- Jun 29, 2019
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Lord Jesus in Matthew 12:25 says, “...Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” That’s what happens when such divisiveness takes root, becoming fertile ground for the consequences that Jesus describes. We have seen that with the glory of Greek’s civilization long before Christ, which crumbled amidst the divisiveness of the Greek city-states, leaving themselves open to conquerors. Nothing in the world is stagnant. No bubble has ever existed that hasn’t been broken.
But in terms of the pursuit of righteousness, there is a form of divisiveness which can actually be helpful if it is temporary. 1 Corinthians 11:19 says, “...there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.” Nothing calls attention to something like divisiveness does. The two sides in conflict are like two sticks rubbing together to create a fire. People will notice the fire, then they’ll notice the two sticks causing it. And if two sides to an issue or an idea are like two sticks creating the fire, the light of the fire will lead people to be aware of the factions in their midst which are not worthy of being looked to. And when they have come to the attention of those striving for righteousness, they will be turned away. The factions that are to be avoided would be in fulfillment of 2 John10 which says that if anyone comes to you and does not reflect the teachings of the Scriptures, you are not to receive them into your house or give them any greeting.
But people will not be aware of such factions if they don’t see the fire that is caused by the conflict with the opposing forces of good. So when someone sees such fires, they should bring them to the attention of others, that the evil be put at bay. Because if nobody other than the few see the fires, the divisiveness continues and takes root, causing eventual collapse of the nation they take place in. And those which continue to encourage the divisiveness, knowing that they will not be stopped, will be like the eleventh horn envisioned in Daniel 7:24-26. Those passages say that the rule of such a king, causing strife, will leave his kingdom with nothing as others plunder it.
When a leader tells factions of evil, that cause strife with those who are good, to “stand back and stand by,” the nation he leads becomes in danger of losing everything. Such a leader is the proverbial eleventh horn.
But in terms of the pursuit of righteousness, there is a form of divisiveness which can actually be helpful if it is temporary. 1 Corinthians 11:19 says, “...there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.” Nothing calls attention to something like divisiveness does. The two sides in conflict are like two sticks rubbing together to create a fire. People will notice the fire, then they’ll notice the two sticks causing it. And if two sides to an issue or an idea are like two sticks creating the fire, the light of the fire will lead people to be aware of the factions in their midst which are not worthy of being looked to. And when they have come to the attention of those striving for righteousness, they will be turned away. The factions that are to be avoided would be in fulfillment of 2 John10 which says that if anyone comes to you and does not reflect the teachings of the Scriptures, you are not to receive them into your house or give them any greeting.
But people will not be aware of such factions if they don’t see the fire that is caused by the conflict with the opposing forces of good. So when someone sees such fires, they should bring them to the attention of others, that the evil be put at bay. Because if nobody other than the few see the fires, the divisiveness continues and takes root, causing eventual collapse of the nation they take place in. And those which continue to encourage the divisiveness, knowing that they will not be stopped, will be like the eleventh horn envisioned in Daniel 7:24-26. Those passages say that the rule of such a king, causing strife, will leave his kingdom with nothing as others plunder it.
When a leader tells factions of evil, that cause strife with those who are good, to “stand back and stand by,” the nation he leads becomes in danger of losing everything. Such a leader is the proverbial eleventh horn.
