Divide to Conquer; the Spirit’s Unity; Bonding Instead of Dissection

We can hardly get through our day without hearing another reason for humans to be divided. Derived from the Latin; divide et impera is the rule and order of the dominant ruling class for control over the masses. If humans can be divided and segmented, the ruling class can steer the masses in any way they like. This is not an original human concept, but a spiritual dynamic that the judge of humanity uses on humans to sway and persuade his own rule. As we have studied and documented, the devil is the judge of humanity at this time, having stolen rulership from Adam. The devil uses whatever means he wishes to inflict punishment on humans after he has persuaded people to be disobedient to Yahweh. But his biggest tool in using the ruling class, is to divide and segment the masses so that people cannot rise up in strength against him.

We find the population becoming more divisive amongst itself and there seems to be no end to bickering. There is a solution to this issue, but it would mean that humans would have to replace their own personal “beliefs” for the action of keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. However, if enough people can join together, their strength cannot be divided or conquered. And while everyone does not have to agree on all aspects of life and liberty, people can instead agree to join together and push for the big picture of the Son of God.

Eph 4:1-7 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. KJV

We are to live as lowly, with meekness, to be longsuffering, and bearing with each other in love. Then we are to hurry to keep united in the spirit. This alludes to the urgency of the action, rather than wait for it to happen on its own.

Eph 4:3G4704hurrying G5083to keep G3588the G1775unity G3588of the G4151spirit G1722in G3588the G4886bonding together G3588 G1515of peace

Unity, #1775 is oneness, and bond, #4886 is uniting principle. We see as it is used here, bonding together is a good thing, but we will see that people can bond together in a bad way as well.

NT:1775 henotes (hen-ot-ace'); from NT:1520; oneness, i.e. (figuratively) unanimity: KJV - unity. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

NT:4886 sundesmos (soon'-des-mos); from NT:4862 and NT:1199; a joint tie, i.e. ligament, (figuratively) uniting principle, control: KJV - band, bond. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

We are to hurry to keep unity because there is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one Father, one hope, one faith, and one immersion. Among those in the body we are all forgiven, not perfect, and we are all to extend grace toward each other. The devil causes infighting by dividing Christians into denominations, then further dividing us with opinions and ideas. Are we lowly and meek when we see Christians carry signs on the evening news while they yell out their opinions? Are we extending grace to others as if we all are one body? Jesus overcame for us by going into the grave. Jesus did that for His one body, not for one or two denominations.

Eph 4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)KJV

Jesus fulfilled all things, making salvation available to all who believe; not only one sub group of Christians. To help unite us he gave some people to be leaders. That is key. Are our leaders leading us in unity or are our leaders dividing the one body? As we are well aware some leaders sell out to wealth rather than embracing a genuine concern for the Body of Christ.

Eph 4:11-13And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: KJV

Leaders are given to us until we come into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, so that we can become perfectly full in Christ.

Eph4:13G3360until G2658we should [²arrive G3588 G3956¹all] G1519in G3588the G1775unity G3588of the G4102belief, G2532and G3588of the G1922full knowledge G3588of the G5207son G3588 G2316of God, G1519in G435[²man G5046¹a perfect], G1519in G3358the measure G2244of the stature G3588of the G4138fullness G3588of the G5547Christ;

When we are full with Christ we will not be tossed around with stupid ideas thrown around by people intentionally trying to deceive us.

Eph 4:14-16 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. KJV

Jesus is the Head of the body; not a human, not an earthly pastor, author, or public speaker. Under Jesus we all fit together and if we can get this right we will become stronger and stronger as the Body of Christ. There is no question that unity is better for the body of Christ, and we have to take action, hurry, to become unified.

Ps 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! KJV

Ecclus 25:1 In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together. KJV

As we read this section in Isaiah, Yahweh is asking the questions regarding fasting. Fasting is not to afflict one’s soul and to make people look as if they are in mourning. Instead, fasting is to break heaviness and oppression, to feed the hungry, poor and naked. If one does these things during a fast, then the glory of Yahweh is our screen. There is a distortion of the text here. Verse 9 warns “If you remove from yourself conspiracy…” The word conspiracy is #4886, “a bond”. See the Greek translation of verses 8 & 9.

Isa 58:5-9 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: KJV

Isaiah 58:8G5119Then G4486[²shall be torn through G3588³the G4406⁴morning G3588 G5457¹your light], G1473 G2532and G3588the things G2386for your cures G1473 G5036quickly G393shall arise; G2532and G4313[²shall go before G1715³in front of G1473⁴you G3588 G1343¹your righteousness], G1473 G2532and G3588the G1391glory G3588 G2316of God G4057.2shall screen G1473you.

