When I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, it was back in l978 and I was so hungry and desperate for Jesus to fill me with His Spirit. Just as I began to gain ground and make progress, Satan not only comes against me but against my family as well. It seemed like the lights had gone out, and darkness, inner turmoil, heart-ache, and brokenness had flooded in. An all-out attack from hell itself had been leashed out against us. As if it weren't enough that I knew myself as the black- sheep of the family (as did many others), I had even less than no self-worth, or self-esteem; I had suffered mental and physical anguish in my body. I was fearfully attacked by growths in various areas of my body, liver malfunctions, spinal deformities from birth, critical emotional disorders, serious depression, and equally as painful was the constant awareness of the enormous amount of rejection I had come to know and as readily accept as I did my own name, in addition to the unwelcome abuses I suffered in childhood in total complete silence. And then on top of all of that, vicious rumors seemed to strike out of nowhere against various members of my family which brought division amongst relatives that at the time seemed like the worst possible thing that could or would ever happen amongst family!
Oddly enough, the separation between relatives was actually a blessing in disguise. Those who distanced themselves from us were the same exact ones who fought the Baptism of the Holy Ghost experience and literally hated, mocked, and sorely oppressed anyone who stood for this wonderful Gift.
During this period of time, I didn't expect any good thing to happen. It seemed like quiet an accomplishment just to make it through the day! But there was a Pentecostal couple who traveled the country singing and ministering with one of the most powerful ministries in the gifts of the Spirit I've ever till this very day witnessed first-hand. They were coming to our town at the First Assembly of God church and so I went. As I stood there in the second row clapping as they sang, my mind began to wander uncontrollably and I remember having this overwhelming urge to go outside just for a minute and get some fresh air, (a thought I'd never entertained before!). Just when I thought I had found the appropriate time to step outside for a minute, I felt a hand take hold of mine. It was the wife in the ministry-couple, and as I looked up to make eye contact, all I saw was light, the brightest light I had ever seen when suddenly it was as if I had left this world and the brightness of the Light was literally flooding me within to overflowing and as I was regaining consciousness I heard the most beautiful language coming from my vocal cords! What amazed me more was the compassion I was so filled with. The first thing that went through my mind is as clear in my memory today as the night it happened. I remember thinking, "if such and such persons could feel for just one tiny little second what I feel right now, they would never ever ever say or do anything to hurt or inflict pain on anyone else ever again". The compassion poured into me was endless. I could only think of how could I help those who had gone to such great lengths to try and destroy me? How could I help those who had persecuted my family? There was forgiveness in my heart and a burning passion to see everyone who had, (be it willful or unknowingly), wronged me and my family forgiven. I carry that passion in my heart till this very day.
Romans 12:14 says:
Bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not.
The verse just before that, (Romans 12:13) says:
Distributing to the necessity of the saints; given to hospitality.
The compassion of Jesus will cause you to be concerned about the needs of other people. It says, distributing (watching out for) the needs of other people. Then he says, "given to hospitality". The compassion of Jesus will give you a genuine love for people. It will cause you to keep your heart and mind open to other people. The hospitality Paul is talking about has to do with our receptivity toward people. Not only those in the family of God but our neighbors and our fellow-man as well.