Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth?.... To set up a temporal kingdom, in great pomp, and outward peace and tranquility? Christ came to make peace with God for men, and to give the Gospel of peace, and spiritual and eternal peace to men; but not external peace, especially that, which is not consistent with the preservation of truth:
I tell you, nay; whatever suppositions you have made, or whatever notions you have entertained, I solemnly affirm, and you may depend upon it, I am not come into the world on any such account, as to establish outward peace among men; but rather division; so he calls the Gospel, which in Matthew is styled a "sword"; and the Ethiopic version seems to have read both here, since it renders it, "but a sword that I may divide": the Gospel is the sword of the Spirit, which divides asunder soul and Spirit, and separates a man from his former principles and practices; and sets men apart from one another, even the nearest relations, at the greatest distance; and is, through the sin of man, the occasion of great contention, discord, and division.
All are to take to themselves what Christ says in his word, and to inquire concerning it. No one is left so ignorant as not to know many things to be wrong which he does, and many things to be right which he neglects; therefore all are without excuse in their sin. The bringing in the gospel dispensation would occasion desolations.
Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures.
Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has dealt fairly and faithfully with us, in telling us the worst we can meet with in his service; and he would have us deal so with ourselves, in sitting down and counting the cost.
Persecutors are worse than beasts, in that they prey upon those of their own kind. The strongest bonds of love and duty, have often been broken through from enmity against Christ. Sufferings from friends and relations are very grievous; nothing cuts more. It appears plainly, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution; and we must expect to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations. With these predictions of trouble, are counsels and comforts for a time of trial.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
Many would misinterpret this to conflict with the above passage, yet NOW THE HOLY SPIRIT has been given to the Disciples/Apostles, to HIS followers, AND IN CHRIST, we FIND PEACE, no matter the turmoil around us! Even members of our own Families will persecute us, whether in secret, or to our face, and the enemy is EVER aspiring to take what belongs to THE LORD, and so, HE leaves us with a PEACE of knowledge, and protection, and guidance, and mediation, via HIS SPIRIT; this PEACE is of LOVE, HIS, and ours for HIM, working as one to defeat the traps of the world...
Would we know these things for our good, we must pray for, and depend on the teaching of the Holy Ghost; thus the words of Jesus will be brought to our remembrance, and many difficulties be cleared up which are not plain to others. To all the saints, the Spirit of grace is given to be a remembrance, and to him, by faith and prayer, we should commit the keeping of what we hear and know.
Peace is put for all good, and Christ has left us all that is really and truly good, all the promised good; peace of mind from our justification before God. This Christ calls his peace, for he is himself our Peace. The peace of God widely differs from that of Pharisees or hypocrites, as is shown by its humbling and holy effects.
While there may be no end to the disharmony around us, in this crazy maze called the world, CHRIST IS OUR PEACE, our strength, our courage, our HOPE of every goodness necessary to triumphing over the world!!!
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
CHRIST IS THE LIVING WORD, THE WORD IS THE SWORD, THE HOLY SPIRIT which divides, and conquers!!!
The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God sets it home by his Spirit, it convinces powerfully, converts powerfully, and comforts powerfully. It makes a soul that has long been proud, to be humble; and a perverse spirit, to be meek and obedient. Sinful habits, that are become as it were natural to the soul, and rooted deeply in it, are separated and cut off by this sword.
DIVISION we experience, from our personal lives, all the way through to the Church, as some interpret this, others that, and resentfulness stems from people who are not yet willing to die to the world, but become alive in CHRIST, then our own battles within, yet, PEACE DOES accompany the FAITHFUL, as does the sword of TRUTH, and all which manifests HIS WILL! We WILL be met with much as we journey through this time awaiting our adoption to be complete, still, we can do so cheerfully, convicted, and with a PEACE which surpasses even our understanding, as it IS a GIFT of LOVE from the MOST HIGH *GOD*, HIS SON, and HIS HOLY SPIRIT, that we ARE enabled, endowed, enriched, enlightened, empowered, encouraged, and instructed enough to withstand what causes division, dissension, and discord...
PRAISE THE LORD, ALWAYS, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, and REJOICE IN HIS LOVE, and CARE for us! Let us HONOUR HIM with the thoughts, actions, and reactions of applied understanding of HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAY, and HIS WORD, let us GLORIFY HIM with all we have...
REV. LWINSOR © 2014
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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