Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May the peace and joy of Jesus Christ rest and abide with you all.

I am really thanking God for all the prayers and support given to me so far. Since last Tuesday night, I have been down with a fever. For the first two days I was unable to figure out what was happening to me, but the church really helped me to move forward. So, I thank everyone for your prayers and support. In the last week, because of my sickness, I could not attend the phone calls with my usual dedication. God willing, in the days to come, He will strengthen me to be a helping tool to the Church.

Over the Last two weeks, we have been discussing various important elements which could affect a relationship. The reason why we are discussing various aspects of a relationship is that unless the relationship between God and man is established, the situation will be full of thorns and tussles. Many people are unable to realize that the problems they are facing are the consequence of their relationship status with God. Few thinks that if they make the right choices or if they have enough strength and money, their life will be problem free. They assume that their mistakes or the situations in which they are trapped in, are the reasons for their pain. To believe this deception, the worldly system will give many reasons, but to find the truth we need to repent; otherwise, truth will be blinded to our eyes. Let it be any kind of relationship, such as, between you and your work or you and your family or you and your health; if you face problems in any such areas then it is high time to sit in the presence of God and pray for repentance.

This week we are going to see the third important aspect in this discussion about relationships, which is conversation. When I was doing my PG degree, we had great arguments during class. Due to this, many junior lecturers were hurt because they could not take the arguments. They wanted us suspended, but five of our senior lecturers stood with us and explained that this is the classic way how education is going in the wrong direction, that is by discouraging discussions. We are not animals that fight for their rights by means of a battle, rather we live together as a society. Everyone has the responsibility to make society a better place. By teaching what you have learned, you learn new things, and the more you learn, this quality of learning will help you to find ways for your problems. This is a very Godly principle. Merriam-Webster English dictionary defines conversation as the oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions, or ideas. A conversation will help a relationship, but an argument will destroy it. So, the first important thing is, identifying the difference between argument and conversation.

In an argument or by developing the habit of arguing, there are lots of evil habits that grow within us. To explain this, I am using the relationship between God and man. God is not arguing with Man but is making conversation in Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” Here, God is inviting us to share our opinions with Him so that we can be delivered from our sinful habits. So, a conversation helps us in deliverance; but arguments are ungodly. 1 Corinthians 11:16 “But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.” In an argument, the people who are involved fight for their opinions.  They will not take time to analyze their opinions. In Psalms 139, in the verses 21 & 22 David is communicating to God his opinion, and immediately in the next two verses (23 & 24) he wants to reconfirm it with God that he is following a Godly habit. When we sit in the presence of God and converse, we will realize where and when we have deviated from the Truth, and it will really help in our deliverance. However, in an argument, the first evil quality that is present is assuming. We observe a situation, and we assume what we have observed as the truth. This will easily deceive us because we may not observe everything in the right way. Second evil quality is stubbornness. Most of the time, because of our stubbornness we deny what the other person has learnt, and we become a hindrance to them. Thirdly, arrogance and hypocrisy. These evil habits will put down their roots next. Genesis 3:4,5 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Here we can see the temptation. The temptation is very simple: it makes them speculate about the future. When tomorrow is not even born, the devil makes them think about something which is not born yet. Therefore, in an argument we are led into temptation through speculation. Therefore, let us submit our lives to the potter, so that the nature of arguing may leave us, and we can learn the holy act by sitting at the feet of Jesus Christ and by having a healthy conversation.