Get Violent!

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

Let’s make it clear at the outset that neither God nor I advocate terrorism, as that isn’t the kind of violence Jesus talked about here.  Jesus’ kind of “violence” is the opposite of passivity and complacency.  Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven suffering violence by the violent.  What was He talking about and who were these violent people?

I believe that the people who touched Jesus’ clothes to get healed and came to His meetings to be healed (often bringing the sick and demonized) were being spiritually violent. They did not sit around waiting for God to do something in His “sovereignty” about their problems.  They TOOK their answer.  That is what Jesus said to do in Mark 11:24, where He literally told us to TAKE whatever it is we’re asking for in prayer.

Do you know why we have so many persistent problems?  We haven’t gotten violent.  We haven’t had the attitude, “I won’t settle for anything other than what God said!”  We’ve gotten complacent and thought, “Well, everyone else deals with this stuff too; I guess it’s just part of life.  I know other good Christians who deal with the same junk.”  We’ve gotten passive and thought, “I’m just waiting on God to get around to giving this to me.”  But whatever you need is already yours as far as God is concerned (Ephesians 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3).  It isn’t up to God to give you things, it’s up to you to TAKE what He’s already given you legally!

While you’re getting violent, you need to get ANGRY at what the devil is doing in your life – so ANGRY that you won’t just sit there and put up with his garbage anymore.  As I say elsewhere in this book, there are two common five-word faith killers: “If it be Thy will” and “I can live with it.”  Until you’re discontent to live with it and will only be satisfied to live WITHOUT it, you will probably keep your problem.

Do you really want the DEVIL to have his way in your blood-bought body?  Jesus rebuked a fever the same way He rebuked a demon (Luke 4:38-39), so you know HE hates sickness with a passion!  So should you!

So get violent and take things from the kingdom of God by force!