January 25, 2026
Sermon Part 7: “The Kingdom of God Loves Violent Seekers: Born-again Federal Workers Are You One of Them?”
At Matthew 11:12, Jesus Christ exclaimed, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” I ask of every born-again Christian, including Federal Workers, by faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross are you ready to take the Kingdom of God by force?
Good Morning Saints, grace and peace be multiplied to you by and through our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!
Introduction
Over the last two weeks, we talked about two methods born-again Christians are graced by God to use to sow and reap supernatural harvests from the Kingdom of God. The first, by faith in the finished works of Jesus Christ, we are to look into our born-again hearts where the Kingdom of God resides and see the eternal things God has stored away for our glory, and call those things into physical manifestation, just as if they already exist. (II Cor. 4:18, Job 22:28, & Rom. 4:17)
As the spiritual kings and priests of God in Christ Jesus, whatever things that pertain unto life and godliness from within the Kingdom of God that we “decree” shall be established in the earth! Typically, this powerful/supernatural method of farming takes only a short-duration to receive harvests. However, frankly and sadly speaking most Christians rarely, if ever, under the unction of the Holy Ghost use this method of sowing and reaping; as Satan tempting and filling their thoughts (brains) with fear and unbelief, they choose not to venture into the Spirit to see and do the works of Christ.
Second, we learned by faith in the finished works of Jesus Christ how to sow the Promise of “things” contained in the Word of God into the “fertile ground” of our born-again hearts (Kingdom of God), and over time receive manifold harvests from the Promise sown therein. (Mark 4:11, 14, & 20) We must deliberately and carefully plant the Promised thing in the Word into our hearts by receiving it with gladness of heart and thanksgiving, study it, meditate on it, confess it, practice the principals of it day by day; and the Kingdom of God of its own Power takes the Promised thing and grows and multiplies it for harvests.
We said that every born-again Christian should be actively engaged in this method of farming from the Kingdom of God so that they never experience lack of any material or spiritual good thing. Since there is so much financial lack and insufficiency within the Body of Christ, including members and partners of Exousia Ministries, I gave to you an abundance of Prosperity Scriptures and affirmations to sow into your hearts that will bring forth the increase of jobs, houses, lands, money, and other material things. Tell me though, over the past week how many of you took the time to intentionally and carefully sow the Scriptures into your heart, or any one of them?
If you didn’t take the time to sow the Scriptures, you don’t have to wonder why. The reason is because Satan stole the Word you heard from you. (Mark 4:15) He didn’t forcibly steal it. You let him take it. At the behest of Satan, you chose and decided to consider the Word you heard of “lesser importance,” and something else in your life of a higher priority to do. Thus, the Law of Sowing and reaping is in force: The extent to which you heard the Word, received and practiced it; that level of effort was measured back to you. Nothing sown, nothing shall be reaped! And, even the Word that you retained is taken from you; and given to someone else who is a careful sower of the Word of God. (Mark 4:24-25) Saints, it’s remarkable to me, that a large number of born-again Christians are so “Word-deprived” that they cannot even correctly recite the most-often quoted Verses in the Holy Bible: Genesis 1:1, Psalm 23:1, or John 3:16. All because they have neglected the Law of Sowing and Reaping.
Always remember this Saints. Satan only exerts efforts to tempt you to doubt, disbelieve, or disregard the Word of God regarding these methods of sowing and reaping, or for that matter any other of the Commandments/or Biblical Principals of God, because he knows God has called and anointed you by the Holy Ghost to do the same works (miracles) that Jesus Christ and the Apostles performed while in the earth, to destroy his evil works and bear witness to the Truth that Jesus is the Messiah, son of the Living God! So don’t let the devil stand in your way and steal your harvests, boldly become a doer of the Word and not just a hearer!
