Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE STORMING OF THE KINGDOM

1. There is a most vehement and impetuous figure:
   1. One must realize the intensity and the daring of our Lord's sermon, "Every man entereth violently into it"
   2. It suggests force, serious effort, and persistence on the part of the seeker of the kingdom
2. What a flood of suggestive ideas of becoming an heir of the kingdom of heaven:
   1. It will never come to the lazy and indolent in this world
   2. There is a special price tag attached to obtaining the right to the kingdom of God

1. A few negatives:
   1. Force of character is not always a pure and elevating virtue; Examples: Judas, doubtless was a forceful person, single minded and very resolute; yet that man was totally unfit for the kingdom of heaven. Herod was a storming, at times, violent and impulsive character; and yet he perished in his blood-stained sin
   2. Force and great energy wrongly motivated and guided is most harmful
2. A number of positives:
   1. Force of character is, when rightly directed, a blessing to men; Examples: We think of Saul, whose name was changed to Paul after the light from heaven arrested his threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord; he became a veritable dynamo; he literally stormed the citadel of the enemy with the gospel of Jesus Christ
3. Bible Christianity adds to the life of weak men three special graces:
   1. He gives them decisiveness of aim - life detaches itself from a multiplicity of distractions and gathers strength by its own intensity
   2. A man of one idea may overturn a common-wealth "This one thing I do" becomes the resolve that cannot be turned back - Acts 21:13
   3. He gives weak men and women the energy of strong and lively feelings. I know that some oppose the theory that strong emotions have any connection with the Holy Spirit; but one need but study the experience at Pentecost - Acts 2; at the special prayer meeting of the saints - Acts 4:24-31. Emotion is a part of life and when guided by sanctified reason is a great power
   4. And further He gives the impotent men the strength that comes from harmonizing their power
   5. And lastly, the Saviour gives the impotent the saving attribute of courage; He did that to David - I Sam. 17:46-49

1. "The kingdom of God suffereth violence"
   1. This violence has been going on ever since Lucifer led our first parents into rebellion against God; "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." - Gen. 3:15
   2. There was violence between Cain and Abel over the gospel of the kingdom of grace - Acts 4:8
   3. The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan, began in heaven, and was transplanted upon this earth - and it will continue to the very end
2. For a person to accept the gospel of the gospel of the kingdom, he must be braced for a battle from the start to the finish - 2 Tim. 4:6-8:
   1. Half-hearted Christians will never make it to take the kingdom of heaven by force
   2. One must have the spirit of resoluteness and courage - Josh. 1:6-8
   3. The ten spies, ten cowards, never made it to the promised land - Num. 14:23; but Joshua and Caleb did enter the promised land - Josh. 14:13
3. Let me close this message by calling your attention to the words of God in Revelation - "He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and the whoremongers and the sorcerers...which is the second death"