Counseling opens the Door to your Spiritual Life

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 1
We live in the world today that is intolerant to humans, filled with people who hate one another, and not capable of obeying the only commandment Jesus Christ gave to us; ‘“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”’ John 13:34-35 (NLT). Look at the relationship you have with your own brothers and sisters and among you and you will see that Christians has become disobedience to Christ’s one commandment and therefore do not love him. Will you die for another person? You are not a disciple of Christ if you do not love others as Christ loves you. Christ died for you.
In Matthew 5:21-26, the Lord said:
You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
‘So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
‘When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.
The people in the Old Testament view murder as a serious sin but Jesus said that being angry at someone or name calling brings judgement. In other words, even little things bring judgement against you. Jesus directs you to reconcile with those you have offended before coming to present your sacrifice at his alter. Even if you have reached to the alter before you remembered that someone has something against you, leave you sacrifice there at the alter and go first to reconcile with the person before coming back to present your sacrifice to God. This shows how serious God values conflict resolution among his children; requiring clear conscience of those who come to His alter.
This is why we have Counseling and Conflict Resolution as part of our services, to help anyone who remembers that someone “has something against” him or her; to reconcile themselves. This process is especially important, where there is chance that the conversation will be difficult for the member or the member does not know how to start the conversation, what to do or how to resolve the issue. Recognition and understanding of the problem are both critical and important steps. We have trained Ministers available for this service.
“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:8-9. If you want to see God when Christ come to get you, your heart should be pure. If you are to be called children of God, you work for peace. You will be blessed for either desires of your heart.
Confession
Oh God, the Father Almighty, you said that “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:5-9. Please extend to me your mercy and let your grace shower over me in Jesus name. May the words you spoke above start something new in my life: that I may humble myself always, that my hunger and thirst for justice shall always bring Justice to me and be extended to others around me, especially in defense of those who has no one to defend them and who are oppressed by others in Jesus name. Have mercy upon me. Give me the strength to have mercy on those who oppress, harm, or wrong me, that through your Holy Spirit, I shall have courage to forgive those who sinned against me and show mercy on them. Let your peace reign upon my life and help me to seek your peace and give peace to those who yearn for peace. Make me your child through your peace and by the peace I give to others, may they see you, the prince of peace in Jesus name. Make me pure and sanctify me through your son Jesus Christ; that I may see you and know you and be with you in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 2

How can one’s heart be pure or one work for peace, if you are angry at someone or someone is angry at you? How can one refuse to work for peace, when in conflict with another, and expect God’s blessing? Can you be angry and expect your heart to be pure and see God? No! Can you reject to work for peace and expect to be called children of God? No! Do you expect God to bless you? No! God does not contradict Himself and His words must finish what it is sent out to do before returning back to Him. Isaiah 55:10-13. You will be blessed when you are what the word of God said. Our Counseling and Conflict Resolution Ministries helps you achieve those desires of your heart.
Children of God deny themselves God’s blessing promised in Matthew 5:1-12 by their vengeance heart. Vengeance is God’s. Romans 12:19. You have been asked by Christ in Matthew 5:38-42 to go extra mile and make sacrifice in your accommodation and tolerance of those who harm you, also see verse 43-48. Christ asked that we love our enemies, and so that we can be perfect like our Father in heaven. These two themes are serious challenges for most Christians and causes internal conflict within most peoples’ heart—as turmoil of fire burning inside of their heart. How can one love their enemies? You had what Christ said! You should love your enemies and do more for those who harm you!! Therefore, you should talk to our Ministers to counsel you about these mysteries of God’s words and it enriches your physical and spiritual lives.
When the Lord in Matthew 7:1-6 condemned those, who judge others, even though they are not perfect, he encourages you to be considerate and reconcile with Him and yourself first, by looking into your own self and life. Most people have internal conflict always and conflict is not always a bad thing. Conflict could be opportunity for you to repair a broken relationship or resolve unmet needs, expectation or accomplishment. It may be opportunity help someone resolve situation driving them hell or for you to shift your life to a healthy place with God. You will be foolish to throw away any opportunity for peace of mind and continue or dwell in conflict of any kind.
Most conflict are caused by lack of humility and responsibility for one’s action and inconsiderate of other party’s interest or needs or view point. That is why recognition is very critical. Avoidance and withdrawal from conflicting situation is one way to resolve conflict. Verse 6 said, ‘“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.” Instead wasting your virtue on those who not equally yoked, why pursue disputes and disagreements that angers you or destabilizes your peace? You may need to be separated from the other conflicting party (temporary) until the person is ready and willing to engage. 1 Corinthians 7:5 & 11, gave example of circumstances during which separation could be necessary, intimacy being one cause of conflict among married people, and other types of situations as you will learn in this series. For instance, in 2 John 1:7-11, 1 Corinthians 5:8-13, Deuteronomy 17:2-7, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, and so on; separation is mandated about disobedience to God’s words and commandments. Counseling provides great intervention and intercession for those who are lost in the pool of confusion, dispute, and misunderstanding; to help them find their path to God. The prodigal son resolved the internal conflict within him before finding his way back to his father. Majority are separated from God (never separated from the love of God), due to their own internal conflict; which led them to other troubles, trials, tribulations, temptations, violence, harm, hurts, turmoil etc.