A Third Method of Sowing and Reaping Belongs to the Saints
Now today, we are going to learn a third method of reaping from the Kingdom of God. I call it, “Violent Seeking and Reaping from the Kingdom of God.” Everybody shout for joy saying, “I am a Violent Seeker of the Kingdom of God, and I take by force everything that Jesus Christ has laid upon me to receive!” Frankly speaking, the primary reason why so many born-again Christians lack “supernatural power” to overcome temptations of sin, to do miracles and special miracles, is because they are not “Violent Seekers” of the Kingdom of God.
So many Christians, including our Federal Workers who find themselves in a chaotic season, have an apathetic and lazy prayer life, and do not know how to establish themselves in the secret place of the Most High God and Kingdom of God, and seize the powerful gifts of the Spirit laid up for their glory. Gifts from the Holy Ghost, such as the Spirit of the Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Gifts of Healing, Working of Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of Spirits, Divers Kinds of Tongues, and Interpretation of Tongues. (I Cor.12:7-10) These precious and sacred gifts have been “laid upon us” by Jesus Christ, and we are to operate in them according to the divine Will and Purpose of God to profit mankind, and ourselves in righteous living.
But, I tell you Saints, only born-again Christians who are “Violent Seekers and Reapers” of the Kingdom of God can un-lock and enter through the doors of the Kingdom of God and receive abundant supernatural manifestations of God reserved for those who love Him.
Unfortunately, most Saints are content to be “just Saints,” who live and practice a natural and neutralized religion that in ignorance and the vanity of their own minds call Christianity. But True religion (Christianity) practiced by believers never denies the operation of the Power of God in their lives, but they endeavor to do as the Apostle Paul committed to doing. That is, to doggedly and violently become consumed with searching out the deep things of God in Christ Jesus. Paul wrote to the Saints at Philippi:
12 Not that I have already attained or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Php.3:12-14)
Saints, did you catch what Paul wrote in Verse 12 (underscored)? Notice the violence in the phrase; “but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” Meaning Paul was, if you will, “doggedly” (single-mindedly) determined to seek after, seize, and take control of everything Jesus Christ had preordained and anointed for him to receive and do in the Spirit; and with it, press toward the mark for the prize of the high-calling in Christ Jesus.
Understand Saints, Paul was saying that the things Jesus had “laid hold of him” (put on/clothed/fully immersed him in) belonged to him, and he had to exert “spiritual force” to take possession of them by faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing else mattered to Paul than to strive to attain the excellence of Christ Jesus, the Anointed One and His Anointing. A few Verses above (Philippians 3:8-10) with violence, Paul pinned:
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
Paul “singly” desired for his life to be a shining example for all believers in Jesus Christ to follow after in faith. (I Cor.11:1) We can say then that every born-again Christian must strive to become a “Violent Seeker” of the Kingdom of God to lay hold of everything Jesus Christ has “laid hold” of us (i.e. freely given to us), by faith in His finished works on the cross.
Now Matthew 11:12, which I mentioned earlier, is an oft-quoted Scripture in Christian Circles, however many Christians are unaware of what Jesus meant we He said "the kingdom of God suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." The phrase is widely accepted among Bible scholars to mean that since John the Baptist, people have “intensely” and “forcefully” pressed to enter God's Kingdom, often through “fervent prayer,” “spiritual warfare,” and “persistent striving,” pushing past spiritual opposition (from Satan) to claim what belongs to them; not literal physical violence, but through a powerful and determined spiritual effort.
Visualizing taking the Kingdom of God by force involves imagery of “intense spiritual breakthrough,” like storming a fortress or passionately breaking through resistance, representing fervent worship, intercession, and a determined spiritual fight for blessings or freedom. Through fervent prayer, it’s about reaping spiritual and natural harvests from the Kingdom of God.
