of the kingdom that suffers violence

[@anthonyhilton4168]

The dramatic music during the replay of Luther falling 😂😂😂 comedy gold!!! Thank you Pastor for the teaching and also the humor.

[@run4cmt]

Martin is living dangerously today :)

[@grizsgarage]

Blessed are those who believe and yet have not seen.

[@aaronking7500]

I asked this very question about John the Baptist being Elijah in my Bible study class. Pastor, your answer makes so much sense. John was not the expected Elijah, not even to him. Thank you!

[@KatAmanti]

I think we are greater than the John the Baptist, because we are the NT church and we can share the GOSPEL all over the world! ♥

[@jeffhein7275]

God be praised!

[@dnzswithwombats]

Thank you!

[@dalicampos7379]

I’m not offended pastor 😊. Thank you 🙏.

[@osmoregulatoryorgan]

John the baptist was Jesus' rabbi. It was John who preached 'repent and believe' first. And it wasn't until John died that Jesus started preaching the same thing (a good student follows in his rabbi's footsteps) and took over the mantle so to speak. It makes sense that when he said "I must decrease so that he can increase" that the student would surpass the master. I'm at work so I can't really flesh this thing out more.

[@psalm2forliberty577]

Great insights ! I think John the Baptist preaching to Herod about immorality and the need to obey God's law even for rulers and kings was a sign that in the New Covenant Kings and judges of the Earth would be held to account to the greater king of kings and Lord of lords Jesus Christ as we see in Psalm 2 and Psalm 110. This would be part of the Gentile Nations and therefore their kings being included in the definition of Israel versus the old Covenant where God's law and will was enforced mainly within Israel per se. Does that make any sense? It's even maybe a foreshadowing of our American System of Lex Rex which is to say the law is King versus Rex Lex which is King is law and can do is he wishes no longer the case under the New Covenant generally and in America we hold even our purportedly secular rulers to pledge a covenant solemnly under God to place themselves under the same law that all men must live under. Thanks for covering this challenging Passage Lord bless David

[@jonhohgrefe1437]

From when you are talking about the second coming from the evangelical days, when Christ comes again, we won't see radiance instead of weakness, we'll see radiance and weakness, etc. Does that make some sense?

[@neilnolte2587]

Love your messages. If we take the comparison in Matthew 11:11 at face value, it implies that John was not in the kingdom of heaven, which makes no sense. Many translations lead to an understanding of, "the least of these". I think the better translation is, "the one who is least" (ESV) or "he who is least" (NKJV) implying a single person. That person would be Jesus who came to serve and not to be served. For the last will be first and the first will be last. (Matthew 20:26, 23:11, Mark 9:35, 10:43, Luke 22:26)

[@marthaj67]

Yeah....I still don't understand that verse. But thanks for trying, Pastor! 😊

[@travist7777]

What's not to get?

[@heavenbound7-7-7-7]

Luther didn't make it. 🙁

[@rbelf001]

Well we are greater because we know more...And we believe without signs and wonders. John was under the old covenant we are under the new.

[@psalm2forliberty577]

The coming of the Kingdom of God in time & history brings much friction as prior to Christ's historical Redemption, accomplished & applied, Kingdoms (outside Israel) were Satans playground, he toyed with them at his pleasure, and God overlooked in large measure their flagrant disobedience. Once the Savior Messiah has been sacrificed, risen & enthroned in Heaven, having ALL Authority in Heaven & on Earth (Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 28:18, Acts 2, Hebrews) Now that is done its a "game changer" as Paul declares on Mars Hill (Acts 17l sermon, "In former times God winked at disobedience, but now commands all men everywhere to repent & obey the Gospel". So what you say at 05:50 Jesus wasn't the 'expected' Messiah - as Israel miscast His role - but would shortly once his humiliation as suffering Savior / Sacrifice was done, be in His Exaltation at Gods Right Hand, "henceforth waiting until all his enemies be made a footstool for His feet"...from Psalm 110:1, quoted 12 times in the NT...the Disciples now Apostles declared in all their preaching the Risen Christ now Reigning upon Davids Throne. This process of piling up God's enemies as His footstool is parallel with His calling us to repentance of our Sins & Faith in Him - and FRICTION is the result in all Nations as Christs Kingdom Grows & ascends, never receeding always increasing. In Isaiah 9:7 this is expressed perfectly, but dangling after the Nativity verse of 9:6 is missed or omitted. To quote it all: Isa 9:6-7 KJV 6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this" Thank you Pastor Bryan. Longtime lurker just now had time to respond. Appreciate your uploads ! SDG - David in Texas

[@thomaseubank1503]

I think that if we are greater than John the Baptist then it is because God makes us greater. Maybe we played hard to get, I don't know. Nothing on our part for sure.

[@carole3680]

Nor did Jesus call him.

[@faithhope8537]

The kingdom of heaven is physical time and space, where wars and violence happen. Before I go further, decide if you believe lucifer rebelled before the creation of man in a physical time and space, or after...I'll say it was before man's creation. Also the Davidic throne is the kingdom of heaven that Jews look for once the law was established. But once Jecaniah was renamed Caniah as the last king of Israel. God condemned the male bloodline of kings...and the bloodline of fathers leading to Christ could not be through Joseph, but only Mary...making God as Jesus's Father. This is why satan hates humans and Jews. He lost his kingdom in a rebellion against God. Christ Jesus is the rightful heir and already is, but "not yet". We don't see it yet because Jews, who are still God's people, are still looking for a Messiah. 👉Romans 11:25-28 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. ...so God is going to deal with Israel again, or Paul is a liar...Paul is NOT a liar. So, the Kingdom of heaven is the earthy throne. God commands Israel to recognize Nebuchandnezzar as king through Jeremiah. John the Baptist preached "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". This is the time of Christ and John making straight His paths. John is the last of the "old testament" prophets of the law to establish the kingdom here on earth. Of course Christ was rejected as prophecied by several prophets..(Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached....Matthew 11:13-14). "If ye will recieve it"...they did not recieve Elijah/Elias. But, we as humans still have time to deal with here, things have to work it's way through time...as God is Spirit and His Spirit is eternal and He lives in a place of eternity outside of time. The kingdom of God is spiritual with God and Sovereign over all, as in it is without observation and within you (Luke 17:20-21). It is also peace and joy in the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17)...NOT physical, NOT violent! It is eternal. It is eternity. The members of the kingdom of God are the saved of the church/Ekklesia...Physical representatives of the spiritual Kingdom of God...this is the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven...meaning Physical and spiritual.👉mystery of "Christ in you"...Christ is the ONLY ONE that can reign both the physical and spiritual at the same time. The only difference right now is that believers do not reign with Him physically in this world, if you understand the parables. We are here to teach the good news until His return. He will return and reign face to face...👉👇 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even also I am known.