Conflict and resolution in family
 
Introduction

The source of conflict was the disobedience between mankind and God. Let us see how conflict came into existence and we can resolve them.

Content
  1. Source of conflict
    1. Comes from hearing the devil and when we are far from God. Eve was alone or absent from Adam's presence. The devil attacks us when we are mostly alone and when we are vulnerable.
      1. Genesis 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
      2. And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
      3. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
      4. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
      5. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing gResultsd evil.
      6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
  2. Results of conflict
    1. One of the result of the fall is the death of relationship with God. Man could not relate to God as before. Mankind went running from God. They could not talk to him in the cool of the day. The disobedience of man and woman broke their original glorious relationship with God.
      1. Genesis 3:8-11 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
      2. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
      3. And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
      4. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
    2. Death of relationship with one another. Adam blamed Eve when he was asked for the reason for the fall.
      1. Genesis 3:12-13 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
      2. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
    3. Loss of dominion on earth. They were sent out of the garden. The earth refused to produce as before. Life became hard as the result of the fall.
      1. Genesis 3:16-19 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
      2. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of field: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
      3. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
      4. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
  3. Satan continues to attack today
    1. We must be aware that Satan continues to attack families. Man gets into conflict with the wife sometimes. Wife sometimes initiate conflict with the husband. In all these, Satan is at work. Fight the devil by eliminating conflicts.
      1. Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
    2. We can defeat the devil by following the principles contained in the Word of God
      1. Ephesians 5:16, 22-25 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
      2. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
      3. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
      4. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
      5. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
  4. God gives power to overcome the enemy
    1. What was lost by the first Adam was restored by the second Adam. We can win this battle through Christ.
      1. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
      2. Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
 
Conclusion
  1. Obey the scriptures.
  2. Self assessment
    1. Can marriage be without conflicts?
    2. Who is source of conflict?
    3. What must you do to stay out of conflict?
  3. Name 3 steps that you can follow in your personal life to overcome conflict.