During the Ministries’ of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, and then Jesus Christ the Messiah, massive crowds followed after them hungry for the Word, as they preached repentance for the Kingdom of God was at hand; even in the midst of strong opposition posed by the Jewish religious leaders (the Pharisees and Sadducees), the crowds were determined to hear Jesus. On occasions, the crowds grew so massive that Jesus had to sit in a ship to teach the people. On land, the throngs of people longed to hear His Words, touch him and be healed of sicknesses and diseases, to be delivered from demonic possession, to witness the dead raised to life, and to be fed miracle provisions with two fishes and five loaves of bread.
The Bible gives us many individual examples of Violent Seekers and Reapers who sought after Jesus Christ to receive God-ordained good things from the Kingdom of God. For example, recall at Mark 2:1-12, the story is recorded that the friends of a paralyzed and bedridden man “tore the roof-off a house” in Capernaum to get the lame man to Jesus because the house was so packed with a large crowd that they couldn't get through the door or even near Jesus.
Their innovative determined action showed immense faith in Jesus' Power to heal, and they lowered the man on his mat through the opening in the roof directly to Jesus, demonstrating extraordinary commitment to their friend's healing. In turn Jesus forgave the man’s sins, told him to arise and take up his bed, and go into his house. Immediately, he was healed took up his bed and returned home. Yes, for this man, rather than passive acceptance that there was no room in the house to enter; his friends were moved with “fervent spiritual striving” in pursuing after Jesus Christ, by any means necessary to receive the God-good things laid up in store from within the Kingdom of God for their friend.
Another example of Violent Reapers is the "woman with an issue of blood," who had suffered from a 12-year chronic bleeding condition, which made her ritually unclean and socially isolated.
After spending all her money on doctors without success, she approached Jesus in the massive crowd, touched the hem of his garment, and was instantly healed and made whole. Her story is chronicled in Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8:43-48; highlighting “strong faith” as the catalyst for her healing, though the Power came from Jesus.
Umm, hear me well Saints, the miracles Jesus performed; those recorded in Scripture, and the incalculable number of others He performed during the three-plus years of His public Ministry not recorded in the Bible, were not just for the purpose of us believing in Jesus for our own deliverance and healing. But, so much more so that we might be used of God to do the same miracles and greater miracle works after His death, Resurrection, and Ascension to the right hand throne of God. In other words, God expects for us to serve as an extension of Jesus Christ, to replicate demonstrations of the Power of the Kingdom of God to all people throughout the world. Jesus said at John 14:12:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
To accomplish these supernatural works of God, we need the Holy Ghost and Power abiding and working through us, just as the Holy Ghost did through Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter summed up the Ministry life of Jesus this way at Acts 10:38:
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Among Jesus’ last Words to His disciples before Ascending on High recorded at Luke 24:49, he said:
And, behold, (meaning look see and know in your hearts) I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Jesus Christ sent the Promise of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, upon the disciples, but they had to tarry (go and pray and wait) to receive the manifestation of the Spirit of Promise. They had to tarry to take hold of that which Jesus had laid hold of them. As they tarried, Jesus Christ would be the Person of the Godhead who would “baptize them with the Holy Ghost and fire;” just as predicted by John Baptist and Promised by the Lord. (Matt. 3:11 & Acts 1:4-5)
Every born-again Christian, regardless of Church denomination or affiliation, should be “taught through the Holy Scriptures” and “joyfully encouraged,” that after receiving Salvation, to seek after Jesus Christ in prayer to receive “the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire.” We need the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, which provides “Spiritual Power” to live a victorious Christian life, to preach the Gospel, and to do the works of Christ in fulfillment of the Great Commission, as well as to operate in and receive manifold gifts and manifestations of the Spirit. (Mark16:15-20, Rom.12:6-8, & I Cor.12:4-11)
The key sign of the born-again Christian having received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, is “speaking in tongues” as the Spirit of God gives utterance, which most often is received through “fervent and earnest prayer.” See Christ’s Promise of Spiritual Power that would be made available to the disciples, turned Apostles and all followers of Christ recorded at Acts 1:8 below; in which they violently took possession of in the Upper-Room on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:13-14 & 2:1-6)
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Many Christians have passive acceptance of the great mercy and grace of the Only True God of Jesus Christ and have become sons of God. But, without passionate seeking after and finding Jesus Christ for themselves, they have not yet taken possession of the many wonderful and powerful spiritual gifting’s Jesus has laid up for them through the receipt of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, witnessed by speaking in other tongues. Let me also add that Christian converts who have not received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced with speaking in tongues, should never be forced to tarry, nor made to feel less of a Christian and saved than those who speak in tongues. We are all saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by works less any person should boast of self-works. (Eph. 2:7-8) The moment we confessed Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and received water baptism by His authority we received Salvation, and the Holy Trinity takes up residence within our regenerated hearts. (Rom.10:9-12 & I John 4:15)
Sadly, there are many Pentecostal/Apostolic denominations who have taught down through the years that unless and until a Christian convert is witnessed speaking in tongues, they are not yet considered saved, nor permitted to serve as members of choirs, usher boards, hospitality clubs, etc.
