Introduction

Good morning, dear family in Christ. As we gather together in this sacred space, let us prepare our hearts and minds to receive the Word of God. Today, we are embarking on a journey through the scriptures, a journey that will take us into the heart of a paradox that may seem puzzling at first glance. We are going to talk about a battle, but not just any battle. This is a battle that takes place in the Kingdom of God, a battle that we, as followers of Christ, are called to participate in. Our theme for today's sermon is "Warring for the Kingdom's sake."

Before we begin, let's take a moment to quiet our hearts and minds. Let's set aside the worries and distractions of the world and focus our attention on God. Let's pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with humble hearts, eager to hear your Word. We ask that you open our minds and hearts to receive your message today. Help us to understand your Word and apply it to our lives. We pray that your Holy Spirit will guide us as we study your Word today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Now, let's turn our Bibles to the book of Matthew, chapter 11, verse 12. Here, Jesus tells us, "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." (Matthew 11:12, NIV)

This verse may seem puzzling at first. How can the Kingdom of Heaven, a place of peace and joy, be subjected to violence? And who are these violent people who have been raiding it? As we journey through the scriptures today, we will seek to answer these questions and understand what it means to be conquerors in God's Kingdom.

Imagine, if you will, a beautiful, peaceful kingdom. This kingdom is not like any earthly kingdom. It is a kingdom where love reigns supreme, where joy is abundant, and where peace is the norm. This is the Kingdom of Heaven, the kingdom that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 11:12.

But this kingdom is under attack. It is being raided by violent people. These are not physical attacks, but spiritual ones. These attacks come in the form of lies, temptations, and doubts that seek to pull us away from God and His Kingdom.

As followers of Christ, we are called to defend this kingdom. We are called to be conquerors, to fight against these spiritual attacks and stand firm in our faith. But how do we do this? How do we become conquerors in God's Kingdom?

That is what we will be discussing in today's sermon. We will look at what it means to be a conqueror in God's Kingdom, how we can stand firm in our faith, and how we can fight against the spiritual attacks that seek to pull us away from God.

So, let's embark on this journey together, with open hearts and minds, ready to receive the Word of God. Let's learn what it means to be conquerors in God's Kingdom, warring for the Kingdom's sake.

The Kingdom of God is under attack

Friends, we are in a battle. A battle not of our own making, but one that has been thrust upon us. It's a battle for the Kingdom of God. Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 11:12, "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 is not a battle of swords and shields, but a spiritual battle. A battle of hearts and minds. A battle for the very soul of humanity.

We are not bystanders in this battle. We are not spectators. We are participants. We are soldiers. We are conquerors. And as conquerors, we are called to fight. To fight for the Kingdom of God. To fight for the truth. To fight for righteousness. To fight for justice. To fight for love.

Now, when we talk about violence in this context, we're not talking about physical violence. The Greek word used here is "biazo," which means to force, to press, to push. It's a kind of spiritual aggression, a determination to press forward, to push against the forces of darkness, to force our way into the Kingdom of God. It's a call to spiritual warfare.

The great theologian C.S. Lewis once said, "There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan." We are in a battle for every square inch, every split second. We are in a battle for the Kingdom of God.

But how do we fight this battle? How do we become conquerors in God's Kingdom?

First, we must recognize the battle. We must open our eyes to the spiritual warfare that is taking place all around us. We must see the forces of darkness for what they are - enemies of God, enemies of the Kingdom. We must see the lies, the deception, the corruption, the injustice. We must see the spiritual violence that is being done to the Kingdom of God.

Second, we must take up our weapons. Our weapons are not of this world. They are not swords and shields, but truth and righteousness, faith and salvation, the Word of God and prayer (Ephesians 6:14-18). These are the weapons that have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). These are the weapons that can overcome the forces of darkness.

Third, we must stand firm. We must stand firm in the truth. We must stand firm in righteousness. We must stand firm in faith. We must stand firm in the Word of God. We must stand firm in prayer. We must stand firm in the face of opposition, in the face of persecution, in the face of spiritual violence. We must stand firm for the Kingdom of God.

Finally, we must press forward. We must not retreat. We must not surrender. We must not give up. We must press forward. We must push against the forces of darkness. We must force our way into the Kingdom of God. We must be conquerors.

Friends, the Kingdom of God is under attack. But we are not helpless. We are not powerless. We are conquerors. And as conquerors, we are called to fight. To fight for the Kingdom of God. To fight for the truth. To fight for righteousness. To fight for justice. To fight for love. Let us fight the good fight. Let us finish the race. Let us keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

The call to be conquerors

In the Kingdom of God, we are not mere spectators. We are active participants. We are warriors. We are conquerors. Matthew 11:12 tells us, "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 is a call to arms. A call to action. A call to be conquerors in God's Kingdom.

Firstly, we must understand the nature of the battle. This is not a physical fight. This is a spiritual war. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Our enemy is not of this world. Our enemy is spiritual. But we are not left defenseless. We are equipped with the armor of God. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Secondly, we must recognize our role in this battle. We are not bystanders. We are not victims. We are warriors. We are conquerors. We are called to take action. We are called to advance the Kingdom of God. We are called to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy. We are called to be conquerors in God's Kingdom.

