Taking the Kingdom by Force
A Kingdom-Ekklesia View on Spiritual War, Apostolic Movement, and Covenant Authority
Opening Scriptures
{Matthew 11:12} ... “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent people take it by force.”
{Luke 16:16} ... “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.”
The kingdom of God moves forward forcefully. It doesn’t yield to fear of man, nor yield to corrupted culture.
Kingdom Advancement Requires Boldness
Jesus proclaimed:
{Luke 17:20–21} ... “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed... For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
The word “violent” in Matthew 11:12 doesn’t refer to physical aggression, but to spiritual forcefulness—a holy fierceness, a holy intensity. Jesus is saying that since the appearance of John, the last Old Testament prophet, a new breed of believers has emerged who refuse to be spectators. To “take the Kingdom by force” signifies to respond to heaven’s call with covenant urgency and apostolic resolve. The ekklesia is a governing body of spiritual warriors, operating 24/7, not a passive weekend social event.
The Ekklesia Is God’s Forceful Response to Darkness
{Matthew 16:18–19} ... “...upon this rock I will build My ekklesia; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…”
Jesus came to build an ekklesia, a ruling assembly that storms the gates of darkness, overturns idolatrous altars, and legislates on behalf of heaven, not a safe hidden church. Gates are defensive structures. Only moving, forceful advancing people can destroy them. To take the Kingdom by force is to confront darkness, without running or evasion. The ekklesia doesn’t recoil at cultural decay—it brings kingdom order into chaos. Wherever the King reigns, the ekklesia rules alongside Him.
Apostolic Movement Demands Forward Motion
{Ephesians 6:10–13} ... “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm… take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
Engaging in spiritual warfare is defensive only secondarily. It’s chiefly about militant advancement. Apostolic movement is the dynamic means by which we are sent forward on assignment. We put on the armor of God to take spiritual ground, not to sit passively on weekend pews, behind the safe confines of man-made brick and mortar buildings. The kingdom suffers violence, and violent ones take it by force. This is a call to action. Taking the Kingdom by force means we refuse to surrender spiritual territory in our homes, communities, or culture. We enforce covenant and bring in King Jesus where chaos once ruled, and in doing so, we bring revival to the body and salvation to the lost.
Forceful Faith Is Spirit-Led, Not By Passive Flesh
{Zechariah 4:6} ... “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of armies.
The violence Jesus spoke of entails spiritual determination, Spirit-empowered resolve that rises in covenant sons and daughters. We don’t advance the Kingdom through loudness, fleshly religious effort, or internal church stage spectacles. We attain it through surrender to the Spirit and a disciplined inner life that won’t waver and is fully visible to the lost world. The Holy Spirit instills within us a righteous intolerance for passivity, leading to a rejection of comfort and mediocrity. We are redeemed to reign in Christ, through covenant, by wisdom from above.
The Kingdom Doesn’t Tolerate Neutrality
{Revelation 3:15–16} ... “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm… I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Neutrality in the Kingdom is rebellion in disguise. Jesus wants an ekklesia who will fight with passion, not get lost in contemporary human and religious culture. The ekklesia can’t be lukewarm in their pursuit of the King or their engagement in spiritual battle. To take the Kingdom by force is to choose the furnace of travail over comfort, to step into the fight when others run and hide, and to love Jesus with such intensity that compromise becomes unthinkable.
Questions for Reflection
In what area of your life is God calling you to stop observing and start advancing? What would it look like to “take the Kingdom by force” in your household, marriage, community, or calling? What part of your spiritual life has grown lukewarm—and what’s one step you can take to reignite kingdom urgency? How does accepting your role in the ekklesia shift how you respond to darkness and cultural confusion?
Prophetic Declaration: We declare that a remnant is rising in these last days—bold, unshaken, and forcefully advancing the Kingdom of God. We will not apologize for the truth, nor bow to compromise. We are violent in spirit, ruled by grace, and are covenant-marked, Spirit-sealed sons and daughters of the King. We seize what was promised, confront what is crooked, and establish what is holy. Our prayers shake the gates, shift the atmosphere, and our obedience opens ancient, closed doors. They wear heaven’s armor, wield heaven’s word, and walk in heaven’s power. We will no longer watch from the sidelines—but take the Kingdom by force. A revival of warriors is emerging, driven by assignment, not religious ambition. We won’t stop until the King’s reign is revealed in every street, every soul, and every sphere of life. This is the hour of the advancing ekklesia—and the King is leading the charge.
Victor A. Casillas, Covenant Hill Ministries
Tree of Life Home Church, San Antonio, Texas
Covenant Hill House Church Network