 9G5119Then G994you shall yell, G2532and G3588the G2962lord G1522shall hearken to G1473you. G2089Yet while G2980you are speaking G1473 G2046he shall say, G2400Behold, G3918I am at hand. G1437If G851you remove G575from G1473yourself G4886conspiracy, G2532and G5500.1stretching forth of the hands, G2532and G4487[²discourse G1112¹grumbling];

10G2532and G1325should give G3983to ones hungering G3588the G740bread G1537from G5590your soul, G1473 G2532and G5590[² the soul G5013³being humble G1705¹should fill up], G5119then G393[²shall rise G1722³in G3588⁴the G4655⁵darkness G3588 G5457¹your light], G1473 G2532and G3588 G4655your darkness G1473 G5613shall be as G3314midday.

Fasting is not to afflict ourselves, but to share what we have with those who do not have. But we are to remove the conspiracy. This tells us that we can be bonded together in a negative way, as noted here, with grumbling. If one denomination speaks poorly of another denomination, we will be bonded in a negative conspiracy and we will grumble. This does not necessarily mean that either denomination is inherently wrong, it just means they are different and we should instead fight to keep unity between us. Taking that conspiracy idea one step further, the men of Judah intentionally conspired to turn Jerusalem away from Yahweh.

Jer 11:9-10 And the Lord said unto me, A conspiracy [4886] is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. KJV

Again, a bonding or conspiracy can be negative, and that means we have a responsibility to what we are bonded to. If we are in a group or church that advocates division rather than unity, we may be bonded to the wrong thing. That could very well put us at odds with Jesus and His body.

We have to keep in mind that in years past we have not had the resources to study and look into subjects that are social hotbeds. While we can read our King James Version, we can also look at the Greek as well. This is where we all fall short, because we have relied on the KJV, or another modern translation as some type of exclusive version when there was a Latin version prior to KJV; and before that the Greek. If we do not look into the Greek we will fight and argue with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we will not be a unified Body. But Colossians says we are to be gracious, humble, and endure one another so that there is no blame against any person.

Colossians 3:12G1746Put on G3767then G5613 asG1588chosen ones G3588 G2316of God, G39holy ones, G2532and G25beloved, G4698feelings of compassion, G3628pity, G5544graciousness, G5012humility, G4236gentleness, G3115long-suffering!

 13G430enduring G240one another, G2532and G5483granting forgiveness G1438to each other G1437if G5100any G4314[³against G5100⁴any G2192¹should have any G3437²blame]. G2531As G2532also G3588the G5547Christ G5483granted forgiveness G1473to you, G3779so G2532also G1473you.

 14G1909[²upon G3956³all G1161¹And] G3778these things G3588the G26love G3748which G1510.2.3is G4886the bonding together G3588of the G5047perfection.

 15G2532And G3588[²the G1515³peace G3588 G2316⁴of God G1018¹let] preside G1722in G3588 G2588your hearts! G1473 G1519in G3739which G2532also G2564you were called G1722in G1520one G4983body. G2532AndG2170[²gracious G1096¹be]!

As verse 14 says, love is the bonding together of perfection. Do we have peace in our hearts? Or are we contending with other people who are part of Jesus’ body? If we contend within the Body of Christ we cannot be unified. Then the devil has an advantage against us. Divide to conquer is the devil’s mode of operation, therefore we have to fight against that. We have to stop letting the devil win over the Body of Christ. If we don’t get this right we will be further segmented.

1 Corinthians 5:10G3870And I appeal to G1161 G1473you, G80brethren, G1223through G3588the G3686name G3588 G2962of our Lord G1473 G*Jesus G5547Christ, G2443that G3588[⁴the G1473⁵same thing G3004¹you should ³say G3956²all], G2532and G3361there should be no G1510.3 G1722[²among G1473³you G4978¹splits]; G1510.3but that you should be G1161 G2675readying yourselves G1722with G3588the G1473same G3563mind, G2532and G1722with G3588the G1473same G1106opinion.

The word splits is the word we want to look at. There should be no splits among us.

NT:4978 schisma (skhis'-mah); from NT:4977; a split or gap ("schism"), literally or figuratively: KJV - division, rent, schism. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

But we have splits among us in the Body of Christ. What will it take to mend the splits? Love that brings a bonding perfection. We may not be able to teach or reteach each other but we can overlook our differing opinions in light of Love. We can be humble and gracious to all those who say they love Jesus as their Lord, regardless of their different church group or lifestyle. The only qualification to entering into the Body of Christ is confession of Jesus as Lord. The rest is not up to us to judge. Therefore, if someone confesses Jesus as Lord, he or she is a member in the Body of Christ; we need to be unified upon that one point. We don’t have to agree on everything to be unified, we just have to decide not to be divided.

