Why Unity For 2025? Because a House Divided Cannot Stand
Matthew 12:25, But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
Although Jesus was making this statement in response to the Pharisees’ accusation that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Satan, his argument to the Pharisees was logical: a kingdom that is at cross-purposes with itself will fall. By saying that a house divided cannot stand, Jesus illustrates that success relies on unity.
This is something we see in daily life all the time. Whether it is a machine, a sports team, a government party, or one’s own mind, things must work together if anything is to be accomplished (good or bad).
God commands unity amongst believers because, once sin and conflict enter the church, the body is weakened and becomes vulnerable to attack. This is why Paul pleaded with the church of Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:10-13),
10) 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.
11) For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household that there are contentions among you.
Chloe was a Christian woman living in Corinth, and her people had reported the arguments between the brethren to Apostle Paul. The reports were not idle gossip-they were an attempt to get Paul’s assistance in resolving a problem within the church. A rivalry existed amongst the church members based on allegiance to a favorite ministry leader.
12) Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ."
13) Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
The rhetorical questions asked by Apostle Paul were intended to shame the Corinthian believers over their divisive factions. The answer to all of them is “No.” Christ alone is the One to whom we owe our loyalty.
Then Paul stated in 1 Corinthian Chapter. 3: 1-16:
1) And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2) I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3) for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4) For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Although, the Corinthians were saved, they were not living in the light. They failed to move on from milk to solid food – “milk” being the contents of God’s word and “solid food” is the spiritual application and use of God’s word in life. Essentially, without spiritual growth, the Corinthians continued to live as they did before coming to Christ. Paul determined this by their actions of dividing themselves into factions behind various leaders.
5) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7) So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8) Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9) For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
Listen, if you align yourself with anyone, it should be with the Lord – not with His servants. Jesus is our source of spiritual life and growth.
10) According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11) For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12) Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13) each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14) If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15) If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17) If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Apostle Paul had no issues with providing correction to the church of Corinth. Paul stated, I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children to warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, I have become your father through the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:14). Apostle Paul was their spiritual father, bringing the Corinthians to faith through his ministry. He warned and corrected them because he had their best interest and spiritual development at heart. Paul held them accountable to the truth of God’s word. Paul understood that if sin were not addressed, it would divide the church and not stand in the full stature of Jesus Christ.
Envy, strife, and divisions had reduced the early Corinthian Christians back to the natural, or carnal, state they were in before they were born again. It was beginning to hinder their spiritual growth. We must remember that illegitimate divisions amongst us block God’s work in our lives individually and in the church.
Strife between us leads to defilement. Hebrews 12:14-15, Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness-without it, no one will see the Lord. 15) See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.
Strife in our hearts is the bitter root that will defile many with its poisonous fruit. Contention damages our souls, and it easily spreads to others. We are defiled if we are at odds with each other and aren’t working to heal the breach. We aren’t holy and definitely not pleasing to God.
When a church chooses sides over some personal disagreement that should have been worked out quietly, that whole church has committed itself to Satan. This is a deadly spiritual danger for us. We can be sitting here feeling so self-righteous, yet Christ knows what’s in our hearts and what we think, and He sees the disunity within the body.
We cannot hide from the omnipresent (He’s everywhere), omnipotent (He has unlimited power), and omniscient (He knows everything) God. We are only deceiving ourselves.
Paul told the Roman Christians in Chapter 16:17, Now I urge you, brethren, to watch out for those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned; avoid them.
Turmoil in a church will nearly always cause souls to be lost and people to leave the Lord (i.e., the Church hurt). Paul warns about this in Galatians 5:15: But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
If we love and serve one another, the church will prosper, but if we bite and devour one another, we will eat each other up. It’s easy to start trouble but much more challenging to stop it. You know why it’s challenging because it causes you to examine yourself, like a woman who puts on makeup. Looking at every detail, ensuring that the makeup is blended to perfection. Envy and strife can spread out of control if left unchecked.
Also, contention and disunity in the church lead to vain worship. Matthew 5:23-24, So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24) leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
The same thing is true for us and all the spiritual sacrifices we offer. We come here to worship and pray, partake of the Lord’s Supper, and give of our means because those religious activities are good for us. Still, ultimately, God desires our hearts and an intimate relationship with us, and for us to serve and love one another with the same intimacy demonstrated when Jesus washed his disciples' feet (John 13). However, God is not pleased if we’ve been stirring up trouble in the church and holding unforgiveness in our hearts. Our worship is hitting the ceiling and bouncing because we care more about ourselves than we do about God and one another.
