Summary:

Strife is controversy or dispute; quarrelling, contention and opposition between you and someone else. It can be caused by hatred, wrath, anger, perverseness, lust, selfishness and pride.
Examine yourself to determine if you are harboring strife in your heart
and turn away from it so that God's blessing can consistently flow in
your life.

1. When you change the way you think you can change the way you live.
   1. Walking in the flesh is a way of thinking that is in opposition to the way of God.
      1. Strife is a work of the flesh.
   2. When you operate in strife, you demonstrate that you are carnal and unchanged by God's Word (1 Corinthians 3:3).
   3. Strife should not be a part of a Christian's life.
   4. When you allow strife to be in your life, you give Satan a platform from which he can operate (James 3:13-16).
   5. When you have bitter envy and strife in your heart, there will be confusion.
      
      
2. Strife will block God's blessing in your life.
   1. Abraham and Lot had to go separate ways because there was strife between their camps (Genesis 13:2, 5-11).
      1. Abraham didn't hear from God again until after he and Lot parted ways (Genesis 13:14-17).
   2. If you have strife with someone, reconcile with that person before giving your finances (Matthew 5:22-26). Otherwise, your blessing will be blocked.
   3. Don't get into strife with people for no reason (Proverbs 3:30).
   4. The Canaanite woman who asked Jesus to heal her daughter who was demon-possessed, had the opportunity to respond to Jesus in strife but she did not. Jesus honored her request as
      a result (Matthew 15:21-28).
      1. Getting in strife won't help your situation but can make it worse.
   5. Jesus avoided strife by deciding to go to another village when the people rejected Him in a particular Samaritan city.
      1. If Jesus can avoid strife, so can we (Luke 9:51-56).
      2. When Jesus was insulted and abused, He did not give in to strife (1 Peter 2:23).
   6. Turn down all opportunities for insult and strife.
      
      
3. No matter what the situation is, you can avoid strife.
   1. You end strife by making God's Word the final authority in your life (Hebrews 6:13-16).
   2. Recognize that strife cannot exist without selfishness (Philippians 2:3).
      1. Esteem others as higher than yourself in order to avoid strife.
      2. Be satisfied with the portion God has given you so that you will not be envious or jealous of others.

Scripture References:

• 1 Corinthians 3:3
• James 3:13-16
• Genesis 13:2, 5-17
• Matthew 5:22-26
• Proverbs 3:30
• Matthew 15:21-28
• Luke 9:51-56
• John 1: 36, 37
• 1 Peter 2:23
• Hebrews 6:13-16
• Philippians 2:3