A House Divided (2)

Ephesians 2:11–22 (CSB)

11 So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

Tell the story about the preacher being invited to a very high profile venue to speak,

When he arrived, he was taken to the building to marvel at the abstract design, that it prided itself in.

The designer purposely separated it from any other architecture in the world, to boast in its individuality, probably in honor of human individuality

Supposing each human person has the autonomy, to be purposefully different from each other

The building having stairways that led up to nothing and having no corners but was rounded and things like that.

The man boasted to the preacher, on and on about the uniqueness of it

Nothing about it could be compared to any building in the world and how progressive they all were to have devised such a unique building.

The building shared no traits with any other building in the world.

The humble preacher responded with one question;

“What about the foundation?”

Silence!

With that question, the boaster didn’t know how to respond.

- Must-have solid foundation

You see, it doesn’t matter what kind of building it is,

If it doesn’t have a solid foundation, it isn’t going to stand.

Period.

Not every house or building has to be the same.

Who said it did?

But, every house that wishes to stand, must have a solid foundation

Jesus said to the Pharisees in when accused of driving demons out by the power of demons

Mark 3:24–25 (CSB)

24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

- Jesus warned us

Jesus was a carpenter after all If anyone knew what it took for a house to stand strong it would be Jesus

And He knew, a house divided would be weak and crumble under the first wave of trouble.

This is why He used this reference.

The house is unified by its foundation.

The truth of what He was implying here is still True today in our homes

- No unity, no peace.

How many of us here have had or are currently a house divided?

It's true, isn’t it?

The house will not stand.

There is no peace in a house divided is there?

In any house where there is no unity, there is no peace.

The Greeks knew this and that’s how we get the name “university”

For our centers of higher learning.

They are designed to be a place to find University in diversity through the diverse cultures that come to learn.

They are hoping to achieve university

To be universal with each other

- We are divided on what is normal

We aren’t there yet.

As if you couldn’t already tell?

Even in our own country, we are not at peace Why?

Because the foundation on which this nation once stood has been replaced

By the “whatever you believe is true for you and what I believe is true for me! mentality”

There is no foundation of normal anymore

Is it ok for mothers to kill their unborn babies?

Is it ok for a young boy to live as a girl?

Who gets to decide these things?

Who gave them that power?

From where do they base their defense for their argument

These are the questions asked of a house divided.

Not of a house united, therefore, this nation will not stand, the way it is currently, by the very Words of Jesus

- Division in the churches

Now let's talk about the Church.

Because this should be a house of a strong foundation Correct?

But wait, we have churches who are folding by the thousands,

but why oh why?

It's because of division inside the church

The number one trick the devil uses against the church today is the spirit of Division

It's the same old tired whisper he gave to Eve in the garden all those millennia ago “Did God really say?”

Right there, he sowed a seed of division between Eve’s Holy communion she enjoyed with God.

By separating her peace of mind from her obedience to The Lord.

As soon as she decided to test God’s word to find out for herself;

She was eternally separated / divided, from that glorious Holy Communion she so enjoyed until that first bite.

- Churches suffer division too.

It's the same within our churches too.

When the devil sees a church lifting off the ground

Changing lives through the power of Jesus Watch out, cause here comes the devil.

To steal, kill, and destroy!

The records are numerous of how many thriving churches were split and eventually destroyed because of division

Because, people dropped the ball.

Do you really think these churches split because they couldn’t decide on the same color carpet or walls?

No, its because at some point, the devil got in and spread division among its people

- Internal reasons don’t matter

I, as Pastor of churches have seen it too

Now, it makes no difference to me or the devil

The whats,

the hows,

the why’s,

or the who cares?

When there is division in any church, KNOW, It will not stand, by Jesus’ own words.

We know that the devil roams the earth seeking.

1 Peter 5:8 (CSB)

8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

Anything he may devour, especially a thriving church and its members.

- Churches will have issues

The best defense against these attacks from the enemy in any church is the Word of God.

“Resist the devil, and he will flee” The Bible says.

Now, there are no perfect churches

So, churches will be confronted with issues that have the ability to divide them, every now and again.

But, as long as churches stand on the solid foundation of the Word of God that bind them

And not on personal preferences

Churches can survive them

- Return to it’s foundation

And when the nation, church, or your home returns to God as its foundation

He promises us, He will hear us and heal our land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (CSB)

14 and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

He will also heal your house

If those that are called by His name in your house

Will either turn to Him or Return to Him

He will heal your house,

whether it be physical healing,

financial healing,

spiritual healing, etc.

He will heal your land!

So, as the song says, “on the Solid Rock I stand”

Let’s all stand on that solid rock, the foundation of our faith together, without division.

We may differ in opinions, and taste, etc, but we can never differ of the word of God.

He is the same yesterday today and forever, amen.