"Milk, Meat and Strife" (July 27, 2013)

Here is a frightening thought: we may have gone through years of learning and think we are living the Word through Jesus Christ, but if we are prone to involvement in strife, we are still babes! OUCH!

Even more disturbing, the word says we are "carnal" if strife originates from us or we entangle ourselves in it. Carnal, according to Strong's concordance, means satisfying the flesh, concerned with the temporary things of earth and governed by human appetites. In the recipe for carnality are strife, envy and division.

If we have our teeth sunk into strife and carnality, we cannot chew the meat of the Word and live the life of Christ! The digested Word of God becomes flesh on us, changes us from the inside out. We become Christlike and display His character as the nutrients of the Word take hold and grow us. However, if we can only swallow milk, we will stay in the immature state, regardless of how we see ourselves and how much we think we know of the Word.

Further, the Word says we are walking as "mere men" and nourished with pride when we promote one person as our leader by putting other leaders down, thus bringing strife into the Body of Christ. Paul was clear about this in 1 Corinthians 3:4: "For when one says, I belong to Paul, and another, I belong to Apollos, are you not [proving yourselves] ordinary (unchanged) men?"

Dear brothers and sisters, keep yourselves from strife, for we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God's building [Cor.3:9]. Strife insists that "I" have no faults and will have it my way. Strife is void of grace. Strife is unwilling to conciliate-overcome hostility and distrust. Strife misrepresents Christ!

Friends, I have been in strife and seen strife. A telltale concern people have in strife is that they cannot clearly hear the voice of God and confusion enters. If you see this in your life get before the Lord in repentance and seek His direction. Be willing to empty yourself of your desires and your right to be "right." Strife pushes on doors and insists that they be opened....peace waits on the Lord for His timing.

We have nothing to prove-but the grace and peace and love of God operating through us gives great proof of Christ in us! 

1Co 3:1-9 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.

To God be all glory and honor and praise!