Sermon Stirring Up Strife And Contentions

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[2] The title of the sermon today is “Stirring Up Strife And Contentions.”

The Definition Of Strife And Contention

• What is strife? What are contentions? Let’s see what these words mean.
• The definition of strife is to exert effort to be superior. A contest or struggle for victory.
• Contentions are the same thing. Strife and struggle to obtain something.
• Contentions are resisting a person in a contest or a quarrel. Controversy.

The VAST MAJORITY of “Christians” today don’t want any strife, no contentions, and zero struggle at all.

• They want to take it easy and have an easy life.
• They’ll say things like: “We shouldn’t argue with anyone. We shouldn’t cause arguments.”
• “We shouldn’t talk about the Bible because it just causes arguments.”

[3] Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

• What do the so-called “Christians” use that Scripture for?
• They’ll say, “SEE!!! You shouldn’t ever contend or argue or fight about the Bible.”
• “That Scripture right there proves that.” Well, let’s see today if that’s what this means.
• Does the Bible say to never contend, fight, or struggle at all in your life?

[4] Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

• So, let’s think about this. Someone told you to never argue about the Bible.
• Who told you that? Your church. Your preacher. Don’t cause strife and contentions. Don’t cause fights.
• But then this Scripture says to CONTEND. Contend for what? Contend for the faith.
• Is that not what the Scriptures say right there? So is the Bible contradicting itself?
• Someone says that one set of Scripture says to never contend for God. Never fight for God.
• And then another Scripture tells us to EARNESTLY CONTEND for the faith.

Earnestly means with eagerness and fixed attention. Focus on those people who preach against the faith.

• Listen for it. When you hear it, speak up and say something. Fight for it. Contend for it eagerly.
• This means you have a great desire to fight for the faith. You are going to fight for God’s word.
• You want His words and His truth to be spread in this world and not lies.
• Is that a bad thing? The so-called love, love, love “Christians” think so today.
• They think you’re a horrible person if you stand up for God and fight for His words.
• “Well, the Bible causes so many arguments so we don’t talk about the Bible.”

Contend for the faith means FIGHT FOR THE FAITH. Struggle for the faith. Stand up for God. Fight for God.

• Faith is hearing God’s words and believing what they say. Why? God’s word is truth.
• We are to fight for the truth. God commands us to do so throughout the Bible.
• If someone is preaching or teaching opposite of God’s word, they are fighting against faith.
• God didn’t initiate that fight. The liars initiated that fight against God’s word.
• “But, they are great Christians. We can’t fight with them.” Oh, are they? No they aren’t.
• In other words, they have created the strife and contention against the truth who is God.

I want to show you today in this sermon how this is one of the biggest lies in churches today.

• They say, “You shouldn’t argue about God’s word. You shouldn’t cause arguments with God’s word.”
• “Well, they are trying their best. Let’s all have peace all the time. No fighting. No contention. No strife.”

Why would a false preacher teach you all of those things when the Bible doesn’t?

• I’ll show you today that the Bible doesn’t teach that AT ALL. They’ve twisted the Scriptures.
• Why would they do that? So you sit there like good little false sheep and take in everything they say.
• So you hear them preaching something that doesn’t match what you’ve been reading.
• Their preaching comes to mind: “Don’t question anything because that causes contention and strife.”
• And you go with it because it’s the easy path. “I’ll just accept what my church says. It’s easier that way.”
• “I don’t want to go against the Bible and actually fight for the faith.”
• And we’ve all taken that path. I’ve taken that path. Guilty. Let’s get over it and do it the right way now.

[5] Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

• We’re going to forget the past. We’re going to forget the mistakes we’ve made in the past.
• We’re going to hear the truth in the Bible today, and we’re going to start putting it into action.
• It’s great to hear and learn the truth, but we need to put what we learn into action.
• And my job is to set an example for others. And that’s what I’m doing.
• We all need to stand up for God and preach the truth no matter who it offends.

So, do you see what they’re doing in the churches today?

• When a lowly little man like me with a tiny little church says something against them, everyone assumes the big church pastor is correct because he has a big church.
• He or she has all these people backing them up. THEY MUST BE RIGHT. God must be wrong.
• I’m not God, but I’m using God’s word. If I’m not, then please show where I’m wrong today.
• You’ll see the difference today in this church and those churches.
• We actually use the whole Bible. We show you correct doctrine that God teaches us throughout the Bible.
• So, who is causing contentions and strife? Is it me because I bring up their lie’s?
• Is it me because I preach against their false god that they’ve created?
• Well, let’s see today who is causing the strife and contentions. Let’s see what God says.

