Isn't this a peaceful scene. There is a way to live in true peace in our
marriage and in all our life. Do you want...

STRIFE OR LIFE?

--Cain and Abel. Gen.4.8
--Abraham and Lot. Gen.13.7,8
--Jacob and Esau. Gen.27.19,20,35,36
--Joseph had a dream. Gen.37.3-8
--Moses had a call of God on his life--and the Egyptian. "But God, I have your vision and call upon my life!" But he did it in strife. Ex.2.11,12
--The disciples: Who is going to be in control? Matt.20.20-28; Mk.9.33-37.
--Paul and John Mark. Ac.15.36-41; 12.12; 13.5,13; 2Tim.4.11.
--Paul divided the people for the good of all. Ac.19.8-12
--Euodias and Syntyche at Philippi. Philp.4.2
--Diotrephes wanted to be the leader. 3Jn.9
--Nicolaitans = "to rule over the laity" Rev.2.6
--Jezebel = ruled by a controlling spirit, not of peace and righteousness. Rev.2.20; 1Ki.16,31; 21.25.

    There will be differences. How we handle our differences determines whether there will be life or strife.
    Unity and life = submit one to another in the fear of God i.e. in giving place to the flow and timing of the Holy Spirit, trusting Him to bring things to pass.

Causes Of Strife and Division:
--law vs. grace concepts and teaching. Letter to Galations.
--desire for preeminence. Diotrephes, 3Jn.9
--early church had to write letters to settle differences in the body. Ac.15.23-35
--believer / unbeliever. Ac.28.24
--doctrinal differences based on people's personal experiences or lack of personal experiences. Col.2.
--Basic reason for division: Not believing the Word of our position in Christ, in submission to Him and in submission to one another, to move in the flow of the Holy Spirit and in the timing of the Holy Spirit. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, revelation knowledge.
    Strife and division comes when we impose on others our thoughts and our timing and our methods and our concepts, using God's call on our life and using God's vision that He has put in our hearts.

Remedy For Strife and Division:
    Remedy: This is a hard one. It is the cross. When we have a burning vision and a desire to bless, and a zeal based on truth, to bring God's kingdom on earth as it is in  heaven, but we can't, because we must submit to God's timing and God's moving, unless our "Isaac" dies, we never see the true power of God.
    If we can just see beyond the cross, and see the power of His resurrection! Oh, when God does it, it brings such unity, peace, and joy, and everlasting fruit that remains.
    When we refuse the cross, when we are bent on doing our thing in God, when we cannot see the power of His resurrection, then there is strife, division, denominations, different camps set in opposition to other camps of belief and experience.
    Rule of life: Not my will, not your will, but God's will be done. His will is known through the Word and the Spirit.
    Remedy: Ask for the gifts of the Holy Ghost to operate to bring revelation and deliverance. God will reveal the root cause of the matter. Listen to Him and be ready to repent as you see your heart motives and hidden influences. Any strife in the marriage relationship can be handled in this way for real victory every time. When there is strife in any way, get together, agree that you both want God's will in your lives, and agree in asking that the Holy Spirit gifts operate to bring deliverance. He will.
    Remedy: Teaching the Word, growing up into Christ, standing on the Word.
Every enduring work and ministry of God has been Word-based. Jesus is the Living Word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
    Our dreams, visions, and experiences in God are great, and they are needed, but our feet firmly planted on the Rock is our grounding in the Word. This will be there when heaven and earth has passed away. Both are to complement one another.
    Remedy: Repentance and mind renewal by the washing of the Word. Repentance is one side to the coin, faith is the other. We mature as we walk in this refreshing of the presence of the Lord, always seeing the victory we have in Christ. Cleansing and renewal. This is a basic principle of life and peace, applying both spiritually and physically. When this process ceases, "dis-harmony" exists which leads to "dis-ease", in which parts of the body are divided against other parts, bringing confusion and every evil work.
    Remedy: Choose to walk in love above all things. Refuse to dwell on the evil and the differences. Refuse to speak evil or to rehearse the situation. Rather, choose to declare the promises of God into the situation for deliverance to all parties concerned, including yourself. Love never fails. Walk in love.

Conclusion:
    Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do..." (Jn.5.19). He said that He spoke the words that the Father gave Him to speak, therefore, the hearers would be judged by the word (Jn.12.44-50).
    This is the dependence on God that God is bringing the whole body of Christ to in these days. He is training us to move only with His Spirit in union with His Word.
    This operation of the Spirit through our lives will always bring life and peace to those who are in the unity of mind to allow God to have His way completely.