We love the scripture in Psalm 2:6-9 that prophesies of Jesus who will sit on Zion and rule over the nations with a rod of iron.  If I've heard prophetic intercessors, prophets or ministers proclaim it once, I've heard it thousands of times. 

But what is it?  I mean, the revelation is powerful! But is there a practical way for us to put our faith in action today and bring this into reality?  If you understand what the word translated "rod" in the Hebrew is and you let the Bible interpret the Bible you can.  

What is it
So what's the rod of God?  It's God's people proclaiming a timely word from our Lord.  

So what is the Hebrew word translated rod and what does it mean?  It's the Hebrew word sebet (Strongs h7626) and it means to branch off; a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or a clan:  a rod, sceptre, staff, or tribe.

In fact, this Hebrew word (h7626) is only translated 'rod' 34 times in the Bible where as it is translated 'tribe' more than 140 times.  It is 7x more frequently translated people and I could easily swap 'rod' for 'tribe."  Then Psalm 2:-9 would read;

“I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a TRIBE of iron..."

The scripture also says; 

​It's Halloween, Reformation Day and a week before the elections.  The occult's role in this election and society has become more and more public.  The war between light and dark, right and wrong, good and evil, God and Satan has never been more pronounced in my life time in American society. What can a real Bible believing Christian do? 

Put on the Armor of Light
Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

How
Romans 13:13-14
Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Reformation Day vs Halloween 
Halloween is an occult celebration commercialized in the West.  Many covens and practitioners celebrate the dark arts this day.  Simultaneously it is also Reformation Day.  What is Reformation Day?  It's the day that the monk, Marin Luther nailed the Ninety Five Thesis to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenburg Germany.  

Week Before the Mid Terms
The antichrist spirit is moving more violently, with more hatred and antisemitic behavior than ever.  The antichrist agenda stands in stark contrast to God's agenda which He chose Trump to steward in this day.  Pray, God have mercy upon this nation and we'd see a Red Wave sweep this nation and protect the moral righteous gains we've seen thus far and that it would continue to appoint righteous judges and overturn the murderous funding of Planned Parenthood.  

Pray for the veil to be lifted & Gods light to shine in their hearts. 

• 2 Corinthians 4:4
• whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
• 2 Peter 2:19
• And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

Jesus is the true light and John 1:12 says "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:"  

Pray for a harvest of disciples for our Lord

CNSNews reported how witches are gathering together to corporately put a hex on Justice Kavanaugh on October 20th. I'd like to submit to you two observations along with a Biblical way to address this threat.

First, could the battle lines be any clearer?  It began with the BBC News reporting in 2017 in "Witches cast mass spell on Trump." Now, they are turning their attention to Justice Kavanaugh.  The Democratic Left sought to use lies, false witnesses, deceit and slander to stop this justice from being confirmed.  If we consult Matthew 7:15-20, John 8:31-45 and John 10:10 it's easy to recognize these are characteristic of Satan's handiwork. 

Second, who are the witches siding with?  Clearly they stand with the Democratic socialist loving left.  I'm highlighting this in memory of a pastor friend of mine from Florida who recently went home to be with the Lord.  He described to me his conversation with a relative of his who insisted he could be a Christian and be a Democrat.  My friend highlighted how that the Democrat Party platform implemented and defended policies and laws on some moral positions that were in direct conflict with God's word (ie. abortion, marriage and sex verses gender identity).  

At the core Christian means Christlike.  Christ cannot go against the Word of God!  PERIOD!  Candidly, I was born into a family who were Democrats.  As I reached voting age I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. Little by little I began to learn about the ugly history of the Democrat Party (ie. slavery, Jim Crow, opposed women voting, proponents of abortion, & opposed traditional marriage) as well as the history of the Republican Party (ie. it was formed to free the slaves, gave blacks the right to vote, gave women the right to vote, opposed abortion, stood for traditional family...) I switched parties during the Reagan presidency primarily because the platform aligned with God's word on major moral issues which the Democrat Platform opposed.  Why?  

