Oct 8
Week
Rick Joyner

         We are entering a time of ultimate struggle between liberty and tyranny. This conflict is already being waged on many fronts. It is a basic military principle that you cannot defeat an enemy you do not see or understand. We must recognize the enemy of our liberty in order to defeat it, but we must also have a vision and love for liberty.

         Our nation was born through this struggle, and to some degree, this has been a continual struggle since that time. We must understand that this is our calling and embrace this struggle as an opportunity to proclaim liberty throughout the land.

         This struggle has kept us in continuous division and at times has grown to the point of erupting into violence. However, the severity of the violence and damage will depend to a great degree on the spiritual battles, prayers, and engagement of the church in America as salt and light. The strength of the American church is the biggest factor in the severity of the conflict and the ultimate conclusion of it.

         In both the American Revolutionary War and the Civil War, Great Awakenings preceded the conflicts. To a large degree, these conflicts were the result of the Awakenings. The church in America was mobilized and energized in both of these. Historians, and also the British adversaries in the Revolutionary War, attributed the success of those seeking independence to “the black robed regiment.” This was a reference to the preachers of the time that wore black robes in the pulpit. Their sermons were so resolute that there was no doubt about where they stood on the great issues of their time. They were so effective in imparting a vision for liberty that they became some of the most wanted men in the colonies by the British forces.

         Likewise, it was the Second Great Awakening in the young nation that gave birth to the Abolitionist Movement, which resolved to remove the evil of slavery from the country. Just as we see throughout The Bible, whenever true revival and a turning back to God takes place, evil is driven from the land. As the Third Great Awakening blossoms in our time, an indignation will arise against the great evils of our time, and we can expect movements to develop to go after every form of evil and bondage.

         This relates to the first part of the dream I had about the coming Second American Revolutionary/Civil War—the sending out of the champions who would find and destroy the evil strongholds in our land. Some of these have already begun to go forth and others will steadily be joining in.

         We all need to hear and respond to the call of God to get in our place in the struggle. The Holy Spirit is now moving to prepare us to hear this call and respond, which is seen by the evidence that has always accompanied the moving of The Spirit. The first evidence of The Holy Spirit will be repentance. Following this will be a love for His first name, which is holy.

         True holiness is not legalism. Legalism is not God’s counter to lawlessness, and the law only strengthens the sin and is a “ministry of death” as we read in Romans 7, II Corinthians 3, and other places. True holiness is not motivated by a fear of failure, but by love for God. Imposter holiness, motivated by the law, is like a bride who is driven to be perfect for her wedding day because she is afraid the bridegroom will reject her if there is a spot on her. True holiness is like a bride that wants to be perfect for her bridegroom because she is so in love with Him.

         So the great holiness movement we should expect and follow is a love movement: loving God above all else and loving one another as we should. With this we can also expect the abhorrence of sin and iniquity to increase. Then we will see the perpetrators of sin and inequity driven back into the darkness they came from—not just by laws that are passed, but because the iniquity will become as abhorrent to the people as it is with God.

         Lust is the counter to true love. The flood of lust and perversion that has been poured out over the land will dry up in a true revival. Movies, television, and publications that promote lust will go out of business. Even the extreme devotion to sports and other forms of entertainment that have eclipsed the love for God and become idols will shrink in popularity until they have returned to their proper balance.

         All of this is coming as the victory of true liberty becomes complete. However, for a time it will look like the opposite is happening. Perversion and iniquity in all of its forms will overflow their banks for a time, as will the death and destruction they cause. This may look like an unstoppable flood for a time, but this is the last gasp of a desperate enemy that is about to be vanquished. This will be allowed to reveal those who truly love The Lord and will follow Him from those who love sin and this world more than Him.

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren (James 1:12-16).