A Battle Has Raged at the Threshold of 5784, but You Will Go Through!

As we head into Rosh Hashanah, and the Jewish New Year 5784, we see that the 4th letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the Dalet, meaning door. Doors are significant in this season and for this new year. Many have experienced great warfare and battles as they made their way towards the threshold of 5784. But, if we continue to seek God's face and heart, we will receive instructions and the battle plans for making our way triumphantly through the doors that He is opening for us.

The enemy is intent on hindering and stopping the movement forward of God's people. He wants to render us powerless which he can only do through our agreement. Recently, the Lord highlighted to me just how key our agreement is and why the enemy has worked overtime to bring about disagreement.

This past two years I witnessed an incredible increase of dissension, factions, and broken relationships in the Body of Christ. In discussions with other leaders, many had also experienced similar circumstances. I believe this is partly due to the unrighteous strongholds and principalities that have gained ground in our nation through the ungodly agreements of government and other leaders. But, as believers, we are a part of a different kingdom, and we have the ability to rise above the power of these ungodly strongholds if we walk in righteousness, obeying the voice of our King Jesus.

The Significance of our Agreements

Recently I was studying Matthew 18:15-17 to do a short teaching on the Biblical standards for broken relationships or offense. I then noticed that these verses were followed by two verses that seemed somewhat out of place:

"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matt. 18:18-20

Then, immediately following these three verses on binding, loosing, and agreement in prayer, Jesus begins to teach on forgiveness and shares a compelling parable on the importance of forgiving from the heart.

The Holy Spirit highlighted that it was the power of agreement of two or more that would unlock the power of Heaven to fulfill the request made. It was the power of our agreement that would bring about answers from Heaven. Jesus promises that where two or three gather in His name, He will be there with them. We have the promise of His presence when we gather in agreement and we have the promise of answers from Heaven when we agree together.

If we are walking in disagreement or disunity, we nullify the power of our prayers to obtain answers. We can certainly see why this has been a major strategy of the enemy over the past few years. We are in the decade of Pey, or the mouth, where the power of our words and agreement is a vital and increasing focus and needed reality as the kingdom moves forward. It is no wonder that the enemy has sought to sabotage the power of our agreement through causing us to partner with him as the accuser of the brethren.

Go Low Through the Door

As I pondered all of this with the Lord and listened to His counsel, I felt I heard Him say, "Go low through the door". Our posture in walking through relational difficulties and dealing with the spirit of offense is to "go low". I am always humbled to remember that Jesus washed Judas' feet, knowing that Judas would betray him. As we move over the threshold and on into 5784, humility of heart will be key to position us to truly possess the land that God has for us. Many are still walking through tests and relational struggles. Trust God to be your vindication and don't give way to the temptation to vindicate yourself. Let these words be the prayer you breathe:

"Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me-- people without regard for God. Surely God is my help the Lord is the one who sustains me." - Psalm 54:1-4

A Nehemiah Company Will Rise Up

The righteous remnant that God is raising up will have a heart to rebuild and restore. Nehemiah captured the heart of God for the city of Jerusalem and set about to restore it to a place of peace and safety. God is raising up Nehemiah's in this time who will carry the heart of Heaven for rebuilding the broken down nations.

"Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." Nehemiah 4:13

God is going to be birthing new strategies and giving new marching orders to his sons and daughters. Intercessory prayer is going to continue to burst forth and the saints will grow in their knowledge of accessing Heaven's strategies for breakthrough and overcoming strongholds.

"Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me." Nehemiah 4: 17-18

As in this passage, we will experience an increased awareness of walking in warfare as we work. We don't set our spiritual armor down, but we learn to wear it as we work, not fearing the attacks of the enemy, yet being prepared for his tactics. The importance of the prophetic voice of God as we seek to do the restoration assignments will be vital for our success.

Nehemiah divided up the work of restoring the wall around Jerusalem, and gave assignments to many of the families and people. The task was way too large for one man to accomplish. Instead, God used a company of people under the leadership of Nehemiah.

As we move forward into 5784, God is giving out new assignments to many individuals. At the same time, there will be great collaboration partnering different streams together to see and accomplish these assignments. The Great Harvest will take many companies of people working together to see the fulfillment of God's heart and unfolding plans for the nations.

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Though there has been a battle raging at the threshold of 5784, I feel God's heart and intent to see His children through the door and into all that He has in store. I hear Him saying, "Keep your eyes on Me. Keep your eyes on the prize. I am your prize and Pearl of Great Price. Keep your eyes on Me and I will bring you through. Follow Me into the place of deep surrender and here you will find life abundant and beyond measure."