It was because of 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 which says, "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."

In the last decade I feel like the Republican Party leadership left me.  The platform on major moral issues reflects by values but the leadership in general had begun to say one thing but do another.  For example, many Republicans were voted in based upon their promise to overturn Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood.  They had another chance in August of 2018 but, The Hill Reports, "GOP too busy to be bothered with defunding Planned Parenthood."  That is an example of what I mean. Therefore, I've become an independent.

Why?  Because the question is not is God standing with the Democrats or with the Republicans.  The question should be, who is standing with God regarding each issue;  you, the Democrats or the Republicans?  Personally I want to stand with our Lord no matter what. 

Jesus said in Mark 3:23

Satan's strategy is to ensnare us in our thoughts.  In our spiritual war he has set demonic IED's (improvised explosive devices)  all throughout the seven spheres of society. He wants to trick, deceive, entrap, wound and destroy as many people as he can. ​

Thankfully, God's word provide us seven keys for the wise in heart that empower us to recognize the demonic logic behind his soul traps. But first, let's lay a foundation. 

Strategic Traps
The Greek word translated "snare" (Strongs g3803) means a trap, a trick or stratagem; a snare.  Or you could say, the devil sets strategic traps.  

Apostolic Warfare Wisdom
Paul, the apostle, wrote the books to Timothy and the Corinthians.  In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 he says, "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, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

In my book "Structures & Strategies" on page 45 I share the real meanings of the English words translated war and warfare.  It refers to a strategic function and an apostolic gift. God made the apostle for strategy.  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 reveals that the battle ground is the mind so what you think is really important.  Why?  Proverbs 23:7 reveals that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  

What we think impacts what we believe, say and do.  Hebrews 4:12, 11:3 and Proverbs 18:21 reveal how powerful our words are.  Life, death and creation are in the power of the tongue.  Used well, it can frame our world (Hebrews 11:3) or the unruly tongue can set the world on fire by hell (James 3:1-6). 

Don't Be Ignorant of the Enemies Devices
I've highlighted the word thought in 2 Corinthians 10:5 above because it's the same word translated devices in 2 Corinthians 2:11 which says, "lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices."  His devices are like the IED's (improvised explosive devices) used by Islamic terrorists today.  

Strongs Concordance says g3540 means a perception, i.e. purpose, or (by implication) the intellect, disposition, itself: — device, mind, thought.

Satan's End-time Strategy is to Deceive through Doctrines of Demons 
A doctrine present a system of thoughts and ideas.  A belief system can be built such that it can become a stronghold. A stronghold of thought can be changed from good to evil or from evil to good.  Hence, Satan's propensity to use lies and  deception to entrap the unwise. Paul the apostle warns in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, "​ Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron..."

The 1Church1Day strategy encourages more people to pray and to pray longer.  Part of that prayer time is to be devoted to watching.  Watching includes listening and reporting what they saw or heard (Habakkuk 2:2).  There are also people God has gifted with a prophetic gift and Amos 3:7 says God does not do anything without telling the prophets.  

Therefore, part of our strategy is to discover who these people are in our churches, networks or communities. They are easy to spot if you know what to look for. Why I've even found them in denominations that don't even acknowledge the gift nor the office.  Over the years I've found some legitimate prophets. Some are known and many are unknown.

So how are we supposed to interact with this gift?  1 Corinthians 14:29 is the scripture that inspired this article. It says, "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge." 

So the question is, how are we to judge these words, dreams, visions or impressions?  

What are we supposed to "decide" about or judge? 

• The character of the prophet as compared to God’s word?  Are they humble and correctable or proud? (Matt 7:15-20)

 

• The word itself ! How does it compare to the Bible; God’s written word. (2 Pet 1:19)
• The history of the gift in the man/woman. Do the words come to pass?  Are they accurate? Samuel is a great example. The scripture says not one word fell to the ground. His words fulfilled (1 Sam 3:19)
• You decide, is this the Word of the Lord or not. 