If God has given you His fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25), then, you have everything you need to overcome the situation (2 Timothy 1:6-7). You have already become victorious and need not be drawn into unworthy cause or effects. Therefore, Counseling and Conflict Resolution is important for the children of God because temptations and warfare of Satanic kingdom makes conflict inevitable for every Christian (John 17:13-19). By design, it also provides the platform for God’s blessings and upliftment (explained in separate topics). The way you handle issues and respond to situations or actions of other’s shows the kind of fruit in you; as a tree of life; used in Matthew 5:15-20 by the Lord; to direct you to proper words, actions, and response contingent upon the truth found in the Holy Bible—not one verse or verses but in totality of God’s words and teachings on issues. We do not support cherry picking of God’s words. We embrace all words spoken by God on any particular issue, in order to understand the whole truth and not a partial truth. You should therefore search God deeply in His words and actions.
Confession
Oh Jesus, many times, I struggle with my own thoughts, words, and actions in series of serious internal conflict, sometimes I get lost in indecision, mistrust, and misunderstanding of what you wish or desire of me. I come to you for help and hand myself over to you, and ask for your Holy Spirit to take charge and control of whatever situation I find myself. Come to my aid and save me from such situations. Give me your wisdom and clarity of thought, words and actions through the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name. Give me the courage to separate myself from those who are committed to sinful nature and disobedience to you, that as you redeem me and save me through Jesus, I shall be courageous in speaking the truth to all and resolving every conflict or dispute that will separate me from you in Jesus name. Let your peace reign in my life always in Jesus name, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 3
You may be wondering why we have counseling almost every day, especially for individual and group session. In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus Christ was teaching the crowd in parables and his Apostles did not understand why he always do that. His disciples asked him, Jesus explained that those who listens to his teaching and reject it or not obedient to him were not meant to understand the gospel and therefore should be more confused as they listen more to him. This is because what they already knew will be taking from them so that they get more confused. To his disciples, he took them as his inner circle in group counseling by explaining to what he truly meant. The knowledge of God is revealed in those inner chambers where Christ reveals the mysteries of God. Some were thought in individual level like Thomas (John20:24-29). It took the personal encounter and conviction of Thomas to understand and believe that Christ had risen. Jesus had to put his hand on his wounds for him to believe. You may need to be shown, and your hands guided to touch God through His love and blessing; touching things God had blessed you with which you neglected and could not see due to your spiritual blindness.
Satan and/or his agents are always present in any true Church of Christ and listens to revelations from God, God’s blessings to His children and plans and devices means to confuse you, deceive you, misrepresent God, and fool you. In churches where satanic agents are already ministers acting as men-of-God, Satan does not need to be there because his representative is already working for him in such churches. That is why the Lord in 1 John 4:1-2 asked you to test the spirit. Counseling gives you opportunity to ask any question and receive instruction on what God’s will, plans, blessing and promises for you are. Counseling and Conflict Resolution, helps you resolve issues, problems and doubts you have about God, His blessing, and promises in His words, person, character, expectations, directions and guidance through the Holy Spirit. Our Church makes that available to you. In Luke 4:1-13, you see, how Satan went to tempt and confuse Jesus, even, quoting Psalm 91 to confuse Jesus, how much more you. That is why you always hear Christians and even some pastors, quote Bible to justify their evil thoughts, words, and actions. They rationalize and interpret the word of God from their own lens: mind, words, and actions, instead of from the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
So, you are not exempted from devil’s plot and evil. In verse 14-30, Jesus was mobbed and attacked while preaching in the Synagogue, in Nazareth, and was dehumanized, taken for granted, and called names; referred to as just being Joseph’s son—the carpenter. He was pushed out of the Synagogue; to the cliff of the hill but God saved him. His own people accused him of being possessed by demons of Beelzebul and working miracles with the evil spirits (Matthew 12:22-32, Luke 11:14-23). Therefore, every Church of Christ is under attack, your church and unbelieving people in your church will attack you; if you are fired up by the Holy Ghost. You may be pushed out of your own church. Your own family and friends will hate you and mob you in the name of God. Never let any of those stop you but instead fire up the Spirit of God in you and always stay in prayers as Christ did and working for the souls.
Confession
Jehovah, my Lord! Easy it is for us to be deceived by others; who act as satanic agent and/or Satan himself. When Satan came to tempt Jesus, your son, according to Matthew 4:1-11, I am reminded that no man will be free from the devil’s schemes and attack. Like a serpent, he comes into my life always, and inside your church, to remind me that I am not safe, as he did to Jesus in the wilderness. Let the gift of your Spirit, which you promised to give whoever asked you, help me discern and find out those who pretend to be like you and work for you, that I may never fall into their temptation, in Jesus name. May they be exposed in all their schemes and wherever I enter their presence, let your light in me shine and expose those evil men of darkness around me and may the heat of thy Holy Spirit burn and consume such people or spirit in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you for protecting me from wolves in sheep clothing and may your name be praised in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.
Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 4
When you find yourself in any kind of confusion or conflict (internal or external), you need counseling from true Counseling Ministers (with the Holy Ghost) to resolve the conflict you have regarding your spiritual life. Without such service; intervention of the Counselor Christ promised and sent, you will be spiritually sick until healed by the Holy Ghost. Holy Ghost uses his Ministers to heal you. You can be healed directly by the Holy Spirit, if you have not been compromised. Remember to discern for the true ones only (1 John 4:1-2) or you will get spiritually sicker. Always discern for the Holy Spirit and if you do not have the gift, ask God who gives willing and He will give it to you (1 Corinthians 12:10, Hebrews 5:14, Ephesians 1:15-18, James 1:5-6, Acts 5:3-6, 16:16-18,).
Remember what Christ said about correcting another believer. Christ recognizes that there will be conflict among believers and sets the rules of engagement regarding disputes. He said:
‘If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
‘I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.
‘I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.’ Matthew 18:15-20
Religious people might have told you not to do anything because saying something is judging them. Do not listen to such false narrative. There is big difference between judging another and telling them about their wrongs or sins so that they can repent. It is people who are committed to sin that reject such opportunity for repentance. You identify them by their ego, being hurt instead humility in recognizing the opportunity your love offering for repentance presents to them through Christ. You are to initiate such act always with each other and your act of love of repentance, which is a gift of the spirit, you present to the person will stand in judgement against such a sinner or wrong doer on the last day. Do not be intimidated by any or fear those who condemn you for your Christly duty, because God will reward you for offering the person an opportunity to repent.
The church preaches that you try to resolve any dispute among yourself but if you try but unsuccessful in resolving the issue, you need the help of your brothers. If you are still unsuccessful, you can bring the case to the Church for our Ministers to assist you, read Matthew 18:12-35 and meditate upon the words of God and open your heart, so that God will speak to you. Working together with God the Father, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost guarantees success in resolving any issue brought before His Church. There will be those who are unbelievers and does not have the Holy Spirit and fear of God. Those we will apply the rules established by Christ in the Parable of Unforgiving Debtor; Matthew 18:21-35. The unforgiving person will be handed over to God for punishment. Unbelievers who come for help, we can send away, unless they truly seek for what is God’s., read Matthew 15:21-28, and beware of those who will come to tempt you as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of law plotted to set Jesus up, read verse 1-20 and 1 Corinthians 6:1-11. Therefore, you will hear us pray against people who have given themselves to Satan and rejected Jesus Christ and does harm to Christ’s body with impunity, intentionally, without remorse and rejoice in such evil to die and perish. We destroy everything that come from such evil; its evil temples, alters, structures, institutions and whatever that exits out of God or His kingdom. We carefully use and apply the power of God given to us over Satan and his agents of destruction; as commanders and soldiers of the Lord’s army, read 2 Corinthians 10:3-8.
It is important to note that when Jesus’ authority was challenged by leading Priests and elders in Matthew 21:23-27, he used wisdom to resolve the issue and avoided major dispute. That is why the Lord said:
‘Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:16-20
Confession
In Jesus name, I pray! I thank you for coming into my life in your fullness of the three persons: God the Father Almighty, God the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. With your presence in me, your power and anointing lives in me. Thank you for the grace of being chosen by you as your temple and living place in who your powers dwell limitlessly. Manifest yourselves in your infinite wisdom to counsel those who seek your counsel, save those who seek your salvation, and destroy those who seek my destruction or that of your children; those who have given themselves to Satan and have no consideration for repentance nor fear you in the mighty name of Jesus, through who we have become one with you, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 5
The Soldiers of Jesus Christ & Apostolate Ministries strictly follow the teachings of Christ and his Apostles as a guide; in all matters of faith and life. We teach these rules to help our members understand how effective and efficient these process is in ensuring quality of our Christian life. When Jesus was accused of wrong doing, the priests and elders convinced Judas to betray him. Jesus was brought before the Council for trial; chaired by the high priest (Matthew 26:57-68). Peter and John was also tried by the same process in Acts 4:1-22, Stephen was arrested, prosecuted, and gave his life in Acts 6:8-15-7:1-60. So, do not be afraid to be on trial by your church in which you invested your life or by your own people or fellow Christians. You should take it as a thing of joy when you suffer for no fault of your own or wrongly accused.
In Acts 5:17-42, the Apostles was brought to trials before the Council of Priests and Elders. The Apostles explained that we will obey God and not any human authority or government, that commands or demands thoughts or words or actions inconsistent with that of God. When any human made law or any other law not of God is in conflict with that of God, we will reject such demands and will not comply with it, because, we will always obey God’s command and not man’s. We will rather suffer or die than disobey God. We use these processes, but do not act like the Jews who put innocent and perfect Jesus and his disciples to trial and punished them. We do not mock or jeer one another. We are not like the hypocrites, Sadducees and Pharisees. We act like Christ, who showed us the way, and in whose image and likeness, we are created.
