Introduction

Good morning, family of faith. As we gather in the warmth of this sanctuary, let us prepare our hearts for a message that is both timely and timeless, a message that is as relevant today as it was when first penned in the holy scriptures. Our focus for today's sermon is a passage from Matthew 11:12, which says, "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it." This passage, my dear friends, is a call to arms. It's a call to spiritual warfare. It's a call to stand firm, to be resolute, to be forceful in our faith. But what does it mean to be forceful in faith? How do we maintain victory in this spiritual battle that we are called to fight?

Spiritual Warfare

In the world we live in, there's a battle that rages on. It's not a physical battle, but a spiritual one. It's a battle for our hearts, for our minds, for our souls. This battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. It's a battle that we, as followers of Christ, are called to fight.

The nature of this battle is not like any other: It's not fought with guns and bombs, but with faith and prayer. It's not won by physical strength, but by spiritual fortitude. It's a battle that requires us to put on the full armor of God, so that we can stand against the devil's schemes.

The enemy: The enemy in this battle is not a human enemy, but a spiritual one. It's the devil, the father of lies, the deceiver of the world. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. But we, as followers of Christ, are not to be afraid. We are to resist him, standing firm in our faith.

The battleground: It’s not a physical place, but a spiritual one. It's the kingdom of heaven, the realm of God. It's a place that has been subjected to violence, a place that violent people have been raiding. But we, as followers of Christ, are called to defend it, to fight for it, to reclaim it for the glory of God.

The weapons: They’re not physical weapons, but spiritual ones. They are the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. These are the weapons that we, as followers of Christ, are to wield in our spiritual warfare.

The victory: It’s not a worldly victory, but a spiritual one. It's a victory that is won not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God. It's a victory that is not just for us, but for the kingdom of heaven. It's a victory that we, as followers of Christ, are called to claim, to celebrate, and to share with the world.

Understanding the Forceful Nature

As we continue to grapple with the words of Matthew 11:12, we find ourselves drawn to the forceful nature of the kingdom of heaven ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO