Quarrels and fights among you
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12 KJV)
Red and black ants
I heard someone say that if you put 100 black ants and 100 red ants in a jar, they will generally ignore each other. However, if you shake the jar, the red and black ants will suddenly turn on each other and fight until the death. They don’t realize it’s the one shaking the jar who is the enemy not the different ant. I don’t know if this is true about ants but it is an example of what we do see in our world today regarding people. Many are lashing out against each other not realizing who is really “shaking the jar” so to speak - It’s country against country, race against race, neighbor against neighbor, gender against gender, political party against political party, and other endless examples. But it all boils down to the same thing, our fights at their deepest levels are really from sin and from the evil one who is behind it all.
The evil one controls the world
“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19 NIV)
Why can’t we just get along?
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.” (James 4:1-2 ESV)
“On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’” (Acts 7:26
The sinful nature practices are clearly evident
“Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21 AMP)
Therefore
“Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.” (Psalm 141:4)
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” (Rom. 6:12)