Confession
Oh Lord Jesus Christ, many times over, your children have been prosecuted and punished for their faith and belief in you; and continues till today. As you had spoken in Matthew 11:12 (NLT), “And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.” Help me in my struggle, trials, and tribulations, when the enemies strike, and when Satan and his agents advance with their weapons of warfare, send forth your armor, build your line of defense, and let your Angels stand guard and war against those who war against me. Let them your army rise in my defense and destroy every evil principality, power, and authority operating against me in the mighty name of Jesus. Let every strong hold, enemies, hidden foes, and wicked men and women of this world or any world targeting me or my family be consumed by the Divine Chariots of Fire and Horses of Fire burn them, as they form a hedge around me and my family in the mighty name of Jesus, amen. Give me the grace to follow your footsteps, oh Jesus, and bless us with your humility to be obedient to your commands and directions of your counsel, through the Holy Ghost, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 6
This tradition of following in the footsteps of Christ started since the formation of Christian Church as a community of believers in Jesus Christ; living the life of Jesus Christ: “They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” Acts 2:45-47. We keep Christ alive in us—he lives inside of us.
I explain this important aspect of our Christian life because of how important it is as our Christian tradition. If someone ask you why you have program every day in church or eat regularly at your meeting or fellowship, tell them because that was the Christian tradition from the beginning and refer them to the above verse. The disciples of Christ worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. Is that not wonderful? You should make a commitment to do that in your local church and community each day. If someone asks you why do you observe Sabbath on Saturday, tell them that it is the same way Jesus Christ observed Sabbath and all the Apostles observed Sabbath on Saturday and it was not changed to Sunday until after all the Apostles and forerunners of the gospel had died. Sunday was manmade. Even though such decision to change to Sunday worship was manmade to preserve the canal body from pains and suffering death from those who persecuted the Church under the Roman Emperor and the corruption of Christianity by the Sun-God worshippers at the time, it makes no difference at what day you chose to observe as explained in Romans 14:6-8. As an Apostolate, we follow the footstep of Christ and the original Apostles.
Even though this is not about doctrine but the importance of counseling and conflict resolution in the life of every Christian, it is proper to explain that sometimes conflict arise regarding the choices the Church make, including who is to be ordained. Making such choice is difficult and very burdensome on the decision maker. Who wants to make such difficult choices like who will represent Christ as an ordained Minister? Who will represent God in this world? If one makes the wrong choice, God will be angry at the person. So, to avoid getting the wrath of God, we defer to the choice of the Holy Ghost.
Confession
Lord Jesus Christ! Your coming and sacrifice brought us close to God, our creator and united us with Him in prefect unity through your death and resurrection. The persecution of your children continues in the violence your kingdom suffers daily in the hands of our enemies. Fill me with your Holy Spirit Lord, that I may be strong and fearless in defending your teachings and practice. Help me not to surrender to the will and command of any disobedient church, who out of fear betrays you and condones or institutes any measure or procedure or practice inconsistent with what you had established in the mighty name of Jesus. Give me the wisdom to resolve any conflict that may result from attack or disputes with my family, brethren or church community or anyone or group in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 7
All disputes arising from choice making follows the process set in Acts 13:1-3, “Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called ‘the black man’), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.’ So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.”
In cases of some ordination choices and clerical decisions, we follow the process used to select Matthias to replace Judas as written in Acts 1:12-26. All serious matters of our Christian faith are referred to the High Council as was done in Acts chapter 15 and the Priest Superior, who is the Chief of the High Priests leads, oversees, chairs, and has the final ruling regarding all matters relating to Soldiers of Jesus Christ & Apostolate Ministries. The devil will try but you will always fail and we will overcome, because, the Holy Trinity is in us. The Priest Superior ensures that the Satan has no place among the Council or in this church. Counseling provides members opportunity to pursue holiness and purity required of the temple of God. It will be a mistake for anyone to think that there will be no conflict or disagreement among you.
In Acts 15:36-41, Paul and Barnabas separated after a long period of working together. If they could disagree over little thing as choice of companion, it shows how trivialities could cause big division or dispute among you. But remember, disagreement of Paul and Barnabas led them to separate ways and both preached to two ends of the world, instead of one end and more souls were reached in more nations than they would have accomplished together. Never lose focus of the Lord in your disputes. God has a way of turning every challenge and evil attack into victory for the Church and you. That is where you should focus your eyes; on Jesus Christ. If such disagreement leads to any of our ministers leaving the Church, never hold your blessing from them, if their purpose is to go and continue to win souls for Christ. Let no division be among you (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). Christ first before anything else!
Confession
Help me Lord to always seek your peace and by your presence in my life, not be embroiled in dispute of any kind with the Church. Dispute with the Church is dispute with your body. Let no conflict afflict me Lord, but instead bless me with your peace and tranquility and by your presence heal me of any infirmity of the thought, mind, soul, and body, which will drag me into conflict with you in the mighty name of Jesus. Let your peace and tranquility in me translate into in my human relations and relationships, so that I may rejoice in you and with you all the days of my life in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 8
When riot breaks out against the Church due to the gospel, we follow example of Jesus Christ. The Apostles, as was ordered by Christ when he sent out the Apostles to different towns and cities in Luke chapter 9 and 10, showed us the way. We leave and dust our shoes at the home or town that drove us out, so that the curse shall fall upon them. We also learn from Paul’s response, humility, pains, suffering, and obedience as demonstrated in Acts chapter 19 and 21-28. Restraint and civil defense may be used to protect our religious right and freedom. As admonished by Paul, we dispel and reject any form of infiltration and fight for our rights as directed by the Lord in Galatian 2:2-5 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. We apply the appropriate response to specific situation.
