REPAIRING A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP

PROVERBS 18:19

A Broken Relationship• Prevention is better than cure• Maintenance is better than restoration• Sin breaks relationships frequently• Eph. 6:4 anger• Col. 3:21 discouragement• 2 Sam. 13:22 silence (Absalom toward Amnon) • 2 Sam. 6:20-23 in marriage• Gen. 27:41 Esau toward Jacob• Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to

win than a strong city

Repairing a Broken Relationship• Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to

win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle.

• Difficult or impossible? Luke 18:24-27• What not to do: (1) continue offending• (2) perpetuate by contentions Prov.17:9• What to do: (1) forgive• (2) demonstrate change Gen. 43-45 • (3) control your emotions Prov 16:32; Jm 1:19

God Repairs a Broken Relationship• Gen. 27:41 Esau plans to kill Jacob• Jacob makes a vow to God Gen. 28:20-22• God blesses Jacob 29-31• Jacob returns to Canaan 20 years later • A kind message for Esau 32:3-5• Esau coming with 400 men! 32:6• Jacob prays to God 32:9-12• Takes precautionary measures 32:13-21• Jacob & Esau reunited 33:1-11

God Repairs a Broken Relationship• We broke our relationship with Him by sinning

Isaiah 59:2• God sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself 2

Cor. 5:18-19• Requires trust I John 4:16; Rom. 10:9• Requires a change of heart v.16-17• We must be in Christ v.17 (requires baptism

into Christ Rom. 6:3-7)• Requires change of conduct v.17; Rom. 6:4• God is pleading with you now v.20