The Consequences of Division Among God's Children 8-10-26
Updated: Aug 10
A divided building cannot stand; it will fall apart (collapse).
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:1-9).
Our bodies are the temple (God’s building, house), and when the house is divided it cannot stand. We are also the body of Christ. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually (1 Corinthians 12:27). Even though we are physical individuals, spiritually we are one and we do not have the right to separate from one another. God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit are one and we are one because we were made in the image of God. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness (Genesis 1:28a).
Children of God being divided is serious and it can cause sickness and even death. Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions [division] among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
Therefore, when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you (1 Corinthians 11:17-22).
In Paul’s time (New Testament), the church would actually have a meal on communion Sunday; the same as Jesus did at the “Last Supper” with the disciples” (Matthew 26:26-28).
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat; this is My body which is broken [division is breaking Christ’s body over again] for you; do this in remembrance of Me.
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Paul was more detailed with communion because he was given a deeper revelation by Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-24). That’s why he was the master builder (1 Corinthians 3:10).
The danger of taking communion unworthily- Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep [die]. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged (1 Corinthians 11:27-31).
Some causes of division- cliques, groups acting in the church of Corinth are acting the same way today; the church (body of Christ consists of all types of people- rich, poor different nationalities and some thought they were better than the others. The Word says: For there is no respect of persons with God (Romans 2:11).
FYI- wearing certain attire on communion Sunday means nothing if the heart is not right. Please take heed to this message and do a self examination.
Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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