Go To The Scriptures To Find The Truth About Strife And Contentions

What do I do when I want to find the truth about a topic within the Bible?

• And look, you can do the exact same thing that I do. I search the Scriptures. How do I do this?
• I use words, and I study all the Scriptures with those words. I study the surrounding Scripture.
• I go through the entire Bible from cover to cover, and I develop doctrine from God’s words.
• What you’re hearing today is the result of that Bible study. So, what words did I study?
• I took 16 different words within the Bible and I studied all the Scriptures containing these words.
• No, I didn’t get a revelation from God that He’s given to no one else.
• It’s all right there in front of your eyes just like it’s right there in front of my eyes.

Here are the words I used for this sermon on stirring up strife and contentions.

• Contend, contended, contendest, contendeth, contending, contention, contentions, contentious.
• Strive, strived, striven, striveth, striving, strivings, strife, strifes.
• So, you can continue to listen to false preachers and allow them to guide you through life.
• Or, you can hear what God’s word actually says about contentions and strife.
• What would you rather be guided by today?
• God’s word or these evil and wicked men and women who preach lies to you? Think about that.
• I found 120 matches in 108 different verses. Let’s go through a lot of these today.
• I’ve put all of these Scriptures within the sermon on the website if you want to see them all.

[6] Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

• That’s the very first verse in the Bible with any of those 16 words I mentioned.
• What’s happening there? If you know the Bible, you’ll know what happens in Genesis Chapter 6.
• God’s Spirit is striving with man. God Himself is STRIVING against man. Why is that?

[7] Genesis 6:5-6 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

• God says, “I’m not always going to strive with man like this. I’ll put an end to it.”
• God is in charge. We aren’t. You aren’t. False preachers aren’t. Huge mega church pastors aren’t.
• God does what He wants, when He wants, how He wants, and it’s always the right thing. He is perfect.
• We aren’t perfect. We all sin against God every day, and we strive against God. We caused the striving.
• If we would have done what God said, there wouldn’t be any strife with God. So, what happened?

[8] Genesis 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

• Because of the strife that man caused against God, God sends the flood to destroy man.
• It grieved God that He made man. Why? Because man was wicked and evil.
• But the so-called “Christians” in today’s world don’t see any evil or wicked things being done.
• Why? Because everything is okay in their eyes. The truth is that it isn’t okay in God’s eyes.
• Men and women like to ignore all the evil going on with the preachers and pastors.
• “I didn’t see that. I didn’t hear that. He’s trying his best. She’s doing her best.”
• The truth is that they are STRIVING against God because they preach the opposite of what God says.

[9] Genesis 13:7-8 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

• This strife was between two saved men, Abraham and Lot. This strife was not between God and man.
• This strife was not about God or over the word of God. Was it? No, it wasn’t.
• So, that strife was easily solved because they were brethren. They were both saved men.
• They worked it out and they separated so their herds would have room.
• Strife between man and God can easily be solved as well.
• We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and have our souls forgiven of sin.
• Our flesh will still strive against God IF we walk in the flesh and not in the Spirit.
• To not strive against God, all we have to do is read, study God’s word, find out what He wants, and do it.
• Preaching lies about God and what He says is not the way to end strivings and contentions.

Within the Bible, we see men striving against each other. We saw Abram and Lot’s herdmen first.

• Then we see herdmen of Gerar striving with Isaac’s herdmen over water.
• We see God set laws against striving between men,

[10] Exodus 21:18-19 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: 19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.

• Men fight. One man hurts the other and pays for the loss of the other man’s time.

[11] Exodus 21:22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.

• If men are fighting and accidentally hurt a woman with child. The woman loses the child.
• But no other mischief follows, the man who strove with the woman’s husband will pay for that.
• Again, there are laws against someone being physically hurt by these strivings.
• Do you remember when Moses rebelled against God’s commandment?

[12] Numbers 27:12-13 And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

[13] Numbers 27:14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

• The congregation was striving against God and because of that striving against God, Moses got upset and sinned against God.
• Moses didn’t do what God told him to do. What did God tell Moses to do?

