Pr. DFD : Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 15 Series C

Luke 12:51
“The fire of God’s Word Divides – Go in Peace or to pieces”

“Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”

Merciful Father, since you have given Your only Son as the sacrifice for our sin, also give us grace to receive with thanksgiving the fruits of his redeeming work and daily follow in his way; In the Name of Christ our Savior this we pray Amen. [1]

I would share with you today a Facebook_TM post from a friend, which, sums up our Gospel lesson for this morning. “The tension in the call to live in the world, but not be of the world has some Christians aping the world, others trying to escape it. Both options leave us functioning as exiles. Jesus calls us to follow him as pilgrims and that tension is the exact shape of a narrow road.”[2]

We usually think of Jesus in terms of the Prince of Peace. Our Gospel reminds us there is another side of Jesus. He’s not always nice. But He is good.[3]

He can also cause trouble, controversy, disharmony and division, Jesus will have no cheap peace. Sometimes He says, “Go in peace,” but other times people go to pieces in terms of disagreement and division.

There can be no peace at any price. Agreement with falsehood, compromise with evil will not do. When Christ enters as truth, love and goodness people divide themselves either pro or con. It is said that whenever St. Paul preached there was either a revival or a riot. With Jesus, there is no neutral ground. You are either for or against Him. Division might even occur in an otherwise close-knit family. Some are for; while so are against – Jesus.

How does Jesus cause division?

1. He speaks Truth.

A. If the word had not been preached, the world would have gone undisturbed. Nevertheless, the preaching of the Word causes division.

B. Not because of God or because of the Word but because of the sinfulness of humankind.

1. Man cannot believe in Jesus Christ or come to him by his own reason. “Because the natural man cannot accept the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised.” – 1 Corinthians 2:14

2. Man cannot believe in Jesus Christ or come to Him by his own strength. “You were dead in your trespasses and sins. “ – Ephesians 2:1

3. Man cannot believe in Jesus Christ or come to Him by his own will. “The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the Law of God, for it is not able to do so,” – Romans 8:7

4. This is why Jesus came preaching both Law as well as Gospel. In the Gospel of John, the Savior reminds us,

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuses for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father as well. “ - John 15:22-23

The miracles Jesus performed and the words He had spoken were clear. They were light and life. The sins of Jesus’ enemies are both deliberate and inexcusable. But they would have nothing of it. They could not take Jesus’ clear word. Human nature has not changed. People will embrace Him and champion His cause or they will reject, refuse and revolt.

Transition: Jesus causes division when He speaks the truth. He causes division when He refuses to compromise.

2. He refuses to compromise principle.

A. The sinless Christ suffered at the hands of sinners. They finally brought Him to death. The fire of God is not necessarily an eternal flame.

Luther: “The Gospel is sometimes like a refreshing summer shower. It can go from one place to the other.” Where is the center of Christianity today? Not in Europe. Not in North America. It resides in the continent of Africa.

B. The fire of God can, and sadly, sometimes goes out.

1. Sometimes the water of this world extinguishes that fire. In a parable Jesus explains, “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. – Matthew 13:22

2. By smothering the fire by the cares of this life.

The Savior warns, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the cares of this life and that day come upon you suddenly, like a trap.” Luke 21:34

3. By letting it burn out for lack of fuel. Sometimes its rust out instead of burn out. The LORD is simply ignored, disregarded, and thus, discounted.

Transition: Jesus causes division when He speaks truth. He causes division when He refuses to compromise, and when He lives by love.

3. He lives by love.

A. The fire of God’s love can and must be used for good.

1. The fire is contagious.

2. If a Christian is on fire for God, those who come in contact are set on fire too. We are only in the first week of school.

Yet one of the important aspects of modeling our students is to discover the talents, abilities and gifts granted each student and then to encourage them to be the hands, the feet, the fingers and toes of Jesus; to be salt and light in this world.

B. Christians, followers of Jesus, are to be spiritual arsonists. As you gossip the Gospel, we want to deliberately set others on fire with the Gospel of Christ.

1. Jesus tells us, “I have come to set fire on this earth”

2. Where will the newt fire be set? Who will set it? What will be the result? Will it be riot or revival?

3. Christ’s suffering in the fire for you enable you to endure the heat. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus, “endured the cross despising the shame.” – Hebrews 12:2

He did all this for you. In the midst of your struggles. – No matter what they may be. - “consider Him who endures from sinners such hostility against Himself so that we do not grow weary or fainthearted.” – Hebrews 12:3

Jesus suffered in your place when His father forsook him so that you will not be rejected. Your baptism into His baptism of death is the pledge that you will be with Him in paradise forever. He uses the fiery trials you experience as a Christian to refine, purify and disciple you. True. The cost of discipleship is great. For that reason, we are both strangers and pilgrims in this land. “I’m but a stranger here, heaven is my home.” But, He paid the ultimate price, in your place and now uses even trials for your benefit.

I close with another post from a friend, who reminds us, “There is no perfect life, no perfect job, no perfect childhood, no perfect marriage, and no perfect set of people who will always do what you expect them to do. What we have is a perfect God. Who is able to lead us through this imperfect life with unfailing strength incomparable wisdom, and infinite love.”[4]

Words –1,245
Passive Sentences – 4%
Readability – 76.3%
Reading Level – 5.5