Guest man Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Violence is an act of aggression. Violent, has to do with force. One cannot receive the Spirit of truth through violence, nor can they force the Spirit to do anything. It is only through love and compassion and true repentance that one is able to attain their desire for the Spirit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fraught Posted July 19, 2009 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 105 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1,741 Content Per Day: 0.28 Reputation: 28 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/23/2007 Status: Offline Birthday: 07/30/1959 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Can someone please explain Matt 11:12 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of Heaven is taken by violence, and the violent take it by force. (mkjv) here is where we don't want modern cultural usage of the word to affect us too much. look at this definition of violent and rethink the word a little bit. Definitions of violent on the Web: * acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity now read this scripture: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. that's ephesians 6:10. the entire passage thru verse 18 implies energy and intensity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebula Posted July 19, 2009 Group: Royal Member Followers: 10 Topic Count: 5,823 Topics Per Day: 0.75 Content Count: 45,870 Content Per Day: 5.92 Reputation: 1,897 Days Won: 83 Joined: 03/22/2003 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/19/1970 Share Posted July 19, 2009 But the salient characteristic of John was that he operated outside of the Mosaic religious structure. I've never heard anyone claiming John acted outside of the Torah. Would you explain please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1149 Posted July 20, 2009 Group: Junior Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 3 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 106 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 1 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/31/2009 Status: Offline Share Posted July 20, 2009 Not that he operated outside the Law, but outside the authority of the religious leaders. bb, p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Finch Posted August 2, 2009 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 8 Topic Count: 49 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 2,465 Content Per Day: 0.45 Reputation: 455 Days Won: 1 Joined: 04/13/2009 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/30/1944 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Matthew 11:12 - Until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. The people Jesus ministered to were healed or delivered because of their faith. Faith may quietly press in, or it may cry out very loudly, but it is always violent in the spirit world. It grabs hold of an invisible reality and won't let go. Taking the kingdom by faith is the violent act that is necessary to come into what God has made available. Every believer has the power of heaven behind them. But it is our faith that connects what is available to the circumstances at hand. Faith takes what is available and makes it actual. Albert Finch http://www.thekeys2kingdom.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Finch Posted August 2, 2009 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 8 Topic Count: 49 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 2,465 Content Per Day: 0.45 Reputation: 455 Days Won: 1 Joined: 04/13/2009 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/30/1944 Share Posted August 2, 2009 (edited) The violence of the Kingdom is not physical violence but focused earnestness, a deeply passionate pursuit of God that enables Christ's followers never to give up regardless of the conflicts and trials they face. John said he was a "partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perserverance which are in Jesus" (Revelation 1:9). Jesus taught that true disciples "bear fruit with perserverance" (Luke 8:15). The word "persevere" is rooted in the word "severe". It implies that there are times when we will not reach our spiritual goals unless we are stretched in ways others call severe or extreme. We don't go one mile; we go two. We contend for the faith; we wrestle against principalities and powers. We are soldiers who endure hardship. Even if we are knocked down, defeat is not final: We rise to fight another day. Surrender is not an option. Albert Finch http://www.thekeys2kingdom.com Edited August 2, 2009 by Albert Finch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAZARD Posted September 16, 2009 Group: Royal Member Followers: 11 Topic Count: 320 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 6,830 Content Per Day: 0.84 Reputation: 3,570 Days Won: 1 Joined: 02/16/2002 Status: Offline Share Posted September 16, 2009 Can someone please explain Matt 11:12 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of Heaven is taken by violence, and the violent take it by force. (mkjv) Hi 'andy.' "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matt. 11:12). And the violent, (Greek blazo), take it by force. Blazo, to force one way into a thing. The idea here is that before John the knigdom could only be viewed in the light of prophecy, but now that it was preached, men pressing into it with ador resembling violence or desperation. They appeared as if they would seize it by force (v 12; Luke 16:16). "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." (Luke 16:16). It expresses the earnestness that men must have in getting rid of sin, all satanic powers, the world, and in standing true when relativees oppose them (Matt. 10:34-39). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 .... It expresses the earnestness that men must have in getting rid of sin, all satanic powers, the world, and in standing true when relatives oppose them (Matt. 10:34-39) .... Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1149 Posted September 19, 2009 Group: Junior Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 3 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 106 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 1 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/31/2009 Status: Offline Share Posted September 19, 2009 Much of Mt 11 is devoted to defining the Messiahship of Christ. John asks whether it is true. Jesus demonstrates it in deed. He blesses those who are not stumbled by Him. He condemns the cities that wouldn't believe in Him despite His display of the revelation and power of God. Then He praises God for revealing these things to the pure in heart rather than the intellectual. I've always though that this verse refers to the necessity of our seizing the kingdom through a spiritual warfare that conquers the world, the flesh and the devil - all three. It ties in with the letters to the seven churches of Revelation, where so often those churches are exhorted to overcome various obstacles in order to be fully reconciled to God's will. Our destiny in God does not happen automatically. There is much opposition, from various sources, that must be overcome. That's where violence comes in. bb, p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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