That is a quote that is used often, maybe not so much
anymore, but once was used frequently. Abraham Lincoln perhaps most notably in a speech
in 1858. Sam Houston did as well during a Senate debate in 1850. It origin is Jesus talking about Satan opposing
himself.
“And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.’ So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: ‘How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.’” – Mark 3:22-26
It is a lesson on the importance of unity. If Satan was divided within, he would defeat himself. I share that to share this. I received a message from a Haitian Pastor Friend, Marc Cloveus, in Jacmel this morning. I want to share it with you.
“Finally, it's too much for the Haitian people. Prices of everything increase day by day. The rate of the starvation is increasing. They preview big manifestation in the coming days, starting tomorrow. Please friends, be praying for our fellow Haitians.” – Pastor Marc
A manifestation is when the people take to the streets. They march. They burn tires. They become violent. We have been there on several occasions when manifestations erupted. Sometimes over what, to us, might seem trivial. But the people have no other voice. No other way to be heard by the government. On many occasions, people are hired by political parties to stir the manifestations. (sound familiar?). In December, we cancelled a trip for a group to Jacmel Haiti because of the violent unrest across the country.
Haiti has struggled since it won its independence from France in 1804. The government is divided and corrupt. It is the people who pay the price. So many times I have been asked why Haiti has to be the way it is. Haiti will ever be like the U.S., but it does not have to be the way it is. But that would require the hearts of the leaders to change and be united. There is only one answer – Jesus. Many, should I say most, people don’t want to accept that. Instead they prefer to pursue their own ambitions their own way. And if the people suffer, so be it. Please pray for the people of Haiti. Pray for that government. Fixing Haiti is impossible for anyone or any country or group of countries.
So let’s shift our focus further north. Our country faces the same trouble. The only difference is that we have more resources and have a stronger economic infrastructure. But this country is eroding. It is in trouble. There is a clear lack of unity. Want to know what the answer is? It’s Jesus. The principle, a house divided against itself cannot stand, is just that. If you violate the principle you will suffer the consequences. I understand how our political system works. But I would suggest to you that the people in power are interested in one thing only. That is to have their solution adopted for this country. And they will resist all others. So pray for our county as well.
I want you to see that what is happening in Haiti and in the United States is a spiritual problem that can only be resolved with a spiritual solution. Proverbs 29 says it best. God’s Word is Truth.
“Where there is no prophetic [without a] vision the people cast off restraint [perish] , but blessed is he who keeps the law” – Proverbs 29:18
“And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.’ So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: ‘How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.’” – Mark 3:22-26
It is a lesson on the importance of unity. If Satan was divided within, he would defeat himself. I share that to share this. I received a message from a Haitian Pastor Friend, Marc Cloveus, in Jacmel this morning. I want to share it with you.
“Finally, it's too much for the Haitian people. Prices of everything increase day by day. The rate of the starvation is increasing. They preview big manifestation in the coming days, starting tomorrow. Please friends, be praying for our fellow Haitians.” – Pastor Marc
A manifestation is when the people take to the streets. They march. They burn tires. They become violent. We have been there on several occasions when manifestations erupted. Sometimes over what, to us, might seem trivial. But the people have no other voice. No other way to be heard by the government. On many occasions, people are hired by political parties to stir the manifestations. (sound familiar?). In December, we cancelled a trip for a group to Jacmel Haiti because of the violent unrest across the country.
Haiti has struggled since it won its independence from France in 1804. The government is divided and corrupt. It is the people who pay the price. So many times I have been asked why Haiti has to be the way it is. Haiti will ever be like the U.S., but it does not have to be the way it is. But that would require the hearts of the leaders to change and be united. There is only one answer – Jesus. Many, should I say most, people don’t want to accept that. Instead they prefer to pursue their own ambitions their own way. And if the people suffer, so be it. Please pray for the people of Haiti. Pray for that government. Fixing Haiti is impossible for anyone or any country or group of countries.
So let’s shift our focus further north. Our country faces the same trouble. The only difference is that we have more resources and have a stronger economic infrastructure. But this country is eroding. It is in trouble. There is a clear lack of unity. Want to know what the answer is? It’s Jesus. The principle, a house divided against itself cannot stand, is just that. If you violate the principle you will suffer the consequences. I understand how our political system works. But I would suggest to you that the people in power are interested in one thing only. That is to have their solution adopted for this country. And they will resist all others. So pray for our county as well.
I want you to see that what is happening in Haiti and in the United States is a spiritual problem that can only be resolved with a spiritual solution. Proverbs 29 says it best. God’s Word is Truth.
“Where there is no prophetic [without a] vision the people cast off restraint [perish] , but blessed is he who keeps the law” – Proverbs 29:18
No comments:
Post a Comment