Division in the Church

Before I begin, I am pleased to announce to you all that I have launched the Innocence Redeemed podcast.  You can find the premier episode on this very topic, ‘Division in the Church,’  here

 

I will be adding the various URL feeds for other platforms (Amazon, Apple, Pandora, Podbean, Spotify, Tune-In) shortly as soon as they become available so please check back under the tab at the top of the newly added page ‘Podcast’ as updates will be provided here with links to follow the podcast on the various platforms.  

 

When we think of the church overall, what is the first thought that comes to mind?  Community.  Encouragement.  Fellowship in Jesus Christ.  Getting together for prayer, worship and teachings.  Helping one another.  Caring for one another.  All summed up, it the culmination of all of us as one body in Christ united in His spirit.  Each of us serves a function as does all parts within the body as we find written in 1 Corinthians 12 and in verse 14 specifically where the Word says;

 

14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

 

Verses 24-26 further go on to say;

 

24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

 

At least, that’s what we’re supposed to be as the Word commands and illustrates.  

 

I recently wrote a blog on having on the proper wedding attire for the uniting of the bride groom and some days after that I guested on an episode of the Just Praise Him Radio podcast so as to explain how having on that attire, by knowing our savior, knowing His Word, walking in His ways, and understanding how to hear him is important.  Shortly after this, I began to notice a lot strife beginning to be stirred up among families.  I saw it with friends, I saw it in my house at times and I’ve even seen it on Christian message boards where you would think it should be least expected; and often times it is over such trivial things yet there is a spirit of provocation that is attempting to bait believers into being caught up into strife and part of this by the way is also a result of the spirit of confusion taking a stronghold over many.  I’ve actually been noticing this since last year but lately it seems that it’s been on the increase.  I began to pray on this over a few days and I was thinking on it a lot even during my downtime and one particular day in prayer the Lord told me to study Revelation 2 and 3. 

 

Now when you take a look at these two chapters, depending on the translation you’re using, there are sections outlined as to the types of Churches and the ones that are blessed and in God’s favor and as a result facing persecution, but then there are those also that are complacent in sin.  You have the Loveless Church, The Persecuted Church, The compromising church, the corrupt church, the dead church, the faithful church, and the lukewarm church.

 

I asked the Lord what He would have me write about.  I asked Him for understanding if He was having me write on division in the church and He told me ‘Not just division My Son.  Sin.’  After further prayer and review He told me that He didn’t only desire me to write on this, but to speak about it so I have made this subject the first episode of my newly launched podcast.  Friends, I just want to add in that most times I will use the New King James or New Living Translation and the reason for that is these translations may be easier to follow for those who may not be as versed in the King James or have a harder time understanding certain verses.  I encourage you to use whichever translation works best for you when doing study. 

 

When the Lord speaks of the loveless church in Revelation 2:2-4 (NKJV), the Word says;

 

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 

 

Now what is the first love He speaks of Revelation 2:4?  It’s Him. It’s our Lord Jesus. All good things come from the Lord and we could not do His works if we are not keeping our focus on Him.  Jesus always needs to be our first focus and, in these verses, He is speaking of His bride making Him first. 

 

In comparison, if you take a look at Jeremiah 2:2-3 (NLT) it says;

 

“Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says:

“I remember how eager you were to please me
    as a young bride long ago,
how you loved me and followed me
    even through the barren wilderness.
In those days Israel was holy to the Lord,
    the first of his children.
All who harmed his people were declared guilty,
    and disaster fell on them.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!”

 

When you compare these to what He is saying here is through all of the trials and grief, known as the wilderness in Jeremiah 2:2 -and might I add the coming storm, our focus should always be first and foremost on Him.  Only then are we successful in overcoming whatever we face.  If we lose our focus on Jesus and only concentrate on that which is negative around us, we risk slowing down in the race and losing our endurance and if we have done great works, labored and had the patience to go through trials, we can’t take our eyes off Jesus even if we have reprieve in between.  We don’t want to lose our footing. 

 

Going back to Revelation 2, The Word further goes on to say in verse Revelation 2:5 (NKJV);

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 

 

If we take a look at Matthew 24:12 (NKJV) it says;

 

12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

 

That is also why we are to keep our focus on Jesus.  We keep our focus on Him so we do not run the risk of the love within us waxing cold.  We don’t want to give the root of bitterness any quarter and as long as we are grounded in Jesus, His love remains in our hearts.  There’s a lot of importance in this because I am seeing it now.  It’s been happening to me or it has attempted to drag me down but I have had to stand strong in the face of it.  You get insulted and have a tendency to get caught up in the drama and the temptation to respond even though you know you shouldn’t because it’s a snare.  This is where wisdom comes in.

