There Is Destructive Power In Strife

THE STRONGMAN OF STRIFE

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

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

the strife ceaseth.

21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

I. DO WE REALY UNDERSTATE THE STRONGMAN'S DAMAGE TO THE INDIVIDUAL, HOME,

CHURCH AND SOCIETY?

FRICTION: The rubbing against, the force that resists, the clashing of two with opposite views...

CONFRONT: to challenge,

CONFLICT: not together, battle, fight, at war, opposing, incompatible, mental struggle,

DISACCORD: clash, to disagree,

DISHARMONY: discord, lack of harmony... conflict....

DIVISION: to separate, clique, exclusive, to be apart, break up, divorce,

DISCORD: to lack agreement, no harmony, quarrel, in fighting....

STRIFE: bitter conflict, contention,

WAR: open hostile conflict, hostility, struggle

II. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT STRIFE?

A. There was a little boy quietly watching cartoons, when his big brother comes into the

room and demands the REMOTE CONTROL... The little brother says: WHAT RIGHT

DO YOU HAVE TO COME IN HERE AND MAKE ME CHANGE CHANNELS.

The older brother replied with force... SEE MY FINGER? SEE MY THUMB? SEE

MY FIST? YOU BETTER RUN! The older brother joined his fingers in a fist

of unity... So away the lad ran...

B. The little boy felt like A WIMP...

When he got outside, he looked at his five fingers and made a little fist...

AND HE SAY TO THEM: WHY CAN'T THE FIVE OF YOU GET TOGETHER AND

GET ORGANIZED LIKE HIS?

Proverbs 18:6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

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

Proverbs 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

Proverbs 26:21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

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.

Isaiah 58:4 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.

Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,

maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

1 Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof

cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is

godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

III. WHEN YOUR FEARS BECOME A REALITY...

THERE CAN BE GREAT NEGATIVE POTENTIAL WHEN NEGATIVE PEOPLE JOIN TOGETHER

FOR NEGATIVE ISSUES...

A. TOGETHERNESS misfocused ... the ambition to be famous can be twisted...

B. In the ruins of Babel's Tower, in the center is an area devoted to many gods...

They could not agree on one god...

Genesis 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto

heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they

begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one

another's speech.

8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left

off to build the city.

C. Their unity to bring about togetherness and fame became a destructive power...

D. THEY OFFENDED GOD...

1. ONE LANGUAGE

2. The tower was destroyed, not because it was a tall building, but because of their

mind set to make MAN GOD...

3. The top of the tower was to be a testimony of HOW GREAT MAN WAS.

4. Their agreement was FOCUSED ON IDOL WORSHIP...

5. Too focused on man's ability and idol worship...

E. TODAY MAN'S FOCUS IS ON PLEASURE...THE FLESH...

F. COUNTRY COMMON SENSE...

I AM TOLD THAT YOU CAN TIE TO CHICKENS TOGETHER at their legs...

They are together, but if you throw them over a clothes line

WHILE THEY ARE UNITED, YOU CAN SEE THEY ARE NOT IN UNITY...