This errant teaching causes the Kingdom of God to suffer violence, just as much as it suffers violence from Church denominations and Church Affiliations that teach congregates that speaking in other tongues is not needed, and should not be practiced, or only available to a few. Did not Jesus say to the disciples at Mark 16:18: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.” Further, on the Day of Pentecost, didn’t the Apostle Peter stand preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews present from every nation, saying:
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
(Acts 2:38-39)
My God, I feel like this is a powerful teaching moment right here for every denomination and non-denomination, and Christian individually. Jesus Christ said any person who believes in Him, “shall speak with new tongues (unlearned languages).” Peter noted also that when the believer repents of their sins and receives water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, the believer receives the “gift of the Holy Ghost.” Therefore, if you are a “believer” in Jesus Christ and His Promise, violently take hold of what Jesus has already laid upon you. Yield your will to Jesus’ Will and open your mouth and let the Holy Ghost speak through you; speak in tongues, speak in new (unlearned) languages as the Spirit gives utterance! Let the Holy Ghost do the talking, not you!
So many Christians across denominations and Church affiliations have devalued, misunderstood, misused, and neglected speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance. God wants all people to become citizens of the Kingdom of God, and to take full advantage of all of the spiritual gifts that have been divinely laid upon them by Christ. Every believer needs to be taught that the “initial experience” of speaking in tongues serves as an eternal personal “witness and confirmation” of our Covenant (Father/son) Relationship, (Rom. 8:14-17) establishment of our prayer language with God, (I Cor. 14:1-2) and doorway into supernatural gifts of the Spirit for Ministry Service, as well personal edification and spiritual growth in God. (I Cor. 14:4, 15 & Jude 20) The Saint of God must come to realize that “speaking in tongues” is a form of “reaping harvests” from the Holy Ghost and Kingdom of God; as we sow in violently in seeking the Spirit of Promise and reap in speaking in tongues!
Moreover, I would go as far as to say that developing a consistent “prayer-life” of speaking in tongues, as the Spirit of God gives utterance, works to transform the Christian’s life into that of Jesus Christ, “greater” than any other spiritual tool given to us by God. (We will talk more about this in next week’s Sermon.) Praise God Saints, the more you speak in tongues, even though you may not have the interpretation of what you have said: (1) the more material wealth and substance will come your way, (2) the more healing power will flow through your hands to do the works of Christ, (3) the bolder your witness of Christ to others will be, (4) the more of God’s Wisdom will be revealed to you in all things pertaining unto life and godliness, (5) the more restrained from yielding to sin you will become and have a willingness to help others overcome sin, (6) the more loving and peaceful you will become, (7) the hungrier you will be for the Word of God and to share it with others, (8) the more supernatural strength you will have to endure hardships and persecutions and finish strong your Christian course, (9) the more refreshed you will become and live longer on the earth, and lastly, (10) speaking in tongues will turn your life into a magnificent mosaic of the Spirit of the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ!
