family of believers, conflicts will naturally come.  When they arrive, we are encouraged to resolve them immediately (Matt 18:15-17).  As the church engages in a ministry of reconciliation, it builds a culture of peace that protects the church against the enemy.  You already knows this.  The witness of God's presence and the love for your own community depends on how you live in unity as a church. 

 

Reconciliation means to replace hostility, anger and separation with God's peace and friendship for the entire church.  What about forgiveness?  It means to release someone from the liability to suffer punishment or penalty.  It comes from the Greek word to let go, release or remit.  As God opens our eyes to see how we have sinned against others, He offers a way to find freedom from wrongs.   

 

Here are some Biblical principles of forgiveness to consider:

1)       Address everyone involved.      Ps 32:5; 41:4

2)       Avoid using the words if, but, maybe to minimize or excuse guilt. 

3)       Admit specific details.     Luke 15:21

4)       Acknowledge the sorrow or hurt you have caused someone.

5)       Accept the consequences of your actions.     Luke 15:19

6)      Ask for forgiveness like this, "Will you forgive me?"   Pease don't say, "Sorry!"    

  Col 3:13

7)       Alter your behavior in the future.    

 

It starts with you!  That's right.  All it takes is one person in the church who hears the call to reconcile, forgive and offer peace to his brother and sister.  It starts with you!  Ask God to give you a longing to see a culture of peace in your church that reflects the heart of the Gospel.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:9 that a great blessings is in store, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God".