Connecting With Jesus

Fighting Fragmentation

We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Ephesians 4:14)

A law in the European Union protects people in other countries This is because people are now seen as “data subjects, or targets of data collection. What matters to the European Union is not whether a person resides in Europe, but rather if they are a target of corporations that are located in Europe.

Christ knew that there would be a risk of fragmentation in the church. For this reason. He gave prophecy and other gifts to the church as a way of keeping His people encouraged and united. (See 1 Corinthians 12:4-7) One source of unity is having a similar set of beliefs. Paul was likely thinking of this when he spoke of the benefits of the spiritual gifts as coming till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).

This “unity of the faith” is produced most of all by the prophetic messages that became Scripture. However, there are also instances where prophets confirmed a church decision in order to prevent divisions. An example of this took place in response to the controversy over whether people should keep the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament. After a church council decided that those laws were no longer binding, a couple of prophets confirmed the decision: “Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words” (Acts 15:32).

The prediction of coming challenges also prevented people from leaving the church as a result of discouragement. Prophets in the New Testament predicted Paul’s imprisonment and the famine that would require special help for believers in Judea. Doubtless, these prophets prevented many people from leaving the church or giving up their faith in discouragement.

Apply It:

Help a foreign believer feel welcomed in your church.

Dig Deeper:

Acts 11:27-30; Acts 20:23; Acts 21:4, 10-14

Acts 11:27-30 KJV
And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. [28] And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. [29] Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: [30] Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 20:23 KJV
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Acts 21:4,10-14 KJV
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. [10] And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. [11] And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. [12] And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. [13] Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. [14] And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.