ENEMIES OF LOVE vs THE POWER OF AGREEMENT
Enemies of Love
Your whole fellowship can be consumed. Galatians 5:13-26
Love has many enemies – envy, anger, hatred, pride, slander, wrath, bitterness, malice, clamor, and unforgiveness.
All of these enemies produce strife. They all come from selfishness.
Strife is a powerful force of Satan in hindering the work of the Body of Christ.
Avoid Strife at All Cost
Matthew 18:15-17
God’s purpose: to avoid strife
Bind the strife and loose the man from his transgression.
Don’t allow another’s actions to stir up strife – it will stop your faith from working.
Forgive, forget, and pray that the other person’s understanding will be enlightened.
The Power of Agreement
Matthew 18:18-20 – “Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (v.19).
Agreement and harmony open the door to the power of God and bring Jesus in the midst to carry out the agreement.
Agreement causes the home to be love-ruled.
It is more important to avoid strife and disharmony than to appear justified.
Strife and selfishness are a luxury that you cannot afford, especially at home.
If you allow Satan to stop you with strife at your own front door, then you will be no threat to him anywhere else.
The Danger of Discord (or Strife)
Discord causes the shield of faith to drop and stops prayer results. It invites Satan and his forces into your midst.
James 3:14-17 – “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (v.16).
Proverbs 17:14 (AMP) – “The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out.”
2 Timothy 2:23-26 – “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach…” (v.24). “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at
his will” (v.26).
In the midst of strife, the man of God should teach the Word and remain constant.
The opposers may acknowledge the Word and repent.
The Christian is captured by Satan at his will through strife.
Purge Yourself
2 Timothy 2:14-21 – “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (v.21).
Purge yourself of strife and unforgiveness with the Word.
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
You will become a vessel of honor, a loving, God-ruled creature, and an instrument to deliver God’s power, blessing, and love.
Example: purging a clogged pipe
Pipe = reborn spirit
Water = power of God
Filth = strife and unforgiveness
The power has been provided but small grains of spiritual filthiness have clogged the pipe.
Purge the pipe and the power will flow.
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
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