by Melissa Nordell
The day I moved from Southern California up to the Central Valley, I was coming north on the I-5 Grapevine and the Lord gave me a vision. If you have never encountered the “Grapevine,” it is indeed an experience in which going north drops down a 6% grade in the last 5 miles, descending 1600 feet straight down to the vast valley below. On this rare occasion the valley air was clear, and I could see about 250 miles in the natural from the high level.
Suddenly in the spiritual, I was given a vision from the Lord, superimposed on my natural view, of billions and billions of dry seeds all packed tightly under the ground of the entire valley as close as they could possibly be. The seeds looked like mustard seeds, so I inquired of the Lord for words of knowledge to interpret this vision. As usual, what He explained was certainly not what I expected.
He said those seeds were planted by concerned saints who have prayed many years for but that the seeds had not been ”watered” and given life by prophetic intercession led by Holy Spirit. True intercession must be prophetic in that we ask of the Lord, He answers with what He directs us to do or say, and then we follow through on His orders. This works 100% of the time because Holy Spirit is directing it and knows what needs to be done. Jesus only did and said what He saw the Father do and say (John 5:19 and 12:49); and He is our Great Intercessor, our divine example that we should be following.
It is wonderful to petition but we must submit to Holy Spirit to water those seeds, causing them to germinate since we cannot do anything on our own. We must depend on Holy Spirit. It takes Holy Spirit to breathe life into those seeds.
We learned in the 90’s that to transform a city, we must solely act on what Holy Spirit says to do (please see the George Otis Jr. “Transformations” videos). Most people watch the Transformations videos and believe that Christians solely petitioned the Lord to cause Godly transformation and lasting revival to their cities. But the videos demonstrate that it requires asking the Lord for direction, then following through on the Lord’s instructions to make dramatic and lasting changes. It is actually very easy and takes little time. We seem to make things complicated.
In the first Transformations video regarding the city of Hemet for which I was Lead Intercessor, it was shown that petition and even fasting for years did not bring breakthrough. It necessitated yielding to the Lord, asking the Lord prophetically what to do to bring souls to salvation which made transformation happen. The Lord gave the orders which were followed through, then people started lining up outside for church services requiring more service times and bigger buildings to accommodate the people who were drawn by Holy Spirit. It took little effort on our part. People were saved and easily set free from demonic possession and oppression with many giving up their drugs and bad habits. Many changes were made in the school systems and in local government as a result.
In the Old Testament, we repeatedly see petition depicted since the people of God did not have Holy Spirit to help and guide them at that time. Now we have been given Holy Spirit to guide us prophetically. Holy Spirit wants to give us the roots and solutions to a problem; so why aren’t we using that vital component of the Trinity to help and direct us?
Why did Jesus give us Holy Spirit? Just to comfort us? Absolutely not. Holy Spirit leads, guides, speaks to us and teaches as well. The Godhead knows all deep-rooted issues and history of all nations, States, and cities even before people began to write down history. He knows what has defiled the land and its people. We cannot rely on our brains, nor our flesh. The Godhead is the Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent Creator. We humans do not possess these attributes. (For information on what defiles the land see: https://strategicprayercommandmin.com/2021/10/23/what-defiles-the-land-and-what-to-do-about-it/ )
We must not lean on our own understanding as it says in Prov 3:5-6. For too long, we have petitioned only; and if we are honest, how many of those prayers are truly answered? But when we have a clear ability to hear Holy Spirit correctly, follow those commands and do them which is true intercession, it cannot fail.
I thank God for the saints who have prayed and petitioned for their cities, States and nations over these years, including California, which is sorely needed – but we must follow Holy Spirit to accomplish the changes we need and cause these seeds to germinate and grow, especially in these times. We cannot accomplish anything without Holy Spirit, for: “He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him” (Dan 2:22 KJV).
In the natural world, when a seed is dormant, there is always stored energy in the seed – but nothing happens unless conditions are met. Activated by Holy Spirit’s breath, which is the water of the written Word or the “now” word from God (Rhema), those seeds are brought to life. Then it supernaturally becomes established and rooted. We know from John 1:1 that Jesus is the Word, so we need Jesus through Holy Spirit to activate the seeds of petition. It takes more than just good soil and faith, represented by that mustard seed. Who breathed life into all of us so we could live? Holy Spirit.
I know of (and lived) testimony after testimony of dramatic results after accurately seeking Holy Spirit as to what to do about a certain problem or issue in our lands. For instance, the drought in California ended when we were alerted by Holy Spirit to an incident of corruption in Sacramento that defiled the land. After repenting for that specific sin, there was rain that next morning which continued for months, putting out 7 fires and ending the drought.
In another instance, we asked the Lord how to fight human trafficking and He answered by showing us that there had been brothels and opium dens in the State of California from north to south in the 1800’s which were aided and permitted by our government, leading to defilement. Again, we repented and broke curses which resulted in new laws on prevention, justice, and education to rescue those trafficked and prevent more victims.
In another area, we were asking for protection and cleansing of a church, so He showed the intercessors a witchcraft symbol carved into the sidewalk there which was previously unknown. At another church, he revealed sexual sin and hoarding of un-Godly objects from previous pastors which led to the church’s steep decline. In another city, the Lord showed us previous human sacrifice areas which defiled the land greatly. None of this could have been found in a library, a book or on the internet. And certainly not in our minds or flesh. Then we simply followed through on His directions and wonderful results quickly ensued.
The unsaved are unable to see truth because the fog of deception, placed by Satan, has blinded them. It has been proven that when these spirits and fog are removed by prophetic intercession and the land is redeemed, then the ungodly see that their sin is wrong, and even political scenes change.
The Message translation says it best:
“I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.” (Isa 55:8-11 MSG)
He is the One full of power – not us! So…plug into the power source. He is the All-knowing, All-seeing, and All-powerful God, so what are we doing leaning on ourselves? In Luke 24:49 (AMP), Jesus says: “Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.” How did the First Church change the world? By following this Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent them – and it is the same for us. Why have we hardly been utilizing Holy Spirit’s knowledge, guidance and instructions. Only the Trinity knows the roots of defilement and curses, and only He can bring perfect solutions.
So let us drop our pride, follow Holy Spirit’s lead and reap the benefits from His rhema words of knowledge so we can change atmospheres to bring kingdom transformation and souls to Christ. When we ask Holy Spirit for solutions of root issues, we reap transformation of areas and people with joy everlasting.
Psalm 126:5-6 says: “Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them” (NIV)
Let us reap with songs of joy as nations, cities and people become radically transformed as we surrender self to Holy Spirit and allow Him to show us what to do and speak. As the Lord said to Zerubbabel in Zech 4:6: “…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts”. Hallelujah!
Strategic Prayer Command Ministry 