BE VIOLENT!
By Gil Defay
Violent-
vi·o·lent: ˈvī(ə)lənt/ adjective using or involving physical or verbal force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. synonyms: brutal, vicious, savage, rough, aggressive, abusive, physically abusive, threatening, fierce, physical, wild, ferocious; More (especially of an emotion or unpleasant or destructive natural force) very strong or powerful. “violent dislike” synonyms: intense, extreme, strong, powerful, vehement, intemperate, unbridled, uncontrollable, ungovernable, inordinate, consuming, passionate…
I know some may look at this and say, “Ok…Brother Gil is crazy!!!! “He is telling us to be violent!!! WHAT?!?” Well, read this and get the revelation as it came to me.
The Word of God is full of both revealed and hidden treasures that are found and unlocked by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, as we are open to His voice and open to seek His revelations.
In the Word of God there is a passage of scripture, which tells us: “The Kingdom of God has been suffering violence and the violent take it by force.” This is found in MATTHEW 11:12. For a while now, I always thought that scripture was very poetic, talking about war, and just deep, Deep, SO DEEP!!! However, concerning this “DEEP” passage, I never really got a great understanding of it, in a way that I can speak about with full perspective of what it really is saying and what it means. “The Kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force?”’
Ok. So what is that saying?
One day, before 5AM in the morning, December 24th 2016, I felt prompted to wake up. I opened the Bible and “violently” (we’ll get to that in a minute) seek revelation on the meaning of this passage of scripture. What I found out, is this passage of scripture has a twofold meaning, and comparing it with other scriptures it was revealing to see the significance of the Lord’s statement.
Let’s examine the first part of the Lord’s declaration: “The Kingdom of God has been suffering violence”. The enemy (Lucifer) was found with iniquity in spite of his beauty and splendor, this led to his downfall, as seen in Ezekiel 28:13-15 and Isaiah 14:12- 15, (Two passages of scripture which are very descriptive of Lucifer’s fall and the root of it). Satan then had declared war against The Kingdom of God and The Saints (those who are obedient to God).
It is important to note that currently all who do not accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are in the same kingdom as Satan, meaning they are in opposition to God’s will, His Kingdom (authority) and His people. Furthermore they cannot receive divine revelation of God’s Kingdom without being born again (John 3:3-5), since having a relationship with God the Father can only be attained through repentance and acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior. One must remember that Jesus is the only means for anyone to come to God and to know God (John 14:6; Matthew 11:26-28; 1Timothy 2:5, KJV).
It is also essential to understand that as the enemies of God, Lucifer and his angels (Matthew 25:41, KJV) have set up their kingdom to control and influence human authorities, kings and rulers on earth. His aim is to prevent the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. So persecutions and attacks against the people of God and of His Kingdom is the devil’s primary means to hinder the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. So God’s kingdom has suffered violence since Adam’s fall and it continues even now to suffer aggressions, hostilities, persecutions and all kinds of oppositions as described in the Old and the New Testament.
An example illustrating Satan’s works in human governments and authority can be found in Daniel 7, as different human kingdoms opposed to God’s plan are prophesied about. However, the emphasis of verses 9, 10,13,14,18, and 27 of Daniel 7, cannot be minimized. We clearly see God the Father, Jesus and the Saints with God’s kingdom fully established on earth at the end of the ages and reigning over all the kingdoms of the earth.
In Luke 10:17-24, upon the disciples return from mission for the Kingdom, after they preached the Gospel with signs and wonders, the Lord said unto them: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19) Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt (harm) you”.
Now here’s a revelation on that…
Given the events, looking at it from the right angle, this passage of scripture shows that after Christ’s death and resurrection the disciples will be going to the nations and preach the Gospel with great signs. This will confirm the fall of Satan, and the authority of Christ (Colossians 2:13-15). In this same chapter Jesus tells the disciples to rejoice for their names are written in heaven. Of course this is the great benefit that comes from receiving the Savior and from carrying out his mission, which is known today as “The Great Commission”.
