1 00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:04,120 Luke chapter 12 please, and we'll read from 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:05,600 verse number 49. 3 00:00:05,820 --> 00:00:09,060 Now this reading might seem a little strange, 4 00:00:09,380 --> 00:00:10,380 I hope it does. 5 00:00:11,820 --> 00:00:15,340 Luke chapter 12 and verse 49 says this, 6 00:00:16,380 --> 00:00:19,940 the words of the Lord Jesus, I am 7 00:00:19,940 --> 00:00:22,740 come to send fire on the earth and 8 00:00:24,180 --> 00:00:26,160 what will it be or what will I 9 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,560 if it be already kindled but I have 10 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:31,940 a baptism to be baptized with and how 11 00:00:31,940 --> 00:00:34,580 am I straight and to let be accomplished 12 00:00:34,580 --> 00:00:38,300 suppose ye that I am come to give 13 00:00:38,300 --> 00:00:41,300 peace on earth I tell you nay but 14 00:00:41,300 --> 00:00:46,820 rather division for from henceforth there shall be 15 00:00:46,820 --> 00:00:49,380 five in one house divided three against two 16 00:00:49,380 --> 00:00:52,900 and two against three father shall be divided 17 00:00:52,900 --> 00:00:54,920 against the son the son against the father 18 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,500 the mother against the daughter and the daughter 19 00:00:57,500 --> 00:00:59,620 against the mother the mother-in-law against 20 00:00:59,620 --> 00:01:01,860 her daughter-in-law and the daughter-in 21 00:01:01,860 --> 00:01:05,620 -law against her mother-in-law and he 22 00:01:05,620 --> 00:01:07,260 said also to the people when you see 23 00:01:07,260 --> 00:01:09,940 a cloud rise out of the West straightway 24 00:01:09,940 --> 00:01:11,760 you see there cometh a shower and so 25 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,340 it is and when you see the south 26 00:01:14,340 --> 00:01:16,120 wind blow you see there will be heat 27 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,540 and it cometh to pass ye hypocrites ye 28 00:01:19,540 --> 00:01:21,320 can discern the face of the sky and 29 00:01:21,320 --> 00:01:23,280 of the earth but how is it that 30 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:27,100 you do not discern the time ye and 31 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:30,560 why even of yourselves judging judging not what 32 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,900 is right when thou goes with thine adversary 33 00:01:33,900 --> 00:01:36,500 to the magistrate as thou art in the 34 00:01:36,500 --> 00:01:38,600 way give diligence that thou mayest be delivered 35 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,480 from him lest he hail thee to the 36 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:43,200 judge and the judge deliver thee to the 37 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:45,180 officer and the officer cast thee into the 38 00:01:45,180 --> 00:01:47,860 prison I tell you I tell thee thou 39 00:01:47,860 --> 00:01:50,040 shalt not depart offence till thou has paid 40 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:54,560 the very last might that's our reading we 41 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,860 trust the Lord will bless it to us 42 00:01:56,860 --> 00:01:57,680 and I'm just going to get a drink 43 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:05,760 of water the subject of my short address 44 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:10,950 to you this afternoon is really contained within 45 00:02:10,950 --> 00:02:12,810 the verses that we've read and it's this 46 00:02:12,810 --> 00:02:22,590 Jesus divides Jesus divides that doesn't sound particularly 47 00:02:22,590 --> 00:02:25,930 good news the gospel says or the gospel 48 00:02:25,930 --> 00:02:28,330 word means good news and yet here is 49 00:02:28,330 --> 00:02:33,510 a message that is entitled Jesus divides well 50 00:02:34,890 --> 00:02:37,090 here's a little illustration taken from your fair 51 00:02:37,090 --> 00:02:39,970 land I don't know much about your geography 52 00:02:39,970 --> 00:02:43,530 but I know this that there is what 53 00:02:43,530 --> 00:02:46,650 they call the continental of the Great Divide 54 00:02:46,650 --> 00:02:50,050 I'm sure you know all about it and 55 00:02:50,050 --> 00:02:52,250 the continental of the Great Divide runs right 56 00:02:52,250 --> 00:02:54,350 down doesn't it through the whole continent from 57 00:02:54,350 --> 00:02:58,110 the Rocky Mountains down and I suppose you 58 00:02:58,110 --> 00:03:01,050 would have learned in school that that Great 59 00:03:01,050 --> 00:03:04,650 Divide has a significance for your rainfall the 60 00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:08,060 rain that falls in the west of the 61 00:03:08,060 --> 