When Saints can set aside their differences and serve God as one, we show that the Holy Ghost is actively working in our lives rather than the spirit of the evil one. Spiritual unity is a powerful witness that we are disciples of Jesus Christ.
When we are not one, it spells defeat for Christ’s purpose. This is why Jesus prayed for us to have unity within the church. John Chapter 17:20-23, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word (in other words who have trusted in Jesus down through the ages; you and I) 21) That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22) And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23) I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Since before the foundation of the world, the Father and the Son have been perfectly united, perfectly one. The gospel is the invitation of Christ to share in that perfect unity so that we will become one with God and one with each other. This is the beautiful vision that Jesus shed His blood to accomplish. However, if we can’t be united in the truth of God, Jesus’ desire for us will never be realized. The world will never believe God sent Jesus if our unity does not proclaim that truth. That’s not merely a problem. That’s a fundamental problem. We are undermining the very purpose for which we exist: to love God, to love one another, to serve, and to make disciples of all nations.
This prayer demonstrates how much is at stake with regard to our individual unity with Jesus and our unity with one another, affecting the church’s unity, mission, and growth. God’s name, His glory, and His love are tied to the unity in which his people are to live. Our bond as believers in Jesus is more significant than our fussing and fighting. It is a testimony to the world that the Lord and the faith we teach are real. God responds to us based on our unity, or lack thereof. Unity is critical to the church's movement of God’s kingdom agenda, which can be defined as the visible manifestation of the comprehensive rule of God over every area of life (individual, family, church, and society).
Therefore, if we function in conflict and disunity, the Spirit of God does not work, which divides the church and impacts our spiritual growth and, in turn, the church's growth (i.e., the Church of Corinth). If we have time to be blessed but not to be blessings, if we are selfish saints who want things from God and the church, but don’t want to be functioning members of the church, or if we are causing disruption in the church with our attitudes and tongues, or by not doing things in decency and order, then we are wasting our time when we are asking God to show up in our individual and family lives, and for the church to grow.
Here’s the deal: We must understand that the church comprises people from every walk of life, that our involvement in the church is not trivial, and that we are a part of something much bigger than us (GOD’s KINGDOM AGENDA ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN). We are called to proclaim the gospel, pursue God’s kingdom agenda, and serve the Lord in unity (oneness, not sameness (i.e., uniformity) so that the love and glory of Trinitarian God (the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost) is visibly and powerfully manifested to a watching world. Being one in obedience to the truth is critical to experiencing the presence and power of God. Our effectiveness is determined by our unity, which is why Satan works so hard at causing division among Christians (i.e., us, you, and me) within the church.
Satan’s agenda is to create division/disunity in our:
Individual lives because he knows you cannot dwell on both the things of God and the lies of Satan. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways, rendering Saints ineffective in the spiritual battles waging around us, reducing the glory we give God. If Satan can cripple or destroy an individual (i.e., child of God), he is that much further along in crippling families, churches, and society.
Family: because he knows that God created marriage as a beautiful, living picture of Christ and the Church. God designed both marriage and the family for our benefit. Satan knows the value of the family, how it is the fabric of a good solid society, the foundation of vibrant, growing communities, and the future of God’s work on earth. If Satan can be successful in tearing down the structure and substance of the family unit, then he will be successful in damaging what is dear to God’s heart.
Church: to limit God’s power and our effectiveness; a kingdom divided against itself will fall. Division keeps us as little children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine (i.e. itchy ears), by the trickery of men (Eph 4:14).
Society: Satan is trying to maintain his kingdom and sphere of influence by trying to draw people away from God to ruin His purposes through division.
Cancer is a disease in which cells no longer unify with the body as a whole. Cancerous cells have their own independent vision and program. They want to stay in your body but do their own thing - and multiply. Their goal is to shut you down. Similarly, Satan wants to shut down God's people and he knows nothing will shut us down like disunity since God is a God of decency and order (1 Cor. 14:33).
When the enemy goes hard after you, your family, and our church LWMCC using division, remember reconciliation.
