Friday, November 25, 2022

Find Your Field

 


Several years ago, I was awakened in the middle of the night by a booming loud Voice which I heard in a dream. The Voice was so loud, it shook my entire being and immediately woke me up. It simply said, "MICAH 4:4! FROM THIS DAY FORWARD!!" Of course, I looked up the Scripture and it says this:

Each of them will sit under his vine
And under his fig tree,
With no one to make them afraid,
For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

In context, it's speaking of the last days when the "mountain of the house of the Lord" will be established as the chief of the mountains. People from many nations will go there to learn the ways of the Lord (Micah 4:1-2).

Micah 4:3 says:

And He will judge between many peoples
And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.
Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they train for war.

I was curious about this hammering of swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, so I looked further into this and found that during times of war they would hammer, or re-shape, their farming tools into weapons to fight with. In times of peace, they would be hammered back into farming tools so they could plow, plant seed, and grow crops.

We read of this in Joel 3:9-10:

Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men!
Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up!
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, "I am a mighty man."

There is further study into this which is worthwhile, however I think there are some principles here which can be applied today. It has to do with recognizing the time we are in, so we may know whether we will need tools or weapons.

There are fields in our spiritual land which are sometimes farming fields and sometimes battlefields. We need to recognize what time we are in, so we know what type of field we are to engage in. Then we will know whether we are to plant or to war.

I see at least three different fields as being important right now, with each containing battlefields and farming fields at the same time.

1.      Leadership / Accountability

Leadership in the farming field. Honest people of integrity and godliness who are called into leadership might run for an elected governmental position, or obtain another leadership position in society, where they can sow seed and tend to these various “gardens” in our land to preserve our rights and prepare us for the future. Those in this field include those who support these leaders in various ways—as support staff, financial backing etc. When this field is neglected, weed seeds grow and take over allowing ungodly leaders to (knowingly or unknowingly) take the people in a direction that is oppressive and harmful.

Accountability in the battlefield. On this field we hold accountable those leaders and elected officials who have lost ground for what is good and right and allowed that which is harmful to come into our society and take root. Whether because of incompetence, carelessness, corruption, lack of courage etc. these weeds need to be pulled out, roots and all. Some are called to fight in this field and hold people accountable, engaging in legal battles when necessary. All voters have a responsibility to pay attention to what their elected officials are doing and to communicate with them when their rights are infringed upon, so all Americans are to engage in this field to a certain degree.

2.       Influence / Argument

Influence in the farming field. Everyone carries a certain amount of influence over others in their life, such as families, friends, and co-workers. Parents have tremendous responsibility and influence over their children. Some may be called to more public positions of influence such as education, media, religion, science, business etc. to accurately speak the truth, facts, history, and work to maintain and preserve this accurate information, and to do so without censorship, for the future. These are not just professionals, but include anyone who enlightens, exhorts, encourages, or influences others through discussion or example. Parent’s education and influence over their children is vital, but so is anyone who has a godly affect in their sphere of influence.

Argument in the battlefield. An argument, in the true sense of the word, is where opposing ideas are exchanged, discussed, and debated. It’s not a mean-spirited, hateful communication, but it’s when a person gives reason for his/her opinion or belief, and presents the basis for that belief—whether logic, Scripture, experience etc. This uncensored process exposes misinformation, indoctrination, and the evil influence that the enemies of what is good and true have had over the people. It is a fight to undo the strongholds of lies and deception which have taken hold within the mind. Some may respond when truth and facts are revealed this way, but others may require spiritual warfare to root out any embedded deception in their thinking.

3.       Christian Growth / Spiritual Warfare

Christian Growth in the farming field. This includes the growth of both the number of Christians and their maturity in Christ. When the Word of God—the gospel of Jesus Christ—is preached, people come to believe in Him, and the church grows numerically such as what occurred in the early days of the church recorded in the book of Acts. The teaching of this same Word (the Bible) causes Christians to grow in maturity, more accurately living by the standards of the Word of God, becoming His disciples.

Why is Christian growth so important to the preservation and stability of our republic? True believers in Christ who come to know the Lord personally and grow in the knowledge of His Word, will live biblical lives which brings God’s blessing and favor, protection, and provision upon our land. When we teach our children the ways of the Lord, our future is hopeful. As children and adults learn the Word of God, develop a relationship with Him and a love for His Word, they will know the truth, have discernment to recognize what is truly good, and be alerted to unwise or deceptive tactics which would bring us into bondage. There is only one standard of Truth. To know it, and live by it, is the only thing that brings true freedom.

Spiritual Warfare in the battlefield. Believers in Christ who know their authority in Him, will directly confront the deceptive influences which deceive and oppress people in various ways. There is an enemy which not only opposes the faith of individual Christians but opposes God Himself and mankind as a whole (because we’re made in the image of God). As the church realizes the spiritual authority given to us as the ecclesia—God’s governing body on the earth—we will more effectively win these battles for the soul of our land. The same Word of God which brings spiritual life and maturity to believers in Christ, is the weapon used against this enemy who uses lies, deception, addictions, lust, greed, all types of sin, despair, hopelessness, etc. to try and paralyze the church so he can carry out his plans. Just as Jesus used spoken Scripture against him, so is this the primary weapon of the Church today. As long as we remain ignorant of the authority and responsibility the church has been given by the Lord Himself, we are neglecting the most powerful weapon we have to maintain our freedom, but when the church matures to this point of awareness and maturity, she will confront the evils of the land, bring others into the kingdom of God, and open up the windows of God’s blessing.

The Word of God not only brings numerical growth to the church through people hearing and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Lord and Savior; it brings maturity to the church as people receive the teaching of Scripture and live accordingly. The Word of God is also the primary weapon used against the enemy of God and His church. It’s vital that the Word of God remain free in our nation and all areas of our lives.

Fields of Home and Family

I don’t want to neglect to mention here that each one of us has a field in our own lives and homes. As you make decisions to live according to what is good and right—to not rebel against God and truth—you win a battle that affects the land you live in and the body of Christ as a whole, which you are a part of as a Christian. Don’t think that your decisions to do the right thing and make good and godly choices don’t have an impact. When you win a battle in your own life, you win a battle for the entire kingdom of God on earth. This impacts an entire region, as God responds to His people in a land. As you take the time to study the truths of God’s Word, allowing yourself to be discipled by His truths, you become equipped and prepared to recognize and confront error and lies. You and your life are not insignificant.

I’m not saying these are the only “fields” that exist but seek to find your place in these areas. Are you to engage, or support others, in a leadership field to directly affect the governing of our nation, state, local government or other areas? Are you called to an influential field to give people factual, accurate, truthful information to enlighten minds and teach others to think for themselves based on truthful standards? Are you called to a spiritual field to preach or teach the gospel of Jesus Christ resulting in changed and renewed hearts so good is called good again and truth is truthfully defined?

Once you find your field, determine what time it is in your season. Is it time to battle, or time to farm? I believe both need to occur at the same time right now. Some will engage on the battlefield of their particular field—driving out that which has invaded and planted poisonous crops. And some will prepare for the future by plowing the hard ground, removing deep roots, stones, and overgrown weeds, planting seed, tending to it, and maintaining it.

All that is going on in the world today really emphasizes the fact that the only rightful leader is King Jesus, and the only truthful law is the Word of God. The more we align with Him and His Word, the more we’ll maintain a level of peace and victory that is unattainable any other way.