Not Peace, but a Sword

Not Peace, but a Sword

Matthew 10:27-39

Jesus Teaches the Fear of God

²⁷ “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Confess Christ Before Men

³² “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Christ Brings Division

³⁴ “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ ³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Sometimes we are able to forget who actually has the power. Not all of us have to fear losing our life for sharing the gospel, but we do risk being excommunicated from the community or our family, we risk losing our jobs, and we can risk losing friendships that we have had for years.

But if we refuse to live and share the Gospel (in all the areas of our life) we risk something even more precious and important then things that are here today and gone tomorrow. “Jesus leaves no room for secret discipleship.”

It is God that can create something from nothing, and it is God who can soften hearts. The enemy may have authority over this earth but there is One who has the ultimate authority over all.

We must remember that it is God that has the real power, and then we can be strengthened with hope and faith. When living by faith we can stand up against fear, we can live our life for the Lord in all areas of our life, whether we are at work at home or at church.

It is not Jesus’ desire to see families tore apart, to see friendships end, or to see people fighting over different beliefs. But He does ask of those who would follow Him a loyalty and not just a loyalty but an aggressive and uncompromising loyalty to Him above all else. No relationship or earthly tie should be allowed to take precedence over our relationship with Christ. Every true disciple must “take up their cross” and submit their own interests to God’s. This loyalty may come with consequences (depending on your perspective), but it also comes with great reward. (him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.) (Jesus took up the cross for us to death, what price do we pay to take up ours?)

When we petition in our prayers to the Father we claim our authority “in Jesus’ name,” but if we are not living in Christ and letting Jesus live in us there is no authority. We can not claim the authority of Christ if we are not confessing Christ. If we refuse to confess Christ in our work space we can not expect Christ to move in our workplace. If we refuse to confess Christ in our home we can not expect Christ to move in our homes. We must let Christ be involved in every area of our life. 

Matthew 11:12

          ¹² And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

          There is a “violent” attack on the Kingdom of God today just as there was 2000 years ago. And what Jesus is saying is that it will take an “equally strong and radical reaction” to prevail against the attacks.

           

          The word violent is referring to an action from people of zeal, a people of passion and dedication, who are whole heartedly devoted and faithful to the Lord. The word violent is referring to an action from people who will respond with “radical abandonment” to worldly ways to make known God’s Kingdom here on earth. To become undignified.

Luke 12:49-56

Christ Brings Division

⁴⁹ “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! ⁵¹ Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. ⁵² For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. ⁵³ Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

 

Discern the Time

⁵⁴ Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. ⁵⁵ And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

Jesus’ words here say He did not come to bring peace on earth but to send a fire, and He wasn’t being calm about this statement either. It was not a peaceful, serene or relaxed statement. It was violent and aggressive, it was and is intense. It is His outcry to see zeal in believers to become passionate and aggressive. It is Jesus’ passionate cry for the Spirit-filled witnesses to rise up in authority with aggressive confidence that will arouse and antagonize the spirit of the unbelievers. 

          There are no peace treaty meetings going on between God and the devil, we are still at war. We are living in a time of constant barrage of attacks on the Kingdom of God and the truth.  Now is the time to stand up and stand out as a citizen of the Kingdom. Live as a son or daughter of the King!

          Christians have a peace about them because they know the Prince of Peace. But that is not all that Christians will be known for. They will also be known for their authority and aggressiveness to live the gospel and grow the kingdom of God.

Proverbs 3:5-6

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Taming the Tongue

Taming the Tongue

(great topic for a blog lol)

God created us with the ability to communicate. One way we communicate is by talking. It has been said that “talk is cheap.” Growing up I can remember sayings like “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” or “I’m rubber your glue whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you.” With sayings like these it’s easy to see how we can be deceived into believing that words and talking have no power, but in fact the opposite is true. Just ask someone who’s “love language” is “Words of Affirmation.”

