We are in a culture war today.  The Church has been ambushed and pinned down for a long time.  God just gave me a dream and showed me how we can fight our way out to win. 

In a culture war, words are used to define the lay of the land, to establish the moral high ground, lay traps and serve as the primary weapons we fight with.  The various systems of thought create strongholds, knowledge and arguments for which 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 reveal we need apostolic strategy to deal with. 

For all intents and purposes the Church has been on a defensive setting and slowly retreating as revealed by encroaching demonically inspired laws.  You see to the victor go the spoils.  In the culture war, the victor gets to make the rules or laws.  

This MUST STOP NOW!  It's time to draw a line in the sand saying that is it.  We will retreat no further for some of the recent laws passed by Democrats are going so far as to even advocate infanticide. 

The sad thing is, according to Jerry Prevo's article "Silent About Sin" in Billy Graham Evangelistic Associations Feburary 2019 edition of Decision magazine, that "according to researcher George Barna, 90 percent of pastors recognize the Bible speaks to these issues.  But, fewer than 10 percent are actually teaching what the Bible says...."  The two issues he was referring to was homosexuality and abortion.  

That statement certainly rings true with my last 28 years worth of experience in the ministry. 

The Pulpit Has Failed to Equip the Church
 Even though I've tried to set a different example through the years, I count myself among those who occupy the pulpit.  I want to ask your forgiveness for our failure to equip and prepare you for this spiritual and cultural war we are in.  

The primary tools of our adversary are actually pretty basic.  Heresies, hypocrisies, and heretics.  Here's how the world defines these issues.  According to Dictionary.com: 

• Heresy is an opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system.
• Hypocrisy is a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.
• Heretic is a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church

What's important about these definitions?  Its what we are basically taught in school and in society but, these definitions are really watered down.  The Church has been ambushed and our troops are ill trained and ill equipped to fight her way out.  But God gave me a dream last week.  A strategy about how to turn this culture war, this spiritual war around. 

God Gave me a Strategic Dream to Defeat the Ambush

And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

Even Satan knows God's word and can quote it accurately. For example in Matthew 4:5-7 we see, "Then the devil took Him up to the holy city, set Him on a pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, "If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "It is written, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"

John 8:44 and John 10:10 reveal Satan's nature and modus operandi. It's the fruit of demonic operations. He is the father of lies, a deceiver, a murderer and he kills, steals and destroys.

Now, I want to emphasize the tone with which you read this article. It is not condemning, angry, belligerent, etc. Rather, it is calm, truthful and spoken with a backbone instilled with the love of God and under girded by the Truth of God's word.

The Democrat Party's Platform is anything but the Lord's work. In fact, this platform serves as the host to several "doctrines of demons." If you call yourself a Christian and you are still part of this party, you have serious problem for what Pelosi just said is the epitome of Satan's nature and Isaiah 5:20 which says "woe to those who call evil good and good evil;"

Are You Out of Your Mind? Doctrines of Demons?
​No, I'm not out of my mind. In fact, I'm in my right mind doing what agape' love is supposed to do as it says in Ephesians 4:16 which is to "speak the truth in love." Here's two examples.

When one accepts Christ they are born again.  They are introduced to the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.  A new born baby is cared for and loved by parents who heap affection on their child.  They take care of EVERYTHING!  They even act like their poop is cute!  OK, maybe not to everyone, certainly not to me, but I've heard some ladies say something to that effect in years past.  Bottom line, there is a huge amount of mercy and grace demonstrated due to the child's inability to care for itself. 

But as the child matures the method of instruction changes. For example, have you ever noticed you don't have to teach children how to lie?  Love administers correction, pain, to teach them there are consequences for lying, not obeying their parents instruction, being disrespectful of elders etc. (Proverbs 22:15, 23:13 & 29:15). 

As I matured into my teenage years I played football. You can get hurt if you are not careful.  Therefore, the method, content and expectations the coaches put upon us also increased. Their love for us and the game was expressed through drills and disciplines that were forms of tough love.  The more you bled and sweated in practice the more likely you'd play safe and win.  I learned you were more likely to get hurt when you only played at half speed.   

I Learned Tough Love in the Navy
When I joined the Navy, the stakes got even higher.  In fact, we operated in an environment sometimes where  even in peace time where there was a higher risk of injury and death.   Therefore the officers and drill instructors involved in my training confronted even the smallest infractions.  Why?  Because of the consequences. 

I'll never forget Master Sergeant Flagger marching into my first day of Aviation Officer Candidate School and throwing a desk through the wall to get our attention.  Why?  Because two of his men had been killed trying to rescue a pilot and he was going to make sure that if anyone else died they'd be worth it.  My class started with 42 and only 15 of us made it through.  His method was designed to create an experience we'd never forget!  His motive?  Love of the brotherhood, love for the Corps, love for His country.  You see, he lived, they lived, we lived what Jesus taught about "greater love has no one than this, than to lay one's life down for his friends."  John 15:3   

​The problem we have today is that a significant portion of the Church majors on the love that is displayed through the Lamb of God to children.  They'll never mature unless a father's love is demonstrated through progressive correction (Hebrews 12:6).  What do I mean by progressive correction/instruction.  I mean as responsibility grows the consequences for failure to perform increases. 