Due to these complexities and challenges we face, in the propagation and living of our beliefs and faith, we need to stay in tune with God through proper counseling and guidance from our spiritual directors and superiors. This does not demean our Christian gifts and life, instead, it helps us to review our faith and belief in support of one another, something like peer review of the world. They got that from Christian practice. One may be hearing their own voice or that of devil, but through Christian counseling multiple members of the body of Christ with different gift could discern to ensure consistency of life and purpose in Christ. If it is one Holy Spirit, the confirmation of ideals, messages, issues, purpose, plan, path, thoughts, words and actions will be the same.
The gift of God is distributed to different people by the same Holy Ghost and each, is part of one body of Christ; according to different measures willed by God. 1 Corinthians 12:1-end and Romans 12:1-8. Let no soldier of Christ forget this crucial gift of God, recognize and apply it in their life, individually and collectively.
Confession
Lord, Jesus Christ, destroy in me all element of pride, ego, defiance, oppositional behavior, arrogance and disobedience to your words or commands. Let the evil spirit behind such thought, feeling or conduct be arrested permanently in my life in Jesus name. Help me to also deal with your Church and fellow believers with humility and alertness they deserve of a servant of God or child of God. Help me to always seek your will, thoughts, words, actions, plans, purpose, and path in all my dealings with others. By your grace, may my humility and attentiveness to the needs of my fellow man and believers bring us to consensus and resolution of any issue that might arise among us or within the Church in Jesus name, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 9
We provide Conflict Resolution because it will help you resolve issues instead of going to Court. As you know, 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 discourages Christians from suing one another or going to civil court for resolution of issues. The Lord encouraged us to resolve issues among ourselves. He has given us wisdom, talent, and gift to find solution to all problems brought before His Court. We have the Divine Supreme Court, from which we resolve all issues brought to us. Galatians 2:11-21 shows us how to confront one another about issues of disagreement regarding our faith. The Soldiers confront each other in the open, redirect or correct openly before our fellow brothers and sisters. There is no backstabbing, gossip, slander, malice, bitterness, anger, or any unwholesome talk about one another. Things of private matter shall be handled in private and public or general matter about the Church shall be before the Church.
The Lord said in Colossians 3:12-15;
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
If you live according to the above words of encouragement from the Lord, there is no problem you cannot solve. Every issue you have with anyone can be resolved and every internal conflict that might be troubling you can be resolved, so that you can have an everlasting peace in your life. The resolution of any internal or external conflict depends on the conflicting parties. If there is will, positive attitude, open-mindedness and willingness to recognize all parties’ interest or point of view, then, resolution is guaranteed. Recognizing others interests or point of view does not mean that you agree with it will concede to their demands or interests. It means you acknowledge their legitimacy and rights, liberty, and freedom to make such demands or hold such interest, then, you together begin to discern what is valid or not, what is true or not, what is real or not, what is right or not, what is free or not, what is liberal or not, according to God’s will, plan, purpose, words and actions.
Confession
God our Father! You admonished us to find solution among ourselves, instead of going into war in the secular court, whom we will judge. Help me to be obedient to you and seek the part of peace first and not drag people to court and when dragged not to be afraid what to say. Give me the grace of honor and glory of your name, that I may not backstab another or slander, keep malice, bitterness, anger or engage in unwholesome talk against another person in the mighty name of Jesus. May I continue, even in my imperfection, to seek a holy life of perfection as you require of me in the mighty name of Jesus. Through your grace, may I be blameless and justified before thee in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 10
According to Isaiah 50:1, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Was your mother sent away because I divorced her? Did I sell you as slaves to my creditors? No, you were sold because of your sins. And your mother, too, was taken because of your sins.” In this Biblical rebuke from the Lord, God highlights example of internal conflict that manifested into physical conflict. Disobedient children of God (Israelites) and their resentment for Prophet Isaiah, who is an exceptional servant of the Lord, made God angry. It makes God angry when you claim the title or heir to God’s kingdom, as His prince or princes, but reject His words, and messages from His prophets. Such hypocrisy leads to conflict of both internal and external nature. If you are righteous and faithful to God in this world full of hypocrites, the people will hate you and bring conflict to you.
You can see in the last quote from Isaiah, that, for a Prophet of Isaiah stature, he was not liked by some of his own people who were antagonistic towards him. In Matthew 10:22 and John 15:18-27, Jesus warned us about the hatred of the people of the world against believers. Think of what the people of his world did to him; denials, rejections, name calling, aggression, assault, arguments, disputes, conflicts, false accusations, beating, spiting, mocking, hitting, flogging, torn crowning, stabbing, and crucifixion. The people who suffered Jesus to death were his tribesmen, his clan, his neighbors, his friends, his family, and his beloved ones. So, do not be surprised, but be ready and open-minded to understand, when any of these vices happens to you.