The Bible teaches us that when God spoke He created the Heavens and the earth. In Genesis 1 every time it says “God said” something was created. In verses 26, 27 it also says that “God created man in His own image.” Take a minute and think about that. In the same way God created (by speaking) He has also given us an often unrecognized ability to give or to take life (by speaking).
 

Proverbs 13:2-3

² A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
³ He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

† Proverbs 18:21

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 21:23

²³ Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.

The power over life and death is in the tongue.
Have you ever been around a person who spends all their time talking about other people; Or speaks as if they “Done that, been there, know that” constantly. 
One way to test a person’s spiritual maturity is to observe their ability to “tame their tongue.”
Some of the best conversations I ever had were done with minimum words. If you have you ever been around someone who solved your problem(s) without saying a word you know what I am taking about.

James 1:26
²⁶ If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

James 3:1-12

¹My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

From this we can gather that the tongue is actually quite powerful. 

·         It is powerful in its ability to guide people. From the start the warning to those who would teach is straight forward. (Stricter Judgment)

We must be aware of its power to influence others for good or bad. Teachers must always be aware not to teach their own agenda but to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Even the slightest change in vocabulary can set the course in a completely different direction.

If someone is lead by the Holy Spirit then their tongue can be used to encourage and give life, “To preach the Gospel (good news) to the poor” “To heal the broken hearted”

·         The tongue is powerful in its ability to “defile the whole body.”

Little white lies are never little, and gossip is never harmless. In Proverbs 6:16-19, God lists seven things that He “hates.” Three of them are about the use of the tongue. He hates “a lying tongue”, “a false witness who speaks lies”, and “one who sows discord among brethren”.

Just a little bit of gossip will disqualify a person to worship in the presence of God, (Psalm 15:1-3) and there is no better place than in the presence of God.

In 2 Timothy 3 Paul warns that in the last days some will maintain a show of Christianity but as ‘gossipers’ be considered to be the most rebellious and destructive in the church.

·         The tongue also has great power to bless or curse. We can praise, worship, and bless God. We can “Proclaim liberty.” We can bless or curse people. Just as God spoke life into creation we also can decree life into the lives of those around us. Or we can curse those around us.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

God gave us the power of speech to bless, encourage, and bring life to others. But our ability to speak can also become a tool for destruction by speaking curses or words that wound and cause division and strife.

There is a Japanese proverb that says, “A tongue 3 inches long can kill a man 6 feet tall.”

Too often we don’t realize the life or death that comes from a spoken word to someone. Recently I received a message from a family member who went in for some medical tests. It was reported to them that they may have a form of cancer that should be reported to family members because of its likely hood of being genetic. When I was told that I needed to be tested immediately the Holy Spirit threw out a red flag for me, and gave me the words “Not me! Death and deception have no power over me; I belong to the kingdom of life!”

I would not and will not receive a word like that spoken over my life or the lives of my kids. We belong to the Kingdom of God and I will not allow the enemy strong holds to bring us down. I encourage you to do the same!

We often get reports from doctors saying our family history shows that we should get tested. Just by decreeing such a thing sends out a curse; but those who have been bought by the blood of Jesus no longer have to suffer under such curses. Instead we can grab hold of the life God gives, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and then speak life into those around us! Guard yourself from the undisciplined words that others might speak. Strike down any words of death or deceit and refuse to receive it. Then speak words of life into your own life and into the lives of others.

Jesus I will never be able to thank you enough for the sacrifice you gave that we can be together. Jesus thank you for loving me so much that you gave your life as a ransom for mine. Father thank you for the grace you give to empower us to live fully and abundantly in Christ. Holy Spirit thank you for the comfort and knowledge that you bring me, as I put my trust and faith in Christ. Give me words to declare life and encouragement into those around me. Keep me from cursing others with mindless words; instead let me purposeful in speaking life with love. I decree deliverance and victory over any and every curse ever spoken over me or my family in Jesus name. In Jesus name we are saved, healed, and delivered! Amen

Victory!

The main weapon the enemy will use is fear and intimidation, but God's Kingdom is superior to any other! We have victory in Jesus!

