As we get together with family and friends this holiday season, it is highly probable that President Trump will come up at the dinner table conversation.  President Trump has definitely got a lot of people talking.  So I thought I would share with you something God showed me when he became President that has helped me with a greater perspective and peace in this process as he leads this nation.

Many prophetic people in the Body of Christ declared that God showed them that President Trump was going to be like King Cyrus in the Bible, who helped with the process of allowing God’s people who had been in captivity by the Babylonians to go back to Jerusalem and build the temple.

But this was not what God showed me.  Instead, I got a picture SAMSON.

In Judges 13-16, we read about the story of Samson. God chose Samson to be a judge and a deliverer for the Israelites before he was even born.  

“For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son.  And no razor shall come upon his ahead, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5).

Oddly enough, the mother of Samson was told not to cut her son’s hair, for it was Samson’s hair that was the secret to his supernatural strength, giving him the ability to fight lions and conquer an army of Philistines. (Isn’t it ironic how Trump’s hair has always somehow been the talk).

As Samson became an adult, he decided he wanted to marry a Philistine; the very people God prophesied he would need to conquer to save his family.  This appeared to be a sacrilegious thing to do since the Israelites were only supposed to marry someone “circumcised,” (meaning they had accepted the Abrahamic Covenant and believed in the Lord). Marrying the enemy of the state also appeared treasonous.

Samson’s father and mother tried to persuade him not to do this, BUT GOD was the one who actually directed it.

“But the father and mother did not know that it was the Lord-that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines.  For at that time, the Philistines had dominion over Israel” (Judges. 14:4).

In a simliar contrast, Donald Trump grew up with an anointing to “conquer” in the field of Babylon.  He became known as the master of the “Art of the Deal.”  He conquered the giants in the money/land industry, and his name became famous all over the world.  Then GOD decided to choose him to be our next president, even though most Christians had a difficult time voting for him because he did things that seemed “sacrilegious.”

Prior to taking his position as president, Trump had grown in fame and fortune. But he also had a weakness:  women.  

Samson also had a weakness….women.  As you read the story of him and Delilah in Judges 16, it would appear that Samson’s weakness for women got the best of him:

“When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, ‘Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.’  So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand” (Judges 16:18).

Delilah ended up taking a bribe from the Philistine leaders to turn Samson in.  Because of her greed, Samson found himself in a position at the mercy of his enemy.  His eyes were taken out, his hair was cut, and he was imprisoned to say the least.

“Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza.  They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison” (Judges 16:21).

Before this moment in biblical history, Samson had a track record of using his strength to take out anything in his way and justifying his ungodly behavior.  He killed a lion with his bare hands.  He destroyed a whole city of the Philistines for betraying him.  He even put the whole tribes of Israel at jeopardy due to his unruly behavior.  The Israelites had to corner Samson themselves and request he turn himself in to the Philistines because they were threatening to wipe out the whole nation.

I am not sure if you are tracking with me on the similarities with Samson and Trump, but there are many.  But the one that God highlighted to me was Samson’s greatest victory at the end of his life, which is the main reason WHY God showed me Samson when praying about why Donald Trump became our next President.

The Philistines believed they had defeated Samson after Delilah cut his hair and turned him in.  But then we read this amazing word that is a word for all of us and this nation…..HOWEVER:

“HOWEVER, the hair on his head began to grown again after it had been shaven” (Judges 16:22).

While “appearing” to be a trophy for the enemy, and an end to Samson’s strength, destiny, and influence, God causes Samson’s hair to grow back in the midst of the worst of circumstances, and while the enemy was celebrating their victory, and humiliating Samson in front of the crowds:

“Our god has delivered into our hands, Samson our enemy!…..So it happened when their hearts were merry, that they said, ‘Call for Samson, that he may perform for us.’  So they called for Samson from prison, and he performed for them.  And they stationed him between the pillars” (Judges 16:23-25).

The next scriptures are very revealing.  Samson asks a lad to lead him to the pillars that support the temple so he could lean on them.  In that moment, Samson was going to use his anointing (strength) and strategy (getting a helping hand without any of the enemies even noticing it was to take them down.)

The destiny scroll on Samson’s life was not going to return void.  God’s purpose for Samson was going to prevail OVER the enemy, regardless of Samson’s past shortcomings.  The circumstances were NOT going to thwart the plan of God to keep His promise of Covenant to a people who trusted in Him.

After being imprisoned by the Philistines, chained, broken, beaten, and both eyes ripped out of his sockets, Samson FINALLY had a “Damascus” moment to STOP leading with his own strength, his own purpose, and his own goals.  He finally invited the Lord into his heart and asked the Lord HIS PURPOSE for giving him all this fame, strength, fortune, and charisma:

“Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, ‘O Lord God, remember me, I pray!  Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!’ (Judges 16:28).

This is really the first time we read the story of Samson that he is seeking God’s help.  He was still NOT completely changed in his heart.  He still had a personal vendetta in why he agreed to the idea of being a martyr for God.  But, God showed Samson (with his spiritual eyes) that he was born to take down the GIANT that opposed His people.

God made Samson to be a wrecking ball to take down the pillars of iniquity that kept his people under oppression.  God anointed Samson with His strength for the purpose of saving His people:

“And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left.  Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!’  And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it.  So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life” (Judges 16:29,30).

Samson began his “race” running full force into the enemies territory and conquering for self gain and gratification.  He learned the enemies tactics and rose above them.  He learned the strategies and found a way to beat the system.  He even found a way to be self sufficient so that the enemy had no power over his decisions or productivity.

BUT…there came a moment in time (God’s time), when Samson realized he was serving a bigger purpose than building an empire onto himself.  Samson realized that God had given him all those qualities and abilities because he was the man for the job to take down the greatest giant that threatened the existence of His people He had made a Covenant with.

In that moment of humility, Samson chose to sacrifice his life for the greater good.  He died as a martyr doing it, but in the end, ALL the pillars of government, the leaders, the GIANTS of power came crashing down when he gave all his strength for God’s cause.

So in an effort to pull this parallel together between Trump and Samson, I wanted to share this:

We may not like President Trump’s tactics, his rhetoric, or his method of running this nation.  The children of Israel didn’t like Samson’s either.  I am sure they scratched their heads many times wondering what the hec God was thinking in putting Samson in charge of them for 20 years.  BUT God was working His plan that would eventually annihilate the enemy.  And it would take someone like Samson/Trump, a man who had sat in positions of strength similar to the enemy, to crash the Philistine system and oppression.

America’s God given destiny is to be a light to the nations and a place God’s people can freely worship Him.  America has been held captive to a shadow government that has worked it’s tentacles into the fabric of her foundation.  The strongholds are so gigantic that it will take a wrecking ball of God’s supernatural strength and strategy to deliver her from the hand of the enemy.

GOD’S MERCY AND UNCONDITIONAL COVENANT HE MADE WITH DAVID BACK IN THE OLD TESTAMENT GIVES US THE BLUEPRINT THAT GOD WILL SAVE AMERICA IN THE END.  But the “Mystery of Babylon” can only be exposed and torn down by a strategy that defies our own feeble minds, just as it did in Samson’s day.

I encourage all of you to read the story of Samson and see how many similarities there are to him and Donald Trump.  You will get a whole different perspective watching all these events unfold in our nation, and your prayers may surprisingly shift with this different perspective.

Even though Samson had some flaws, he ended up in the “Heroes of faith” Hall of Fame mentioned in Hebrews 11 (Heb. 11:32).

“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords form us.’

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;  The Lord shall hold them in derision” (Psalm 2:2-4).

Having written all that I did in the last blog, I am compelled to lay out a blueprint from the Bible that helps us understand the season we are in.

Kislev is the month that is upon us in the Hebrew calendar, and if you have my “Firstfruits” book, you can read more about this ninth month that is associated with Benjamin.  But I wanted to point out one portion that is relevant for us today.

