Divided We Fall, Together We Rise – Eph. 4:25-32

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

To endure the attack of the devil, we must come together in fellowship. Pastor McCrary shares two key steps for how we can strengthen our bonds today.

Introduction

I want to expand on what I shared in my sermon – One Rule, One Peace – as I spoke about living peaceably with all people following the principle of the golden rule.  In this week’s sermon, I will share scripture with all of you from Ephesians 4:25-32.  

In this passage of scripture, Paul called on the believers in the Ephesian church not to grieve the Spirit.  Likewise, present-day believers must not grieve the Spirit!  Let us keep in mind that the Spirit, by leading us into all truth, desires that we live in holiness.  In holy living, we ought to move in grace, living in fellowship with each other and all of those around us, right?

In my sermon this week, I want to focus on living in fellowship and the need to strengthen our bonds in this present day, as the devil continues to deploy his most used tactic against us.

Lesson of the Ephesian Church

Any time I preach or teach from Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, I feel it necessary to provide context about this epistle.

The Ephesian church was plagued by division.  You see, this church was composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers.  The Jewish believers believed themselves to be more special than the Gentile believers because of their ancestry.  So, they would look down on the Gentile believers and not treat them as equals.

Revelation 2:1-7, Christ’s word to the Ephesian church, helps to highlight this church’s passion for the way of Christ had waned from when they first believed.  Christ called on the believers of this church to remember the love they once had when they first believed in His message.

For one to dwell in fellowship with the other, love must be present.  There can be no fellowship without the presence of love.  

So, because there was no love within this church, the loveless church of the Ephesians eventually fell in its apathy.  The Ephesian church serves as a reminder for us of what Jesus once said to a multitude that had accused Him of being a worker of the devil.  Christ said that every kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, nor can a house that is divided against itself (Matt. 12:25).

The Devil’s Divide and Conquer Tactic

If you are not aware of this, I feel that I must make you aware that Satan’s main form of attack is to stir up strife and division.  

Satan will try to stir up strife in your own heart, seeking to separate you from God, as he once tried to do to Job.  Satan will also try to stir up strife in homes, families, communities, nations, and even in the church.  Keep in mind what Paul said, we wrestle against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.

You see, the Ephesian church, I believe, succum to Satan’s main form of attack.  We must be wise to Satan, stirring up strife, causing division through bitterness, anger, wrath, and hatred.

Satan uses strife and division so that he, like a predator, may consume.  Peter likened the devil to a roaring lion (1 Pet. 5:8).  Lions are the kind of predator that will stalk and work their prey over to the point that they are either weakened or easy to catch and consume.

Satan will also use strife to prevent growth and progress in those whom he is unable to catch and consume.  Those whom the devil is unable to consume are those who heed the Spirit and walk by faith.  We have to keep in mind that Satan’s goal is to subtract from the kingdom of God since he knows he cannot lift his ‘throne’ above God’s throne.

A Need to Come Together in Fellowship

I express to you that we have reason to come together in fellowship and strengthen our bonds today. 

The first reason why we must come together in fellowship is because we, the flock of Christ, are as sheep who live in the midst of wolves.  Let me explain this figure of speech to those of you who may not understand.

Those whom the devil consumes in bitterness, anger, wrath, and hatred become servants of his and dwell in fellowship with him.  Because they dwell in fellowship with him, they take on his actions and conviction.  

You ought to be able to recognize his children, those devils, in the world today, according to their works.  Satan’s children don’t practice righteousness, which is to say, they do not live in the manner of the grace of God.  Like their father and master, they stir up strife, anger, bitterness, wrath, and hatred.  Like their father and master, they desire to lord over others and be glorified by those they deem to be lesser than them.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 makes it clear that it is possible to overcome those devils who are hard at work today, but it cannot be done alone.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 states, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.”  When we work together, the reward is easier and quicker to achieve.  

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.  Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?  Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

So, to be clear, the second reason why we need to come together in fellowship today is that we cannot endure the strife of Satan and his little devils alone.  If we can put our differences to the side and strengthen our bonds, then by God’s word, nothing can overcome such a fellowship.

Fellowship Should Be Our Focus

With that in mind, coming together in fellowship ought to be our primary focus today, shouldn’t it?  Certainly so, especially if you proclaim to be a child of God.

God’s grand design for mankind

When God made mankind, He made us in His image, according to His likeness.  Therefore, God created us in the image of love, having a grand design in mind for mankind.  

The grand design for mankind can be seen in Genesis 1:26, when the Lord expressed the desire for mankind to be fruitful and multiply.  This expression wasn’t simply an expression about having many babies, but rather expressed the desire for mankind to flourish and prosper together.

We can see further proof of God’s desire that we come together in fellowship through the giving of His only begotten Son.  As Paul told the Ephesians in Ephesians 2:14, through the giving of His life, Christ tore down the wall of separation between mankind and the Lord.  Christ rose from the grave to be the shepherd over one flock, uniting in harmony both Jews and Gentiles (John 10:16).

