CONTENTION Constant complaining is contention............ and when someone is contentious, it speaks louder about themselves than anyone else. The REAL battle is within: HUMILITY and PRIDE Proverbs 13:10: Only by PRIDE cometh CONTENTION. James 4:6-7 Wherefore he saith, GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD, BUT GIVETH GRACE UNTO THE HUMBLE. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Contention comes from pride, but God resists the proud. This is a reminder for us,,, to keep humble so our hearts arent full of complaints and contention. Especially toward other people.........Christ died for all of us We are to even treat our enemies with love, so why would we treat another person in the body of Christ with anything less than LOVE? Love and long-suffering are fruits of the Holy Spirit. Pride, contention, strife, accusing —all are the fruits of the devil. ( When we are contentious, we are self-centered and not Christ centered. Sometimes we develop habits of doing things or dont understand our own motivations for such behavior. We dont see ourselves with a problem or behavior issue........but we can point out others faults real easy. Funny how that works huh? But our WORDS and behavior does affects our families, loved ones, friends. and even ourselves. Sometimes we may not understand why we feel a certain way or think the things we do...........but when we stir up anger and create strife, it causes divisions. Sometimes if you arent at peace within yourself, you will stir things up. The voice you hear is from the devil, but you dont recognize it because your heart agrees with the devilss voice more than Gods word. You may be able to read Gods Word, but until you allow Gods word to change you by obeying the truth, your heart cannot be purified and changes cant take place. If you want to accuse someone or become contentious, YOU should ask yourself, Is this Jesus and God’s Word guiding me, or is it my own evil heart prompted by Satan telling me what to do in my thoughts? So pride exalts its ugly head, because I want my own way. I disagree with someone about something, so I contend with them. I accuse them. I want them to change their mind, because I want my own way. I don’t like what they said or did, so I want revenge. I want to give them a piece of my mind. And if I have to raise my voice to do so, I will do it. There is no way I want to take this matter to the person that is over the one I am contending with, because he might disagree with me. And if I contend with someone, I could care less who hears it. After all, I am right, and they are wrong. But woe, am I being an example of Christ when I contend? Am I showing love when I contend? Am I bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit when I contend? Am I setting a Christ-like example when I strive or contend with others, or could I actually be hurting those that are baby Christians, when I act like the devil? Will a person’s excuses be accepted at the Judgment for the times they contend or cause STRIFE? Absolutely, not. Not my judgement, but Gods judgment. Mk 7:21-23 FOR FROM WITHIN, OUT OF THE HEART OF MEN, PROCEED EVIL THOUGHTS,…DECEIT,…AN EVIL EYE,…PRIDE, FOOLISHNESS: ALL THESE EVIL THINGS COME FROM WITHIN, AND DEFILE THE MAN. I Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the father, but is of the WORLD. However we are to be more like this............Phili 2:3 Let Nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. ((Humility)) Humbleness Romans 13:12 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering, and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 1st Timothy 6:4, 5 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 distitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself. 2 Timothy 2:24 and the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men. … Ephesians 4:31 Let all.....ANGER......be put away from you Proverbs 20:3 It is an honor for a man to CEASE from strife but every fool will be meddling. Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water therefore leave off contention before it be meddled with. Proverbs 26: 17 He that meddleth with strife......is like one that taketh a dag by the ears. Proverbs 26: 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife. Col 3:8 But NOW…put off all anger out of your mouth........ Psalm 35:1 Plead My cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me. Fight against them that fight against me. Galatians 5:20-24 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, ..........wrath, stife, envyings, murders, drunkenness.......and such like of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Lets make sure we walk a straight path and stay on track ******* Note the kind of people that the Scriptures associate with STRIFE: wrathful, scorners, contentious, and carnal (or worldly-minded). Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly,…NOT in strife. May God give you the strength and the Holy Spirit assist for you to self evaluate to make sure you are not perpetuating evil behaviors and attitudes. Let us walk honestly in love, and esteem each other higher than ourselves. Let us be humble and walk every day in the Fruit of the Spirit .
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 14:38:14 +0000
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