Faith-bearing Seed for the Soul
"While the earth remaineth,
Seedtime and harvest
....shall not cease"

Genesis 8:22

Multiplying In Division...

These are days when the enemy is trying to divide families, churches, and relationships. Unfortunately, he's winning in some instances. When we live according to God's will, obeying His Word, we can use these attacks as "opportunities" for our  betterment.

For example, when Satan attacked the early church, scattering them all over Asia Minor, the end result was that the church grew. Let's take this down to a personal level. The enemy attacks your marriage, or your church, separates and divides...let's look at what  the early church did that we can apply to strengthen what the devil intends to destroy.

When we are "on fire" for God...or our marriage or a relationship is flourishing, we can count on an attack from the enemy. It is as though he takes a bonfire, stirs it up and violently separates it  in hopes that each little separate ember, by itself, will burn out... That's his strategy! Let's say that you are an integral part of a  flourishing church...schisms come your way...you are hurt, and you  leave. You separate yourself and are alone and don't have the fellowship of the other burning embers to keep your fire burning. It is as though the cold waters of bitterness, resentment, anger, discouragement, and even hatred have doused the life out of your inner being. This can apply in our marriages and other relationships too. And sometimes we are not wrong...we are right! But, you know something? We can be right and end up all alone. Wasn't the early church doing everything RIGHT! Yes, and that is why they were attacked. Yet, God worked it out for GOOD as they trusted in Him and died to their own desires!

WHAT WE MUST REALIZE IS THAT THIS IS THE DEVIL ATTACKING.

When Jesus hung on the cross...what were some of His last words?

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Look at Peter, when things got rough, he denied even knowing Jesus...but, did  he really know that he was turning his back on the Messiah because of his fleshly fear? Jesus knew that deep down Peter loved him; He realized that Peter's actions were not indicative of what was truly in his heart. Jesus knew Peter's spirit, and He was able to ask His father to forgive him, along with all the others that deserted Him.  What if you did this in the midst of your faultering marriage or other destructive divisions? What if you realized that it is the enemy attacking you and their weaknesses in an effort to destroy? Would you be willing to say, "Father, forgive US for WE know not what WE are doing."?

Saying the words are not enough... Rather than cooling the flame with bitterness, grudges, resentment, hatred and unforgiveness, we MUST be willing to bless those that curse us, pray for those which despitefully  use us, and love our enemies, like Jesus taught us in Matthew 5. We have to not get angry with God for allowing these things to happen, and stop our murmuring and complaining, knowing that it is the DEVIL that comes to steal and destroy. This all sounds simple and easy enough until it comes time to dying to our own wants, desires and needs...it is then when we see the stark reality of it all. We make a choice: Am I going to separate myself to satisfy my own pride and selfish desires, or am I going to humble myself and allow the mighty hand of God to take control? It's hard...real hard, but just as the Lord was with the early church, He'll be there to strengthen us in the midst of Satan's division, and He will multiply our faith as we trust in Him. We must decrease, so that He can increase!

(John 3:30)

I Peter 5:6,7

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He  careth for you.

Rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus,

Marlene,

Texas Seed Sower

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which will grow--perhaps it all will."

Eccl. 11:6

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