Benjamin was the only tribe of Israel that almost got wiped out by their own “family;” which was all the other tribes of Israel.  If it were not for God’s divine intervention, there wouldn’t have been a tribe of Benjamin!  In Judges 20, it was Benjamin’s stubbornness to hold on and defend their iniquity that almost wiped out the whole tribe, including the righteous:

“Then the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, ‘What is this wickedness that has occurred among you? Now therefore, deliver up the men, the perverted men who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove the evil from Israel!’  

But the children of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brethren, the children of Israel.  Instead, the children of Benjamin gathered together from their cities, to Gibeah, to go to battle against the children of Israel” (Judges 20:12-14).

After this declaration, the Benjamites gathered 22,000 men to battle against the tribes of Israel.  But the Israelites had no desire to fight against their brethren, even though they had to stand up against the unrighteousness.   So they sought the Lord, asking for His direction, and even interceded for the Benjamites.

God directed the tribe of Judah to go up first to fight against the Benjamites. This directive resulted in a 20,000 men loss, not victory.

The Israelites somehow found a way to encourage themselves to prepare another line for battle.  Then they went before the Lord for more counsel since things weren’t adding up as they watched all their own men die.  God continued to direct them to go against the Benjamites.

On the second day, the Israelites went out to battle the Benjamites again, and 18,000 Israelites were slaughtered.  I can’t imagine how discouraged they must have been.

Then all the Israelites went up to the house of the Lord and wept.  They sat there and fasted until evening and gave the Lord sacrificial offerings.  The Lord said for a third time to go against the Benjamites.

It was the third day of fighting, and the Benjamites began to strike some of the Israelites.  30 men died.  The Benjamites were feeling pretty confident with themselves and said, “They are defeated before us, as at first”(Judges 20:32).

BUT GOD HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN.  AND IT WAS GOING TO BE EXECUTED WITH A SUDDEN AMBUSH THAT CAUGHT ALL THE BENJAMITES OFF GUARD!

“And then thousand select men from all Israel came against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce.  But the Benjamites did not know that disaster was upon them.  The Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel.  And the children of Israel destroyed that day 25,100 Benjamites, all these drew the sword” (Judges 20:34,35).

It was after that battle that the Benjamites panicked, because they realized that they were about to be completely destroyed.  Unfortunately for all, the blood bath continued, and all the cities of the Benjamites were set ablaze.  What remained only were 600 Benjamites who fled and toward the wilderness.  It would take the hand of God to revive the tribe of Benjamin, which He did, and  generations later, they became known as “sons of light.”

When Christ began His ministry, the Benjamites were the ones in whom Jesus chose to be His disciples.  This was a fulfillment of the prophetic word spoken over them in 1 Kings 11 to be a tribe attached to Judah so they would be “God’s lamp/light.”

“And to his son I will give one tribe (Benajmites), that My servant David may always have a LAMP before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there”(1 Kings 11:36).

In order to fulfill that call, they returned to Jerusalem with the tribe of Judah after the Babylonian captivity.  But when the unrighteous leadership of the Pharisees and the Sadducees came into power, many of the Benjamites SEPARATED themselves from the iniquity and migrated to Galilee, which is how they became known as the Galileans.

It was this small remnant that ended up lighting up the world with Christ’s message to the world.  How strikingly different was the Benjamites fate in the New Testament verse the Old because of their decision to separate themselves from iniquity.

Prior to Christ’s coming, it was not an easy environment to live in.  The Jewish leaders were controlling the people with their “traditions of men.”  The Hellenists were trying to take over the area with their Greek god philosophy and pagan rituals.  And the Romans were trying to gain power and control over all.  It was chaotic to say the least, and I am sure that living in that time looked a lot like today.

BUT, GOD HAD A PLAN!  This remnant of believers were going to be the ones the Lord would choose to execute the multiplicity of His plan to bring His Kingdom here on the earth IF they accepted the call to leave all and follow Christ.