[14] Numbers 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

• Is that what Moses did? “Speak ye unto the rock before their eyes and it shall give forth his water.”

[15] Numbers 20:9-11 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

• God told Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses hits the rock twice with his rod.
• You might say, “Not a big deal. Water came out of the rock. End result is the same. The people were happy.”

When You Go Against God, It Is A Big Deal

• No, it is a big deal to God when you strive against Him by not following His commandments.
• You don’t allow others like an entire congregation to influence you to do evil.
• Evil is doing something different than what God says. Moses did evil when he went against God’s word.
• Did God get mad at Moses? Yes He did.

[16] Numbers 20:12-13 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

• Because they strove against God, they don’t get to come into the land which God promised them.
• God takes every little thing serious. I know what He takes really serious, though.
• He hates when people who pretend to represent Him tell lies about what He says.
• We are not to strive against God. But, are we to strive against man who is blaspheming God?
• God tells us who to contend with and who not to contend with throughout the Bible.

[17] Deuteronomy 2:9 And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.

• God told the children of Israel to not fight with the Moabites. Why? He has other plans for them.
• Did God tell them to not contend with everyone? Have you looked at the Bible? Have you read the Bible?
• That’s what I ask these false preachers who tell people not to contend with anyone over anything.
• Maybe you should actually read the word of God that is 100% perfect. Get yourself a King James Bible.
• And actually try reading it through over the next month or so. It’s not that difficult. Try it.

[18] Deuteronomy 2:24 Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

• God says, “Don’t contend with the Moabites, but I need you to contend with the Amorites.”
• The false preachers say, “Oh no, God doesn’t want you to fight with anyone. Peace and love, man.”
• “CONTEND WITH HIM IN BATTLE.” Why is that? They were evil with false gods.
• They created the strife with God, and God says I will drive them out before you. Go fight with them.
• Happens over and over and over and over again within the Bible.

We are to fight for God and drive out those evil and wicked men. Does it have to be physically?

• No, it doesn’t. It was then, but it’s not right now. It’s a spiritual battle, and we are to fight that battle.
• We are to speak up when a preacher is telling lies about God Almighty.
• If we don’t, they’ll just continue their lies about God and that’s what’s happened in the churches.

I love Jephthah in the Book of Judges. That’s my kind of person who isn’t scared because God was with Him.

• And he knew it, and he didn’t hold back. He did what God said most of the time.
• I hope and pray for men like Jephthah to come to this church.
• I hope and pray that men with the Spirit of God like Jephthah would come here.
• God doesn’t want the weak men with no faith here. If God doesn’t, I don’t either.
• Let’s read about Jephthah. And keep in mind, he had the Spirit of God with him.
• And the only reason Jephthah was awesome is because God was with him. That’s it.

[19] Judges 12:1 And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.

• Ephraim is one of the tribes of Israel. Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim.
• Jephthah simply did what God asked him to do, and they didn’t like it.
• They were physical brothers. Ephraim tells Jephthah that they will burn his house. Why?
• Because he did what God asked him to do? Really? That’s called striving against God.
• Let’s see what Jephthah says to them, and let’s see what happens.

[20] Judges 12:2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.

• Jephthah already asked them for help and they didn’t help.
• When you’re doing God’s will and you ask your family for help, they don’t show up.
• Why don’t you come to church with us and learn the truth? “Nah, I want to listen to liars.”
• “I don’t want to read the Bible. I don’t want to work for God. I want to support a false church.”
• “You all are actually preaching the word of God and that causes problems. No, this isn’t for me.”

[21] Judges 12:3 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

• Jephthah says, “God and I took care of it ourselves because you wouldn’t do anything.”
• And now, you want to come and fight against me? God is on my side, and you want to fight against me?
• Do you understand this? When you do what God says, they will come and want to fight you.
• They’ll say things behind your back.
• They’ll call you evil and wicked and find anything they can against you. And you want to fight against me?

[22] Judges 12:4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites.

• Don’t mess with God. They messed with God. Jephthah, with God’s help, took them all out.
• Strive against God, and He’ll take you out. Do you understand that? False preachers don’t get it.
• God’s not a weak God that accepts all wickedness and evil all the time because He loves everyone.

