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What is strife and discord?
Strife
1. vigorous or bitter conflict; Joyce Meyer always called it an angry undercurrent in the home or the church; can be at work or anywhere else
Discord
1. lack of harmony between persons or things:
Galatians 5:19-23
19 Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility and lack of self-control),
20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies],
21 [envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Do we believe that???
We regularly quote the promises of God from the Bible, standing on what we know is ours as children of God. But, what about the things that can cause us to be disinherited? Strife is on that list so let’s take a good look at it.
How does strife begin?
Romans 1:28-32
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or consider Him worth knowing [as their Creator], God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do things which are improper and repulsive,
29 until they were filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice and mean-spiritedness. They are gossips [spreading rumors],
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors [of new forms] of evil, disobedient and disrespectful to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful [without pity].
32 Although they know God’s righteous decree and His judgment, that those who do such things deserve death, yet they not only do them, but they even [enthusiastically] approve and tolerate others who practice them.
Proverbs 13:10
Through pride and presumption come nothing but strife,
But [skillful and godly] wisdom is with those who welcome [well-advised]
counsel.
Proverbs 18:6-7
6 A fool’s lips bring contention and strife,
And his mouth invites a beating.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
Proverbs 30:33
Surely the churning of milk produces butter,
And wringing the nose produces blood;
So the churning of anger produces strife.
James 3:13-16
13 Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and [as a result] be in defiance of the truth.
15 This [superficial] wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, (unspiritual), and even demonic.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
If we have strife in our homes or in our church, then why are we surprised that we face such battles? Maybe it’s not the devil but our own disobedience to God’s Word.
What kind of person stirs up strife?
Proverbs 28:25
An arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the LORD will be blessed and prosper.
Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered and undisciplined man commits many transgressions.
Proverbs 17:19
He who loves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome;
He who [proudly] raises his gate seeks destruction [because of his arrogant
pride].
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and
overlooking another’s faults].
Proverbs 16:28
A perverse man spreads strife,
And one who gossips separates intimate friends.
1 Corinthians 3:3
You are still worldly [controlled by ordinary impulses. For as long as there is jealousy and strife and discord among you, are you not unspiritual, and are you not walking like ordinary men [unchanged by faith]?
Proverbs 20:3
It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife (by handling situations with thoughtful foresight), but any fool will (start a) quarrel (without regard for the consequences).
Things God hates
Proverbs 6:16-19
16 These six things the LORD hates;
Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him:
17 A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that creates wicked plans,
Feet that run swiftly to evil,
19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths],
And one who spreads discord among brothers.
Life is better without strife
Proverbs 17:1
Better is a dry morsel [of food served] with quietness and peace
than a house full of feasting [served] with strife and contention.
We are one body and need each other. We should not have strife in the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:18-26
18 But now [as things really are], God has placed and arranged the parts in the body, each one of them, just as He willed and saw fit [with the best balance of function].
19 If they all were a single organ, where would [the rest of] the body be?
20 But now [as things really are] there are many parts [different limbs and organs], but a single body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 But quite the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are [absolutely] necessary;
23 and as for those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, these we treat with greater honor; and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 while our more presentable parts do not require it. But God has combined the [whole] body, giving greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25 so that there would be no division or discord in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it.
Galatians 5:14-16
14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].”
15 But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship or your entire family] are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].
How should we act?
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].
32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from selfishness or through strife or from a vain opinion, but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.
2 Timothy 2:23-26
23 But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant and useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels.
24 The servant of the Lord must not participate in quarrels, but must be kind to everyone [even-tempered, preserving peace, and he must be], skilled in teaching, patient and tolerant when wronged.
25 He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it],
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
James 3:17-18
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace [by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals]. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace!
Will the fruit of righteousness grow in strife? No!
Matthew 12:37
For by your words (reflecting your spiritual condition) you will be justified and acquitted of the guilt of sin; and by your words (rejecting Me) you will be condemned and sentenced."
Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a
dam; first it trickles and then it gushes]; Therefore [abandon the quarrel
before it breaks out and tempers explode.
I have lived in a home where strife was prevalent. That angry undercurrent was like gasoline flowing through my home and one spark would set everything off.
Psalm 18:20-21
A man's stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.
A Prayer of Repentance and Freedom
Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that you forgive me for every word spoken and every action taken that was not pleasing to you.
Forgive me for not acknowledging You or the presence of the Holy Spirit. If I had, I would not have said and done the things I have said and done.
Forgive me for every curse I have spoken over myself and others, whether I realized what I was saying or not.
I ask that you forgive me for every time I have agreed with the enemy instead of what You have spoken over my life.
Forgive me, I pray, for hurting others and stirring up strife out of pride, arrogance, greed, anger, presumption, jealousy, selfish ambition, hatred, or perversion.
Forgive me also, Father, for not studying Your word more and not seeking Your face sooner so that I would have already known these things.
I come out of agreement with every covenant I have made with the enemy.
I break every blood covenant.
I break every agreement I have made with the enemy.
I cancel every assignment the enemy has been sent on because of my words.
I ask God that you shield, heal, and restore me and others I have affected with my words.
I submit my heart, my mind, my body, my emotions, and especially my tongue to You to be used only for Your glory.
Thank you, Jesus, for Your love and Your mercy.
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