The Political Spirit

Intro

In light of the recent assassination attempt on President Trump, I felt impressed by the Lord to address what I call the political spirit, or the spirit of division.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 CSB

For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.

AND

Ephesians 6:12 CSB

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

One of the ways that Satan works in the world isn’t just through direct demonic attack or oppression, but through ideologies.

Ways of thinking become ways of living. So when I refer to a political spirit or spirit of division, I’m using shorthand to name the demonically inspired way of thinking and acting who’s sole purpose is to divide.

Revelation 12:10 CSB

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down.

Kategoren: the word used for accuse, also where we get category

When we accuse and divide, we partner with the accuser of the brethren

The Root of Division

Fear

We’re either afraid of losing the country we grew up with, or we’re afraid of the country we might have to live in for the next

2 Timothy 1:7 CSB

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

When we see the lack of power, love, and sound judgment, we know that fear is there.

Out of fear, we draw lines that the Kingdom isn’t drawing.

When we do this, we’re forced to look to things OTHER THAN God for our support and strength

God’s not on your side, He’s on His own side

Joshua 5:13–14 CSB

When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua approached him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.” Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in homage and asked him, “What does my lord want to say to his servant?”

The Way Forward

Remember where He’s leading us:

Revelation 21:1–3 CSB

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.

Revelation 7:9 CSB

After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.

Revelation 22:17 CSB

Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.

Remember how he’s called us to move in this world:

2 Corinthians 5:16–21 CSB

From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Reconciliation

Reconciliation is the opposite of accusation (categories)

One requires no relation (to accuse and set aside) the other requires you to relate to people, and to sit in the tension of them not being all who they are called to be.