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; 

The other day we were driving to the store listening to Christian radio.  It was one me, me, me song followed by another me, me, me song, followed by another..... until finally I heard one song that glorified our Lord and worshiped Him. The focus was all on Him. 

Then I noticed I had an "aition" stirring in me.    I'm not quite sure if it was frustr-aition, irrit-aition, or inspir-aition or a combination of all three. But it is my hope to plant an aspir-aition in your heart by the end of this.  

There is a trend among Christian artists whose songs are played on Christian radio and also in many churches. Its seems like the lyrics and focus of the song is me, me, me, me.... Help me, bless me, heal me, save me, prosper me..... me, me, me, me!  You know, almost everything we do today in a modern worship service is focused on blessing the people. Helps, healing, teaching are all good and necessary. God loves and cares about ME and every other "me" that is out there.

I hope you don’t misunderstand, but the worship service, where we sing, lift our hands, praise Him and worship by bowing down, kneeling or giving tithes and offerings is the only part of the service focused on Him. We give Him so little when He is worthy of so much.  He is worthy of all praise, all thanks, all glory and all honor. 

Personally, I love the songs that focus on Him. I want to hear Him, Him, Him, Him, in modern day hymns!  Did you catch the word play?  Or I want to hear the song focus on His word so that as we sing we are proclaiming His truth; His word! 

Scripture says:

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

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​You know, the Greek word that Jesus borrowed from Greek culture for the Church is “ekklessia.”  He first introduced it in Matthew 16:18 saying ….”I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” 
 
The church has a government established by Jesus Christ.  In fact, the origin of ekklessia sheds light on this and it’s purpose.  Prior to Jesus choosing to use this term it was used by the Greeks.  According to Wikipedia, it was actually the principal assembly of democracy in Athens.  It was open to all who qualified for citizenship and was responsible for declaring war, military strategy and electing government officials.  
 
So, the historical purpose of the term translated “church” was to:

• Govern which requires making decisions
• Declare war and develop strategy

 
When you understand this and combine that with another word that Jesus borrowed from the Greek/Phoenician seafaring community, apostolos.  Then you will understand the church’s call to spiritual war and some of the reactions in Jesus day. You see they understood EXACTLY what those words meant in their culture.
 
Apostolos first referred to the leader of a convoy, later the commander of an invasion force and finally it referred to the role of an ambassador general.  It was like Pontus Pilate was the ambassador general sent to represent Rome in Jerusalem.  Jesus basically called his 12 disciples ambassadors, admirals and or generals.  They were messengers sent to represent God’s government on earth as it is in heaven.
 
Why?  Revelation 12 provides context. It describes the spiritual war in heaven which spilled on to earth.  It says Satan went to make war with the remnant of God’s seed and those who obey Him and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
 
Armies Exist to Project Power on Behalf of Their Government
That is what the Navy War College taught me.  Ephesians 3:10 says, “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places…,” Principalities and powers refers to demonic governmental offices.
 
So how does the Lord project power today?  

I heard in the spirit "check your fire, check your fire."  "Check your fire" is a command typically used by artillerymen which means "STOP SHOOTING IMMEDIATELY."  The term "fire" immediately reminded me James 3:6 which says, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.​"

Translation, God is saying "watch your mouth" because many Christian's are actually becoming accessories to murder; spiritual murder. 

How?  By participating in a "fire mission" launched by the Devil! Devil comes from the Greek word diablos and means false accuser or slanderer.  Today, many Christians are slipping up and becoming part of the character assassination fire missions initiated by our adversary.  In doing so you become an accessory to a spiritual crime. 

What Does Accessory Mean?
Wikipedia says accessory is a legal term for "a person who assists in the commission of a crime, but who does not actually participate in the commission of the crime as a joint principal. The principal is the one whose acts or omissions, accompanied by the relevant mens rea (Latin for "guilty mind"), are the most immediate cause of the actus reus (Latin for "guilty act")."....  The test to distinguish a joint principal from an accessory is whether the defendant independently contributed to causing the actus reus rather than merely giving generalized and/or limited help and encouragement."

So an accessory is someone who gives generalized or limited help and encouragement.

​You may not be the originator, the instigator, nor the deceiver who developed the lie but when we join in by repeating that lie, we become an accessory to murder.  We either kill the truth or we participate in the fire mission intent on the character assassination of another.  

​The Trump Presidency Provides a Modern Example

I was listening to Brother Sadhu the other day (founder Jesus Ministries & Angel TV) and he shared something about Church history that shocked me.  I had never heard what these Evangelical theologians did in Germany in 1909. It shocked me because the moment I heard about the Berlin Declaration I immediately knew the cause of World War I and World War II.   In fact, he went on to describe the understanding Christ gave me by the spirit.

You see, if you understand the Bible you can understand how the world works.  But if you choose to ignore God's word and history, well you can continue to play the fool.  Fools are the ones whom pride blinds to truth. 

 In America we all know about the Azusa Street Revival where Holy Spirit was poured out in 1905.  However, I was unaware of what Holy Spirit was doing in other nations like Germany. What I did not know is summarized in the 11/30/2012 Charisma article "Is Revival Emerging in Germany?"  It said,

"Germany’s Pentecostal church can be traced back to 1905, when a group of Lutheran Pietists from the Fellowship Movement experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The move of God, which happened in Mülheim in the Ruhr Valley, saw 3,000 conversions recorded in six weeks. Opposition surfaced after that, and Lutheran church leaders signed the Berlin Declaration in 1909, rejecting Pentecostalism as “from below.”
​
The Berlin Declaration click for Wikipedia article, ..... "was a theological statement by 56 leading Evangelical theologians in Germany.[1] The declaration condemns the German Pentecostal movement which had started two years earlier in Kassel. It stated that the Pentecostal movement was “not from above, but from below..."  

Bottom line, a significant portion of Evangelical leaders blasphemed Holy Spirit. In doing so, they set themselves up to receive an anti-Christ spirit.... and they did!   The results:

World War II & the Holocaust
 Why do I say that? 

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..."

Years ago I played high school and college football. I played defensive end and our defense was rated #2 in Florida at the time.  We played at a pretty high level.  The way that was accomplished was by focusing on and practicing the fundamentals consistently.

Whenever our team started doing poorly, it was often a sign that it was time to go back and review the fundamentals. 

Today, the Church in America is in crisis.  I've had numerous interactions with ministers whose character falls far from the standard set in God's word and or have little or no power.  While I am sure there must be some ministers from bible colleges and seminaries who walk in the character and power of Christ, in the last several years I've interacted with far to many who do not.  It's no wonder that the Church in America is in the condition that it is in.  

Based upon the fruit that I see, it's time to revisit the basics.  This short (50 pages) but powerful workbook is an interactive course designed to get YOU into God's word so you discover what His word says about these essential foundational doctrines that take the believer from the spiritual cradle to eternity.   

Click here to visit Amazon and orders your copy today. 

Here's a message Tim shared at Living Hope in Renton Washington March 18, 2018. 

Leaven is a rising agent. It rises and sets when heat is applied. The question is, when the fire comes, when trials come, what rises out of you?  The leaven of heaven or..... the leaven of this world, the Pharisees or of Herod? 

Discover how to get the leaven of heaven inside of you!  Click read more below if you would like the notes.