Forceful Advance

1 Samuel 28-29; Psalms 109; Matthew 11 

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it…I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”

Matthew 11:12, 25

The paradox of the kingdom of heaven is that forceful men lay hold of it, yet entrance to the kingdom requires child-like faith, humility, and tenacity, in concert with submission and surrender, alongside bold, risk-taking obedience. If the kingdom of heaven does not appear to be advancing within our context, we must ask if we are engaging in the battle. John the Baptist battled with the religious elite of Jerusalem and a religious system of entitlement and hypocrisy. Jesus battles similar forces and the spiritual powers of darkness. Living on mission with Jesus requires the surrender of our will, in humility, like a child in full dependence on our Father, as well as the determination to follow and obey, regardless of the cost. The gates of hell will not prevail.

“Lord Jesus, I surrender all to you. Your kingdom mission and will are forcefully advancing in every nation and I choose to join this advance, for your glory.”