A VISION FOR THE CHURCH IN AMERICA

During prayer regarding these times of political and moral strife leading up to the US Presidential Elections, the Lord give me a vision for the American church, her pastors, and leaders.

I saw a thick spirit of intimidation like a cloud around the Christians, churches, and leaders of America. The intimidation was in regard to the elections, voting, and taking a stand for what is biblically right. The leaders and believers knew God’s truth and what was the right thing to say, do, and vote in these days of chaos that have taken over the country. They were peering through this cloud of intimidation positioned between them and the truth. It’s like it was obstructing their view and influencing their behavior. Though they knew right from wrong, this cloud of intimidation clouded their judgement and was influencing them to lie, and not say what they had clearly seen and known as the truth. 

Christians and church leaders in America — this warning is to you.

The word of God clearly states, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ ” Voting is a very serious and solemn oath before the Lord. It’s a vow and a witness before the Lord — are you for Him or against Him? If you are for Him, you are for His word, laws, statues and commands. This is what is right and true. You cannot be for the Lord God, if you vote for policies that violate His commands. To speak plainly, platforms like abortion on demand, including murdering innocent babies up to the moment of their birth is child sacrifice and forbidden by the God of the Bible. Votes may be confidential, but all things are laid bare before the eyes of the Lord who sees your solemn vow. According to your own oaths, you will be judged. 

Then, I saw them and the cloud in this stand-off as if they were the Israelis that spied out the promised land and spread a bad report among the people.

When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron … Thus they told him, and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there”… Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad reportof the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. Numbers 13:25-32 

Much like the men in this passage from Numbers, the Christians and church leaders in my vision had seen the truth. They knew the facts, but manipulated and distorted the report given to the people because of the intimidation that they personally felt. 

In the history of Israel, that entire generation (minus Joshua and Caleb) died in the wilderness because they were influenced by the bad report. An entire generation was disqualified from the blessings of God because of the spies’ reaction to lie and twist the truth over fear of facing the enemy. The spies didn’t want to go in and fight for the land because they were too intimidated by the giants that they saw. Knowing that people might be emboldened to go in and fight when they heard the good report from Caleb and Joshua, the spies in their apathy put a spin on the report to drag everyone down with them. They weren’t caring for the people; they only cared about preserving themselves! 

Christians and church leaders in America — this warning is to you. You have received the truth of God’s Word. You proclaim His Name, and bear witness to His goodness. Like it says repeatedly in Deuteronomy, “but it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the LORD has done.” In other words, you know better and you cannot unsee what you have seen.

 “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent…”Revelation 3:3

Don’t let intimidation cloud your judgement, influencing you to lie and twist the report of what you know as true! You can relentlessly pander to your friends and family, and manipulate the scriptures to be culturally relevant, but God will judge you according to what you have known. Like the spies who gave out the bad report, the testimony you are giving will not solely end in your judgement and disqualification, but in the destruction of everyone around you. If you’re a coward, just admit it! Don’t distort the truth to win people to your side. If you care for them, tell them the truth and let them make their own decision. Don’t walk in fear of confrontation and call it faith! If you’re compromising because you’re scared of offending others, don’t hold back the truth and call it loving your neighbor.

It’s time to push back against intimidation and take a stand. These are not days for playing it safe. These are days of decision — it’s all or nothing. The Lord is looking for believers of faith and courage like Joshua, “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Joshua and Caleb knew the odds that were stacked against them, but as men of faith they never shied away from the fact that God was the one fighting for them. 

…do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:7-9

Be bold and courageous, church! Repent! Turn away from sin and compromising. Hold fast to the things you know and have learned from the Lord. Proclaim the truth in love without wavering! Do what you know is right, and teach others to do same. Vote with your Bibles — not your wallets or emotions — and whatever the outcome you will have a clean conscious knowing you honored God. Remember,  and do not forget — the battle belongs to the Lord!

Guest article written October 12, 2020, by Rachel Chahanovich of Steadfast Blog

Related