EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES
THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 33 – Sunday 23rd August, 2020
(Acts.15:1-41, 1 Cor.3:1-17)
THE POWER OF DIVISION AND SATAN’S SECOND RETURN
If there is any chapter of the Bible that one is permitted to refer to as the chapter of division, then it just cannot be any other but Acts chapter 15. As far as record is concerned, satan began his attack of division right from the opening verse.
If there is any weapon potent enough to break the strongest fortress asunder, it is the weapon of division. The question is why is it so easily the case? The simple answer is that division is often subtle and is often countenanced as no sin. Certainly, men are so oblivious of it, and as such, men do not perceive it in the nature of men’s ordinary considerations of sin generally.
But it is the perfect antithesis of unity. The weapon of division is so strong that even the weapon of the unity of faith cannot stand before it. Satan’s weapon of division and division of every kind respects and bows only before the power of the unity of love. Here is the blunt truth; dissension otherwise called argumentation or discord is always the trigger point of all division.
Everything is present in every dissension or argumentation except one thing which is always absent. That one thing which is ever absent in every dissension, argumentation or discord is God. One lone and foremost reason why satan has a field day during every dissension is the atmosphere of malice which it promotes.
Unfortunately, the arena of malice is satan’s thriving point. On the contrary, God cannot thrive in an atmosphere of malice. The moment the seed of malice is sown through dissension, discord or argument, peace, love, joy, faith, miracles and indeed God Almighty flees out of that environment. Then the duo of dissension and malice merge in satanic union and end up with the birth of division.
It was reported about a church in the U.S. in 1999 where there arose a dissention between a pastor and his assistant. When the church service began, the church was so divided that the praise-worship was done by two different groups at the same time within the same church hall springing up two choir masters and two group of choristers at the same time. Then the two pastors started preaching at the same time. And, in the end, the two pastors got themselves into fist exchange (boxing ring) before the church congregation.
What a shame you will say! But such is the power of division. When a church has lost its foresight and foremost mandate and vision, then what is left is simply fleshly. And when the flesh has taken over, you can be sure of one thing, the Holy Spirit is already out of the window. I have said and will reiterate again. Why is it that when people want to form their church, they must first of all scatter their present church? Couldn’t things be done with peace and order? Must you go with your original church’s congregation?
If God truly called you, is He not able to give you your own congregation? Wicked and immature brother claiming the Call of God; are you truly called of God? If God truly called you why is it that your selling and trigger point is discord?
Ah! I cannot disagree with the fact that division founds it root and comfort in the flesh. Let us educate ourselves for once. I agree that sometimes differences in church convictions, doctrines and beliefs can raise certain questions. But should these divide the body of the Lord? Any action which divides the body of the Lord is an action which lacks love. What lacks love lacks God because ‘God is love and in Him is no darkness’(1John 4:8).
But besides this, let us ask ourselves simply academic question. Even if there is no unity of belief because of our human frailties and limited understanding, can’t there be the unity of love? Must I hate the RCCG brother or the MFM sister or the Deeper Life woman or the Elim Pentecostal man because of the difference in church style of worship or belief? Is Christ divided?
Satan’s power of division has made us to forsake the original and common cause. Our enemy is satan, self and sin not ourselves. There is yet one more spiritual truism about satanically-ochestrated division.
When satan afflicts a friend, a congregation or organization of any sort with division and that friendship, congregation or organization succeeded in warding off that satanic onslaught, be at serious alert through travailing prayers with a heart well festered with love. Why? Because he, satan is returning with fiercer attack on the same course.
Watch out! In Acts chapter 15, the church at Antioch was initially divided over the issue of circumcision. Thankfully, the Apostles (in the church at Jerusalem) resolved the contention and dissension by the help of the Holy Spirit. The question is, did satan relax? Check the sad event between two Apostles – Paul and Barnabas from verses 35-41 of the same chapter of the book of Acts.
Notice the following facts that:
(1) both Paul and Barnabas were Apostles (Acts.14:4, 14).
(2) These two apostles were men who hazarded their lives because of the cause of the gospel.
(3) What ignited the fire of division was a simple matter which, in fact, goes to no issue at all.
(4) Following the above facts, one must conclude that the power of division has no regard for even the height of spiritual hierarchy, authority and position.
(5) Satanic division is a destroyer of both individual and collective destiny.
Please permit me to mention a great Man of God, Pastor Falore. This awesome Man of God was one of the founding fathers of the Deeper Life Bible Church. In fact, he was the great Man of God who took Deeper Life Bible Church to the nation of Togo. He was so great a Man of God that Yasingbe Iyadema (the then President of Togo) tried his best to kill him.
But he was such a super Man of God – a type of Apostle Paul in that nation of Togo at the time. With great respect to this awesome Man of God, one of his fundamental problems in words and in approach was that he had little regard for the presiding Man of God, Apostle William Folorunsho Kumuyi. Pastor Falore finally left the church in certain circumstances that could have been better. And that marked the end of his thriving ministry and glory.
