St Matthew, Chapter 10, verses: 36-37, Who is worthy to fight?

Our paragraph topic is:  (We must give up all for Christ) Part 3.  

The battle will come.  The war has begun and Christ has issued his decree.  The disciples are his generals and they will carry the banners into battle.  Repent!  Turn back to the one true God.  This is their message to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  For they are the first ones.  They are on the front lines of the battle.  The war will come to their front door.  The war will enter their households.  The war will divide their families.  The war will tear asunder the bonds of the heart.  For Christ has not sent peace.  He has brought the sword of God upon the people and the the demons of the evil one.

Christ says,  "And a man's enemies will be those of his own household."  The enemy has taken a foothold in the minds and hearts of the lost sheep.  He is entrenched in the lives of the people and will not retreat.  His goal is to capture the souls of the people and take them to hell.  Even the children will be separated from their parents.  Daughers separated from mothers and sons from fathers.  Some will accept the message of the kingdom.  Some will not.  And Satan will be the victor over those souls that do not repent, even in the homes of the believers.  For the ties that bind families, the ties that bind brothers, the ties that bind sisters, and parents, and children, and husbands, and relatives will be broken.  Some will go one way and some will go another.  And those who are able to keep their family bonds and fight the battle they will be the victors over evil. 

For Christ has said,  "He who loves father or mother more than me is  not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."  He who is afraid to break the bonds is not worthy to fight.  And he who allows the love of family to sway them against Christ is not worthy.  Christ ask for your alliegance, he ask for your trust, he asks for your love.  Be worthy.  Be loving.  Be trusting.  Aliegn yourself with the true side of light in the life of Christ.  Give not partially.  Give to the Lord totally and you will be rewarded.  He is worthy of leadership.  He is worthy of your love.  He is truthful to the end and the battle will go on.

Stand on the right side of the Lord and he will stand with you.  Trust in the leadership of the Lord and he will lead you to glory and righteousness.  Believe in the love that Christ bears for you and you will know peace.  Let nothing stand in your way. Throw off the bonds of the world that would hold you in boundage.  See the tricks of the enemy and bypass the boobytraps set to destroy you.  Let not the family ties bind you to destruction.  Be a warrior.  Be a soldier.  Be a disciple for Christ and join the battle for the kingdom of heaven.  Are you worthy?  Will your mother or father turn you around because they do not believe?  Will the comments and stabs of your children keep you from the kingdom?  Stand fast!  Trust in the Lord and you will be the victor!!  Be a worthy warrior!!

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 35, The Battle

Our paragraph topic is:  (We must give up all for Christ) Part 2.  

The war begins.  Christ explains to his disciples who will be the enemy and who will be the friends.  He tells his disciples that war will break out in the towns and villages.  War will break out in the market place.  War will even be in the homes of the lost sheep of the tribe of Israel.  He has come not for peace but to bring a sword of separation.  He has brought the sword of God upon the people who are unbelievers.  But for the believers they will be protected.  They will be provided for.  They will not feel the sharp blade of the sword of God.

For Christ will bring turmoil.  He will bring division.  He will bring separation even down to the members of ones family and in ones household.  For he tells his disciples, "I have come to set a man at variance with his father, and a daughter with her mother, and a daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law."   The war is up close and personal.  For it will come to a man's home.  It will come to a man's family.  It will come to a man's marriage.  It will come.  And it will divide and separate and conquer and destroy.  For Christ has unleashed the sword of God and it will bring destruction upon those who follow the evil one. 

The disciples must bring the message.  They are the carriers.  They are the foot soldiers.  They are the bearers of the good news and the bad news.  Times will not be the same.  Chaos will come upon the people and the rulers will seek to stop the change.  But Christ has set things in motion and his mission has begun.  Nothing will be the same from this day forward.  Father will turn against son.  Daughter will turn against mother.  Children will betray theirs parents and chaos will reign.  For this is the design of the evil one.  He wants division.  He wants chaos.  He wants destruction.  He wants betrayal.  These are his tools to capture the souls of men.  Those who do not accept the message of the kingdom of heaven will be turned away. 

Christ gives us this message because he is telling us the state of things to come.  Even today you will find division.  Children turn against parents when they enter the world and are captured by it.  Friends turn against friends when the sword of God comes.  Worker turns against co-worker when the sword strikes.  And all will be divided. 

It is only through the grace of God that they have the opportunity to repent and return before the day of judgement comes.  For we do not know when it will come.  It may come tomorrow.  It may come next week.  It may come in two years.  But for some, death knocks at the door and will not cease.  For death is the ultimate accountant and when the tally is made the balance determines eternal life or eternal damnation for the soul.  And we do not know when he will come.   Is your house divided?  Did the sword of the God separate you from your family members?  Many will fall by the wayside.  Many will not believe. For the devil has blinded their eyes that they may not see.  He has closed their ears that they may not hear.  He has bound up their hearts that they may not understand the love that God has for them.  But the battle has begun.