00:03:11,520 Great Divide that imaginary line so to speak 62 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:16,920 it all flows west and all goes to 63 00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:21,280 the Pacific the rain that falls on the 64 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,020 east of the Great Divide goes into rivers 65 00:03:24,020 --> 00:03:27,740 that all go east and to the Atlantic 66 00:03:27,740 --> 00:03:32,580 you see the ultimate destination of the rain 67 00:03:32,580 --> 00:03:35,920 that falls is determined upon which side of 68 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,220 the divide it falls west of the Great 69 00:03:39,220 --> 00:03:41,700 Divide the Pacific east of the Great Divide 70 00:03:41,700 --> 00:03:43,940 the Atlantic and that divide goes right down 71 00:03:43,940 --> 00:03:48,230 the continent and that really is a picture 72 00:03:48,230 --> 00:03:50,710 of what this is saying in this section 73 00:03:50,710 --> 00:03:56,300 that the Lord Jesus Christ spiritually is like 74 00:03:56,300 --> 00:04:02,580 that Great Divide in your land whatever side 75 00:04:02,580 --> 00:04:05,540 you are on in relation to him will 76 00:04:05,540 --> 00:04:13,340 determine your ultimate eternal destination without exception the 77 00:04:13,340 --> 00:04:15,820 rain that's falling over New Jersey at the 78 00:04:15,820 --> 00:04:17,839 moment isn't going to land in the Pacific 79 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:25,800 never you see it determined by which side 80 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,960 of the Great Divide it landed and when 81 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:30,420 it landed in one side of the Great 82 00:04:30,420 --> 00:04:33,220 Divide it traveled in a distance determined by 83 00:04:33,220 --> 00:04:36,400 where it landed out to a destination determined 84 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,020 by the direction that it traveled and there 85 00:04:39,020 --> 00:04:43,240 was absolutely no exception spiritually it's the same 86 00:04:44,810 --> 00:04:47,790 the Lord Jesus Christ is the Great Divide 87 00:04:47,790 --> 00:04:53,410 for time and eternity determined determining whether we 88 00:04:53,410 --> 00:04:57,850 will travel a journey in life out into 89 00:04:57,850 --> 00:05:00,850 eternity toward heaven or whether we will travel 90 00:05:00,850 --> 00:05:05,630 in our journey toward what toward hell and 91 00:05:05,630 --> 00:05:09,510 toward judge excuse me judgment and towards separation 92 00:05:09,510 --> 00:05:13,650 from God and where we stand in relation 93 00:05:13,650 --> 00:05:17,170 to Christ determines that journey and destination without 94 00:05:17,170 --> 00:05:22,630 exception so here's the question I know you're 95 00:05:22,630 --> 00:05:28,950 sitting but metaphorically where are you standing in 96 00:05:28,950 --> 00:05:33,960 relation to Christ there are only two positions 97 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:38,820 to have in relation to Christ you're either 98 00:05:38,820 --> 00:05:43,760 for him or you're against him you either 99 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,620 trust him or you don't you're either saved 100 00:05:46,620 --> 00:05:49,860 by him or you're not he's either your 101 00:05:49,860 --> 00:05:52,300 Savior and Lord or he's not you cannot 102 00:05:52,300 --> 00:05:55,600 have a third position there's not a third 103 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:57,980 way there's third ways in politics there's no 104 00:05:57,980 --> 00:06:01,340 third way spiritually it is either yes or 105 00:06:01,340 --> 00:06:03,420 no for or against so I ask you 106 00:06:03,420 --> 00:06:09,810 again where are you standing in relation to 107 00:06:09,810 --> 00:06:16,500 Christ a lot of youngsters here and those 108 00:06:16,500 --> 00:06:17,760 I can't see all of you I can 109 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,380 see most of you even those of you 110 00:06:19,380 --> 00:06:21,720 big hats on I can see you I 111 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,020 was seven when I get saved I've told 112 00:06:26,020 --> 00:06:30,360 you that before and even at the age 113 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,780 of seven I knew I needed to trust 114 00:06:33,780 --> 00:06:37,240 the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved for 115 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,240 all eternity I didn't know much more than 116 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:44,180 that but I knew that and because I 117 00:06:44,180 --> 00:06:46,320 knew that I decided to trust him because 118 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,320 he had died for me and across and 119 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,280 