A State of War

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On December 15th, 1941, outlining the prior days of Japanese aggression in many islands in the Pacific Theater, President Roosevelt said in a joint session of Congress “I ask that the Congress declare, that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday December 7^th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”  This began the United States involvement in World War II.  Before a declaration of War can be formally announced, a state of war must be acknowledged. 

You don’t have to be military minded to realize there is something destructive taking place in our world; our culture.  We are occupying a very hostile environment.  Multitudes of lives are being totally destroyed around us.  Some of you have even experienced the tragedy of losing a loved one.  Before you were even able to realize it, the devil carried a family member off into the depths of sin so quickly that they were totally engulfed in spiritual bondage before you could even react. 

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Even though a state of war has existed in the world, it doesn’t mean that the people of God will deliberately take up arms and fight.  A state of war is only the recognition that a militant condition exists.  However, after that condition is recognized, there must then be a war declaration.  Do you see the hostility around you?  Do you recognize a destructive force is at work behind every life that is being savagely slaughtered?  Do you sense the resistance in your own daily walk with the Lord?  Can you discern that, even in your own personal walk that there is a force refusing to allow you to enter into greater things in the Lord?  Do you feel as if you have to press into every step you gain in God and that it takes every effort on your part to advance in the Christian life?  I’m trying to help you recognize this is all evidence that we are in a state of war.

America knows nothing what it’s like to be in a state of war in our country.  Israel, however, is in a constant state of war.  Hamas and Hezbollah constantly engage in hostile attacks on them.  The Israeli civilians are awakened during the night to the sounds of mortar fire.  Families walk the streets with caution that missiles could fly through the air at them at any moment.  Even the innocent people on the streets cannot be excluded from the terror of thinking they could be a suicide bomber waiting for the opportune moment to strike.  How would your entire world change if you lived in a hostile environment like that in the natural?  We would all look at every moment of our lives differently.  This, however, is the reality in the spiritual.  We are now, at this very moment, living in a constant state of war!

Interestingly enough about this scripture, Jesus revealed something very telling about the current warfare conflict in his own days.  He said from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence.  Our first thoughts on this is; hasn’t Satan already sought to slaughter mankind?  What’s different about this that Jesus speaks?  This verse reveals that Satan had refocused his efforts on the Kingdom of Heaven, which John the Baptist was announcing and ushering into the world.  Immediately after, Jesus would come on the scene.  Both started their ministries by declaring “Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”  These words had never been spoken before.  After centuries, finally the kingdom of Heaven was here upon the earth.  The kingdom of Heaven had invaded the earth which had been completely taken over by the kingdom of darkness.  But now, the King of the Kingdom of Heaven Himself has stepped into the earth.  The kingdom has been here for nearly 2000 years.  No, not in the form it will take when Jesus comes to reign for 1000 years, but is here in the form of the Church endued with the Power of the Holy Spirit.

The phrase “suffereth violence; and the violent take it by force” is a very interesting phrase.  The word suffereth comes from G971 pronounced bee-ad’-zo; to force, i.e. (reflexively) to crowd oneself (into), or (passively) to be seized;–press, suffer violence.  Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament defines “suffereth” G971 to use force, to apply force, to force, to inflict violence on.    All of this adds up to two things, either the kingdom of Heaven is being hit by violence from the kingdom of darkness, or, the kingdom of Heaven is inflicting violence on the kingdom of darkness.  The answer is both are correct.  Out of all the miracles that were performed by men of God in the Old Testament, did you know that “Casting out Devils” never made that Old Testament miracle list?  Have you ever wondered why?  Does this give us all more context as to what is being said in the phrase “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence?”  Do you realize now that the kingdom is here, it is inflicting violence on Satan and his dark kingdom?  You are part of this same kingdom of Heaven.

One truth must be established at this time.  Those who are lost, unsaved, not redeemed cannot fight in this war.  Why?  Because prisoners of war cannot fight because they are held captive.  Only those who are free can fight.  Only those who have already been rescued can enter this conflict. 

Since John the Baptist announced the kingdom of Heaven had come, there has been a state of war.  Have you ever wondered why that is?  Were we not in a State of War from the moment Satan entered the garden of Eden?  While it is true that Satan dastardly attacked humanity from that day, the world had for the most part been conquered by him and there was little opposition.  Because of this, the condition of the world lay sadly in a conquered and oppressed condition.  There was nothing that could be done.  We had been overtaken, conquered, disarmed, imprisoned and left at peace as long as we assimilate and did not revolt or form any spiritual insurrection.  The kingdom of darkness was now in dominion and tyranny over us all.  However, it was at the moment John the Baptist thundered from the depths of his soul a heralded message that echoed through every cavern in hell, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!”  It alerted Hell’s generals that a new threat  was imminent.  John the Baptist made an announcement that drew the attention of Satan’s legions, but there was absolutely nothing they could do about it.  John was here announcing the Kingdom of Heaven was here.  But it wasn’t the entire armies of Heaven, it was the King of Glory and there was nothing they could do to stop him.

John the Baptist was a threat because he was God’s man.  He was filled with the Holy Ghost and was preparing the way of the kingdom of Heaven.  Because of this, from the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of Heaven was suffering violence.  John the Baptist awakened a war that had laid dormant for some time.  Today, there are many men and women who are also awakening this spiritual war around them.  Not everyone can engage in this war though.  That war can only be fought by those in the kingdom of Heaven.  If you are born again, saved by the grace of God, then you are at this very moment in the kingdom of Heaven.  We are not waiting to be ushered into the kingdom, we already are part of the kingdom.  We represent at this very moment the kingdom of Heaven on earth. 

There is absolutely no chance that the spiritually mature child of God can be convinced that no war exists.  We all understand that Satan is as “a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may to devour.”  We are definitely in a state of war. When the lives of our loved ones cease to be ravaged by drug addiction, when cancers and other diseases stop eating away at our families, and when every other method of the devil ceases to suck the life out of our friends that we care for, then we will all become aware that the State of War has ended.  Until then, we must continue to be sober and vigilant, because WE ARE AT WAR!   Once you recognize you are in that state of war, then you will then recognize what next must be done. 

Jesus said in John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.  From the moment Jesus uttered these words, the world’s judgment was initiated and the prince of this world began to be cast out.  Satan’s kingdom, his territory, his dominion are entirely enemy assets to be driven off the face of this earth.  You have the power of God working in you in order to accomplish this very thing.