How to Respond to the Times

A Review of a Recent Visitation

In recent weeks, I had a visitation that I reported on in last week’s Prayer Storm communication. Click here to review it. I reported how I heard a word from the Lord, “A line has been drawn in the sand.” The realm of the fear of the Lord came with the word.

This was followed by an intense dream that I am calling “When the Plumb Line is Dropped.” Understanding was granted concerning the displeasure of the Holy Spirit with recent decisions made by the Supreme Court of the United States. But the encounter did not end there. I was then taken redemptively to the book The Reformer’s Pledge, and the importance of its content.

The Holy Spirit identified four key chapters and stated that they contained solutions to the problems the United States and others nations will face over the next decade. The chapters included: “The Sanctity of Marriage”, “Creating a Culture for Life”, “Unashamedly Holy” and “History Belongs to the Intercessor”.

With this in mind, I want to highly recommend the book, The Reformer’s Pledge – compiled by Che Ahn – to all concerned believers. And now. let’s continue with the rest of the message.

Teachers in Evangelical and Pentecostal/Charismatic circles have taught much about “the last days”. But exceptionally little has been taught about the biblical response of God’s people to the last days. I made a comparative study of the verbs Jesus used in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, where He described how we should respond when we see earthquakes, famines, wars and rumors of wars, and so on. Here is a summary of these responses:

See Matthew 24 (NIV):

“Watch out that no one deceives you” (verse 4).
“See to it that you are not alarmed” (verse 6).
“Stand firm to the end” (verse 13).
“Keep watch” (verse 42).

See Mark 13:

“Watch out that no one deceives you” (verse 5).
“Do not be alarmed” (verse 7).
“Be on your guard” (verse 9).
“Do not worry” (verse 11).
“Stand firm” (verse 13).
“Be on your guard” (verse 23).
“Be on your guard. Be alert” (verse 33).
“Keep watch” (verse 35).
“Watch out” (verse 37).

See Luke 21:

“Watch out that you are not deceived” (verse 8).
“Do not be frightened” (verse 9).
“Stand firm” (verse 19).
“Stand up and lift up your heads” (verse 28).
“Be careful” (verse 34).
“Be always on the watch and pray” (verse 36).

All of these statements can be summarized in three main phrases: “Do not be afraid” (mentioned four times), “Stand firm” (mentioned four times), and “Watch.” Jesus used this key word, “watch,” 11 times – almost three times more than any other admonition! Once again, you can hear His voice saying to the Church, “The key I give you is `watch’ ”. In Matthew 18:19-20, He gave us the keys of the kingdom, and they have to do with prayer:

Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst (Matthew 18:19-20).

Jesus wants groups of two or three people to gather in His name and ask in symphony or harmony. (The Greek word translated as “agree” is sumphoneo, or “harmonious.”) This is the heart of the “watch of the Lord.” I know it’s profound, but you don’t need a doctorate in theology or linguistics to understand it.

The Greek word for “watch” in these verses is gregoreuo, and it means “to be vigilant, awake, to be watchful.” A watchman on the wall does many things. He carefully watches what is happening and alerts the community when good ambassadors approach the city. The guardsman then will open the gates and lower the bridge so the ambassadors may enter. A watchman also warns the city far in advance when an enemy approaches. He sounds an alarm to awaken the people because he knows “to forewarn them is to alert and arm them.” Then they quickly can rally to take their stand on the wall against the enemy before he wrongfully tries to enter into the city.

It’s Time to Watch!

We are judged by the amount of light we have. This is a nation of great light. But our very moral foundation is eroding right in front of our eyes. We must be asking the right questions in order to get the right answers. But even greater than that – it is all the more time to pray for those in authority and especially the Supreme Court Justices of the United States.

God’s plumb line is His Word. It has been dropped in the midst of our nation. Do we measure up? What will be the ramifications concerning the lack of righteous decisions concerning the definition of marriage, abortion on demand, promoting promiscuity and not taking a Biblical stand with Israel – the apple of God’s eye?

I am personally experiencing a fresh realm of the fear of the Lord and as for me, I am mounting the walls of intercession all over again! How do we respond to the times? Do Not Fear! Stand Firm! Be on the Watch in Jesus name!

How to Respond to the Times