Guarding Your Heart from the Spirit of DIVISION.

via http://www.turnedondigital.com/

Hi Everybody!

I know I know, It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything on here, LOL 😀 .

The 21 Day Daniel Fast this year for me has been rather different from the one I had last year. I’d say that it is just as intense as last year and so many new things are happening around me that I can’t get into it just yet. All I can say is that it’s been an uphill battle in this fast to keep my wits about me without getting weary lol 😀 .

For the past few days, the Lord has been talking to me about the Spirit of Division.  I thought to myself “What about it Lord?”, and that’s when He started to reveal things to me to keep note of for this year.

The Spirit of Division is the kind of spirit that prevents UNITY. It is the type of spirit that can come in various forms, but stems from the root demon spirit called PRIDE. It causes disunity and is known to be a Thief of time, effort, emotions and steals people’s Provision for God’s VISION for our lives (John 10:10). God wants a UNIFIED Church. If gossip mongers create strife, there will be divisions amongst the fold which means that the CHURCH will crumble if there is a lack of agreement and unity amongst its members (Amos 3:3 – Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?). If Division can be created to cause disagreements and arguments amongst the members of the Church, then how can the body of Christ walk in the same direction if the members do not agree upon any one thing? This is what will happen if DISUNITY is achieved which is exactly what the Devil wants in order to weaken the power of the UNIFIED CHURCH. I feel like the spirit of the Lord has been wanting me to say for quite sometime “Church of Jesus Christ, Guard your heart from this DIVISIVE Spirit!”We must learn to guard our hearts from adopting such a Divisive spirit that seeks to kill, steal & destroy the Unity of the Church that is Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might.

Romans 16:17

[ Avoid Divisive Persons ] Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

The Lord also revealed to me during my meditations that a Spirit of Division is also a characteristic of a DOUBLE-MINDED Man who is unstable in all their ways (James 1:8). The only way to keep yourself from becoming double-minded is by learning to remain humble in all that you do for God and for others by understanding the true meaning of SUBMISSION.

James 4:7-8

Humility Cures Worldliness

⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

DRAW NEAR TO GOD and RESIST THE DEVIL. It is so important to not allow oneself to be embittered with envy (jealousy),or temptations that lead one to lust, or acts of depravity, anger & hatred which are all sinful behaviours that contaminate a persons soul. Such behaviours stray from the path of righteousness and cause one to act with a divisive spirit that is unable to work with others as a team. This is what happens when one yields to a Spirit of Division. Such persons, cause strife, they cause arguments, they enjoy the breaking up of peoples who once walked in agreement and they are the ones that prevent UNITY by creating DISUNITY.

1 Corinthians 1:10

[ Sectarianism Is Sin ] Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

UNITY is what keeps the Church of Jesus Christ STRONG. If the devil can find a few key members in the fold to cause division, then as the American saying goes “United we Stand, Divided we FALL”.

So what do you do about those members that cause DIVISIONS amongst others on purpose?

 

Romans 16:17-18

[ Avoid Divisive Persons ] Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus^[b] Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

---

We are told in the Book of Romans to:

               1.) Take note of who they are ; and

               2.) AVOID THEM.

---

And by avoiding them, I mean, DO NOT partake or imitate their behaviours…DO NOT do what they do…and DO NOT allow them to contaminate others who you know can be easily led astray by such individuals. Protect yourselves and your brothers and sisters from such a foul spirit. It is so important to build discernment applied with WISDOM so that you know how to tackle such a spirit strategically using the WORD of GOD and by praying without ceasing seeking God’s direction and instruction. This Spirit is not one to toy with, neither one to disregard. Haman Spirits act alike, Saul-like spirits act in the same-like manner so be wise and guard your spirit from ENVY, Strife, Anger, Jealousy, Hatred, Lust and such behaviours that contribute to being divisive and argumentative in Character and in Spirit.

Jude 1:16-21

Apostates Predicted

¹⁶ These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. ¹⁷ But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁸ how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹ These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

Maintain Your Life with God

²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

We are forwarned that those who operate with a Spirit of Division are sensual persons who DO NOT have the HOLY Spirit in them (Jude 1:19). Therefore, we must do what the Bible says in (Jude 1:20-21) and keep praying in the Holy Spirit and in the LOVE of God always pursuing the mercy of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In essence, the point is to remain humble and practice humility as a way of life. Humility requires us to submit to the will of God in our lives and to heed the Godly counsel of our elders and not to be filled with self-seeking behaviours that seek to satisfy the desires of our flesh. When we yield to this wisdom, we can properly guard ourselves from becoming obstinate, callous, rude, calculative, and deceptive, not only deceiving others but ourselves from the Truth which is in GOD’s Word. The spirit of Division operates in the same way as one who practices False Humility  if you reference back to the post I wrote last year regarding The Importance of Detecting False Humility.

Guard your heart, your mind, your spirit and your soul from adopting this type of spirit. It will affect your Character and everything you do. Remain Humble and always abide in the Truth.  It is always better to esteem others above yourself and it is even better to give to others rather than to receive from others.

A United Church is a Strong Church

Philippians 2:3

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Acts 20:35

I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Such a person operating under the spirit of Division will always seek to esteem themselves higher than others and will always prefer to receive accolades, gifts, prizes (including bribes), and high recognition from others to puff up their PRIDE (this definitely reminds me of SAUL who was jealous of David in 1 Samuel 18:6-8). My dear brothers and sisters, we must avoid becoming such a person. Remain humble and learn what it means to SUBMIT TO GOD and also to submit to Godly counselors who watch out for your soul. Refrain from becoming bitter about any issue that arises in your life, for bitterness will lead you to sin in this way if you do not learn to manage your emotions well, so check yourself before you wreck yourself, and repent to God if you have harboured such traits that are described here regarding the spirit of Division and seek to humble yourself before God to purify your heart and to make it more like Jesus Christ’s heart which is filled with Love, Peace, Righteousness and Joy.

Image via http://www.strongchurch.org/

I have two songs here to minister to your spirit today both my J.Moss one called Holy is Your Word and the other called Caught up in Love. May these Songs Bless your Spirit everybody!