Violent Men — Charles Leiter

It is a great blessing and privilege to be here with you again. It's been a couple years. I was over here. I don't know some of you may have been here then. But I was just thinking before this time began here tonight just the blessedness of getting to be here and speak to you share the Word of God with you and What I want us to do tonight is to read a passage from Matthew chapter 11.

Jesus Describes the Violent Pursuit of the Kingdom

We'll read several verses here. Is this good enough? Can you hear me and back? Getting any amplification, okay. Matthew chapter 11 and we'll read verses 7 to 15 Says as these were going away Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John.

What did you go out into the wilderness to look at a reed shaken by the wind. But what did you go out to see a man dressed in soft clothing. Behold those who wear soft clothing are in Kings palaces, but why did you go out?

See a prophet. Yes, I tell you in one who is more than a prophet. This is the one About whom it was written behold. I send my messenger before your face who will prepare your way before you. Truly I say to you among those born of women There has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist yet.

He who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he and from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and Violent men take it by force. For all the prophets in the law prophesied and tell John if you care to accept it.

He himself is Elijah. Who was to come? He who has ears to hear let him hear. I'd like for us to center our attention tonight on one verse and that one verse is a very Glorious verse and a mysterious verse and it's verse 12.

He says from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and Violent men take it by force. John Brashears, would you lead us in prayer before we look into the word here?

Yeah. What does the Lord mean When he says the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and Violent men take it by force. What's he talking about? I've read some commentators on this and some of them say that these words should be understood in a negative way.

It says talking about persecution violence against Christians. Others refer to John 6 15. You remember it says they tried to come and take him by force. Or violently come and try to make him a king. But I think it's very clear that our Lord is not thinking of anything like that at all.

That's not what he's talking about. He's not thinking of something negative. He's thinking of something that is very positive and commendable. Now, how can I say that? Well, if you keep your place here, I don't know how many of you have your Bibles, but if you have them, we'll turn to Luke chapter 16 Luke 16 and we'll see a parallel passage Luke 16 and verse 16 Jesus says the law and the prophets were proclaimed until John since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached and Everyone is forcing his way into it now the significant thing here.

This word forcing is the same word violence has to do with violence. So If we just wanted to read Matthew 11 in This way you'd say the kingdom of heaven. Let's switch the word. The kingdom of heaven is forced Kingdom of heaven is being forced and forceful men sees it for themselves or if you want to switch it over and in Luke you could say that the The since our verse 16 the law and the prophets were proclaimed until John since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached and Everyone is violencing his way into it.

Same words are used in both these passages. So in other words, he's talking here in both these passages about Entering the kingdom of heaven. That's a good thing in Talking about entering the kingdom of heaven everyone's forcing his way into the kingdom of heaven he's giving a description here in other words of the type of person That enters the kingdom of heaven.

Now this is quite an amazing thing. What type of person enters the kingdom of heaven the only type of people that get into the kingdom of heaven are violent people? And that's something violent people are the only ones that get into the kingdom of heaven.

You realize in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, you're going to have to be a violent person. Now we know right away. What does this mean? Well, we're not talking about physical violence. We know that right off the bat in Matthew chapter 5 Jesus says resist not The one who's evil if somebody slaps you on the right cheek.

Turn the other one if somebody forces you there's that idea in forcing if he forces you to go a mile. Go with him, too. So he's not talking about that kind of violence. Now this is something more though.

He's not talking about any kind of natural violence at all. Not talking about you having a forceful personality and asserting yourself and believing in yourself and being that type of person. You say I'm not or you know, I'm not that kind of person.

I'm kind of weak and I'm good. Well, that's great. You got a possibility of being a violent person and in the right way. Because if you still got that self-confidence and That violence in that sort of way, you know pride.

You're going to be ruled out as one of these Spiritually violent people getting into the kingdom of heaven. He's talking about a different kind of violence. He's not talking about natural aggressiveness or confidence.

