Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

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.”


Introduction Jesus is wishing something had already happened, being distressed until something is accomplished. Previous - we were told to anticipate the coming of the Lord, being ready. But before that could happen, Jesus tells of these other things which had to happen first, things He was anticipating.


1. What was Jesus anticipating?


a. Pentecost v49

49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!


b. The Cross v50

50 “But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!


c. Division on Earth v51-53

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.”


It seems Jesus wants to get on with it, bring it on.


2. What was the process leading to each one?


a. What led up to the Cross?


50 “But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!


Before the foundation of the world, every animal sacrifice, the mercy seat.


Jesus came into the world, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the conflict with the religious rulers, set His face like flint.


The betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion at just the right time, the veil ripped and the mercy seat sprinkled with His blood, providing forgiveness of sins for all humanity.


This is what led up to the Cross. v50


b. What led up to Pentecost?


49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!


The Spirit of God brooding over the chaos, coming upon prophets, priests and kings to perform the mighty acts of God,


Ezekiel 36 26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.


Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit after His ascension, Jesus breathed on them, wait in Jerusalem, prayer for 10 days, then the fire fell, and the world has never been the same.


This is what it took for the Holy Spirit to come indwell us, and start a fire on the Earth. v49


c. What led up to the Division?


51 “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.


There has always been conflict between good and evil, light and darkness. Elijah and the prophets of Baal.


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.”


Wow - how Christian is this? Yet it happens.


The Grace of the Cross brings unity - we are all sinners saved by grace. No accusation, judgment or condemnation. The Cross should bring unity.


The Spirit of Pentecost brings unity - together in one accord. The Holy Spirit should bring people together.


But the devil retaliates with division - between the church and the world, within families, and unfortunately, sometimes within the church. When someone has experienced the Atonement, and has had a personal Pentecost, there is a violent reaction from the side of evil and darkness. Here is the dynamic:


John 15-16

16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

17 “These things I command you, that you love one another.

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

21 “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

22 “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23 “He who hates Me hates My Father also.

24 “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.

25 “But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

27 “And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

16:1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.

2 “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

3 “And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.

4 “But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.


So, this is what led up to the Atonement, Pentecost, and the ensuing Warfare, the situation we are in now.


3. How do we deal with this situation? John 15:16-18


We kind of expect to be rejected and persecuted by the world, but it’s hard when it’s within our own families, or worse, within the church family.


16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

17 “These things I command you, that you love one another.

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.


We can’t renounce the Cross, or Pentecost, but we can try to understand, pray, and protect ourselves. Christian people all over the world are dealing with the problem, and it’s heart breaking. They do the right thing by coming to Christ, experiencing the Atonement and Pentecost, and then the war starts.


BTW - We don’t have to put up with divisive people in our fellowship. v17 is what Jesus requires of the church.


Titus 2:1-11

3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,

2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,

11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.


I want to be with people who are committed to the Grace of the Cross, and the Love of the Spirit of Pentecost. Especially in these days, we need to pull together, not apart. Yet the prophesies of the last days state that conflict and division increase, as the love of many grows cold. So be ready. We may be a minority, a remnant.


4. The end result of Jesus’ longings


The Cross, Pentecost and Warfare will all finally result in peace, New Heaven and Earth.


“Cross, Flame, Conflict, Peace”


Conclusion

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.


It seems Jesus wants to get on with it, bring it on. Me too. Get it all over with, and “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.” Amen