 

We have to realize we’re being baited, walk away and be able hear Him. When this happened to me recently, I heard the Lord say ‘Don’t respond. Focus on Me.’  The other day a brother of mine was texting me about something similar and I texted a response back saying ‘Focus on Jesus.’  The Lord allows some of us to go through this so as to be able to teach others what to do and what not to do and the main thing we need to remember is to keep our focus on Him at all times.  I believe it’s also a form of testing.  This will be so direly important in the coming storm and I can now understand why the Lord is having me write about it. 

 

Next, we move on to the The Persecuted Church.  In Revelation 2:9-10 (NKJV), the Word says;

 

“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

 

Thus, what are we being told here?  In verse 9 the Lord is stating though you are in poverty you are rich in the spirit of Christ.  He is saying he knows the persecution being dealt by those who say they are His but are not.  They belong to the enemy because if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be persecuting their fellow brothers and sisters within the church, within the body.  This verse is shining a light on the spirit of persecution.

 

In verse 10, you can cross reference this verse to what Jesus told us in Matthew 24:13 (NKJV);

 

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

 

So in other words we will be tested, tried, intimidated and threatened but we are to remain faithful to Jesus through all of it it until the very end for there is great reward.  That is what is meant when the Word says those who are faithful will be given the crown of life.

 

Further, if we take a look at Matthew 10:28 (NKJV) it says;

28“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

As you can see, this ties in with what I spoke of earlier when it comes to keeping on focus on Jesus. He is our rock and our fortress through whatever we go through. We are to endure until the end and we should only fear Him, not what others on the Earth would want to do to us just because we are His followers.

 

Now we get to the message given to the Compromising Church in Revelation 2: 13-16 (NKJV),where the Word says;

13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

 

What is being referred to in these verses is the teachings that are not of Christ.  These essentially are the churches that never speak out against sin.  They tend to preach peace and prosperity but never speak of the correct doctrine concerning Christ and how He is desiring we live.  In other words, they never talk about sin and how it should be repented of and avoided in the name of not hurting someone’s feelings.  I’m sorry to be direct here, but that is essentially what it is among other reasons.  This church would be known as ‘the hypocrite church’ that omits the convicting parts of the Word or they are twisting it. 

 

The words spoken are one thing but actions and where the true heart of the church is, do not serve God.  Because of this, It causes God’s children to stumble -to go out into the World and take part in sinful pleasures rather than honoring the Lord with a pure heart and because they do not hear the truth as it is written or only are selectively taught on what is good and not sinful, there is an illusion that because they are told that they belong to Christ they can keep on sinning and that they are automatically saved.   Let me be clear, everyone sins, but what I’m talking about are the direct abominations we know we should not do or behaviors we know we should not be engaging in.  These are lifestyles that can be repented from. 

 

When we read about the woman caught in adultery in John 8, Jesus told her to go and sin no more.  So here is an example of repentance and unfortunately the reality is many churches do not talk about repentance or if they do, it is a smack on the hand sermon.  From what I have seen from sermons I have seen online with many of the mega pastors is that they tend to avoid topics that they believe to be found offensive or taboo by the general public.  Sometimes you have to be direct in order to effect real comprehension and conviction in the heart.  How can folks know what they are doing wrong if they are never told by way of preaching the parts of the gospel as to what is wrong?  Yes, everyone should engage in reading the Word, but sometimes they need someone to show them or to point them in the right direction. 

 

What the Lord is telling you is to notice the elephant in the room (the sin) admit it by confessing it and give your heart to Him because He promises then in Revelation 2:17 (NKJV);

 

17 To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

 

This is the love and mercy the Lord has for those who find conviction and turn to Him with their whole heart. And I always say in many of the writings on my blog that if you aren’t sure if something is a sin, ask Him to reveal it to you, because if you truly seek Him, He will reveal it to you.  There were many things I knew were wrong when I turned back to the Lord but there were some also I didn’t realize and let’s just say He has a way of showing you so as to help you work on that which He desires you to change.  It is up to each of us to seek Him in our struggles.

