Matthew 11:12  Paraphrased by Ian Traill

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of Heaven is taken by A strong force (US) and it is (we are) attacked by a negative force (Satan) that is crowding us into a passive position to  seize or press us into a non-active role if we let it. We need Jesus and our self to be a forcer, to be active, aggressive and be energetic. To be a person that will go to any lengths to see the Kingdom of God come.  If we fail to apply force spiritually we may miss the moment or time to seize, to pluck, catch, pull and to take by force that which belongs to the Kingdom of God.

From Lesson no 44 Discipleship book Two:

The Kingdom of God and Violence

We the disciples of Jesus are the living stones spoken about in 1Peter 2:5 and Jesus is the foundation and the Head of the Church. As we are living we are to be active in the Church and in the world. We have been made alive by the free gift of grace of God through Jesus.

1Peter 2:5 you also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6 Therefore also it is contained in the Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner Stone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him shall never be ashamed."

Q1/ We are dead in Christ. (True or False)

Q2/ Jesus is the foundation stone of a living Church. (True or False)

Jesus suffered a violent death on the cross when the two Kingdoms came to that critical time in history. It was the turning point for mankind. As Jesus rose from the dead He had defeated death, law and sin at the same time putting an end to the debt that we had to pay. He delivered life, grace and righteousness to all mankind.

Ephesians 1:20 which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, 21 far above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age. 22 And He has put all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Q3/ Jesus took a positive step to retrieve mankind. (True or False)

Q4/ Jesus is above all. (True or False)

Q5/ We are His Church so we are over all too. (True or False)

As we serve God with our lives we are a living sacrifice, God no longer wants dead sacrifice on the Alter of sacrifice. Not only are we called to be living servant but also He says we are greater than John the Baptist.

1Peter 2:5 you also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:11 Truly I say to you, Among those who have been born of women there has not risen a greater one than John the Baptist. But the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.

Q6/ We are less than John The Baptist. (True or False)

When we are feeling that a situation is overwhelming or that we may be facing difficulties with another person or an organization, it is paramount to realize that we are not fighting the human factor but the spiritual factor.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Q7/ We fight against people and not spiritual powers. (True or False)

    1/ Violence = is an extreme force in action or feeling that causes damage or unrest.

    2/ Violent    = to be forceful beyond what is usual

    3/ Force       = to make the unwilling do something

Matthew 11:12 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.

Now lets look at the Bible use of these words tracing back to the Greek.

    1/ Violence = Greek = biazo = bee-ad-zo = to force that is to crowd oneself into or to passively to be seized-press, suffer violence.

    2/ Violent = Greek = biastes = bee-as-tace = A forcer is a person that is energetic violent (active)

    3/ Force = Greek = harpazo = har-pad-zo = To seize, to pluck, catch; pull, to take by force

Jesus is the forcer who did not allow Satan to have his way; Jesus forced Satan back into hell, not allowing him any position in His life. Jesus has total victory.

Q8/ A force that is crowding us into a passive position could seize or press us into a non-active roll if we let it. (True or False)

This Victory was portrayed by the statement made by God in Genesis 3:15 that the head of Satan, which is sin, the law, death would be put under the foot of a man “the seed of the woman,” (Jesus) and crushed.  

Q9/ Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan. (True or False)

We can see Christ was born to destroy the works of the devil, giving mankind the potential victory over, every work of Satan. We have been loosened from the bonds of sin, law and death.

Christ has set a new standard forcibly taking hold of this new position as decreed by God in Genesis 3:15, leading us on to personal triumph over Satan and his works.

Q10/ We need to be a forcer, an active person who is aggressive and energetic, who will go to any length to see the Kingdom of God go forward. (True or False)

In the diagram below you can see the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan and how they differ.

 
We can see that Jesus supports the Church of all believers, whereas Satan is set at the top to push everyone down.

Q11 Jesus is under all believers. (True or False)

Q12 Satan helps people to improve their lives. (True or False)

Matthew 11:12  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.

Another way to read this highlighted passage in Matthew 11:12 is to say;

Paraphrased 

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of Heaven is taken by A strong force (US) and it is (We are) attacked by A negative force (Satan) that is crowding us into a passive position to  seize or press us into a non-active role if we let it. We need Jesus and our self to be a forcer, to be active, aggressive and be energetic. To be a person that will go to any lengths to see the Kingdom of God come.  If we fail to apply force spiritually we may miss the moment or time to seize, to pluck, catch, pull and to take by force that which belongs to the Kingdom of God.

Q13/ Inaction is an action for the Devil. (True or False)

Q14/ We should seize the moment to save people. (True or False)

Q15/ We should not be aggressive and energetic and let the Devil have his way. (True or False)

Once we have decided to be a forcer we need to make sure we have the armor of God on, so we can stand against the works of the enemy.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.11 Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Q16/ We need a (person or our self) to be a forcer to be active, aggressive and energetic, a person that will go to any length to see the Kingdom of God go forward.     (True or False)

If we sit back being passive, we allow other powers to take control of our lives. Inaction is a decision to not act therefore it is an action.

Q17/ The action we could take, is to pray for everything. (True or False)

Q18/ The action we could take, is to tell someone about Jesus. (True or False)

Q19/ The action we could take, is showing the love of Jesus. (True or False)

Q20/ THE ACTION WE COULD TAKE, IS TO TAKE ACTION. (True or False)

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