[23] Judges 12:5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;

[24] Judges 12:6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.

• Jephthah didn’t play games. He had the Spirit of God. He took out his own physical family.
• They were the physical children of Israel, but they were evil. They went up against God.
• People don’t like to hear these things. Especially the so-called “Christians” of this world.
• They think I’m evil for preaching the word of God. This is what happened. Is it not?
• 42,000 Ephraimites fell at that time. Do you know God’s wrath is being built up right now?
• He’s building up His wrath against these people who proclaim to be followers of Christ. It won’t be good.
• Remember, we’re talking about strife and contentions within the Bible and learning from the Bible.
• We aren’t making up our own doctrine and beliefs. We’re using the Bible.

King David Had Strife With His Own People

In 2 Samuel Chapter 22, King David gives us the words of a song. Within that song, it talks about strife with his own people.

• He had many enemies within his very own people. He strove against them. Why is that?
• Because they were evil and wicked people.

[25] 2 Samuel 22:38-39 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. 39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

[26] 2 Samuel 22:40-41 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. 41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

[28] 2 Samuel 22:42-43 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.

• David went after his enemies. They were not just David’s enemies but they were God’s enemies.
• We know that because God gave David the necks of his enemies. He destroyed them.
• His enemies looked but there was no one to save them. God wouldn’t answer them. Why?
• Because God hated them too. He beat them as small as the dust of the earth.
• He stamped them into the streets and spread them abroad.

[29] 2 Samuel 22:44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

• The people are always striving against God. Why is there strife and contention? Am I causing it?
• People want to say that I’m causing it by preaching God’s word. So, am I causing the strife?
• No, I’m preaching what God says. THEY ARE CAUSING THE STRIFE.
• Don’t lie about God’s word and there won’t be any contention and strife with me.

[30] Psalm 120:7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

• When you speak the word of God, and they hate you for it, why is that?
• When you try to tell someone the truth with the word of God, they HATE it.
• And then they hate you. This happens because they are evil and wicked.
• “Well, I will just reject you because you actually study and believe the Bible.”
• “But I call myself a Christian, but I don’t want to hear the Bible.”
• If you call yourself a Christian, but you don’t want to hear the Bible, you aren’t a Christian.
• You are a follower of some false god that someone has made up for you to follow.
• This false god always makes you feel “GOOD” about yourself.

Now, do you ever see the true people of God NOT contending with someone over God in the Bible?

• They tell you today, “Don’t contend or fight with anyone. It’s not good.”
• Can you show me an example of God’s people NOT contending for God within the Bible?
• No, you can’t find one example.
• But I can find hundreds of examples of God’s people fighting for God.
• So, which side are you on? The ones who never fight for God or stand up for God?
• God’s “people” who don’t fight for God don’t exist in the Bible. They aren’t there. So what’s that tell you?

[31] Nehemiah 13:10-11 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. 11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

• The Levites forsook the house of God because they didn’t have any way to take care of themselves.
• They needed food and money. God told the people to take care of the Levites. Why?
• Because the Levites were to take care of the house of God. The rulers were not following God’s word.
• So, did Nehemiah not do anything? Or did Nehemiah stand up and say something?
• Verse 11 says, “THEN I CONTENDED WITH THE RULERS.”

If Nehemiah were like all the so-called “Christians” today, he wouldn’t have a book in the Bible named after him.

• Someone else who would stand up for God and fight over it, would have replaced Nehemiah.
• Do you want to be replaced with someone else who will stand up for God? I don’t.
• But let me tell you this. God will replace you. He does it to the children of Israel.
• When you won’t do what God says, He’ll raise up someone else to do it. You’ll be replaced.
• “Well, God can’t replace me because I am so great.” That’s what people think of themselves in this world.
• YOU CAN BE REPLACED AT ANY MOMENT AND AT ANY TIME. God will do it. Don’t make Him do it.

[32] Nehemiah 13:17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

• I love Nehemiah. He’s going to fight for what God said. Do you see that?

