STRIFE - THE ENEMY OF MEN

These signs of the times are becoming more and more prevalent in these last days. The people are running to and fro looking for wisdom, but none shall come to those running. Gossip is in full stride void of restraint or limit. The people with itching ears are listening for remedies but none shall come to them. Yes, they look unto man but no man by himself shall deliver them because the only Deliverer has already come and they noticed it not (knew Him not). Yes, My son and daughter, many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers you out of them all. Yes, they look for people who say what they want to hear rather than looking inside their heart to notice they are a major part of the problem. Yes, many men and women in the earth today are the large part (percentage) of the problem. You can search My Word for wisdom and wisdom will speak out to you. However, if you seek not, how can you find? If you ask not, how can I answer? If you knock not, how can I open unto you the door of My Heart? The answer to all the problems in the world today can be found in the Holy Scriptures. The reason I placed it inside the Holy Bible is so that knowledgeable men could teach unlearned men the truth to set them free. Man desperately needs to know that wisdom is in the Word of God. Man needs to understand that Jesus came to set him free and once he is free he can set other men free by accepting the truths of God’s Word which is the wisdom of God. However, man’s biggest stumbling block of today is “strife”. Yes, that is exactly why I am prompting My Children to stopping watching the “strife of political parties” because these six things do I hate, yes seven are deplorable to me.

Proverbs 6:16-19
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. KJV

Of the seven abominations notice that five are staring you right in the face when you watch the political analysts on TV. Many are proud of their political party and make no apologies for the parties past mistakes. Many lie without regard for truth or even merit for the things in which they proclaim. Many devise crooked and perverse angles to bias their report to favor their own cause. It is not about reporting the facts, today it is more important to many journalist to keep their job by supporting the views of their network or owner. Fiction is acceptable in today’s media if it creates the friction they seek to boast ratings. The majority of the news stations can not wait to spread tragedy, not only are they quick to report mischief but they are also prompt to go find it. There are so many false witnesses in the media today that the few true witnesses are not believed. They are thought to be crooked because perverse minds believe guilt by association. Yes, they are sowing major discord among the brethren which I hate. This word brethren is two fold; first (and foremost) it is the family of God. You notice the splitting of political parties is dividing the Body of Christ and this division is the root of evil that is crippling the power of God. Yes, God’s power in the earth today is limited by the strength of His Body, yes, even the Bride of Christ. When the church is divided she is sick and this sickness will nullify her strength. Yes, strength comes from holiness and wisdom which “strife” negates both. Remember what I told you in James 3:14-16

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. KJV

This is a ploy of the enemy to keep the primary message of Christ hidden in the background. Yes, Satan, has inspired men to preach on differences rather than their similar problems. This message of division to put man against man keeps men from recognizing their common enemy the devil. His message is being propagated across the airways and the sad thing is that many Christians and preachers are joining into his scheme. This is not good and as My Word stated (verse 14) they are lying against the truth. No one, I repeat, no one can consistently speak evil of his (or her) brethren and be right in My Sight. No! I am a God of peace not “strife”. As a matter of fact being a person of “strife” is the root that grows in the heart of the anti-christ. That is the reason we are told to guard our hearts with all diligence; for out of the heart are the issues (forces) of life according to Proverbs 4:23. Since it is impossible for Me to Lie I can not lie against the truth but those who speak against their own brethren are speaking against Me and they don’t even realize it. Why would someone speak evil against Jesus? It is because they are deceived, they have sunken into darkness where the Light of Love is obscure to their eyes. If you hear enough darkness in your ears it will infiltrate your heart and in the process of time (if left un-dealt with) will cloud your vision (judgment) to the place where you see darkness through your very own eyes. Yes, even My Children of light can see darkness because darkness, just like light, starts from within the heart of men.