God had given us a clue to Benjamin’s destiny.  His dying mother originally named him “Ben-oi, which meant, “son of sorrow/iniquity.”  On her death bed, Rachel confessed her iniquity/sin of when she stole the idols from her fathers house by  what she named her son (Gen. 31:19).  Even after she was given ample opportunity to rid herself of this sin, it wasn’t until her last breath when she came clean.

But Jacob/Israel wouldn’t allow his newborn son to be named what his dying wife’s wishes were.  His apostolic mantle of ensuring the Covenant of God would continue forward under God’s command caused him to rename him, “Benjamin,” which means, “Son of light/right hand.”

These details in the Bible concerning Benjamin’s beginnings really answer the question as to how we read about two totally different Benjamin’s in the bible:  The “son’s of sorrow/iniquity” of Judges 20, and the “sons of light” in the Gospels.

The two names of Benjamin can really describe what is happening inside the body of Christ that divides the Church, as well as what is dividing our nation.  BOTH have casualties.  Some die in right standing with God fighting under His instruction.  Some die defending their sin.  But in the end, GOD’s plan prevails.  And it comes about SUDDENLY, especially when the enemy believes they have the upper hand.

Nationally speaking, God has allowed America to go through this battle within her because we have defended our “iniquity” and adopted it in our culture.  Until the people of this nation really come to grips with this and repent and separate ourselves from this iniquity rather than compromise with it, God will allow this war that is dividing us to continue on.  Our decisions to omit God are hurting us.

But the Saints have been called to go before the Lord and pray and seek His face.  As in the story of Judges 20, they received an answer from the Lord that said they would defeat the enemy.  We know how this story ends in victory!! But the reality is,  the enemy is appearing as if he is gaining ground and taking out God’s people.  Thankfully we have Judges 20 as an example of not giving up on God’s WORD, regardless of the attacks.

The New Testament Benjamites all sacrificed their life for Christ.  The majority of them were martyred.  How it must have been difficult to follow the instruction of the Lord to GO AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS, only to get persecuted, thrown in prison, or beheaded!  And yet, 2,000 years later, their Seed of obedience has produced a multiplicity of people who know the GOOD NEWS!

Today, God is calling all the Benjamites (remnant) to stand on God’s Word and light up His truth, regardless of what they see or hear.  The Benjamites will be the ones God gives authority to root out evil.  The Benjamites will be the ones who will restore the foundation of this nation.  BUT THEY CANNOT DO THAT IF THEY HOLD ON TO THEIR OWN INIQUITY OR DEFEND SOMETHING THAT IS UNRIGHTEOUS.  THEY NEED TO BE THE NEW TESTAMENT BENJAMITES WHO GAVE ALL TO HIS CAUSE AND WERE WILLING TO LET GO OF THEIR INIQUITOUS NATURE AND TAKE ON CHRIST’S IDENTITY.

Jesus paid the price for us to live and be free of our iniquity.  We must be willing to let go of control and allow Him to lead.  This takes trust, and security in knowing who God is and that He has our best interest at heart.

 

 

 

 

I felt compelled to write a blog to the remnant….those who are sold out in their hearts for God who are still getting pummeled with one hardship and disappointment after another. 

Are you worn out completely….and screaming, “WHERE ARE YOU GOD?  WHY AREN’T THINGS BREAKING OPEN AS I THOUGHT?  I have burned ten thousand  “fires” in Your testings.  It FEELS like nothing is happening or changing…..except for the little embers we started together with…..Ahhh!!!”

You may be reading this and have nothing left to go around the mountain one more time….and yet…God is in this.  Some of us are missing what is actually happening in our midst because our eyes are so focused on how we believe it should look, feel or be.  And the biggest test is endurance….who is going to become the Lord’s Gideon army in the end? This remnant will arise through this all.

Take this last election as an example.  There were so many Christians praying for this last election who were pretty disheartened at the results.  I had heard many people in the body of Christ stating the results were going to be a “Red Tsunami.” With this kind of “word” being put forth, it can be easy to miss God’s strategy or understand these results because of the perception of how the results should have turned out.  Some will now sit on the side lines and take a back seat.  Some will be discouraged and quit believing God is working things out.  Some will even stop praying.  BUT, the remnant will find a way deep in their heart to keep pressing on.

