In a prophetic intercessory time with my God Encounters Ministries staff, I found myself declaring by the Holy Spirit, “It is time for the Lion to roar!” I have enough experience to know to flow with the “river of God” believing that I, or others, would be able to interpret the encounter later. A rumbling continued in my heart and out of my mouth the overflow of abundance tumbled forth, “It is time for the Lion to Roar!”
Knowings started coming to me that this experience contained a multi-dimensional realm of understanding that would require prayer and time to properly process and steward. There is always at least a three-stage process in handling revelation or words from the Lord in a prophetic vein. These are often referred to as: 1) Revelation, 2) Interpretation and 3) Application. Since it is always important to start the process of interpreting revelation with prayer and with the Word of God, I began to search the scriptures.
Prophetic Imagery of the Lion’s Roar in Scripture
“Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken—who can but prophesy?”
Amos 3:8
“This is what the LORD says to me: “As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey— and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against it, it is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor— so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.”
Isaiah 31:4
“Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.”
Ezekiel 1:10
Natural and Spiritual Parallels
According to I Corinthians 15:46, “The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.” Therefore, this experience and other prophetic encounters can have powerful implications not only in the natural, but also in the spiritual as well.
I believe this prophetic encounter can be unpacked from three distinct angles:
- The Literal Natural Power and Purpose of the Roar of a Lion
- Letting the Lion Roar in Church History—especially the Great Reformation
- The Effects in Spiritual Warfare of the Lion of Judah’s Roar of Praise
Lessons in the Natural: The Power of the Roar of a Lion
Studies have shown that the roar of a lion can be heard up to 5 miles away! It is the loudest roar of any cat, reaching up to 114 decibels, and it announces the presence of this king of the beasts. It leaves no doubt in the minds of all living creatures within earshot that the “King is present!”
Not only does a lion’s roar mark out the boundaries of its territory, but it can also be a rallying point for straying members of its tribe. This has amazing prophetic implications as we enter a season of a harvest of souls and a transition from priestly ministry into kingly ministry. Perhaps this roar of the Lion King is signifying great change is coming!
Lessons in the Spiritual: The Lion’s Roar in Church History
This Fall 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Great Reformation in Church history. The phrase, “Let Lion Roar” was a statement made by significant church leaders from that period of time. When the Lion of Judah roared from heaven 500 years ago, it came at a time of great disillusionment and was used to bring forth great hope and new life.
We are going to see an awakening that reaches through social media (the Gutenberg press of our day) and many other means to touch disenfranchised youth, the lost, church denominations, and even the nations of the earth! Movie theatres are going to become some of the most influential pulpits in this generation for the Gospel of the Kingdom!
Yes, it is time for the Lion to roar forth once again!
The Lion of Judah’s Roar of High Praise
As we know, Judah is one of the 12 tribes of Israel and Judah means Praise. With that in mind, let’s consider the following four scriptural points as it relates to the Power and Purpose of High Praise.
- Praise: Is the Place of God’s Residence
Psalms 22:3 (KJV) – “Yet Thou art Holy, O Thou who art enthroned upon the praises of Israel.” Praise sanctifies the atmosphere around us. How? Because God is enthroned on the praises of Israel. God is lifted up and exalted, and a throne is established as a place of authority and blessing from which He rules from in the midst of His people. - Praise: Is the Way into His Presence
Psalms 100:4 – “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name.” Praise establishes a highway that releases the visitation of His presence. Praise is a form of proclamation that is built from God’s throne to you. The purpose of praise is to release God’s blessing upon us as we praise the Lord. As we glorify Him, He turns it back upon us in blessing. (See Isaiah 60:18.) - Praise: Is A Garment of the Spirit
Isaiah 61:3 – “To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting, so they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”Through the exchange of the cross, God gives us garments of praise for the garments of heaviness. He exchanges the dark, the gloomy, and the negative for that which is beautiful, glorious, and uplifting. Praise is a mantle, a type of clothing we put on. We cast off heaviness by entering into the sacrifice of praise. You will look differently, act differently and talk differently when you put on the garment of praise!
- Praise: Is a Weapon of Spiritual War
Psalms 50:23 – “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.” Praise is a spiritual warfare weapon, a means of deliverance from the strongholds of darkness. Sometimes you simply need to praise your way out of the entrapment of the enemy by releasing the High Praises of God from your heart vocally. Store up the Word of God in your heart so that it naturally overflows!
A Proclamation for Empowerment
Father, in Jesus name, we call forth the Roar of the Lion of Judah in our lives, families, cities, in church history and society once again. We desire prophetic intercessory encounters in each of our lives. We welcome the sounds of heaven into the earth realm today. We declare that as we release the High Praises of God it will be a powerful weapon of spiritual warfare used to silence the works and power of the evil one in Jesus name. Amen and Amen!
I believe that the Lion of Judah is arising in this hour to call forth the Greatest Harvest of Souls in modern church history. Let the Lion Roar!
Change Is in the Air!
Dr. James W. Goll
This material is taken in part from the God Encounters Today book by James W. with Michal Ann Goll. It is also available at a discount as part of the God Encounters Today Bundle when paired with the Understanding God Encounters 4 Message Set.
Hi James. This is a great word! It is very seasonally timely. There IS something VERY powerful and VERY big that is going to happen here in the United States, that is directly connected to God’s original heart and desire and plan for the United States. This “birthing” of God’s original heart and desire and plan for the United States will pave the “spiritual highway through vast expanses of flat desert lands of hot sand, cacti, hyena packs, small rallyings of sojourners around campfires at night in the desert air, plateaus, gorges, dry river beds, and so forth, to the mountain that has its summit high in the atmosphere, above clouds even, where there is snow and ice and cold temperatures, but where we must ascend to, meet the Lion of Judah, who has already prepared a dry place of warmth by breathing his fire out and melting the snow and making a campfire and table of food from which to dine with Him and then allowing us to lay upon His breast, to sleep with our heads and shoulders resting on His mane, as He transforms us into His bride.” This “birthing” will be the spiritual “catalyst” that allows the “body of Christ” specifically in this nation, to shine forth as “His bride.” This is VERY big. The Lion of Judah, himself, has left the Throne and Throne Room, and His paws, His feet, have touched the earth. He is on HIS WAY to the United States.
This word spoke to me in a powerful way. I never took the time to look up the lessons in the Natural and Spiritual about Lions, Thank You for these. I have lions all over my walls and doors and have been drawn to the Lion of Judah for some time. It is exciting and encouraging to hear what the Lord is doing and I am praying the ‘Proclamation for Empowerment’ over myself, my church and community!!! AMEN
Thank You and Blessings!!!