Pastor Jim Sanderbeck
December 5, 2024
Now that the election is past and millions of prayers have been answered, my concerns for the Kingdom cause of Christ going forward into 2025 are two-fold.
- Christians will not get weary in the battle because the battle is not over by any long shot.
I’m sure you have heard that at the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787, when asked if we had a republic or a monarchy, Benjamin Franklin responded: “a republic, if you can keep it.”
The Great Experiment of bottom-up governance will constantly be harassed by those who think of self-first and rule-through-control. It is satan’s nature. Satan is the father of lies and filled with deceit. We must be ready for anything. Using programs and strategies of deceit, lies, and lawlessness for control through fear will silently and then blatantly again rise to the surface if we do not stay alert. Satan and his demonic forces do not just fade away. Their modus operandi will be to continue to harass and consume in an attempt to weaken resolve and regain control of their unrighteous agenda against God. The Ekklesia must not fall asleep or enter into lethargy.
Pro 6:9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? :10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest”— :11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man. (NASB)
Now that significant ground has been taken, the Ekklesia MUST press beyond the finish line through Jesus Christ. We must not slumber or sleep but rather protect our righteous heritage lest we lose the republic and its righteous foundation. This verse from the old Methodist Hymn must resound in the hearts of the Ekklesia.
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things;
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.
- God will move to center stage in this nation by the intentional acts of those He has tapped to lead the nation back to the foundational covenants and purposes. I am concerned that attention will be focused so strongly on the man and the team of men and women fulfilling the actions of transformation that God will be moved to a lesser position. To achieve the next Great Awakening, a worldwide billion-soul harvest, and the discipling of nations, only God can be center stage.
The victories achieved so far have been achieved because God has heard the cries of His people and has chosen to show grace and mercy even when neither is warranted. The sins of the nation and the blood of millions cry out “GUILTY”, but God chooses once again to show Himself to be filled with mercy and compassion.
God’s mercy is not new. Six hundred years before the birth of Jesus, Israel was divided into 2 kingdoms. Sins similar to those that have been experienced in this nation were rampant in both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel. God was sending judgement and captivity upon them in the form of the Assyrians. The prophet Micah spoke harshly to the people of their sin and warned of the coming judgement. BUT, in the midst of that judgement, he spoke of hope for a remnant of the nation.
Mic 2:12 “But I will gather you together, all you people of Israel that are left. I will bring you together like sheep returning to the fold. Like a pasture full of sheep, your land will once again be filled with many people.” (GNB)
On the Dec. 5th Give Him 15, Dutch Sheets refers to a prophetic word by Scott Reese. A portion of that prophecy says:
“You will witness a breaking down of the political divide and see the establishment of a righteous government, holding a righteous scepter in their hands. You will see a governmental body actually stop and pray before a vote in order to ascertain My heart. The podium will be used for godly leaders crying out together in faith, as opposed to arguing, defending unrighteousness, offending My heavens, and shutting off the land from My purposes.”
When I heard this prophesy, my heart rejoiced. God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit must be the center of what we do going forward. Giving Him glory and praise must be intentional on the part of these new passionate leaders AND the Ekklesia. This prophetic word is obviously on the heart of God, and we must heed its exhortation.
Every mountain of society is going to be impacted by the Spirit of God but only if we give God pre-eminence for the coming victories. We must pray now for those who are positioned by God to bring about transformation to our nation. That their hearts are soft to Him; their ears are quickened to hear the Voice of Holy Spirit. That they will find counsel from Godly men and women. That they will be obedient and not willing to bathe in the tub of glory that is only be reserved for Him. SELAH.