I can add that we can avoid strife with someone if we are not addressing him directly but say like, i would do this and that because i am led by the spirit of God, or because of ....., or i think it will be wise to do that....
Pushing someone to do this or that is not good, we should watch ourselves not to put pressure on anyone because this is control and manipulation and it produces witchcraft. The moment you say YOU are doing this or that, the strife can begin. The accuser is on the scene. Dont make it to personal.
Strife comes because someone is pushing to hard, or criticizing the other person directly. Or trempling over someones personal boundaries. (Causes disrispect, Love is also respect). We should not destroy the character(the house that God has build up in someone. But rather build them up, comfort them, being patient in teaching. The word sais, there are many people who teach, i say, everybody wants to teach, but, examining our own motives is very recommandable. Why do i want to convice some person to do this or that? To earn glory for myself or to give glory to God?
We shall recognize the sons and daughters of God by their love, and their fruits...when you leave someones presence (after teaching them the right thing to do), do you feel noble and good, and that your loving father will say to you, Well done you good and faithfull servant, or are you mad, angry ("this stupid person doesnt get what i am talking about, he is so stupide and stubborn¨" - if you think like that, you are on the way to your own destruction, why? Because you are in pride. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. After you finish a conversation with someone, do you feel that you were humble, loving, patient? If not, you were in pride. Examine yourself are you in faith, the word sais. And i add, examine yourself, are you in love? Strife is the fruit of something else, not LOVE.
We dont need to understand everything with our own mind, but ask the Holy spirit, Lord, should i communicate with this person or not? And then obey it. If we want to understand everything with our own mind, we are exalting ourselves above God. Because if we could do everything in this world only with our mind, the sacrifice of Jesus would not be needed. We need the Holy spirit, so guys stop arguing trying to understand everything what is going on in the world, everything that people do to you, etc...You will not beat the enemy with your MIND, but with the spirit and with the power of God. SURRENDER yourselves to God, soak in HIs presence. He is the one who does all things, not us. And we dont need to understand everything and everyone, and convince everyone that we are right. Our weappon is mighty through God, not through our mind.
I must say that i think it is not LOVE when you ask someone how many times he has red the Bible. Pharisees knew Bible very well. This is not the proof that someone is a believer and that he is on the right path. Many things could show if someone is a believer. Does he have a regular job, is he dilligent, faithful, has he self control, peace, power of the Holy spirit, is he critical or thankful and loving etc etc.. THE WORD COMBINED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you read the word and if you are obedient to the Holy spirit you will have fruits of the blessings of God and fruits of the spirit. Only the word is not enough, i am sorry....(Not to mention that some people struggle with bad inheritence and evil raising, curses etc....you cannot conquer these things with your mind and knowing verses, YOU NEED A REVELATION AND POWER to be delivered.
God bless Brother James and StevenBobb. I cover them with the blood of Jesus and let all strife and criticism stops in Jesus name. Let love prevails. We speak wisdom into all their conversations, insight and understanding, revelation and SELF CONTROL in Jesus name. We erase all evil out of their conversations in Jesus name.
The blood of Jesus, speak! The sacrifice of Jesus on calvary, be revealed to us in Jesus name in all of your glory!