If it is the Word of the Lord then: 

• What are you to pray?
• What are you to do?
• How does time factor into the word?  

That's what we do with prophetic words. That's one of the reasons we encourage forming councils or ministers because there is wisdom in a multitude of counsel (Proverbs 24:3-6).  2 Chronicles 20:20 says:

Did you realize that the Bible says:
​

1. God's word created the world? - Hebrews 11:3
2. Death and life are in the power of your tongue? - Proverbs 18:21
3. Mankind is made in God's image? - Genesis 1:26-28

Therefore, our words are used to create our world.  You and I have authority over our words.  We can decide what to speak and when.  Our words can be used for us or against us.  It's truly our choice.  In fact, our words can employ angels or give demons license to operate.

For example:

I've been in untold prayer meetings over the years. I'd say 90% of the time the emphasis is on the "needs of the people." 

That's not bad.  In fact, Jesus taught us to pray and present to God our personal needs in Matthew 6:9-12.  He taught us to pray, "give us this day our daily bread." That's the perfect place in our daily prayer to submit to God our personal issues and requests. But I submit we err by not prioritizing God first.

Jesus taught us to worship God and then to pray regarding His will.  "Your kingdom come and Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." One way to think of what God's will is to ask God do you need done today?  What are Your needs

What is God's will?  What does He need? 
There are two ways to find out.  First, check His word.  He already told us what His will is. Secondly, when we pray we can get specific and ask Him what is His will in my life, my family, my city, my business.... you get the idea.

Scripture Reveals God Needs...

On Monday August 21, 2017 a solar eclipse is scheduled to go across America from coast to coast. What's unique about August 21st?  It is also the first day of Elul in the Hebraic calendar. On this day in history:

• Jesus was led into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days - Matthew 4


• Jonah began to call Nineveh to repent for 40 days which they did with fasting - Jonah 3


• Moses went up the mountain, spent time with God, got the covenant and he fasted 40 days - Exodus 34

Pastor Mark Blitz also says there is another thing God is highlighting with this event. It comes from Haggai 1 where it admonishes the people for ignoring God's house. There is a call to build God's house and Isaiah 56:7 and Matthew 21:13 calls God's house a house of prayer.

It's pretty clear God is calling us to repent, fast and pray. What do you think? I think Joel 2 says it best.

There is a principle in God's word encapsulated within 1 Timothy 1:18 which says, "This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,"

Prophetic words from God often foretell what is to come and or share God's heart and thoughts on a matter.  This portion of scripture also reveals that prophetic words are also part of the New Testament experience and the word translated "warfare" is very revealing if you look at the Greek word actually translated warfare. It's the Greek word strateia. It's the origin of the word we use for strategy today. Strongs Concordance says that it means "apostolic career, military service or warfare."

It's the same word used in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, "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."

This portion of scripture reveals that our warfare is a spiritual war against strongholds of thought. Every proud that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Bottom line it is a war for truth against lies.

Looking back at Paul's admonition to Timothy we can understand that God can use prophecy to forewarn us and even give us insight or strategy for the spiritual war that is to come for individuals or in the book of Isaiah's case, for nations.

The Dream Fore-warned Us How the Devil Would Use White Supremacists 
The Lord gave Rick Joyner a dream in 1993. It is recorded in "The Coming Catastrophe."  The reason I highlight this man's prophetic dream is because he's shared it in other books and articles and at one point around 2011 I remember going to the website of a "Right-Wing Watch" group.  They were mocking him and his prophetic word about a coming spiritual civil war and race riots. 

When Ferguson occurred a couple of years ago I went back to check and found that group had removed the mocking article.  I'd like to share portions of Rick's dream and some other people's prophetic words and share some of the strategy God gave His Church to pray.