Mat 11:7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the
crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A
reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man
dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’
palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you,
and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way
before you.’ 12 `And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the
reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by
force,
Are Christians called
to be violent? no not aggressively stopping gay marriages, but pressing
into the storehouse of the Kingdom of God through the Son of God, Jesus
Christ.
In the midsts of a
culture, and civilization filled with many different faiths, and gods,
and demonic principalities trying to influence and be part of humanity,
John offered redemption through repentance for our sins in having faith
in Jesus the Messiah.
John was not soft as
the Eunuchs of the temple, but he was a strong and loud prophet and
would not back down until his head got chopped off. He even scolded the
Pharisees as brood of vipers when they too came to be baptised! by him
so powerful was the prophetic annointing.
When John the Baptise,
baptized Jesus, their ministries merged and the prophecy became
fullifilled and the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven opened with the power
of God and the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit.
No more do we need to
sacrifice our children to the gods of fire, or to comply with the heavy
burdens of good works whether to be Holy and righteous, or to do actions
of love. All of our failures to love and to be righteous would not be
accounted unto us and we would not suffer diseases, and pain.
All of our sins, past,
present and future forgiven! much better than the best sale! during
Christmas, for our entire lives are freed from bondage in Christ Jesus.
The best part was that it was free! we need only to accept it, and
believe by faith that Christ paid for it on our behalf.
When John proclaimed
the coming of the Messiah, the Saviour of our souls, it was too
incredible to be believed, and it was simply through the baptism of
water for our sins, and to receive the coming Messiah.
They rushed forward to
receive it, coming to the desert, and when Jesus came, the prophecy was
fulfilled, and large crowds pressed into the desert seeking the Kingdom
of God, for the redemption of their soul, spirit and body.
Do you have the passion
to go to the desert to sought out Jesus violently? we are to raid the
kingdom of God of the blessings of God, of the redemptive power and
miracles?
Or do we stay in the
cities, content with the cultic faiths of Cybele with the many temple
prostitutes and eunuch priests!There are too many paths, to go after
carnal pleasure offered by a false god or do we seek the true Kingdom of
God.
Are we lame and soft
like the Eunuchs of the palace and the cultic faiths who are being
sexually penetrated by others or can we instead be agressive and
violent! to enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus was actually
asking the question in modern terms in Mat 11:7-12:-
If you want to find the effeminate cultist priests like the Eunuchs, you
would not find them in the desert but in the Palace. But you would find
John, a prophet, the greatest prophet for he would proclaim the Messiah.
From the time of creation, there was an awaiting for the announcement of
the coming of the Messiah proclaimed by John. All the prophets yearned
to see this day, and John was the greatest having the opportunity to
declare this very moment in history.
For the pressure has been mounting since the the start of the ministry
of John proclaiming the Messiah, and people have come to the desert with
great expectation with violent force pressing in to enter into the
Kingdom of God through the baptism unto repentance via John's ministry.
It was the violent force to see the fulfillment of John's prophecy of
the appearance of Jesus Christ.
The violent force of people following John, and now following Jesus
having come to raid the kingdom, to receive, to seek with great
expectation and determination the kingdom blessings of healing miracles,
and spiritual redemption.
The kingdom of the storehouse of the redemptive power, the blessings and
the miracles of God, sought and raided as people of faith presses in to
receive the fulfillment of John's prophecy in Christ Jesus.
There is a pounding violence when the Kingdom of God first came for men
to seek after it violently. There was a rushing in of people into the
kingdom of God as they await banging loudly at the door due to John's
prophecy.
Jesus was the fulfillment of John's prophecy, His death and resurrection
became our way to heaven to be in Christ, with the waters of baptism
cleansing us.
The violence has abated over the centuries, and men now look for God
looking through the past still debating whether Jesus was real, whether
the gifts of the spirit has ended, and the storehouse of the kingdom
closed. The resurrection of Jesus is stumbling block to the liberals,
and for many other religious faiths, the audacious claims that Jesus is
God Himself, and not only a prophet.
The Kingdom of God is at hand, and it is with us, in the power of the
Holy Spirit. Jesus is still with us when we remember His death and
resurrection though the breaking of bread and partaking of wine.
We remember, we re-enact His death and resurrection, and we draw the
power and reality of the Cross two thousand years ago to the time and
space when we are currently having communion.
Are we violent for the Kingdom of God, then aggressively seek God, His
truth and grace in Christ Jesus. For God wants His storehouse to be
raided by men whose heart is to seek after God.
You would find God only in the desert away from the attractions of men,
and where we see Jesus as lowly, meek and gentle, a reed swaying in the
desert.
Jesus is the shepherd taking care of His gentle lambs, and He leads us
to the rivers of life where the store house of heaven comes from.
Today, He asked us to feast, to eat of the abundance of God like in a
buffet - to be agressive in seeking and proclaiming God in our lives and
dire situations. For God wants the storehouse of heaven to come into our
lives today.
We are to force our way into the Kingdom of God, to push in to the light
of God. Be violent for God doesn't want us to be lame and soft like the
cultist eunuch priests of the palaces.
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