The scriptures states in Matthew 12:25 that a kingdom divided can not stand. “25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:”
Why do we allow Satan to come in and cause confusion. Don’t get me wrong. There are many different personalities and people in the church. I believe one of the first things we should pray for after accepting Jesus Christ into our lives as Lord; is to pray for God to increase our love. Remember when the lawyer asked Jesus which of the commands are the greatest. What did Jesus say? (Matthew 22:35-40) ”
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
God sees all of us in the church as assets. Being different is an asset. No one person can do everything. Everyone does not do everything the same. In God’s eyes diversity is great. Diversity is awesome and needed. How do you know God loves diversity? One of the reason I say God loves diversity is by 1 Corinthians 12.
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
From the scripture above, we see that God made us diverse intentionally. But even though we are diverse; we must work together as one. One body and one unit, with one goal. For us to work together, we need the Holy Spirit. So, it is important to also ask God for the infilling of his Holy Spirit. We as human being tend to be drawn to people that are just like us. We have to intentionally push ourselves to be around people that are not just like us, but have the same goal. The goal is building the Kingdom of God on the earth and establishing God’s governance. Praying for love and the Holy Spirit, will equip us to deal with different people in the church.
We need to stop bashing each other in the church because that is what Satan wants. Satan wants us against each other, so we can not be very effective. Listen this is not a new thing in the church, even the Apostle who started building the church had issues. (Acts 15)
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
From that one example in Acts, we see Satan trying to cause confusion. Please , please don’t fall for it brothers and sisters, in Christ.God has scriptures to let us know the importance of working together, meeting together and also praying together.
Hebrews 10:24,25
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Matthew 18:19,20
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.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
There are many more scriptures on coming together as one. Try and find some scriptures yourself.
Satan tries to let us believe diversity in the church is bad because it causes confusion. James 3:16 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. We can not act the same like the world. Let us come out and be different.
I’m not saying other brothers and sisters in Christ, will not agitate you sometimes. But we have to learn to take things to God first, especially if this area in one of your weaknesses. Yes, scriptures say to go to them privately first. But if you do not know how to go to people in love. I suggest you go to God first and ask him to help you in that area. Also ask God to soften the other persons heart so they can receive what God tells you to say and how to say it. Many of us tend to be introverts and relish our time alone, but we can not be alone all the time. We are part of one body and Christ being the head, of the body.
Think about it this way. Suppose your two legs had a disagreement with each other. They detached themselves from the rest of your body and hopped away, in two different directions; wouldn’t the rest of your body be affected. I know this seams comical, but that’s what happens spiritually. Come on sisters and brothers in Christ. Let’s put aside the envying and arguments.
We hurt and kill each other for crazy reasons. We hurt each other emotionally, psychologically, psycho-socially, spiritually etc. Satan wants us in offense. Satan wants us to turn from God because of how the church hurt us. I say the church because the church is made of people and not building materials.
My cry is not to separate yourself always, but seek God and he will guide you. God is waiting for you to come back to him wholeheartedly.
I’m writing this from a personal perspective. I tend to withdraw from people. Not because I hate people, but because I enjoy being by myself most of the time. When you think of it. It is very selfish to only come out and speak to people when I feel like it. Suppose someone needs me, when I’m not in the mood to be around them. It’s selfish because I want people to be available for me and not be available for others. That is a selfish act. God is helping me in that area and I want to help others too. It’s not all about me and it’s not all about you. It’s about God and his will. When we see things the way God sees it, we get convicted. When people ask me things; I have to be intentionally available. I love giving and helping, but God wants us to do more for our brethren (sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus).
Come Back!!! We love you and God loves you even more.
