photo credit, ghosttalk
Matthew 11:12
And
from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the
Kingdom
of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are
attacking it. There are various reasons why Jesus came to the earth.
He had come to seek and save those who are lost (Luke 19:10). He
had come to suffer and die (Luke 23:46). He had come to destroy the
works of the devil (1 John 3:8). He had come to give eternal life
(John 3:16).
He
had come to give us a sword and the sword represents conflict and
dispute. Those who believe in Jesus will not avoid spiritual
conflict against the world. He talks about spiritual warfare and
guarding our faith. Jesus wants to tell us that we should not make
peace or compromise just to avoid spiritual conflict but instead, we
should be continuously in the state of conflict if we desire to guard
our faith. This is connected to the spiritual warfare. You can give
up on all things if you must but do not give up on your faith in God.
The typical Christians’ view of Jesus which is conjured up from
their own thoughts and ideas is much different from the Jesus in the
bible .
Many
Christians think that Jesus exceedingly loves peace and never was
associated with war. These Christians are only fascinated with the
aspect of Jesus who is leading them to a rest in a green meadow next
a peaceful tream. But in reality, when you believe in Jesus and
become His disciple, you are now engaging and participating in the
spiritual warfare. You can also be forsaken by your close family
members and/or your relatives. In the extreme case, you may have to
prepare to die for His sake. It means that whenever you go to the
other countries or regions, the people in that region may seize and
kill you.
“Don’t
imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring
peace, but a sword. 35 ‘I have come to set a man against his
father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against
her mother-in- law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own
household!’37 “If you love your father or mother more than you
love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or
daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.
Therefore,
the more we try to live spiritually, we will not always enjoy a
peaceful relationship with people. The conflict and dispute will be
raised at any time. It may seem like the spiritual realm is organized
but you will have to know at the same time that it is not. Even
though the spiritual realm is systematic, at the same time, many arts
of the spiritual realm is not. The spiritual realm can not be
theorized by people’s ideology because it is very diverse. The
fastest way of approaching and understanding the spiritual realm is
to be led by the Holy Spirit in your daily life.
an excerpt from Baptize by Blazing Fire
