…it’s one thing to be attacked from the outside, but quite another for the disruption to happen from within the family. Hear our prayers for people we love.

The Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Titus 3:10-11

Dear Jesus, I’ve gotten word this week about the emergence of an ugly conflict which is threatening the beauty of an important gospel-ministry overseas. A gifted but weary team cannot seem to agree on the best way to move forward and things are starting to implode.

New members of the team are bringing fresh ideas without tact, and old members of the team are showing signs of “the hardening of the categories.” The collision is messy and only the devil seems to be winning. As I pray for this situation, hear our prayers for similar painful stories playing out elsewhere.

We’re not naïve, Jesus, we know that until you return Satan will do everything he can to sabotage the ministry of the gospel. He hates you. He hates your church. He hates your kingdom. However, it’s one thing to be attacked from the outside, but quite another for the disruption to happen from within the family. Hear our prayers for people we love.

Jesus, for your servants who’ve lost sight of their goal and redoubled their efforts, grant deep gospel-breaths and the regaining of an eternal perspective. These are good people who are acting badly right now. You’ve placed them in such a needy part of the world, and they… the team… desperately need you more than anyone right now. Show up powerfully.

For those who’ve become counter-productively quarrelsome about important matters, clarify the real issues, Jesus, and help your servants replace resentful banter with kind listening and gentle instructing. Only you can lead any of us to a knowledge of the truth… believers and non-believers alike. Only you can bring us to our senses and help us escape the devil’s entrapments.

Jesus, for those who’ve become devilishly divisive under the guise of “fighting the good fight,” convict them about how warped and sinful a thing it is to be divisive. You command us to be diligent—to make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

Help the most divisive personalities sort out what they’re so angry about. What hurts and unresolved conflicts did they bring with them to the mission field? What venom are they injecting into the current situation that has nothing to do with the future of the mission? Show them before any more unnecessary harm is done.

Jesus, write great stories of reconciliation and redemption, for your name’s sake… for your glory… for the advancing of your kingdom. May repentance and healing on the team reverberate like beautiful music in their community. So very Amen, I pray, in your all powerful name.

Scotty Smith is the founding pastor of Christ Community Church (PCA) in Franklin, TN. He now serves as Pastor of Preaching, Teaching and Worship. Additionally he serves as an adjunct professor at Covenant Theological Seminary and teaches at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. This article is taken from his blog, Heavenward, and is used with his permission.