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation…”—2 Corinthians 5:18 (emphasis added)
Paul’s words about reconciliation come after a changed perspective (vs. 16 and 17). He once viewed others “according to the flesh.” But he learned that this limited his vision. After coming to know Jesus, his perspective changed to view others as God views them, though difficult at times.
We must ask God to give us eyes to see others as He does.
Seeing others as God does and asking God to give you His heart toward them in difficult circumstances opens doors for the ministry of reconciliation. Ask Jesus to change your perspective to His when the enemy tries to go hard after you.
Satan, the father of lies, knows division brings destruction and desolation. If he can sow seeds of dissension, destruction will follow; hence a house divided among itself will fall. But Satan also knows that if we unite in our faith and knowledge of the Son of God, we will arrive at the full stature of Christ Jesus (Eph 4:13).
Spiritual Unity
The church is to preserve what has already been given to us: the spirit of unity (Eph 4:3). The Spirit of God dwells in the unity of the church. Therefore, when the church is operating in unity the spirit is at home in the temple. Power, glory, elevation, and advancement of God’s kingdom agenda flow naturally and are not forced.
I urge you to cooperate with the spirit of unity. When operating in disunity, we are being disobedient to the spirit. We are to operate in oneness. Oneness is not sameness. God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are unified in their direction and purpose while sharing the same nature; their roles are different. When we become one with God and one another, Heaven will explode on earth within the church.
Let’s go to Acts Chapter 4 to see how unity brings Heaven to earth.
Acts 4: 31, When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God's message with boldness.
32) Now, the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead, they held everything in common.
33) And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.
34) For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35) and laid them at the apostles' feet. This was then distributed to each person as anyone had a need.
Unity among the people of God is critical for revealing the visible manifestation of God’s glory. It’s what Jesus prayed for and what the first believers demonstrated as they voluntarily met one another’s needs.
Unity is developed in our service, one to another. The body can’t be united if we’re not all serving or promoting unity within the church. The church will grow naturally when we’re operating in unity. Walk in the bible is how you live, the steps you take. As long as you are living for you, all that the cross has to offer will never be yours for the edifying of the body. Therefore, stop putting on worldly clothes when you have clean garments, which are the righteousness of Christ. Live differently, and stop hindering the spirit, as power is available when we are individually and corporately positioned correctly before God in unity.
This is a call for us to re-evaluate our spiritual priorities and live worthy of our calling: to be the message of who Christ is in your life. Keep the unity of the Spirit, not establish it. Jesus already created it; we need to preserve it. Unity is tied to our Christian character and based on the work of the Holy Ghost. Our point of reference must be the spirit of GOD if you’re not operating from your humanity. When we operate from GOD's point of view, the Spirit overrides human differences and holds us together through the bond of peace.
From Him, the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the body's growth for building itself in love by the proper working of each individual part (Eph. 4:16).
California redwood trees grow to be massive, close to 400 ft tall, and live between 2000 and 4000 years old. Yet their root system is shallow, going between 6 to 12 feet underground. The shallow roots allow these giant trees to absorb up to 500 gallons of water daily rather than waiting until the rainwater has soaked deeper into the ground.
The secret to redwood trees’ stability and longevity is that their roots extend outwards, up to 100 feet wide from the trunk, and live in groves where their roots intertwine. For the wind to knock one redwood tree down would require knocking down the entire grove; thus, the trees achieve incredible stability through storms because their connectedness allows them to borrow from one another and stand strong. You can’t mess with one without messing with the whole grove. So it is, Paul says, with the body of Christ, we are like a stand of giant redwood trees. Rooted together and intertwined with one another, holding one another up through the ebbs and flows of life.
God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So, if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it (1 Corinthians 12: 24-27).
Therefore, don’t let Satan stop your spiritual growth by giving in to the spirit of division. Stand for spiritual unity in the Body of Christ. Do and say everything with a spirit of love. Believe in the best of others and pursue and maintain spiritual unity with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God, (Matthew 5:9). Our unified power is something Satan can never touch.
The Bible is clear on these 2 Truths! God is sovereign, and people truly choose their actions. STOP treating church conflict, division, envy, and strife as if it is acceptable because it is NOT.
So why unity for 2025: Because a house divided will not stand.
It’s time to walk in the full stature of God for 2025!