 

Now we move onto the corrupt church.  Revelation 2: 19-23 (NKJV) says;

 

19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

 

So in verse 20 we are being warned of those in the church who have the jezebel spirit.  The wolf in sheep’s clothing in other words who is nothing what they appear on the surface.  Through their cunning sweet talk and mis-leadings, they often lead many into sin.  They pervert the Word, much in the same way that the Compromising Church does, except they do it in a stealthy way, often memorizing those around them or by trying to start trouble by manipulation in those who are unaware of how to spot the seducing spirit. 

 

And yes, some of them with this spirit will even use sex to carry out their desires that are self-serving and when they work in the church can have tendency to mislead if not kicked out by the congregation. If not careful in recognizing them, they can take from you the much in the same way a person with the Judas spirit would as it’s another form of betrayal.  They usually like to prey on the emotionally vulnerable but they try their tactics with anyone who gives them the time of day.  Those who are spiritually aware usually spot them and they generally disappear when their presence is found out.  Sometimes these jezebels will try to twist the Word to try to justify things and they may even use certain sweet-nothing praises to put folks under spells of thinking they are innocent causing other members of the church to fight.

 

So be aware that if you have someone like that among your church to have nothing to do with them and remove them immediately. It is a seducing spirit that seeks to stab you in the back while leading you into sin at the same time.  The Word is clear as to the consequences of those who do such things while they disguise themselves as a woman of God but they are anything but and their actions usually show it.  Now I’m sure men have done it to a degree too but the instances I have heard of often involve women and the Word is referring to them here as a ‘prophetess.’   While a church should be welcoming, they also need to know what to look for and you usually know them by the fruits they bear.

 

It should be known that this doesn’t just happen only in the church.  These instances also occur in the workplace and I have seen it where they act flirty -and that’s the nice way of putting it -with bosses to get favoritism but it’s usually because they intend to get something out of it that nobody else would otherwise get and once they get what they came for, they disappear as quickly as they showed up, leaving everyone else with the responsibility of cleaning up their mess or reinstating trust within the workplace.  Be aware of their fruits so you know how to recognize them.  I refer to Matthew 7:16-20 below on this.

 

So now we move onto Revelation 3, which starts with ‘The Dead Church.’   The scripture in Revelation 3:1-3 (NKJV) says;

 

1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: 

“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 

 

What is being said here is some call themselves His, but they act nothing like a servant of Christ.  They are usually greedy, prideful, rude, self-serving, unhelpful, unloving, unforgiving, etc.

 

Not to be taken out of context as it applies to verse 15 in regards to false prophets, but Matthew 7: 16-20 (NKJV) can also be applied also to works by faith concerning fruits, where it says;

 

16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

 

You can also compare this to faith without works being dead as is written in James 2:15-17 (NKJV) where the Word says;

 

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

I have been in situations, with friends I supposedly had for years, or so I thought, where when I needed them, even as someone just to talk to if I was sad -they were nowhere to be found.  They would tell me they loved me but wouldn’t ask if there was anything they could do to help -though I told them what I was going through.  I especially noticed this when the pandemic started.  It’s like that saying (or song) that goes ‘nobody loves you when you’re down.’ And you know there is truth to that because that’s exactly what it felt like. 

 

Remember everyone, when you see someone in need and feel the pull in your spirit to help them, you should, because one thing that has been revealed to me is that these situations can be tests of a person who is well able to provide help and the Lord is testing the person who is in that position to see what they will do.  Will they be merciful or will they just tell person in need to have a nice day and move on about their business?  Much like if you saw a woman with young kids at a gas station and she had a flat tire.  To do the right thing would be to tell her about the flat tire and not just assume someone else would do it.  You see if you call yourself a Christian, then faith should be demonstrated by works.  Even lending your ear for empathy is works by faith. 

 

Not everyone is going to do the same types of works, but like the body of Christ as a whole, everyone serves a purpose.  Some may teach, some may provide, some may lend a helping hand, and some may offer counseling because sometimes only the simplest of works are needed. 

 

This is what is being addressed in these verses concerning the church in regards to those who should demonstrate their faith as an example for others and that is why James 2:26 (NKJV) goes on to say;

 

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

You can’t have works if you don’t have true faith or are putting your faith into practice and doing the works as if you were doing them for the Lord.  That is the very essence of loving others by showing you care.  One thing being noticed since this pandemic began has been the behavior in many, in how they conduct themselves in the way they treat others.  In many ways, it has brought out the best in people as unfortunate events and disasters usually do, but it has also exposed to many of us, those who are self-serving and have acted very uncaring toward others.  Many people are finding out who their true friends are and the results are not exactly pleasing.

