We are the violent. We are the bringers of the kingdom of God. While we live in corrupt and violent times—an age of terrorism, abuse, racism, genocide, medical crises and political strife—this earthly chaos is a sign of the movement of the Holy Spirit and the coming of God’s kingdom upon the earth.
As believers, we are commissioned by God to awaken one another to the call of Christ, to seize the weapons of the kingdom of God and to become offensive in the ongoing spiritual war. What does that mean? It means God calls His people to arm themselves with violent attributes and be the “violent who take it by force” (Matt. 11:12).
Are you shocked? Are we really supposed to take up arms and be violent? Yes. Yet the violence we are called to is very different from the dark violence the enemy perpetrates against all of creation to ravage and bring the greatest of suffering. To be the violent as followers of Christ, we practice kingdom violence. Just as Jesus taught us, during reformation, revolution and revival we are called to be motivated by violent love that denies selfishness and entitlement, to be empowered by violent grace to minister using spiritual gifts and to walk in unshakeable violent faith that destroys all darkness. This is kingdom violence. We, as the citizens of the kingdom of God, are the violent who do kingdom violence and push back the darkness in our time.
Listen in to the Move Forward Podcast with Dr. Kim Maas on Charisma Podcast Network, and you will hear about my new book The Way of the Kingdom: Seizing the Times for a Great Move of God. This book was written especially for the times we are living in to help you identify and prepare for kingdom violence but also to challenge, call and commission God’s people to mobilize and combat the kingdom of darkness in our world. The darkness cannot stand against the violent breakthrough of the light.
You’ll also want to listen to my powerful conversation with Dr. Rodney Hogue where we discuss maturity in the body of Christ. You won’t want to miss our discussion on how to walk in a greater measure of wisdom, discernment and prophetic maturity so you can take your place; arise and shine with the light of Christ in this hour! {eoa}
Dr. Kim Maas is the author of The Way of the Kingdom: Seizing the Times for a Great Move of God and Prophetic Community: God’s Call for All to Minister in His Gifts. She also hosts Move Forward on Charisma Podcast Network and the Prophetic Community e-course here.