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BIBLE STUDY with JJ DANIEL @ Word2day.com - home of Strombolis eZine

 

Disunity and Strife = PRIDE = Destruction!

JJ Daniel, Washington

 

As you read this - you will see that I am passionate about this topic; I believe that our Heavenly Father is quite passionate about it also.

 

Proverbs 13:10 "ONLY BY  PRIDE COMES CONTENTION…"

 

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

Proverbs 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

 

Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

 

Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

 

Galatians 6:10 "AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD UNTO ALL MEN, ESPECIALLY UNTO THEM WHO ARE OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH."

 

Ephesians 4:3 "…ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE."

 

When I went to see the movie “The Passion Of The Christ” I expected to be effected by the reality of the pain and suffering that Jesus experienced in my place, and I was. One message from the movie that stays with me, and is currently on my mind, is how Jesus treated those who persecuted and mocked Him.  In the middle of all the pain and suffering He was experiencing, with His last ounce of strength – He prayed for His enemies: “Father, forgive them – they know not what they do.”

 

Clearly, Jesus set the example for us - to “love one another” and even to “Love your enemies.”  Isn’t it amazing that we call ourselves "Christians” (definition: “Christ-like”), and still live our life in the middle of strife and disunity? Where is Jesus in that picture? 

 

How CAN this be?? 

 

Oh yes I know, and I am so very thankful, that Jesus became my "Righteousness" – yes, you are right… it is nothing that we do, or do not do that will take us to heaven.  PTL!!!  Thank You Father, for Your mercy!! However, how we live WILL determine how much of the “Kingdom of God” we experience, in this life – and how many we will take to heaven with us.

 

Let me ask you…

 

… Can we have the freedom to live our life any way we please, and still experience the blessings of God? 

… Why do we have the entire New Testament teaching us how to live like Jesus?

… Isn't The Bible to teach us? To instruct? To correct & even rebuke?  

… Is the life of JESUS a pattern for us to follow?

… Who was Jesus talking about when He said: “Many will say ‘Lord Lord’

… but I will say ‘I never knew you, depart from me…”?  Matthew 7:21-23

 

 Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

2 Timothy 3:16 "ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS:"

 

 Jesus came to "fulfill" the old covenant, and left here giving us only TWO commandments to live by:  “LOVE” and “LOVE”.

 

Mark 12:30-31 "THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH; THIS IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. AND THE SECOND IS LIKE IT! LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURLSEF. THERE IS NO OTHER COMMANDMENT GREATER THAN THESE."

 

John 13:34 "A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU; LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I LOVED YOU!"  

Also: John 13:34, 15:12, 15:17; Romans 13:8, 15:7

 

John 14:15 "IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS."

 

John 14:21 "HE THT HAS MY COMMANDMENTS AND KEEPS THEM - IT IS HE THAT LOVES ME! AND, THE ONE THAT LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, AND I WILL LOVE HIM AND WILL MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM"

 

1 John 2:4 "HE THAT SAYS I KNOW HIM, AND DOES NOT KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS IS A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM."

 

John 13:35 "YOU WILL KNOW MY DISCIPLES, BY THEIR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER."

 

 Disunity is one of the enemy's sharpest tools; a tool that he especially loves to use against the “Church.” He really doesn't even have to work hard at this one - we do most of it for him! How SAD!

 

Funny, isn’t it? When our life falls apart, or we just are not experiencing the blessings of God as we should... we try to blame God. He has given us life’s-manual, the Bible, with clear instructions for a blessed, happy and fruitful, successful life.

 

Tell me – where in the Bible does God BLESS strife? Of course He doesn’t! He couldn’t, even if His great-mercy wanted to; He can not go against His Word, and He already said that he HATES STRIFE!

 

Ø     God will NOT BLESS disunity & strife!

Ø     God will NOT ANOINT disunity & strife!

Ø     God will NOT ABIDE in disunity & strife!

Ø     God will NOT BUILD ON disunity & strife!

Ø     God will NOT ENDURE disunity & strife!

 

He COMMANDS us to LOVE! 

 

We preach love from the pulpit, counsel other's to love and forgive... tell the sinner that God is a God of LOVE... and then live our life in strife.  How CAN we call ourselves "Christ-like"?!?

 

Jesus would not even allow his friends to act against the soldiers who came to take Him to His death And today MANY who call themselves friends, or Disciples of Christ - rip each other up with their words every day!!  There is something WRONG with this picture, don’t ya think??!!

 

I John 4:8 AMP "HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HAS NOT BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH GOD - DOES NOT AND NEVER DID KNOW HIM; FOR GOD IS LOVE"     * ouch! * 

 

I Corinthians 13 "LOVE THINKS ONLY THE BEST OF OTHERS"

 

  Maybe we could trade the time we spend ‘in-strife’ for a time with the Lord, examining our own heart. Maybe, just maybe we need to take another look at our own life, and how our LOVE  measures up to Jesus, and God’s Word.

