SPIRITUAL VIOLENCE REQUIRED

MEMORY VERSE: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 115-120, Proverbs 24

One day, Jesus was in a place teaching and everyone around gathered to listen to Him. People from neighboring villages heard He was around and they came too. (Within hours, the whole area was packed. Some had to stand because there was no place to sit). Everyone brought his or her challenges, sick friends and relatives to Jesus. After teaching, He began to minister to the sick, pray with those who wanted Him to agree with them in faith over a thing or other, counsel those that needed counseling, etc. As He was doing these, the disciples of John the Baptist arrived and asked, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? (Matthew 11:3)” In other words, are you the messiah, are you the one who the prophets prophesied about? He answered and said, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard (Matthew 11:4).”

As John’s disciples departed, Jesus began to testify about John the Baptist. He said, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12).” All the prophets before John prophesied of the coming messiah. They spoke of Him in obscured terms or represented him under dark shadows and figures. Whereas John spake of Him as already come, and in plain terms, directed people to His very person. John said in John 1:29, “...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” From the day, John started his ministry – preparing the way of the savior and pointing to Him as the way to access the kingdom of God - the kingdom of darkness have been doing everything it can to prevent people from accessing the kingdom of God and its benefits. As such, violence is required to access the kingdom of God and its benefits. Violence against every opposition is mandatory.

Your number ‘one’ opposition is Satan and his demons. All that he and his demons stand for must be treated with violence. This is why the bible admonishes us to resist him (James 4:7). The word ‘resist’ is a violent term. The word ‘resist’ implies that he will try to block you from accessing the kingdom of God and its benefit. Except you do something about him and his demons, they will block your way. As for his demons, the bible admonishes us to cast them out (Mark 16:17). The word ‘cast out’ is another violence term. You number ‘two’ opposition is the flesh. Mr Flesh is an ally of the devil and it does not want to please God but itself. The only way to deal with Mr Flesh is by mortifying it (Colossians 3:5), in other words keep it under. Deny it its cravings. Your number ‘three’ opposition is the world system of evil. The bible admonishes us not to conform to it (Romans 12:1-2). Last but not the least, ‘anyone’ who invites you to sin is an opposition and to deal with them say a Big No!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Matthew 11:12 says: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now.....” The word ‘now’ means ‘at the present moment’. The kingdom of heaven still suffers violence and this will continue until Christ returns.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me to stand firm against every opposition.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.