Contentions
Good Morning,
The Holy Spirit moves inside believers when they get saved. The question is, how much liberty does the Holy Spirit have to shape the believer into the image of Christ?
Giving God our minds, activities, friends, and associations will make us more pliable in the hands of the Holy Spirit. We will become Christlike more quickly.
When we yield our members to the world, we will find a constant war between us and the Spirit.
Romans 6:13 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
The Holy Spirit will have a dramatic effect on our spirits if we allow Him to rule in our hearts. If not, we will have a worldly spirit from the world that will control our daily lives.
Contention is a sure sign that the Holy Spirit is not in leadership, and that the flesh is in control. Notice what God says about it:
Proverbs 13:10 “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”
The result of pride is contention. There is no other way to view this verse. Whether it be in church or in marriage, at work or with in-laws, contention displays pride.
We should stop before we begin.
Proverbs 17:14 “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.”
Christians are urged to “leave off contention” before it begins. We should not meddle with contention. I know people who consider an argument to be just a good, healthy discussion, but that is far from the scriptural definition of conversation among believers.
Love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness... these are a result of the Holy Spirit bringing forth fruit. When a spirit of contention comes into our world it is the result of the world and pride, not the Spirit of God.
Believers are to LEAVE OFF or walk away from contention. We are not to meddle in a contentious situation.
Proverbs 18:6 “A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.”
A fool can be drawn into a contentious conversation. Turning from a contentious situation is not cowardice; it is wise and spiritual. Proverbs 17:14 says to leave off contention and not to meddle with it. Proverbs18:6 says entering into contention is foolish.
Proverbs 22:10 “Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.”
God directs us to cast out the scornful person, and when we have done that, contention will go with him. This is not very popular, but it is scriptural. Do not spend time with a contentious person; avoid them, walk away from them, and if possible, remove them from your relationships.
Contentious children need to be corrected before they become a plague to society. In our marriages, we are to labor to avoid contention and not to allow our pride to pull us into a contentious conversation.
Paul brings more insight to this subject in his writing to Timothy.
2 Timothy 2:24 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,”
Speaking of the pastor, HE MUST NOT STRIVE!
James tells us that heavenly wisdom, wisdom gained from the Holy Spirit’s leading, will be pure, peaceable, and gentle.
James 3:17 “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.”
These attributes are not natural; they are a spiritual product of yielding our lives to the Holy Spirit’s control.
Winning an argument has nothing to do with being spiritual, but rather being good at talking in the power of the flesh, not the Spirit.
Pastor