4/3 Fundamental Thoughts - Sermons

Our Mission Here On Earth

Matthew 10:34-42  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  (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.  (36)  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.  (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.  (38)  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  (39)  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  (40)  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.  (41)  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  (42)  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

INTRODUCTION:           When we read these verses it kind of puts Christ in another perspective that we are not acquainted with. 

              First He (Jesus) tells us He came to earth not to bring peace.

Then He tells us He is coming with a sword to cause division (variance) here on earth.

              He then continues to tell us he will turn man against father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against mother in law.

              All we hear from the TV and radio preachers is the love of Christ and the peace He will bring.  All they want to talk about is today and how we are to love one another.

              Peace in the scriptures is spoken of three ways:

1.                       Peace with God

(Romans 5:1)  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

            2.           The Peace of God

(Philippians 4:6)  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

            3.           Peace on earth

Psalms 122:6  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:...

However, understand peace on this earth will not happen and will not be realized until the Battle of the Armageddon is over.

              So what Jesus is talking about is that when we pick up our cross and follow Him, we will be in conflict with our family.

              In these verses we can see that when we accepted Jesus as our Saviour, that we had strife in our family.  Sometimes our family accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour also heals those wounds.

              I would like to discuss three things I get from these scriptures, the

              FIRST is              Christ’s Mission here on earth the

              SECOND            The Spiritual Warfare you and I can expect,             

              LAST                  The Cross you and I must bear.

I.            CHRIST’S MISSION ON THIS EARTH

              A.           To Fulfill The Law

(Matthew 5:17)  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

(Romans 10:4)  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

                        2.           The end of the law

                                           i.            To every one that believes.

            B.           He Was To Be The Sacrificial Lamb

(Isaiah 53:7)  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. ⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.  ⁹ And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.      

1.               He was oppressed

2.               He was taken from prison

i.            And judgment

3.               He died with the wicked

4.               He was buried with the rich

II.           OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE

              A.           He Came With A Sword   (v 34)

                             1.           Division, (variance)

(Luke 12:51)  Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

            B.           No Peace

                             1.           Division / Separation

(Micah 7:6)  For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.   

            C.           A Man’s Enemies

                             1.           Are of his own house

III.         OUR CROSS BEARING FOR CHRIST

              A.           He That Takes Up His Cross For Christ 

                             1.           He that finds his life

                                           i.            Shall lose it

                             2.           He that gives up his life for Christ

                                           i.            Shall find it

            B.           If Any Man Will Come After Me

(Matthew 16:24)  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

            C.           What Is A Man Profited

(Matthew 16:26)  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Conclusion:         You see it is up to us to pick our own cross and pull in behind Jesus Christ.

(Micah 7:7)  Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

God will hear us if will call out Jesus’ name, He remains true and faithful to those who love Him.

(Romans 8:28)  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Are you true and faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ?

Do you know Jesus as your Saviour?  If you died today, do you know 100% that heaven would be your home?

You can know; you know.  Jesus tells us in the Book of John:

(John 3:15, 17)  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.    ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.