Hearing the Holy Spirit

Hearing the Holy Spirit

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

Because He has anointed me To preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19 & Isaiah 61

Without the Spirit of the Lord we are lost.

Romans 8:1-17 

In Acts 1:15-26 the disciples had to make a judgment call on whom to replace Judas with. From 120 people they narrowed the choice down to two men.  Then after praying they still had to cast lots just to be sure of God’s will.

Christians today are still able to make guess work of what God’s will is. But it’s not suppose to be that way. The Holy Spirit provides guidance when “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit…”

Prayer without ceasing is not having a monologue. It is a conversation.

Up until the baptism of the Holy Spirit we had to figure out the will of God by what the Spirit spoke to prophets or through angels or by signs. Gideon put out a fleece of wool; the disciples cast lots. However after being filled with the Spirit we no longer hear of the practice of “casting lots.”

I don't discredit signs or the work of the angels, this is still observed today, but God in His grace has also given us a gift of a direct link. A connection built on relationship!

 If we look to Jesus as the example; the bible tells us that Jesus was 1^st filled then led by the Spirit in to the wilderness. 

Mark 1:12 says “immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.”

I must make clear that Jesus was never forced to do anything. He was not forced to die on the cross, heal people, or teach people. It was always His choice. And Jesus was not forced into the wilderness.  The word “drove” does not imply reluctance from Jesus, but rather stresses the conviction the Spirit gave Him. 

As Christians it is a necessity to put into practice being “filled” then “led by the Spirit” and to “live according to the Spirit.”

Our bodies are now the temple and we are called to be filled with the Spirit. We are not supposed to allow the Spirit to only partially dwell in us but rather be filled and to constantly be filling. We need to allow Him free access to every part of us and then to be pouring out into the atmosphere around us. Otherwise we are susceptible and our choices and decisions can be affected by the enemy and the flesh.

“Everything outside of the presence is under the influence of distortion.  This means I will misjudge circumstances in my life. I will misjudge the circumstance in people around me that I have been called to serve. The only thing that brings clarity to life is the glory. No giant looks big in the glory. You’ll never be impressed with the size of a problem in the presence. If you’re intimidated by the problem you’re not in the glory.” Bill Johnson

The enemy is over - joyed to see Christians let prejudice or offense take control of decisions rather than going to the Holy Spirit and letting the Spirit direct us in our decisions and choices.

 God has given us the choice, He will never force us, to seek Him. If we do choose to seek Him then we can ask that He would fill us with His Spirit and He will be faithful. From the very beginning God has wanted to be with us.

PRAYER

Father, I am humbled to realize that the Holy Spirit is the gift of your presence inside of me, given by your grace to empower, comfort, and encourage. I am convicted that I need to listen to the Holy Spirit more attentively and I need to seek the power of the Holy Spirit more faithfully. Use the Holy Spirit to conform me to the character and compassion of Jesus. Help me walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. I am committed to seek and to wait and to listen, and then to obey as your Holy Spirit works in my life.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Visitation or Habitation

Visitation or Habitation

 Today we have a choice of a Visitation or Habitation

Visitations can be and are good but can often be missed or mistaken for "coincidence." People get visited by God every day through creation and are never changed from it. They are blinded by the veil of sin.

Through Habitation we allow Jesus to go from being the guest to the host, and by allowing Jesus to be the host He is able to change not only us but those around us. By letting the Spirit live in us we allow Jesus to visit those around us!

The habitation of the Spirit in us is so important that Jesus told His disciples to wait and don't move until the Spirit has come on you. 

 (Acts 1:4-8) & Luke 24:49 And behold, I send the promise of My father on you. But you sit in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.

Why is the Spirit so important? Because when the Spirit lives in us it also pours out of us as "living water" life to us and those around us.

John 4:10  Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, Give Me to drink, you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water.

John 7:37-38 And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  (38)  He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

Revelation 21:6 And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the Water of Life freely.”

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me.

 Let Jesus into your heart and let Him go from being a guest to the host!