I want to close this Session with recounting my personal initial experience in violently taking the Kingdom of God by force; receiving the baptism of Christ and speaking in tongues. I thank God for my grandmother and all of the Saints of God who assisted me in violently seizing my Holy Ghost prayer language. Through the experience, I learned that “great force” had to be used to receive Christ’s baptism. It involved learning to “yield my whole-will to Jesus, and taking hold of His Will to receive what He had already laid upon me. The Saints of old called it, “Letting the Lord have His Way!”
My First Experience with Violently Taking the Kingdom of God by Force
Not long ago, while sitting and meditating on the Word of God, I began thinking about the “hardest thing and most rewarding thing” that I have ever accomplished in my almost 70-years of living on earth. I said to myself, by far, greater than any educational, social, business, or athletic endeavor and attainment in my life; the hardest thing was “seeking after and finding Jesus Christ for myself to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire.” And, the most rewarding thing is having received God’s free gift of “eternal life.” Yes eternal life: The deep and abiding relationship with the Only True God and Jesus Christ within the Kingdom of God, wherein daily I enjoy violently seeking and reaping every spiritual gifting God has laid upon me, means more to me than anything in the world!
Many born-again Christians may not understand why I say seeking after Jesus Christ and finding Him was such an extraordinarily arduous task. Many people may think that coming into a relationship with Jesus Christ and fellowship is fairly straight-forward and easy: By hearing and believing the Gospel Message, repenting of sins, confessing with the heart and mouth Jesus Christ as Lord, and receiving water baptism in His name we are born-again and made “One” with God and Christ. Oh yes, this is certainly True. As noted earlier, Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. (John 3:16-17, Acts 4:12, Rom.1:16, & Eph. 2:8-9)
However, as indicated earlier, we are not just called to receive Salvation through heart and verbal attestations and water baptism, and to then rest on our laurels. Upon receiving Salvation, we are invited and encouraged through spiritual striving to come into an “intimate relationship” with Jesus Christ and receive every God-good thing reserved for us within the Kingdom of God, according to the Holy Scriptures. Notice in the following Scriptures that “fervent effort” must be exerted to meet King Jesus and to take possession of eternal things within the Kingdom of God.
Old Testament Scriptures:
Isaiah 55:6: "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near."
Amos 5:4: "Seek me and live."
Jeremiah 29:13: "You will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart."
Psalm 105:4: "Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."
Deuteronomy 4:29: "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul."
Psalm 63:1: "You, God, are my God; earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you".
Zephaniah 2:3: "Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who carry out his requirements."
New Testament Scriptures:
Matthew 7:7-8:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 11:29-30:
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 5:6:
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Matthew 16:24:
Then Jesus said unto His disciples, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Also, see Revelation 3:20:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Clearly, from these Scriptures and many others I could give, to get to know Jesus Christ and receive the things He has in store for our lives, requires that we exhibit a “strong and sustained spiritual appetite” to seek after Him with our whole-hearts. Within the regenerated heart of every Christian has been placed an eternal “fervent desire” to seek after and find Jesus for themselves; especially through means of prayer, study of the Word of God, and Church assembly with the Saints of God.
In practice, the average Christian may not be doing these things, but the Spirit of God is always calling and beckoning us to stop what we are doing (to come away from a world of cares) and seek after and find Jesus Christ in prayer and in the Word of God.
Truly, every believer should “happily” develop and practice a life-style of aggressively seeking after and coming into the Presence of Jesus Christ and receiving constant baptisms in the Holy Ghost and fire by Jesus. This should not be a one-time event, as Jesus said that by the Holy Ghost, out of our bellies would flow “rivers of living water!” (John 7:38) This is so we can nourish not only our own-selves, but others with spiritual life throughout all of our days on earth!
