Division

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bev on January 20, 2010 at 4:25am

Hi Graham, all through the bible there are references to satan doing his best to divide and conquer. Her are a few examples. Reference....http://www.gnmagazine.org/bsc/04/satansrole.htm

Satan is a major reason for people's suffering. The Bible tells of "that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan" (Revelation 20:2), who rules over mankind as the "prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). As "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4), Satan is the instigator of much of humanity's misery.

Peter warns Christians that their "adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus tells us, in the parable of the sower and the seed, that, as soon as many people hear God's Word explained to them, "Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts" (Mark 4:15).

The apostle Paul asked Timothy to instruct and admonish "those who are in opposition" so they could "come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:25-26). Jesus sent Paul to the gentiles "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God" (Acts 26:18).

We can see from these passages that Satan exerts a tremendous and pervasive power over mankind. How great is his influence? The Bible tells us that "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19).

Shortly before Christ returns, Satan and his demons will instigate a time of trouble that will prove to be more terrible than any tragedy human beings have ever experienced (Matthew 24:21-22). The suffering it will bring is unimaginable.

At that time Satan will mislead mankind through a "lawless one" whose influence will be "according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception . . ." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).

Satan's influence is the cause of much of the division and animosity among nations, races, religions and individuals. The Bible calls him "the tempter" (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). He capitalizes on our weaknesses to tempt and lure us into sin and conflict with each other (1 Corinthians 7:5). By these means he instigates attitudes and behaviors in people that bring conflict, injury, heartache and death.

I am not sure if any of these are specific to what you seek but I think they answer the basic question of division. Hope this helps.

Peace

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on January 20, 2010 at 5:02am

Hello

James 4

Pride Promotes Strife

1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet[a] you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and[b] adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

Satan comes to kill, still and destroy - these three objectives of his, cause divisions among us.

Matthew 12:25
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

I am not sure if there is a verse specific saying Satan divides. We all know he does.

▶ Reply to This