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.
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.
