The Empire - United We Stand

An Empire – is different cultures, different groups, and different regions of people coming together in unity under one ruler. How much land or territory it occupied and its population measured its greatness as an Empire.

1. God’s Empire Fights For Unity

Matt 11:12 God’s kingdom suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.

Lk 11:17 “Any kingdom our house divided against itself will be ruinedOne of our church family values is to ensure a “No Strife Zone”

Js 3:16 where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work

2. Exposing The Empire Killer #strife&division

Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The spirit of strife looks like this: It wears the helmet of pride;It wears the breastplate of unrighteousness;It holds the sword of bitterness;It carries the shield of hate;It threatens with the hammer of judgment;It wears the cloak of deception;It puts on boots of anger;And all it can do is speak forth lies

The spirit of strife needs a willing host to operate

Matt 16:23 He said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Jd 17:19 These are sensual people, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

Prov 26:20 when there is nobody to spread gossip the strife stops

2 Tim 2:23-26 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Heb 12:15 watch carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God (his undeserved blessing and favor); and the root of bitterness spring up causing trouble, and it defiles many

Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, mark those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the teaching which you learned, and avoid them.

Gal 5:15 if you bite and devour one another [in bickering & strife], watch out that you [along with your entire Church] are not consumed by one another.

Eph 4:26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your anger 27 nor give place to the devil.