Thirdly, we must remember the promise of victory. Romans 8:37 assures us, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." We are not fighting for a possible victory. We are fighting from a position of victory. The battle has already been won. The victory is already ours. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Now, let's turn our attention to 2 Corinthians 10:4. It says, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." This is a reminder that our weapons are not of this world. Our weapons are spiritual. They have divine power. They can demolish strongholds. They can overcome the enemy. They can advance the Kingdom of God.

Fourthly, we must wield our weapons with faith. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Our faith is our weapon. Our faith is our shield. Our faith is our victory. We must wield our faith with confidence. We must wield our faith with assurance. We must wield our faith as conquerors in God's Kingdom.

Lastly, we must persevere in the battle. Galatians 6:9 encourages us, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." The battle may be long. The battle may be hard. But we must not give up. We must not become weary. We must persevere. We must continue to do good. We must continue to fight. We must continue to be conquerors in God's Kingdom.

In conclusion, we are called to be conquerors in God's Kingdom. We are called to understand the nature of the battle. We are called to recognize our role in this battle. We are called to remember the promise of victory. We are called to wield our weapons with faith. We are called to persevere in the battle. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Warring for the Kingdom's Sake

In the grand scheme of God's Kingdom, we are more than just bystanders. We are active participants, called to be conquerors. This is not a passive role, but an active one that requires us to engage in spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, makes it clear that our warfare is not of this world. It's not a physical battle, but a spiritual one. Our weapons are not carnal, but they are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.

This concept of spiritual warfare is not a new one. It's been a part of the Christian faith since the beginning. The early church fathers wrote extensively about it. St. Augustine, for instance, spoke of the Christian life as a constant battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. This battle, he said, requires us to put on the full armor of God and to stand firm in the faith.

The first point to consider is the nature of our weapons. They are not of this world. They are not physical weapons like swords or spears. They are spiritual weapons. Prayer, for instance, is a powerful weapon in our arsenal. It's our direct line of communication with God. Through prayer, we can seek His guidance, ask for His protection, and intercede for others. The Word of God is another weapon. It's our guidebook, our roadmap. It tells us who God is, who we are, and how we are to live. The Holy Spirit is our helper, our comforter. He empowers us, guides us, and equips us for battle.

A.W. Tozer, a renowned Christian author and pastor, once said, "The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God and the Church is famishing for want of His Presence." This quote underscores the importance of our role as conquerors. We are not just fighting for ourselves, but for the world. We are called to bring the knowledge of God and His presence to a world that is perishing without it.

The second point to consider is our mission. We are called to demolish strongholds. These strongholds can take many forms. They can be false beliefs or ideologies that stand in opposition to the truth of God's Word. They can be habits or patterns of sin that keep people in bondage. They can be systems or structures that perpetuate injustice and oppression. Whatever form they take, we are called to demolish them. This is not an easy task. It requires courage, perseverance, and faith. But it's a task we are equipped for. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can break chains, tear down walls, and bring light to the darkest corners of this world.

The third point to consider is our identity. We are conquerors. This is not a title we earn or achieve. It's a title we are given. It's a part of our identity as children of God. As conquerors, we are not just survivors. We are more than overcomers. We are victorious. This victory is not based on our strength or ability. It's based on the finished work of Christ on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, He has conquered sin and death. And because we are in Him, we share in His victory.

In the end, warring for the Kingdom's sake is not about us. It's about God. It's about His Kingdom, His glory, and His purposes. It's about bringing His love, His truth, and His justice to a world in desperate need. As conquerors, we have a role to play in this grand mission. Let's embrace this role with courage, faith, and love.

Conclusion

Friends, as we wrap up our time together today, let's take a moment to reflect on the message we've heard. We've been talking about being conquerors in God's Kingdom, drawing from the scripture in Matthew 11:12. This scripture doesn't speak of physical violence or harm. Instead, it's about the spiritual battle we're all called to fight as followers of Christ.

We're not just bystanders in this Kingdom. We're active participants, called to advance God's Kingdom here on earth. This is our mission, our purpose, our calling. And it's not a calling for the faint-hearted. It requires courage, determination, and unwavering faith.

But remember, we're not fighting this battle in our own strength. We're equipped with divine power, the power of the Holy Spirit. With this power, we can overcome any obstacle, any challenge, any force of darkness that stands in our way.

So, as we go into this new week, let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's be conquerors, not just in name, but in action. Let's stand firm in our faith, resist the enemy, and advance the Kingdom of God.

In the coming week, I want to challenge you to live out this message. Be a conqueror. Stand firm in your faith. Resist the enemy. Advance the Kingdom of God. And remember, you're not alone in this battle. You have the Holy Spirit within you, empowering you, guiding you, strengthening you.

Let's bow our heads in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word today. We thank You for reminding us of our calling to be conquerors in Your Kingdom. As we go into this new week, help us to live out this calling. Help us to stand firm in our faith, to resist the enemy, and to advance Your Kingdom. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may have the strength, the courage, and the wisdom to fight this spiritual battle. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

And now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and forevermore. As we go out into the world, let's remember our calling. Let's be conquerors, advancing the Kingdom of God. Let's be warriors, not in our own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. And let's be followers of Jesus, living out His teachings in our daily lives. Amen.

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