The next work of the flesh in this study is "strife." This is from the Greek word, eritheia, which is usually translated "contention" or "strife," but also could be translated "intrigue." By implication, this is the tendency to secretly spread strife. This is an evil that can be found in almost every congregation, and has almost certainly done more damage to the church than all of the cults and persecutions combined.

These intrigues that lead to strife between believers often come with the pretense of having the Lord's interests or the people's interests at heart. However, this is at best a work of the flesh, and is often used to open a wide gate of hell into the church, as well as into the lives of those who use such devices. As we are promised in Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." Those who trouble others inevitably lead very troubled lives themselves.

As intrigue implies doing things secretly; anything that cannot be done in the light of openness is almost always going to be evil. The devil dwells in darkness, and that which has to be kept in darkness is usually from him. It is for this reason that I am always wary of anyone who wants to tell me a secret about someone else. I have never seen good or edification come from this. In times of persecution there may be things that obviously have to be done secretly, but other than that the things which are done in secret are rarely going to be righteous, unless it is our secret prayers and gifts.

As we have discussed before, let us never forget the prayer that the Lord made on the night before His crucifixion, which was recorded in John 17. He knew that He only had a short time left on this earth to pray as a man. If we knew that we only had a few hours left in this life, our prayers would certainly be focused on the things that are the most important to us. We can therefore believe that this prayer is possibly the greatest reflection of the things that are on our Lord's heart. The main theme of that prayer is the unity of His people. If unity is so important to Him, then those who truly love Him would never do anything intentionally to bring strife or division to His people.

I know as a parent there are few things that grieve me more than strife among my children. There are few things that give me more pleasure than seeing them getting along with each other and enjoying one another. Our Father in heaven is the same way. It brings Him great pleasure to see His children loving each other. It brings great grief to Him for us to fight with each other. Using intrigue to bring division is especially sinister. Such have the hallmarks of the nature of the devil himself, about whom it was said in the beginning that he was "crafty" (see Genesis 3:1).

When we become offended or bothered by something going on in the church or with other people, we often seek the comfort of having other people agree with us. However, that is an agreement from hell. This is how the devil, whose title is "the accuser of the brethren" (see Revelation 12:10), usually gains entry and begins to do his most evil deeds, which is to separate God's people from one another. The devil seems to understand even better than most Christians that the unity of God's people multiplies their power ("If any two agree..." see Matthew 18:19), and therefore his primary strategy against the church is to keep God's people divided. We must wake up to this strategy and not allow ourselves to be used in anything that brings division between God's people.

One way the devil often tries to get Christians to justify their evil intrigue is by having them use prayer as a motive. Some of the worst strife in the body begins with someone sharing someone else's problems, or perceived problems, in order "to pray for them." Some of the most diabolical gossip is uttered in prayers. Some even use prayer as a form of witchcraft in order to try to dictate policy in their church. This has not only defiled many people, but is often used to destroy the very prayer ministry in a church. Regardless of whether you call it prayer or not, this form of trying to manipulate and control others is a form of witchcraft.

There is also an evil that some call "anointed curses." These are released when Christians use something holy, such as prayer, to speak evil of others or over others. Words do have power, as we are told in Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." Are our words giving life or death?

You will never see His true servants stoop to using intrigue to do His work. All such devices are from the devil. We need to recognize them, refuse to participate in them, and as need be, rebuke those who do. True shepherds and true watchmen will rise up and confront evil that tries to attack God's people, and this is one of the devil's most deadly schemes.

We need to also challenge those who fall to such devices for their sake. As the Lord Himself warned, it would be better not to even be born than to become a stumbling block to even the least of His little ones (see Matthew 18:6). After issuing this warning, the Lord gave us a procedure that would help keep us from becoming stumbling blocks. He said that if a brother was in sin, we were to first go to him in private (see Matthew 18:15). If we have not been to the person with what we think is wrong with him, then going to any other person with it is a transgression that can place us in jeopardy of being a stumbling block, which is probably far worse than the sin he is committing.

After we have been through the first step outlined by the Lord in Matthew 18 for addressing sin in someone's life, if he does not receive the first attempt to help him by bringing him to repentance, only then should we ever take the issue to another person, and then only in order to help the person who is sinning with his problem. After this has failed, which often means giving the person time to see it and repent (the Lord even gave Jezebel "time to repent"), only then should it be brought before the church. However, even this is done for the purpose of bringing the repentance that leads to restoration. As we are also told in Galatians 6:1:
 

If our motives for saying anything negative about another person are anything other than restoration, then they are almost certainly evil. If anyone approaches us with something they say has to be kept a secret, then refuse to hear it. It will only lead to evil. If it cannot be kept in the light, then it is darkness. As we are told in Ephesians 4:29-32:

Here we are told how not to grieve the Holy Spirit, by putting away all "bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice." Nothing so offends the Holy Spirit as these things. In their place we are to instead be kind, forgiving, and tenderhearted toward each other. We can know those who are true Christians by their love for one another. We can also recognize those who have been sent to do the devil's bidding by the way that they spread strife in the body.