But he's talking about a violence that comes from a holy Desperation not talking about a violence that comes out of strength. He's talking about a violence that comes out of weakness. You get so weak that you get violent.

That's what he's talking about he's talking about a violence that is born out of humility not pride and Out of need and not sufficiency. And we'll see this I hope as we go along it's the meek and Those who are weak in themselves that have the kind of violence that Jesus is talking about now.

The Narrow Gate and the Cost of Discipleship

All right. Here's where we've come Jesus the Lord. Jesus Christ says That the only people that get in the kingdom of heaven are violent people. What's he talking about? Why would this be? Why is it necessary?

Well for a number of reasons. But I think that you can sum them up group them in two main groups as to why? Violence is necessary and I hope all this start to become clear as we go along here first of all.

Violence is necessary because of the nature of the gate that you've got to pass through to get into the kingdom of heaven. The Lord Jesus talks about this in Matthew 7 and you remember what he says enter by the narrow gate.

The gate is wide the way is broad that leads to destruction and many go in that now. You don't want to get the idea that this broad gate has to do with people like Hitler or you know? Hindus or something like that.

The broad gate is talking about professing Christians. You go right on in Matthew 7 and he says many, you know. He said many will go in that broad gate many will say to me Lord Lord. Did we not prophesy in your name did we not cast out demons in your name?

Did we not do miracles in your name? So the many that go in the broad gate are professing Christians. They have some kind of a crisis of some kind. They go through a broad easy gate and then they walk on a broad way after they get through there but he says Strive to enter in at the narrow gate try to get through that narrow gate because he says there's few that find that.

It requires violence because of the nature of the gate. The nature of the gate itself means violence now it mean in other words. It means more than saying Lord Lord. It means he says he that does the will of my father in heaven.

Whatever the cost doing the will of the Father in heaven. You have to be violent another place. Luke 13 Verse 23 and 24. They're going along there one day and they say they say to the Lord Lord. Are there few that are being saved?

What do you think Jesus said to that? What would you answer to it? Somebody says there's there are few people that are being saved. What did Jesus say? Does anybody remember he said the very next thing he said?

Strive to enter at the narrow gate and The Greek word is the word agonized. Agonize amahi or something to that effect agonized to get in. To the narrow gate strive to enter in because he said what'd he say?

Many will seek to enter and will not be able now isn't that amazing. That's amazing to me. Many people Jesus said are going to seek to get in and they're not going to be able. Why not because they're not violent.

That's the reason why the rich young ruler you remember he's seeking to get in the gate. He comes up and falls down before Jesus and says good teacher. What must I do to be saved? He didn't make it through the gate.

Why not? He wasn't violent enough to get rid of his idol his riches. That's a big thing that's why Jesus said it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle and For a rich man enter the kingdom of heaven why because it's going to cost him stuff that he doesn't want to get he doesn't Want to get violent enough?

Now you may not be rich, but you're going to have to be violent. I'll guarantee Jesus said you're going to have to be violent In order to enter the kingdom of heaven, it's good. That's the nature of the gate.

There is no sliding in you know without violence. It is going to cost you everything. To follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Now we'll see this as we go along here the nature of the gate itself Requires violence.

You cannot bring your idols and your sins and your self-life through that gate and The Lord Jesus brings us out in many places. I want to just look at two or three Luke 14 Verse 25 and 26 you'll see some of this violence.

Luke 14 25 and 26 now great multitudes were going along with him and he turned and said to them if any one comes to me and Does not hate his own father and mother and wife amazing and Children and brothers and sisters.

Yes, even his own life. He can't be my disciple. He says you've got to hate your own life. That's pretty violent. Hate your own father and mother and brothers and sisters and wife and children. What's that talking about?

It's talking about something like Abraham taking his beloved son Isaac up there and being ready to kill him. That's violent. I mean, it's a holy violence. It's a fearful thing. Really it is right here in this passage the next verse whoever does not carry his own cross and Come after me cannot be my disciple another Violent scripture and then I've always been amazed at this one verse 33 right here in Luke 14 so therefore No one of you You know, the Lord doesn't give us very many outs.