Some of you have heard my Testimony of how I met Jesus Christ, at age 11 at my late grandmother’s Church, the Bible Way Temple Worldwide in Washington, D.C. Growing up in the Pentecostal/Apostolic Church, we were “required:” to tarry (to pray and seek after the Lord on bended-knees until filled with the Holy Ghost; evidenced by speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gave utterance. This all in accordance with Mark 16:17, Acts 1:12-14 & 2:1-4, 38 & 39 and several other Scripture references.
To "tarry for the Holy Ghost" means to wait patiently and persistently, often through prayer and praise, for a direct experience of the Holy Spirit. This practice, as I noted, is rooted in the Biblical Command for the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high. It involves a state of focused anticipation, where individuals remain in a posture of spiritual readiness, often in a prayer or worship setting as illustrated below; expecting God to manifest His Presence and Power.
For many months, in prayer meetings on Thursday nights and after Sunday Church Services at my home Church, The Church of Jesus Christ in Washington, D.C., I along with other fellow newly water-baptized Christian converts prayed on our knees (aided by crimson-colored knee pads) and waited (with the understanding taught to us) for the precious gift of the Holy Ghost to fall on us, and with the Spirit of God receive the Kingdom of God. (Rom.14:17)
Prayer Ministry staff would assist us with encouragement to lift our hands up to God and seek after Jesus, either by repetitively saying the name of “Jesus,” or “Hallelujah” as fast as we could. As we labored in prayer, the staff would often fan us, as well as provide tissues to wipe away tears and sweat from our brows. As there was no air-conditioning in our Church. Tarrying made sense to me; since Jesus Christ is the Person in the Godhead responsible for baptizing in the Holy Ghost, we would need to seek after and find Him through calling on His name and praise of God to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Prayer Sessions typically lasted between 1 to 2-hours, but could go longer. So arduous was the task of tarrying on our knees that it would at times cause mental and physical fatigue in straining vocal chords, great sweating, aching backs and knees, and a feeling of failure if by the end of the Session we had not received the Holy Ghost, evidenced with speaking in tongues. My home Church and denomination were among those Pentecostal organizations that staunchly held that until a Christian convert provided verifiable proof (audible speaking in tongues) they were not yet “saved;” not yet born-again. Personally speaking, this requirement gave me great anxiety as all of my friends in the Church were able to speak in tongues and were considered saved, and I was not. To complicate matters further, my late brother Duan had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, with tongues witnessed. My brother and I competed at everything, and I was jealous that he had received the Holy Ghost before me. (Laugh: Inwardly, I asked God why He would do such a thing.)
On Wednesday July 23, 1968, (about one month after Duan) I received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost during a noon-day Prayer Service in the Chapel at Bible Way. It was a very hot day and the Chapel did not have air-conditioning. I was determined to finally receive the Holy Ghost evidenced with tongues. I said to myself, if God had given the Holy Ghost to my brother, then He was going to give me the Holy Ghost too! Well guess what happened Saints? After praying for 2-hours straight and drenched in sweat and exhausted, I still had not yet spoken in other tongues, and was deeply discouraged about it.
But Praise God, as the lead Missionary was about to close the Prayer Service, in walked Bishop “Thunderbolt” Jackson, a visiting Pastor who was running a nightly revival at the Temple. Thunderbolt Jackson graciously offered to pray for the sick and anyone else who had a need. Nearly all the Saints lined up for prayer. I was last in line.
When it was my turn, Thunderbolt Jackson looked at me and said, “Son, what do you want?” Looking directly at him, I said with all the strength left in me, determinedly and doggedly, “I want the Holy Ghost!” (Nothing else mattered, the “only thing” I desired was to be filled with the Holy Ghost.) He laid his hands on my forehead, and before he said a word of prayer, immediately I began to speak fluidly and fluently in Holy Ghost fire-baptized tongues! Thunderbolt said confidently, “You already have it son.” I had with “violence” seized the Kingdom of God! In that moment, all the mental and physical fatigue left me!
