Jesus came to bring division.

“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father 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 mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49-53

This is often the ‘pushed aside’ scripture / saying from Jesus. Why? It’s not very warm and friendly, and not what most see as Jesus’ role of why He came to earth. Yet –this scripture sits right in the open. But like SO many scriptures it just gets passed over because people don’t want to deal with the truths presented by them. These are the uncomfortable things Jesus said, that most pastors won’t touch in their sermons. Jesus came to bring division? How can that be when scriptures / Jesus also says this…?

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17: 20-26

What’s the difference? Those that are actually “with” Jesus whom He knows. Which leads to this statement from Jesus.

“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:22-23

So this directly leads to the question … does Jesus “know” me? Well … I would ask the reader… does Jesus’ Spirit reside within you? Is His Presence, Voice, and fruit of the Holy Spirit evident and manifest in your daily life? Would Jesus see Himself by the recognition of the Holy Spirit residing in your spirit, soul, and body and His preeminence over your heart and mind, by your own agreement of your will and surrender to Him…  daily? Life with Jesus isn’t just a one-time event. It’s a process, just like we see the process of growth and understanding… in a child till they become an adult / mature. Are we pursuing the spiritual ‘life’ with Him? Are we growing spiritually mature in Him? Are you going after spiritual maturity BEYOND the Sunday morning service sermon? Has the Holy Spirit actually become your main … spiritual Teacher? Does He lead you into areas He wants you to learn about beyond the confines of the 3^rd grade level sermons you listen to every Sunday morning, or Wednesday, or Thursday evenings?

Have you actually become a disciple of the Holy Spirit? Or are you still following another?

Here’s another statement from Jesus…

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26

So… what is the Holy Spirit reminding you about? Do you ever go beyond His prompting and His reminders of scripture and ask Him questions, and establish a conversation with Him about all the issues in your life?

Grow up spiritually.