"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." -2 Corinthians 10:4
DREAM: RETRIEVING AND FORGING DISCARDED WEAPONRY
In a recent dream, I watched on as a group of people leaned over several large trash cans. Discarded items were being pulled out and set on a table. Each item was then forged together to form a number of powerful weapons. One of the highlighted weapons in the dream looked like a high powered machine gun...an Uzi. It was made out of many pieces retrieved from these trash cans. Still dreaming, I began questioning the meaning of what I was seeing. What happened next gave understanding. Into a waste can another person reached. By revelation I understood that the name of the item pulled out was WORSHIP. Next, another discard named WISDOM was retrieved.The two items, Worship and Wisdom, were fashioned together as part of the next weapon. End Dream.
TAKING A WEAPONS INVENTORY
As I have sought the Lord concerning this dream, He has been speaking to my heart a specific strategy for this season. Concerning the waste cans, I believe that God is asking believers to take an inventory of their lives to see if we have discarded any of our spiritual weapons.
-Have we laid down the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT which is the Word of God?
-Are we wearing all of our Ephesians 6 armor: the helmet of SALVATION, breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS, belt of TRUTH, shield of FAITH, & feet fitted with the readiness of the GOSPEL OF PEACE?
-Are we advancing forward with WORSHIP, THANKSGIVING, and PRAISE?
-Are we entering God's REST and carrying God's PEACE?
-Are we PRAYING in the Spirit?
-Are we asking God for His WISDOM as we navigate our next steps?
SPECIALIZED WEAPONS
Spiritual warfare is intensifying, I believe, in this season we have entered. Particularly, I feel this is applicable for those who are beginning to step into Divine promises and Destiny. Those who are crossing the Jordan River, so to speak, will be encroaching upon enemy territory with the purpose of taking ground for the King. These ground takers are evangelists on the front lines snatching souls out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of Light. Other warriors are pulling people out of slimy pits, prison houses, and tearing down strongholds. Still others are fighting for the very lives of the unborn, the voiceless, and the oppressed. Whatever ground God has called you to claim for the Kingdom, remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood.
In the dream I saw many warfare tools being fitted together to create powerful weapons. Warfare these days is going to take specialized weapons and Divine wisdom. What may have worked for you in the past, might not be as effective presently. This battle will require more than one strategy from our arsenal bank.. It will be the SPIRIT LED COMBINATION of these spiritual weapons that will bring victory.
PROMISED LAND STRATEGY
Just as Joshua received specific strategy upon entering the Promised Land for defeating Jericho, we must seek God for guidance in our situation. God's upside-down strategy given to Joshua after entering enemy territory was to first circumcise all the men and observe Passover. This was an act of consecration, obedience, covenant, and remembrance. HEART PREPARATION and SURRENDER came FIRST as part of God's warfare strategy. Then came the orders to march, blow trumpets, and shout. None of these orders would have worked in isolation. It was through joining these unique elements of warfare together with wisdom, detailing how to carry the orders out, that the battle was won. We must be careful to not discount or discard what God calls a weapon. A SHOUT was a powerful BATTERING RAM to the walls of Jericho.
THE UZI: A PERSONAL DEFENSE WEAPON
As I continued contemplating this dream, I kept hearing in my spirit that the gun in the dream was an Uzi. This seemed strange to me, but I went ahead and began researching the Uzi. What I found is very intriguing and prophetically parallels what I believe God is saying about the times we have entered.
In 1948, Israel reclaimed its promised land and became a nation state. Just as quickly, this newborn country came under attack by its neighbors. Soon it became clear that the weapons from past seasons and wars were not going to be effective against the onslaught. This new nation state needed a new weapon. It was at this point of need that Major Uziel Gall of the Israel Defense Forces created the Uzi. He included components from several different weapon sources in its fabrication. Used as a personal defense weapon, the Uzi was instrumental to victory in the Six-Day War. Named after its maker Uziel, the Hebrew name means "God is my power" or "God is my strength."*
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Over the past two months, the Lord has been impressing on my spirit to personally increase the practice of 4 disciplines in my life:
*Worship
*Praying and singing in the Spirit
*Entering God’s Rest as a weapon
*Carrying Peace as a weapon
I realized that I had been slowly becoming slack in my worship and praying in my prayer language. Convicted, I repented and began increasing these disciplines, training myself throughout the day to assess the state of my inner being. Was I anxious or at rest? Was there turmoil or peace? Then I would purposefully step back into a spirit of rest and peace.
Several weeks ago an opportunity came to use what God had been showing me. Out of the blue a heaviness and oppression came upon me so strongly while out grocery shopping that it became difficult to take a breath. I knew that this came from the enemy. Using the strategy God had shown me in the dream, I cranked up our Christian radio station in the car and began singing and shouting at the top of my lungs. Of course, by God's Divine timing the song "Raise a Hallelujah" by Bethel Music came on. Some of the lyrics are, "My weapon is a melody. I raise a hallelujah in the presence of my enemies. I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm. Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar."** Within moments the dark heaviness left and didn't return.
In the weeks that have followed, we have entered a time of testing. I am not surprised as our family has recently stepped into God's call for us involving freedom ministry. One of the tests we are facing is a lawsuit from our neighbors over their daughter entering our back yard without our knowledge and breaking her wrist. The prior training to enter rest, peace, and worship has been critical for walking through these tests with grace, love, trust, perspective, and Christ likeness. I picked up my Uzi.
God is our power and strength. He trains and equips us for battle from the place of victory.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
-How is God speaking to you through this?
-What ground has God called you to take or stand firm on?
-What are some of the weapons God is highlighting for you pick up and use to stand your ground?
-What wisdom is Holy Spirit releasing to you?
"This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand." -Ephesians 6:13 HSB
Comments