Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11).
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Satan is not just after you and me individually, he wants us as the church to fail.
The devil has many methods as evidenced by the plural use of the word; he has “schemes.” Both Paul and Peter warn us not to underestimate this most powerful foe.
The Lord’s plan for his church is flawless. As individual members of his body, however, we are in the process of growth; we have not reached a state of perfection. There is no such thing as a flawless family and there is certainly not a perfect congregation.
Problems will arise within a church for a variety of reasons. For instance, individuals will have different opinions, different stages of spiritual development, personality differences, misunderstandings, and a host of other things that can contribute to tension. While we recognize that personal friction is inevitable, the New Testament commands us to work towards unity, harmony and the resolution of all conflicts.
Things at Karns are going well. We have a growing family filling up the seats and classes. We have good healthy fellowship, numerous Bible studies, new converts, great teachers and classes, many active members, and positive momentum in many other areas. This is exactly when Satan will seek to disrupt this progress for the Lord.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (Psalm 133:1)
As we continue through the rest of this year, let’s be extra careful to be more involved with encouraging each other rather than being a discouragement to someone or being one who sows seeds of discord. We have got to keep it together for the Lord.