risen again from the dead and that was 120 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:52,820 enough to know in order to be saved 121 00:06:52,820 --> 00:06:58,020 that was enough and it's enough tonight you 122 00:06:58,020 --> 00:06:59,860 might be 70 or you might be 7 123 00:06:59,860 --> 00:07:01,740 or you might be some other age but 124 00:07:01,740 --> 00:07:04,040 if you're understanding what I'm saying then you're 125 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,340 old enough to trust the Lord Jesus Christ 126 00:07:06,340 --> 00:07:09,740 as your Savior young or old what side 127 00:07:09,740 --> 00:07:12,220 of Christ do you stand upon the Lord 128 00:07:12,220 --> 00:07:14,700 Jesus speaks of this he's speaking to thousands 129 00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:17,080 of people he's preaching a sermon that we 130 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,800 won't go into that had not three points 131 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,300 but five points shock horror a preacher with 132 00:07:23,300 --> 00:07:25,900 five he five points in his sermon and 133 00:07:25,900 --> 00:07:27,960 he preached it to that audience that day 134 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:33,040 and he was bringing home spiritual truth to 135 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,660 bear upon the people and not everyone was 136 00:07:35,660 --> 00:07:38,220 pleased to hear it surprise surprise but they 137 00:07:38,220 --> 00:07:42,260 listened and his first point really was just 138 00:07:42,260 --> 00:07:44,860 this turn away from the influence of false 139 00:07:44,860 --> 00:07:48,920 religion that's what he preached I won't take 140 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,560 you one step nearer to eternity with God 141 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:56,610 in heaven turn away from false religion and 142 00:07:56,610 --> 00:08:00,350 then secondly he preached stop fearing man fear 143 00:08:00,350 --> 00:08:02,670 God don't fear man who can destroy the 144 00:08:02,670 --> 00:08:05,010 body but fear God who can destroy both 145 00:08:05,010 --> 00:08:07,810 body and soul and hell fear God who 146 00:08:07,810 --> 00:08:11,430 will determine your eternal destination and your spiritual 147 00:08:11,430 --> 00:08:18,090 welfare fear him don't fear men now maybe 148 00:08:18,090 --> 00:08:19,350 I'll be that some of you are sitting 149 00:08:19,350 --> 00:08:23,530 there and you're not saved and the reason 150 00:08:23,530 --> 00:08:27,750 you're not saved is that you're afraid of 151 00:08:27,750 --> 00:08:32,030 what people will say or you're afraid of 152 00:08:32,030 --> 00:08:35,929 the unknown or you're afraid of losing things 153 00:08:35,929 --> 00:08:39,650 in your life because of this decision well 154 00:08:39,650 --> 00:08:42,070 at least you understand that this decision will 155 00:08:42,070 --> 00:08:45,670 have consequence and it will and you may 156 00:08:45,670 --> 00:08:47,830 lose things but you will gain that which 157 00:08:47,830 --> 00:08:50,950 overshadows all you may lose if you gain 158 00:08:50,950 --> 00:08:56,670 Christ stop fearing men then he preached that 159 00:08:56,670 --> 00:09:01,430 you need to confess Christ before men as 160 00:09:01,430 --> 00:09:03,970 your Lord and Savior he's preaching this he 161 00:09:03,970 --> 00:09:06,070 preached that you need to reject the love 162 00:09:06,070 --> 00:09:08,890 of material things and pursue the kingdom of 163 00:09:08,890 --> 00:09:12,430 God through faith in Jesus Christ and lastly 164 00:09:12,430 --> 00:09:15,330 he preached that this is a matter of 165 00:09:15,330 --> 00:09:20,050 absolute urgency for the Son of Man is 166 00:09:20,050 --> 00:09:21,950 coming at an hour that you do not 167 00:09:21,950 --> 00:09:24,710 expect that was one of his points and 168 00:09:26,210 --> 00:09:28,070 so he's preached his sermon now he comes 169 00:09:28,070 --> 00:09:32,510 to the crunch point decision time that's always 170 00:09:32,510 --> 00:09:35,870 really the end of all gospel preaching or 171 00:09:35,870 --> 00:09:39,190 within all gospel preaching there needs to be 172 00:09:39,190 --> 00:09:40,890 a decision and there needs to be the 173 00:09:40,890 --> 00:09:44,630 requirement of a decision decision time the Lord 174 00:09:44,630 --> 00:09:46,410 Jesus knew that and so he gave the 175 00:09:46,410 --> 00:09:48,910 people the information they required he gave the 176 00:09:48,910 --> 00:09:51,850 people the the challenge of the information but 177 00:09:51,850 --> 00:09:55,590 he didn't just leave it there he brought 178 00:09:55,590 --> 00:09:57,390 them to the point of decision and that's 179 00:09:57,390 --> 00:10:02,890 where we entered into our text and so 180 00:10:02,890 --> 00:10:05,130 he brings the