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create dangerous road rage, and cause “Why do some enemy’s favor or blessing will wither.
premature deaths because of someone’s Years ago, a fellow minister began ver-
out-of-control temper. Christians enjoy bally attacking the ministry. The more I
A spiritual and emotional manipu- and seem to thrive heard, the more puzzled I became about
lator will try to take control through why anyone would act in such a man-
drama and confusion. Where there is on controversy and ner. Two men stepped forward and said
no conflict, they can easily devise it.
These people create problems and then conflict? The book that the fellow was simply jealous of
God’s blessing on the ministry.
become their own solution. They’ll tell of James teaches A noted attorney in Cleveland, Ten-
you what happened and how bad it is, nessee told me not long ago, “In all the
and then promise to handle it and clean that the root is lust time you have been in this town, over
it up. Thus, the villain becomes the hero, that is battling forty years, I have never known of any-
the problem maker the problem solver, one in ministry who has more people
opening or closing the curtain on unnec- the person’s flesh. who dislike them, but can’t explain
essary drama. It would be like a person James exposed why.” In his opinion the answer was,
intentionally hammering a nail into a “Honestly, I think they are envious that
tire, then declaring the tire is flat, but that they covet you have built buildings, paid for them,
taking out the jack and fixing the tire and continue to see large crowds. In-
without anyone identifying the culprit. something they stead of thanking God, they want you to
In life, business, and ministry, some- cannot have. fail.”
times it’s necessary to remind people In the rules of the Kingdom, nobody
that we aren’t running a drama club, but Motivated by pride will be blessed when they are filled with
they can always sign up for classes at and jealousy, they envy, jealousy, and strife toward oth-
their local college. Inciters of drama and ers. Saul lost his anointing because of
distraction cannot coexist with peace- create division.” his jealousy toward David, and he was
makers and focused workers. eventually driven to his own destruction
At times, God will allow circumstanc- through a tormenting spirit.
es to arise, such as when Lot’s strife Paul and Peter clashed in a well-pub-
surfaced, to reveal that people must licized division over the subject of cir- SEPARATION IN THE NET
part ways. Lot and Abraham remained cumcision. Paul marked Peter as a hypo- Separation is not always a bad thing.
relatives, but they lived and worked in crite because of how he treated Gentiles When a negative situation arises, some-
separate regions of the Promised Land when he was fellowshipping with Jews. times God is separating the fish in the
for the remainder of their days. Peter wrote that Paul preached some dragnet. If someone cannot stand with
We often assume that contention is things hard to understand (2 Pet. 3:15- you, eventually they will stand against
caused by the devil working to divide. 16). Yet both men remained apostles, you. If they become envious, eventually
Sometimes this is true; but other times, with Paul overseeing the Gentiles, while they will bully and harass as a manifes-
contention is the only way God can sepa- Peter directed the Jewish branch of the tation of the spirit they’re entertaining.
rate people to allow for unity and align- church. A separation ordained by God is al-
ment in a future season. ways a positive thing. Gehazi was sepa-
During a mission trip, Paul and Barn- IN-HOUSE FIGHTING rated from Elijah as his servant, but
abas had a strong contention that divid- Why do some Christians enjoy and seem Elisha replaced him. Aaron was sepa-
ed them, causing Barnabas to separate to thrive on controversy and conflict? rated from Moses as the High Priest,
from Paul in anger and take with him The book of James teaches that the but Aaron’s sons stepped in. Judas was
the young John Mark, the source of the root is lust that is battling the person’s separated from Christ’s ministry, but
controversy (Acts 15:39). flesh. James exposed that they covet Matthias was selected to replace him.
Paul later selected Silas, who worked something they cannot have. Motivated Barnabas left Paul, but Silas was there
well with Paul’s bold and, at times, bra- by pride and jealousy, they create divi- as the newly appointed apostle.
zen personality. sion. The attitude is, “If I can’t have it, The parable of the net is an end-time
Demas, another traveling companion, I’ll make sure you don’t get it, either.” parable. Other separation parables ex-
departed from Paul because he loved The Greek word envy carries the idea of plain what will occur in the time of the
the world and could not handle persecu- something withering away. The imagery end. God will use this process to clean
tion (2 Tim. 4:10). is that of a jealous person hoping their up you, your family, and your church.

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