“The Great Commission” then, (as Jesus instructed them), is to go and establish the Kingdom of Heaven, (The Kingdom of God) in the heart of man, by preaching and teaching who Jesus is, and by having those willing to come to Him to grow from being believers (receiving salvation), to becoming disciples, knowing and operating in what the Kingdom of God really is. Though the Kingdom of God suffers violence, meaning there is constant opposition from the enemy and his cohorts to hinder and overthrow God’s Kingdom, Jesus also let us know that on the flip side of things, it is with violence and vigilance that one enters in and becomes an heir to God’s Kingdom.
In Luke 16:16 (KJV) Jesus says, “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the Kingdom of God is preached, every man presseth into it.” Meaning, people were taught the Law of Moses and the writings and teachings of the prophets in times past, before John the Baptist. But once John the Baptist came on the scene, The Kingdom of God is what was preached and still is what ought to be preached today. Once one gets the revelation of the Gospel and of The Kingdom of God, one should “press into it”. Also it’s important for one to know what was prophetically spoken about in Daniel 7:18 which states “…the saints of the Most High shall take the Kingdom, and possess the Kingdom forever, even forever and ever.”
It is with violence and extreme determination, in your will, that accepting God’s will (John 6:40) and standing firm in opposing all opposition against God and His Kingdom that you press your way in and get your position in God’s Kingdom. It is also with that same vigilance that one finds his/her way to receive salvation. This is also true for receiving healing, transformation of life and for overcoming troubled areas and obstacles in order to seize the Zoë life, the eternal and abundant life offered by God in Jesus Christ (1Timothy 6:12). One thing is very important to note: what you need and desire in Christ in times of opposition can be fought and conquered in rejoicing. This is well stated in Philippians 4:4-5, and James 1:2 which tell us to continuously rejoice even in diverse temptations and trials. To rejoice again and again always, there has to be violence against what can be the opposition to rejoicing!
We know as stated in Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle (or fight) not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” So our violence pertains to using spiritual forces by declaring God’s word with active faith intended to hurt, damage, or kill any plans of the enemy against us, the sons and daughters of God. We are to be violent: that is brutal, rough, aggressive, fierce, ferocious, intense, extreme, strong, powerful, vehement, unbridled, uncontrollable, consuming, passionate and even more when it comes to the enemy trying to steal, kill and destroy who we are…a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation to show forth the praises of God the Father, Jesus the Son and God The Holy Spirit (1 Peter 2:9).
Complaining, murmuring, and negative confession has to be fought with that same vigor and violence that had us come to Christ. Many have come to Christ saying, “NO!!!” to the voices of evil spirits, demons, and satanic angels; some had to overcome friends and family who under the influence of the evil one tried to bring discouragement, gloom and despair. So those who fought mentally and spiritually to press forth and possess what God has for them in His Kingdom found salvation and the revelations of the Holy Spirit about who the Father is and who they ought to be and all they ought to receive. Thus, we have to learn to violently rejoice and be glad when opposition against the Kingdom of God tries to take root in our lives.
Jesus taught his disciple to pray:”Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed be thy name that will be done, thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven …” Since the kingdom of God is power, righteousness, peace and joy by the Holy Spirit, we ought to oppose and violently resist what brings discouragement and failure, unrighteousness and wickedness, fear and anguish, distress and agony in our life (Romans 14:17-19). Dear reader, you must violently oppose what is not of God’s kingdom by speaking and confessing God’s Word which is the sword of the spirit. And you must be rejoicing again and again, while violently fighting whatever is in opposition of God’s kingdom and seeks to steel what you are in Christ. Rejoicing is the fuse that will explode God’s Power! This is how we ought to walk in this life, in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in The Holy Ghost with Power!
THEREFORE LET US BE VIOLENT TO POSSESS GOD’S KINGDOM AND DECLARE THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM TO OTHERS AS DIVINE INSTRUMENTS!
