Conflicts are disputes or disagreements that negatively affect relationships in God’s world among his children. Conflicts erode our peace and hurt God because it is contrary to his word. We always attribute our sources of conflicts or disputes to wrong sources because of our ignorance or lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6 says that my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Internal conflicts occur in our minds as we struggle to choose the right path. They are baits of sin against righteousness via our minds and thoughts often through the windows of our eyes, ears, emotions or desires. Jesus when he faced a similar situation rebuked it saying in Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33 get behind me Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men. Conflicts are a hindrance to our spiritual growth and our peace. External conflicts are the physical disagreements amongst us such as quarrels, insults, abuses, bad character or conduct against the will of God.
Original source of conflict
Satan is the primary source of conflict or dispute. Conflicts are more spiritual than physical because of their origin. Ephesians 6:12 says we are not contending against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. God is not the source of conflicts. James 1:13 also says let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one.
We avail ourselves to Satan as conduits for conflicts and disputes. Satan does not force us, we rather volunteer hence we are accountable for our deeds. Ezekiel 16:38 says in accordance with their conduct and their deeds I judged them. When we volunteer, we become agents of Satan. We lose our God given image, identity, mark or seal of the blood of Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says for God is not a God of confusion but of peace. We are God’s ambassadors for peace not disputes. If we have accused God falsely as the cause of our conflicts, then this is the hour to confess for forgiveness.
Why God allows conflict
Sometimes God allows conflicts for a purpose, to test our patience because patience is a necessary fruit of the spirit in our walk with Christ Jesus, Galatians 5:22. When Satan planned to afflict Job, it was to create doubt (spiritual conflict) on his mind about God. God said to Satan in Job 2:6-7 behold, he is in your power; only spare his life. Conflicts also test our faith in God so we must not take matters into our own hands. All conflicts start spiritually before they manifest physically.
Sometimes, we are tested by spirits whom we do not know and upon our failure we then bear the consequences. Hebrews 13:2 says do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. We must be careful about having conflicts with people. Conflicts test our faith or steadfastness for Christ Jesus and make us perfect and complete, James 1:2-4. We must be careful how we complain in conflicts when we do not know God’s purpose for allowing it. Job 2:10 says in all this, Job did not sin with his lips.
How Satan manifests in conflict
2 Corinthians 11:14 says Satan disguises himself as angel of light. By his disguise, he is able to mislead us to believe or accept that wrong is right. He sometimes justifies wrong with scripture, how absurd and blind we are. Satan cited scripture to Jesus to tempt Christ in Matthew 4:6 but Jesus who is the word also replied with scripture in verse seven. Satan also manifests as an unforgiving spirit or a spirit of acrimony or hate. We must arm ourselves with the word as our sword and to ask God for discernment in order to succeed in resolving conflicts.
Satan also manifests as a thief in order to steal and to kill and to destroy our peace with God through Jesus Christ, John 10:10. He does so by dividing a united people through conflicts and disputes knowing that a divided house will not stand. He then accuses us before God that we are not trustworthy of his attention. In Revelation 12:10 Satan is referred to as the accuser of our brethren. He knows that the heart of man is wicked and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is evil continually, Genesis 6:5. Without avoiding conflicts or disputes from the heart, we cannot please God.
Satan sows seeds of discord or doubts in our minds as a vehicle for his dominance or influence in our lives. Working through or by the serpent he said to Eve in Genesis 3:1, has God said you should not eat this fruit? Satan clearly had knowledge that God had said they should abstain from the tree. Satan also tempted Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle and that it is written God would give his angels to bear him up. Jesus being the word himself counted it and rebuked him, Matthew 4:6-3-11. God’s word must be part of us and written on the tablets of our hearts if we must overcome conflicts.
We are ignorant of our situation
We seem to be oblivious of the forces that we are contending with or in whose domain we are. Jesus who knew our ignorance said on the cross in Luke 23:34 that Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. God has also given us the grace to overcome because we do not appreciate the extent and intensity of our conflicts and disputes which we cannot contend with. Jesus was crucified because of conflicts of principles and doctrine. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says that my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
Jesus wants us to be vigilant always against the source of our conflicts or battles. 1 Peter 5:8 says be sober and vigilant. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Vigilance is always being prayerful and righteous with humility before God and to wait for his directions. Galatians 6:1 says brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. We must support one another knowing that our conflicts are first spiritual battles against forces we cannot see. We must fight a collective spiritual battle and not as individual battles.
Jesus said in Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38 watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Luke 21:36 also says watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man. Let us stop blaming God for our internal and external conflicts or disputes. Let us confess for pardon and with focus, ask for forgiveness and peace from Christ Jesus who is our captain in battle. We must let go of our pains or injuries because they are weapons of Satan and contrary to God’s will for us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we accept our guilt for blaming you as the source of our conflicts. Forgive us in your mercy. In your blood help us in our weaknesses to be vigilant and to be prayerful forgiving one another. In your precious holy name we pray, Amen!!