The above kinds of conflict are not different from those you may be experience now, from those who attack you, due to your faith or belief. Isaiah, in his own defense, reminded his people of the reason why their mother was divorced. Israel was divorced by the Lord due to their sins. Those who attack you, are doing so out of contempt for the Lord, because they first hated the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, and now, they attack you and create situation that has placed you in dispute. You may have also caused the dispute due your unrighteousness and ways of life. The first step is for you to examine yourself: thoughts, words, and actions to see where you disobeyed the words of God and reconcile with yourself and God, then with your fellow man. All three have to be complete before any conflict you are involved in could be reconciled. The general practice of saying “forget it” of “don’t worry” or dismissing the issue or avoiding it does not always work for all conflict, especially serious issue. Therefore, we recommend counseling always. Get to the root cause of all problems and do so quickly and immediately it started before it causes serious damage in your relationship. Do not let it to build up to become a miry pit.
Confession
Lord! Give me the strength to endure pains and suffering for your sake. Help me to remember your words and be comforted by your consolation. May your words refresh and renew my thoughts, minds, words and actions in understanding the world I live and people of the world, so that your peace will reign in my life, and not obstruct my eternal life in Jesus name, amen. Remove hypocrisy out of my life and help me to seek clear conscience and openness to repent, reconcile, and forgive those who sin against me, in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 11
If you look around the world, you will see how most families are in turmoil and conflict. Love has disappeared in families because mankind rejected true marriage and are married to themselves and their selfish desires. There is so much hypocrisy, that you can hardly see anyone who is not a hypocrite in one way or another. Their thoughts, words, and actions means nothing to others except to themselves. People of today’s world and many believers live the same way; you cannot tell the difference. It is all because of lack of fear of the Lord, and therefore, lack of wisdom. If you are one of such people, you should be alarmed because Satan has pitched a tent in your household and it is only a matter of time, he will start conflict that will tear your life apart, unless you act now and embrace Jesus.
This is the reason why you have rampant divorce today; due to the sinful and unholy life of at least one party in the marriage. Most often, both spouses are not living like Christ, who stated that he will be faithful to the Church until the end of time. Christ compared his relationship with the Church to that of a marriage (Ephesians 5:21-33). The cited passage does not mean slavery or control of the weaker sex. It emphasizes obedience that prevents conflict, so that marriage can be permanent in your life and not to be divorced or separated forever. Submission to Christ prevents conflict, because, Christ remolds both spouses and controls both life in perfect unity of purpose and actions.
Divorce is the most serious type of conflict that is not only threatening our Christian values and beliefs, it threatens first command God gave mankind after He created them (Genesis 1:26-28). God established the institution of marriage by creating Adam, then later created eve and united them (Genesis 2:18-25). This core value of our faith was renewed in Joseph and Mary as the new Adam and Eve (Matthew 1:18-25). Because this is not a message on marriage, I will only focus on the marital conflict as a Satan’s weapon of war against God’s will, plans for mankind, and humanity—destroy the institution of marriage and family, then, the society will explode in shambles and Satan will plunder humanity and godly life.
Confession
Jehovah! Jehovah!! Jehovah!!!. You made the world perfect and handed it to man to care for, but man has failed to carter for his family. Many men have abdicated their responsibility to carter for their family, provide leadership as the head of the household, and provide direction for the family. Therefore, many women stepped in, and in many families, where the wife failed to step in, Satan entered and took hold of such families and destroyed them. Please, Lord, let your spirit renew the face of the earth and let your people regain favor with you. I declare myself and claim your favor and receive your renewal and as you continue to live in me, be my source and strength in leading my family and directing them to you, who is above all, makes all things perfect, and makes whole in Jesus name. Come into my family as you are in me and bind us together in your love, that we will never be separated from you forever and ever, in Jesus name, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 12
The family is the center of the society. If Satan breaks down the family unit, it is easier to destroy the individual components of it. Once you let in family feud or strife into your family, the members attack each other in microcosms of conflict and opens the door for Satan to unleash his weapons. When conflicts breaks out in your family, you may need counseling as a means of resolution, because, each party to the conflict may not trust the other, many not be objective, rational or reasonable because each is emotionally, mentally, psychologically, and physically involved in the issues that cause the conflict or may be affected by it.
Family, marital, and group counseling is a very vital instrument we have in our ministries for helping the willing parties. Divorce has been a very controversial issue among Christians and the Jews; due to different text that may be confusing to or may be difficult for people to understand. More importantly, it is usually, the desire of any spouse, who do not believe in marriage for life, to search for interpretation and meaning making of the words of God to justify their divorce. It is an outright disobedience to God’s words; that the vows of marriage cannot be broken by anyone. Such vow is sacred before God and man.