Does he know I'm it. You think he'd at least say there'd be a few or some of you're gonna have to give up it. He says no one of you. No one of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

Amazing statement. That's a violent state. And then again in Mark chapter 9, let's turn to this if you have your Bible Mark chapter 9 verse 43 He says if your hand Causes you to stumble cut it off. It is better for you to enter life cripple than having Your two hands to go into hell into the unquenchable fire in verse 45 if your foot Causes you to stumble cut it off.

Better for you to enter life lame than having your two feet to be cast into hell. In verse 47 if your eye Causes you to stumble Cast it out better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye and Having two eyes to be cast into hell where their worm does not die and The fire is not quenched in other words.

What's Jesus saying? He says you have got to deal violently with sin and it's not an option of whether or not you'll be a carnal Christian or not. It has to do with heaven and hell. He says if your hand causes you to stumble to sin.

He's not talking about literally cutting your hand off. Remember we're not talking about physical violence. We're talking about spiritual violence. If that thing stumbles you and causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away your eye tear it out and throw it away.

Because this is not a matter of how many you know gold bricks you get on Main Street or something. This is a matter of whether or not You enter the kingdom of God or you're cast into hell and that what he said he says it right here three times in other words for the Christian there is a violence toward sin and This thing is life and death.

It's not something to treat lightly. That's what that's the words of Jesus now sometimes it doesn't fit our theology very well. But that's you're gonna have to deal with what he said. That's what he said.

You know if in other to get it down into the real world if if TV Causes you to sin take it and throw it out the window. You know on the second floor and smash it. That's what he's saying. There came a time in my life.

Personal Repentance and the Desire to Know God

I when I was in college I Went through a time of such lukewarmness and God began to deal with me and show me what it meant to be a Christian. I mean it was just like it's like you feel this light drawing you into the light and you start to understand a little bit you know God is real.

God's real and you're like reaching out for him, and he's going away from you and You find yourself day after day. You know dull and lifeless and every now and then you get a little glimpse of reality and you feel the call for something more that God is really real and You realize wait a minute.

I can't play around with this thing over here and at the same time have God. And you know in my life right after I got out of college it just began to dawn on me. It wasn't some snap deal or something like that.

It was just gradually begin to settle on my soul. God was saying to me look I Don't want you to go to any more movies. Period until I show you now. I'm not telling you that this is for you. I'm just telling you an example of what God did he says if if it causes you to stumble.

It doesn't cause you to stumble fine. But it began to settle on my soul. God was saying to me not necessarily bad stuff. He's just saying I want you. I Want you in this area because this you know if you're honest with me.

You know this is drawing you away from really knowing me. And it settled on me for weeks at a time and finally I saw this is really God. This isn't just some guilt trip or something. This is God talking to me, and I said okay, Lord I won't go again unless you show me that I'm supposed to do it for 20 years or more.

I'd ever win again, and God used that at that time in my life when I was just out of college. He used that to save me from all kinds of stuff. Now I don't make it an absolute. It's something I've gone.

You know I I Felt that I should go back again in some cases. But what I'm talking to you about is is that you've got to face this reality of Whether or not you want to know God or whether you want to give your time.

I mean good things. I'm not talking about bad stuff. I Mean it's possible to waste a whole night Just being with your friends and nothing you never seek God. You didn't spend five minutes seeking God.

You didn't read your Bible. You didn't pray you didn't do anything and You wonder why it is God is far away and unreal. Tell you why it is because you're not being violent. You see that's what we're talking about.

Might be good things some people it's Hobbies and that kind of thing. I know a pastor that Collected arrowheads, and he had arrowheads all through his house one day a doctor was in there. He said this is fantastic.

How much would you take for it? And he put some massive price on it because he didn't want to sell it and He groaned the doctor said I'll take it. And he bought all his arrowheads. He said he was so sick.

