I DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE
These are the words resounding in my ears. Words of truth. Words of revelation and wisdom spoken by Jesus to those He chose for intimate fellowship and set apart for the work of His Kingdom. Even Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus was there. Matthew gives us a first hand account of this talk with Jesus.
This was not casual conversation. Jesus as Commander and Chief was giving marching orders and commands to His army. “Procalim as you go, saying The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” (Matthew 10:7-8)
“And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave.” (Matthew 10:11-14)
Jesus was making it very plain and clear that His peace must be welcomed and received. Jesus will not force anyone to receive His Kingdom. To enter His Kingdom is to enter into His peace. For Jesus is The Prince of Peace. No Jesus, no peace.
In verses 19-33, we find Jesus warning of the perks of His Kingdom. Persecution will come. You will be hated for His name's sake. (Get over yourself and don't take it personally. It's really not about you.) “ENDURE” and “FEAR NOT” are Jesus’ instructions.
“DO NOT THINK THAT I HAVE COME TO BRING PEACE TO THE EARTH. I HAVE NOT COME TO BRING PEACE, BUT A SWORD!!!
For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:34-38)
When you walk closely with Jesus and follow His leading and ordered steps, you will face persecution. The clashing of the Kingdoms manifest. The Kingdom of God clashes with the kingdom of darkeness of this fallen world. Following Christ means taking up your cross, and enduring as a good soldier. To know Him in the power of His resurrection you have to know Him as He suffered. This yielded surrendered life in Jesus will bring division and separation and sometimes even estrangement.
The division that Jesus comes to bring is separation from the fallen world and its satanic structured systems. “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:19)
“I have given them Your word and the world hated them, because they are not of this world, even as I am not of this world.” (John 17:16)
We cannot serve 2 masters and we cannot fully follow Christ if we have one foot in the world. If you truly desire to be chosen, you have to choose to follow Christ, whatever the cost. Know this……IT WILL COST YOU EVERYTHING !!!!
Romans 12:2 reminds us that we will be tested, but we have the ability to discern God’s will by renewing our minds to His Word, not the word and opinions of others.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
This reminds me of the old testament story of Job and all that he endured . Through every attack, loss, sickness, friends giving him unsolicited advice, even his own wife tried to get him to curse God and die. Job refused. He trusted God and endured to see everything he lost restored in even greater measure. Job was a man of faith.
On 9/23/25, I saw the translucent outline of a torso standing before me carrying a very large sword. I saw no face, no arms, no legs - just the torso with the large sword hanging diagonally across it. As I looked, I heard these words: “THE VISION MUST BE FORGED IN FAITH, FOR IT IS ONE THAT CAN NOT FAIL.”
What are you believing God for? What vision has He shown you? What steps has He ordered for you? Have you been obedient and now find yourself suffering because of it? Are you standing in faith, having done all that you can do? Are you now standing on His word?
Habakkuk 2:3: “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie, though it tarry, wait for it because it will surely come, wait for it.”