Taking
It By Force
By
Pastor Jack Hayford
From the
days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers
violence, and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:12).
These
are among Christ's least understood words. They follow on the heels
of His words about John the Baptist's break from the traditional
image of a "religious person." He says, in effect, "If
you went out to see Mr. Cool-and-Sophisticated, he had to be a disappointment!"
There's
something blunt, rough, and unpolished about Kingdom people. Yet
we're called to be gentle, harmless, gracious, and hospitable, too.
How do those traits merge?
I
believe the answer is in our spirit - the way we approach spiritual
things. A Kingdom person is never called to reduce his or her sensitivity
toward people, tenderness in loving, or generosity of attitude.
To the contrary, you can count on a genuine believer to mature into
a lovely lady or a real gentleman.
But
when you get that lady or gentleman face-to-face with a spiritual
challenge, she or he will become violent. The person will become
indignant with the gall of the devil to attempt to encroach upon
a realm wherein Christ has worked redemption. Such believers are
impatient with demons and antagonistic toward any of hell's working.
A person who has begun to understand the nature of the spiritual
struggle will be kind in demeanor toward people, but vicious in
his or her prayer life and spiritual warfare.
We
don't need "mild-mannered Clark Kent" saints when super-prayer
is the order of the day. There are times to get down on the prayer-bones,
call out with strong cryings, seek hard after God, and strike down
the work of the devil.
I
don't know how to precisely describe this to you, but I know it
works for me. Quite often, I find myself drifting in a kind of prayer
limbo. Sort of "asking" God to "help" with some
problem. Then, feeling I'm getting nowhere, I am jerked to the awareness
that I'm praying the wrong way.
I'm
begging when I ought to be battling.
I
need to rise up in violent, fervent prayer to "possess the
land" in discussion. It's as though the Father is saying, "You've
taken counsel with Me long enough. YOU go forth against the enemy
- and I'll go before you."
Please
understand. This violence is not a shrieking wrestling match to
attempt to twist something from God's hand which He only reluctantly
wants us to have.
No.
But
it is a contest. There is a "contending" that is needed,
and the Holy Spirit wants to bring us all to a place of understanding
that some obstacles yield before us only by forcible praying.
This
is difficult to describe without sounding as though the accomplishment
is a mere effort of human energy and emotionalism. It is neither.
It is rather a release of divine intervention proportionate to our
willingness to execute God's will in authoritative praying. Read
Psalm 149...it's all there.
Begin
with worship and praise.
Sing
unto the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the congregation of saints.
Let
Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His name with the dance (vv. 1-3).
Acknowledge
your place in Christ - "humble" under His authoritative
Lordship, and securely confident in His salvation, His finished
work at Calvary.
For
the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.
Let
the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds (vv. 4-5).
Then
attack! Take the enemy off guard, and possess the land - the victory
you seek - by force.
Let
the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute on them the written judgment (vv. 6-9a).
As
the psalmist says. "This honor have all His saints. Praise
the Lord!" (v.9b). |
Jack
Hayford Ministries
14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91405-2233