I came not to send peace, but a sword
📖 Matthew 10:26-39 (KJV) Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
1️⃣ Understanding The Love of God
🔷 There’s a misunderstanding when it comes to the Love of God, everyone seems to have this idea that God only shows love? But thats far from the truth, the reason why God is love is because……
📖 1 John 4:7-10 (KJV) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
📌 So, God is Love, and we are to love one another because our father love us, and how God love us! By sending his Son to be the sacrifice for sin, because God is Holy and we being in sin naturally cannot enter a holy heaven where there is a holy God! And so there had to be a holy sacrifice (meaning a perfect person was the only way God could redeem humanity from a fallen sinful state to be reunited with him in heaven)…….
📖 John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
💭 Just think about that for a second, who is more loving than God? He just gave us Eternal life for free when we deserved hell, tell me what’s greater than living forever in a paradise where there is no suffering or pain, and everyone is following the one law called “the word of God”, imagine that……
📖 Revelation 21:1-5 (KJV) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
📌 This sounds amazing! No one can give a gift greater than what God gave us, plus the cost of that gift was a perfect sacrifice of the Son of God Jesus Christ, we could never afford that kind of gift and that is a gift that could never be obtain by us, so then God is Love because he paid for that gift for the whole world free of charge.
2️⃣ Understanding The Sword
🔷 If God is Love, why is Jesus saying such things as “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword”
📖 Matthew 10:34-39 (KJV) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
📌 This sounds negative, not of love, so what is Jesus talking about first we need to understand what the sword is that Jesus is referring to, secondly a sword is a weapon to attack, So what is Jesus referring to for the sword?
📖 Hebrews 4:12-13 (KJV) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
💭 So its the word of God, thats the sword and remember his word will create division among family, WHY? Because many people are prideful and don’t want to submit to an Holy God….
📖 John 3:19-20 (KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
📌 As Human beings we naturally want to create our own ideas of God, if you are an alcoholic then you have a God that justifies alcohol if you're drug addict, then you will have a God that is OK with drugs, our flesh always wants what’s good for itself but that doesn’t make it right, because God speaks against such things, and thats a sermon for another day but the fact is your flesh will always think its right until you read the Bible as a whole.
📖 Romans 8:6-8 (KJV) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
📌 So this is the reason why the word of God is like a sword and creates divisions within our families because not everyone will agree to things in the Bible, just think about it, if Jesus was so loving all the time then why did the people kill him?
📖 John 15:22-25 (KJV) If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
📌 Because the Bible will challenge your mind, morals and life. If we don’t submit to the word of God we can only be against it, if we are prideful it will only make you mad because the Bible attacks the things that our flesh loves. This is why Christians are persecuted think about the Apostle Paul…..
📖 2 Corinthians 11:22-27 (KJV) Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
📌 Paul faced some tough situations because he spoke Gods word…..
📖 2 Timothy 3:10-13 (KJV) But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
💭 So we understand that Gods word will offend prideful people who don’t agree with righteousness because they want to believe in their own righteousness.
📖 Romans 10:3 (KJV) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
3️⃣ The Sword is a Attacking Weapon
🔷 It makes sense that christians are persecuted for speaking the Word God as it is weapon that offends sinners who don’t want to admit their sins, not only that, the word of God is an attacking weapon against false churches and false teachers.
📖 2 Timothy 4:1-5 (KJV) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
📌 My job as a missionary for God is to preach the word, to reprove, rebuke and exhort with doctrines because there will come a time when false teachers will try to corrupt and infiltrate the church.
‼️The sword is an attacking weapon, we need to use it….
📖 Ephesians 6:11-17 (KJV) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
📌 We need the whole armor of God if we want to be free from the flesh and deceptions of the Devil. And the sword we need to use it to rebuke false teachers.
📋 Example: Salvation, Eternal Life
📖 Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
I have sinned and so have you for we are all sinners.
📖 Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death;
We all die because of sin
📖 Revelation 20:14-15 (KJV) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The second death is the soul being thrown into hell so we all deserve hell because we all sinned, but God loved us and made a way for us to have eternal with him and that was through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
📖 Romans 5:8 (KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus was sent from God born of a virgin, to receive a human body, he lived a sinless life, helping people yet he was killed and rose again the third day. Jesus did this for you that you might freely have eternal life. But is everyone going to heaven? NO
📖 John 3:17-18 (KJV) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
We can only be saved by believing that Jesus died for our sins and rose again the third day. Its faith alone,
📖 John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Thats a simple message, all we have to do must admit we are sinners and know that there is an eternal punishment for sin, but Jesus made a way for us to have eternal life by dying for our sins, and its free and he paid for it on the cross and all we have to do to receive it is believe it.
📖 Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
We can’t work our way to heaven or that won’t be free or a gift, we must believe that Jesus Christ done all the work for us and we just need to accept that be faith.
Also we need to understand the gift is eternal life meaning we could never lose or it’s not eternal.
📖 John 10:28-29 (KJV) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Once we accept that free gift of eternal life by faith alone, the last thing to do is to accept it by prayer to God
📖 Romans 10:9-10 (KJV) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
We pray “Thank you God I accept Im a sinner and in need of a Savior and I believe that Jesus died for me on the cross and rose again the third day, and ask you now to save me and give me this eternal life in Jesus name I pray Amen.
If you truly believe that then your place in heaven is eternally secure.
📌 Now there are false teachers out there teaching a different Gospel
📖 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (KJV) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
📌 This is why we need the sword for protection to rebuke, reprove and exhort with all long suffering and doctrine, because there are people out there teaching that salvation isn’t free, or you need to go to church for salvation, or you need to be baptized for salvation or you need to turn from all your sins and you can be saved? But is that what the Bible teaches? It’s a free gift and Jesus paid for it on the cross and all we need to do is believe that he die for our sins and rose again, nothing more nothing less. Simplicity of Christ.
4️⃣ I’m Not Sorry For The Sword
🔷 I am not sorry for preaching the word of God even though it will offend, I let the Bible define who I need to be not the other way around, and sometimes the Bible rebukes me but its good for me and I need it and so do you.
📖 Matthew 10:26-33 (KJV) Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
📌 God is telling us not to be sorry or ashamed of his word but to preach the truth and if it offends then it offends, we aren’t to be afraid of someone who can kill our body but thats all, its just a body but our souls go to heaven thats more important.
✅Conclusion
📖 Matthew 10:34 (KJV) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
We know that God is love because he sent his Son Jesus to die for sins of the whole world to give us eternal life when we didn’t deserve it.
We also know that word of God is the sword Jesus is referring to and that it will cause division and offend many because sinners don’t want to admit their faults to God.
We know that the sword is an attacking weapon used to fight against false doctrines and false teachers to protect those in the church
And lastly we know that we aren’t to be afraid to share the words of God or God will be ashamed of you in Heaven, we need to be real with each other and speak the truth no matter what. Amen
