[Propertalk] Tidbits for sermon on Luke 12:49-56 - IV.

[Joe Parrish]

Even those who claim to study the "signs of our times" seem to get it wrong. They look for signs of when the world is going to end wowing people with millennial theories and all sorts of biblical prophecies. Yet, this is foolishness - a fool's use of time. We are not supposed to know when; even Jesus did not seek the answer to that question. 
They pour over the prophecies and tabulate the days, yet lives are being lost all around them. Lives for which we will all be held accountable. It is a state of self-congratulatory complacency in the midst of suffering. We pat ourselves on the back for a great worship service while a block away from our mega-church a child is told how stupid and unwanted she is by a parent who hasn't had their morning fix.
"Analyze this present time!" heralds our Lord.
This present time!

http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/Luke/lk_12_49-56.html

Source: Jerry Goebel: 2007 © http://onefamilyoutreach.com.
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If our world were nothing but a place of created goodness and profound beauty, a space of flourishing for all, just and life-giving for all in God's creation, then Jesus' challenge would be deeply troubling. If, on the other hand, our world is deeply marred and scarred, death-dealing for many life forms, with systems of meaning that are exploitative and nonsustainable, then redemption can come only when those systems are shattered and consumed by fire. Life cannot (re-) emerge without confrontation. This is the basis of the conflict Jesus envisions. He comes not to disturb a nice world but to shatter the disturbing and death-dealing systems of meaning that stifle life.

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=3116

Teresa Berger
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>From all of these [17 OT and 4 NT] verses, I believe that we can make the following generalizations about "fire" as it is used in the Bible:

(1) Fire is closely linked with the presence and the power of God.

(2) Fire is often used, either symbolically or literally, as an instrument of divine wrath, exercised against sinners, both Israelites and Gentiles.

(3) Biblical prophecy speaks of "fire" as yet to come, brought by God against sinners, both Gentiles and Jews. 

(4) The future fire of divine judgment is closely linked with the coming of Messiah.

(5) At the outset of Jesus' ministry, John the Baptist spoke of the coming Messiah as bringing fire.

On the basis of these premises, one can only conclude that the "fire" of which Jesus spoke is the same fire about which the prophets, including John the Baptist, spoke-the fire of divine wrath. When Jesus said that He had come to "kindle a fire" He is therefore saying that He has come to bring about the outpouring of God's wrath on sinful Israel.

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...there is, I believe, some allusion to the role of "authority" in this division. The division described out in these verses is all within the family, but it also crosses lines of authority. Fathers have authority over sons, as mothers have authority over daughters. Allegiance to Christ takes precedence over all other authority. Normally, we would expect that the Christian's faith would enhance his or her obedience to those in authority, as we see the Scriptures teaching (cf. Ephesians 5:21-6:10), but there will be times when we must obey God rather than men, and in these instances, division will occur, as well as at other times.

http://bible.org/seriespage/consequences-christs-coming-luke-1249-59

Bob Deffinbaugh - - - - -







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