~ Peace or a sword? ~

Today is Thursday, June 2, 2005. As I was reading the Word a few days ago, I came across this reading in Matthew. This message came into my heart. I have not prepared anything for this message, so it will probably be only be a short one. I want to ask you a question: do you believe that Jesus came to send peace among men? Almost everyone I deal with seems to be under the impression that as children of God, we are supposed to be sweetie, peaceful, and agreeable with everyone and anyone. This is regardless of what the person believes and teaches. We are expected to still just go along with anything and everything for the sake of ‘peace�? If we debate, argue, or otherwise attempt to show the person the error of their ways and teachings, then we are dubbed as troublemakers and not acting in love or the true ‘spirit�?of Jesus.

Now I ask you, if this is the true ‘spirit�?of Jesus, would not Jesus have also acted in this way when He was here on earth in person? Would not He have told us that He came to send peace among us all? Are we not to form our beliefs and teachings exactly on what Jesus taught us? If not, then what? If we cannot go by what Jesus told us, and the example He set, then what are we to go by? And the apostles of Jesus, did they set the correct teachings and examples for us to follow? You need to come to settle these questions for yourselves, lest you be found false witnesses of God.

Mt 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Mt 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 10:35 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.

Mt 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

Mt 10:37 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. 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Verse 34-- Jesus said I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword. Now that is His words. Do you believe Him or whom do you believe? Which ‘spirit�?do you have, live by, and advocate? Is it to have peace among men, or is it to have a sword? See then, that the true ‘spirit�?of Jesus is to have that sword.

Now if you disbelieve me, then what about this Scripture saying that Jesus came to send a sword and not peace?

Now read the above verses. Jesus said he came to set a man at VARIANCE against his father. What does variance mean? According to Webster’s this is the meaning: the fact or state of being in disagreement: DISSENSION. dispute.

Now to everyone who claims it is wrong to disagree and dispute [argue], please explain this. Did not the apostles say they were is daily dissension and dispute? Of course they did. Why? They had that sword or the true spirit of Jesus. They were NOT going to sit back and let Satan disperse his false doctrine every where to the destruction of the souls of the sheep of God. True love will do all it can to set the truth up and bring down the lies of Satan.

Jesus also said he came to set the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Now why would Jesus set these people against each other? Because of false doctrine. Jesus and the true ministers of God will not allow false teachings to exist where they are and not fight against this evil. False beliefs will damn one’s soul to hell fire. So why would a person with the true love and spirit of Jesus sit back [for the sake of ‘getting along�?and let false teachings dominate and lead souls into the darkness of error and lies? When your nearest family or friends believe and teach lies, then you are to be at variance with them. You cannot be at peace with them and be obeying Jesus. Jesus said if you love them more than you love him, then you are not worthy of him. If you know they are wrong, believe lies, and will not rebuke this and try to set them into truth, just to get along, then you are loving this person more than you love Jesus, which is truth. Truth and darkness CANNOT exist together. What fellowship hath darkness with light? Or Belial with Christ? So if one is into lies [Satan] and the other is into truth [Jesus] then you will be at variance with each other. If not, then you are luke warm and do not have the true Spirit of Jesus.

Why did Jesus say a man’s foes are they of his own household? Because when part of a family believes the lies of Satan, and another member believes the truth of Jesus, then they will be at war. God already told us that those born after the flesh persecute those born after the Spirit. This is why they will be your foes. They are born after the flesh, and believe lies, so they will persecute you who love truth. They cannot co-exist peacefully. Jesus told us this. Who do you believe? The folks today who tell us we must just smooth things over and get along, for this is the spirit of Christ, or those who say we must be at war? Jesus called us to war against lies and error. Are you willing? If not, then you do not have the sword Jesus brought to earth.

I personally know people, and deal with them on computer, which will allow any lie to prevail in order to have people like them and look up to them. This is NOT the true spirit of Jesus or holiness. The true spirit of Jesus will go to war and fight these lies. Jesus said if you love even your father and mother more than him, then you are not worthy of him. If you love your children more than him, then you are not worthy of him. If you are not worthy of him, then you will not have eternal life.

He said that if you do not take up your cross and follow him, you are not worthy of him. What does taking up your cross mean? It means bearing any reproach which comes upon you for the truth’s sake. It means rejoicing in the fact that you are counted worthy to suffer for him and truth. Do you? Think it over. Do you draw back from speaking up for truth in the face of folks who are in disagreement with what the Word of God truly says? Do you hold back for the sake of ‘getting along�?with these people and having them like you? If so, then you are finding your own life and in the end you will lose it. You are refusing to bear any ‘cross�?for His sake. You lie to yourself and tell yourself [and others] that it is the true spirit of love and Christ to ignore the mistakes for the sake of PEACE.

If this be true, then Jesus lied when he said for us to bring that sword didn’t he? If Jesus brought a sword, then it is his true spirit, and we must do as he did. We must do as Paul did and fight the lies with all our might. It does not matter who disagrees with us and dislikes us for it. We must take up that cross and follow Jesus into bringing that sword against the lies of Satan.

There is much more could be said on this subject, but this is sufficient to prove that we are not to be at peace with those who teach and believe lies against the Word of God.

By: Jo Smith/ 6-2-2005