We Are Citizens of a New Order
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
"The violent take it by force" in this context means that violent people forcibly oppose the Kingdom with their hostility.
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River and was "full of the Holy Spirit"... Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit without measure...He was the vanguard for a new order, the first of a new generation of people who would be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Keep in mind, Jesus came to reconnect us to His Father and His glorious Kingdom. The connecting link is the Holy Spirit. Calvary then becomes the gateway into this majestic Kingdom. The essence of the Gospel is that we can get back our spiritual connection to the Father. There is now a power available to us so that we can fulfill our role in the advancement of the kingdom into the earth regions. The power is made available to us through an invasion of the Holy Spirit into our lives. Jesus opens up the door for that invasion to happen. Remember, Jesus promised that He would give us the Kingdom and the power to walk in that Kingdom. Jesus' death on the cross was really a means to an end. Calvary became a cleansing foundation. Anyone who took the plunge into this fountain would become clean from the filth of living in this world system. This cleansing would prepare them for receiving the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thoughtful Questions:
Thoughts for meditation:
Jesus stated, every since the days of John, an invasion has been under way. A military takeover is in progress, which no one knows about except those who have been captured. Have you been taken over?
My wife Arlene and I have been taken, by the Kingdom of God. It has taken over our heart, mind, body and our entire future. It has taken over our attitude and made us dangerous, individuals to the kingdom of darkness.
Now for your personal questions:
Matthew 11:12 Matthew 23:13
~~W.R. Luchie
"The violent take it by force" in this context means that violent people forcibly oppose the Kingdom with their hostility.
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River and was "full of the Holy Spirit"... Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit without measure...He was the vanguard for a new order, the first of a new generation of people who would be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Keep in mind, Jesus came to reconnect us to His Father and His glorious Kingdom. The connecting link is the Holy Spirit. Calvary then becomes the gateway into this majestic Kingdom. The essence of the Gospel is that we can get back our spiritual connection to the Father. There is now a power available to us so that we can fulfill our role in the advancement of the kingdom into the earth regions. The power is made available to us through an invasion of the Holy Spirit into our lives. Jesus opens up the door for that invasion to happen. Remember, Jesus promised that He would give us the Kingdom and the power to walk in that Kingdom. Jesus' death on the cross was really a means to an end. Calvary became a cleansing foundation. Anyone who took the plunge into this fountain would become clean from the filth of living in this world system. This cleansing would prepare them for receiving the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thoughtful Questions:
- When the Holy Spirit invades our lives, how is power made available to us? What kind of power? To do what?
- How was the way Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit different from that of the Old Testament prophets? How was Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit "without measure"?
- How does the Holy Spirit play an important role in reconnecting us to God's glorious Kingdom? What purpose does this reconnection play in our lives?
- How is Calvary related to receiving the Holy Spirit? Why do we need to be cleansed before the Holy Spirit fills us?
Thoughts for meditation:
Jesus stated, every since the days of John, an invasion has been under way. A military takeover is in progress, which no one knows about except those who have been captured. Have you been taken over?
My wife Arlene and I have been taken, by the Kingdom of God. It has taken over our heart, mind, body and our entire future. It has taken over our attitude and made us dangerous, individuals to the kingdom of darkness.
Now for your personal questions:
- Have you been taken over?
- Are you a dangerous individual to the kingdom of darkness?
Matthew 11:12 Matthew 23:13
~~W.R. Luchie
