Prepare for Combat
PREPARE FOR COMBAT
According to the message Gabriel the angel brought from God to Zachariah, John the Baptist’s father, John operated in the spirit and power of Elijah (See: Luke 1:17). What we saw in Elijah and echoed here in John’s life is similar to what God will do in our generation’s prophets who operate in this same spirit and power. We begin by looking at what Jesus said about John and his combative ministry; we too will operate in this same conflict if we operate in the same spirit and power:
(Matthew 11:7–15 DKJV) And as these [disciples of John] were departing, Jesus began to say to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?—A reed shaken by the wind? (8) If not, what did you go out to see?—A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. (9) What then did you go out to see?—A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. (10) For this is the one about whom it is written (in Malachi 3:1): ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger prior to your appearing that he may prepare your way before you.’ (11) Assuredly I say to you that among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than him.”
John the Baptist’s Combative Ministry
Jesus begins this passage by asking the rhetorical question, “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?” He then prompts the answer by saying in effect that it wasn’t to study nature or to see a “cool” person wearing the latest trends. In this scenario, none of those things were important; the crowds Jesus was addressing had gone out to see a prophet. In other words, they wanted to hear from God.
A person desperate to hear from God is not focused on the messenger—expecting them to have celebrity status—they are focused on the message; they simply want to know what God is saying to them. At times like that, what is normally appealing to the flesh is no longer important—things like fashionable clothing, “cool” language, entertaining presentation, etc. They want to hear a genuine prophet, not a worldly popularity winner.
Moreover, Jesus said that John was “much more than a prophet”; he was a specific prophetic ministry that the Old Testament calls the “messenger”?a person that God would send prior to Jesus’s advent to prepare the way for him. John the Baptist was an Elijah ministry of great significance—one specifically prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus went on to say that John was the zenith of all those born of women (verse 11).
The Elijah ministry through John was not a “cool,” trendy ministry of comfort and style. His was a very combative, forceful ministry of spiritual conflict. This is reflected in what Jesus said next:
(Matthew 11:12–15 DKJV) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven forcefully advances and the forceful [try to] seize it [back] by force. (13) For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. (14) And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah, the one expected to come [just before the Messiah] (Malachi 4:5). (15) Let whoever has ears to hear, hear!
The Enemy’s Combative Retaliation
Both Jesus and John were combative; they were “forcing” the kingdom’s claim forward with devastating results in Satan’s realm. However, the enemy forcefully retaliated with all his ability to try to stop them. The reality and imminence of this war is clear from the context in which Jesus said it. It was just after John’s arrest and just prior to his beheading. Jesus also experienced enemy counter-attack through the elements, constant persecution, attempts on his life, and finally, crucifixion. Throughout the forceful ministries of Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus, and later the apostle Paul, we see the constant resistance and counter attacks of the enemy.
This principle also applies to us. Jesus calls us to forcefully push the kingdom of darkness away from people’s lives. When we do, the enemy feels it. As a result, he wants to regain his lost territory or to inflict vengeful injury on us to dissuade us from doing it again. For our purposes here, we call this his counter-attack.
God’s Encouragement to Overcome
Certainly, pushing forward against the enemy with forceful ministry is not safe. Yet despite the uncomfortable, and at times life-threatening counter-attacks, we know several things that encourage us:
1. Jesus expects it of us: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 EMTV). And he said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized will be saved, but he that believes not will be damned. And these signs will follow them that believe: In my name will they throw out devils; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15–18 DKJV).
Jesus certainly expects us to forcefully advance the gospel. We note, however, that the force he expects us to use is not against people, but against the wicked powers of darkness that imprison, impoverish, and intimidate them.
2. “All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution and affliction” (2 Tim. 3:12). So these things are part of the “normal” Christian life.
3. The enemy sends persecution and affliction to try to prevent God’s word taking root in the human heart and producing a kingdom harvest of good (Mark 4:16–17).
4. Jesus gave us instructions for overcoming persecution. See for example: Mat. 5:11–12, 44; 10:22–23; Luke 21:12–15.
5. God’s genius is so far above the devil’s schemes that he really can and does make, “all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). This means that he can reverse even the devil’s most deadly strategies and create life and blessing out of them. He really is that good!
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