[33] Nehemiah 13:25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

• “Oh no, that was wrong Nehemiah. I am a great man of god and you were wrong.” No he wasn’t.
• He fought with them. He cursed them. Not with curse words. That’s not what that means.
• He smote some of them. He plucked off their hair. Do you see that? Was Nehemiah an old weak man?
• In the pictures on the Internet he certainly is an old weak man. But that’s not Nehemiah.
• He had the Spirit of God with him, and he fought for God. He said, “WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS RIGHT.”
• You do not want to contend with God.
• So, when I have a choice to contend with God or man who is against God?
• When you don’t speak up against lies, you are automatically contending with God. Don’t do it.

[34] Job 13:4-8 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. 5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. 6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

• Will you accept the person of a so-called man of god who has “Doctor” in his name?
• They are throughout the seminaries today. They speak evil about God’s word.
• They teach different than the Bible and people blindly accept what they day.
• “WILL YE ACCEPT HIS PERSON OR WILL YOU CONTEND FOR GOD?” That’s what this says.

[35] Job 13:10-12 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. 11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? 12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

• Accept God’s words and get the other words out of your head. When I say things based on the Bible, “church” goers get offended.
• “He’s weird because he says things that I NEVER hear at my church. And my church is right.”
• No, the truth is you and your church are weird because you act like you follow Christ but don’t know anything He teaches.
• You’re learning lies from the worldly men and women, and I’m learning the truth from God.

[36] Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

• Are you, O MIGHTY FALSE PREACHER, going to contend with the Almighty?
• When you come face to face with God, are you going to instruct God? Let me give you the answer.
• No, you won’t. God will protect His people like Jephthah and Nehemiah who stood up for Him.
• He has it all on record, and God is there with you. They might kill your flesh, but you will never die.

Ask God To Fight Against Those Who Fight Against Him

[37] Psalm 35:1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

• That’s a prayer from King David. And I pray the same right now.
• “O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.”
• The false Christian would say, “That’s a horrible prayer. You shouldn’t want bad for anyone.”
• And I laugh at that. Read the Bible. Wicked is wicked. We are to hate evil and wicked people.
• If you think I’m lying about that, read the Bible. You have a Bible too. I read mine. Read yours.

[38] Psalm 55:9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

• Now we see that David is asking for destruction due to strife in the city.
• We have to understand that there’s a good strife and there’s a bad strife. Do you see this?
• Why would this strife in Psalm Chapter 55 be a bad strife? Let’s see.

[39] Psalm 55:10-11 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. 11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

• The strife didn’t come from the people fighting for God. They were doing wicked things.
• Strife happens when people do evil and wicked things. Strife happens when you fight for God too.
• There’s a good strife when you CONTEND for God. There’s a bad strife when you’re doing evil.

[40] Proverbs 3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

• When a preacher lies about the word of God, that man has done great harm to me and others.
• When a preacher teaches my children lies, he’s done me great harm. I have a cause. God knows that.
• There is no greater cause in existence than fighting for the word of God!!!
• Without the TRUE WORD OF GOD in this world, we would be nothing. We would be evil and pure trash.

[41] Proverbs 10:11-12 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

• Hating God is what stirs up strife with me. I hate those who hate God. That stirs up strife.
• It happens all throughout the Bible and God will finish all of those who hate God.

[42] Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

• Who starts the contention? Is it God? Is it the liars? Who starts the strife and contention?
• Who stirs up that argument? The prideful that preach against God. God didn’t cause the strife.
• God is not prideful. That means the contention doesn’t come from God.
• ONLY BY PRIDE COMETH CONTENTION. I’m not proud of anything.
• I don’t preach against liars due to pride. I preach against it because God told me to preach against it.
• Is it helping me in this world to preach against those liars? No, obviously. It makes more people hate me.
• Is that what I want? If they hate me for the cause of Christ, yeah. Go ahead and hate me. I leap for joy.

[43] Proverbs 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

• The opposing side will say that I’m a wrathful man because I am the one who is stirring up strife.
• You better take another look. When you preach against God, you are the one stirring up strife.
• God is very slow to anger, but He gets angry and He has the greatest wrath in existence.
• And it’s coming for the false preachers. It’s coming for the false “Christians.” Is it not?
• It’s coming for all those who won’t put all their trust ON the Lord Jesus Christ.

[44] Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

• The entire goal is for there to be no strife. I don’t like strife and contentions.
• So, start trusting what God says and preaching what God says, and there won’t be any strife.
• That’s what God is teaching us throughout the entire Bible.

