I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:23
We have all been in churches where there has been friction and division. Whether over carpet, power or even jealousy of another’s gifts, the enemy knows what tactics to use to get God’s people to turn on each other. After all, the church is just full of broken and sinful people whom Jesus has redeemed.
Keep in mind that we are not called to live as broken, sinful people. We choose to maintain that thinking and it is of the enemy. We are called to live in power (the power of the Holy Spirit) as redeemed, new creations in Christ. But that is another whole blog. lol
The enemy longs to cause division in the Church, because (as I have mentioned in the past) who wants to join another hate club. How are we going to be a light in the world if we can’t love each other inside the four walls of our Father’s house?
If we think that God takes this kind of disagreement lightly, we are mistaken. And, the reason he doesn’t take it lightly, is that our sole purpose here on Earth is to glorify and point others to him. When we focus on Petty things like carpet and wanting Our Own Way in the church, we not only stop glorifying him but others stop coming to the church and ultimately to even know him. the people that he sent into the world to be a light and to draw others to him become the very weapon the enemy uses to keep them from a saving knowledge of Our Savior Jesus Christ. And that is no small thing in the eyes of God.
In Numbers 16, we see an example of how strongly God feels about this kind of thing. we see an Israelite named Korah gather together a group of 250 well known Chiefs with in the Israelite camp. they’ve been gathered together to oppose Moses and Aaron (They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” Numbers 16:3). And the reason that they are opposing them is shear jealousy and a hunger for power and notoriety.
Moses response to Korah (and I am paraphrasing here, you can read it for your self in Numbers 16), is that in the morning, they will let God decide who is the holy one who should lead the Israelites in the wilderness. Moses takes it a step further and reminds Korah that he and most of his followers were of the tribe of Levi and were picked by God to be close to Him and do the work of the tabernacle and also to minister to the people. And then Moses asks Him, is that so insignificant to you that you would seek my place too (is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, 10 and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? Numbers 16:9-10). As if that weren’t a harsh enough reminder, Moses then says you think you are coming against me and opposing me, but it is really God that you are opposing (“Therefore it is against the Lord that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?”).
Then Moses calls two more of the men Dathan and Abiram to come and meet with him and they oppose him and refuse, they have sided with Korah.
The next day Korah calls the whole congregation outside the tent of meeting, where God dwelled. And God tells Moses and Aaron to move away from the whole congregation so that He can destroy them, but Moses and Aaron fall down and pray that, for the actions of one man, God would not destroy the entire congregation. God then asks Moses and Aaron to tell the people to all move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Moses then tells the people, this is how you will know who should be your leader. If nothing happens to them and they die the death of any man, then I am not your guy. But if God does something new and the earth opens up and swallows them alive down to their grave, you will know that they opposed God. And as soon as Moses finished speaking the earth opened up and swallowed them and their entire tents and then fire came down from God and took the other 250 men.
Now, one would think that that would be enough to make people stand up and take notice that when God puts authority over you you submit to it and don’t defy him. But the very next day the congregation came up against Moses and Aaron again. They blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths of Korah and his band of men. God then told Moses and Aaron that he was going to destroy the entire congregation and a plague immediately began and people began to die. Moses told Aaron to go out with incense as an offering to God for the people and he ran out and stood between those that had died and those who were yet alive and God spared those who were alive and whom Aaron made an offering for. But an additional 14,700 people perished in those few moments.
So, this should be a lesson on a number of levels to us. God does not take division in the body lightly. When division happens, we are not opposing leadership or another faction (for lack of a better term) in the church, we are opposing God. If our leadership leans a particular way on an issue (and their way is not rebellious our out of line with scripture) we don’t have to like it, we just have to be obedient (Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Romans 13:1-2).
Our lack of submission, as it did with Korah and his band of men, will result in judgement against us. So, when there is division in the church, unless it in direct conflict with the Word of God, we should say “not my will, but thine be done Lord” and we should continue loving and serving the body and God.
And, please be careful…when I say that we should only oppose an issue that is in direct conflict with the Word of God, I don’t mean “the carpet should be purple because purple is in the bible”. I mean if something is in conflict with the Gospel such as “there is more than one way to be forgiven of our sins or to enter heaven” (Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6).
I pray that today, we would have unity in the body of Christ, not just the church that we are attending but the entire, global, body of Christ. I pray that where there has been division we would have hearts of forgiveness. I pray that where division has caused us to walk away from the Lord and from the church that we would have healing and reconciliation.
And, I pray that the church would unify and mobilize and begin a third great Revival. God says if we ask it, and it is His will, He will answer our prayers and we know that this prayer is God’s will. So, lets all pray for unity and that the church would be on the move and winning souls for Jesus. Be glorified Father!
if you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior you are missing out on the greatest love and relationship you will ever have. God adores you and devised a plan that would allow the penalty of our sins to be paid (which we couldn’t do) and our sins to be forgiven, so that we can have a relationship with our loving Heavenly Father. I pray that your heart’s desire is to learn more about this relationship that we can have with the Lord and I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. God is offering you forgiveness, peace, joy, a relationship with Himself and eternity in Heaven, accept His offer (For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23). I promise that it’s the best decision you’ll ever make.
Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