 

You know… work on the “BEAM” before you even consider the “toothpick”!  ha! 

 

 

Looking at the “Church” today… NO WONDER this generation of youth, even those raised in church, are out there searching for something “REAL!”

Ø     What kind of a picture do we paint of the Love of God?

Ø     What do unbeliever's see that they would desire?

Ø      What kind of SALT are WE??!!

Ø      Where can the world find “LIGHT” and “LOVE”?

  

I John 4:20 "ANYONE THAT SAYS 'I love God' BUT KEEPS ON HATING HIS BROTHER - HE IS A LIAR; FOR IF HE DOESN'T LOVE HIS BROTHER WHO IS RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF HIM, HOW CAN HE LOVE GOD WHOM HE HAS NEVER SEEN?" AND THIS COMMAND (charge, order, injunction) WE HAVE FROM HIM: HE WHO LOVES GOD SHALL LOVE HIS BROTHER (believer) ALSO."

 

I JOHN 4:20  "BRETHREN, IF YOU SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME, WHO YOU HAVE NOT SEEN, BUT HATE YOUR BROTHER'S - YOU ARE A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN YOU!"

 

More? John 3:9 -16; I John 2:12; I John 3:15

 

  If you find this too harsh, I am sorry – and I appreciate that you are staying with me.  Like I said, I am passionate about this. I have seen disunity ruin wonderful people, and destroy ministries. The devil is out to “steal kill and destroy” John 10:10 – and he often comes in with “they wronged me!” or “well they should have…” or “If they would just…” this or that. We have heard that “Love is a choice.” Do we realize that taking offence is also a choice? When we pick up an offense it can sometimes keep us in bondage for years; and the devil can take a vacation – because we are doing his work for him!

 

I have been directly involved in the church-ministry for many years, and I’ve had ample opportunity to take offence. I can tell you from personal experience – it is a CHOICE! And, making the choice to NOT take an offense is FAR BETTER than putting yourself into bondage because of something someone else did or said. It is our own freedom, victorious life and relationship with the Father that is affected by this choice.

 

Disunity is like a cancer! When strife & disunity is in leadership it is especially UGLY and dangerous; because it flows down to everyone who has submitted themselves to that leadership. LISTEN: If the leadership of your church is in strife and disunity, that church will not see a move of God; it will not be blessed financially; it will not grow. You will see that church come to nothing - if that spirit of strife and disunity is not stopped. If your church is taking two steps forward and five steps back… look for the strife. Yes, you can stay above it – if you are filled with the WORD of God, and are quick to recognize it. It’s always a “CHOICE.”

 

The Bible says to submit yourself to one another, speaking of those in Christ - but it does NOT say to come into agreement with SIN!! God Himself "HATES SIN."

 

It is easier to 'over-look' when it is a baby in the Lord I Tim 3:6; but when it is the LEADERSHIP claiming to be of the Kingdom of God who allow strife in their life and in their church - we have a big problem – and it SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY!!! I don't care WHO the person is!  If they tear down others, and other ministries, they are NOT living according to the commandments of God! 

 

Where IS JESUS – where is the love of God?

 

JAMES 3:16 "WHERE THERE IS STRIFE THERE IS CONFUSION AND  EVERY EVIL WORK"

 

ALL STRIFE COMES FROM PRIDE:

 

Proverbs 13:10 "ONLY BY PRIDE COMES CONTENTION: BUT WITH THE WELL-ADVISED IS WISDOM"

 

Proverbd 14:3 "THE MOUTH OF THE FOOLISH IS A ROD OF PRIDE; BUT THE LIPS OF THE WISE SHALL PRESERVE THEM"

 

Proverbs 16:18 "PRIDE GOETH BEFORE DESTRUCTION, AND A HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE A FALL”

 

Proverbs 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

 

Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

 

One  Proverbs translation reads like this: "STRIFE IS LIKE A TRICKLE IN A DAMN. IF LEFT ALONE, IT WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING IN IT'S PATH."

 

More… Lev 26:19; Job 35:12; Ps 10:4; Pr 8:13; Pr 29:23; Isa 23:9; Zeph 2:9-12

 

Zeph 2:9-12 Clearly shows how God handles pride: "...THIS SHALL THEY HAVE FOR THEIR PRIDE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPROACHED AND MAGNIFIED THEMSELVES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD OF HOSTS."

 

 It is PRIDE and DECEPTION that says: "They are wrong, I am right!" or "I would  never do that!"  etc.

