When the Kingdom Pushes Back
Matthew 11:12 (NKJV)
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
When Heaven Meets Resistance
John the Baptist once stood waist-deep in the Jordan River, calling people to repentance. He saw lives changed, chains broken, and hearts made new. But now the man who once baptized multitudes sits behind prison walls. The crowds are gone, and questions have taken their place.
John’s struggle reminds us that even the strongest voices tremble when the spotlight fades. The Kingdom of God is not always a mountaintop moment; sometimes it’s a prison cell filled with doubts.
Yet Jesus didn’t rebuke John’s questions—He answered with proof:
“The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
The Kingdom was still advancing. Even when it looked like the enemy was winning, heaven was still moving.
Revival Begins with Resistance
Every time God raises up truth, hell raises up trouble.
Abel offered a righteous sacrifice, and Cain killed him.
Elijah called down fire, and Jezebel vowed to destroy him.
Jeremiah spoke God’s word, and he was thrown into a pit.
John preached repentance, and and was locked behind bars.
Jesus healed the sick, and and was nailed to a cross.
The pattern has never changed. When truth confronts sin, opposition follows. The Kingdom suffers violence—but that very violence proves its power. If the Gospel didn’t have power, it wouldn’t face resistance.
Meeting Force with Force
Jesus never called His followers to simply endure. He called us to engage with holy resistance.
Not with hatred or harm, but with conviction, prayer, and faith that refuses to yield.
If hell fights with fury, heaven must respond with fire.
“Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day.” (Ephesians 6:13)
To withstand means to hold your position when everything else is shaking.
The Church doesn’t run from resistance—it rises to it.
When culture mocks holiness, we stand. When truth is labeled hate, we stand. When fear says “be quiet,” we say “not today.”
The Hidden Violence of Sin
Sin is violent. It tears at families, dulls the conscience, and poisons the altar. You can’t negotiate with sin; you have to crucify it.
“If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)
God is calling His people back to conviction, back to separation, back to sincerity. We can’t fight a holy war with unholy hands.
When the Enemy Comes In
“When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19)
That’s what it means to meet force with force. Not by human argument, but by the Spirit of God.
We fight back with prayer. We fight back with truth. We fight back with bold faith.
If the world is bold in sin, the Church must be bold in righteousness. The early church didn’t pray for safety, they prayed for boldness, and the ground shook.
Stand. Don’t Settle.
Truth is still under attack. Holiness is still ridiculed. Righteousness is still resisted.
But this is not the hour to hide our fire—it’s the hour to fan it.
To every parent weary from the pressure—keep leading.
To every intercessor praying for prodigals—keep praying.
To every saint standing for truth—keep standing.
“Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
When the Church stands, cities shift. When truth is preached, hearts are pierced. When believers refuse to settle, hell loses ground.
The Final Word
The Kingdom still suffers violence. But the Kingdom still stands. John was silenced, but Jesus kept speaking. Jesus was crucified, but the tomb couldn’t hold Him. The apostles were beaten, but the Gospel filled the earth.
Every revival begins with resistance. Every push from hell is an opportunity for heaven to push back.
The call is simple: Withstand. Don’t settle. Resist. Don’t retreat. Press back. Don’t grow quiet.
Because every time the enemy presses in, the Kingdom pushes back—and wins.