7 Things God Hates -Message 7 – A Person Who Stirs Up Conflict in the Community
In the discourse on the seven things that God detests, we arrive at the final and crucial admonition: a person who stirs up conflict within the community. This episode elucidates the profound implications of such divisive behavior, underscoring that it is not merely conflict itself that is detestable, but rather the individuals who intentionally incite division and chaos. We delve into the characteristics of these conflict-stirrers, who manipulate narratives and exacerbate tensions for their own sense of importance. Furthermore, we examine biblical exemplars of such individuals, including Korah, Absalom, and Diotrephes, whose actions resulted in profound consequences. Ultimately, we are called to foster unity and peace, thereby resisting the traits that God abhors, and to reflect on our own roles in promoting harmony within our communities.
Takeaways:
- God does not merely hate conflict; rather, He detests the individuals who intentionally instigate it within communities.
- Stirring up conflict is an act of calculated chaos, akin to being a community arsonist.
- Biblical examples illustrate the grave consequences faced by those who promote division, such as Korah and Absalom.
- The spirit behind conflict stirring is not just human folly but a demonic strategy to foster division and discord.
The discussion presents a thorough analysis of the concluding message in the series that addresses the seven principal transgressions detested by God, focusing specifically on those who instigate conflict among community members. The scriptural underpinning from Proverbs 6:19 underscores the gravity of this issue, highlighting that it is not conflict per se that is abhorred by God, but rather the individuals who deliberately cultivate discord. The speaker articulates the nature of these conflict stirrers, likening them to 'community arsonists' who thrive on the turmoil they create. They are characterized by their penchant for manipulation, gossip, and divisive tactics that harm unsuspecting bystanders and fracture relationships. The episode employs historical examples from scripture, such as the rebellion instigated by Korah and the treachery of Absalom, to illustrate the severe repercussions of such divisive actions. Furthermore, the speaker delineates the spiritual implications of stirring conflict, positing it as an echo of Satan's rebellion and a hindrance to divine blessings. As the episode draws to a close, listeners are encouraged to engage in self-reflection and to actively pursue peace, thereby fulfilling the biblical mandate to be peacemakers. This call to action emphasizes the necessity of fostering unity and resisting the destructive spirit of division that seeks to undermine communal integrity.
Transcript
And a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Speaker A:Proverbs 6, verse 19.
Speaker A:Well, brothers and sisters, here we are.
Speaker A:Message number seven.
Speaker A:In the seven things that God hates, we've dealt with haughty eyes, lying tongues, murderous hands, scheming hearts, reckless feet and false witnesses.
Speaker A:And now God pulls no punches with the last one.
Speaker A:A person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Speaker A:Notice something?
Speaker A:God doesn't say he hates conflict.
Speaker A:He says he hates the person who stirs it up.
Speaker A:Now that's personal.
Speaker A:This isn't a slip of the tongue.
Speaker A:This isn't a mistake made in the heat of the moment.
Speaker A:This is intentional division, weaponized drama and calculated chaos.
Speaker A:A community arsonist.
Speaker A:And unfortunately, some people specialize in this.
Speaker A:They don't feel important unless something is broken, burning or buzzing.
Speaker A:What does it mean to stir up conflict?
Speaker A:This person isn't content unless the group chat is on fire, the church is divided, or the workplace is buzzing with tension.
Speaker A:They twist stories to pit people against each other.
Speaker A:They fan flames that should have died out.
Speaker A:They play both sides like a chess master of drama.
Speaker A:They whisper gosper gossip, cloak it in concern, then walk away grinning.
Speaker A:They don't walk into a room with peace.
Speaker A:They walk in holding a match and a can of gasoline.
Speaker A:They are not just carriers of conflict, they are creators of conflict.
Speaker A:Here are some biblical examples of conflict starters.
Speaker A:There's Korah's rebellion in number 16.
Speaker A:Korah stirred up 250 community leaders against Moses and Aaron.
Speaker A:His tactic?
Speaker A:Why should they lead us?
Speaker A:Aren't we all holy?
Speaker A:The result?
Speaker A:God opened the earth and swallowed him and his followers.
Speaker A:Moral of the story?
Speaker A:Stir the wrong pot and God might flip the stove.
Speaker A:Then there's Absalom.
Speaker A:In 2 Samuel 15, Absalom stood at the city gate, poisoning minds against King David.
Speaker A:He told people, if I were king, I'd do better.
Speaker A:He wasn't solving problems.