As Paul reminded the Ephesians 4:4-5, because of Christ, everyone ought to understand that there is one body, one hope in which all of us are called.  He reminded us to remember that there is one God and Father, one Spirit, and one baptism into which we are baptized. 

In the garden, prior to His arrest, Jesus prayed that those who choose to believe in Him would be one as He and the Father are one (John 17:20-21).  Again, I say to you today, divided we fall, but together we rise!  The Lord desires for us to be as one, not separated and divided. 

God calls for fellowship

Fellowship is God’s grand design, not separation!  Separation and division, I repeat to you, is of the devil!  God calls for us to come together!

In Exodus 20:12, when the Lord gave the children of Israel the Ten Commandments, He commanded that they honor their fathers and mothers so that their days would be upon the land they inherit.  

The thought behind the command is this:  If one cannot honor those closest to them, how can their days be long in the land?  To be clear, the promise is not a promise of long life, but rather, a promise of one life being peaceful in the land.  

Along those same lines, God gave the children of Israel commands to honor their neighbors.  God commanded them not to murder, not to commit adultery, steal, nor bear false witness, or covet what their neighbor possessed (Ex. 20:12-17).  These were commands about living together in fellowship and in peace!  God, I repeat to you today, desires for mankind to live in fellowship and peace!

Yet, when Israel failed to keep His law, God brought forth His only begotten Son.  The written word was made flesh and taught that the great command is for one to love God wholeheartedly.  Yet, He said the second command is like the first in that one should love their neighbor as they love themselves (Matt. 22:36-40).

Christ taught that we are to love our enemies not hate them.  Christ taught that we are supposed to even pray for others, even those who may spitefully use and persecute us!

Again, if you are ever one to wonder why God has given us such commands, the answer is this:  Satan is already working to divide, but if we unite together, we will overcome him.  So, I say to you today, we must stop working against each other, doing the work of the devil!  Fellowship should be our goal!  Strengthening our bonds should be our goal!

How to Strengthen Our Fellowship

So how do we come together in fellowship?  How do we strengthen our bonds?  In Ephesians 4:25, Paul encouraged fellowship and unity through putting away lying and speaking truth to one’s neighbor.  

Step one: Honor each other with truth

This step, to me, is so close and personal, and it should be the same for all of you.  You see, we need to learn how to honor (respect) one another.  Lying to each other isn’t honorable, is it?  Being truthful with each other is honorable, isn’t it?

The truth, God’s truth, shall make you free, Christ said (John 8:31-32).  Yet, we live in a world of smiles, lies, and falsified religion, and what has come from that?  Heartache. Pain. Suffering. More division.  To come together in fellowship, we have to learn how to be more upfront with each other.  

For example, when we have been hurt and wronged, some of us will keep it to ourselves.  In Matthew 18:15, Christ taught that when our brother sins against us, we are to rebuke them – let them know how they’ve wronged us!  Christ then said that when your brother heeds your rebuke and makes corrections, you will have gained your brother.  When one loves you and desires to live in fellowship with you, they will honor you by making your rebuke.

Christ also shared words of what to do when one chooses not to heed your rebuke, even when you bring witnesses.  In Matthew 18:16-17, Jesus said to treat them as a heathen and a tax collector.  In other words, go your way and hold your peace!  

As Paul added, “Be angry, and do not sin:  do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil (Eph. 4:26-27).”  Anger, strife, is what Satan is trying to stir up in you because you cannot stand in a united front against him and his devils.  Again, he desires to consume you with wrath to subtract from the kingdom of God. 

To honor one another, we must put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil with all malice.  Let such have no place within you, as it will do nothing but corrupt your soul, hurt your fellowship with others, and keep you from doing the good work.

Step two: Honor each other with sincere faith

Step two involves the good work.  In his call for unity in the Ephesian church, Paul encouraged them to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as Christ forgave us (Eph. 4:32).

Again, this step is so close and personal to me, and it should be the same for all of you.  I say that because aren’t we commanded to love each other?  Aren’t we commanded to help each other?

I often preach about how we are to help and love each other, but this week, I want to look at these commands from the side of being more up front with each other.

We have to learn not to be so ashamed to give our brothers and sisters, those with whom we dwell in fellowship, the opportunity to fulfill God’s command.  I had to learn this one personally.

You see, many of us try to keep secret what troubles and ails us.  Some do this out of shame, while others do it with the thought of not wanting to be a bother to others.  

May I remind you that God made you, which means that you are special.  Your feelings, when you have been wronged, matter.  What you go through in your trials, tribulations, afflictions, and infirmities ought not to be carried alone!  Love yourself, love those who are around you, by not being so ashamed, so selfish, by crying out for help.  Those who dwell in fellowship with you want to be there for you, and they want to help you.

Today is a day when I genuinely believe we have to do more to strengthen our fellowship, rather than let Satan and his devils divide us.  Let us give honor to each other, as that is the place to begin to defeat those who do nothing but dishonor with every breath they take.  Let us grow closer together through love and truth, and watch how strong we will become.  Love and truth will take away every avenue Satan and his devils have to divide us.