2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral or spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
Let's read the previous Verse 16, from the revelation Paul received directly from Jesus Christ Himself. Thus, it says, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value). (No) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)."
The enemy and the world continue keeping the Church thinking in a carnal way and keeping us divided by race, wealth and denominations. We're so carnally minded, that we do not function in the realm of the spirit. Our nation is currently so divided, that the enemy has a hold on it (one that it never should have had). Politics and religion have been satan's stronghold over America, for years.
Satan continues pointing out our differences, which prevents us to see the Truth. We tend to see ourselves more after the flesh, rather than the spirit. 2Corinthiasn 5:7 (Amplified) says, "For we walk by faith (we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk) not by sight or appearance." The first eight Verses of 2Corinthians 5 demonstrate how our natural body is only a "house" that our new creation man lives in while we're on earth. The world stresses seeing the "house" more than seeing who lives in the house.
There are so many sized houses in our small town, which have been designed and painted many various colors. The Church is still more aware of what color or design the house is, instead of being more aware of who lives in it. As long as this is our main focus, we will remain divided. God is the Master Designer and the One Who made all things, so we should learn to accept His designs and be content with them. It would be so boring to live in a place where everything is the same. In DC, there are townhouses and more townhouses, but most people have painted or designed the front of theirs. It would be so difficult to find your townhouse, if they were all the same.
God expects His family to celebrate His making us all unique and to be one with Him. Who really cares what color our house is painted? When I visit someone, I"m not concerned what color their house is or what it even looks like, but with the person who lives in it. Can you imagine trying to hold a conversation with someone's house, instead of the person who resides there? When we continue seeing one another, the way the enemy wishes us to, we are a "house divided" and are ineffective in the spirit. Racism is a tool of the devil that has been used against the Church since its beginning. Peter had a problem in the early Church, because of the gentile (different race or type of people). Acts 10:34 (Amplified) says, "And Peter opened his mouth and said; Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons."
From the beginning of the Church (which is one Body), satan has tried keeping us separated from one another and keeping us from operating as one body. Even in the natural body, if one part doesn't function with the rest of the body, then it won't function properly. When a person has a stroke, part of the body refuse to operate correctly and that hinders the full operation of the remaining body. The person's brain still knows what the parts are supposed to do, but the body doesn't respond correctly.
The Church seems to have experienced a "stroke." Our spirit knows what we're to do and communicates that to the Body, but the Body refuses to do what it's told. Paul speaks about this in 1Corinthians 12:25-27 (Amplified). We've mostly focused on reading about the Gifts of the Spirit, in this scripture. When we allow the enemy to keep us divided, we don't function as a Body, but like a dysfunctional person. In Verses 25-27 we read, "So there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation (of the parts of the body to each other), but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another, And if one member suffers, all the parts (share) the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members (share in) the enjoyment of it. Now you (collectively) are Christ's Body and (individually) you are members of it, each part severally and distinct (each with his own place and function)."
It's difficult for the Body of Christ to do like Christ desires, when we do what the world expects, instead of what Christ expects. We've been set up against one another, by the way the world tells us to see one another. Does it matter what the world thinks about your arm or leg? Does it matter what the world thinks we have been placed in the Body to do? If you are diseased in your natural body, then do you even care what color the house is painted, when that person prays over you and brings your healing? Do you care whether the person who prayed over you is red, black, white, brown or rainbow? We've allowed the world of discrimination to hold back the blessing of our covenant and our relationship as one Body, to operate properly.
When we remain carnally minded and see one another more after the flesh instead of the Spirit, then we have placed limitations on the earthly functions of the Body of Christ. When Jesus said that, "A house divided cannot stand," He also meant the house of flesh that the Spirit lives in. We've become divided and haven't stood like we should, because we are still living in this house of flesh.
When Paul wrote about "not seeing one another after the flesh, but after the Spirit," he was admonishing us to stop dividing ourselves by the way the world tells us to see one another. He says we should see one another through the eyes of the spirit and "walk by faith, not by sight." The enemy is more fearful of our doing this, than anything else. Once the Body of Christ begins functioning as one Body, the whole thing will come together.
Today's America is more focused on our differences, instead of the things we hold in common. Our politicians try dividing us, in order to get votes for themselves and make the parties stronger by the power of division. We, the Church, are not to focus on the divisions the world focuses on, but we're to focus on the unity of the Church that will break down the wall of division. Removing God from our political relationship in America, will only increase the enemy's strategy and shut down the unity of the Church. I am not looking to the politicians to restore unity to America, but I am looking to God. Politics only magnify our differences, but God glorifies our differences to seam together Joseph's Coat of Many Colors to cloth the Body of Christ with, in majesty.
It doesn't matter what color the house is painted, but only who lives in the house. The Church must stop listening to the world's idea of separation and listen to the Holy Spirit, as He brings unity to us. Read 1Corinthians 12 again. Read about the Gifts of the Spirit and ask yourself whether or not it implies to the race, sex or position of those who are in Christ. Or does it imply we're all one people and one Body? Discard the media's rendition and look at the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Before we can bring healing to the world, we must work on bringing healing to the Body of Christ, the Church.
Offense can only enter in through an unrenewed mind and will bring forth words of destruction to the speaker and the one their intended for. James instructed us to, "Not speak good and evil out of the same mouth." We shouldn't and cannot curse mankind and then bless God with the same tongue. Who is the one controlling our tongue? Is is controlled by the world and it's poison or by the Spirit and His blessing? Words spread poison throughout the entire nation. We must learn to listen to the Spirit, instead of media commentators, politicians, and the world. We must allow the Holy Spirit to speak words of healing into this nation and the world again, through the Body of Christ.
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