Do We Speak the Truth?

Healthy Relationships need TRUTH!

Our life should be a testimony of the power, creativity, and servant-hood of Jesus that it impacts our spouse, kids employer, friends to the degree that they say the same thing Pharaoh said about Joseph:
“Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?”  Gen. 41:38

God’s Love has two distinct sides to it. One is a long-suffering, merciful love, and other a firm and disciplinary love.
“For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines…”Hebrews 12:6

Eph. 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

In ANY relationship, there comes a time where it’s necessary to say things that are difficult to keep the relationship strong and make it better. This is also true in any  healthy team environment(Marriage, Kids, Work, Volunteering) .

To be healthy often involves having a hard and challenging conversation with someone knowing they need correction in an area that is affecting them and others. (Speaking Truth)
These are always discussions we would rather not have but we know are necessary for the continued health of the relationship with the individual.(Truth in Love-Tough Love)

The Bounding of any Team:
*Let us live up to what the Lord has called us to.
a) with Humility not with pride
b) with gentleness: Balance to know when to do the right things when it is needed.
c) with Patience: bearing with one another.
d) with Love: Agape
One body, one Lord, one Hope, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of All.
Are we preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bound of Peace?

Over the years, I’m sure we all have had many of these issues that required “tough love” to address them.  But dealing with issues  like this have included us having to say things such as:
*You’re too controlling …
*You need to take some charge
*Be a leader not a complainer
*You can be perceived as a jerk to people…
*Your personal life is dragging down the team…
*Your lack of respect for authority is dragging down the team and the leader
*You have body odor…
*You’re making unwise decisions…
*You are non-responsive…
*You don’t know how to take constructive criticism…
*You are moving too fast…
*You are moving too slow…
*You are uncooperative…
*You need to be a Team player.

***It’s NOT about YOU, it’s about Jesus.

There have been times when someone needed to have similar “tough love” conversations with ME, and those discussions always made ME better, as difficult as they were to receive at the time.

Some principles for dealing with those times:
–Pray and allow time for the Holy Spirit
to Lead:
1. Handle as quickly as possible – If the problem is clear in your mind (and usually everyone else’s mind), and you’ve witnessed the problem long enough to know it’s a pattern, don’t delay long in addressing the issue.

2. Be honest and truthful- This is not the time to shift blame, make excuses, or dance around the issue.
* Let us put off the Old man and put On the New man in Christ.
a) take the old nature off and lay it on the side
b) Start being renewed in the attitude of our mind and living as Christ has Called us to in Righteousness and Holiness .
c) Start telling the truth
d) Deal with your anger: don’t give the devil a foothold
d) Stop with the stealing(others ideas)
e) Watch your language (tongue)
f) Stop the personal attacks (speak Blessings and Peace verses Curses)
g) Let the Spirit of God work in you to make HIS fruits evident in your life.

3. Be kind and helpful – Your end goal should be to make the member and the team BETTER after the conversation.

4. Have a two-way conversation – You should be willing to LISTEN as much as you speak.
*You may not have all the facts exactly right…or you may have…but give the person a chance to respond to the criticism you are addressing.
* This also means you should have a two-way conversation and not a multiple party conversation.
*You should address the issue with the person you have a problem with, not with others behind his or her back.

5. “Move forward” after the conversation – The person being corrected should leave with your assurance that YOU ARE “Moving Forward”, and provided improvements are made.
*Do not plan to hold the issue against him or her. It will be important he or she sees you responding likewise.

Victory won’t come unless we move forward – You can’t realize the rewards of a God-given vision until YOU take the required actions.
*** Standing still is safer, but it doesn’t bring the satisfaction of a well executed, bold move of faith.

6. Scripture.
Eph. 6:13 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. 14 Truth, righteousness, 15 peace, 16 faith, 17 and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.

7. Know when enough is enough – You shouldn’t have to have these type conversations too frequently.
*Talk becomes cheap if there’s no backing to what’s agreed upon.
* If there seems to be no improvement over time, harder decisions or more intensive help may be needed.

If you have done the other steps here, there is a time when tough love says “that’s enough…NO MORE.”

As a Believer/Leader-All our flowery words about Jesus are not enough.
Our ACTIONS must match our words in order for it to become truth.

To experience the “fullness of God”
is to have His supernatural Love,
Wisdom and Power flowing into and out of our lives.
“But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance…”
Philippians 4:18

One of the most difficult times for me is addressing issues like above.
*We are created to serve.
*Ask God to help you deal with an area of struggle in your life.
*Let’s be a balanced Body, more than conquerors, for the glory of God. Let’s not give the devil a foothold to slow us down.
Zechariah 8:16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the lord.

Those who trust in the Lord will
walk in the light of His Love.
“They looked unto Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”Psalm 34:5

Tell the truth!  Wouldn’t we all benefit from such an approach to life?  Peace!

Dear Lord help me this day to speak Blessings and Peace verses Curses over all my Circumstances in Life. Help me to see the BIG Picture (Your Purpose) in all I do. Even if I can’t see the Big Picture give me Your Supernatural Trust in YOU!  It’s ALL about YOU JESUS—YOUR GLORY! Amen