In the remaining months of 2023, I was walking in my neighborhood when the Lord spoke to me a phrase concerning this new year. The Lord said, “2024 will be a year of kicking in the door!”
I know, I felt the same way when I heard it. I was like, “Really Lord, kicking in the door?” But as I began to listen, I saw as it were a SWAT team of men dressed in black kicking in the door of a house and proceeding to take control and possession of it. As I was seeing this in my heart, I heard a verse that I later found was Matthew 11:12b (NKJV) which reads, “…the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” I had read this verse but in complete transparency, I had never truly studied it in context. What you are about to read is the beginning of this study and what I believe the Lord is speaking to the body of Christ.
As I began to read commentaries on this verse, I found that this verse is one of the most controversial in the Bible. The reason is that the reference to “violence” is often seen as metaphoric or poetic and therefore its interpretation and meaning are debatable.
Theologians have taken two sides on this verse. The first perspective is that there is great opposition to the kingdom of heaven and that it is under attack and those attacking are trying to take it forcefully. The second viewpoint is that the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing despite opposition and those who are a part of God’s kingdom take what God has promised violently and by faith. I know that John 16:33 (AMPC) says, “In the world (or the environment that you have been sent and placed in) you will have tribulations and trials and distress and frustration…” It is no secret that we live in a fallen world, operated by fallen people and oppressed by a fallen angel, but I still believe we have no excuse for not taking what God has given in Christ boldly and without hesitation. John 16:33 (AMPC) continues, “…but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world [I have deprived it of the power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” The point is yes, there is opposition, but it is only a distraction to the reality of our assignment and mission. We must become violent taking ground for the kingdom of God.
When you go back and read Matthew chapter eleven in its entirety, you find that John the Baptist is a major focus of this chapter. From the beginning of his ministry, John understood his assignment. John 1:19-34 tells us that John knew he was not the Christ, or Elijah, or the Prophet, but simply the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” John also confessed that the way he would identify the Christ would be when he saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and remain on the Christ. John knew his calling and like most of us, probably imagined a fictitious reality of the way it would be played out.
When John found himself in jail it caused him to question everything. He proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God in John 1:34, and yet he questions Jesus through his disciples, is He the Christ, or do we wait for another? Similarly, what do you do when life throws you a curve ball and things don’t turn out like you thought or planned? Do not allow trials to blind you, with shadows of darkness and doubt, to what you know is true.
Jesus sends word back to John in Matthew 11:4-5 saying, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see; The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” What was Jesus saying to John? Everything is going according to plan, don’t let your current circumstances make you doubt.
Jesus continues in Matthew 11:11, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” We come full circle to “the violent take it by force.” John the Baptist had the greatest calling of the Old Testament to prepare the way of the Lord. But the newest believer is greater than him. I believe the Lord is calling His body to a position of confidence and boldness. Matthew 11:12 encourages believers to adopt a mindset of victory in their faith journey. Instead of being passive observers, believers are to actively pursue and claim the promises of God.
I like to relate this to the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5. The body of Christ must violently push its way through the political and humanistic agenda, through the religious resistance to the miraculous without hesitation to what we have heard and come to know as truth. In short, we must have the tenacity of the woman, but the identification of Christ. As He is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)
It is time for the body of Christ to rise aggressively towards the enemy, not to others, and begin taking what God has promised by faith. When prices skyrocket, plagues spread, and great chaos ensues don’t be taken by offense or fear, instead hold on forcefully to the promises of God’s word and resist drawing backward to the destruction of the enemy. Don’t lose heart, but violently take possession of what is rightfully yours. We must be aware of the timeline we are on. We must be vigilant against the spiritual warfare around us, and we must elevate our commitment, passion, and engagement in spiritual practices.