Growth is of a child is assured if they are fed.  Maturity is assured if they are trained. 

God used the Navy as my seminary.  I saw many Biblical truths and principles actually applied there than I ever did in the local churches which focused primarily on meeting people's needs.  The military prioritized their country and assigned mission first.  The people, which are considered very important, were prioritized second.  It reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 about seeking the kingdom first and then all your needs would be taken care of. 

The Spiritual War is a Culture War ​
Bottom line, you cannot prepare the army of God using the same kinds of disciplines you would use with a little child.  The truth is, we were born into a spiritual war that spilled from heaven to earth in Revelation 12 and the issue at hand are the souls of men and women and their eternal destiny in heaven or in hell.  

1 Corinthians 15:44-46 introduce a spiritual truth.  First the natural and then the spiritual.  Daniel 6:27, Acts 2:19, and Hebrews 2:4 are just a few of the scriptures that teach us another important spiritual truth and that is that God uses signs and wonders to communicate.  

The signs consists of events that point to God's word and His will.  Here is a current example. 

On January 7, 2019 I shared the word of the Lord regarding God's desire for His people to recalibrate their moral compass.  Three days later God marked that message with a powerful sign that should make everyone wonder.  Fox News reported how that scientists were baffled by the geomagnetic northpole's movement which causes them to recalibrate all their instruments years earlier than expected.  To see the whole story click the Sign Scientists Just Discovered at the Northpole that points to our Moral Compass! 

God Just Gave Another Sign through His Prophet
What's the sign?  It's two things. 

It's a current event combined with consistent prophetic words that points to an element of God's word that reveals His will. In this case, a prophet had a dream on the 18th which is what prompted the bold title in this article.   

Consider These Words

Today marks the 10th day of a Daniel Fast God called us to in order to Make Way for the King in 2019.  It is a call to consecration.  The day after I wrote the last article I read a word from Jeremiah Johnson, The Cleansing Angel Visited Me, Many Will Fast & Pray in 2019,  that basically says the same thing!

This morning I awoke well before the sun rose with God speaking to me about how God wants, God needs consecrated vessels.  I was impressed that "God wants consecrated vessels.  Vessels where the cup on the inside is clean.  Why?  Because the King is coming in 2019 and He wants vessels prepared to receive the glory He is going to pour out."  

Then a number of scriptures immediately to flooded my mind!

In early January God began speaking to me about our moral compass again.  On January 7, 2019 I published "It's Time to Recalibrate Our Moral Compass!"  On January 10th, three days later, Fox News reported  "Something very strange is happening to Earth's magnetic North Pole and no one knows why. "  It says (note I added bold large print to make a point):

“The magnetic pole is moving so quickly that it has forced the world’s geomagnetism experts into a rare move,” Nature reports.
On January 30 (delayed due to the US Government shutdown), the World Magnetic Model — which governs modern navigation systems — is due to undergo an urgent update.

This model is a vital component of systems ranging from geopositioning systems used to navigate ships through to smartphone trackers and maps.

The current model was expected to be valid until 2020. But the magnetic pole began to shift so quickly, it was realized in 2018 that the model had to be fixed — now."
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The scripture reveals what God uses signs and wonder for.  Jeremiah 32:21 indicates that God brought His people out of the land of Egypt by signs and wonders while Daniel 6:27 says, "He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth..."  In Isaiah 44:25-26 God says "Who frustrates the signs of babblers, and drives diviners mad: who turns wise men backwards and makes their knowledge foolishness.  Who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messenger..." Signs and wonders are used to:

• Show God's people a way out of bondage
• Deliver His people
• Confirm the word of His servants or messengers

This Sign Should Make You Wonder
What should it make you wonder? 

As I waiting on the Lord before the sun rose the other morning the Lord suddenly dropped a vision in my spirit of a moral compass. A compass is used to navigate to a destination and it's an essential tool to help determine where you are on a journey if it is calibrated correctly. 

You see, in the world there is "true north" and "magnetic north."  Magnetic north is impacted by the magnetism of the world in the location where the compass is actually located.  The magnetism introduces error which we call deviation. 

When the deviation is known, then a correction can be made to the compass so that it points to true north. 

When the compass is properly calibrated it can be combined with an accurate map that displays the lay of the land.  Then you can navigate effectively.  

Land navigation is especially important to armies in war.  Good generals understand strategically and tactically how to use the land to their advantage.  