He was almost physically sick when those arrowheads went out of the house. What's happening there? He's got an idol. That's what it is and God broke him of it so that he could now he can look at arrowheads and love and he enjoys him.

But he doesn't covet him want to have him. See one thing that God insists for you and me is he's insists. He's going to be our God and If you're a Christian you want him to be your God. You want him you I mean there's areas.

You know these areas here that are pulling you and deep down in your heart even though You know the flesh wants to cling to that deep down in your heart. I want you to be my God. I Want you to be my God, and I want to be your child.

You know all that that means Got a deal violently with things. Got a deal violently with sin. I know there came a time in my life back when I was I Guess it was probably about the time. I got out of college.

I begin to realize look. I can't go down that Isle that has all those magazines in it. I can't go down that aisle because I'll end up sinning I I'm going to talking about even in the grocery store. I Just begin to realize I can't do that.

It's going to cause it's going to make it use. That's weird. You know that yeah, it's violent you enter into life main. Everybody else thinks you're weirdo. Maybe you know but what it means is is that you enter into life.

There's a pastor out in New Jersey, that's well known all over the world and My co pastor I think someone that told me this he said that He read that that that guy that pastor has his wife look through Newsweek and all those magazines and tear out all the garbage photos.

Because he wants to read the magazine. Now you say that's pretty that's pretty far out. You know that's just I'm using words that are 100 years old on. Anyway I'm not doing that intentionally to try to relate to you.

That's the way I talk. But anyway You say that's pretty extreme. Yeah, it's extreme. I mean it really is extreme. Question how's your thought life? How are you doing? You see that's what it gets down to the reality of it.

Are we being violent. Are we being violent in our desire to know God and to have eternal life? There came a time in in my life where Things kind of came to a crisis and I realized you know I want to know God and I went out one night after I was at some special meetings.

I went out under the moonlight and I was crying out to God, you know, and I was just dry as I could be. And then I just sat there for a while and it just kind of dawned on me. Just another one of those things where the Holy Spirit just kind of quietly tells you and this is a thought that came into my mind.

What would you do different if God was as real in your life as he should be? As you know, he should be. What would you change about your life if he was as real as he ought to be what would you do different?

Well, I know one thing I'd do. I'd sell my black leather jacket. I don't think it's probably the best thing and I'd sell my my Humpty-dumpty dollar stereo that I had. I think I'd already sold my motorcycle at that time.

This was stuff I'm again, I'm not saying these are absolutes is something God was showing me. I know one thing I'd do I'd go back. You know that picnic table that other guy and I tore up back when years ago.

We tore up that guy's picnic table. I knew I'd done it. I've never gone back to that guy and gotten it, right? I know one thing I do if God was as real as he should be I'd go back and get that right. I'd go confess that and those.

Those seats that we tore up in the movie theater that time I'd go back and tell him about that. That's one thing I would do. I just started writing down the stuff that I would do if God was as real as he should be and by the time it was over.

I had a list and by the grace of God Every one of those things I was able to go back and get it made, right? I'm not talking about you trying to cook up some kind of guilt that you don't have and introspecting and that kind of thing.

But a lot of times what happens is. Somebody just mentioned something like this and flam that thing comes up and you know in your heart and mind God's talking to you about that. You didn't think it up.

He brought it to your mind. And you get that thing taken care of and I'm telling you my life was transformed By obedience to those things that God showed me to do and it wasn't any big experience. You see it was just.

It's just being violent. I Have a friend who's a pastor now and when before he became a Christian. He was a pretty rough guy and he was particularly obnoxious when he'd get drunk. And he came to know the Lord and one of the things he and another guy that was a very rough character they had gone one time and they had they had taken rocks and just broken out the windows in this building just one whole side of the building.

And after he became a Christian God brought that to his mind. Now this is it's violent. This is me. It's not easy. You go back and go to that place and you tell them, you know, I'm the guy that broke those windows out.

