Spring….When Kings go to Battle
Where will we be?
A WARNING
Word for the Spring 2024
Suddenly, October 7, 2023 happened. The world was knocked for a loop and suddenly all eyes were riveted to the news coming out of Israel and Gaza. We have seen wars and rumors of war escalate over the years. The Ukraine and Russia war is the most recent. Even now, almost any nation you look at has its problems and concerns, if not expressions of lawlessness, overt violence, or war. What makes this attack and subsequent war different? The attack was on Israel, the bearer of God’s redemptive plan for mankind. It is the nation from which all Scriptures came, where His salvation plan was birthed through Jesus, and upon which all eschatological markers will point. Furthermore, after a brief recovery from shock, the global reaction has unveiled a strong antisemitic response. What has just been revealed? Were we ready?
We are now in a war season and in a generation that barely remembers the attacks of 9/11/2001. Like October 7th, the 9/11 attacks were significant, perhaps even a “moed”…”set time” when the violence of modern-day Islam was revealed and stunned a largely sleeping world. In 2001, after the attacks, religious activity surged. Barna reported that within “two months, every spiritual indicator available suggested that things were back to pre-attack levels (1).” A massive warning sign, birth pang, was released but quickly forgotten. Will that happen this time? Can we learn from past lessons?
What is our response today to war, and spiritual activity that has unfurled since October 7th? Do we just go back to normal and live life as usual? Spring is around the corner. What awaits us? In biblical times, kings went to war in the Spring, (2 Sam 11:1; 1 Kings 20:22, 26; 2 Kings 13:20; 1 Chron 20:1; 24:23). We are being prepared now for what is coming. Warnings are already emerging towards March and April.
WARNINGS: Here are some overriding lessons in what happens when we are not ready spiritually, in the wrong place, distracted, and not prepared for war? These are repeated patterns scripturally, but here are some biblical lessons:
PREPARATION: How can we prepare for what is coming, have oil in our lamps, and be ready to relay the hope that lies within us? In the coming season, We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12). Scriptures tell us how to defeat the power of the enemy and be ready in and out of season for what is ahead.
Repent and clean your spiritual house. Like the Israelite's bread, get rid of the leaven, and anything that would separate us from God and His love. What unforgiveness, fear, wound, insecurity, selfish ambition, or jealousy keeps you in a continued cycle of intimidation? Take time to examine yourself. Is there someone you need to clear up some misunderstanding with? As Paul exhorts, Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, 1 Cor 5:17.
Worship and pray in the Spirit. God has given us tools to know Him and discern His will. John states, But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth, John 4:23-24. The worship Jesus is looking for is found in a humble and contrite heart that continually leans into Him, seeking His face.
Fast and pray. For the spiritual battle(s) ahead, fasting will certainly be a part of the armament. In fact, you may be dealing with strongholds that will require fasting for complete freedom. Jesus warned His disciples, If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting, (Mt. 17:20).
Put on and USE the full armor of God, Eph 6:14-17
CONCLUSION:
For what is ahead, we must be prepared. Yes, there will be ebbs and flows, but let it not lull us to sleep. The tick-tock of the end-time clock is being heard. Watchmen are rising and responding to the call to "Watch and pray" and to send out the warnings when necessary. This is a word and warning. Let us not be found asleep, or spending energy on the distractions that so easily entangle us. Hear the words "Be strong and of good courage." Being prepared spiritually and wearing the full armor of God will ready us for what is ahead. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ!” 2 Cor 10:3-5
Susan Rowe
The Global Watch
We are now in a war season and in a generation that barely remembers the attacks of 9/11/2001. Like October 7th, the 9/11 attacks were significant, perhaps even a “moed”…”set time” when the violence of modern-day Islam was revealed and stunned a largely sleeping world. In 2001, after the attacks, religious activity surged. Barna reported that within “two months, every spiritual indicator available suggested that things were back to pre-attack levels (1).” A massive warning sign, birth pang, was released but quickly forgotten. Will that happen this time? Can we learn from past lessons?
What is our response today to war, and spiritual activity that has unfurled since October 7th? Do we just go back to normal and live life as usual? Spring is around the corner. What awaits us? In biblical times, kings went to war in the Spring, (2 Sam 11:1; 1 Kings 20:22, 26; 2 Kings 13:20; 1 Chron 20:1; 24:23). We are being prepared now for what is coming. Warnings are already emerging towards March and April.
WARNINGS: Here are some overriding lessons in what happens when we are not ready spiritually, in the wrong place, distracted, and not prepared for war? These are repeated patterns scripturally, but here are some biblical lessons:
- Sin can entangle and distract us: 2 Sam 11:1 David had come out of successful military campaigns against the Syrians, and Ammonites (2 Sam 10). But in the Spring of the year when kings usually went to war, he sent Joab and his servants out to battle and instead stayed behind. Consequently, he was in a compromised place…not where he should have been. Subsequently, the whole story of Bathsheba happened, he fell into sin, and a domino of manipulative schemes that led to Uriah’s death unfolded.
- We fall into fear and intimidation: Peter was unprepared for the level of animosity, threat, ridicule, and intimidation he would face when Jesus, his mentor, leader, rabbi, and friend was taken. In the comfort of the upper room, he boasted that he would never deny Jesus. In the fire of violent threats and retaliation, Peter denies Jesus three times (Luke 22:54-62).
