Satan uses disunity as a major weapon against churches as well as nations, and we need to be on guard against his tactics.
Listen again to Paul: Ephesians 6:10-12 - NLT - A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
There is tremendous demonic intrusion today into nations, governments, families and churches. Our enemy knows that he is no match for God’s power manifested through God’s people. Satan knows that to conquer, he must first of all divide!
It would do us well to remember what was spoken 2500 years ago by the Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu in The Art of War: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Notice Jesus’ words about the very days we live in that are so close to His return: Matthew 24:7-10 -NLT: Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. (8) But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. (9) "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. (10) And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other.
Notice that Jesus mentions outward turmoil in nature first, then He mentions how Satan will turn world opinion against the church with serious persecution being the result. Then Jesus mentions how believers will be lulled to sleep by Satan and will turn away from Jesus and each other. My friends, these things are happening right now!
Jesus Himself warned us against the danger of division in Matthew 12:25 (NKJV): But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. Contemporary English Version says it so well: Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said to them: Any kingdom where people fight each other will end up ruined. And a town or family that fights will soon destroy itself.
Satan’s tactic in a nation is to destroy it through infighting, racial division, and political disunity. This is a key component of the Marxist plan to bring communism and socialism to a nation. And that is happening right now in America! Choose now to have no part of these schemes. Pray for our nation to turn from lies, deceit, self-centeredness, and pride, and back to the living God who brings truth, integrity, honesty, justice, and help!
Satan’s tactic in the church world is to create division and disunity – so the Holy Spirit will not manifest. Local churches are set in communities by Jesus to be His salt And light and to bring salvation to that community through preaching and teaching the gospel. Be aware of anything that moves your focus away from the local church and onto anything that dims its light. Pray for your pastor and church leaders, that they will have the mind of Christ and the wisdom of God to obey Him, preach the Word, move with the Holy Spirit, and reach out to their communities with the saving power of the gospel and the freeing power of the Word of God!
The book of Acts is really the Book of Acts of The Holy Spirit! What causes the Holy Spirit to manifest? It’s this thing called unity. Look at the following scripture from the book of Acts:
Acts 1:14
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Acts 2:1
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:42-47
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (43) Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. (44) Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, (45) and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (46) So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 4:29-32
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, (30) by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." (31) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (32) Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
Acts 5:12-16
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. (13) Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. (14) And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (15) so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. (16) Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
A major component of a healthy nation and a healthy church is unity. Paul passionately urged the believers in Corinth to live in unity in 1 Corinthians 1:10 -NLT: I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
Why did Paul pray that way? He prayed that way because he knew Satan’s subtle tactics of conquering from within. Lack of unity robs an individual and a church of God’s power to set people free. Where there is unity, there is potential power!
Notice in the following passages the strength produced by unity:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 -NLT
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. (10) If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (11) Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? (12) 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.
Genesis 11:1-8
At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. 2 As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. 3 They began saying to each other, "Let's make bricks and harden them with fire." (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) 4 Then they said, "Come, let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world." 5 But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. 6 "Look!" he said. "The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! 7 Come, let's go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won't be able to understand each other." 8 In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city.
Unity will also bring a manifestation of God’s amazing, tangible presence. Notice what happened in Solomon’s temple when the people were unified in their worship in 2 Chronicles 5:11-14 -NLT: Then the priests left the Holy Place. All the priests who were present had purified themselves, whether or not they were on duty that day. (12) And the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and all their sons and brothers—were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at the east side of the altar playing cymbals, lyres, and harps. They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets. (13) The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: "He is good! His faithful love endures forever!" At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. (14) The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.
When we gather in our local churches as believers, we create with our united presence a place for God to manifest Himself in a strong way. Satan knows this, and perhaps is one reason for the lockdown affecting churches for the last year! Satan knows that a unified church body gathering together creates a power zone for the Glory of God to invade a community!
Listen to 1 Corinthians 3:16 (Amplified): Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?
And listen to Ephesians 2:19-22 -NLT: So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. (20) Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself. (21) We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. (22) Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will NEVER motivate a person to do anything that brings division in a local church. Make sure by your actions and words that you help create unity in the church you attend. God is seeking and searching for local churches that will unify so that His Power and Glory can touch a community.
In this day of division, let’s be part of the solution that God has for this intensely pressurized time. God has in mind a supernatural moving of the Holy Spirit and His gifts that will change the world and usher in Jesus’ return. Make a choice now to repent of any attitudes, actions, and words that divide. Be a part of the solution to the problems in your family, your church, your community, your nation, and the world!
Joel 2:28-32 (NKJV):
And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 32 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.