Romans 16:17G3870And I appeal to G1161 G1473you, G80brethren, G4648to watch G3588the ones G3588[²the G1370²discords G2532³and G3588⁴the G4625⁵obstacles G3844⁶by G3588⁷the G1322⁸teaching G3739⁹which G1473¹⁰you G3129¹¹learned G4160¹making], G2532andG1578turn aside G575from G1473them

NT:1370 dichostsis (dee-khos-tas-ee'-ah); from a derivative of NT:1364 and NT:4714; disunion, i.e. (figuratively) dissension: KJV - division, sedition. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

This is a very strong verse and we should be well aware of its importance. Who within the Body of Christ causes disunion among the brethren? The only requirement to be a member of this body is confession of Jesus as Lord, the rest us up to Jesus, not us. Who is turning Christian Brother against Christin Brother? The devil. The devil promotes jealousy, strife and discord.

There is a popular media conglomerate that controls many different avenues of mass media such as networks, movies, television, music, sports, news, merchandise, and amusement parks. Think for a moment about how vast that is. If this company’s’ leaders want the general population to think a certain way, they have so many tools at their disposal that people are unaware of; and the general population will start to think the way they have been led. This is one of the many tools that the devil uses to divide the body of Christ. One example is a popular animated movie where the adversarial character advocates its young female lead character to use her feminine wiles to “get her man”, but when she does the adversarial character calls her a “tramp”. What kind of a mixed message does that send to young boys and girls? If this company confuses “right behavior” for young people, what is it doing to confuse adults with conflicting news stories? If you watch the television shows on this company’s cable networks, as well as their news, you are given a strongly biased view of the world. Because regular humans are bought and sold, as Babylon will be judged for the buying and selling of men’s souls, we can see how the entire world is being led. But why?

Let’s assume females make up 50% of the voting population, if they can be divided into smaller segments, such as abortion vs anti-abortion, lesbian vs straight, porn star vs. breastfeeding mom,  Christian vs. non-Christian, then someone can control political votes and the voting population by molding candidates to appeal to the bigger groups. For example, the abortion debate centers around “women’s issues”, but men are 50% responsible for all pregnancies. Instead of this being a “women’s issue” what if men were half as responsible for the care of a child or an abortion? That would change the dynamic of the entire issue. If men had to bear their half of the responsibility, social behaviors would change quickly. Instead we keep telling women that it is their issue to deal with. But we also tell young girls to seduce the men they want, but then tell them they are bad for doing so. All of this comes from one conglomerate. It sows confusion into women and keeps women held back in all areas of business and politics. Multiply that by 5 large conglomerates, and then by 4 small corporations, and it is no wonder our world is so divided.

We can see why the Body of Christ is so divided. As 1 Corinthians tells us, we are behaving fleshy because there is jealousy, strife, and discord within the Body of Christ. Women can hardly rise up in the Body of Christ as leaders without a large segment of the population thinking evil of her. Think about what Joyce Meyer has had to endure.  While the devil sows disunity in the world and among the Body of Christ, we are unaware of its effect because we are focused on the wrong things. We are not keeping the unity of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:3G2089[³still G1063¹For G4559⁴fleshly ones G1510.2.5²you are]. G3699For where G1063 G1722among G1473you G2205are jealousy G2532and G2054strife G2532and G1370discord; G3780[²not G4559³fleshly ones G1510.2.5¹are you], G2532and G2596[²according to G444³man G4043¹walk]?

We have to rise above our own differences of opinions so that we are not planting dissentions into Christ’s Body. Imagine how Jesus feels when his own body is at war within itself. That is what gives the devil the right to judge us and harm us. Once more Paul tells us to think soberly about ourselves.

Rom 12:3-5 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. KJV

The glue that can bind the Body of Christ together is love. If the Body of Christ can get this right, we will become unstoppable in the world to fulfill the great commission. As we have previously studied, we technically have no “rights” in this world because we are not of this world. Instead, Jesus expected us to be above this world by walking in love and be able to live under any government or kingdom while on earth. By our own personal humility, we can unite in the Spirit with all other Jesus confessors. If we can remember that the devil is about dividing us to conquer us, we will be able to overcome that scheme. Intercessors can pray and pastors can unite. We do not have to let the world rulers cause dissension among Jesus’ Body.