When unity is under fire, do we grab water or gasoline?
We’re responsible for our words and actions, even when the heat is on.
By Kevin Wade
When we look at Acts chapter 11, we see a church in transition. There’s an inspiring story about how God opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles. But beneath the surface of this celebration, there’s something going on that we can’t afford to miss: spiritual warfare.
We have an old saying: “What goes up must come down.” In the spiritual life, it often feels like every time we hit a mountaintop, the enemy is standing right there, waiting to drag us back down. At Manna Fellowship, we are seeing God do amazing things – missionaries going out, partnerships forming, lives changing. But we have to stay on guard.
An “inside job”
Satan is preoccupied with the destruction of God’s church. While he cannot ultimately prevail against us because God is the victor, he can make us completely ineffective. He does this by tempting us to act like we’re not followers of Jesus.
In Acts 11, the attack didn't come from the outside; it came from within. A group within the church “took issue” with Peter. They didn't ask questions or verify the facts; they just attacked. They were focused on outward appearances and personal preferences rather than on understanding what God was doing in the hearts of people.
When we allow personal preferences – how loud the music is, what people wear, or how things are “usually done” – to create cliques and strife, we are giving the enemy a foothold from which to wreak havoc.
Handling the heat
When Peter was attacked, he didn’t blow up. He stayed calm and explained the situation in an orderly sequence. He had truth on his side, and he kept his emotions in check. Peter refused to let the conflict become about himself and kept his sight and words focused on God.
In my own life, I’ve learned that only one person can be angry in a conversation at a time. If both people get angry, it’s no longer a conversation – it’s just a fight – and nobody wins. Peter stayed humble and focused on God’s Word. He focused on honoring God, not on defending his own ego.
We aren't immune to these struggles. We’re still humans and we and tempted by sin. If we want to protect the unity God is building, we have to do the work before we open our mouths. How can we do this?
Are we a builder or a wrecker?
This is a question each of us must answer. Truthfully, all of us are probably a bit of both. But we can change, in God’s power, when we acknowledge that He doesn’t want divisiveness in our lives. We don’t want to be the one Satan uses to tear down a family, a community or a church.
Let’s ask God to examine our hearts and to show us anywhere we’ve let the enemy have a foothold – even a tiny one. Let’s lay those things down at the cross and work together to protect the healthy, beautiful body of Christ.
We have an old saying: “What goes up must come down.” In the spiritual life, it often feels like every time we hit a mountaintop, the enemy is standing right there, waiting to drag us back down. At Manna Fellowship, we are seeing God do amazing things – missionaries going out, partnerships forming, lives changing. But we have to stay on guard.
An “inside job”
Satan is preoccupied with the destruction of God’s church. While he cannot ultimately prevail against us because God is the victor, he can make us completely ineffective. He does this by tempting us to act like we’re not followers of Jesus.
In Acts 11, the attack didn't come from the outside; it came from within. A group within the church “took issue” with Peter. They didn't ask questions or verify the facts; they just attacked. They were focused on outward appearances and personal preferences rather than on understanding what God was doing in the hearts of people.
When we allow personal preferences – how loud the music is, what people wear, or how things are “usually done” – to create cliques and strife, we are giving the enemy a foothold from which to wreak havoc.
Handling the heat
When Peter was attacked, he didn’t blow up. He stayed calm and explained the situation in an orderly sequence. He had truth on his side, and he kept his emotions in check. Peter refused to let the conflict become about himself and kept his sight and words focused on God.
In my own life, I’ve learned that only one person can be angry in a conversation at a time. If both people get angry, it’s no longer a conversation – it’s just a fight – and nobody wins. Peter stayed humble and focused on God’s Word. He focused on honoring God, not on defending his own ego.
We aren't immune to these struggles. We’re still humans and we and tempted by sin. If we want to protect the unity God is building, we have to do the work before we open our mouths. How can we do this?
- Remember Who is boss
Jesus Christ is the head of the church, not you and not me. Before we attack a situation, we must make sure we’re in line with Him. Are we seeking His kingdom, or just our own preference?
- What’s our motivation?
Are our motives pure? Are we seeking to help, or are just looking to “drop truth bombs” on people because we’re hurting? If we’re not seeking reconciliation, then we’re serving ourselves, not the body of Christ.
- Pray, pray and pray some more
We need to pray before, during, and after conflict. Sometimes God withholds an immediate answer to draw us closer to Him. We can’t control the outcome, but we can take responsible for our part in reconciliation.
- Don’t win an argument: Win over a brother or sister instead
We should never walk away from an argument proud that we “won” while leaving a brother or sister hurting in our wake. Our goal is to win people over to the truth and preserve the unity of the Spirit.
Are we a builder or a wrecker?
This is a question each of us must answer. Truthfully, all of us are probably a bit of both. But we can change, in God’s power, when we acknowledge that He doesn’t want divisiveness in our lives. We don’t want to be the one Satan uses to tear down a family, a community or a church.
Let’s ask God to examine our hearts and to show us anywhere we’ve let the enemy have a foothold – even a tiny one. Let’s lay those things down at the cross and work together to protect the healthy, beautiful body of Christ.
Recent
Archive
2026
February
March
May
June
2025
December
Categories
no categories
No Comments