Loving Difficult People
Wednesday October 23, 2019
1. Living in God’s Will for Your Life
A. Christ is now alive in you the hope of Glory
1. Col 1:26-29 TPT Christ in you the hope of glory.
2. Col 2: 3, 6-14 NLT Christ in you the hope of glory.
3. Col 3:3-11, 16-17 NLT Our real life is hidden in Christ
4. Gal 2:20 NLT Paul understood this
5. Eph 1:3-12 NLT Every spiritual blessing in Christ
6. Eph 1: 15 – 2-7 NLT Paul’s prayer
7. 2 Cor 5: 14-17 NLT New creation in Christ
B. 1 Peter 3: 1, 7-18 (NLT)
1. 1 Peter 3: 9a NLT Ex. Before saved vs. after saved. New Creation in
Christ. Allows you to have a better relationship with spouse as well as others.
2. 1 Peter 3: 9b NLT God has called you to do, and he will grant you his
Blessing. If you are a Disciple then you will respond in this matter.
3. 1 Peter 3: 10-11 NLT
4. 1 Peter 3: 12a NLT We have to pray for our enemies and God hears our
Prayers. Have you ever prayed for someone’s demise or for them to be better?
5. 1 Peter 3: 15 – 16 NLT Pray for that person who is difficult.
6. 1 Peter 3: 18 NLT
C. What you need to do before you face a difficult person.
1. Pray Persistently. Start praying before you see that person or be around that person. If someone hates you it’s for 1 of 3 reasons
a. They see you as a threat
b. They hate themselves
c. They want to be you
2. Respond Lovely.
a. That’s interesting. Tell me more
b. That’s interesting. Why would you say that?
c. That’s interesting. Why would you ask that?
d. I want to hear everything you have to say, just not in that manner.
These responses have the potential to deflate the negative emotion in the
Room and draw attention to the unkindness, but in a respectful manner.
3. Compliment Courageously.
Next time you are faced with a difficult person try to find something about them you appreciate and tell them.
Why? Sometimes people are difficult because they do not feel appreciated or valued. When they feel appreciated, often times they release whatever anger they are holding on to.
This is what the Bible promises us. We will inherit a blessing when we love the unlovely.
The blessing may be a renewed or repaired relationship
The blessing may be the opportunity to Disciple someone.
The blessing may be the power of God working through us in a difficult situation.
There will always be a blessing when we choose to love the unlovely.
Imagine this world if every Christian decided to love the unlovely.
Just imagine. We are never more like Christ than when we love the unlovely.
[Pastor Bobbie Chavis]
