A House Divided (Part 2)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Introduction
Introduction
Division is one of Satan’s most effective weapons. He used it to divide heaven when pride filled his heart. He used it to divide the garden when Eve listened to his lie. He used it to divide the first family when Cain killed Abel.
Wherever God builds, the devil tries to break.
When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he wasn’t just warning them about false teachers—he was warning them about the spirit of division that can creep into any church, any home, and any heart. He said, “Mark them which cause divisions…and avoid them.”
You see, the devil doesn’t need to destroy the church from the outside if he can divide it from the inside.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”
A divided church will not stand.
A divided home will not stand.
A divided heart will not stand.
This morning, we’ll use Paul’s warning as a springboard to look at The Danger of Division—what it does, where it comes from, and how we overcome it.
I. The Reality of Division - (Vs. 17)
I. The Reality of Division - (Vs. 17)
(Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10–13
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Division isn’t a modern problem; it’s a human one. From the beginning, mankind has been marked by separation and strife.
Paul pleaded with the Corinthian church, “that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you.”But some said, “I am of Paul,” and others, “I am of Apollos.”
They were divided not over doctrine, but over personalities. Sound familiar?
A. Division in the Church
Churches are weakened not just by false doctrine but by fleshly division—hurt feelings, pride, jealousy, and control.
The division of Christians is the sin of fratricide.
J. Alec Motyer
A church can have the right creed but the wrong spirit…
💬 Illustration: A pastor once said, “The devil doesn’t fear a big church; he fears a united church.”
You can have ten thousand people with division and accomplish nothing, but twelve disciples in unity turned the world upside down.
“If Satan cannot defeat the church through persecution, he’ll divide it through personality.” — Warren Wiersbe
B. Division in the Home
Homes crumble when pride replaces prayer, when competition replaces compassion…
Amos 3:3“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
When spouses stop communicating… when parents and children stop forgiving… Satan celebrates.
Home is meant to be the first place we experience unity, not conflict. Yet for many, the home has become a battlefield instead of a blessing. The enemy knows that if he can divide a home, he can derail a generation.
1. Division between Husband and Wife
When marriage vows are made, two become one flesh (Genesis 2:24
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Division breaks what God designed to be one…
Satan’s earliest attack was on a marriage—Adam and Eve. He sowed suspicion: “Did God really say?” The moment doubt entered, discord followed…
Paul reminds us, “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Many marriages are cold not because of one great betrayal, but because of a thousand little sunsets filled with unspoken bitterness.
Quote: “The devil never takes a day off from attacking your marriage; neither should you take a day off from defending it.” — Unknown
Preacher Cue: Say softly — “Couples, you can win the argument and lose the affection. Sometimes peace is more powerful than proving your point.”
A divided marriage hinders prayer (1 Peter 3:7). God withholds His blessing where there is strife.
Unity in marriage doesn’t mean uniformity—it means moving in the same direction, under the same Lord, by the same love.
2. Division between Parents and Children
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Parents divide the home when rules replace relationship—when we discipline without discipleship.
“Parents, and specially fathers, are urged not to irritate their children by being so unreasonable in their demands that their children lose heart and come to think that it is useless trying to please their parents.” - F.F. Bruce
Children have a responsibility to obey, but parents — here, put into one as fathers — have a responsibility to not provoke their children. Parents can provoke their children by being too harsh, too demanding, too controlling, unforgiving, or just plain angry. This harshness can be expressed through words, through actions, or through non-verbal communication.
In most parenting problems, the parent blames the child. It is easy to do because the problem is usually most evident in the bad behavior in the child. But Paul wisely reminds us that the bad behavior may actually be provoked by the parent. When this is the case, it doesn’t justify the bad behavior of the child, but it may explain part of its cause. It is commanded of parents to do everything they can to not provoke their children.
Children divide the home when rebellion replaces respect. Proverbs 15:5
5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: But he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
When respect is lost on either side, unity is lost in the whole house.
Illustration: A father once said, “I raised my voice more than I raised my kids.” He realized correction without compassion only hardens hearts.
Preacher Cue: “Parents, our goal is not to win every battle with our kids; it’s to win their hearts to Christ.”
3. Division between Siblings
The first family knew it—Cain killed Abel out of jealousy.
Joseph’s brothers sold him because of envy. Even in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), one son left in rebellion, the other stayed in resentment. Both were divided from the father’s heart.
Sibling rivalry is rooted in comparison. Comparison kills contentment…
💬 Quote: “Jealousy is counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.” — Adrian Rogers
Families fracture when forgiveness is withheld. Healing begins when someone decides, “I’d rather be right with God than right about everything.”
4. Division from Spiritual Neglect
When the home stops praying together, it starts drifting apart.
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
The family altar is stronger than any attack from hell.
Preacher Cue: “The home that opens the Word together will not easily open the door to the devil.”
Division in the home doesn’t always begin with a fight—it begins with forgetfulness: forgetting to pray, to forgive, to prioritize Christ.
