Sermon Tone Analysis

Pressing Into God’s Kingdom

/Text: Matthew 11:7-19/

 

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (12~/02~/01)

 

 

Introduction:

 

“If the church were on fire, people would come just to watch it burn” - Unknown

 

The Church was birthed in Revival, bathed in Revival waters.

Christ speaks of the spiritual fervor in the days of John the Baptist.

We need that fire today, a Holy enthusiasm for the things of God, a spirit that seeks the kingdom of God, that hungers and thirsts after righteousness, and will not be denied!!

 

Spiritually vigorous and forceful men and women.

This is to be the NORMAL experience of the Christian life.

/I found that I loved Christ dearly.

Oh, but my soul cleaved to him, my affections cleaved to him.

I felt my love to him as hot as fire.

But I quickly found that my great love was but little, and that I who had, as I thought, such burning love for Jesus Christ could let him go again for a trifle.

/- John Bunyan

 

It is true in Salvation – You were not passive in coming to Christ.

You did not sleep your way into the Kingdom!!

 

*Luke 13:24*  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

It is true throughout the Christian experience.

*Romans 8:37*  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Nothing can withstand the conquering advance of the church!!

 

*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.

This violence spoken of is not without the church, but that which must be found within.

VIOLENCE – /indicates the meaning as referring to those who make an effort to enter the kingdom in spite of violent opposition/

 

The image is that of invading and seizing a kingdom, like invaders pressing into a country and taking possession.

FORCE – "/to snatch away, carry off by force," "to plunder," "to seize and carry away,/"

 

is used of those who are possessed of eagerness and zeal, instead of yielding to the opposition of religious foes, such as the scribes and Pharisees, press their way into the kingdom, so as to possess themselves of it.

*Luke 16:16*  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

EXPLAIN Context of this passage.

!!!! John’s Ministry

 

He was not a reed shaken in the wind (vs.7)

He was not clothed in soft raiment – not effeminate (vs.8) – not the easy life for John.

He was a prophet (vs.9)

The forerunner of Christ (vs.10)

The greatest born of women (vs.11)

 

!!!!

The Crowds ~/ The Enthusiasm

 

Christ thus graphically portrays the intense excitement which followed John's ministry.

There was the eager waiting, striving, and struggling of the multitude for the promised king.

/This is proved when…/

 

*John 6:15*  When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

They misinterpreted it, but they were full of fire to grasp it and bring it in.

*Galatians 4:18*  But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

Good things are hard, difficult, they don’t come easy.

EXAMPLES – Treasure ~/ Mining  (Diamonds in the NWT)

Diamond producing kimberlite pipes beneath the tundra were discovered in 1991.

This find produced the largest staking rush in Canadian history.

Multiplied millions have been poured into research and development.

One mine employing 600 people is capable of producing 4-6% of the worlds diamonds.

The Professional world, business, athletics, education.

There is no “fast track”, no “easy ride”, No gain without pain.

We live in the age of “Something for Nothing”.

People will literally resort to violence, corruption etc. to advance or achieve in this life.

Now as Christians we are not to resort to a physical force for the advancement of Christ.

*2 Corinthians 10:4 * (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

 

Yet, we must ask do we view the heavenly prize with equal or greater zeal than the world esteems the earthly prize.

There is a Holy violence which is essential.

A enthusiastic fire for the prayer closest, an excelling fire for spiritual advancement, and an evangelistic fire for reaching the unsaved.

ILLUS:  On being asked, "If your house were on fire and you could take only one thing with you, what would you take?" Jean Cocteau, an early 20th century French writer, responded, "I would take the fire."

“/Suffer us not to be using dead formality where living violence can alone avail./” - Spurgeon

 

ILLUS: The passion of Rachel for Children  “/Give me children, or else I die./”

– *Genesis 30:1*

 

ILLUS: Jacob’s desire for blessing:

 

*Genesis 32:25-26*  And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

26  And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh.

And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

*Acts 14:22*  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

How will I know if I am fit?

How will I know if I can enter in?

Here are just a few examples or evidences of those who either find or do not find the kingdom of God.

 

! I.

The Kingdom is not for….

!! A. Those who love possessions.

*Matthew 19:22*  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

!! B. Those who love this world.

*2 Timothy 4:10*  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

!! C.

Those who please men.

*John 19:12-13*  And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

13  When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

!! D. Those who forsake the right way.

 

*2 Peter 2:15*  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

 

Many are now refusing and resisting.

*Revelation 21:8*  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

! II.

The Kingdom of God is for….

!! A. Those with purpose in their heart.

*Daniel 1:8*  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

!! B. Those who love not their own life.

*Esther 4:16*  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

!! C.

Those who are not double-minded.

*1 Kings 18:21*  And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions?

if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.

And the people answered him not a word.

!! D. Those who have their eyes fixed on Christ.

*Philippians 3:13-14*  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion:     (Review)

 

* */Do you dare to break away from…./*