Returning, then, to the dissension between Apostles Paul and Barnabas. Recall that that division between the two marked the end of Barnabas’ ministry. Ah! Alas! The spirit and satanic power of division is a foremost destroyer of destiny. Recall also that this same Apostle Barnabas was a mentor to Apostle Paul shortly after his conversion (Acts.9:27-30). Recall also that Apostle Barnabas was a Man of God described by the Bible as being ‘a good man, full of the Holy Spirit’ and of faith (Acts.11:22-26).
How then could the power of division lead him astray? Have you done a deep research into academic spirituality? And did you find out that there is a book titled ‘the gospel according to Saint Barnabas?’ Oh! It is true. The enemy cashed on the division that took place then at Antioch to formulate a false gospel. It is believed that that false gospel was written by the moslems at some point.
Do you see what division can cause? It introduced falsehood, heresy and fallacy into spirituality of a manifest divine kind. Notice that satan does not just target a-nobody with the spirit of division. No! his key targets are always specific pillars of any given friendship, group, congregation or organization who occupy key positions in that friendship, group, congregation or organization.
Have you equally noticed that the most influential and the most spiritual are often his target? Watch it brother! Spirituality does not always mean being infested with Christ-like love. Consider the divine instructions contained in 1 Cor.13:1-13. The most fervent prayer is not the start point for defeating the wicked satanic power of division. The start point is always a heart regenerated by sanctification/genuine holiness and such a heart so rich in the love of Christ. The question today is where do you stand in all these?
Will God mark you as the one who divided His body at any point? Or will you be that brother or that sister demonstrating the love of God? It is time to unite more. It is time to love more. It is time to pray more. Help that brother in the church or even else where who is always attired in the same clothing, not your pastor all the time.
Take care of your pastor (1 Cor.9:11); he stands before God on your behalf. Pastor! Feed the church with the good word of God. Wrestle in the place of prayer for the flock. Spend Christ’s money and love and even your own self for the flock over which you have been made an overseer. Let everyone mind the same thing and seek unity of purpose, propelled by love, exuberating in diversity.
IN THE END, A DIVISIVE MAN IS A WELL OF WICKED DIVIDING SCHEMES. SUCH A MAN IS A PERFECT ENEMY OF GOD. A DIVIDED CONGREGATION IS A DEFEATED ASSEMBLY. IT IS THE SATANIC WATERS OF EVIL SPEAKING AND HATRED THAT WILL HARVEST THAT CONGREGATION IN THE END.
Question and Answer Section
Question: The great questions again! When was the last time that you preached to any soul? Do you serve God with joyful heart or with reluctance? How much hurt is in your soul against that fellow? Won’t rather forgive them and forget their mischief so that you can rightly serve your loving Father? When was the last time you smiled genuinely and truly from your heart about yourself bearing in mind the bright days to come? when was the last time you heard a force praying within your belly without your consciousness? When was the last time you gave some thing to support God’s work apart from your tithes and offerings? When was the last time you supported any man to fulfill a divine or a personal agenda? When was the last time you put smile on the face of someone?
Answer: Hmmm!.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Counseling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com Alternatively, meet us every Sunday at the address below:
Suit 26, 2nd Floor, Nikky Africana Plaza, 70C Allen Avenue, Opposite UBA/MTN Office, Ikeja, Lagos.
Further information: Be informed that this Ministry has only one Facebook page and no other. Any other Facebook page is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page should be directed to: contactus@expressimageglory.com
The General Superintendent Minister of this Ministry therefore pleads and urges you to desist from all such fake and ungodly Facebook pages. Our website is: www.expressimageglory.com
ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).
HYMN: By And By When The Morning Comes
PRAY NOW:
1. O God, forgive me for anything I have done which follows the path of division.
2. O God, in mercy recover for me any part of my destiny that I have lost, that has been derailed or that has been gravely affected.
3. O God, put in me divine hatred for talebearing, discord, dissension and division.
4. Please, release yourself to the Holy Ghost now and pray in tongues for at least five minutes.
5. Major part of my destiny that has been severed from me, O God of restoration, recover and restore them for me.
6. O Rock of Ages, collide and crush the one contending with me over my ‘Ball’.
7. O Thou God that recovered the axe from the water, recover my ‘Ball’ from the point it has rolled away to.
8. O God, fill my heart with the love of God and the love of His kingdom.
9. O God, deliver all your churches and your ministers from the subtilty and trickery of the spirit and power of division.
10. Lord, help your church to realize that we have missed the purpose.
11. O God, let there be unity of love, faith and purpose in your church today like the early church.
12. O God, anoint your church with Holy Ghost and with power.
13. Present your personal petitions.
