Dear brothers and sisters in Christ at Bethesda Assembly Colombo. I was very happy to hear the voice of brother George Nicholas the other evening, (when he called me on the phone).. Your Assembly must have grown since I was with you last, in 1999. It would seem that the Lord has opened up an avenue of service for you, through the tragedy of the recent Tsunami. You have all been much in my prayers. I am constrained to write this article to you, as brother George told me that there is trouble and division in the Assembly and this news made me very sad, as I love you all.

I need to assure you that he did not tell me what the trouble was, or what individuals were involved. I am glad of this, as I don’t wish to know what the problem is, it is all known to my Master, and He is the One that holds the seven stars in His right hand. So in writing this, I am not taking sides, nor am I accusing any person.

When I last visited Sri Lanka, I was impressed with the wide open door of opportunity that was there before you. I should have known that Satan would soon stir up trouble amongst you, so as to prevent you from buying up the opportunities that were presenting themselves before you. It seems that the Tsunami opened the door even wider, and even greater opportunities now present themselves before you. Because of this, it is of the greatest importance that you must be one, and strive together for the faith of the Gospel..

The Lord has placed in each of His Assemblies, great gifts, and there is by and large a tremendous pool of ability in most Assemblies, (or available to them). However Satan loves to introduce broken relationships amongst God’s people. To cause believers to fall out with each other, so that the gift that He has placed amongst them, and the tremendous energy that He puts there may be dissipated by brethren quarrelling with each other. Instead of that Gift, and energy being used under the Lord’s control in confronting the enemy of souls. So that the energy given; might be squandered in brethren striving with each other, rather than striving together for the faith of the Gospel.

Satan is very cunning, and he is able to magnify the faults of one and another, whether it is either in words or actions. He will make some to recoil in horror at what (at the moment), appears to be wrong doctrine, or gross iniquity. At the same time he will lift that person up with filthy pride, making them to think that they love the Lord Jesus more than their brothers and sisters, and that they are more faithful than those with whom they are in fellowship. This is the worst kind of pride, and we should avoid it like we would avoid the plague.

I have noticed over my more that fifty five years of experience amongst those called Brethren that at first a person might be offended by one person taking more part than they think that he should. They then will quickly find others of like mind, and often a group will be formed, and though the leader will take no part in the meetings, yet after the meeting they will be seen talking to their group, and pulling to pieces what has been said.

If they persist in this attitude, they will finally divide the Assembly, and brethren who once walked in happy fellowship, will no longer talk to one another. If the Assembly divides, then the division will be permanent, and the same spirit will prevail. Those that come out, will forever consider themselves to be more faithful than those that they have left, and will constantly look down on their brethren

The men who caused the division may die and go home to glory, but the division that they created will remain for generations to come. And while all this is taking place, Satan is laughing, knowing that those whom God wants to save are still continuing in darkness, and are on the road to Hell. He will then draw attention to the quarrelling, and use whatever faults that he may find to turn other away from trusting Christ as Saviour. Let us ponder then the following verse, quoted from a literal version.

May the Lord enable each of you to walk with Him, to confess any shortcomings to Him, and to get right with each other. May He bless you, and make you a mighty witness for Him in the beautiful Island of Sri Lanka !