For instance, Jeremiah 3:1 stated, ‘“If a man divorces a woman and she goes and marries someone else, he will not take her back again, for that would surely corrupt the land. But you have prostituted yourself with many lovers, so why are you trying to come back to me?’ says the Lord.” Many Christians see this and other verses and embrace divorce. Such people do so, because, their heart is hardened to the word of God and their mind made up to be disobedient to God. So, they look for any word of God to justify their intended action—divorce. These group of Christians failed to understand the whole words of God, but look at verses or sections and not considering the context of words of God the one quoted earlier. The Lord was speaking to the people of Israel about their own law given to them by Moses according to their demand of Him. Did they consider the Lord’s instruction in Malachi 2:15-17? It stated,
Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. ‘For I hate divorce!’ says the Lord, the God of Israel. ‘To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ‘So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.’ You have wearied the Lord with your words. ‘How have we wearied him?’ you ask. You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight, and he is pleased with them. You have wearied him by asking, ‘Where is the God of justice?’
Confession
Father, I thank you for the message that you have given to me today and may I be filled with your joy in my sorrows and suffering in my marriage. Help me to remain faithful to my spouse and defeat Satan in all his temptation of unfaithfulness. May I never leave the spouse of my youth and remain faithful all the days of my life in Jesus name. When there is trouble, send your gift of the Spirit to refresh, renew, and rekindle your love in us, and help us overcome all evil attack and temptation in Jesus name, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 13
You have preachers today that wearied God (tires God’s patience, loose coolness with you) by saying that grace abounds and covers all sins, therefore, go on and continue sinning, the blood of the lamp has washed you clean and his resurrection has given you eternal life. One who lives unholy life, rejects repentance and forgiveness, but asks for God’s justice against another weary God. Self-righteousness and feeling of entitlement to grace while sinning is not holiness and not a way to seek the God of justice. God hates divorce and if you love God, do not divorce your spouse. If you falsely accuse your spouse of any wrong doing, you should be brought to the church by the accused father, so that we settle the matter. God set example in Deuteronomy 22:13-30. Also in Deuteronomy chapter 24, the Lord sets the standards of living. In that standard, divorce was approved based on law of Moses, to appease the people and not from the laws of God. A man who got married are not to be sent away for at least one year. In the above examples, there are serious consequences including stoning someone to death. It is one of those examples of how unforgiving people use to throw their spouse out, because, they forgot what Christ said as a revelation of the truth.
Christ clarified the contradictions of whether to divorce or not in his teachings. In the New Testament, which is the dispensation of Christians, divorce is not acceptable to God. From the beginning to the end of time, it is not acceptable to God for anyone to divorce his or her spouse. That is why Christians must take the marriage decision very serious—about who they marry by making sure it is the one given to them by God only and not man or by themselves. God gives the woman to a man first, then, the person and the family accepts or rejects and there are good or bad consequences for either choices (acceptance or rejection of God’s will). Those that engage in long distance marriage breaks the rule and faces consequences. Do not marry until you are certain to live together right after the marriage. This will prevent marital conflict, that could harm the marriage due to the separation and inability to fulfill the duties stipulated in Deuteronomy 24 standards.
Christ explained in Matthew 5:9, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” If one seeks divorce, does he or she seek peace with the spouse and God (who hates divorce and forbids it)? The person cannot be included as a member of “children of God.” Christ said that “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” [And] “Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.” John 14:21 &23-24. Christ was stating what the Father had stated from the beginning. If you love one another, there will be no issue leading to a divorce. If you are a child of God, you seek peace. So, divorce is not an option for resolution of marital conflict.
Confession
In Jesus name! God everlasting Father, who in the beginning decreed that a man shall leave his family and join together with his wife and they shall become one. When You created Adam, You put him to sleep and from him took part of him, to make Eve, and joined them together; when you introduced Eve to Adam. You are the great match maker. When Mary and Joseph met and made decision on their own to marry without consulting you to know your plans for them, they soon found out that you had different plan for Mary, and Joseph was about to divorce her before you intervened. Like most marriages formed by man today, it all falls apart until you step in to resolve the conflict. I reject such conflict in my marriage and for that I sought your help to join me to my spouse. Where I had failed to do so, I hereby plead with you, to come into my marriage now, and renew it, remake it the way you wanted it to be, renew and refresh it by fixing everything that was done wrong in Jesus name I pray. I come to you from the bottom of my heart and confess all that I did wrong (confess your wrong processes) in the choices and processes I took in this marriage and ask that you do for me what you did for Mary and Joseph, so that I can receive the gift of love you gave Joseph and Mary in overcoming the conflict they had and to faithfully establish an outstanding family in which your son Jesus Christ was raised in Jesus name, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 14
In Mark 10:1-12, Christ discusses divorce and marriage:
Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: ‘Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?’ Jesus answered them with a question: ‘What did Moses say in the law about divorce?’ ‘Well, he permitted it,’ they replied. ‘He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.’
But Jesus responded, ‘He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation. ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.’
Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again. He told them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.’
In the above discussion, Jesus explains that Moses gave the commandment due to the hardness of the heart of the Israelites. It could not be clearer than it is in the above words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Due to the hardness of your hearts, is the only reason one can use: ‘“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.” Matthew 5:31-32 to justify New Testament’s approval of divorce but reject whole and holistic understanding of the whole of God’s words—taking verse or phrase and rejecting other accounts that completes the God’s thoughts or will and context of which it was stated.
