Are You Willing - Part 1

The gospel is recorded by Luke in chapter 12, reading verses 49 and 50. I am come to send fire on earth, and what will I if it be already kindled? That I have a baptism to be baptized with. Now I've been going to meetings, being old and antique as I am, I've been going to meetings for more than 70 years, all over the world. Pentecostal conferences, Methodist conferences, all kinds of conferences. I've heard the baptism of the Holy Spirit preached, I think, 50 different ways. You can go to the greatest conventions in America, and they'll put a notice up, we're going to preach about the baptism of the Holy Ghost. In 70 years I've never heard anyone preach on this text. I have a baptism. Jesus speaking of himself. But the first part of that verse is wonderful, verse 49. I am come to send fire on earth. You know, Charles Wesley gave us that lovely children's hymn, Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon the little child. But you know, some people never get past Gentle Jesus. Jesus is associated with fire. Now, the next time he comes, what is it, 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 says, he's coming with flaming angels, thousands of them. It would have been wonderful if he'd come like the first time. It would have been more impressive. But that wasn't God's plan. But he's going to come. But here he is, and he's saying to these disciples, I am come to send fire on earth. And what if it is already kindled? I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straightened until it be accomplished? I come to send fire. Again, the symbol of the church. I was preaching last Sunday night in a big church with a big cross of Jesus and one full of thieves. I reminded them that's pagan, that's not Christian, that's cruel. The cross is no symbol of Christianity. The symbol of Christianity is a tongue of fire that sat on the head of each of them. And now God is a consuming fire. I am come to send fire on earth. I've got to quote one of Wesley's hymns or you'll be disappointed, I'm sure. But Wesley has a wonderful hymn on this. He says, See how great a flame aspires, kindled by a spark of grace. Jesus loved the nation's fire, set the kingdom on ablaze. To bring fire on earth he kindled in some hearts it is. Oh, that all might catch the flame, all partake the glorious bliss. When he first the work began, small and feeble was the flame. Do you think now? I should have brought the hymn book, I'm getting forgetful. When he first the work began, small and feeble was its flame. Now the word does swiftly run, now it wins its widening way. More and more it spreads and grows, ever mighty to prevail. Sin's stronghold it now o'erthrows, and shakes the trembling gales of hell. Sons of God, you'll make a praise. He adored hath opened wide. He hath given the word of grace. Jesus' love is glorified. The last answer is, Saw ye not a cloud arise, little as a human hand? Now it spreads among the skies, spreads o'er all the thirsty land. Jesus mighty to prevail. I can't remember the last line. But you see he got the idea of a spark at the beginning, and gradually it blossoms out, it goes through the whole world. Now Wesley wrote that in 17, he wrote it in 17, I think 76. And yet it's prophetic because it's done that. More and more it spreads and grows, ever mighty to prevail. With the expansion of a thing usually there's a weakening. But when the church truly expands there's a strengthening. God never planned any failures for us. I am come to bring fire on earth, what will I if it be already kindled? I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straightened? Or Weymouth translates that, how am I pent up? I'm not free to let that flame go forward. This is my design. I want a kingdom of fire, and all the power of hell won't put that fire out. It's holy ghost fire against hell fire. And when the church is really on fire she is indeed the most attractive thing in the whole wide world. Supposing that I'm come to give peace on earth. Well that's what we love isn't it? Don't we recite from Isaiah? His name should be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace. Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. But listen to what Jesus says. You suppose I came to earth with peace. I tell you neighbor, rather division. For from henceforth there should be five in one house. Divided three against two, and two against three. The father should be divided against the son. The son against the father. And the mother against the daughter. And the daughter against the mother. The mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law. The daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law. And so he's making this prediction. Then verse 54 he says also, When ye see a cloud rise in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower, and so it is. When ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat, and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth. How is it that you cannot discern this time? What time? The fact that he was there, the Son of God. The fact that he was a culmination of all the prophets of all the ages. Jacob said, I shall see him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not nigh. A star shall arise out of Jacob, that to rule my people is, and here he is. They'd read over and over again, a virgin shall be with child. They'd read about his kingdom coming. And yet here they are, blind. They can discern the weather. They had their predictors in those days and fortunetellers. But he says, how is it you can't discern the time? You know, I believe God looks from heaven and says the same to us. I think he's saying, you dumb crowd. What do I have to do next to tell you? All these things around about us, didn't I tell you in the last days there'll be corrupt living, corrupt families, families divided, divorce, diseases, damnation. We finance damnation. We invest money in every cruel damnable thing that there is. We know the gospel isn't being preached. It's being diluted in a very, very tragic way. So it's for us again to discern the sign of the times. Now, I want to bear this out actually from the gospel according to Matthew. The 20th chapter, excuse me. Okay, are we in chapter 20 now? Matthew chapter 20.