decision to bear upon them 181 00:10:05,130 --> 00:10:07,210 in this way now follow this with me 182 00:10:07,210 --> 00:10:08,170 I know it's the end of a day 183 00:10:08,170 --> 00:10:10,650 and most of you have been sitting for 184 00:10:10,650 --> 00:10:13,330 a long time but you've not long to 185 00:10:13,330 --> 00:10:17,030 go now so follow this with me if 186 00:10:17,030 --> 00:10:21,410 you would he said this I have come 187 00:10:21,410 --> 00:10:27,650 I am come to send fire on the 188 00:10:27,650 --> 00:10:32,210 earth the Lord Jesus was using that language 189 00:10:32,210 --> 00:10:36,390 to describe his mission here upon earth it's 190 00:10:36,390 --> 00:10:39,970 graphic language elsewhere he will say I am 191 00:10:39,970 --> 00:10:42,850 come that they might have life and they 192 00:10:42,850 --> 00:10:45,690 might have it more abundantly but here there's 193 00:10:45,690 --> 00:10:48,270 a different aspect to his coming he says 194 00:10:48,270 --> 00:10:50,410 not that I am come to seek and 195 00:10:50,410 --> 00:10:52,170 to save that which is lost that's another 196 00:10:52,170 --> 00:10:54,390 aspect but he says not that I've come 197 00:10:54,390 --> 00:10:56,510 to be a light that's another aspect he 198 00:10:56,510 --> 00:10:59,270 says I've come what I have come to 199 00:10:59,270 --> 00:11:05,360 send fire on the earth he's speaking about 200 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:09,300 his message his message his mission and he's 201 00:11:09,300 --> 00:11:12,580 speaking about the gospel and he's saying this 202 00:11:12,580 --> 00:11:15,020 will be kindled at the cross it hasn't 203 00:11:15,020 --> 00:11:16,900 been kindled yet he says but it's going 204 00:11:16,900 --> 00:11:18,700 to be kindled at the cross and it 205 00:11:18,700 --> 00:11:21,040 will spark a light and it will spread 206 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:28,210 across the whole world like wildfire I was 207 00:11:28,210 --> 00:11:35,170 in Halifax last weekend and I landed and 208 00:11:35,170 --> 00:11:39,990 there was wildfires in Halifax I didn't know 209 00:11:39,990 --> 00:11:44,330 that but it's a big emergency and rightly 210 00:11:44,330 --> 00:11:48,910 so people were losing property and authorities were 211 00:11:48,910 --> 00:11:51,130 you know they were under so much pressure 212 00:11:51,130 --> 00:11:54,490 trying to contain the wildfires because the fires 213 00:11:54,490 --> 00:11:57,650 had got out of control and they were 214 00:11:57,650 --> 00:11:59,450 spreading at up speeds of up to a 215 00:11:59,450 --> 00:12:01,910 hundred miles an hour you can hardly envisage 216 00:12:01,910 --> 00:12:03,870 that well I can't because you know our 217 00:12:03,870 --> 00:12:06,150 country's so full of rain that fire doesn't 218 00:12:06,150 --> 00:12:08,730 spread anywhere but you know these wildfires were 219 00:12:08,730 --> 00:12:10,490 going at a hundred miles an hour and 220 00:12:10,490 --> 00:12:12,850 they were spreading all over the place and 221 00:12:12,850 --> 00:12:15,390 taking everything in their path the Lord Jesus 222 00:12:15,390 --> 00:12:18,590 said I have come and there's something going 223 00:12:18,590 --> 00:12:20,950 to be kindled at the cross so he 224 00:12:20,950 --> 00:12:23,690 speaks about and it's going to spread like 225 00:12:23,690 --> 00:12:27,250 wildfire across the world and it did it 226 00:12:27,250 --> 00:12:32,520 did and the gospel spread from city to 227 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,080 city it spread from town to town it 228 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,660 spread from nation to nation it's come across 229 00:12:37,660 --> 00:12:41,540 continents it's been unstoppable it is encompassed the 230 00:12:41,540 --> 00:12:45,280 globe the Lord Jesus said my mission is 231 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,480 to send this fire across the world and 232 00:12:49,790 --> 00:12:55,820 it's come and it's come as far as 233 00:12:55,820 --> 00:12:59,700 here right throughout your nation that's come here 234 00:12:59,700 --> 00:13:06,000 tonight and this purpose this mission that he 235 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:10,280 speaks about he says this mission is only 236 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:14,400 possible because he says I have a baptism 237 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:18,680 to be baptized with and he says how 238 00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:20,800 am I straightened until it be accomplished he's 239 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,020 anticipating an experience that he will undergo that 240 00:13:24,020 --> 00:13:26,380 will set this fire and set the world 241 00:13:26,380 --> 00:13:32,750 ablaze he uses this analogy of a baptism 242 00:13:32,750 --> 00:13:34,810 