THE DEVIL’S GOTTA DEADLINE!
(THE SPIRIT OF DIVISION)
INTRODUCTION: STARTED LOOKING AT THE DEVIL’S WRATH.
A). “DEVIL HAS A GREAT WRATH AND HIS TIME IS SHORT.” (EXPLOSIVE)
B). 2 CORINTHIANS 2:11 – PAUL EXPLAINS THE NEED TO KNOW OUR ENEMY
1). DEVICES – STRATEGY, SCHEMES SATAN USES AGAINST GOD’S SEED.
2). ADVANTAGE – CHEAT US OUT OF SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO US.
C). IF ARE NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE DEVILS TRICKS, HE WILL CHEAT US OUT OF OUR JOY, LOVE, VICTORY, PEACE, SENSE OF FORGIVENESS.
D). ANTHING THE DEVIL IS APART OF IS A LIE (FATHER OF DECEPTION).
1). THE SPIRIT OF DIVISION!
A). I CORINTHIANS 1:10 – MUST PREVENT DIVISION!
B). PAUL HAVING ESTABLISHED THIS CHURCH KEPT CLOSE TIES/CONTACT
C). PAUL’S MINSTRY; ESTABLISHING CHURCES AND THEIR LEADERSHIP.
C). HEARD NEWS FROM CHLOE ABOUT DISTURBANCES IN THE CHURCH.
D). THESE DISTURBANCES ARE BRINGING DIVISION IN THE CHURCH.
E). PAUL IN 3:3, “THEIR IMMATURITY IS THE REASON FOR THE DIVISION”
F). THE DEVIL USED THEIR IMMATURITY TO BRING DIVISION.
G). TALKING ABOUT HIS GREAT WRATH AND WHAT HE WILL DO TO DESTROY GOD’S SEED (YOU AND I).
H). ANYTHING, ANY WEAKNESS TO GET AN ADVANTAGE (CHEAT) US.
I). DIVISION (VIOLENT TERM – MORE THAN SEPARATE; TO TEAR/REND.
J). “ A HOUSE `DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF SHALL FALL”
K). WHEN THE SPIRIT OF DIVISION IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE CHURCH IT IS A BLOW AGAINST GOD’S KINGDOM!
L). WHEN A FAMILY LEAVES A CHURCH; IT’S A BLOW!
WHEN A CHURCH HAS A SPLIT; IT’S A BLOW!
WHEN A PASTOR QUITS A CHURCH; IT’S A BLOW.
M). I’VE SEEN PEOPLE in CHURCHES ACT ALMOST HAPPY OR SMUG WHEN THEY HEAR ABOUT PROBLEMS IN ANOTHER CHURCH; IT’S A BLOW AGAINST GOD’S KINGDOM.
N). IT’S NEVER US VERSUS THEM; IT’S GOD’S KINGDOM. PERIOD!
O). THE DEVIL USES THESE DEVICES TO CHEAT US; OUT OF STRENGTH, PEACE, LOVE.
P). LOOK AT DEVICE/STRATEGY OF THE SPIRIT OF DIVISION.
PARTIALITY -
A). JAMES 2:2-4 –
B). PARTIALITY; THE SIN OF SHOWING DISRESPECT OR RESPECT FOR CERTAIN PERSONS.
C). WHEN WE SHOW DISRESPECT FOR PERSONS UNLIKE OURSELVES OR SHOW RESPECT TO PERSONS BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST LIKE US.
D). RESPECT – TO SHOW IMPORTANCE, VALUE, VALUABLE TO YOU.
E). DAVID IN FIELD; FATHER (JESSE) HAD HIS OTHER SONS PASS IN FRONT OF SAMUEL A SECOND TIME; NEVER SUGGESTING IT MAY BE DAVID.
F). DEVIL KNOWS IF WE DISMISS SOMEONE DUE TO EXTERIOR, WE MAY VERY WELL BE DISMISSING THE NEXT PREACHER, TEACHER, MISSIONARY OR MAYBE DISMISSING THE NEXT PERSON SNATCHED FROM THE JAWS OF HELL
G). PARTALITY IS REGARDING THE EXTERIOR OF MAN AND DISREGARDING THE MOST IMPORTANT PART; THE HEART!
2). XENOPHOBIA (ZENA-PHOBIA)
A). ONE OF THE MOST COMMON FEARS IN THE WORLD.
B). THE FEAR OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN YOU.
C). THE DEVIL USES THIS FEAR TO BRING DIVISION INTO THE CHURCH.
D). THERE ARE FOLKS THAT WOULD QUIT CHURCH IF THEY HAD TO SHARE A PEW WITH SOMEONE DIFFERENT.
F). THE DEVIL TAKES THIS FEAR (ZENA-PHOBIA) AND USES IT AGAINST YOU AND I SO THAT WE DO NOT OPEN THE CHURCH DOORS OR THE DOOR OF OUR HEART TO JUST ANYONE.
3). LACK OF FELLOWHIP (KOINIA)
A) DEVIL LOVES A LACK OF FELLOWSHIP. LOVES IT WHEN WE KEEP OUR DISTANCE FROM ONE ANOTHER DURING THE WEEK.
B). ACTS 2:1 “ AND WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST CAME THEY WERE ALL OF ONE ACCORD”
C). ACTS 4:32 – AND THE MULTITUDE OF THEM THAT BELIEVED WERE OF ONE HEART AND ONE SOUL….”
D). THEY WERE TOGETHER SPIRITUALLY. WHEN CHURCH DISMISSED THEY WERE STILL WALKING TOGETHER. THEY HAD A DEEP LOVE.
E). THE SPIRIT OF DIVISION IS ALIVE AND WELL WHEN WE LACK FELLOWSHIP.
G). DEVIL LAUGHS AT THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT WISH TO ASSOCIATE WITH OTHERS IN CHURCH.
CONCLUSION:
A). THE SPIRIT OF DIVISION IS OF THE DEVIL.
B). HE WANTS TO TEAR AND REND THE CHURCH.
C). UNTIL WE STOP ALLOWING THE SPIRIT OF DIVISION TO INFLUENCE OUR PERSONAL VIEWS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PAY THE PRICE.
D). THE DEVIL WANTS TO CHEAT US OUT OF WHAT JESUS PRAYED AND DIED FOR US TO HAVE.
E). WE CAN MAKE EXCUSES ALL DAY FOR THE WAY WE ACT TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE; IF IT CONSTITUTES DIVISION IT’S OF THE DEVIL
