Prophetic Word: Advance!

In prayer this morning I heard the Lord say, “Your victory does not lie in your defense but in your offense.” He followed this with a prophetic word (below) that will encourage you to resist the temptation to trust in your defenses and instead, to advance with Him in a victorious offense!

Because I have boys, I have to watch Star Wars movies fairly often. Sci-Fi doesn't usually interest me, but in the most recent "Force Awakens" film, there is a moment I absolutely love when the heroine, Rey, changes her defensive strategy into an offensive one, winning an long, intense battle against Kylo Ren, her enemy.

Kylo has kept Rey on the defense for most of the movie, and in the final fight scene between the two of them, we see Rey stop for a moment, close her eyes, and (finally!) summon the strength of the Jedi force before releasing a crushing blow to Kylo with her light saber.  Oh, and she wins.  :-)

Every time I see this scene, I am overwhelmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit. I will watch the entire movie just to see her do this. It is a Hollywood created, Spirit-inspired picture of the way a prayer warrior should be: peacefully centered in prayer, full of the power of God, and then offensively victorious as we strike that death-blow to the enemy. I get goosebumps just writing this! I am pretty sure that scene was created just for me!

As Christians, we love the scriptures about clothing ourselves with the armor of God so that we can stand (Ephesians 6). These teachings are good, as long as we don’t stop there. For while we must “stand” against the enemy and hold our own defensively at times, we are also called to times of counter-attack, times when we move forward and take ground offensively.

Can you imagine an entire team of football players, fully padded, who never play their offense? Or an army who never uses their guns or swords? This is why immediately following the verses concerning the armor in Ephesians 6, there are verses urging us to fight in spiritual battle. We do this through prayer:

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints – and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.”
~Ephesians 6:17-19, NKJV

A Prophetic Call to Advance

The Lord is saying today:  “Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world! The Goliaths you face are as nothing to Me. One sure shot of a stone will kill them, as surely as David’s stone nailed the Philistine. I would have you understand that the advances of the enemy have put you on the defensive for too long. A true soldier mounts an offense to rout the enemy from his place. He does not cower in fear or hide behind his defenses. Do not be like the Israelites, who arrayed themselves for battle yet failed to fight. Though clothed in heavy armor, they made no progress until David – armorless except for the Name of the Lord – had the courage to advance. In My Name there is courage. In My Spirit there is hope. In advancing there is power released that breaks through even the toughest of armor. Use the sword at your side. Lift up the Word I have given you, let it course from your mouth as rivers of water, a holy stream unleashed against your enemies. Do not allow the giants of your day to intimidate you. Pray the Word, stand in the armor of My Name, and see the enemy fall at your side, under the weight of My words.

For your words become My Words when mixed with faith. Your prayers become mighty when you wield the sword of My Word. Pray always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Be watchful. Persevere. Intercede for all the saints, not just yourself. For as you lift up your prayers on behalf of the saints, the entire army will advance, and not just you alone. Fight for the corporate victory, and not just yours alone. Look to Me for constant victory, because your victories have ALL been assured through Christ, who leads you triumphantly!"

Summary:

It is not in armor that we trust, nor is it the glint of the armor of the enemy that should reduce us to cowering behind our lines of defense. When the church in Acts was threatened not to speak anymore in the Name of Jesus, their first response was not to hide, but to pray. Instead of stifling their words, they unleashed them in a torrent of prayer, witnessing, and testimonies that were full of GREAT power and grace! (See Acts 4:29-33.)

The world’s Goliaths (and Kylo Rens) will always seek to silence us and keep us on the defensive. It is at those times that we should pray for boldness, using the scriptures we find in Ephesians 6:19 and Acts 4:29. And not just boldness, but also healings, signs and wonders along with a shaking of the world's systems until they, too, are filled with the glory of God. I pray that like David and like Rey, you will take courage today and ADVANCE in every area where the enemy is taunting you, in the Name of the Lord!

Scriptures to study: 1 Samuel 17; Acts 4; Ephesians 6

c. Deborah Perkins / His Inscriptions

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Deborah Perkins is the founder of His Inscriptions, a ministry focused on life-giving communication with God. Through her website, inspired teaching and a weekly blog, Deborah offers discipleship to those who want to grow their relationship with God. A ministry leader for over 25 years, Deborah is an experienced prophetic counselor, marriage mentor, and prayer warrior. She's also fond of her hubby, 3 sons, and dark chocolate - in that order!