I spoke in tongues not just for a little while, but all the way home on the D.C. Transit bus with my grandmother! The joy, the relief, the knowing that finally I had received the Promise of the Holy Ghost just as the Scriptures declared, as well as witnessed by multi-millions of other Holy Ghost filled, fire-baptized believers in Christ around the world. (Mark 16:17, Acts 2:38-39, 8:14-17, & 19:1-6) My God, all of my efforts those many months and weeks in tarrying (waiting) were not in vain, nor did it even bother me. Just like the woman who travails in giving birth, and then afterwards forgets the struggle of labor, I forgot all about the mental and physical endurance of prayer I went through to find Jesus Christ and receive His baptism in the Holy Ghost.
When I got home, I told my family and Ace friend Larry Dempsey (now Bishop Larry Dempsey) and his family that I had received the gift of the Holy Ghost, evidenced with speaking in tongues. I could not wait for Sunday to go to my home Church and tell everybody that I had received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost, and that I am saved and “know it for myself” with all assurance. My God, look at the faithfulness of God’s Promise, my Grandmother, Mother, Brother, and me all received the baptism in the Holy Ghost, evidenced with speaking in tongues in the Bible Temple Prayer Chapel. (Acts 2:39)
Now in retrospect, as a Saint of God, seasoned in spiritual matters, I know what it takes to “violently” seize the Kingdom of God. That is, in prayer, we must seek after Jesus Christ, and with single heartedness, believe we have received the things that Jesus has reserved in store for us. The “violence” is not so much in the physical and mental gymnastics we do in searching after Him while praying, as much as it is the dogged “faith” we have in Him to receive what the Word says Christ has already laid hold on us. In the instance in which Thunderbolt Jackson laid hands on me, and I began to speak in other tongues, I believed I had received the Holy Ghost, and the Spirit Himself gave utterance. I earnestly asked God to fill me with the Holy Ghost and yielded my will to God’s Will and He filled me with the Holy Ghost, according to His Promise.
If you desire with all your heart things from the Kingdom of God Promised to you, you must learn to take it by force; meaning to come and ask, and then yield your will to the pleasure of God’s Will and receive according to God’s Word. God prizes and adores those who seek the Kingdom of God with violence taking it by force of faith. God was waiting for me to get to this secret place in my heart and mind, where my desires had sincerely become “one thing:” That is to dwell in his Presence, to receive only from Jesus what I desired from Him. Umm, King David wrote at Psalm 27:4-6:
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
Also, as stated earlier Paul wrote at Philippians 3:13-14”
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I say to every born-again Christian who has lost their job and seemingly means of financial support, to seek the Kingdom of God with “violent motives.” Because this is what it will take for you to experience the supernatural breakthrough God has for you in your finances and career aspirations. For so many years in Christianity we have become comfortable with having a casual acquaintance with God, barely seeking after Him through the Word of God, prayer, and devotion. Such that our thought-life has distanced ourselves from the Lord’s Presence. And, dogged faith, violence within the Kingdom will be needed to deliver and prosper many to receive God’s supply of good things in these last days. Doggedly seeking the Savior’s face and togetherness, to receive God’s Wisdom in these perilous times is required of us Saints, because the enemy seeks to distract us from the Kingdom’s Promises of supernatural good. We are not to just seek the Lord to receive Salvation alone, but in every day Christian living we must violently seek after Jesus as Paul, and the other Apostles, and early Church did.
So I say to you, “seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near.” (Is. 55:6) Receive your prayer language by yielding your will to Christ’s Will and lay hold of speaking in tongues, which Christ has laid up for you. You are a believer in Christ and His finished works on the cross, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidence with speaking in tongues belongs to you! “Receive Ye the Holy Ghost!” Amen for the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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