 

Now as we continue on in verses 4-5 in Revelation 3 (NKJV) it says;

 

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

 

What is being said here is that there are some in the church still doing His works by faith because they live by His word -having on those proper garments and as such they are found worthy.  He that continues to do these works by faith will be clothed in white garments as they truly belong to Him by doing His will.

 

Now we move onto the Faithful Church as written about in Revelation 3:8-12 (NKJV);

 

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.  12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

 

What is being said here is the real church, meaning, those who have endured through the trials and tribulations, kept on their proper attire, and held tight to their faith (and works) without wavering, will be rescued from the tribulations of the very last days.  The Lord does not desire His true people be here for what is coming upon the Earth.  The Lord tells us to persevere, not give in to the demands of the world so that we may keep the crown of life He has placed upon us for we shall then become a pillar in the temple of God and rest from our labors.  These are those who have been faithful to His calling and have endured until they are gathered to meet Him. 

 

Now in the last verses of Revelation 3 we are then led to study the Lukewarm Church.  That would be representative of folks who are neither here nor there.  These verses demonstrate works and faith these who are able to do them but they don’t.  Essentially, though they were blessed in one way or another, they have wasted the gift(s) given unto them and have not really done anything to serve the Lord.  They say they are believers and describe themselves of being of the faith but their actions have little to show for it -a little similar to the dead church.  They rely on their own wisdom and gains, and don’t call on the name of the Lord. 

 

Revelation 3:15-20 (NKJV) says;

 

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

 

What He’s saying is either serve Me or don’t call yourself Mine.  He doesn’t desire anyone who belongs to Him to be on the fence in between just drifting or refusing to heed His calling.  This is also for those who don’t know Him.  The latter part- in verses 18-20 is speaking to these individuals to welcome Christ into their heart that He may cleanse you of the bad qualities and wash your garments clean through refinement so that He may truly call you His. 

 

The Lord is giving us a chance to see what is wrong so as to heal the body as it is related to the church and that begins with each of us as we all play a part.  If all parts are not working together, they start to be separated; almost like they are being cut out similar to a cancer in a physical body.  You can see by the difference in the churches, how they are divided and not working as one within the body of Christ because good and evil cannot co-exist.  The church in Jesus Christ should be united -and never divided because it can’t work as one body if it is segregated.

 

The church that goes along with sexual immorality and worship of idols cannot stand strong and help the church that is being persecuted.  There is only one answer and it is in Jesus for the forgiveness of these sins so that the church may be healed and once united. 

 

This is why it is said, after each church is told from the angel of the Lord what it needs to do, it is written, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

 

How do you hear what the spirit says?  You have to repent from what is pointed out so that the spirit of the Lord is upon you.  That’s wearing the proper attire and that starts by picking up your cross to follow Him if you haven’t already done so.

 

We are told to keep on that proper attire at ALL times for the uniting of the bride groom and what I have gone over illustrates the very reason.  Our uniting could come when He takes us out of here by means of any of these events.  Regardless we are to endure to the end and we do so by keeping on that attire, keeping our eyes fixed on Him, not taking it off and being exposed as spiritually naked with no oil in the lamp to light our way.  You want to do this before there is a famine for the Word and before those of us who are helping to teach you can no longer do so.  One day we may be without internet so take this advice while you can and cherish in your heart the same as with the Word itself. 

 

As many of you may know, I have a very direct way of communicating to others what needs to be said in this late hour and the Lord is using me for this reason to make you aware of what you need to be doing.

 

I want to state something here because I have been seeing an ongoing pattern occur.  If you consider yourself a Christian and you make your way around to various Christian message boards and ministries -creating strife, heart ache and sorrow, do not think for one moment that escapes the attention of the Lord.  You can prepare all you want for what’s coming by way of representation of the lukewarm church and hold the opinion you want but if you aren’t living right and treating others with contempt, the Lord will find you.  These are serious and soon to be perilous times and the Lord has raised His people up to do these works, lead the lost and preach the Word of God to those who need to hear these messages, embrace witnessing and hear the prophecies. 

