Strife - 1 a: bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension b : an act of contention : FIGHT, STRUGGLE
2 : exertion or contention for superiority
Midian- In the Hebrew Text means Strife.
Judges 6
1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian (STRIFE) seven years.
2 And the hand of Midian (STRIFE) prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites (STRIFE) the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites (STRIFE) came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites (STRIFE); and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.
7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites (STRIFE),
8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
As we read, please understand that you can put the name of any believer in there to replace the words, children of Israel.
Paralyzation of our FAITH is strife.
Over the years as a son of a Pastor and even as a Youth Pastor and now for the past few years a Senior Pastor, when I someone in the church that could not dwell in Unity and Harmony it hurts my heart and I can’t imagine what it does to the heart of God.
I hear of churches and people all over the country that are full of potential but people hinder the move of God.
Strife paralyzes my Faith.
It is water on the flame.
When did Strife developed?
When the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.
The only thing that really matters is the “sight of the Lord”. The Sight of the Lord is seen when no one else on earth can see.
It means they displeased the Lord. They made him disappointed.
Evil-grief, hurtful, troubled, wicked.
God looked at them and said they were causing trouble.
Listen to what the Prophet said to Israel:
9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
Unbelief literally translates - unfaithfulness or disobedience.
God said I saved you, set you free, delivered you, I have blessed you, but you have not obeyed my voice.
Strife is disobedience to God.
IF YOU LIVE A LIFE OF STRIFE AND ALWAYS KEEP SOMETHING GOING AND ALWAYS PICKING UP THE TELEPHONE AND GOING BEHIND PEOPLES BACK TO BUILD YOUR OWN LITTLE KINGDOM, YOU ARE SINNING!
As strife develops, we see the definition of strife:
Hebrew word for strife – Chidding or contention, controversy, quarreling.
Greek-quarrelling, contention debate, conflict,
IT IS A DESCISION THAT YOU MAKE.
Luke 22
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
This was between His disciples. Those who loved him, spent time with him.
Strife over who teaches the class, who gets to sing, who gets more handshakes, who’s on the board.
When was Strife displayed:
Some people love misery.
James 3
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
This is not of God.
Where you have envy and strife you have disorder.
What does Strife look like?
1. Sin
Proverbs 17
19 He who loves a quarrel loves sin;
You thought you were just wired that way and loved a good fight. No.
Strife is Rebellion
Numbers 27
14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation,
2. Separates
Genesis 13
7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Lot and Abram had to separate because of the strife.
3. Speaks
Psalm 31
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
4. Spreads
Strife does not affect only you; it affects everybody close to you.
I’ve had 100’s of opportunities to get my feelings hurt, just like everybody else, but It’s just not worth it.
Psalm 106
32 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
5. Sowed People don’t want to be in strife by themselves.
Proverbs 16
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
NIV 28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
When strife talks, people listen.
6. Stirred
Proverbs 15
18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Proverbs 29
22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
Proverbs 30
33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
Stirring it up! Can’t let it rest! Loves to stir trouble.
In marriage, it will make life miserable.
When you get a scab, it can’t heal unless you leave it alone
7. Starts small.
Proverbs 17
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
8. Scorner – ambassador, to be a mocker.
Proverbs 22
10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended.
That person that seems to be gifted to be in the middle of strife; always in the middle. ITS NOT A GIFT, IT’S A SIN.
They are on the phone, on the pew, always offering a helping hand.
9. Selfishness. It’s the easy way out.
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.
NIV 25 A greedy man stirs up dissension,
but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
10. Stupidity.
Proverbs 26
17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
NIV
17 Like one who seizes a dog by the ears
is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
The results of strife
1. Chased: V.2
It will chase for your friends, family, church, and job.
2. Chocked. There was no fruit.
Isaiah 58
3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
You can do Spiritual things but have no fruit in your life.
3. Chained. Opressed. Someone always upset and in gloom.
Dwelling together in Unity.
1 Corinthians 3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 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.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Remedy to Strife
1. Follow the Commandment – Romans 13
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
NIV
Romans 13
13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Look at the category God puts strife in to: (rioting and drunkenness) (Chambering and wantingness) (Strife and Envy)
It’s just as bad as having orgies and getting drunk or committing adultery.
Some people think there is a category called church sins, which are o.k.
Like gossip and backbiting.
2. Ceasing
What do we do about strife? 3 things:
1. Stop the Strife. Proverbs 20
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Honored or a fool?
2. Stop the Gossip. Proverbs 26
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
It’s not a matter of who’s right or wrong. We all have opinions.
3. Stop the Contention.
Philippians 2
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Husbands, wives, children, members.
Running for church-to-church wont calm the problem.
I don’t have to identify those in the church that love to live in strife, we all know who they are. We see it displayed almost weekly. You don’t need to look around, just think of who’s called you in the past few weeks, or set by you on the pew and spoke strife.
If you’re not sure if the shoe fits; examine your actions over the last few days. Your conversations with other people. The negative poison from your lips.
If you listen to it, you are no better then the person speaking it.
“I’m telling you this because I know you will pray.”
“I just didn’t know what to do so I’m going to asked you.”
“Well I guess you’ve already heard what I did or said so I’ll just go ahead and blab it.”
Listen…… Give it up….let it go.