Matthew 6:22-23
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! KJV

Many have thought how can a light be darkness? (as mentioned in verse 23) I will tell you. First, imagine a crystal clear light bulb shining brightly for those coming into a room. Then, imagine that there is a substance of darkness also present in that room. Yes it is a bright light at first but now imagine that substance of dirt (and grease) starting to cover that bright light. Yes, imagine that slowly and steadily (like the constant hearing of one’s ears and seeing with one’s eyes) more and more spots and marks of dirt and grease cover that light bulb. Since it is impossible for that light to go out as long as it is connected to a power source as-soon-as that same light is totally covered with the filth (dirt) of this world it will glow with that darkness. Christ is the Light of the world but if the Christian continues to bring forth “strife” which is division they will radiate darkness. This weakens the Body of Christ and also weakens the Name of Jesus in the earth used by men which has a direct impact on the Power of God released in the earth today. The second part of “brethren” that the scripture in Proverbs 6:19 speak of has to do with unbelievers. All unbelievers are considered one family. Remember in Adam all die according to 1 Corinthians 15:22

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. KJV

Yes, in Christ Jesus all are made alive, therefore those in the world’s system that are outside of Christ are one family too. This truth of division also works against them. If they are divided they shall fall also. Yes, that is why this tool of division (strife) works so well for the enemy. A political moderate Christian once said, “I have argued with more Believers over the subject of politics then those who know not Christ and it is so frustrating when they expect all elected officials to agree with their Christian views”. The reason this person found it frustrating was because politics won’t make you moral only a Christ conscience of Love can do that. This type of Christian arguing over the direction of our country is exactly what the devil ordered for every nation under Heaven and here is the reason why. We are called to teach all nations the Gospel of Jesus according to Matthew 28:19,20, therefore we are not called (anointed) to debate the direction of our government. Remember 2 Timothy 2:24,25a proclaims the servant of the Lord must not strive: but be gentle unto all men, apt (able, inclined) to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. The moment we start fighting one another we have loss the message of love and the witness of Jesus thwarting the plan of God. Satan doesn’t need to divide you from unbelievers because you are already separated from them through the Blood of Jesus but he does need to divide fellow Christians from those in the Body of Christ. When you have to avoid your very own family you have no one left on your side or at least you can not enjoy the full strength of a joyful Body of Christ demonstrating the unity of Love. Likewise those in the world should understand that it is the goodness of God that will lead them unto repentance. Therefore, all unbelievers need to hear the core message of Jesus that teaches us to love one another just as He loves us. If the Christian preaches politics instead of the main message of showing love to one another is it not discord? Is it not dis-harmony? Is it not destructive as opposed to constructive? Yes, even those in the world have a higher level of success where there is unity but if they are divided too, they will also perish.

Matthew 15:12-14
12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. KJV

Yes, the enemy wins on both fronts when “strife” is reining. He conquers men in the world’s system so that they are driven further away from God and he drives believers further apart to ruin the influence of God’s unity of Love. He (the wicked one) will always seek to introduce “strife” into any and every situation so be wise as serpents but as harmless as a dove. The major key to having a successful nation is keeping your tongue from evil and your lips (not your neighbor’s lips) from speaking guile.

1 Peter 3:8-12
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. KJV

Obtaining God’s peace in this world (including America) is not rocket science but the simple truth of keeping our tongue to avoid all “strife”. I know that sounds profusely simple but God’s Truth is easy to understand (easy to be intreated, digested, comprehended) according to James 3:17-18

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. KJV

So don’t wonder about the ways of this world just simply know that God’s answer is right before their eyes and ears but they refuse to look and listen. Jesus Christ came to set the people in the world’s system free, so all those people in the world should be free indeed. However when men love darkness rather than light they are choosing to remain in bondage to sin and it’s consequences. Therefore, dear Believer, choose God’s Life no matter what your political persuasion is because freedom starts in your heart then gravitates to your home. Choosing to keep our tongue is the right strategy so that we can remain peacefully free in spirit, soul and body. This inner peace and freedom will infiltrate our households so that we can be at peace even when others choose not to follow the peaceful ways of Jesus. For wide is the way that leaded unto destruction and narrow is the way that leads to divine life.

Zechariah 8:16-17
16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD. KJV

Remember dear Christian your life (or death) is in the power of your own tongue according to Proverbs 18:21. Yes your individual tongue, so don’t wonder about your neighbors lest you get into “strife”. “Strife” is the deadly poison from the Serpent once bitten or stung that venom works decay and destruction in your life. Simply choose your words wisely because a false (dark) tongue will hasten decay (death) whereas a tongue of life will propagate God’s Love, yes even the blessings of God. Therefore choose you this day whom you will serve either peace for God’s glory or “strife” to the glory of this world. Choose Christ’s peace, quietness and love that both you and your seed may live. Amen!

In His Love, Eric & Angela Foster

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