Divide and Conquer

Divide and Conquer:  The policy of maintaining control over one's subordinates or opponents by encouraging dissent between them, thereby preventing them from uniting in opposition.

"And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand."  words of Jesus, Mark 3:25

"And just how do you expect to thwart him where once you could not?"

"I will go to the saints first.  Already there is plenty in Bacon's Corner for them to be upset about, plenty to divide them.  I will keep them busy censuring and smiting each other, and then their hearts will be far from praying."  (Excerpt from Piercing the Darkness, by Frank Peretti.  Crossway Books, 2003, pg. 37.

Galatians 5:15 says, But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Is your church growing?  Souls being saved?  God working in your midst?

Then be prepared, you are now a target of the enemy for disunity.  Why?  Because disunity prevents growth.  

It's the oldest play in Satan's Playbook.  Get the eyes of the Saints off of God and on to each other.

What can cause disunity?

    Different opinions-

    Hurt feelings-

    Gossip-

    Unforgiveness-

    Pride-

    Bitterness-

    Jealousy-

    Comparing ourselves among ourselves-

The list is unending!

Disunity descends and disrupts our sole purpose: Glorify God in all things, and leading souls to Christ.

So, what do we do? 

    Forget opinions, and Trust God's Word, it is our final Authority-

    Don't react with emotions, what does Scripture say?

    Don't Gossip, but instead, edify-

    Humble ourselves one to another-

    Let go of bitterness, jealousy, criticism, and put on the Fruit of the Spirit-

    Be of one mind, having compassion one of another, be courteous!  1 Peter 3:8

    Realize we are in a Spiritual Battle.  Put on the whole armour of God-

    PRAY!

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.  Ephesians 6:12

Unity- a condition of harmony.  

    I want to make beautiful music!

            But that's just me!