At the beginning of our Line in the Sand prayer project, the Spirit of God impressed upon Jolene the need to watch and pray from August 21 through September 15. We had just begun the project—compelled by a strong word given by James Goll that the Lord is drawing a line in the sand regarding the sanctity of the covenant boundaries of Israel, and the sanctity of the covenant boundaries of marriage. In both cases, mankind’s Creator and Savior has every right to define these boundaries—the commanded blessing for honoring them, and the consequences for violating them.

When we started this watch, the Mideast peace process had just been restarted under the leadership of Sec. of State John Kerry. News outlets reported a focus on persuading Israel to return to the pre-1967 boundaries, as well as annexing East Jerusalem.

It is stunning to me that on August 27, the day before our watch transitioned, the Palestinians announced they had decided to pull out of the peace process.

We transitioned into this Crown and Throne watch yesterday with an earnest expectation that, in the midst of national and global challenges, God is birthing a new move of His Spirit. Thanks to all who prayed for us last night as we had the honor of casting vision for this new move with Apostle John Benefiel in Oklahoma City!

He Brings Down Rulers
Today I want to emphasize a foundational truth of this emerging Crown and Throne movement. It is a primary promise made to Mary, the mother of Jesus, when she was pregnant with Jesus and preparing for the ultimate new birth of freedom. “The Mighty One has done great things for me,” declared Mary in the passage known as the Magnificat. “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and exalted those who were humble…” (Luke 1:49, 52).

Jesus established covenant with mankind through His cross, redeeming us forever from the debt of sin. I love how the redeemed before His Throne responded when, as recounted in Revelation 5, the scrolls of human history were entrusted to Him. “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for you were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And you have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth!” (Rev. 5:9-10).

Note that as covenant with mankind has been established, the redeemed have been set on the earth to reign! And our rulership releases heaven’s desire to bear upon the earth.

And Christ’s governmental rulership in concert with us is primarily what this Crown and Throne movement is all about.

We have known Jesus as Savior. But we maybe haven’t fully perceived Him as the King of kings, with the sovereign right to set leaders in place and remove them from their thrones. And we need to see this dimension of His majesty if we are going to fully partner with Him in His worth this season.

Scripturally, that’s how God confronted Pharaoh in the days of Exodus. It’s how He confronted Herod in the days of the apostles. Historically, it’s how God finally confronted Hitler after a slumbering church and world found themselves embroiled in World War II. Welsh intercessor Rees Howells and his bible school students prayed through each battle, and contended for an end to the most horrific attempt of racial extermination in modern history—the holocaust. Stunningly, out of the ashes of this horrific tragedy Israel became a nation again for the first time in almost 2,000 years.

With this in mind, lets pray for God to sovereignly remove the regime of Syria’s Assad—to bring an unjust dictator down from his blood-soaked throne. Lets also pray for the establishment of godly government in both Syria and Egypt. Pray for Christians who are pressing hard into God while facing unimaginable persecution!

The Court of Heaven & Fall Feasts
The Jewish fall feasts occur early this year. Rosh Hashanah begins on September 4—only a week away! Many Jewish people traditionally take the week before the feast to engage in fasting, prayer and introspection in preparation for the ten day period known as the Days of Awe, from Rosh Hashanah through the highest holy day, Yom Kippur.

This is vital to understand—Jewish tradition holds that this is a time for the Court of Heaven to be in session. The Lord reviews each of our lives, and decrees our future accordingly. On Rosh Hashanah, the Lord’s verdict for each of our lives is written in His Book of Life, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed. Between these days, repentance, prayer, reconciliation, restitution and giving to the poor are focused on to align with God’s heart and receive a more favorable future before the books are sealed.

We are entering into a holy season. We encourage you to humble yourself before the Throne of His grace. Allow Holy Spirit to convict you. Evaluate where you have procrastinated in obedience to The Lord on the above issues. Take time to repair your covenant with The Lord, with those you are in relationship with. Where breaches have occurred, make every effort to bring healing during this time.

And note that the shakings here and in the Mideast are right in alignment with God’s work in this hour. I for one am grateful the Israeli-Palestinian peace process has been put on hold until America can more fully align with God’s heart and covenant. Individually and collectively, we want a favorable judgment from The Lord, and a favorable future!

And please lets keep interceding for Syria, Egypt and Israel!