- We fall asleep: After a sweet, intimate upper room Passover dinner with His disciples, Jesus takes them to the Garden of Gethsemane. In these vital moments, before Jesus is taken, Jesus separates from them briefly to seek His Father in agonizing prayer, only to return to find the disciples sleeping. This occurs three times. Even after exhorting them to “watch and pray,” they still fell asleep and were unprepared for what would unfold (Mt 26:32-46).
- We fail to walk in our full inheritance or identity: If the enemy can steal our identity, he will steal our full inheritance and ability to defeat the enemy. This happened to Israel when they went into the Promised Land. They did not take the full inheritance, consequently there is contention to this day. God's covenant with Israel is everlasting. When and how it comes about is yet to be determined and drives much of the contention today. Josh 13:1, 13; 15:63, 16:10; 17:12, Judges 3:1-4.
- Another example: Saul failed to take all the Amalekites, as instructed by the Lord through Samuel (2 Samuel 15), by saving King Agag. Consequently, he lost his kingship over Israel. Later, a descendant rose, Haman, the Agagite descendant of Agag, whose desire was to destroy the Jews (Esther 3:6). It took Esther, a Jew, in a foreign land, who walked in her assignment, identity, and authority, to turn the threat into victory for a nation caught in the throws and threats of annihilation.
PREPARATION: How can we prepare for what is coming, have oil in our lamps, and be ready to relay the hope that lies within us? In the coming season, We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12). Scriptures tell us how to defeat the power of the enemy and be ready in and out of season for what is ahead.
Repent and clean your spiritual house. Like the Israelite's bread, get rid of the leaven, and anything that would separate us from God and His love. What unforgiveness, fear, wound, insecurity, selfish ambition, or jealousy keeps you in a continued cycle of intimidation? Take time to examine yourself. Is there someone you need to clear up some misunderstanding with? As Paul exhorts, Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, 1 Cor 5:17.
Worship and pray in the Spirit. God has given us tools to know Him and discern His will. John states, But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth, John 4:23-24. The worship Jesus is looking for is found in a humble and contrite heart that continually leans into Him, seeking His face.
Fast and pray. For the spiritual battle(s) ahead, fasting will certainly be a part of the armament. In fact, you may be dealing with strongholds that will require fasting for complete freedom. Jesus warned His disciples, If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting, (Mt. 17:20).
Put on and USE the full armor of God, Eph 6:14-17
- Belt of truth-girding “your loins with truth”
- This is the first part of the armor and relays our identity. The belt of truth girds up other pieces of the armor of God. If you don’t begin with truth, you’ll never defeat the enemy. God’s word is truth John 17:17. Our loins contain our basic sexuality and identity. If Satan can destroy or wound our identity, he will have succeeded in destroying or hindering our ability to defeat him. Without truth, no battle can be won. Ps 119:160 states, "The entirety of your Word is truth."
- Breastplate of righteousness
- Our righteousness is through Christ, not by works. Righteousness is being made right with God. The breastplate is designed by God to especially protect our heart and soul from evil and deception. In ancient armor, the breastplate was attached to the belt. Through faith in Christ, we receive His righteousness and align our hearts with Jesus. Obedience follows. Obedience protects us from being wounded by sin and out of alignment with God’s will.
- Gospel of peace
- Stand firm in your calling and alignment with the Lord. It is the only way to true peace. Threats of intimidation can throw us off balance, and dangerously entangle us in the throws of jealousy, envy and strife. His gifts and calling are irrevocable, Rom 11:29. The more we line up with our identity in Christ, the more at peace we will be...a peace that passes all understanding and will impact the atmospheres in which we walk.
- Shield of faith
- Our shield of faith is activated by joining our stance with God’s word, not with the circumstances we face. In Roman times, the shields soldiers carried were covered with animal hide. Before battle, shields were dipped in water to extinguish the fiery darts hitting them. When in the throws of difficulty and trouble, is our shield of faith up, or are we caught up in the fiery battle taking on offense, harboring self-righteousness, and feeding bitterness? David's faith is expressed in Psalm 3, Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head, (Psalm 3:1-3).
- Helmet of salvation
- The battlefield of our mind is the primary landing place for spiritual battles. God’s truth works to free us; the enemy fights to bind us in strongholds. If we see a continued pattern in our lives that tears us down, locks us in sin, or from facing our fears, that is a stronghold. Find God’s words that speak to that stronghold and memorize them. Read them out loud, until the word becomes that double-edged sword that penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb 4:12).
- When things get tough, negativity can easily creep into our perspective and view. Take care to watch our eye and ear gates, especially in seasons of war! What you see and hear is hard if not impossible to remove. It is part of your memory! Use wisdom and discernment in what you watch and take in. Paul says, Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things, Col 3:2. And exhorts, Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing, and perfect will, (Rom 12:2).
- Sword of the Spirit which is His word
- Jesus modeled the use of the sword when He was tempted in the wilderness. How did He answer each one of the temptations? By responding, “It is written” until the final temptation when He was able to say, “Away with you Satan!” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10).
- References to the power of God's Word:
- John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Hebrews 4:12. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Isaiah 55:11. So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
- Other powerful scriptures on God's Word
CONCLUSION:
For what is ahead, we must be prepared. Yes, there will be ebbs and flows, but let it not lull us to sleep. The tick-tock of the end-time clock is being heard. Watchmen are rising and responding to the call to "Watch and pray" and to send out the warnings when necessary. This is a word and warning. Let us not be found asleep, or spending energy on the distractions that so easily entangle us. Hear the words "Be strong and of good courage." Being prepared spiritually and wearing the full armor of God will ready us for what is ahead. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ!” 2 Cor 10:3-5
Susan Rowe
The Global Watch
