A few days ago, I received a telephone call from a dear sweet soul who is a member here in the ULC. She explained to me that her life has become increasingly difficult and it seems that both in her daily and spiritual "path" life, things are happening that can not be explained more and more, each and every day. She told me she feels as if she is in a constant battle that can not be explained. As a Wiccan/Pagan she asked me if I had any explainations as a Christian for this war she feels that is being waged against not only herself but those around her, both family and friends and in the world today and the people as she put it, "from all paths."
First off, I explained to her that any and all advice that I give her would come from a Christian point of view, but I do indeed have the answers that she is seeking. She told me she understood this and we went from there. In her depression and confusion over all of the events that she relayed to me, she also explained to me that she really didn't care where the help came from or from what path as long as some understanding and help could be found.
We spoke for a few hours and I gave her the best answers and advice that I had. Then last night she called me again and asked me to blog the information I gave her as she wanted to pass the information along to others not only here in the ULC, but also family and friends who also feel these spiritual and personal attacks that seem to be coming out of no where.
Now there will be some, who have little or no faith or follow some other path, that will scoff and laugh at this blog, (as is their right), but we would expect no less from those who are part of a godless generation. This is not meant as an insult or by any means disrespect, but mere fact as there are those that have no faith in basically anything, other than their own abilities.
But for those with faith or looking to discover their faith or even just looking for the answers just as my Wiccan/Pagan friend has, let's explore what is going on, and why this is happening. A wonderful soul in here who follows a separate path from my own asked me to post my understandings as to what is going on around us from a Christian POV, so I am respecting her wishes and request.
Allow me to say first and foremost that, OUR GENERATION IS DEFINITELY UNDER ATTACK!!! That is not an opinion but a FACT. It is easy to draw that conclusion as we look around at all the difficulties and problems of our day. We not only face the constant reality of war, but all of us are feeling the effects of a greater struggle in the spirit realm. The warfare of the spirit has been intensifying as Satan delivers the hardest blows to capture the heart of a generation.
What is behind this warfare? Why is it so intense for this generation? I believe it is because the assignment on this generation is to usher in the greatest revival the world has ever seen!
It is no accident that we were born for this day. God knew exactly who He needed on earth to accomplish His purposes in this hour. God knew who would stand for Him and be a part of His end-time army! Acts 17:26-27 says, "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord…" This brings confirmation that God has entrusted us to do His will in this day. We were born to stand as conquerors in the midst of all this adversity.
If we are to be victorious in the intensity of end-time warfare, we must understand a simple truth about God that assures us of victory. We need to know that our God is a warrior! Exodus 15:3 declares, "The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name." I have been studying this facet of God for the past few months, and it is a powerful revelation to know that we serve a God who not only calls us to war in the spirit, but who fights along with us. God did not throw us in the middle of this warfare so that we could become another casualty. He trains, equips, and empowers us for victory!
Look at Joel 2:28, a great prophecy concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit In the last days. This verse shows us the empowerment that God is pouring out now upon His end-time army! The scripture declares, "And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions." Notice the word "afterward." Something must precede the outpouring, and we know that event to be the restoration of the nation of Israel.
It is encouraging to know that this scripture proves that we are in the last days, because Israel was restored as a nation in 1948. But the scripture also proves that we are the end-time generation, empowered by the last day outpouring that will come upon all flesh. Many revivals have been released upon the earth; entire cities, and even nations, have experienced the glory of God. But what happens when ALL FLESH will experience the outpouring?
What kind of empowerment will God give to His end-time army? Joel said that God would pour out HIS SPIRIT. In most cases, the original Hebrew word for Spirit would have been "ruwach," which means, wind, breath, or spirit. However, the word for Spirit in Joel 2:28 has a deeper meaning, and this is how it could be interpreted: "And it shall come to pass afterward (after 1948 when Israel was restored as a nation) that I will pour out My Spirit (imparting war-like energy with executive or administrative power to carry out specific plans and duties) on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (be totally possessed by God), your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
God knew the intensity of the warfare that we would experience in the last days, and He knew the kind of empowerment we would need in this hour. Many have had the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. But God reserved an empowerment for the Joel 2:28 generation that anoints us with His war-like Spirit that will break down strongholds and establish the Kingdom of God in the earth!
I don’t know about you, but I am ready for victory and revival! I am ready to see the Kingdom of Heaven touching the earth! You can have this empowerment if you will just ask for His Holy Spirit to reside in you and upon you! Jesus said, "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (Luke 11:10-13).
We need this empowerment to help us through the end-time warfare. God not only fights for you, He equips you and gives you His war-like energy to face the daily opposition. Be encouraged as we contend for the promises of God and see the victory of Christ through our daily lives!