in other words he's going to be immersed 243 00:13:34,810 --> 00:13:39,750 in something he's speaking about being immersed in 244 00:13:39,750 --> 00:13:42,030 the flood of suffering and the flood of 245 00:13:42,030 --> 00:13:44,930 pain and judgment and wrath that will experience 246 00:13:44,930 --> 00:13:47,530 that he'll experience at the cross of Calvary 247 00:13:47,530 --> 00:13:52,210 and he's anticipating this and it's gripping his 248 00:13:52,210 --> 00:13:54,630 soul and it's such a major thing it 249 00:13:54,630 --> 00:13:56,690 was the purpose of his coming he came 250 00:13:56,690 --> 00:13:59,370 to suffer and to bleed and die in 251 00:13:59,370 --> 00:14:01,850 order for this message of the gospel to 252 00:14:01,850 --> 00:14:05,550 spread across the world so the very heart 253 00:14:05,550 --> 00:14:10,820 of the message but you see this message 254 00:14:10,820 --> 00:14:12,520 is all about the cross and this message 255 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,820 is all about forgiveness and salvation and judgment 256 00:14:15,820 --> 00:14:17,420 and the truth of it is just this 257 00:14:17,420 --> 00:14:19,700 that the Lord Jesus Christ came from heaven 258 00:14:19,700 --> 00:14:22,420 and he'll preach it elsewhere he came from 259 00:14:22,420 --> 00:14:25,340 heaven to die upon a cross to be 260 00:14:25,340 --> 00:14:30,940 immersed to suffer to be completely overwhelmed by 261 00:14:30,940 --> 00:14:35,580 the judgment of God against sin he came 262 00:14:35,580 --> 00:14:38,100 as a Savior he came to give himself 263 00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:40,900 and sacrifice to pay the price of sin 264 00:14:40,900 --> 00:14:42,820 so that sinners like you and me can 265 00:14:42,820 --> 00:14:46,520 be forgiven and such was the value and 266 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,000 worth of his life and his death and 267 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:51,400 his resurrection that God is able to come 268 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,340 out in the gospel not just to a 269 00:14:53,340 --> 00:14:57,780 single location but all over the world with 270 00:14:57,780 --> 00:15:01,020 this message of forgiveness and salvation that is 271 00:15:01,020 --> 00:15:04,920 accomplished and received through trusting the Lord Jesus 272 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:09,940 Christ as your Savior the gospel and the 273 00:15:09,940 --> 00:15:11,960 gospel is built it's not a message that 274 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,760 some man-made philosophy it's not a message 275 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,920 that comes and goes with fashions it's not 276 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,940 some philosophical thinking that comes back to Greeks 277 00:15:19,940 --> 00:15:24,440 or Athenians or Romans or whatever this message 278 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,820 is based upon the reality and the history 279 00:15:27,820 --> 00:15:31,380 and the three-dimensional experience of Jesus Christ 280 00:15:31,380 --> 00:15:35,180 on that cross the gospel is a message 281 00:15:35,180 --> 00:15:38,700 based upon an experience and and the cross 282 00:15:38,700 --> 00:15:41,480 is something that was marked by the blood 283 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,540 and the gore and the violence and the 284 00:15:44,540 --> 00:15:48,160 suffering of crucifixion and the wrath of God 285 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,160 falling upon his son and causing him to 286 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:55,020 suffer and to bleed and die the price 287 00:15:55,020 --> 00:15:59,320 of salvation that's offered this evening is immeasurable 288 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,720 and it was only Christ that could pay 289 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:05,520 it and he paid it in full and 290 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:10,100 he paid it in blood and the gospel 291 00:16:10,100 --> 00:16:13,200 is a message that's built upon the firm 292 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,120 righteous foundation of the finished work of Christ 293 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,920 at the cross it's not full of holes 294 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:22,860 you can't argue it away you'll not find 295 00:16:22,860 --> 00:16:24,600 errors in it you'll not find a weakness 296 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,780 in it it's solid it's real it's historical 297 00:16:27,780 --> 00:16:34,870 it's fact it's accomplished and it spreads spreads 298 00:16:34,870 --> 00:16:45,000 and as it spreads it divides and so 299 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,500 