People have been asking me what I thought about the election.  I can honestly say it is disappointing for sure to see California continue it’s path in blue.  It is disappointing to see the house gaining seats so division is at the table once again.  BUT GOD IS AT WORK THROUGH IT ALL.  This is the place I sit and rest, knowing that the prophetic scriptures for our nation, and the mercy seat of God MUST prevail in the end.

We are called to find out position in the process and be obedient to Him alone.  Our positioning, as it may seem so insignificant to how it can make a difference in the big scheme of things for America IS SIGNIFICANT!  Because we are a part of a national body coming together to form ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

We are living in a time that God is working the transfer of wealth from the wicked to the righteous out, one step at a time.  He is going to overthrow the “Mystery of Babylon” with precision timing and mass exposure.  This overthrow doesn’t happen in one election.  This is a process.  And the election results are just one step toward that process in God’s court.  Unfortunately, many can’t see it.  The test is in the “REST,” trusting that God is working through our prayers, and this answer is a part of His strategy.

SO WHY IS THIS YEAR SO CRITICAL FOR THE REMNANT TO GET THEIR WEAKNESSES IN THEIR SOULS CRUCIFIED IN CHRIST?

I can confirm that this sanctification process is NOT for the weak…BUT, it is necessary for God’s champions He has chosen to run this race for the prize of the upward call (Phil 3).  But let’s look at what is happening today:

We can say, without having much faith to believe, that something is about to crack in our nation….that will affects the nations.

We can also say, without having much faith, that a GREAT DIVIDE is being drawn in the sand for all to see clear between good and evil; right and wrong.

We can also say, without having much knowledge, that God seems to be shaking things up.

We can say, without having much understanding, that God is also shaking up the Church.

And finally, we can say, without having much wisdom, that WE BETTER BE READY!

It is going to take an army that are steadfast and able to stand against the wiles of the enemy up ahead; ones that aren’t moved by what they see, hear, or is being done that is unjust and wicked.

WE ARE BEING TRAINED UP IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD.  God’s people are FIRST to go through the process that will separate the remnant from the rest of the body of Christ:  those that will overcome and believe in God’s Word verses those who will give up and listen to the lies of the enemy and behave like the enemy.

I encourage all to NOT partake in the enemies assassination of our President.  Guard your lips from joining the onslaught on negative rhetoric being hurled around.  Our job is to pray for those in office, regardless of what we see or hear because God will work His purpose through our prayers and our humility to lean on His leadership.

The battle today is truly in the mind, for it is the soul (mind, will, and emotions) that the enemy is trying to assassinate in this hour.  It is the last grip before the Lord’s time to return and we receive our glorified bodies.  The soul is the battleground the enemy is after so we are paralyzed to do the work of the Lord in preparation for His return.

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).

It’s not a time to isolate and take the hits alone.  When you are weak, others are strong.  Please don’t hide behind religious walls that keep you isolated so that everyone doesn’t see your weakness.  WE ALL LIMP!  No one is without a limp.  So reach out and pray for the ones God puts on your heart to pray for.  They probably need it.  And ASK for prayer when you are being pummeled.  It’s not a sign of weakness.  It is a sign of meekness.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).

Since we have entered the Hebrew month of Kislev, which means trust and security, I just want to encourage you to stand against the strongholds that are fierce right now trying to assassinate your soul, and steal from your gift and calling.

The storm is upon us to FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH IN A MEASURE WE HAVEN’T HAD TO FIGHT BEFORE.  Think of the Hebrews who cried out for a deliverer and Moses came….and yet they still went through greater hardships at times and had to sustain their faith through all the plagues.  BUT SUDDENLY, the death plague passed, and the Hebrews were set free.

Be encouraged that you are CHOSEN to be a part of a great moment of history in the making.  The “heroes of faith” we read about in Hebrews 11 went through this tough testing time too!  You are in a company of champions.  Let this identity arise in you this month!