Bringing Division Series

"Bringing Division"

Luke 12:49-59

A sermon for 9/18/22 - Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor John Bright

Luke 12 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.”

Pause right there. Those words I just read; they were “Breathed by God”! God wants you to hear His Word right now! So, what is your response? Do you want to transformed by that Word or do you want to be informed about the words? You must choose.

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I recently purchased a used bread machine. It has been about 15 years since we had one around the house and I had forgotten you have to follow a certain sequence when putting in the ingredients. Before you do any of that, make sure you put the little paddle on the little post😊 First, put in the liquids – stuff like milk, water, oil. Second, put the dry ingredients on top of that without mixing them in – flour, salt, baking powder. Last, use your finger to make an indentation in the flour for your yeast. As I told you, that’s the worst time to find out you forgot the little paddle😊

Jesus is explaining a sequence of events for those in Israel at the end of Luke 12. After this, almost all the teaching will be to the Disciples. Since I believe that all of Scripture applies to the Church of today, we need to see how this sequence occurs in every season since the Resurrection and Glorification of Jesus Christ.

Jesus brings division, v.49-53

Luke 12 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.”

Does this sound odd to you? It’s ok, we all grew up with Isaiah 9:6 being read in worship every Advent and Christmas:

“For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Christ did come to bring peace to the heart of every believer. Paul put it this way – Philippians 4:7 “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Got that? Good, let’s deal with the division part of this passage. Jesus starts off with bringing fire to the earth – no wonder it’s getting hotter! Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah warned that God’s Word is like a fire (5:14). The final judgement of all Believers in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 is like a fire that will reveal the work that was for the Kingdom. To make this possible, Jesus must be crucified and raised up – that is His baptism. Then, He will judge the world.

Jesus was already dividing families in that day and some believed Him to be the Messiah and others did not. Ever since there have been Believers, there has been division. How can I make that claim? Jesus told us it would be that way – Matthew 7 “13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Is that so? What about today? We want most folks to be saved and fill up our churches, but that might not be God’s way in these days. We know for sure that Christianity is spreading in Muslim countries today. If a mother converts, she can be exiled from her family and village – or even killed. Children who convert have been separated from their families for years – no contact at all.