Characteristics of Love: Love fights Fair
Mark 3:22-26 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
Mark 3:22-26 (NLT) But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.” Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive.
Introduction: Calvary greetings to all.
🙏 The Lord will keep us and our families unto His coming in Jesus name.
We are looking at the 13th characteristic of God’s kind of Love this week; Love fights Fair
To fight is trying to prevent or stop what is perceived to be unpleasant from happening while what is fair is reasonable, right or just.
Love fights Fair therefore means that God’s kind of Love tries to prevent or stop what is perceived to be unpleasant, it is done reasonably in a right and just manner.
🛑 To believe that Christian couples cannot fight is to believe a lie. There will always be disagreement due to different perception or views of situations based on different backgrounds and other factors.
What differentiates Christian couples from others is the kind of Love that exists during quarrels. God’s kind of Love fights fair due to wisdom from God through fruit of the Spirit embedded in Love.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
In fighting or disagreement among Christian couples, mercy and fruit of the Spirit such as patience, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, temperance, faith and goodness found inside Love will come to the fore during fighting. This love fights Fair, and ends in peace without causing wounds.
Fighting fair among Christian couples must be examined by what Scriptures speak in Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
On the contrary, worldly or valentine’s love fights dirty (unfair, immoral and dishonest) due to worldly wisdom powered by human nature. This is where couples wound, maim or kill themselves during disagreement.
James 3:14-15 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
This is where Fighting is dirty with foul and destructive languages. Worldly love is based on earthly things, sensual or physical void of Spirit of God but full of activities or works of the flesh and devilish.
God’s kind of Love that fights Fair is characterised by unity between spouses. Their nakedness will never be exposed during quarrel.
Genesis 2:24-25 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
God’s kind of Love brings unity in Christian couples which disallows devil and external influences any interference when Christian couples fight. Unity in marriage helps couples to succeed in the battle of life where God is involved as the Third Eye.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT) Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
🛑 Devil knows that before he can succeed in ruining Christian homes, there must firstly be division, by making them to stand alone as single parent due to irreconcilable differences.
Love that fights fair brings couples together in the place of prayer despite disagreement to disallow Satanic influences and also receive their hearts desires from God as they continue to pray together despite the fight. Two cannot walk together unless they agree in the place of prayer.
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Any home or couple that allows feud to cause division will fall Irrespective of worldly possessions.
Luke 11:17 (NLT) He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.
Let God’s kind of Love first exist in your nuclear family (father, mother and çhildren) as priority. Where there is disunity in nuclear family and then bringing unity to extended family cannot work, it is hypocritical.
🛑 Getting angry is not sinful but allowing anger to linger for long among couples, thereby allowing anger to be in control, gives opportunity for the devil to destroy families, making fights to be unreasonable and unjust in unrighteousness.
Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT) And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
❓ What practical steps are we to take as we walk in love this week?
Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement. If your mate is not ready for this, then write out your own personal rules to “fight” by. Resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
✍ Finally brethren, let us still be with one mind without retaliation even in quarrels so as to receive blessings meant for Christians couples as promised by God that is what makes a difference in Christian marriage.
1 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT) Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
✋ Maranatha.
