Prophetically, the Lord has shown me that the Spiritual Warfare Movement, as a movement, had been “benched.” Until now.
The Spiritual Warfare Movement during the 1990’s to early 2000’s was an amazing true movement of God that transformed churches, people and cities. It brought kingdom change to even nations and taught us what intercession truly is. However, just like any team member in sports can be “benched,” it sat on the sidelines. True intercessors with the right motives and humble attitudes kept warring for the kingdom of God; however, some team members and the movement by and large was benched.
Ask yourself why a team member might be benched. Not playing by the rulebook? Not listening to the coach? Fighting with another team member? Fighting with a player on the other team? Disunity? Foul play? They get hurt? Or maybe they are just plain tired and burned out?
Well, that is what happened to many in the spiritual warfare movement. The Lord has shown me that a huge reason the movement was “benched” is because many were not warring in New Testament fashion, not acting or speaking like Jesus but in a hateful and judgmental way. When Ecclesia changes that, our nation and others will change rapidly.
On my adventures teaching and watching many intercede and pray, I can verify this even recently. I have heard many calls for God to “burn the palm reader’s business down,” claiming property owned by another person, calling for someone’s finances to dry up, and calling for certain cities or regions to “fall into the ocean!” Others heap “burning coals of fire” on people’s heads in wrath, not understanding the meaning of those scriptures (Prov. 25:21-22 and Rom 12:19-20). I could continue; but there was not one Apostle who brought the revelations from God to the Spiritual Warfare Movement who taught we should pray that way.
Well, common sense will tell you that those types of declarations and “prayers” will not lead anyone to Christ and not turn nations around. If we really comprehend what hell is going to be like for those who do not accept Christ as Savior, we never want to pray wrath. That is not how Jesus told us to operate. There is not anyone living on this earth who was not born after Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead; and we should operate as He said since we live in this New Testament Age. Why have some forgotten the basic tenets of Christ?
So, what did Jesus say? He said to bless even our enemies. In Luke 6:27-28, Jesus Himself said: “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” When we truly know the person of Jesus Christ, we do as He does.
Enough said. But there are so many more New Testament scriptures which prove this fact that I cannot include them all here.
In His words in Luke 22:34, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” as they tortured and crucified Him. Victoria Boyson says: “Greater love has no man than He who gave up His life for those who were killing Him.”
There is no New Testament scripture saying for us to call for wrath, harm and death to even the vilest of people. Didn’t we have blinders over our eyes and do sinful things also before we were saved? The unregenerate (unsaved) mind cannot see sin. Yes, some beliefs, actions and laws can make us very angry, and we often feel sick about it. But we must do as the Word says, declaring blessings and salvation instead of cursing. This will spiritually break ungodly cycles and bring kingdom change.
Romans 12:17-19 says “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” We pray blessings; He repays and saves.
James 1:19-20 says: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 2:13 says “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
So how do we intercede and make declarations in the way that Jesus taught? We bless them no matter how they are acting. Blessings do not mean that God is going to give them money or a new car! It means that God will bless them with what He deems they need as only He knows how to get them to a saving grace and turn their lives around. We can call for them to see truth, call for them to have visions and dreams that Jesus is the only Son of God, call for God to intervene, and call for Christians to minister to them. And of course, we can call for justice, confusion in the enemy’s camp, that lies and corruption are exposed and that sin is halted. The one we war against is Satan and his demons in the spiritual realm (Eph 6), not flesh. Love and blessing is warfare.
We are not to curse.1 Pet 3:9 says: “Not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” Jesus Himself said: “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” in Matt 7:2, which means that ungodly judgments we make can come right back on us.
Some argue that Jesus got angry so we should as well. But who did He get angry at? Only one time is recorded in the Bible where He demonstrated anger and that was in Matt 21 regarding what was going on in the Temple when they made it a “den of thieves.” The Jews were under horrible oppression, undue taxation, murder, poverty, segregation, imprisonment, with crucifixions and beheadings occurring during that time – but Jesus said to bless them. Never partner with the devil, the Accuser.
True intercession is following what God says to do as He gets to the root of a problem. He will tell you what curses to break, what trauma is involved, what is blinding or binding people or what has defiled the land to bring darkness. There is a 100% success rate in doing what God says to do in intercession. We would see so much change in America, in our cities and around the world if we just ask God what to do and say…then do it. We cannot go wrong following Holy Spirit. Rom 8:4-8 says: “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
The Bible says to pray for those in authority, not against them in 1 Tim 2:1-4: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Then in verse. 8: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
We can learn from mistakes of past movements and revivals. You cannot put old wine in a new wineskin – but you can put new wine in a new wineskin based on your knowledge and experience in the development of the old wine, better than the first. This is how we will have a greater move.
When we switch to praying and interceding like Jesus, we will behold an exceeding great army of intercessors arise like in Ezek 37:10, “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.”
Go team!
Please agree with me in prayer: Lord we repent for not interceding as you taught us, for cursing and not blessing, for praying ungodly prayers. We decree and declare that all curses and trauma we sustained from intercession are broken off us, that we are healed from all spiritual warfare PTSD and no longer weary as you light the fire of intercession in us again. Lord, make us stronger and united for a common goal. All in Jesus’ all-powerful name.
Strategic Prayer Command Ministry 