DIVISION CONCERNING CHRIST
OR
DISCERNING THE TIMES
SUNDAY OCT. 31, 2021
Scripture To Consider:
“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 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.”
“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. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, “There will be hot weather”; and there is. Hypocrites! You discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?’”
“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.” Luke 12.49-59
Something To Consider:
Jesus said to His disciples, “I came to send fire on the earth.” Fire in the New Testament refers either to spiritual purification as in Acts 2.3 on the day of Pentecost, or of eternal judgment as in 2 Peter 3.7. He also said, “But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!” Jesus carried the weight of our sin and the understanding of His atoning death so we could be free from our sin and the weight of death without hope!
It could be that Jesus was speaking of His sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. For baptism to a born-again believer is a spiritual picture that depicts the spiritual death of our old lives and our resurrection to new life in Jesus Christ. And yet, for many, baptism is merely a ritual to be performed as if we are following a game plan tradition that everyone has agreed to. But baptism should be spiritually understood as a brand new holy beginning.
In our being born-again spiritually, as in Leviticus 20.7, we are instructed to consecrate, or to sanctify, or to purify ourselves therefore, and to be holy, for the Lord our God is holy. But how exactly are we to become holy? In the very next verse Moses speaking on behalf of God declared, “And you shall keep My statutes [all of the Word of God], and perform them [or live by them]: I am the LORD who sanctifies [or purifies] you.”
Something Else To Consider:
According to Jesus, this new life in Christ experienced by few also according to Jesus, brings individual peace, but not a world-wide peace. This new life in Christ experienced, according to Jesus, brings division due to the repelling nature of the human heart and the difference between light and darkness. Human nature is sinful! A new spiritual nature through being born-again is a nature that desires to live a godly life in and through the repentance of our sin as often as is needed or required.
So Jesus warned of the most difficult division possible, that division being of the family division also experienced by many because of Jesus Christ and the conviction of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all humans. For Jesus proclaimed, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.” Therefore, Jesus did not come to bring peace to this corrupt and evil world system, but individual peace to those who surrender their will to His!
Jesus reiterated these same words in Matthew 10.34-39. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” In Ephesians chapter 6, Paul, speaking of the whole armor of God, revealed the interpretation of Jesus’ first coming to bring a sword to the earth, when Paul declared; “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
As in Leviticus 20.7-8, we must be found keeping and obeying the Word of God if we are to be found purified and sanctified on a daily basis and especially at the moment of Christ’s second coming. And if not, how are we ever expected to be seen holy as God is holy other than by keeping and obeying the Word of God? Let us not be deceived by church traditions that are in total opposition to the written and preserved Word of God!
Otherwise, all we will experience here on earth is division, distress, and eternal damnation at the end of our lives or at Christ’s second coming! We must therefore, be able to discern the signs of the times in which we are living, and only through the study of the Word of God. And only by our keeping the Word of God can that be granted by God.
Something More To Consider:
Jesus was right in rebuking the multitudes for their ability to discern the weather, but unable to discern or to understand the spiritual times and seasons in which they lived. How much more just would Jesus be in rebuking this 21st century generation, as we have become so technologically sophisticated in predicting weather patterns around the globe, and yet we cannot or will not discern the sinful seasons and tumultuous times in which we live and which are fast approaching!
Believing in Jesus brings division, and with that division should come a discerning of the times in which we live here upon planet earth. Therefore, are we aware of the times? Are we aware of what lies ahead in our very near future? Are we biblically able to discern these end times? And if not, the Word of God is full of end time information to be revealed to true truth seekers who ask God for His discernment! Are we willing to ask, to seek, and to knock upon the door of biblical revelation? If not, then we will believe the lie!
A Few Final Words:
Jesus, in Matthew 24, spoke of end time signs being that of wars and rumors of wars, as well as various nations rising up against other nations. Never before have we witnessed so many nations flexing their political and military muscles as in the previous 20th century. Jesus also spoke of famines, pestilences, and the proliferation of earthquakes that have geologists extremely concerned around the world.
And according to Jesus, in Matthew 24.8, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” For also according to Jesus, beginning in verse 9 of Matthew chapter 24, there are more sorrows on the horizon. “Then they [enemies of Jesus] will deliver you [true end time enduring to the end believer] up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.”
The point is, division and betrayal are indeed coming and has already arrived throughout the world! The masses of in name only so-called Christians who have been deceived into believing the lie of a false pre-tribulation rapture will become greatly offended at the revelation of the Antichrist and what will appear to be to the deceived as the delay of Christ’s second coming.
Our discerning the times in which we live creates a comforting spiritual outlook even in the midst of chaos, turmoil, and division; for spiritual discernment reveals to us the closeness of Christ’s second coming. Are we ready? Are we prepared both spiritually and physically? If not, ask for your free email copy of the brief books, “Preparing For End Time Persecution” and “End Time Preparation”.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, open our spiritual eyes and ears that we may be more discerning of the times in which we live. Prepare our hearts for end time events that have been predicted in advance within the Word of God. For the time is short! In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 