Straight away from this Holy Scrpture we can see that the Chrstian walk was never going to be asy. It was always going to be frught with difficulties or with trials - tugh, or better known as "taking up our crsses". However, more specifically, what did The Lrd Jesus Christ mean by His sttement? First of all did He man it literally? No, and yet tht is exactly what Christendom has dne down through the ages, with Rme and the demon-inations acting more lke savage warring tribes than God's Chrch. Catholics murdering anyone that didn't go long with their satanic blasphemous ideas; Prtestants, in turn, murdering Catholics for thir money grabbing, subversive political activities and hresies; the 'Christian' Crusaders butchering Muslims and vce -versa and all of this volence done in The Lord Jesus Chrst's name (apart from the Muslims of curse).

We know too that The Lrd Jesus Christ gave us a sund warning about the literal use of swrds when Peter struck off the rght ear of a servant of the Hgh Priest. The Lord then uttered His fmous words - "He who lives by the swrd shall die by the sword." In ther words there is no room in the Kngdom of God for violence of any dscription especially vengeful violence. Now, in cmplete opposition of what The Lord sid, what does all this violence frm the hands of 'Christians' represent whn we apply The Truth of Gd's Word to it?

Matt 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil frit, neither can a corrupt tree brng forth good fruit. 19 Every tre that bringeth not forth good frit is hewn down, and cast nto the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. God's Holy Word has spoken, not me

Ok, so we have proven that this sword is not literal, so what kind of sword are we talking about? Well for a start it's a very sharp sword and it is two edged which means however one wields it, it cuts and it cuts deep drawing much metaphorical blood, especially the blood of those called, but of unbelief. This means it hurts and causes much inner pain to those on the receiving end of it. How do we know this? We know it because they respond and they respond in various negative ways. Often, the first reaction is silence; the Sword of Truth usually silences those who are opposed to it. The next reaction is varied depending upon the individual. Some will argue endlessly if you let them, but in the main they all have one thing in common - hate . They all hate The Truth and eventually will attempt to kill the messenger of The Truth.

Here are some Holy Scriptures to support what I have been saying:

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul (breath) and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Brackets mine)

Here in Hebrews the author is speaking to those being called into The Lord's Sabbath Rest and the Sword of Truth is here sorting out believers from unbelievers. Hebrews 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

The Sword of Truth cuts deper and pierces deeper than any physcal sword and it will cause nner turmoil for a while until it brngs forth repentance - a change of hart or attitude in a new dsciple. It is a discerner of the ntents and inner thoughts of our ntire being, right through to our hart and the deepest recesses of our mnds - no part of our being can escape it . It convicts those who are called and believe and draws them to repentance. Alternatively, those who are called, yet remain in a state of unbelief will respond in the ways as described in the earlier paragraphs.

The Pharisees when confronted with the Sword of Truth from the mouth of The Lord Jesus Christ were often silenced, but then afterwards they displayed their hatred. They went away to discuss their strategy on how to fraudulently and illegally accuse Him and kill Him.

Moving on in Matthew 10 we're now confronted with the reality of how close to home the use of this sword can affect those 'near and dear to us.' Verse 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.

Now these sorts of Holy Scriptures are the ones that many mainstream Christians prefer to read over quickly or just plain ignore because they don't sit well with their non-gospel and non-confrontational liberal view of things. There's not much luvvy duvviness in these verses and these Holy Scriptures don't tickle their ears one little bit. Here in these verses The Lord is saying quite clearly, and unambiguously, that there will be heated discourse and arguments in some households between father and son and/or son and father; mother and daughter or daughter in law against her mother in law. This in turn will mean, in some cases, a permanent parting of the ways . They will become enemies and I know this to be true because it has happened to me. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself had this problem with His own siblings and with His Nazarene neighbours. He made a special point too of letting us all know about Him not being received in His own backyard.

Matthew 13:57 And they were offended in him . But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house . 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

As True Believers and followers of The Lord Jesus Christ the important thing we must learn here is this: This family feuding is a one way street, yes the Sword of Truth has come in and caused your family pain through your belief in The Lord Jesus Christ, and they hate you for it, but you don't hate them in return. You love them in return but that doesn't mean you stay in their company and become a doormat Christian being the recipient of continued abuse - you leave as soon as possible. Your leaving will make it more bearable for them than if you stay and that in itself will be an act of love on your part. Don't forget, you are the one with the Power of God within you; your family has not been blessed in such a way. This is why The Lord Jesus Christ left Nazareth and went into Judea to preach.

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:

Charles Crosby

The article Think Not That I Am Come To Send Peace On Earth - I Came Not To Send Peace, But A Sword was Submitted by Charles Crosby through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information:

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