V-MAIL TO THE FRONTLINE

PART 20

THE DESPERATION FACTOR (II)

I ask myself today; am I really desperate for God? Is being with Him the most important thing to me? Is living for Him more important than the cozy little life I am building? Am I ready to abandon this world to not only gain eternity but to live in His Divine Reality NOW? I need to make sure my marching boots are laced and my spiritual weapons are sharp and ready? How do you believe a soldier feels when they are moments away from going into hand to hand battle with a fierce enemy? No joking around, laughing or sleeping. When the dust of enemy’s horses can be seen on the horizon – that is the time soldiers get “desperately” close to God. Well, we are on the front lines right NOW and our enemy is attacking from all sides and in order to be a true overcomer tomorrow we must die to our carnality today. We are serious, we are sober and we are courageous in the faith that God is greater in us than the spirit of this world! We know we are fighting for the winning side and no weapon formed against us shall prosper! We must not allow the comforts of this life to lull us to sleep. When the blessings of this life become a distraction and prevent us from walking in God’s presence then WE have made a wrong turn! We cannot blame the abundant life – we make choices everyday to whom we will serve and blessings were never intended to become idols! Staying desperate for His presence proves our love for Him is white hot! Many cry out in desperation for God to “fix” tragedies when they happen – but how many stay desperate for Him when they are happy and everything is going great? Selah.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force”. (Mathew 11:12) Webster’s New World Dictionary uses the words “violent” and “extremely” serious when describing the word desperate. This type of desperation is what moves mountains and brings the manifestation of miracles. The “violent” that embrace the Kingdom of heaven are referring to the aggressive attitude that we all should have – if we are who we say we are. If we are not what we say we are, it is not too late to admit ourselves into spiritual “rehab” and allow God to do some “reconstructive” surgery. Lukewarm Christianity is having one hand on the world and the other hand on the kingdom and God is waiting for His people to let go the world and put both hands on His Word. Allow me to share a small portion of Mathew Henry’s commentary as I feel it has an insightful contribution to this scripture; “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence – (biazetai -vim patitur), like the violence of an army taking a city by storm, or of a crowd bursting into a house, so the violent take it by force. This violence denotes a strength, and vigor, and earnestness of desire and endeavor, in those who followed John’s ministry, else they would not have come so far to attend upon it. It shows us also, what fervency and zeal are required, of all those who design to make heaven of their religion. Note, They who would enter into the kingdom of heaven must strive to enter; that kingdom suffers a holy violence; self must be denied, the bent and bias, the frame and temper, of the mind must be altered; there are hard sufferings to be undergone, a force to be put upon the corrupt nature; we must run, and wrestle, and fight, and be in an agony, and all little enough to win such a prize, and to get over such opposition from without and from within. The violent take it by force. They who will have an interest in the great salvation are carried out towards it with a strong desire, will have it upon any terms, and not think them hard, nor quit their hold without a blessing, Gen. 32:26. They who will make their calling and election sure must give diligence. The kingdom of heaven was never intended to indulge the ease of triflers, but to be the rest of them that labor. It is a blessed sight; Oh that we could see a greater number, not with an angry contention thrusting others out of the kingdom of heaven, but with a holy contention thrusting themselves into it!” Jesus, give us more holy fire!

We can look back in history and see how violence has been a part of the struggle between good and evil. But violence is not only referring to external situations as I believe this scripture can also be used to describe the “war” within our own temple. The old nature must be handled with violent determination in order to keep it under submission and establish the constant authority of Christ as Lord. The zeal and vision to live in the Divine Reality will not come with a weak “whim” but with being equipped with full spiritual armor and violent intensity to overcome our flesh and the darkness of the default system. How desperate are you to see His Word and His glory cover the earth? God is saying that for us to have results in our own spiritual development we must get off the couch and come out of our pajamas! We cannot allow the depressing condition of the world to cause us to bury our head in the sand and wait for the rapture. It is He who is waiting for us to understand His personal orders and be filled with His power to accomplish His will. Many in the body of Christ are leaving the doors open to their heart and allowing the enemy to dictate their life. While they play religious “tiddlywinks” the devil is binding their anointing and bringing discouragement to further drag down and immobilize God’s army. “How can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strongman? And then he will spoil his house”. (Mathew 12:29)

We also cannot deny our responsibility to grow into the position to be used with signs and wonders because Mark 16:17-18 say’s that super-natural power will follow those who “believe”. “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover”. In today’s church environment 99% of the people watch the 1% do all the work. They sit back and pitch in a few dollars so the frontline warriors can devote their life to God’s Kingdom. But Jesus did not say for “just the bold ones” to step out by faith – but ALL who call themselves a follower of Christ! The masses are not desperate to be used in the trenches of “mud and blood” because it’s easier and more secure to cheer others as they sacrifice their life and do the hand-to-hand combat. Whoever heard of a non-violent warrior?

And what about being desperate to see our lost loved ones come to know Jesus as their personal Savior? Are we fervently, desperately (violently) interceding and standing in the gap everyday? Why am I not fasting for revival (not to try and force God to move) but because faith with works is alive and filled with explosive miracle power! Father wants us to lay hands on the sick and for them to recover just like Jesus did. He wants us to manage the wealth of the fallen world system so His children may have all their needs supplied and have more than enough to finance His Kingdom. He wants us to walk in His wisdom and knowledge so His Word can rule the legal system with His perfect judgment. He wants His people to walk in the power and fruits of His Spirit with discernment and the super-natural gifts of His Spirit. In your name Lord, shake me and stir me, to a higher level of awareness. Convict me that I may comprehend what living more desperate and violent for you means. Break my heart and cause me to weep for the lost and hurting. Amen.