[45] Proverbs 17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

• He that loves strife loves to sin against God. Preaching lies about God is a great sin.
• Preaching lies about God is called exalting yourself. Those people love sin and strife.
• They cause the strife. God doesn’t cause the strife. The root cause of strife is evil and wickedness.

[46] Proverbs 18:6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

• When you stand up against the lies about God, you aren’t the fool. You’re contending with the fool.
• You’re bringing the truth. An argument can lead to good. If you don’t say anything, it won’t lead to good.
• You’re simply agreeing with the fool’s lips. That fool is causing the contention.

[47] Proverbs 18:18-19 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. 19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

• If you offend someone with the word of God, whose issue is that?
• The Bible is not teaching to be quiet about God so you don’t offend anyone.
• If you believe the Bible says that, you’ve got major problems. And some people believe that.
• “Well, if we offend someone with the truth, it will be harder to won them to the Lord.”
• Does that make any sense? It sure doesn’t to me. How else are you going to win them to the Lord?
• If the truth offends someone, I’m not apologizing for telling them the truth.

[48] Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

• Contentious wives. What do you think that means?
• Do you think that means a wife should do whatever her husband tells her to do?
• That’s what these cult “Christian” denominations are teaching. Wives submit yourselves no matter what.
• That’s not what the Bible says.

[49] Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

[50] Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

• If your husband is teaching lies about the Bible, you should say something.
• If your husband tells you to help him steal something, you should CONTEND for the right thing.
• God doesn’t tell you to go along with his evil ways. You submit AS IT IS FIT IN THE LORD.
• A husband is not the NUMBER ONE authority of a wife. A wife should submit to a Godly husband.
• A Godly husband won’t preach lies about God. A Godly husband won’t ask you to lie, cheat, or steal.
• If he makes a mistake as we all do, a Godly husband will listen to the Godly wife who corrects him when he’s wrong.

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

• You have to read the whole Bible to see the Bible in the correct light.
• False preachers automatically think that Scripture means that all people should cease from all strife.
• Do you see what they’ve done with the Bible? That verse is actually talking to them.
• Cease from strife by understanding God’s words and not preaching lies about His words.
• How do you cease strife? You follow God and what He says. That’s honorable. Do you see that now?

Strife and Contention Will Cease By Following God

[52] Proverbs 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

• That verse speaks for itself.

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

• Do you see what the Bible is teaching? Strife and reproach will cease when people follow God.
• If the false preachers would stop teaching lies, I would have no strife and contention with them.

[54] Proverbs 23:29-30 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

• If you want to have the bad type of strife that isn’t contending for the faith, then be a drunkard.
• Drunkards have contention and strife. They that go to seek mixed wine. That’s alcoholic wine.

[55] Proverbs 26:17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

• When someone states that all grains are bad for you, you shouldn’t eat them, and then goes and eats a big piece of cake, I’m not going to argue with that person.
• It’s a waste of time. I’m not going to stop and meddle in that type of strife.

[56] Proverbs 26:20-22 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. 22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

• Read the Book of Proverbs to understand what strife actually means.
• Strife will cease where there is no talebearer. When someone isn’t lying about God, strife will cease.
• Do you know where strife ceases? In God’s presence in heaven.
• When we all have new bodies in the new heaven and new earth, there will be no strife.
• Won’t that be amazing? That’s what I’m looking forward to. I’m sick of liars that cause strife.

[57] Proverbs 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

• So, should we not contend with the ones who are breaking God’s laws?
• Should we not contend with the preachers who are telling lies about God’s word?
• If you forsake God as so many in churches have done, you praise the wicked. That’s what has happened.
• BUT SUCH AS KEEP THE LAW CONTEND WITH THEM. That means you fight for the faith.

[58] Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

• So, what do you do when a fool spreads lies about the word of God? You tell that fool the truth.
• If he doesn’t listen, you tell him the truth again.
• Don’t keep contending and fighting with him because it’s a waste of time.

[59] Titus 3:9-11 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

• Don’t keep arguing with the heretick. Tell him the truth one time. Tell him the truth a second time.
• And then reject that heretick. That’s what the Bible says to do. Why? It’s a waste of time to keep fighting.

[60] Isaiah 45:9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

• Don’t contend with God. Don’t strive with YOUR MAKER. Don’t listen to lies. Get back to God.