5. The Restoration of Unity in the Home
Repentance: Admit where pride or silence has built walls. (Psalm 139:23–24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Reconciliation: Speak healing words. “I’m sorry,” “I forgive you,” and “I love you” are miracle phrases.
Renewal: Make Christ the center again. Unity is not achieved by human effort but by divine presence.
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Husband, wife, and Christ…
C. Division in the Heart
James 1:8: “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
A divided heart cannot have peace because it tries to serve both God and self…
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Many Christians are not destroyed by sin—they’re drained by indecision…
That phrase means this:
Many Christians aren’t falling into outward sin, but they’re living in spiritual exhaustion because they can’t make clear, surrendered choices for God.
In other words—
They aren’t destroyed by obvious rebellion; they’re drained by hesitation. They stay stuck in “spiritual limbo,” trying to keep one foot in God’s will and one foot in their own comfort. The result is fatigue, confusion, and frustration rather than peace and progress.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
When we live half-committed—undecided between obedience and convenience—we lose strength and direction.
Indecision quietly drains what sin would quickly destroy. It saps passion, delays obedience, and robs believers of joy until they choose to fully follow Christ.
II. The Representation of Division - (Vs. 18)
II. The Representation of Division - (Vs. 18)
I believe we have established that division is something that God hates…
I want to establish this thought very clearly this morning. Just because someone has a different idea, a different perspective than you does not necessarily make them a divisive person.
We are benefited by different ideas, different perspectives, different view points. Not one of us has the angle to everything… The thoughts and ideas that can be brought to us… Those are welcomed and necessary.
So the question becomes what defines and how can you discern what a divisive person looks like? As opposed to someone with a different view point.
Paul said those who cause division “serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly.” The root of division is almost always self.
I want to give you real quick four characteristics of how you can tell…
A. By their spirit
Questions that undoubtedly need to be asked, are they genuinely contributing to the good of the organization (The home or the church.) Or do they have selfish motives?
Divisive people are self seeking instead of others oriented.
There literally is a Luciferien spirit behind divisive people. They often feel they can do it better, they know better, and often shoot themselves on a mission to correct in what their mind is wrong. They are not team players they are solo manipulators.
You hav got to discern their spirit… Here is one way… Tell them no and watch how they react…
A person who has a different idea might be like; … They will take it in stride…
Someone who has a divisive spirit will always be offended; They will take it personally because it’s not about the larger group it’s about themselves.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
B. By Their Words
Do they say things to your face? Or do they say things to others what they won’t say to you? Divisive people would rather talk about you than to you.
28 A froward man soweth strife: And a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Have you ever experienced in your family a triangle of communication?
Illustrate the triangle of communication…
You get into that triangular mess ill tell you how you get out… I’m not a part of this anymore… You all can talk, but i’m not going to talk about you all behind your backs… none of this triangular stuff.
It’s so unhealthy, and divisive! Once again you are not responsible to fix them… I refuse to talk about you or to you about someone else that isn’t around. Just stop playing the game and I promise you it will stop.
C. Their Attitude
Divisive people are not teachable they have a self righteous attitude, and they often don’t respect authority.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Notice their attitude, if they aren’t humble and teachable, but rather proud and arrogant or self righteous. That is a strong indication that person is a divisive individual.
D. Their Actions
Divisive people do divisive things… They cause conflict and disrupt the harmony and unity of a family, a church, or an organization. They intentionally disrupt that harmony and unity by their actions, by things that they do.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; Yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
III. The Remedy for Division - (Vs. 19-20)
III. The Remedy for Division - (Vs. 19-20)
Paul didn’t just point out the danger—he gave the cure.
“Be wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.”
A. Pursue Humility
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Division begins where humility ends. Pride builds walls; humility builds bridges.
B. Practice Discernment
“Be wise unto that which is good.”
Know what battles to fight and what hills to die on.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
💬 Illustration: A man asked his pastor, “How do I spot false teaching?” The pastor replied, “Study the real thing until the fake looks foolish.”
C. Protect Unity Through Grace
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Unity is not automatic—it’s something we must endeavour to keep. It’s built on grace, maintained by love, and anchored in truth.
“Unity is not found in compromise, but in common commitment to Christ.” — Warren Wiersbe
Conclusion
Conclusion
Division destroys what the cross united.
Pride pushes people apart.
Humility pulls them together.
Where there is unity, there is strength. Where there is division, there is defeat.
So today, let’s commit to guard the unity of our church, our homes, and our hearts. Because a house divided cannot stand—but a church united in Christ cannot fall.
Invitation
Invitation
Is there division in your home? In your relationships? In your heart?
Is there someone you need to forgive, someone you’ve distanced yourself from?
Ask God to heal the division and bring peace where the enemy has planted strife.
“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” — Ephesians 4:3
Let’s be a people marked not by division but by devotion—to Christ, to truth, and to one another.
