We thought we had problems before this month began.
. At the start of the year we were praying about an unprecedented move of God in our land. We thought we knew what we were talking about when we discussed global warming, earthquakes storms and floods and thought we were discerning the times we live in.
Judges 5 talks about very similiar times when it seemed like God was fighting for His people and the earth was groaning in pain. Lord when you went out from ..... Lord when you marched from..... the earth trembled and the heavens poured... the clouds also poured out water... the mountains gushed before the Lord...
Much like the start of 2020 but my granny used to say that if you wanted to know what you were in for the rest of the year wait and see what was going on when Paddy turned the stone. I do not even know where that came from but none of us would have foreseen what the rest of the year was about to bring.
On St Patrick's day 2020 I was just about to emerge from a self imposed stay at home to get caught up on coursework for my counselling supervision course. I had worked all weekend and got caught up and was looking for ward to family time over the break, after all it takes a village to bring up a child and I love being part of my wee village.
However there was talk of a cough going around so I did not really mind staying in and being careful. Nothing takes God by surprise but how would have ever guessed what COVID19 was about to do with us.
Judges 5 v 7
The highways were deserted, the travellers walked along a lonely road,
Village life ceased, it ceased in Isreal
Within a week that was exactly what was going on our side my front door.
Village life ceased.... I was not seeing my grandchildren, the roads were deserted and people were isolated. Life as we knew it had literally shut down.
Judegs 5 8
Then there was war at the gates. And not a shield or a spear was seen in Israel.
Right at our front door there is an invisible enemy.
TD Jakes told us today that corona virus has united humanity with a common enemy like nothing had ever done before. People on the news are saying that never before in the history of mankind have we all been sent home. Have they never read their bible? Trevor was praying for someone the other day and told her to anoint the doorposts and windows with oil and we would do the same and that our prayers would not be hindered by the fact he could not physically go there and do it. We had been doing the same.
Exodus 12 v 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it onto the doorposts and on the lintels of the house.... 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the house where you are. And when I see the blood I will pass over and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land.
What is gong on outside the gates of our houses is a plague of biblical proportions and people are thinking about God in a way they have never done before.Anointing the house is symbolic of that act. A while back it was popular in churches but it has sort of gone out of fashion in the ebb and flow of life. We were all too busy, 'doing' life to think about the life giver and all of a sudden, village life has ceased, there is a war on life as we know it and we the church of Jesus Christ are at the threshold of an unprecedented move of the Holy Spirit like we have never seen before if we have the courage of Deborah a mother in Israel.
Judges 5 v 7 says she looked around, seen what was happeneing and decided to fight for her family, and fight for her land.
When Trevor and I looked after a church and charity shop in Londonderry we very quickly learnt, never cross a Derry mammy. They are a rare breed Irish mammies, do what you want but do not touch their family, you will regret it. I am from Portadown and they exist there too, they might not look like Mrs Brown, but touch one of our children and we will dance on your head, in a nice polite way of course. Some of us have had the privilege of recognising that instinct that is born even before you hold your wrinkly, blood covered red faced screaming baby newborn, its called love. That something that passes between you that says I am going to look after you for the rest of your life no matter what, mummy has got you now, just look at a lioness protecting her cubs. But you do not physically need to give birth to be a mother in Israel. Mothers in Israel are even more unique breed than Derry mammies Mothers in Israel are like Miriam, like Hannah, Rachel, like
There is a war at the gates. our families are under attack from a silent deadly enemy
And God is calling the Deborahs of this world to rise up and fight for your family on your knees. They are the Abigails the widows, yest they are the Rehabs and the Bathshebas of this world. I do not care who you are you have somone you love, somoen you can pray for like no one else will pray for them, because you love them. I might not even know them but you love them. Trust what you carry in your heart, you are ready for this, God is on your side.
Esther was prepared, she did not feel it. But she was told of you remain silent in these days deliverance will arise from another.
Deliverance is coming it will arise do not let is be like Esther 4-14 and your fathers house will perish, But who knows if you came into the kingdom for such a time as this.
Rise up Deborah deliverance is coming Esther, but we need to humble ourselves, turn from our way of doing things, rise up, fight for our land
These are days and times when people are scared a time like we have never lived in before. But what if, there was just the slightest possibility that a few women could get serious about God serious about the situation we find our selves in and prayed in the next move of the Holy Spirit that would sweep this land with a move of God like we have never seen before. Every revival in history started with a couple of people praying like they never prayed before. we need to pray like we have never prayed before.
Isaiah 60 Rise shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen up you
RIse up Maria, rise up Maureen, rise up Melanie, rise up Sharon, rise up Karen, rise up Joyce, and get down on your face before a mighty God and fight for your family and mine.
Rise up woman of God Get on your knees and see the cloud coming, We are living in unprecedented times perhaps it is your time to arise you have come into the kingdom for sucha time as this.