[61] Isaiah 49:25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

• God will take care of it. Stand up for God, tell the truth, contend for the faith, reject, and move on.

[62] Isaiah 50:7-8 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.

• God is on your side. Bring it on. There is no amount of humans in existence that are a match for God.

[63] Isaiah 57:16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

• God is not going to contend with man FOREVER. He’s going to put an end to all of this.
• Notice that we’ve been going through the entire Bible.

[64] Luke 13:23-24 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

• Jesus says to STRIVE to enter in at the straight gate. It’s not easy to find the truth in this world.
• I’ve told you before. I was angry several years ago because I didn’t know who to listen to.
• This man says one thing. This one says another. This one says something different.
• What I didn’t realize is that all I needed to do to find the truth was go to God’s word. That’s it.
• The straight way is JESUS CHRIST. Believe on Him and you will be saved.

[65] Acts 11:2-3 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

• Peter handled this contention another way because these were saved people.
• Peter didn’t do this like Nehemiah. He didn’t pluck their hair off their heads.
• He told them the truth, they listened, and watch what happened.

[66] Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

• That’s what a wise man does. He listens to what God says and changes his mind.
• In Acts Chapter 15, Paul and Barnabas fought between themselves.
• Paul went one way. Barnabas went the other.
• Sometimes contention like that can glorify God. The gospel spread more and more.

[67] Romans 2:8-9 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

• And I would like you to tell me if I’m wrong today. Tell me where I went wrong with the Scriptures.
• “Unto them that are contentious and do not obey the truth.”
• So, when I say that God hates people and another preacher says God doesn’t, who is contentious?
• God clearly says He hates the evil and wicked person. The false preacher is not obeying the truth.
• That means the false preacher is contentious and causing strife with God’s people.

[68] Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

• Walk honestly and not in strife. Don’t lie or you will be causing the strife. Do you see this?

Strive And Contend For The Good And God Is Good

[69] Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

• You will have to contend and strive in this world for the truth.
• Now that you understand what contention and strife actually mean, now read this:

[70] 1 Corinthians 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

• Do you see how the false preachers will pick and choose and use that Scripture out of context?
• They’ll try to use it for their gain. “Don’t be contentious with me the great man of god.”
• “You take whatever I say because I am the man of god. Don’t strive against me.”
• No, you see that they are the contentious ones because they contend against God.

[71] 2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

• There was strife in the church because of EVIL AND WICKED sin.
• There should ALWAYS be strife in the church when there is sin.
• Do what God says and enforce God’s word in the churches and there won’t be strife and contention.

[72] Philippians 1:15-17 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

• You need to be ready to contend for the faith. You need to be “SET FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE GOSPEL.”
• They start the lies. You better be ready to defend God and His Gospel.

[73] Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

• Be of one mind. How? Through God’s word. STRIVING TOGETHER for the faith.

[74] 1 Thessalonians 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

• People don’t want to hear the Gospel. So what? Hear it anyway. I will preach the Gospel.
• And what will we get? MUCH CONTENTION.

[75] 2 Timothy 2:22-23 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

• You’ll find people that want to cause strife with stupid questions. Avoid foolish questions.
• Avoid strife that doesn’t lead to anything good. Telling someone the truth is always good.

[76] 2 Timothy 2:24-25 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

• Do you see how the false preachers will use that Scripture? “Don’t strive with anyone.”
• Guess what? You can’t teach someone if they won’t listen to God’s words. So you reject them.
• The meaning of that Scripture is you don’t strive by teaching the truth to everyone.
• Striving is when you tell lies about God. I hope you see the truth now.

[77] Jude 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

• Michael the archangel CONTENDED with the devil. “Oh, but that was wrong”, says the false preacher.
• Notice how Michael did it, though. He used his words to tell him that the Lord rebukes thee.
• Use the word of God to rebuke the false preachers. And yes, they will hate you even more.

Have you seen anything that says not to fight for God? We went through many verses today.

• Did Daniel not stand up for God? Did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego not contend for God?
• Did Jesus not contend and argue with the Pharisees?

[78] Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

[79] John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

• Jesus contended for the faith. He stood up for it, and they killed Him for it.
• Don’t be surprised if the same thing happens to you.
• Also don’t be surprised when you meet God face to face one day and He says, “Good work. Good job. Well done.”

Let’s pray.