The Forceful Advancing of the Kingdom
Matt. 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (NKJV)
We’ve said a lot about God’s part and man’s part - it will always be important to know who’s responsible for what
This particular verse is revealing responsibilities
Matthew 11:12 From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it. (GW)
Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people have been attacking it. (ISV)
Matt. 11:12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. (NLT)
This scripture has three main ingredients:
1. A defined time period - From John until present - which is while Jesus was on earth ministering
2. Good characters
3. violent and forceful characters
The good guys - were John and Jesus
The bad guys were those attacking
Q: Who Was Forcefully Advancing The Kingdom?
Jesus is the one who said this
He said - from the time of John the Baptist UNTIL NOW
He gave John as the specific example
But he would soon follow John - by His death
A: John the Baptist and Jesus were forcefully advancing the kingdom
How John and Jesus Forcefully Advanced the Kingdom
John:
Matthew 11:12 From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it. (GW)
Context
John the Baptist is sitting in prison.
Jesus had warned his followers in the previous chapter that as they went out with the Gospel, they would be opposed
Matt. 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
Matt. 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Matt. 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ”
Matt. 3:4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Matt. 3:5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
Matt. 3:6 and were baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. (NKJV)
Luke 1:17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” (NLT)
God supplied the Spirit and power
Yet John had to speak the words
The message, spirit, and power came from God
But John had to prepare himself and speak the message
His assignment: (which was described by Jesus as forcefully advancing the kingdom)
Prepare the people for the 1st coming of Jesus
His message would turn the hearts of the father’s to their children
And cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly
THOUGHT: God gave John His Words, His Spirit, and His Power
John gave God His heart and mouth
Once John began there was no longer silence from heaven
John was advancing Kingdom
As a result – John was seized and put Into prison
NOTE: When they seized John – they seized the advancement of the Kingdom
The Message Becomes The Man – The Man Becomes The Message!!
Jesus:
Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (NKJV)
The way Jesus advanced the kingdom
God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power
He went about doing good and healing those oppressed of the devil
God was with Him
Jesus advanced the Kingdom with - His Mouth and Hs Hands
By teaching - preaching - healing
He was forcefully advancing the kingdom
Matt. 11:2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
Matt. 11:3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
Matt. 11:4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
Matt. 11:5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Matt. 11:6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (ESV)
Right after Jesus heals on the sabbath he says this:
John 5:17 But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”
John 5:18 So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.
Jesus advanced the kingdom
It was by teaching, preaching and demonstrating
The religious people hated Him for it
How We Forcefully Advance the Kingdom Today
One: Know That Jesus Said We Could
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)
The Jesus did were
Teaching, preaching, and healing
He said we could do the same works
We can forcefully advance the kingdom of God
By teaching, preaching, and healing - (demonstrating)
(Greater works?) - Jesus had to go the the Father - so the Holy Spirit would be sent - that makes it possible for all of us to do the work of salvation and getting people filled with the Holy Spirit)
Two: Jesus Gave Us a Great Commission
The great commission is a commission to forcefully advance the kingdom
Fight the good fight of faith
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
We forcefully advance the kingdom - when we preach and teach the gospel
When we lay hands on the sick
When we cast out devils
When we operate in the gifts of the Spirit
Three: We Can’t Do It Without Him
John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
Four: Give Him your Heart, Mouth, and Hands
Question: Can God Advance It Without US? NO!!
God designed His plan with people in mind
He needs our hearts, our mouths, and our hands for the kingdom t be advanced
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