1. 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. Matthew 12:25-29

2. DIVIDE & CONQUER

3. A military strategy in which the conquering force gains and maintains control by breaking the defeated power into smaller segments that (as individual groups) have less power than the force that is conquering them. For Divide & Conquer to work, those being subjugated must consent to being divided and cooperate with the force who is doing the dividing Divide & Conquer

4. The British in India The Nazis in Europe The Belgians in Rwanda This is the typical pattern of Divide & Conquer. Invaders play upon any existing rivalries and hostilities to get one group to work for them against others. Divide & Conquer

5. But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” The enemy is able to rule a church by getting believers to see one another as the adversary; to be preoccupied by their offenses with one another while losing the capacity to discern, recognize and resist the devil. Matthew 12:25

6. The enemy can do nothing to us, that we do not allow him to do!

7. 1Jn 2:11 - But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. Recognize the warfare!

8. Mat 5:44 - But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, Pray for that person!

9. Psa 139:23 - Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Stay humble before God!

10. 15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD MAY BE ESTABLISHED.' 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Obey the doctrine of Matthew 18!

11. First, stop them mid-sentence and say…“I think you’re talking to the wrong person. Please go to the individual with whom you’re having this conflict and try to resolve it in a healthy, God glorifying way” If that is unsuccessful, then direct them to a leader (or offer to go with them to the leader). Obey the doctrine of Matthew 18!

12. To Gossip is to indulge in talk or rumors about others; spreading of sensational stories.” The dictionary defines it as “Idle, or malicious talk about others.” Lev 19:16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. Never consent to gossip!

13. 1Pe 4:15 - But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. A busybody is “a meddler; a person who seeks confidential information about others; a snoop; a nosy person” Someone who thinks it’s their responsibility to know about and report the “bad stuff” going on in people’s lives Never consent to gossip!

14. 1Ti 5:13 - And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Never consent to gossip!

15. If someone comes to you with a bad report about another person, direct them to speak that person (according to Matt. 18) Never consent to gossip!

16. Repeating a bad report about a person, without that person present to defend or explain themselves, is gossip It is malicious to repeat negative reports about others; it is defaming another person’s reputation We have no right to talk about a person without that person present to tell you their side of the story Never consent to gossip!

17. First, tell them to go to the person who offended them to explain their offense Someone complains about an issue in a ministry, send them to the leader of that ministry If that is unsuccessful, offer to go with them to speak to that individual If that is unsuccessful, bring it to a leader How leaders respond to gossip

18. Matthew 12:25-29 DIVIDE & CONQUER