he says this suppose ye that I am 300 00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:49,740 come to give peace on earth oh we 301 00:16:49,740 --> 00:16:52,280 sing about at Christmas I'm not gonna sing 302 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:53,760 it to you but peace on earth peace 303 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,780 on earth well there will be peace on 304 00:16:56,780 --> 00:16:59,420 earth but before that ever could be peace 305 00:16:59,420 --> 00:17:01,080 on the earth the required to be this 306 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:05,339 first upon earth he says I am come 307 00:17:05,339 --> 00:17:07,760 to bring division what's the division the division 308 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:12,880 happens when the fire spreads you know up 309 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:14,940 there in Halifax in these wildfires it was 310 00:17:14,940 --> 00:17:16,660 quite important which side of the fire you 311 00:17:16,660 --> 00:17:21,030 were on but as the fire came through 312 00:17:21,030 --> 00:17:24,530 at a devastating effect that's what the gospel 313 00:17:24,530 --> 00:17:27,490 does let's not think that the gospel is 314 00:17:27,490 --> 00:17:30,190 some religion that we can pay mental assent 315 00:17:30,190 --> 00:17:32,770 to or smile at the gospel is a 316 00:17:32,770 --> 00:17:39,170 message of devastation it devastates our pride it 317 00:17:39,170 --> 00:17:42,510 devastates our self-righteousness it takes away from 318 00:17:42,510 --> 00:17:45,210 under our feet all our religious hopes and 319 00:17:45,210 --> 00:17:49,130 all our feelings of superiority and satisfaction and 320 00:17:49,130 --> 00:17:54,910 it absolutely devastates it it brings home the 321 00:17:54,910 --> 00:17:57,970 reality of our standing before God and brings 322 00:17:57,970 --> 00:18:00,590 the truth of our sinnership to us that 323 00:18:00,590 --> 00:18:03,270 we're sinners and we are we are without 324 00:18:03,270 --> 00:18:06,970 any not that we've got no value that's 325 00:18:06,970 --> 00:18:09,430 not correct we were without any standing before 326 00:18:09,430 --> 00:18:12,730 God on our own merits that's a devastating 327 00:18:12,730 --> 00:18:18,740 message to hear but it also divides the 328 00:18:23,250 --> 00:18:29,130 Lord Jesus said this it divides families it's 329 00:18:32,810 --> 00:18:37,290 divided my family I have a brother who's 330 00:18:37,290 --> 00:18:46,860 not saved he says the father shall be 331 00:18:46,860 --> 00:18:53,180 divided against the son and the son against 332 00:18:53,180 --> 00:18:57,810 the father the mother against the daughter the 333 00:18:57,810 --> 00:18:59,470 daughter against the mother the mother-in-law 334 00:18:59,470 --> 00:19:02,110 get what's he say he said even the 335 00:19:02,110 --> 00:19:05,970 closest relationships that you can have upon earth 336 00:19:05,970 --> 00:19:10,290 the family are divided by the gospel salvation 337 00:19:10,290 --> 00:19:13,810 is not a family affair salvation is not 338 00:19:13,810 --> 00:19:17,810 a group thing salvation is individual response to 339 00:19:17,810 --> 00:19:20,550 the gospel and because your dad is saved 340 00:19:20,550 --> 00:19:22,850 doesn't mean you are saved and because you 341 00:19:22,850 --> 00:19:25,030 are saved doesn't mean your dad is saved 342 00:19:25,030 --> 00:19:27,190 and so you can come on the gospel 343 00:19:27,190 --> 00:19:31,490 divides because it's an individual response to the 344 00:19:31,490 --> 00:19:34,710 gospel that's the response that's required and you 345 00:19:34,710 --> 00:19:37,630 cannot decide for someone else if I could 346 00:19:37,630 --> 00:19:39,970 decide for my brother I would decide tonight 347 00:19:39,970 --> 00:19:43,910 if I could pay for his salvation I'd 348 00:19:43,910 --> 00:19:48,660 give you everything I've got but he can't 349 00:19:48,660 --> 00:19:50,460 pay for it and I can't pay for 350 00:19:50,460 --> 00:19:52,740 it and I can't decide for him he 351 00:19:52,740 --> 00:19:55,040 needs to decide for himself and until he 352 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:59,600 does the gospel is dividing my family some 353 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:01,140 that are saved and some that are not 354 00:20:01,140 --> 00:20:04,360 and I suspect the gospel is dividing some 355 00:20:04,360 --> 00:20:10,670 families in here you may have sat at 356 00:20:10,670 --> 00:20:15,540 the back that's okay but you're not outside 357 00:20:15,540 --> 00:20:17,760 of the reach of my voice nor of 358 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:23,490 the challenge of the gospel if you and 359 00:20:23,490 --> 00:20:28,780 your family are divided by the gospel this 360 00:20:28,780 --> 00:20:35,680 is for you and