RATS IN THE KITCHEN

Dear Friends,

In an unusual encounter during prayer this week, the Father took me into the kitchen of a house in the Spirit. He wanted to show me two insidious attacks the enemy was using to defile the Body of Christ. 

While I most often interpret ‘kitchens’ as places of prophetic preparation for ministry, in this case Father said the kitchen represented the “nerve center” of the home: the hearts and minds of believers. As the Father led me into the kitchen, I was horrified to see rats running about on the floors!
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UNCLEAN OMNIVORES

The rats were contaminating this kitchen with their uncleanness. The Lord said these rodents represented demonic critters that smelled the sweetness of fresh manna. Even as new-era anointings, teachings, and commissions were being released, these rats were being drawn into the kitchen to devour and defile. 

In the vision I saw that while believers might lock the spiritual doors of their houses against larger, lion-like devourers, they were often unaware of the infiltration and defilement caused by these smaller, hidden vermin. 

Morsels of tasty food were inadvertently left out around the kitchen cabinets. These morsels could represent nuggets of wisdom, God-given visions, or blueprints for ministry that should have been resealed for protection. Like pearls before swine, the visions had not been well guarded. They risked being contaminated through witchcraft, jealousy, false accusations, wrong alignments, and various other strategies of the enemy.

I believe the Lord is saying that in this time of moving forward into the freshness of new anointings, callings, and visions, it is imperative that you SEAL UP the spiritual plans He has given you! Do not share your vision with the wrong people; don’t allow what is good or precious to you to be devoured by demonic infiltrators. 

Guard carefully what you have been given as you cross over into new assignments, remembering that the anointing you carry will simultaneously draw out support and opposition in the spiritual realm. Not all are meant to follow you. Not all are meant to partake of what the Lord has given you or sit at your table. Wisdom and discernment are needed. (Jude 1:12) 

Sealing up the visions, Father reminded me, was as simple as resealing a bag of food or re-covering a container to prevent it from going stale. PLACE YOUR VISION, CALLING, AND DESTINY UNDER THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST DAILY to prevent demonic “rodents” from devouring the sweetness and abundance of your spiritual manna. Do not give what is holy to those who have no regard for holiness; do not assume that all share your call! 

As I’ve pondered this with the Lord, He’s shown me that we are in a period of time much like the transition from Isaiah 3 to Isaiah 4. Judgment is being rendered on the proud and lawless, while those who fear the Lord are receiving even greater revelations of the beautiful and glorious Branch that is Jesus Christ. 

Christ is the true Husband to the seven women (seven churches) who fear Him and bear His Name. Deep impartations of the Lord’s love are being poured out to those who remain in places of rest, abiding with Him. Yet the Spirit of justice and the Spirit of burning is also at work, separating the holy from the common and marking the holy remnant who belongs exclusively to the Lord (Isaiah 4:2-4). We must move through the open gates in the Fear of the Lord and with wisdom (Isaiah 62). 

UNCLEAN THOUGHTS

The Father then revealed a second layer of meaning within the same vision. I saw that the rat infestations were due, in some cases, to unclean thoughts believers were entertaining in their minds.

Thoughts of malice, selfishness, unforgiveness, or bitterness were like garbage; they could lie hidden in the dark, closed corners of the mind for months or even years. I saw that unclean thoughts and their resulting words of gossip or division would rot, stink, and defile many if not removed. The rats or vermin were just as attracted to unclean thoughts as they were to the anointing; they would feast on whatever was left unattended! 

I believe that for some who are walking with the Lord, it is time to “spring clean” the innermost cupboards of the mind and heart, washing away every defiling thought with the living water of the Word. The rats will also need to be exterminated. Not surprisingly, when I asked the Lord what “poison” would remove the rats, He said the “poison” was the Word of God. 

Every kitchen needs a periodic, thorough cleansing to remain sanitary. Regular cleansing is needed in the spiritual realm as well. Salvation and deliverance are ongoing processes (Philippians 2:12). A time of widespread cultural deception and defilement requires believers to be DEEPLY IMMERSED in the Word of God and prayer, the only sure antidote. 

Saturation in the Word of God will deal a preemptive strike against demonic infestations of minds or hearts. Believers are called to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5). The Word of God never returns void; it is the spoken Word that is your weapon of war (Isaiah 55:11; Psalm 149:6). 

There is a strong call in the Spirit to take responsibility for your thoughts and attitudes. Guard your heart; don’t become passive! Reject all lies, focus on the Truth, and stand firm in your identity in Christ. Watch who you’re partnering with as you move forward at this time; your vision and destiny will not be shared by everyone, yet everyone has a unique, God-given part to play.

As the unusual vision closed, I was given several key scriptures: 

Proverbs 4:21 TPT: Fill your thoughts with My Words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap My Words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.

Proverbs 4:23 TPT: So above all, guard the affections/thoughts of your heart, for they affect all that you are. (Everything you do flows from your heart!). Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life. 

Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:15-17 NASBS
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Father, I pray for Your holy, beloved sons and daughters today. May they rest in the sheltered place of Your fiery canopy of glory, trusting Your Word to cleanse every defilement of body, soul, or spirit. The righteous have many troubles, but You deliver them from them all! No one who takes refuge in You will be condemned. Teach us the Fear of the Lord. Keep our tongues from evil and deliver our lives from every unseen attack of the enemy. Thank you for exposing evil and separating for yourself a pure, holy people who cling to You in love! Amen.

​Deborah