Revival in the age of Trump

This is the final post in my series on the spiritual powers that accompany the rise of Trump: part 1, part 2, part 3.

There has been much ado in certain Evangelical circles that Trump is a Cyrus-type. There were numerous articles that promoted Trump not merely  as God pick for the Presidency but also as an anointed spiritual leader¹.  I have responded here on why Trump is not Cyrus. 

In this article I wish to convey that, even if Trump is Cyrus, it does not follow that his rise assures us of a great awakening. Great awakenings are not a consequence of electing the right politician, but of the church desperately seeking God as He moves in us to will and do His good pleasure(Philippians 2:13).

While Cyrus was indeed anointed in the sense of being set apart to be used by God, the historical record shows that Cyrus played virtually no spiritual role in the revival of Israel. He played an minimal but necessary secular role. 

We read in 1 Chronicles 36 that Cyrus gave the order that allowed the Israelites to return from exile. Without this the next steps of God's plan to restore Israel would not have happened as they did. Most of the muscle work and absolutely all of the spiritual muscle work, however,  was done by believers and members of the household of God.

In my first article in this series, I wrote about a great spiritual battle in Daniel 10 as the spiritual background to this series. In Daniel 10, we read an account of a great spiritual battle that occurred during the third year of Cyrus. Daniel spent his career in Babylon. It is in this context that we understand the reference frame for Cyrus's reign. Cyrus actually came to the throne in 552 BC. He conquered Babylon in 539 BC, so he could not have issued any decrees concerning Israel until 539 BC. The dating of the times of Cyrus in Scripture date from his conquest of Babylon. The great spiritual battle was triggered when Daniel sought God one day in 536 BC. God sent an answer immediately by means of an angel. This angel was detained by the "kings of Persia" for 21 days until Michael the archangel came to his rescue. These were not carnal kings but demonic princes.

These demonic princes were actively involved in the life of Persia during the reign of Cyrus. Cyrus was not actively involved in this battle in any role. His only connection to this battle is in his reign being used as a reference for dating this battle. Much has been made of Cyrus being God's anointed. Why did Cyrus fail to route these demons? In order to understand why Cyrus failed, we must understand that  the word translated "anointing" has a two-fold meaning. The first later of meaning is that God's anointed are set apart. Cyrus was certainly set apart for the work that God called him to do. The second layer of meaning is that anointing implied spiritual empowerment. Cyrus could not have this dimension of anointing with any regularity as he was not a part of the family of God.

The victory that was made possible through Cyrus decree would require the anointing that was on others who could access spiritual power from God to finish the task. These demonic princes that Cyrus failed to route  opposed Israel and resisted her restoration  in a battle that long outlasted Cyrus reign.

The battle to restore the national life of Israel was done through Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel reconstructed Israel's national and spiritual life. Daniel laid a prophetic foundation in spiritual warfare, Nehemiah rebuilt the wall, Ezra restored the spiritual life, and Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple.

Daniel was the major mover in spiritual warfare. I have previously written about the occult powers that accompany the rise of Trump; We, like Daniel, must engage in spiritual warfare to ward off these attacks. These demons will not go away because Trump is in the house anymore than they did because Cyrus was in his house. It is on God's people to route the enemy.

Like Nehemiah we must rebuild walls that protect the church from those who would attack her spiritually, and like Ezra we must restore the fundamental disciplines that keep her vital.

During  Zerubbabel's administration as Judah's provincial governor, the prophet Zechariah received a vision concerning Zerubbabel that is instructive concerning our need to trust in God rather than men.

And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. - Zechariah 4:1-5

We are introduced to a seven-light lampstand that has pipes connecting it to two olive trees. The lampstand first appears in Exodus as a light that is in the holy place in the Temple. It represent light need to access the room adjacent to the holy of holies. The high Priest must pass through this room before going to the Most Holy Place where he annually administered atonement for Israel.

We also see these in  Revelation 2-3 where they represent the light of the Church. The lampstand lights our way to God. This lamp is empowered by pipes bring oil from the olive trees. Oil repeatedly represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture; in this passage the olive trees are identified as the anointed of the "Lord of the earth."  The angel from God continues by instructing Zechariah on the necessity of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. - Zechariah 4:6-7

 The Lord, through the angel in the vision,  is instructing that it is not Zerubbabel's might as a ruler but through God's power that victory is attained. Zerubbabel, while a ruler, was neither sovereign nor powerful in terms of human power. Zerubbabel also types more closely to spiritual leaders of the Church of Christ than to secular political rulers. Zerubbabel does not prevail because of his power, but because of God's power. In 2 Chronicles 16:9 in a prophetic rebuke to Asa for trusting in human help over God's help, we are instructed that the "eyes of the Lord" roam the earth to show Himself strong to those who are faithful to Him.

Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. - Zechariah 4:8-10

The lamps are the eyes of the Lord which take of the anointing of the Holy Spirit and translate that into power for those who trust God. The ancients understood this to mean that God always has our back; He is always with us. The study of quantum mechanics adds richness to this meaning that allows modern readers to gain a richer understanding of these passages. In the double-slit experiment² it has repeatedly been shown that particles of electrons behave like waves of energy when no one measures them. whenever a measuring device is introduced, they transform into particles. While human measurement is constrained by laws of science, God can conduct a classical measurement on a physical system that changes everything:

He can measure the weak, and they become strong.
...He can measure the poor, and they become rich.
......He can measure the sick, and they receive healing.
.........He can measure the losers, and they become more than conquerers

This is what the anointing does. If you are in Christ, then you are among the anointed  of the earth. Jesus said that if two or more agree on anything in my name, I will do it(Matthew 18:19).

Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. - Zechariah 4:11-14

Let us seek God for renaissance, revival, and reformation. Let us not, in times where souls are robbed and raped, maimed and murdered, fall prostrate before the powerful with their power, position, privilege, and platforms. Let us trust in Christ the Creator, the firstborn of God's creation, by whose word all things consist. Let Him revive, redeem, and rebuild us. 

References

1 This is one of many articles to this effect.

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/59304-donald-trump-key-to-isaiah-45-prophecy
2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc

Speaking the Truth in Love

The New Testament, in it's emphasis on Biblical unity in the Church, instructs us to develop intimate relationships among the brothers and sisters. We are to develop relationships where we fall head over heels in brotherly love towards our brothers and sisters in Christ. There are three principles that govern how to safely and effectively achieve intimacy among members of the Body of Christ: Trust God to place into our lives those with whom we are to have relationships and trust Him to arrange them in the proper relations with us, Speak the truth in love, and flee selfish desires. In this installment I am writing on the need to speak the truth in love to our brothers and sisters

Speaking the Truth in Love.
In the course of brotherly relation in the family of God conflicts and issues involving selfish ambitions are inevitable. The flesh is tempted to indulge greed, sexual immorality, pursuit of power. Because of this brother and sisters sometimes misuse each other or relate to each other in ways that hinder their walk with God The genuine pursuit of brotherly love then involves speaking the Truth in love to bring accountability into relationships. This accountability helps to insure that we cintinue on the path that leads us to unity in the faith and results in attaining maturity in Christ

Ephesians 4:11-16 KJV And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

According to Scripture each of us has an important part to play in the lives of others. There are three insights that emerge from the following texts that we need to do in speaking the truth in love. We are to speak the Word of God into each others lives and into the situations we face. The second thing is that we must be open to allow others to speak into our lives. The third is that when we see someone in a fault we must act to restore while guarding ourselves from temptation.

We are to speak the Word of God into each others lives.
The Word of God is powerful and intimate love relationships are powerful. God wants us to speak His Word to to build up those we love. this combination allows for effective ministry that build up the church much faster than the most brilliant sermons ever constructed. People are more open to persuasion from those whom they care about

Colossians 3:16 KJV Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

We must be open to allow others to speak into our lives.
If we seek to speak the Word of God into the lives of others, we must, in turn, be open to allow others to speak into our lives.This is what it means to submit each one to another. We submit to one another by having a willingness to listen to godly counsel from one another.

The submission in view here is not a hierarchical or pyramid style. leaders are to be open to godly counsel from those they lead.

Ephesians 5:15-21 KJV See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

We must seek to restore the fallen brother.
When we know that a brother or sister has fallen into sin, we are to restore him or her. When we do that we must be careful not to fall into sin ourselves. We must be aware of our own vulnerabilities as we do this. We need to be aware of the forces of sin and temptation in both ourselves and others so that we may expose sin to the light and eradicate it.

Galatians 6:1 KJV Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Ephesians 5:8-16 KJV For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (12) For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. (13) But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. (14) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

This accountability is usually one on one or in small groups. Most of the time it is informal. In hard cases the protocols of Matthew 18 must be followed.

By speaking the truth in love we can insure that we all continue on a correct course to attain godliness and grow in in Christ, until we become conformed to the image of God's Son and enter into the fulness of Christ