That's not easy to do. I Know a guy that had embezzled $5 ,000 from 7-eleven he had to go back and tell him and somebody told him they said you don't need to do that. You know, you don't need to go back and get that made right just confess it, you know.

But he knew in his heart. He knew that was not right. Anyway, my friend went back and confessed what he had done breaking out those windows. All right. Sometime later. He saw the guy that he had done it with.

Started telling the guy said Rodney. I've come to know the Lord. I Become a Christian, you know what? The first thing he said was What about those windows? That amazing and He could say I've got that taken care of.

See, it's it's violence and beloved. There's life there. There is life. If you will be violent if you won't be violent, I didn't say it. Jesus said there's death there's death some 1837. David says I pursued my enemies and overtook them.

I Did not turn back until they were consumed. I shattered them So that they were not able to rise. That's a violent attitude towards him. Don't turn back until you destroy that thing. You give it any little inch and it'll work its way right back in.

It will. The gate is narrow. It requires violence. What else why else is violence necessary? Not only is the gate by the nature of the gate violence is necessary but there's another reason violence is necessary and that is you got all kinds of Opposition standing against you to try to keep you from getting in.

Opposition, Tribulation, and False Teachers

Let me give you a quote from Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan gives a picture of this he says. I Saw also that the interpreter took him again by the hand and led him into a pleasant place where was built a stately palace beautiful to behold.

At the sight of which Christian was greatly delighted. He also saw upon the top thereof certain persons walking who were clothed all in gold. Then said Christian may we go in thither? Then the interpreter took him and led him up toward the door of the palace and behold at the door stood a great company of Men as desirous to go in but durst not.

There also set a man at a little distance from the door at a table side with a book and his inkhorn before him To take the name of him that should enter therein. He saw also that in the doorway stood many men in armor to keep it.

Being resolved to do to the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could. Now was Christian somewhat in a maze at last when every man started back for fear of the arm. And Christian saw a man of very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write Saying set down my name, sir.

The witch when he had done he saw the man draw his sword and put a helmet upon his head and rushed toward the door. Upon the arm men who laid upon him with deadly force. But the man not at all discouraged felt a cutting and hacking most fiercely.

That's the way you got to approach the Christian life. So after that he had received and given many wounds. To those that get this attempted to keep him out. He cut his way through them all and pressed forward into the palace at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within.

Even of those that walked upon the top of the palace saying Come in come in eternal glory. Thou shalt win. So he went in and was clothed with such garments as they. Then Christian smile and said I think Verily, I know the meaning of this.

Did you know that's the way it is. There's somebody lied to you. That's the way the Christian life is sometimes not all the time, but sometimes. That's the way it is one of the men in our church like this passage and friend of mine Painted him a picture.

It's got the castle there. It's got the men standing in front to keep him out. And there's a there's a you can just see the part of the hand and the pen and he's writing this fellow's name in there. And the guy's got his sword drawn.

He's heading in. That's the attitude that we're to have because there is great opposition to entering the kingdom. Now listen to it. I want to give you some scripture. I'm not just saying this acts 1422 through.

Many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven. Through many tribulations we must. There's no question about it. Paul says we are destined for this. Now you may not get beat up physically. But you're going to suffer if you follow God.

There's suffering involved not. I'll tell you one area of suffering you're going to get suffering from the devil. You see do you realize this. You have an objective enemy outside of you that does not want you to live the Christian life.

Even if you didn't have any sin in yourself at all. Let's suppose you were perfect. You don't have any sin inside. You've got an enemy on the outside of you that does not want you to have victory. When you get up tomorrow morning, you're an enemy territory.

You've got an enemy that does not want you to succeed in the Christian life. I'm not talking about what sin you've got inside you. I'm talking about even if you were perfect. Look at the Lord Jesus Christ.

He didn't have one sin within. He had all kinds of satanic opposition. The devil hates you if you're a true Christian, he hates you. He does not want you to make it. He does not want you to walk with God.

