Mat 12:25 KJ2000 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Mat 12:30 KJ2000 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.
One of the most profound doctrines in the Bible is unity! We find that the scripture has a lot to say about the power of unity. Nevertheless, despite what scripture says, we often find it hard to embrace this powerful Biblical concept! Maybe this is the root of the issue that hinders our progress in doing greater works!
As it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual. If you enjoy or watch sports you will find that in team sports, no team or group that operates in division or individualism can win!
This is why the Bible places emphasis on the importance of our unity! For example:
2Ch 5:13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud
2Ch 5:14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
Psa 133:1 A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Mat 18:19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
So, we see from a few scriptures how important unity is for us! These are but a few scriptures, but you see here the power of unity! We must also remember that the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4, that we should endeavor to keep the spirit of unity in the bond of peace.
What does endeavor mean? It means, “To try hard, to aspire, aim, seek or to strive to do or achieve something.” Why? Because the devil’s greatest tactic is to divide and conquer!
So, Paul reminds us:
Eph 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling.
Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
He tells us profoundly that we are one body and one spirit, and there is one Lord, one faith and one baptism. As I was reading the book of Matthew and the book of Luke, I found a powerful concept, which is really not new, but we fail to understand at times, that the enemy of our faith wars against our unity!
He strives to divide us through doctrines, envy, jealousy, pride, selfishness and self-righteousness, racism and so many other things. This can happen in families, marriages, friendships, relationships, churches and even businesses! Division is a demonic tactic of the enemy.
Paul even tells us that we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices in 2 Cor 2:11.
“Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Cor 2:11
Now, understand, that there are times when division is necessary to keep the peace. The Bible says in Amos 3:3:, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”
Nevertheless, we cannot allow the devices of the wicked one to deter God’s Kingdom agenda! Why because we are wise and not ignorant of this fact. What we find in the book of Matthew is that Jesus in his wisdom, shares the strategy of the enemy through the spiritual warfare tactic of division.
In Matthew chapter 12, Jesus cast a demon out of a man! The people were amazed and said could this be the Son of David? Matt 12:22
When the religious folk, (Pharisees) heard this, they said that Jesus cast demons out by Beelzebub. Matt 12:24
Jesus in his eternal wisdom, then shades them by saying:
Mat 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.
Mat 12:26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
In other words, Jesus said, “If I was on the side of Satan, and cast demons out by the power of Satan, his Kingdom will not stand, because I would be working against him.
As a matter of fact, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. So, if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself, and how could his Kingdom stand?
Jesus simply told them, you know nothing about unity or spiritual warfare! Satan’s kingdom is unified to divide us! (Say what?) Yes! The Kingdom of Satan is unified in their division against us! They work together to divide and conquer!
Jesus then tells them; I am not on Satan’s side! Why? Because If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God is come upon you! Matt 12:28
How many of us know that the Kingdom of God should be unified! Duet 6:4 tells us:
Deu 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
in Matt 12:29, Jesus then expounds on how to defeat the devil, who is the strong man! In other words, we must war in the spirit against demons who keep people in bondage and oppression! How do we do this? First of all we must unify!
Then we must first bind the strong man (demons, devils etc). In other words, render him powerless! How do we do this? Through binding and loosing in Jesus Name by the power of Holy Spirit!
Mat 18:18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
So, we see, as it relates to our unity, the devil desires to weaken us through division, disunity, and disagreement!
So, we must bind the strong man of division, and loose one vision. We bind the strong man of disunity and loose unity. We bind the strong man of disagreement and loose agreement in Jesus (Yeshua’s) name!
Notice the profound words of Christ in Matt 12:30:
Mat 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
In other words, he who is not unified with me, is against me. He who does not gather with me, scatters abroad. Our LORD Jesus said that you must be unified with me, because if you are not, you are against me! Very strong words indeed!
People of God, those reading this. Let us not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. Put aside the demonic virtues of division, discord, disunity, disagreement, and disunion, and embrace the Biblical virtues of one vision, one accord, agreement, union and unity. When we do this, remember what David said will happen:
Psa 133:2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.
Psa 133:3 It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.
God Bless, Pastor Quinn
For more information on the importance and power of unity, check out this profound book at Amazon: