WEDNESDAY PRAYER CALL! 9-10 pm EST. Conference call number: 805-399-1200 access code 552-690. Use *6 to mute/unmute. Invite your friends to join us!
First–thank you for the encouragement of many of you regarding our recent postings! Seems that the “Shutting the Gates of Sabotage” theme has really struck a chord.
Along these lines–last night in prayer, I was reminded of a vision from 2006, recounted below. It seems to have significant application in all our lives today, and I encourage you to review it soberly.
Some may draw parallels to the recent “Fast & Furious” scandal involving guns sold by the government to cartels. I honestly had never made that connection before, but it seems plausible. However, as I refresh myself with the themes Holy Spirit is unveiling, it seems to be a plumbline first for our own lives and spheres of influence, then for our world. We cannot afford to cover over or tolerate this injustice any more.
The posting below was originally sent in August 2010.
Sabotage–When Authorities Open the Gates
It’s hard work being an intercessor.
Before you chastise me over embracing a victim spirit, please review the following dream. If afterwards you cannot find a place of empathy in your heart… I will reconsider your accusation.
In 2006, a dream highlighted a warning from the Lord to stand against sabotage. As with Jolene’s “Warning of a Coming Wave,” we have shared this dream a few times before.
But it’s important for this time–because God wants to shut the gate of sabotage. Remember how Pharaoh arose to abort the firstborn of Israel in Moses’ day, and King Herod arose in Jesus’ day to vanquish the very seed of God. In our day, actions of a few compromised leaders in both the body of Christ and the secular realm could again be used by the enemy to abort God’s covenant purposes.
Bandits and Sheriffs
In the dream some friends and I were in an “old west” town, complete with sheriffs and bandits. Our job was to track the bandits and bring them in.
My friends and I would round up gangs of these bandits, strip them of their weapons, and present them to the authorities. Their loot would be turned over as well. The capture of these gangs would bring great celebration to the town. Authorities would parade these gangs through the streets, gaining popularity for their accomplishments.
But when night fell, some of these same authorities would sneak to the jail and unlock the gate for the bad guys to escape. They would give them money, and even re-arm the bandits with their weapons.
Finding Resolution
Two times in the dream my friends and I risked our lives to capture the same bandits. Two times we got breakthrough, overcame the gang and confiscated their loot. We presented the bandits and their goods to the authorities. They were paraded through town in a great celebration… and then to my surprise once again secretly re-armed and released in the middle of the night.
During the last battle my friend got wounded, nearly losing his life in a gun fight while trying to recapture the posse. The bullet he took was from a gun returned to the bandit by a sheriff! In the dream, I became aware of the actions of these subversive sheriffs. The battle suddenly became real. And so did my resolution for justice.
Enemy Bound?
The scene changed to the town courthouse. In the dream, the bandits were all on the courthouse steps, chained to each other as though finally brought to justice. In fact, this was my initial sense—this cycle was finally over!
The town’s authorities were leading a processional towards the courthouse, celebrating and being celebrated as the gang of bandits finally had been bound and captured for good.
But as the authorities drew near to the steps, the gang members shook loose their handcuffs and chains. Clearly, neither the chains nor the handcuffs had even been locked. They had staged their own arrest! The bandits then grabbed guns from behind their backs and began taking out the un-armed authorities at close range.
Being an Intercessor…
OK agree with me. My first statement was true after all. Being an intercessor truly is hard work—especially under these circumstances!
Because in the dream, the intercessors were the ones who rounded up the bad guys and presented them to the authorities.
Unfortunately, a few of the authorities were subversive. They kept much of the “loot” for themselves, while re-arming the bandits and turning them loose in the middle of the night. By this the bandits kept plundering the townsfolk, and re-lining the pockets of a certain few when captured.
Game No More
In the dream, it all seemed like a game—or a wild west movie—until my friend got shot. Then it became real. Friends, our resolve needs to reflect the reality of our season of history. God is doing whatever He can to awaken us, and drive out of our lives a toleration for greed. Especially when it leads to compromise and betrayal.
Beloved, it is time for all of us to disengage from Jezebel’s table—from supply tied to compromise—and return to the Table of the Lord. It is time for covenant loyalty to become attractive again.
It makes me tremble to see how the Lord continues to bring compromised leadership to justice. We should all take inventory. Lets embrace a lifestyle of transparency and accountability. Beloved, lets shut the gate of sabotage in our own lives before others become wounded by our actions.
We Honor You
Lamplighter Ministries wants to personally thank the intercessors who have endured hardships to subdue the enemy and protect our leaders, churches, communities and nation. We are in challenging times, I know. Many of you have been misunderstood. Many of you have taken a bullet in the service of a friend. PLEASE continue to keep your heart pure, and your fire burning. Run your race with renewed endurance. You are honored and cherished by the Lord!
And lets together shut these gates of sabotage!
Jon and Jolene, we really appreciate your ministry to the Lord and for the Body of Christ. The above posting and dream about the “corrupt sheriffs” is something the Lord has been speaking of quite a bit the last several years, through dreams and even movies with a prophetic message to them. The movie that most clearly illustrates the Lord’s serious and imminent agenda to “clean (the) House” of corrupt sheriffs is the western “Open Range”. I believe it miirors your dream. As the Lord has seemed to reveal through it, the town “marshal” was ‘bought and paid for’ by the murderous owner of the town, who aimed to kill, steal, and destroy the Free Range (Freedom) ranchers in the area. Duvall and Costner (the prophet and apostle) working together violently confront the “disgraced” marshal (pastor that is supposed to protect the flock but doesn’t) and kill the real power-owner of the town. This occurs as Duvall and Costner try to get the town’s people to rebel against the powers that be, but they initially refuse out of fear (“what can we do…?”). The town’s people eventually take up the violent struggle for their town – due in no small part to two women primarily – the doctor’s sister and the Irish cafe owner’s wife – and help seal the victory.
Just like in the movie and with Elijah’s confrontation of the evil prophets, when the confrontation comes, the Body of Christ will be forced to decide whose side their on. It’ll be better to make up our minds now than when we have no more choice!