He Who Controls the Language Determines the Lay of the Land 
We are in a culture war.  In this kind of war the lay of the land is determined by who controls the language as language is used to determine the boundaries or frame an issue.  The language is used to map out all the elements in a issue.

Remember that Satan is the father of lies, a deceiver and a murderer (John 8:44).  He comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10), That's his modus operandi.  The best lies and best deceits include significant portions of truth.  

Why? Because it is easier to trick more people through ignorance and apathy.  

Two Key Strategies of Satan in the Culture War

Brenda and I are not satisfied!  We are hungry for more of Jesus.  We've seen miracles, healings, signs, wonders, heard the voice of the Lord... BUT, are just not satisfied with some being healed, seeing miracles sometimes, hearing the voice of the Lord sometimes.  While we covet to see more of God at work, what we really want is to see Him.  To walk closer daily to Him.  To know Him, His heart and His ways.  Do you know what I mean?  

That's led us to a place where we've entered into a new season of self discipline.  It's not a religious thing per se!  But it is a discipline.  It's like Paul said 1 Corinthians 9:27, "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

Desire & Discipline Turn Into a Delight
Years ago in the 1980s we began a hungry pursuit of God and it led to "could you not tarry one hour."  That was the goal.  We discovered that what began as a desire, turned into a discipline which later turned into a delight.  Today, it was not uncommon for me to spend easily two to three hours a day with our Lord in the word and in prayer.  

Because we are not satisfied we've challenged ourselves through our involvement in a school of the prophets with Jesus Ministries (Bro. Sadhu).  In his school we have homework which includes at least one hour each day in tongues, one hour each day meditating on and reading God's word, and at least one our a day waiting (watching and listening quietly) to see what our Lord might want to show or speak to us. 

Prepare to Make Way for the King in 2019
Last week when I'd arisen long before the sun rose I head the Lord speak so clearly, "Make Way for the King in 2019!"  This is what led to the call for a 21 day Daniel Fast.  Click here for details as to why a Daniel Fast at this time. 

Then I realized how that the daily disciplines we were working on were "MAKING WAY for the KING of KINGS and Lord of Lords, in our lives... every day.  This is a must if we intend to obey that word corporately too.

Many have asked lots of questions about the fast as well some have asked many questions about the new disciplines.  With that in mind I'll share some common questions and my answer.  

The Lord has been speaking to me for a while about starting January 2019 with a Daniel Fast.  This morning I saw a prophetic message from Rick Joiner which resonated so much with what I've been hearing.  Click for The Coming Year - Unity & Shaking.  In it he speaks of all God is doing to bring unity in His Church which will lead to an explosion of God's purpose in 2020.  That's linked to end-time harvest that Bob Jones and others have prophesied beginning in 2020. 

I pray you see with 2020 vision!  

Then as I was contemplating the fast I realized the context.  It was in the 3rd year of King Cyrus that Daniel began his fast (Daniel 10:1-3).  Then I remembered how President Trump has been likened unto King Cyrus not only prophetically but also by Israel.  In fact, they commemorated that in a coin when he announced the decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.  Click here for Jerusalem, Israel & the 70 Year Prophetic Sign.  

This new year marks the beginning of the 3rd year for President Trump.  Trump is a type of Cyrus.  What did Cyrus do?  He commissioned the rebuilding of the temple (house of God) and the restoration of Jerusalem.  We find in this very non-religious man one of the most pro-Christian, pro-Israel presidents of our lifetime.  

If you will recall Daniel 10 is preceded by Daniel's description of the 70 Week Prophecy in Daniel 9.  Trump just played a huge role in a 70 year prophetic sign described in the article above. 

You are Invited
Bottom line, I am convinced more than ever it is time to fast and pray and I want to invite you to join us.

As I was waiting on the Lord the other morning the Lord spoke so clearly.  They "strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." 

Immediately I understood the context. ​Jesus says in Matthew 23:23-26;

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 

I was shocked for immediately I knew what the Lord was showing me.  God has used President Trump to reveal the immaturity as well as our ignorance of God's word and God's ways.  Many are straining at a gnat while swallowing a camel.  They are so focused on his personal issues that they are blind to God's agenda as it pertains to laws, life and greater (greater in that it impacts many more people)  Biblical truths.  They focus on surface issues while ignoring the deeper more important issues.  In this case: 

• Straining at a gnat = focusing on horrible sins from Trump's past or focusing on his rough language. 

Notice in Matthew 23:23-26 that Jesus says, they've neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faith.  Justice precedes mercy and in fact, true mercy cannot ever be demonstrated with out justice.  Right now so many are so focused on minor moral issues and neglect the fact that God is using this morally imperfect man to reveal the immaturity and ignorance of God's ways and His word.  How?
​

• Swallowing a camel = ignoring the laws and justice just like Jesus revealed in Matthew 23.

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What laws and what justice?