 

Those of us doing this work do not have time to play games with contrived statements designed to create gotcha and ‘aha’ moments.  That is not only baiting but a distraction from the works He has sent us to do.  The Lord has told me on several occasions He will contend with those who attempt to drag down those He has sent forth as the workers in the field to help those who are struggling.  For the two that won’t listen or understand, four others will -three will agree. 

 

If you struggle in this area, my advice to you is to humble yourself before the Lord and take it up with Him if you don’t like or agree with what His messengers are saying.  Many of you who have followed me for a while know that I do not teach cookie-cutter, watered down Christianity.  There are plenty of channels on YouTube without making anyone an example, that teach that kind of doctrine if it’s what you desire.  But you should be aware that a lot of it is false, or spoken out of context and that is a big reason this country and the rest of the world are in the mess we are in. 

 

I also feel that is one of the reasons the Lord led me to begin this ministry as well as many others already out there -to say what needs to be said.  Different people are reached in different ways.  My approach is direct because the hour is late and I don’t do delicate dances around the truth and if I know something is a lie and misleading to others and I have had the wisdom poured out on me to understand and explain something, I’m going to point it out and shine light on it.

 

I do not omit what needs to be said from what the Lord shows me.  I’m going to give it to you straight.  I show others the time it is and what they need to do and the areas they need to reflect on where the Word of God applies.  A condescending attitude and the comments that accompany it, do nothing more than cause trouble and strife.  They are counter-productive, unhelpful and do nothing more than create more division within the body of Christ.  So I say and warn you that if that’s what you’re doing, please stop and repent.  Do not be the spiritual cancer in the body that needs to be cut out.  Put your energy to good use, not tearing others down who are doing the works by faith that I wrote about earlier.

 

John 15:2 (NKJV) says;

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

 

Jesus said in Matthew 12:30 (NKJV);

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

 

Proverbs 15: 1-2 (NKJV) says ;

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

 

If we look at Proverbs 17: 28 (NKJV) it says;

28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

 

In laymen terms, these essentially should speak wisdom in that if you have nothing good to say, humble yourself and keep your mouth shut.  Frankly, my parents taught me that from a very young age and it has served me well in many instances.  I’m forty years old and still hang on to that lesson.  You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone and have an odor of arrogance to make a point.  There are polite ways to get your point across. You’ll actually find your more respected that way if your aim isn’t to cause trouble.  Let your conversation carry salt.

 

Colossians 4: 6 (NKJV) says;

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

 

Folks, do not be a part of Matthew 24 and allow your love for others to wax cold.  Don’t allow yourself to be misled and lose the salt in that you end up falling away when times get tough or you disagree with a fellow brother or sister.  Do not be one of those workers left in the field when the other disappears. 

 

We need to be building up the body of Christ, not tearing it down.  We need to be encouraging to each other, not hating on each other just because we didn’t like the way they instructed us so we decide to be spiteful and make up harmful accusations or comments.  Don’t go out of your way looking for reasons to be offended and then hurting fellow brethren over something trivial that was never said in the first place.  This type of behavior not only leads you into a sin but serves as a snare to lead others into a temptation to sin. 

 

Tread carefully because words have power and can hurt people if not used carefully.  Speaking of words with power, we need to embrace the true teachings in the Word of God.  These will help you along in your journey and help you to grow spiritually with the Lord.  Remember that, His command, as it is written in John 15:17 is to love one another. 

 

Brothers and sisters, I’m going to leave you with one thing in closing to remember out of everything I have written; There ought to be no strife in the body of Christ as is also known as His church and brothers and sisters I’m going to leave it there for now.

 

Heavenly Father,

 

We lift up to you those who seek understanding of the division they are witnessing right now.  Not only in the church but in this country and around the world.  Lord Father in Heaven, we ask you to create in them a new heart and lead those who are lost, with the eyes to see and the ears to hear.  The wisdom to understand and the discernment to know the times.  We ask Lord that they be filled with conviction to understand Christ’s love and mercy for them so they turn from their sinful ways and be granted repentance and redemption in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Lord, I give thanks to you for the ability through your gifts of love, mercy, grace and wisdom to speak to those you desire me to reach that they may be led to you and return to you so that they may find comfort and redemption in your presence. 

 

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

 

Brothers and sisters, it my prayer that this blog and the podcast I created on the same subject have taught you something and helped you to recognize and understand what causes the division and how to put a stop to it or take no part in it.

 

Have a great weekend everyone.  Stay safe out there in these times of uncertainty. 

 

Jesus Bless You, thank you for reading.

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