I was in prayer about 6 weeks ago and I felt a word from the Lord come to me, I have never had a word like this, but it was very clear and specific. I shared this with a few of my friends – one of which is a US history scholar who loves Jesus, and it bore witness to him as well.
While praying the Lord reminded me of Gettysburg and the battle that occurred. Now as I describe this, I am not applying one side or the other to good or evil, but the individual approaches to the battle from both sides. It is part of our history, and major mistakes were made, which caused the largest loss of life in the war between the States. The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “My people are about to enter another Gettysburg moment and how they engage will determine their path to protection or destruction.” I was not even thinking about the Civil War or anything about it – it was a direct word. I have withheld from sharing it until today.
A little history – Gettysburg was a cluster-mess from the beginning. General Lee was at his worst, severely ill with Angina/Congestive heart issues and made decisions which would lead to the destruction of more soldiers than any time in history. His 2nd in command, General Longstreet, attempted to disobey or divert in following Lee’s orders, and engage with a protective and more informed approach, however, was overruled. In the process I want to focus on two factors. 1) The Union army was in a state of fear, and most battalions hid in the trees on the outskirts of cemetery ridge – not advancing on the Southern army but lying-in wait for what was to come. 2) Because the Confederates had won several battles prior to this event, Lee became over-confident.
Let us begin by looking at Colonel Chamberlain – who was a Bible professor from a small college in Maine; and had a small regiment of about 360 men – some who were deserters and attached to his group – which Col. Chamberlain was able to unify under him. He was to protect the Union’s flank on Little Round Top. Col. Chamberlain’s approach was to defend – NOT advance (watch this for later reference). With 360 men – he was able to defend against an entire Southern division from a pincer move around the flank. That is 10,000 men wounded or killed by 360. This is important to remember. He prayed before every wave of attack, encouraged his men to valor, and kept fear from the ranks. He did his job well and was not proud or arrogant about it – in fact he mourned the loss of life from the entire battle.
General Longstreet had the ominous duty of orchestrating Pickett’s Charge. He knew it would be a complete loss but was forced to obey orders. General Pickett was an arrogant man, bragging about his exploits all the time. He easily, and without deference took the job of leading another 12,500 men, over one mile, relying solely on artillery for damage and assault protection. The artillery was inaccurate and inadequate for the amount of time to march the men that distance. By the time Pickett, Meade and other leaders reached the Union defenses, they were completely annihilated.
20 years ago, I stood at that very point on Cemetery Ridge, and the eeriness of that place was overwhelming. Such poor leadership caused such death and destruction. Not just Lee’s leadership, but the generals who did not look to strategies other than to obey blind, ambiguous orders.
Back to the Word from the Lord – I wept as He showed me this, because I see leaders and believers doing much, in similarity, to what happened at Gettysburg. There is a General – Holy Spirit, and a Captain of the Host – Jesus our Messiah. His orders are not for our destruction, but for our drawing close to Him and accomplishing the assignments He gives, so that we live in His protection.
There are many in the Body today moving in directions outside of the principles in the Word of God, concerning our divided nation. There are also many who are wildly and without pause to consider, fighting against each other – blindly marching across an open field to imminent destruction. However, there are those like Col. Chamberlain, fighting essentially to defend their lives at all costs, against an enemy of thousands; staying courageous and using strategies which were improvised on site to keep his regiment from being eliminated. Fighting from an elevated defense to protect is different than attempting to advance in an ignorant fashion. I am not saying we should be silent when it comes to what is going on, injustices, and voicing our stand for values which are failing in our nation – far from that – What I am saying is this: The thousands we fight against are not flesh and blood, and we cannot engage naturally, if we have not engaged spiritually – because the strategy will not be evident to us from heaven’s throne if we are carnal about how we engage.
What has happened has created confusion. Politics has hijacked most main Biblical values over the last 100 years in the USA. Life, family of God’s design, sexuality, Israel, race, society, benevolence, and the list goes on – ALL are addressed by God’s infinite wisdom through His Word (both Old and New Testaments), and we have left that in the dust – EVEN in the church. There are those in the church who worship at the throne of earthly government. They trust government for provision and have become slaves in all forms of society to the levels of government – this is not a blame – it is simply a fact. We are to influence government as Kingdom Ecclesia (church) (cultural ambassadors of the King) – not relegate our trust to the flawed earthly government. God’s design is for all of us to live, devoted to Him, trusting Him in everything but we have become greedy and an envious, sinful nation – leaving Him for the things of this world. This is where the church is today – walking in fear and not seeking the face of the Master for EVERYTHING. “He is our source for life and Godliness…”
I believe this is the season to fight like Col. Chamberlain. We need to unite, find that elevated position (living under the banner of the Name above every Name – walking in faith – sharing His love and Truth everywhere…) and through the strategy of the Holy Spirit – engage the enemy against the attacks that are to come. There will be many believers walking in fear in the near future – it will be uncertain, yet a harvest of souls and dedication to the Lord is around the corner for those who listen – for where attacks come, the greater the dedication will arise in these. Please, please do not find yourself looking for the America and economy of yesterday, trusting in an earthly solution – it is about to change. Accept the change, and engage the enemy like never before (personally, corporately, and in your assignment) Find out what you are to become and with abandon to the King, see His glory come in your life.
Ephesians 6: 10-20 delineates everything I have described – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 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, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Paul understood government – in the Body, and in the Nation which held Israel in captivity – even held citizenship as a Roman – and we now know why God sent him to the nations – so he could set up Ecclesia in many places -both spiritually – and allowing that spiritual influence to push into the natural realm. The Gospel is paramount – Living under the Sovereign allegiance to Christ is a result of the Gospel – and that authority individually through the power of the Holy Spirit causes a unity to influence the world for His Kingdom. It’s that simple. Matthew 28 is simple – it is time folks – Let’s defend against the enemy, strategically, and engage and advance in this season in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus) or Messiah!