In the above verse for example, the last sentence said; “And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.” Does God contradict Himself? How could he approve divorce and at the same time and circumstance direct that whoever that married divorced woman commits adultery. That is like putting you into sinful state. Is that possible? No! Did God not also say that he does not tempt a man? James 1:12-16, also read up to verse 27 for your personal study. If God approves divorce and condemns marrying a divorcee because you would have been subject to adulterous life, and who is therefore bared from going to heaven, would that not mean that God has forbidden you and bound you to hell (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)? This is legalistic language which most people do not understand. The law that you must not marry a divorcee makes the law of divorce with certificate of divorce given by Moses moot. This therefore restores the original command from God not to divide what God had joined together. Look at the text in Mark 10:2-12. Divorce is neither acceptable nor approved by God.
Confession
Oh Jesus! Help me not to be confused or misled by those who lacked understanding of your words and its teaching. Help me see clearly your words and even without understanding by faith believe what you had decreed for me. As you have taken me as your temple and lives in me, may I never get to the point in my life where I will be discussing divorce ever in my life. May your peace reign in my life and may I continue to be in your presence all the days of my life, because, through your presence in my life, you find out all the issue of my life before I do and resolve them before I even know it exist in Jesus name, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 15
Those Christians who use Matthew 5:31 to justify God’s approval of divorce did not read the remaining part of the message from God in Matthew 19:1-12 or chose to ignore it, for their own ulterior motive(s). If you look at Mark 10:1 and Matthew 19:1, you can see that it is the same event and teaching that is reported in both chapters. Matthew chapter 19 clarifies chapter 5. Chapter 5:32 stated “And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery” but Matthew chapter 19:9 stated “whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery…” which, means the same thing. In both passages in Matthew 5 & 19, Christ stated first what God said in the beginning and then stated the concession Moses gave due to the hardness of your heart. It is up to you to choose, which of the command you wish to obey—that of God or that of Moses. I implore you to obey God’s command, if you love Him.
In Romans 7, God explains how the law brings sin out of man and leads to spiritual death but hence we are not under the law, but by the grace of Jesus Christ’s blood are redeemed, our obedience to one commandment Jesus Christ gave us, we fulfill all laws. Therefore, through love we overcome divorce and live in peace, so that, divorce will no longer be necessary option in resolving whatever issue we have. We conquer those issues by the love we have for one another and God; who first loved us by uniting us with Him through Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, Paul gives his own rules and mixed it up with God’s own command. Christians get very confused reading this chapter and use it to support different actions not approved by God without discerning for understanding of what is Paul’s and what is God’s. But Paul claimed his own statement and clearly stated what is God’s. This is why we have Counseling and Conflict Resolution process in our Ministries and encourage all members of The Soldiers and other Christians to take advantage of the services. Ephesians chapter 5 and Hebrews chapter 13 highlights standard of our Christian and family life, which if complied with, will reduce conflict in your life and make you a peaceful and better Christian—an example for unbelievers to emulate, the same way you emulate Jesus Christ. Each person who comes for Counseling should be encouraged to read Ephesians 5 and Hebrews 13 and see if they agree with the standards before counseling the person. You should read that before getting into vocation of marriage.
Confusion
Oh Lord Jesus Christ, the vocation of marriage is a very long one and may be the longest of journey of my life. I invite you to go on this journey with me and without you, I will not undertake such unknow journey and road. If it is your will, help me and speak to me in the words of Ephesians 5 and Hebrews 13. May you also speak to me in the words of 1 Corinthians 13 and as I reflect in these words, may it be written in my heart and be spoken through my mouth and fill my mind all the days of my life. As, you live in me, I am faithful to you and believe that you will never forsake as you have promised and therefore not afraid in my obedience to you and your words in Jesus name, amen.

Opening the Door to your Spiritual Life through Counseling and Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 7

Let us reflect on the following words of God:
Matthew 5:25-26
“When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.”
Proverb 30:33
“As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels.”
Proverb 18:6
“Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating.”
Psalm 120: 7
“I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war!”
Proverb 17:13-15
“If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house. Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—both are detestable to the Lord.”
Psalm 140:1-2
“O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.”
Proverb 15:18
“A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them.”
Genesis 21:10
“So she turned to Abraham and demanded, ‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”’
Proverb 18:19
“An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.”
Proverb 19:13
“A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.”
James 4:1-3
“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
Mark 6:18-19
“John had been telling Herod, ‘It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.’ So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless”
2 Timothy 2:23-26
“Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.”
Philippians 2:3-8
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Proverb 10:12
“Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.”
Proverb 13:10
“Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.”
Proverb 17:19-20
“Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster. The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.”
Proverb 20:3
“Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.”
Proverb 21:9
“It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.”
Proverb 22:10
“Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.”
Proverb 26:20-21
‘”Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.”
Proverb 27:15-16
“A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day. Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands.”
2 Timothy 2:14
“Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.”
2 Timothy 2:23
“Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.”

1 Corinthians 3:3
“for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?”
Isaiah 58:4
“What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.”
Romans 13:12-14
“The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”
2 Corinthians 12:20-21
“For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.”
1 Timothy 6:3-5
“Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.”
Luke 22:24
“Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.”