A ship wrecked sailor had been stranded for years on a dessert island. When he showed the rescuers he showed them three huts.
“Look, this first one is where I live”. “What is the second one?”“That’s where I go to church.” “ And the third one?” “That’s where I used to go to church!”
Some folks can’t get along with themselves!
One of your most regular attendees is Satan. He doesn’t miss a chance to go to church. What better place to put his schemes into place.
Imagine a pot of boiling water, constantly churning and bubbling. This is what Satan aims to do in the church by stirring up conflicts. He knows that when we’re in discord, our focus shifts from God’s mission to our own disagreements.
One way he does this is by exploiting our preferences about church details. Think of it like a family arguing over the temperature in the living room. While it may seem trivial, it can escalate into a full-blown conflict. Satan feeds on these petty disputes, using them to distract us from what truly matters.
He leads the measuring committee. Imagine a group of people constantly taking attendance and passing judgment on each other’s participation. This is what Satan does when he leads the “measuring committee” in the church.
He encourages us to judge one another based on attendance, participation, and other metrics. This creates an environment of competition and criticism rather than love and support.
Lucifer chairs these committees: “Busy Busy Bees: These are the overcommitted individuals who take on too much, often at the expense of their spiritual health.
“Gooseberry Gossips: These are the ones who spread rumors and cause divisions through gossip.
Sour Grapes: These are the members who constantly complain and find fault in everything the church does.
How can put Old Scratch’s schemes to a stop?
Keep the main thing the main thing. “Love God with your soul, strength, and mind.” “Love your neighbor as your self.”
Don’t let differences fester and boil. One group of Christians brings elders together and a proposal is made. They stop and pray, listening to what they believe the Spirit is saying to them.
After prayer, they ask clarifying questions, then share what they believe God is saying to them. During the discussion, they practice simple communication rules.
Then another time of prayer. Then there is a brief time of discussion and determining if there is a consensus.
Discussion and prayer continue until a consensus is reached. Their system is a bit more complicated but the whole process is bathed in listening prayer. Moving forward requires a consensus of what they believe God is saying.
Satan is cunning. Don’t fall for his bag of tricks…As WE Go Along The Way!
