Strange Words From the Prince of Peace

In this part of the sermon: Martin establishes the setting of Jesus' words, noting they are given as Christ commissions the twelve apostles with authority and power to preach the Kingdom of Heaven. He…

An analogy of a mother telling her children 'don't eat the cookies' to explain the concept of a 'prohibition' or 'no-no' in simple terms for the children in the congregation.

There'll be opposition in the announcement of this kingdom. And it's in that setting of assuring them of opposition in the announcement of the kingdom an emphasis that is reiterated in verse 21 brother shall deliver up brother to death father his child, children against parents. It's in that setting of the ministry, of the message of the kingdom and the deeds of the kingdom which will have as its inseparable attendant opposition, even violent opposition that Jesus says these strange words think not that I came to send peace I came to send a sword. So much for the setting of his words now to th...

9:52 - 11:01 Read in full sermon

Driving home: the key is to understand the difference between a man's calculated intention and an inevitable accompaniment of what he intends to do

An analogy of a mother firmly saying 'no' to a snack request to explain the concept of an 'affirmation' as declaring something with firmness and conviction.

that I came to cast peace upon the earth the prohibition given we've looked at its focus its essence now the affirmation made now again you kids affirmations a little bit of a big word it simply means to declare with firmness for instance when you say can I have a snack and mommy says no you may not have a snack at this time she's affirming something she is declaring something with firmness she's making a statement of deep conviction and you know when she says it that way ain't no sense asking a second time if she says well I don't know you say there's a little crack there I just might be able...

19:28 - 20:57 Read in full sermon

Driving home: the key is to understand the difference between a man's calculated intention and an inevitable accompaniment of what he intends to do

An example of Lenin's philosophy of revolution, 'divide and conquer,' to contrast it with Christ's purpose, clarifying that Christ did not come with the explicit intention to create division.

and the kingdom comes in the person of the King and the King came in his credentials of mighty power through those apostles and he says wherever you go I go and wherever I go I cast my sword my sword my sword is cast division will come that's the assertion of our Lord now then what is its meaning well let me seek to ascertain the meaning or arrive at the meaning with you stating something negatively and then positively our Lord is not saying and oh listen carefully because fanatics seize upon a passage like this and run off in the energy of the flesh and bring great disgrace to the Lord our Lo...

23:54 - 25:22 Read in full sermon

Driving home: so the ultimate cause of this division is the perverse human heart that cannot stand the light of Christ now shining through the transformed life

A detailed story of identical twin brothers, John and Jack, one of whom is converted while the other remains unconverted, to illustrate how Christ's saving mission inevitably casts a 'sword' of division within the most intimate family relationships.

you see he draws men into loving trustful attachment to himself him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out and when the Lord Jesus draws the sinner to himself he does so in such a way that the sinner has no reservations in confessing Christ's claims about himself to be true and in gladly submitting to all the claims that Christ makes over him you say man we're worlds apart from I came not to send peace but a sword no we aren't stay with me now stay with me we're not worlds apart we're right on track right on time if you're with me now the moment that happens can you see how the sword b...

31:15 - 32:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Embrace biblical realism about the Christian life, understanding that the cross, opposition, division, and misunderstanding are part and parcel of following Christ, to maintain stability.

A personal anecdote about a friend's sign 'Hallelujah Anyhow' to illustrate the attitude of biblical realism and praise regardless of trials and opposition.

John says art thou he that should come or do we look for another if you're a Messiah why do I languish in prison oh dear child of God listen you need biblical realism if you're to be stable in your Christian life and biblical realism says that the cross is not a secondary element in the Christian life it is a primary element opposition division misunderstanding are part and parcel of following in the train of the Son of God and if you expect Christian experience that evades it you'll have to create that experience it will not be given of Christ preach the kingdom is at hand and it's a kingdom ...

41:38 - 43:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that Jesus calls you into supreme attachment with Himself, making every other attachment expendable, and be prepared for violent disruption of intimate ties.

The biblical example of Peter rebuking Jesus for speaking of His suffering and death (Matthew 16) to illustrate how even loved ones can become a 'Satan' by hindering obedience to God's will.

only between the Christian and the non-Christian follow me closely now just as there is no sin that the non-Christian commits that does not have it's seeds in the heart of a true believer there can be found residual elements of this same cleavage even amongst Christian families what happens in the course of the unfolding of the will of Christ one member of the household sees a new pathway of obedience open up before him and when he sees it he hears his Lord saying to him come follow me but he says Lord I never knew that following you meant to be a sin I never knew that following you meant goin...

46:03 - 47:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Prioritize God's glory, which is best served by obedience to the truth, above all other considerations, including reputation, friends, goods, and lands.

A quotation of Martin Luther's famous 'Here I stand, so help me God! I can do no other' to exemplify unwavering commitment to religious principles despite pressure.

They bark loudly for the truth and say, if you bully us here, we'll not budge. The liberals laugh when they bully them and so they lower their voices and retreat and draw new stakes and say, well, if you beat us back to here, then we're going to really get upset. My friends, I have no respect for a man whose religious principles are in any way influenced by the pressure brought to bear against him. Here I stand, so help me God!

51:11 - 51:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Prioritize God's glory, which is best served by obedience to the truth, above all other considerations, including reputation, friends, goods, and lands.

An example of Solzhenitsyn's warnings about flirting with godless philosophies in international politics, to illustrate the danger of prioritizing 'peace at any cost' over principle.

I can do no other. Martin Luther. But beware of that mentality, not only in the religious world. I've done nothing for my father, I've done nothing to save him, and I don't have politicians here and I believe I would even dare to hurl this challenge in the face of Mr. Kissinger and also entreat Mr. Ford. Beware of this mentality in the international political world. Some of you have read some of the things that Solzhenitsyn has been saying as he's gone about our country and he sees us flirting with men whose purpose is yet to dominate the world with their godless atheistic philosophy and we co...

51:40 - 52:34 Read in full sermon

The point: When wrestling with the implications of the 'sword' and severed human ties, turn your eyes from the pain and gaze upon your Lord's willingness to part with the felt warmth of His Father's countenance.

A quotation from the hymn 'Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken' to reinforce the theme of sacrificing all worldly pleasures and possessions for Christ.

Anything else can be sacrificed. Reputation, friends, goods, lands. Isn't that what we've sung? Jesus I my cross have taken all to leave and follow thee destitute, despised, forsaken.

53:23 - 53:40 Read in full sermon

The point: When wrestling with the implications of the 'sword' and severed human ties, turn your eyes from the pain and gaze upon your Lord's willingness to part with the felt warmth of His Father's countenance.

The example of Christ's agony in Gethsemane and on the cross, where He relinquished the 'felt warmth of his father's countenance,' to illustrate the ultimate sacrifice and provide comfort for believers facing lesser losses.

The felt warmth of his father's countenance. And he relinquished that for you. And for me. That was Gethsemane.

55:04 - 55:18 Read in full sermon