I’ve always been a car guy. I love watching car YouTube channels, and recently I came across one showing an event called the “Mo Party.” It had people drag racing, swapping car parts, and hanging out at a water park. Everyone was having a great time doing their thing, no one was criticizing the others for what they enjoyed. It made me think, this is how God wants us to be. All in one accord, having a great time together.
That’s exactly what we see in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit showed up.
Acts 2:1–3 (NKJV)
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.”
When we’re in unity, the Holy Spirit moves freely. But when we allow strife, division, or criticism to enter, it stops His work cold.
Strife keeps bad company. Just look at this list.
Galatians 5:19–21 (AMP)
“The practices of the flesh are clear: immorality, impurity, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, divisions, envy, drunkenness… I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Strife isn’t some small issue; it’s grouped with murder and idolatry in Scripture. It destroys unity and shuts down what God wants to do.
Romans 1:28–31 (NKJV)
“Being filled with all unrighteousness… murder, strife, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God…”
Gossip and backbiting fall right in line with strife. Those late-night conversations where you’re rehashing what someone said or did, yeah, that’s whispering. It seems harmless, but it opens the door to division.
Darl and I made it a priority not to know too much about people’s private lives. We’d rather not know at all, because it’s easy to slip into gossip. The Holy Spirit will tell you what you need to know when you need to know it.
Proverbs 13:10 (NKJV)
“By pride comes nothing but strife.”
When we criticize, it’s pride talking. Pride says, I know better. But that’s the same sin that caused Lucifer to fall. Strife is rooted in pride; it’s the belief that we’re right and others are wrong. That attitude kills unity in families, friendships, and churches.
Don’t criticize leadership. Don’t tear people down. Whether it’s church leaders or national leaders, the Bible calls us to pray for them, not to speak against them.
Proverbs 20:3 (NKJV)
“It is an honor for a man to cease from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.”
It’s honorable to walk away from arguments, even when you feel justified. The fool is the one who keeps pushing.
Romans 13:12–13 (NKJV)
“Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly… not in strife and envy.”
Envy says, I deserve more than they do. But that’s just pride in disguise. Instead, choose to encourage and build others up. Say, “You’re doing a great job. How can I help?”
2 Timothy 2:23–24 (AMP)
“Refuse stupid controversies and ignorant questionings, for you know they foster strife… The servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but kindly to everyone, patient and willing to suffer wrong.”
When you’re dead to sin, nothing anyone says should offend you. Don’t get caught up in meaningless arguments, especially about things that don’t matter to salvation.
Galatians 5:26 (AMP)
“Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.”
Criticism isn’t a fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, and patience are. Be the kind of person who helps and encourages rather than critiques.
Ephesians 4:1–3 (NKJV)
“Walk worthy of the calling… with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Unity takes effort. It means striving hard to love and bear with one another, even when it’s uncomfortable. If you sense strife trying to slip in, just stop. Walk away if you need to. It’s not worth losing peace over.
Here’s one of my favorite prayers to stop strife in its tracks:
Psalm 141:3–4 (NKJV)
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
That one verse can change your relationships, your church, and your peace. The Holy Spirit will help you if you’re willing to obey when He says, “Don’t say that.”
Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”
How much better is life when you let those qualities lead you? All it takes is putting a guard over your mouth.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (AMP)
“I encourage you, brothers and sisters, that you be perfectly united in mind and thought, with no divisions among you.”
Being in unity doesn’t mean you never disagree; it means you talk about differences in love. Don’t major on the minors. Whether it’s theology, politics, or football teams, let small things stay small.
Jude 1:21–25 (AMP)
“Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God… Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before His presence with great joy.”
When we guard our lips and stay in love, we walk in the same joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. That’s where God wants us united, peaceful, and filled with joy.