Speaker A:He was splitting the kingdom with his charm and deceitful.
Speaker A:There's diotrophes.
Speaker A:In 3 John 1, 9, 10 John the Apostle calls him out by name.
Speaker A:Why?
Speaker A:Because Diotrephes loved to be first, rejected authority and gossiped maliciously.
Speaker A:He stirred division by rejecting truth and leadership.
Speaker A:Now why does God hate it?
Speaker A:God hates it because it destroys unity.
Speaker A:Psalm 133:1.
Speaker A:How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity.
Speaker A:God blesses unity.
Speaker A:But when someone stirs division, they stand in the way of God's blessing.
Speaker A:It wounds the innocent.
Speaker A:People who stir up conflict often hurt bystanders the most.
Speaker A:Families split churches Fracture teams fall apart.
Speaker A: Romans: Speaker A:And then it imitates Satan in heaven.
Speaker A:Satan didn't launch an invasion, he started a rebellion.
Speaker A:He stirred division in heaven and was cast out like lightning.
Speaker A:When you stir division, you're not just annoying, you're imitating Lucifer.
Speaker A:The spirit behind stirring conflict is the spirit of division.
Speaker A:Now this isn't just human mischief, it's demonic strategy.
Speaker A:The spirit of division thrives in environments where pride, insecurity and offense go unchecked.
Speaker A:It loves church pews, leadership teams, WhatsApp groups and prayer meetings.
Speaker A:It looks like concern, but smells like manipulation.
Speaker A:It sounds like wisdom, but feels like poison.
Speaker A:This spirit lives to divide and dies in unity.
Speaker A:Now, how to stop being a conflict stirrer or survive a conflict stirrer?
Speaker A:You need to guard your tongue and ears.
Speaker A: Proverbs: Speaker A:Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
Speaker A:If someone comes to you with gossip, don't be their trash can.
Speaker A:Shut it down.
Speaker A:In love, if they're always talking about someone else to you, they'll talk about you to somebody else.
Speaker A:You need to be a peacemaker, not a fire starter.
Speaker A:Matthew 5:9.
Speaker A:Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
Speaker A:You can stir the pot or settle the storm, but you cannot do both.
Speaker A:Let's pursue reconciliation.
Speaker A: Romans: Speaker A:As far as it depends on you.
Speaker A:Live at peace with everyone.
Speaker A:Peacemaking is in weakness that spiritual warfare.
Speaker A:You ever meet someone who walks into a room and drama just follows?
Speaker A:Like a stray dog.
Speaker A:You're having a calm lunch and they sit down and say, did you hear what so and so said about your sister's husband's cousin Aiwena?
Speaker A:And suddenly you need a prayer meeting and a boxing ring.
Speaker A:Brothers and sisters, don't be that person.
Speaker A:Here are some questions for reflection.
Speaker A:Have I ever caused unnecessary tension between people because of my words or actions?
Speaker A:Do I secretly enjoy drama and chaos more than I enjoy peace?
Speaker A:How can I intentionally create unity in my church, family or workplace?
Speaker A:This week, let us pray.
Speaker A:Lord, I repent for any time I've stirred conflict with my words, actions or silence.
Speaker A:Cleanse my heart of the spirit of division.
Speaker A:Teach me to speak life, to build unity and to reflect your peace.
Speaker A:I refuse to be a pawn of drama.
Speaker A:I choose to be an ambassador of harmony.
Speaker A:In Jesus name, amen.
Speaker A:Brothers and sisters, we've walked through all seven things God hates.
Speaker A:Haughty eyes, pride, two, a lying tongue which is deceit.
Speaker A:3.
Speaker A:Hands that shed innocent blood, which is violence.
Speaker A:4.
Speaker A:A heart that devises wicked schemes, which is manipulation.
Speaker A:Feet that rush into evil.
Speaker A:Impulsiveness.
Speaker A:A false witness who pours out lies, character destruction.
Speaker A:A person who stirs up conflict, which is division.
Speaker A:These are not minor infractions.
Speaker A:They are major spiritual threats.
Speaker A:And God calls us not to avoid them, but to stand against them.
Speaker A:Let's commit today to being people who walk humbly, speak truthfully, love deeply, think purely, act wisely, witness faithfully, and promote peace relentlessly.
Speaker A:This is how we honor what God loves, by resisting what God hates.
Speaker A:We will see you in the next series.
Speaker A:And until then, stay out of drama and stay in the truth.
