Mark 3:25. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Well a Happy Thanksgiving to our Southern neighbours in the U.S. of A! It’s their biggest holiday, but shackled by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Presidential election shenanigans that are still going on, who knows what kind of Thanksgiving Day it will be.
Unfortunately, there will be much strife and resentment just about visiting family and having big gatherings, mask less and not physically distanced, which means the virus will be even more prevalent in the next couple of weeks. And if you add the wide division in the election proceedings and results, it doesn’t make for a real thankful day at all. But we wish them all the best anyway.
But I want to warn them, and us too, of two simple but ever so important factors from the mouth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who knew what He was talking about. The first is when the Pharisees accused Him of casting out demons in Satan’s name, He calmly informed them: ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.’ (Mark 3:23-26)
And that’s the gospel truth friends! But we didn’t even need Jesus to tell us that, it’s been so obvious from day one of mankind’s sojourn on the face of this earth. Look at the division between Cain and Abel and between so many of God’s people down through the ages. And surprisingly, the battling factions in the U.S. are fairly equally divided, so there is plenty strength on either side. So it won’t be a cakewalk for either side.
That brings to mind the statement supposedly attributed to President Abraham Lincoln on the subject, at the time of the Civil War: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” I believe the government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.’ Now those were strong words, and the Union did survive in the technically free form, but right now it is so divided that it certainly has the potential to fall apart again.
And the second point we need to remember is the foundation on which we build our lives and societies is also ever so important in their sustainability, whether they will last or go under in short order. And there’s no better word on this than that of Jesus. ‘Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a (the) rock.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a (the) rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.’ (Matt. 7:24-27)
Oh my people, when we’re building anything at all, the most important part is always the foundation, because that’s what everything else sits on. So if our lives or our societies are not built on solid foundations, the most solid being Jesus, how can they hope to last eh? Look at the number of buildings that collapse simply because the foundations are not solid enough to uphold them. Thus Bruh Paul proclaimed to the church at Corinth: ‘For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ (1 Cor. 3:11)
Oh friends, any other foundation will just be consumed by fire eventually! That’s why Peter further explained that Christ is the living stone upon which all lives ought to be built. ‘To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed (rejected) indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also as lively (living) stones, are (being) built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect (chosen), precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded (put to shame). Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed (rejected), the same is made the head of the corner (chief cornerstone). And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient (being disobedient to the word): whereunto also they were appointed.’ (1 Pet. 2:4-8)
Yeh friends, Peter was there quoting the prophecy from Isaiah 28:16, the promise of a sure foundation, a chief cornerstone to anchor His people. And that turned out to be none other than His glorious Son Jesus Christ, chosen and precious to Him, but rejected and unacceptable to His people Israel. Oh my people, Christ is in the amazing and wonderful process of building a spiritual house in all His believers, and He is a Master Builder, so why won’t we allow Him to build that strong, solid edifice in our lives eh?
We’re behaving like the foolish man who built his house on the sand and the elements toppled it without a moment’s notice. But Jesus is the Rock, the solid foundation on which to build our lives, a foundation that will not be washed away or burnt away but will endure forever! Anyway, enough preaching for today. (smile) Let’s go home giving plenty thanks for all the Blessings that have been bestowed on us this cloudy, rainy Thursday morning nuh, by our magnificent and magnanimous Maker.
All together now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment!
I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
And as always, the Christian reaction to that declaration (awright!) should be to get on with sharing those wonderful blessings with others less fortunate, the same way the Lord generously shared them with us!Much LOVE!
…where there is no prophetic vision…the people perish…
SCRIP-BITS 