he brings that devastating 361 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:39,140 divisive effect of the gospel to be not 362 00:20:39,140 --> 00:20:42,100 to scare us not to intimidate us but 363 00:20:42,100 --> 00:20:44,540 to waken us up so that we might 364 00:20:44,540 --> 00:20:48,520 decide for Christ to remove complacency to think 365 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:50,080 that all's well because I'm brought up in 366 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,160 a family where Christ is honored or brought 367 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:53,740 up in a family where everyone's saved and 368 00:20:53,740 --> 00:20:58,410 I'll get saved some point this is urgent 369 00:20:58,410 --> 00:21:00,770 this is your decision and if you don't 370 00:21:00,770 --> 00:21:03,050 decide for Christ you'll not only be separated 371 00:21:03,050 --> 00:21:05,590 in time but you'll be separated in eternity 372 00:21:07,030 --> 00:21:12,080 that's a sobering thing to say but it's 373 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:19,640 true it's true so the Lord Jesus Christ 374 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:23,280 is going to tell two stories to bring 375 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:27,660 to bear upon people the urgency of the 376 00:21:27,660 --> 00:21:32,180 opportunity and the necessity of acting now so 377 00:21:34,780 --> 00:21:36,760 he says this you will all get this 378 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,860 here he could have told this story in 379 00:21:38,860 --> 00:21:43,000 this area he said to the people in 380 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,900 verse 54 when you see a cloud rise 381 00:21:45,900 --> 00:21:47,680 out of the West straightway you see there 382 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,180 cometh a shower and so it is he 383 00:21:50,180 --> 00:21:53,300 says you know by looking at the sky 384 00:21:53,300 --> 00:21:55,220 you can work out by looking at the 385 00:21:55,220 --> 00:21:58,420 sky you can read the sky you know 386 00:21:58,420 --> 00:22:02,100 of rains coming you're all talking about rain 387 00:22:02,100 --> 00:22:03,860 coming at the moment the fact it's not 388 00:22:03,860 --> 00:22:06,480 coming and as soon as you see the 389 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,260 signs in the sky you'll know you'll know 390 00:22:09,260 --> 00:22:12,000 some of you can taste it in the 391 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,960 air the old fishermen back in Scotland used 392 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:16,980 to be able to taste the weather out 393 00:22:16,980 --> 00:22:18,780 in the sea and they knew what was 394 00:22:18,780 --> 00:22:20,260 coming I don't know how they did it 395 00:22:20,260 --> 00:22:24,800 they just knew and he's saying that's true 396 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,980 that's accurate and then he says when you 397 00:22:27,980 --> 00:22:29,800 see the south wind blow you say there'll 398 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,240 be heat he says you're reading the weather 399 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:37,480 by the signs in the sky and you're 400 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:41,440 doing it accurately and you're right and you're 401 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,480 basing your life you're basing your farming you're 402 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,180 basing your day upon what you see in 403 00:22:48,180 --> 00:22:51,920 the sky you're reading the signs and you're 404 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:56,490 responding here upon earth just put that in 405 00:22:56,490 --> 00:23:00,690 your mind I wonder if you and I 406 00:23:00,690 --> 00:23:02,550 spend more time worrying about the weather than 407 00:23:02,550 --> 00:23:06,780 we do about our soul is that so 408 00:23:08,410 --> 00:23:11,390 are we experts in the weather and completely 409 00:23:11,390 --> 00:23:14,430 ignorant and the spiritual realities all around us 410 00:23:15,740 --> 00:23:18,740 you see evidence in the sky but what 411 00:23:18,740 --> 00:23:20,440 about the evidence in the Word of God 412 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:22,300 and in the lives of those round about 413 00:23:22,300 --> 00:23:26,140 us would you not read that and respond 414 00:23:26,140 --> 00:23:28,720 to that as you respond to this and 415 00:23:30,610 --> 00:23:33,690 then he's got a second little story to 416 00:23:33,690 --> 00:23:35,290 tell not just so much the weather in 417 00:23:35,290 --> 00:23:38,530 the sky but he says look ye hypocrites 418 00:23:38,530 --> 00:23:40,710 you discern the face of the sky and 419 00:23:40,710 --> 