(a personal confession) Husbands (and Fathers) ? let me confess this one to you as a fellow soldier. Beware when division and anger gets into the marriage. The most powerful prayer partnership in the world is a husband and wife. Strife is the enemy’s best way of blocking the prayer of agreement with your spouse. I experienced this tonight. My wife and I were on the phone and I misunderstood something she said and pushed back in agitation. (In truth, it was near midnight and I was tired.) She explained what she said a second time and I saw I missed it and felt bad. Something was needling me about our subject.
My flesh was resistant but I suggested we pray. BAM! The moment we began I could see “Midianites” were trying to block a blessing from getting through the “door” of 5774 (Hebrew for 2014) using “strife” in an area of our lives. We dealt with it and did some great warfare on behalf of our families and friends. I also shared that the subject we were dealing with, stirred up something in me that I suspect is generational in nature. She celebrated as I described it because she had been trying to get me to see it for two years.
Right now, let’s grab these 5 keys Annabelle and I experienced tonight.
Gideon was up against a much larger force than he could defeat. These Midianites had for 7 years robbed him and his nation at harvest time. The last post I wrote identified Midianites by the Hebrew root word “strife” and “brawling.”
“Strife” is a red flag to anyone with discernment. It travels with “confusion” and “every evil work.”
Gideon’s army, reduced to 300, were set around the camp of the enemy. On a signal from Gideon, they were to move “as one” and break clay pitchers that had torches inside them and shout “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!”
When they did so, the enemy panicked and fell upon one another with swords, mistaking each other for the enemy. Strife turns on itself if you surround it in unity with the right people.
TOP 5 INSIGHTS for WAR IN 2014!
1.) LEAN TIMES: God reduced Gideons’ army to 300 men. Why? “Lest Israel claim glory for itself, against Me, saying, ?My own hand has saved me.’ ” (Judges 7:2) Don’t be surprised if the tree is pruned before harvest or if you are being reduced to absolute leanness before breakthrough. “When you are weakest you are strongest.”
2.) LET GOD USE YOUR MOUTH: This remnant had trumpets. Trumpets have to do with preaching, prophesying, announcing or proclaiming something. God wants to put an utterance in your mouth that will change the situation.
3.) EMBRACE BROKENNESS AND HUMILITY: The remnant smashed clay pitchers with torches inside them. Clay speaks of our natural man- we are made from earth. We are vessels of clay and need to humble ourselves so we can be broken in areas we are hindering the light of Christ from being seen.
4.) LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE: The torches shined in the night once the clay container was shattered. This is the light of Christ seen in us when the natural stuff is broken off. A trumpet AND a light is better than a trumpet and no fire ? passion, illumination and manifestation of the Spirit in our lives.
5.) GOD WANTS TO PARTNER WITH MAN! When the remnant attacked they shouted “The sword of The Lord AND of Gideon.” God wants you to know that while HE DID IT, it was done in partnership WITH YOUR FAITH. The Holy Spirit wants to work “with” you, not work “for” you. (Mk 16:20)
For a marriage here is how these 5 apply:
1.) Use lean times and times of apparent loss as a time to expand your prayers together.
2.) Let both of you speak out in prayer.
3.) Be humble enough to be the first to apologize and go to prayer when strife breaks out.
4.) Pray the Word. Let prophetic praying happen. God will give you words of knowledge.
5.) “If TWO or more agree” is the Bible formula. It’s more powerful to pray with another (especially a spouse) than you praying in the car on your own. Pray together and partner with the Holy Spirit as the third intercessor! Prayer can be a blast actually. You’ll feel the difference almost immediately, I promise.
Feel free to pass this on.
I hear YES! to your deepest request.
January 29, 2014
Global Alliencegenerational
Dr. Lance Wallnau
