CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 942

“A Kingdom Divided”

Knowing their thoughts, he (Jesus) said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. (Matthew 12:25)

‘Divide and Conquer’ is a highly effective military tactic used to weaken an opposing force through disunity. The ‘kingdom’ that Jesus refers to in our reference Scripture can apply to our marriages, homes, corporations and churches as well as our nations and military units.

The seeds of dysfunction and disunity within a corporate entity become a cancer that destroys it from within.  How many children has Satan conquered by dividing a marriage?  How much money, time, and resources are wasted due to conflict and division within your workplace?  How many people has Satan conquered by dividing a church congregation or denomination?

What do these seeds of division and dysfunction look like? Three of these seeds are envy, selfish ambition, and gossip.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice; For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. (James 3:16; Proverbs 26:20-21)

Are you surrounded by strife?  Do you dread going to work or returning home because of the hostile tension that exists there?  Do you dread attending that church council meeting knowing that certain quarrelsome individuals will be there? God has expectations for a Christian believer in these circumstances. First and foremost, we are not to be the source of the strife and secondly, we are not to partake in gossip.

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Remind them…to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. (Titus 3:1-2)

God does not expect us to flee these areas of conflict. He expects us to discern by His Holy Spirit the root cause of the strife whether it be envy, selfishness or gossip and to prayerfully bring the Light of His Word, Power and Grace into the situation.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:18-21)

Walk away from gossip – let it die with you. In the power of Jesus’ Name pray that God would purge your home, family, church and place of work of envy, selfishness, and malicious gossip. May you be the peacemaker in any strife-filled context you find yourself in.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)