He wants to see you defeated. Not. Only the devil men will oppose you persecute. I just read today in my daily reading Jesus said beware of men. So I send you for as sheep in the midst of wolves. The picture there's a room full of sheep in here and outside.

There's a bunch of hungry wolves and you send out. You send them out, you know. One at a time send those sheep out there. They're going to get eaten alive. He said beware of men. You've got to be Shrewd as serpents and innocent as does you can't have.

You cannot afford to have sin in your life and you cannot afford to be stupid. You've got to you've got to be awake about this thing beware. Not only men but false teachers false teachers. Will try to mislead you and keep you from getting through the door.

Now. This is amazing. Let me just read it to you. This is from Matthew 23 13. Jesus says woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men. For you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in?

Now here's Opposition he said. I said why does it require violence to get in the nature of the gate itself? But not only that you've got opposition you've got guys that ought to be telling you how to get in and they're standing in the way hindering you from getting in by Telling you a bunch of lies that are not in the Bible now that is Rampant in America today.

How do they block the narrow way? How do they keep you from people from going in the narrow way? Well one way Jesus said they've taken away the key. You remember that Luke 11 32. Mm-hmm. Let me read that one to you.

That's the wrong passage Luke 11 52. Woe to you lawyers. For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourself and she's talking about entering in. You did not enter in yourselves and Those who were entering you hindered Taking away the key of knowledge.

You've got to be violent about that. The men who should have been giving the way of knowledge of salvation were active. They'd actually lost the key and buried it under a mountain of false teaching and you've got to be violent to get that key.

You've got to be violent In your desire to know the truth and your desire to know God. No matter what it cost. Let me just read another one to you. In Proverbs, this is one that has meant so much to me over the years.

Seeking Truth at Any Cost

This is what the Lord says my son. If you will receive my sayings and Treasure my commandments within you make your ear attentive to wisdom incline your heart to understanding. For if you cry for discernment lift your voice for understanding if you seek her as silver and Search for her as for hidden treasures.

Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. You just don't it just doesn't just fall on on you. You've got to cry for discernment. I Mean as a student, I hope you know something about this.

You get away from everybody else and you go out and walk the streets and you cry to God. I want to know you. I want to know the truth. Teach me. Open my eyes that I can behold these wonderful things. I want to know you.

If you seek her as silver, you don't. You do not find silver, you know, just laying around on top of the ground. God doesn't do that. He hides it. It's the glory of God to hide a matter. It's a glory of Kings princes to search out a matter if you seek her as silver Proverbs 23 23 by the truth and sell it not.

You know what? It's possible for you to have the truth. It's possible for you to know what is true. Unshakably, it doesn't matter whether everybody around disagrees with you. You know, absolutely that it's true.

It's possible to have the truth. I'll tell you what else it's going to cost you something. Why does he say by the truth? It's going to cost there is a cost to having truth. I Mean some people that have truth pay a terrific cost for and it is much cheaper and easier to believe lies.

It cost to have the truth. What else about that verse by the truth and sell it not it's going to cost to have the truth. What else is he saying? No matter how much it cost is worth it. That's what he's saying.

It's worth it. Well, the Bible is full of illustrations of violent men and violent women. I just want to close here by giving you a few examples of this Jesus said. And this was in a historical setting he says the law and the prophets were preached up until John nicest now the kingdom of heaven's being preached and Everybody's forcing their way in.

Violent men are violence in their way. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence. Who is he talking about? He had some people in mind. You can read about them in the Gospels some of. Let me just give you a few examples.

The Woman Who Reached for Christ

Luke 8 Luke 8 and verse 42. This man Jairus had an only daughter who was about 12 years old. She was dying as he went the multitude were pressing against him and a woman who had a hemorrhage for 12 years and could not be healed by anyone came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak and immediately her hemorrhage stopped and Jesus said who is the one who touched me?

And while they were all denying that Peter said master the multitudes are crowding and pressing upon you. Jesus said somebody did touch me. Where I was aware that power had gone out of me and when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice she came trembling and fell down before him and Get this declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him.