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Divided By Pride from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

Humanity faces a challenging new year. I pray it is not like the last one, and I hope we can start well. A key tactic of the enemy is to divide and conquer. Well, too many of us were on his team last year and happy to attack each other. As a people, we are divided more now than I ever remember, and I grew up during the school system's desegregation in South Carolina.

Why? Why are we so divided? One word: Pride. All the core problems in our culture reduce down to pride, and we better get it under control.

Strife comes from competing to be number one. Envy is being resentful that someone else is doing well. Instead of being joyful about it, we feel it should be us enjoying it! Bitterness comes when we are offended by others because we think we deserve better. Greed causes people to go into debt so they can have what their neighbors have. Why do something so foolish? Pride. Pride makes us stupid and blinds us spiritually. There is a better way:

(John 13:34–35 NKJV)  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Jesus told this to the Apostles at their last supper together. Though He was the Master, He had washed their feet as if He was their servant. Jesus, the King of all Kings, lived His life as a humble servant.

Humility is the key to unity in the community. The church overall has been beaten down over the last year. We have lost ground. Infighting and pointing fingers have made it like watching the stock market decline during a depression or a family feud episode. Why? Our pride: "My political view is better than yours! My color is better than yours! My gender is better than yours! My state is better than yours! My church is better than yours! My pastor is better than yours! My music is better than yours! My Bible is better than yours!"

You want to see more anointing in your life and in the church? Stop bickering. God lets the anointing flow only when we dwell together in unity.

(Psalm 133:1–3 NASB)  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forever.

This refers to the anointing oil poured over Aaron's head when he became a priest to the Lord. When we humbly dwell in unity, the Lord commands us to be blessed. He pours anointing on us. When there is strife, bickering, and division, the Holy Spirit leaves the building, and it becomes a spiritually dry and dead place.

When we read the book of Acts, it is astounding at the miracles that took place. But look at how they lived together:

(Acts 2:44–45 NASB)  And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

Now I am not saying, "sell all you have and give it away." We are certainly not selling our home and donating the proceeds to the poor unless the Lord gave us clear instructions to do so. Look at the love those people had for one another and the anointing and power of God they walked in.

Too many of us have gotten caught up in petty squabbles and assumed God was on our side. Instead, we should have been checking that we were still on His. We don't fight against flesh and blood, which refers to our brothers and sisters, but against spiritual wickedness in high places (See Ephesians 6:12).

(2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Humility is the opposite or absence of pride. It is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. For the Lord to forgive us and heal our land, the pride has to go. It is despicable to God, who created all races, all nations, all people, for one to exalt themselves over another. His kingdom includes people from all walks of life, and we are equal in His sight. When we begin to look down on others, we should remember that He is looking down on us. Jesus shared this with His disciples:

(Luke 18:9–14 NASB)  And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Humility opens doors for us, while pride closes them. Consider these scriptures:

(Proverbs 11:2 NKJV)  When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

(Proverbs 16:18 NKJV)  Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

(Proverbs 29:23 NKJV)  A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

(1 Peter 5:5–7 NKJV)  ...Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble and exalts them! I can tell you so many stories where right before the Lord promoted me, there came a test of humility. The month before I became a pastor, I scrubbed all the toilets and bathrooms at our church during a church workday. It was the job everyone had passed on, but the Lord saved it for me. Embrace those opportunities to be a servant. They open the best doors.

Humility is key to unity and a direct path to promotion in your personal life. Still, there is also a larger scale, and at the moment, it is even more critical. Throughout history, nations have risen and fallen. When we hear the story of Sodom, we think of sexual sins, but that city was destroyed because of their pride.

(Ezekiel 16:49–50 NASB)  "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it."

It is time to heal our countries. To let go of our pride and love one another. To help our brothers and sisters have a better life. To take a little from what we have and share it with others in need. We can't help everyone, but each of us can help someone. And in doing so, the world will become a better place for us to live. We don't have to be on top, and others don't have to be on the bottom.

(1 Corinthians 6:7–9 NKJV)  ...Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?...

Good morning, America. It is time to wake up and shake off the confusion and delusion that has crept in over the last year and clear our minds. It is time to humble ourselves, come together, and love one another, for a line is being drawn in the sand.

(Matthew 12:25 NKJV)  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."

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I repent of pride and arrogance in my life. I want Your will to be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Please help me show love to my brothers and sisters. Guide me and speak to me in a way that I understand. I stand in the gap for our nation and ask You to have mercy on us. Guide our leaders and help them make godly decisions in this coming year. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!