An “impersonal God” – well and good. A subjective God of beauty, truth and goodness, inside our own head – better still. A formless life-force surging through us, a vast power which we can tap – best of all. But God Himself, alive, pulling at the other end of the cord, perhaps, approaching an infinite speed, the hunter, king, husband – that is quite another matter. There comes a moment when the children who have been playing at burglars hush suddenly: Was that a real footstep in the hall? There comes a moment when people who have been dabbling in religion (“Man’s search for God!”) suddenly draw back. Supposing we really found Him? We never meant it to come to that! Worse still, supposing He had found us?
C.S. Lewis

STRIFE

STRIFE

STRIFE

  1. Christ, an example of avoiding # Isa 42:2 Mt 12:15-19 Lu 9:52-56 1Pe 2:23
  2. Forbidden # Pr 3:30 25:8
  3. A work of the flesh # Ga 5:20
  4. An evidence of a carnal spirit # 1Co 3:3
  5. Existed in the church # 1Co 1:11
  6. EXCITED BY 6a) Hatred

    # Pr 10:12

6b) Pride # Pr 13:10 28:25 6c) Wrath # Pr 15:18 30:33 6d) Frowardness # Pr 16:28 6e) A contentious disposition # Pr 26:21 6f) Tale-bearing # Pr 26:20 6g) Drunkenness # Pr 23:29,30 6h) Lusts # Jas 4:1 6i) Curious questions # 1Ti 6:4 2Ti 2:23 6j) Scorning # Pr 22:10 7) Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it # Pr 17:14 8) Shameful in saints # 2Co 12:20 Jas 3:14 9) SAINTS SHOULD 9a) Avoid # Ge 13:8 Eph 4:3 9b) Avoid questions that lead to # 2Ti 2:14 9c) Not walk in # Ro 13:13 9d) Not act from # Php 2:3 9e) Do all things without # Php 2:14 9f) Submit to wrong rather than engage in # Pr 20:22 Mt 5:39,40 1Co 6:7 9g) Seek God’s protection from # Ps 35:1 Jer 18:19 9h) Praise God for protection from # 2Sa 22:44 Ps 18:43 10) Saints kept from tongues of # Ps 31:20 11) MINISTERS SHOULD 11a) Avoid # 1Ti 3:3 2Ti 2:24 11b) Avoid questions that lead to # 2Ti 2:23 Tit 3:9 11c) Not preach through # Php 1:15,16 11d) Warn against # 1Co 1:10 2Ti 2:14 11e) Reprove # 1Co 1:11,12 3:3 11:17,18 12) Appeased by slowness to anger # Pr 15:18 13) It is honourable to cease from # Pr 20:3 14) Hypocrites make religion a pretence for # Isa 58:4 15) Fools engage in # Pr 18:6 16) Evidences a love of transgression # Pr 17:19 17) LEADS TO 17a) Blasphemy # Le 24:10,11 17b) Injustice # Hab 1:3,4 17c) Confusion and every evil work # Jas 3:16 17d) Violence # Ex 21:18,22 17e) Mutual destruction # Ga 5:15 18) Temporal blessing embittered by # Pr 17:1 19) Excludes from heaven # Ga 5:20,21 20) Promoters of, should be expelled # Pr 22:10 21) Punishment for # Ps 55:9 22) Strength and violence of–Illustrated # Pr 17:14 18:19 23) Danger of joining in–Illustrated # Pr 26:17 24) Exemplified 24a) Herdmen of Abram and of Lot # Ge 13:7 24b) Herdmen of Gerar and of Isaac # Ge 26:20 24c) Laban and Jacob # Ge 31:36 24d) Two Hebrews # Ex 2:13 24e) Israelites # De 1:12 24f) Judah and Israel # 2Sa 19:41-43 24g) Disciples # Lu 22:24 24h) Judaising Teachers # Ac 15:2 24i) Paul and Barnabas # Ac 15:39 24j) Pharisees and Sadducees # Ac 23:7 24k) Corinthians # 1Co 1:11 6:6