Introduction

The term, "violent" means "to use force on; to use power; to assault; to afflict; to oppress; or to constrain." What must we use force on? Who must we use power on? Who must we afflict? Who must we oppress? What must we constrain? Who are to be the violent?

Main Points:

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. {suffereth...: or, is gotten by force, and they that thrust men}

• Who are to be the violent? Well, it is the Christians. Who must we behave violently against? Clearly the devil, and his agents. The characteristics of a violent Christian are:
  • Someone who Strives: "STRIVE to enter"
    Luke 13:24

    Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

  • Someone who Contends: "Earnestly CONTEND"
    Jude 1:3

    Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort {you} that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

  • Someone who Wrestles: "We WRESTLE"
    Ephesians 6:12

    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high {places}. {flesh...: Gr. blood and flesh} {spiritual...: or, wicked spirits} {high: or, heavenly}

  • Someone who Fights: "FIGHT the good FIGHT of Faith"
    1 Timothy 6:12

    Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

• What must we use violence on? Who must we use power on? Who must we afflict?
  • We need violence on forces restraining our position or place in the kingdom of God.
  • We need violence on forces trying to limit our authority or privileged rights in the kingdom of God.
  • We need violence on forces inhibiting the great possessions we have in Christ Jesus.
• Examples of Violence (i.e., striving; pressing, wrestling, fighting):
  • The Canaanite woman refused until her daughter was made whole by Jesus
    Matthew 15:22-28

    And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, {thou} Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast {it} to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great {is} thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

  • The Lords' righteous at the illegal traders who bought and sold in the temple of God
    John 2:13-17

    And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

  • The Apostles' preaching or teaching in the name of Jesus, in spite of threat
    Acts 4:18-31

    And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all {men} glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou {art} God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

  • Paul's declaration of blindness on Elymas the sorcerer at his resistance of the gospel
    Acts 13:8-11

    But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also {is called} Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, {thou} child of the devil, {thou} enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord {is} upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

• Will you press in and lay hold onto what God says you can have? In
  Luke 17:20-21

  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: {with...: or, with outward shew} Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. {within you: or, among you}

  , we read: "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you". If this kingdom is within you, to what extent are you tapping into its resources for a dynamic life?

Memory Verse

You must train your hands to fight, however you think of what this hand is – physical or spiritual! The hand must hold the sword or the rifle. The finger must create a spiral point balancing the weight and movements of the sword. The finger must press the trigger.