00:23:42,150 of the earth but how is it that 420 00:23:42,150 --> 00:23:43,890 you do not discern this thing he says 421 00:23:43,890 --> 00:23:47,010 listen you hypocrites you read the sky you 422 00:23:47,010 --> 00:23:48,970 know what's going to happen and so you 423 00:23:48,970 --> 00:23:51,770 act accordingly he says that you cannot look 424 00:23:51,770 --> 00:23:54,890 around yourself and understand that time is short 425 00:23:54,890 --> 00:24:02,200 the spiritual realities that you face then he 426 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:06,060 says this listen why even of yourselves judge 427 00:24:06,060 --> 00:24:07,500 ye not what is right when you go 428 00:24:07,500 --> 00:24:09,940 to thine adversary with your adversary to the 429 00:24:09,940 --> 00:24:13,200 magistrate he says listen you've got a problem 430 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:14,620 with someone else and you're going to the 431 00:24:14,620 --> 00:24:17,140 court to get it sorted what's the wise 432 00:24:17,140 --> 00:24:20,480 thing to do speaking as an ex-lawyer 433 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:22,740 I can tell you this is true you're 434 00:24:22,740 --> 00:24:24,540 far better getting the thing sorted before you 435 00:24:24,540 --> 00:24:28,730 get to the court far better getting this 436 00:24:28,730 --> 00:24:31,190 sorted before you get to the court you 437 00:24:31,190 --> 00:24:32,730 take a big risk if you go to 438 00:24:32,730 --> 00:24:34,530 that court that things aren't going to go 439 00:24:34,530 --> 00:24:38,810 your way and so the wise thing to 440 00:24:38,810 --> 00:24:41,410 do before ever you put your case in 441 00:24:41,410 --> 00:24:43,270 the hands of the judge is get it 442 00:24:43,270 --> 00:24:46,610 sorted out before you get there can I 443 00:24:46,610 --> 00:24:50,230 tell you this the wise thing to do 444 00:24:50,230 --> 00:24:53,610 spiritually is to get your life sorted now 445 00:24:53,610 --> 00:24:57,690 before ever you face a judge in eternity 446 00:24:57,690 --> 00:25:01,300 you don't want to put your case into 447 00:25:01,300 --> 00:25:06,030 his hands we do not want to live 448 00:25:06,030 --> 00:25:08,630 and then die and find herself before the 449 00:25:08,630 --> 00:25:10,910 the throne of God the great white throne 450 00:25:10,910 --> 00:25:13,790 and receive his righteous judgment upon our life 451 00:25:13,790 --> 00:25:16,250 which will be that we are sinners without 452 00:25:16,250 --> 00:25:19,070 forgiveness and therefore we need to experience the 453 00:25:19,070 --> 00:25:22,950 righteous wrath of God throughout all eternity the 454 00:25:22,950 --> 00:25:25,670 time to get yourself right with God is 455 00:25:25,670 --> 00:25:29,150 not then that's too late it's now you're 456 00:25:29,150 --> 00:25:31,950 on a journey toward that judgment get right 457 00:25:31,950 --> 00:25:36,690 with God now now is the accepted time 458 00:25:36,690 --> 00:25:43,710 now is the day of salvation so here 459 00:25:43,710 --> 00:25:46,050 is my little challenge at the end of 460 00:25:46,050 --> 00:25:51,270 my message Lord Jesus Christ came in a 461 00:25:51,270 --> 00:25:56,520 mission that mission was to suffer and bleed 462 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,140 and die on the cross to provide salvation 463 00:25:59,140 --> 00:26:03,500 for guilty sinners the news of which spread 464 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:07,890 across the world like wildfire and every time 465 00:26:07,890 --> 00:26:09,850 it's preached and every time it spreads it 466 00:26:09,850 --> 00:26:14,210 divides let me ask you again upon which 467 00:26:14,210 --> 00:26:18,310 side do you stand are you for Christ 468 00:26:18,310 --> 00:26:25,030 or against him this is urgent read the 469 00:26:25,030 --> 00:26:28,890 signs this is urgent get right with God 470 00:26:28,890 --> 00:26:31,870 while you can before you ever meet him 471 00:26:31,870 --> 00:26:36,130 in the great eternity and experience his judgment 472 00:26:36,130 --> 00:26:44,280 Jesus divides and I wonder this evening what 473 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:45,780 an end to the conference it would be 474 00:26:47,350 --> 00:26:50,450 some soul here decides that that division will 475 00:26:50,450 --> 00:26:53,610 no longer exist I'm going to trust Christ 476 00:26:53,610 --> 00:26:56,430 and I'm going to trust him now simply 477 00:26:56,430 --> 00:27:01,230 accept him in my heart right now and 478 00:27:01,230 --> 00:27:05,150 take him as my Savior and be saved 479 00:27:05,150 --> 00:27:09,390 for the great eternity I trust you will 480 00:27:09,390 --> 00:27:12,570 don't put it off don't delay trust him 481 00:27:12,570 --> 00:27:15,210 where you are trust him now and receive 482 00:27:15,210 --> 00:27:18,930 him as your personal Lord and Savior