We will definitely move on from THAT game! Thank you again for your email, it was very encouraging! :)
The word for this week is "violent". The only verse in the New Testament that has this word is Matthew 11:12, and it also contains another form of the same word.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. KJV
"Violent" here is the Greek word "biastees". Strong's Concordance says this: a forcer, i.e. energetic. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: strong, forceful. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: a forceful or violent man. "Suffers violence" is "biazoo", which is the verb form and means to be seized or forced. From the KJV it appears to be a negative picture of the kingdom of Heaven being attacked, but the more accurate meaning is found in the Amplified Bible.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize — a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. AMP
So, even though the enemy would like to attack the Lord and His Kingdom, he no longer has any right to do so. We, however, have the Kingdom of our Lord as our inheritance and we MUST go after it fiercely, forcefully and sometimes violently because the enemy would love nothing better than to try to keep us from it! The violence, or forcefulness, is how we need to operate where our health and healing, our financial prosperity, our peace and joy, our family, our careers, our friends and every other area of our life is concerned, so that we refuse to allow anything good to be stolen! The great news is that this "violent" fight is called a "fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12) and it is one that we ALWAYS win, IF we refuse to quit! I know you and Kristine are not quitters! I am praying that this new year will be one of extreme blessing, peace, prosperity, joy and happiness for you all! Here is Hillsong Worship with another new song called "What A Saviour":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
