ASSIGNMENTS 1. Once a day read over this material and read or sing the songs. 2. Keep the scripture where you will see it often each day. 3. Think of times in your life when you have either caused, encouraged, or done nothing about sinful division in the kingdom of God, and determine that you will do better. 4. Write how you were able to encourage the unity of the body of Christ. 5. Plan to tell the class about a time you either helped the unity of the church or a time you caused strife or division. ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS MONDAY - VERSES: Acts 2:1,44-47 PRAYER THOUGHT: God, help me to be together with the saints and have fellowship with them and with You TUESDAY - VERSES: Romans 12:3-5,10 PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, help me to fill my role in the body the best I can and not be jealous of the role others have, but support them and encourage them to be the best they can be. WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Romans 15:2-7 PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, help me to have the Spirit of Christ in all my relationships, but especially with my fellow saints. THURSDAY - VERSES: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 PRAYER THOUGHT: Master, give me the courage to be your servant and not the servant of men or of factions of men. FRIDAY - VERSES: Proverbs 6:16-19; Mark 3:24-26 PRAYER THOUGHT: Righteous Lawgiver and Judge, help me to realize the depth of Your hatred for division and strife. Help me to do my best to avoid Your wrath and the destruction of Your kingdom by loving and promoting unity and avoiding strife and division. SATURDAY - VERSES: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 PRAYER THOUGHT: God, help me to realize that you have determined the way Your body, the church, should function and help me to become a useful and active part of it to bring glory to You. ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ From the DEVIL'S BEATITUDES *Blessed are they who gossip, for they cause strife and divisions that please me. *Blessed are those easily offended, for they soon get angry and quit. SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 77 DIVISION - 1-26-14 to 2-1-14 SCRIPTURE - John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. COMMENT – The only time in Jesus' life that He specifically made reference to those of us who are Christians through faith in His word as recorded by the apostles and prophets, He prayed for us to be united. What are you doing to help our Heavenly Father answer His Son's request? SONGS - HOW SWEET, HOW HEAVENLY, IS THE SIGHT How sweet, how heav'nly, is the sight, When those that love the Lord In one another's peace delight, And so fulfill the Word. When each can feel his brother's sigh, And with him bear a part; When sorrow flows from eye to eye, And joy from heart to heart. When, free from envy, scorn and pride, Our wishes all above, Each can his brother's failings hide, And show a brother's love. When love in one delightful stream Thru ev'ry bosom flows; When union sweet and dear esteem In ev'ry action glows. Love is the golden chain that binds The happy souls above; And he's an heir of heav'n who finds His bosom glows with love. ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ WE ARE ONE IN THE SPIRIT 1- We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord. We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord. And we pray that our unity may fully be restored. CHORUS - And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love. 2- We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand. We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand. And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land. 3- We will work with each other, we'll work side by side. We will work with each other, we'll work side by side. And we'll guard each one's dignity and destroy our pride. THOUGHTS In one of my favorite Peanuts cartoons, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn't. "Why do you think you can walk in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold." "Which channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?" -- Bruce Shelley, What is the Church, p. 38. ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ It is estimated that if the American colonies had been more unified at the time of the Revolution, The revolutionary war could have been won in 1 year; instead, because of division, it took 8 bloody years of battle. ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ A precious little girl wandered out one cold day into the countryside of Canada. The family finally realized she was lost and started a search. Then they called the people of the community together. Each went his own way. It became dark and the cold of the Canadian winter settled down. After some time someone suggested the searchers join hands and cover the grass fields. But it was too late. They found the girl curled up, frozen in the cold. Then the shout went up, "If only we had joined hands before!" The spiritual meaning of this story is clear. Christ's love demands unity among His believers. ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ Where there is unity there is always victory. - Publilius Syrus ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ A high school orchestra was preparing for a concert that featured a pianist in a rendition of Grieg's A-minor concerto. Before the performance, it was customary for the orchestra to tune up with an "A" sounded by the oboe player. But the oboist was a practical joker, and he had tuned his instrument a half step higher than the piano. You can imagine the effect. After the pianist played a beautiful introduction, the members of the orchestra joined in. What confusion! Every instrument was out of tune with the piano. In Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, the apostle mentioned two members who were "out of tune." In an otherwise peaceful and growing assembly of believers, Euodia and Syntyche were spiritually "off key." This prompted Paul to write, "I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord (Phil. 4:2). He wanted them to know that unity among Christians was important to the work of that church. ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ SPIRITUAL MATH: DIVISION INTRODUCTION - PHILIPPIANS 4:2-3 L.S. - SOME DIVISIONS . . . I. ARE ________________ TO PLEASE GOD. A. BEING SEPARATED FROM THE ___________ - 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-17 B. MEN AND WOMEN DIVIDING __________ - 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-12 C. DIVIDING _______________ FROM ________________ - ROMANS 16:17 D. RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE __________ - 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 II. ARE _____________ IN PLEASING GOD. A. DIVIDING INTO ___________ - TITUS 2:3-5 B. SEPARATING FROM _______________ - MATTHEW 19:4-5 III. ARE _____________ ALLOWING US TO PLEASE GOD A. GEOGRAPHICAL SEPARATION OF ________________ - 1 CORINTHIANS 16:19-20 B. DIVIDING _______________ AND _________________ - ACTS 15:38-40 IV. ARE __________, SO _________! PLEASE GOD. A. CLIQUES - 1 CORINTHIANS 1:11-12 B. __________ - GALATIANS 2:11-12 C. _______________ FIGHTS - 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10 D. _________ __________ SEGREGATION - GALATIANS 3:28 E. _____________ FAVORITISM - JAMES 2:1-4 F. ____________ DIVISION - ROMANS 14:2-6 CONCLUSION: SPIRITUAL MATH: DIVISION INTRODUCTION: A. EUODIAS AND SYNTYCHE - PHILIPPIANS 4:2-3 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. (3) And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. B. United we stand, divided we fall. - Aesop L.S. - SOME DIVISIONS . . . I. ARE NECESSARY TO PLEASE GOD. A. BEING SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD - 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-17 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, B. MEN AND WOMEN DIVIDING ROLES - 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-12 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. (12) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. C. DIVIDING OBEDIENT FROM DISOBEDIENT - ROMANS 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. D. RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD - 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II. ARE HELPFUL IN PLEASING GOD. A. DIVIDING INTO CLASSES - TITUS 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; (4) That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, (5) To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 1. SEX 2. AGE 3. MATURITY 4. SUBJECT B. SEPARATING FROM PARENTS. - MATTHEW 19:4-5 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, (5) And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? III. ARE HARMLESS ALLOWING US TO PLEASE GOD. A. GEOGRAPHICAL SEPARATION OF CONGREGATIONS - 1 CORINTHIANS 16:19-20 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (20) All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. B. DIVIDING PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES - ACTS 15:38-40 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. (39) And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; (40) And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. IV. ARE SINFUL, SO DON'T! PLEASE GOD. A. CLIQUES - 1 CORINTHIANS 1:11-12 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. (12) Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. B. RACIAL - GALATIANS 2:11-12 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. (12) For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. C. PERSONALITY FIGHTS - 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. D. SOCIAL STATUS SEGREGATION - GALATIANS 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. E. ECONOMIC FAVORITISM - JAMES 2:1-4 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. (2) For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; (3) And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: (4) Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? F. OPINION DIVISION - ROMANS 14:2-6 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. (3) Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. (4) Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (5) One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. (6) He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. CONCLUSION A. Are you dividing what should be divided, or dividing what should not be divided? B. Don't be divided from God by sin. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.