The Kingdom Series: The Violence of the Kingdom

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The Kingdom Series - “The Violence of the Kingdom”

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matt 11:12)

     Following the announcement of the government’s intention to renew its two hundred year contract with voodoo, Pastor Tony made a bold declaration on Haitian national radio. He shouted over the air waves, ‘No more voodoo for Haiti’, and ‘Jesus for Haiti and Haiti for Jesus’!

     Unbelievably Haiti had literally signed a pact with voodoo in the year 1791 basically dedicating the nation to Satan. Two hundred years later, the time had come to renew what had only brought darkness, disease, destruction and death to many. 

     The question to be answered was, would the government again force voodoo upon its people and would the church sit passively by while spiritual darkness captured another generation? Or, would the righteous arise, resist the evil that was planned, intercede, and fearlessly declare God’s will and word over the land? 

     As unrighteousness and ungodliness demand some type of godly response on our part, so any godliness will be followed by some ungodly and unrighteous response from the world. Paul left no room for doubt when he told young Timothy, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12). Godly living is optional, while retaliation and persecution in response to it is not.   

     Initially the government thought Tony was too small of a voice to challenge or interfere with their plans. A little pastor did not seem like much of a threat to their authority, much less the power of voodoo. Yet God had given this pastor a mandate to dig a hole in the ground and bury voodoo! Therefore, he would not back down from anyone or anything. He could not help but to speak and obey what God had shown him. He again went on national radio, this time calling for a public march against the government’s intentions and openly declaring Jesus as Lord over Haiti. 

     As a result of the acts of intercession, a spirit of confusion came over the government keeping them from signing the contract with voodoo. Yet key government officials wouldn’t give up their quest and as a result were enraged against the pastor. As correctly predicted, the persecution mounted as the government threatened to kill Pastor Tony and anyone who stood with him.

     Tony responded by suggesting that if God required his blood to save Haiti then his blood they could have. He understood that what he would gain for eternity was far more valuable that what he might preserve for a few more years on the earth. But he also was aware and announced that if God did not require his blood, then the government would not be able to touch one hair on his head.   

     Even more furious, the government sent two of the biggest voodoo witch doctors to curse and kill Pastor Tony. But while many in the country were waiting to hear if the pastor would die, surprisingly and suddenly the two witch doctors died. Then the police chief who arrested and took him to jail, without having any prior sickness died. Then the mayor of Tony’s city written about in the March 1985 edition of National Geographic magazine as being the voodoo capital of the world, died. Even a well-known tree often used for public voodoo ceremonies died. But Pastor Tony lived. Because of his courage, resolve and stand for righteousness, the government retreated from its intentions.

      Another pastor, Eddy, had just returned from Bible school in the United States and was inspired by the courage of Pastor Tony. He too was called and committed to stand for truth in the midst of gross darkness. His newly founded church rented a room directly across the street from Haiti’s national TV station in Port AU Prince and was located upstairs above the offices of the political party that supported voodoo.

     One day, angry members of the political party broke through the doors of the church, grabbed Pastor Eddy and tied him up. Then he was taken across the street and thrown down on the side walk in front of the station. 

     In a matter of moments the TV station was alerted to what was taking place and rushed outside to set up their cameras so the execution could be broadcast to the entire nation. The supporters of voodoo wanted to issue a warning to anyone who would try to stand in the way of Haiti remaining under voodoo’s control. Likewise Satan never willingly gives up territory he’s gained without a war waged by those blindly devoted to him.

     However, before they could return with the gasoline to douse Eddy, God sent six trucks of armed soldiers to the scene. Amazingly the soldiers had to kill over one hundred people in order to save him. 

     Today Pastor Eddy is poised to win the presidency of Haiti and a nation controlled by massive political corruption aligned with voodoo could soon become one of the nations where the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our God and His Christ! A former goat nation in every way imagined could become a true sheep nation whose God is the Lord. This is not because a pastor could become president, but because of those who are violently advancing the Kingdom of Heaven. 

     Years later, an earthquake rocked Haiti resulting in much devastation. But the earthquake also opened the door for the gospel to be distributed by multitudes of ministries and missionaries called to Haiti with the gospel of the kingdom.

     The church in Haiti still has a way to go before voodoo is completely buried and the nation is saved. But they would not have experienced the spiritual advancements if Pastor’s Eddy and Tony would have remained silent leaving the nation’s troubles to someone else. These men expected the violence that would breakout against them but were violent in their own right. 

     Jesus taught that the breaking forth of the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth causes a violent reaction both for and against it. This takes place in both the natural and the spiritual realms. It will certainly be resisted by the fury of Hell. But the violent, God’s men and women strategically planted around the world, are poised and ready to take the Kingdom by force.

     To ‘suffer violence’ means to force, to seize or to crowd into. Spiritual advancements can be squandered or seized during seasons of opportunity. But the choice is ours as to which will occur.  

     Passivity or simply hoping evil will go away will not accomplish God’s purposes when dealing with gross spiritual darkness. Jesus did not come to compromise with the devil but to cast him out. He is the stronger One who came to evict the strong man. 

     Jesus said we must take the Kingdom by force. There can be no compromise, no ignoring it, no leaving it for someone else to do, no fear and no hoping it will just go away. 

     Darkness does not flee until the light comes on. Someone has to arise and someone has to shine regardless of the cost. Somebody has to declare NO to the advancing darkness of our time being convinced and confident that, “You (we) are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you (us) is greater than he who is in the world” (I Jn 4:4-5).

      

David White

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