 

Who are YOU to judge? WHAT do you think you are Doing - when you plant seed of discord among the brethren?? What "gift" or “fruit” is that??!!

 

James 4:11 "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge."

 

James 5:9 "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door."

 

1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

 

1John 3:16 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

 

Do you not have understanding of what you are doing - not only to YOURSELF = but to those around you?

 

Matthew 7  "JUDGE NOT, LEST YOU BE JUDGED. FOR WITH  WHAT EVER JUDGEMENT YOU GIVE YOU WILL ALSO BE JUDGED!"


Romans 14:13 "LET US NOT JUDGE ONE ANOTHER ANY MORE: BUT JUDGE THIS: THAT NO MAN PUT A STUMBLINGBLOCK OR AN OCCASION TO FALL IN HIS BROTHER'S WAY."

 

Gal 5:6-7 "BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED! WHAT EVER A MAN  SOWS, HE WILL ALSO REAP."

 

Deut 30:19   "I SET BEFORE YOU BLESSINGS AND CURRINGS...  CHOOSE LIFE!"

 

Ø     People... where is the display of God's love?

Ø      Where is the "living my life like Jesus did?"

Ø      WWJD??

 

Jesus will come back for a "BRIDE"  - ONE BRIDE - ONE WHOLE BRIDE! Not a disconnected, disjointed, dismembered dysfunctional Bride. He will return for a church without spot or wrinkle - a WHOLE Body.  NO WONDER He hasn't taken the church out of here yet!

 

Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

 

Romans 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

 

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 

Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

 

Galatians 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

 

Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

 

Ephesians 4:32: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 

 I Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

 

It is no accident that the Word of God speaks of the church as His "Body." Think about how God designed the Body.  It is intricate, it works perfectly... each part doing just what it was designed to do.

 

What kind of FUNNY, STUPID and ridiculous would it be... if my EYE decided it wanted to be a FOOT?  That would leave my foot to be the eye... how far would I get with that?

 

THINK on THAT picture for a moment! hehehe!

 

God didn't call you to BE "Jan Crouch" or to JUDGE Jan Crouch! He also did NOT CALL you to judge the pastor across town - or the young man who just doesn’t do things YOUR way!  I have searched the Scriptures, and I find nowhere that “judging others” is a GIFT or CALL of God! He called us to be who He designed us to be; JUST AS  HE called them to be what HE designed THEM to be!! 

 

Where in the Bible does it give us permission to rip apart another person, if they are not just like us... or if we don't happen to like their style??  Even if they have wronged us?!

 

WHERE is LOVE??!!

 

I can tell you, from resent experience that when the smallest part of the body hurts - it affects the ENTIRE BODY; as God said it SHOULD!  And yet we, the “Body of Christ”  - are our own worst enemy.   

 

LETS GET A GRIP CHURCH! Recognize the enemy in the camp, and REPENT!  Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to CLEAN UP the MESS we have allowed  - and planted in others!  Let’s run this race with integrity, and live a life-ruled-by-love - like Jesus did. Amen?

 

Yes... I am upset about this; but only at the enemy.  I HATE IT!  I hate that the enemy can walk right into the camp, deposit his poisonous venom, and is allowed to stay!

 

To me the WORST and SADDEST of all: "…whatever you do to the least of these brethren, you have DONE THAT TO ME."    Selah

 

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

 

James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

 

II Corinthians 13:11 "FINALLY BRETHREN, FAREWELL. BE PERFECT, BE OF GOOD COMFORT, BE OF ONE MIND, LIVE IN PEACE; AND THE GOD OF LOVE AND PEACE SHALL BE WITH YOU."

 

Could we agree together in prayer?

 

Father-God, we repent for allowing disunity and strife in our heart and out of our mouth. Forgive us Father. Put a guard on our lips: Holy Spirit, be our teacher, teach us to live a life of love - the same love that Jesus gave us. Teach us to "love one another" according to the Word, and to display that love to all we know... saint or sinner. Forgive us Father, for speaking words of judgment and disunity against You and Your children. Teach us to love, and to reflect that love in all that we say or do. Help us to be quick to forgive; Teach us to be that "spotless" and "complete" Body of Christ that You will return for.  We ask these things according to Your Word, and in Jesus Name.  Amen?  Amen and AMEN!

 

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.  I Thessalonians 5: 12-24

 

Father-God, help Your people to live inside of love and unity. Teach us to be more like Jesus. Forgive us for being such self-centered creatures, and caring about our self more than anything or anyone. We want to please You in what we do Father. Holy Spirit please teach us to guard against strife and disunity – to give You a “house” of love and unity to dwell in.  Asking according to Your Word and Your will Father, in Jesus Name.

 

 

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