Renaissance, Revolution, and Reformation

02.03.20

There has been a resounding prophetic song in my spirit for weeks saying,

"Purify, Purify me,

So I can stand in your glory.

Expose my crooked ways,

that I might be made straight."

At the beginning of every new year, I often ask the Lord for clarity about the new season we are walking into. This year, I have heard these three specific terms: Renaissance, Revolution, and Reformation. Immediately upon meditating on them, it brought me back to a distant memory of my high school history class.

If you know anything about these time periods, you know that the Renaissance came about after a long period called “The Dark Ages.” It happened along side two other movements. One called “The Scientific Revolution” and another called “The Reformation.” In the course of a century, the world changed drastically. There were massive advancements on every mountain of influence, including art, music, literature, politics, culture, science and the church! I believe there is an outpouring of a Godly renaissance, a renaissance of righteousness about to take the world by storm. As people learn to live in Holiness, they will step into a greater measure of God’s creativity, wisdom and knowledge in unprecedented ways. The Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10 NKJV) As He renews that reverence in our hearts, it will expand our capacity to receive more of His brilliance and Kingdom mentalities. This will spur on greater movements of salvation and sweep the world with a great wave of both conviction and creativity geared towards finding God-solutions for broken systems.

Though the dark ages were characterized by plagues, war, violence, and moral decay, the renaissance was the dawning of a new era, and an awakening to cultural improvements. It was considered a period of “enlightenment”— A way out of the darkness and into the light! Renaissance means a revival or renewed interest in something. In this historical period, there was a renewed interest in learning and a great value placed on knowledge! But with the great desire to learn, came the spreading of false information and man-made reasoning. There was much deception that captivated Christians and warped their beliefs through flesh-inspired philosophies. False, anti-kingdom mentalities invaded believers and even many churches. In the same way, as there is an increase in Godly wisdom and understanding, there will also be many false beliefs and doctrines spread by the enemy to lure people away from the awe, wonder and magnificence of God’s way! We must be diligent to remain faithful to His ways that we might become beacons and bearers of truth amongst the dark lies.

Recently, I woke up to an inner voice speaking so loudly to me that it sounded audible. The Holy Spirit said, “There’s a coup d'é·tat taking place in the spirit” I opened my Bible to Proverbs 9 and began reading about wisdom and He continued, “Wisdom is overthrowing the spirit of foolishness in this region.” Wisdom is God’s way of thinking. It’s the process by which He applies His perfect knowledge to work all things for our good and for the establishment of His Kingdom (Romans 8:28).

Proverbs 22:12 TPT says, “God passionately watches over his deep reservoir of revelation-knowledge, but he subverts the lies of those who pervert the truth.” There has been a battle of wit taking place in the second Heavens. A spirit of foolishness and pride has tried to “exalt itself above the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5) and wisdom has said, “Enough is enough!” When I looked up the word “Coup d’e tat” it said, “a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government or a notable or successful stroke or move.” Immediately the Lord took me into a vision where I was watching a game of chess, a game that was solely based around strategy and intellect. An ornate looking KING had backed a smaller, less impressive king into a corner. All the other supporting pieces of the lesser king were laying sideways bowed down before the greater King. I heard the Holy Spirit saying “Check Mate” over the idols of foolishness and pride. Checkmate is a declaration of an opponents certain demise! It’s an announcement of victory!

Can you imagine it? The Holy Spirit is declaring checkmate over every spirit that has risen up to accuse and condemn you! There is a strategy of the Spirit being released from Heaven right now. The Holy Spirit has been planning and making moves for such a time as this. It’s a set up! All of the planning is now coming into alignment and quickly we will see an overthrowing of the principalities that have caused delay.

The Lord reminded me of a phrase He once spoke to me, “Move or be removed.” When we refuse to move forward due to human nature, fear, and insecurity, we become a stumbling block and an obstacle for those who are following behind us. God is in the business of removing obstacles for those who are chasing after His will relentlessly. You can either move with Him or refuse to embrace advancement and risk becoming the very obstacle God has to move. Don't get caught standing in the way! The greatest way to received the victory of the Lord, is to bow in humility before Him through a lifestyle of repentance!

"Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:14 ESV

It’s no coincidence that as the Lord has released this message to me, as we were working on the recording of a worship single called “When I Bow.” The chorus to declares,

“I strike the enemy, when I bow down at Your feet.

I find the victory, when I bow down at your feet.

Finally I’m free, when I bow down at your feet.

You abide in me, when I bow down at your feet!”

Revolution means a sudden, radical, or complete change. It’s a necessary change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something. This reminds me of the definition of repentance. The Bible says that we, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:8 NIV) Fruit can only be produced if we live a lifestyle of repentance. This word for repentance in the Greek is “metanoia” meaning to change your mind or turn 180 degrees and go the opposite direction. The word for the phrase “in keeping with” is the Greek is the word “axios” and it means weighing or having weight or value. Our value to the Kingdom is weighed through our ability to keep a repentant heart. The act of repentance is what opens the door for the Holy Spirit to take control. It’s the doorway to a holy dependence on Him like the relationship between a baby and their mother. Matthew 18:3 TPT says, “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in.” The Lord is calling for a REPENTANCE REVOLUTION!

I was praying about hearing the Lord more clearly, and out of the depths of my spirit came a cry of intercession, “Holy Spirit, moderate my inner narrative!”

Moderate means...

To make less violent or intense

To review in relation to an agreed standard so as to ensure consistency of marking

To preside (to be in a position of authority) over

To monitor for offensive or inappropriate content

The Inner narrative can be defined as our internal monologue, or the findings of searching our soul. David said, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24 NIV) When we allow the Holy Spirit to do all of these things in our thought life, His voice begins to ring loud and clear, in and through us! Romans 12:2 TPT says it this way, “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.” You can change your life by simply changing your thinking!

The reformation was a period of time where evil and abuse was being exposed and uncovered in the Church. They began seeking out and implementing new solutions to these matters that had been uncovered. God is in the business of doing this once again, but through the inspiration of His Holy Spirit! I see specifics, strategies and solutions falling from the Heavens. The WISDOM of God is going to overthrow the spirit of foolishness. Proverbs 8:5 TPT says, “Listen to me and you will be prudent and wise. For even the foolish and feeble can receive an understanding heart that will change their inner being.” This period of enlightenment is for EVERYONE! If you need breakthrough, God desires to give it to you, but it must come through humility.

Proverbs 14:34 TPT says, “A nation is exalted by the righteousness of its people, but sin heaps disgrace upon the land.” When I read this scripture I saw a balancing scale with groups of people on each plate. One was labeled righteousness and the other labeled sin. I heard the Lord ask the Nation a question, “Which side of the scale will you find yourself on?” When we live in righteousness through Christ, we become the catalyst for our Nation’s success. We must not only vote righteously, but live righteously! We are the representation of righteous standards in every environment we step into. It is our lifestyle, not our lip service that dethrones principalities in our regions. James 5:16 NIV says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Not all prayers are created equal. It is a righteous lifestyle that has the authority necessary to see powerful and effective prayers manifest!

The beauty of the scale I saw was that though there were few people on the side of righteousness, it was still slightly heavier than the side of sin. Righteousness carries more weight than sin because it carries the authority of Christ. When I asked the Lord for a scripture to back this up, He reminded me of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah! God was willing to spare the entire land from disgrace if Abraham could find only ten righteous people and even when he couldn’t, He still spared the few! The story of Abraham interceding on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah has resonated so deeply with me. It’s taught me that the power of righteousness is far greater than the power of sin and death! Abraham, was able to stand in the gap for these cities, because of the relationship He had with the all-powerful God! Think about this ratio. The population of these cities had to have been vastly greater than the ten people required to bring its salvation!

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20

I saw the vision again, but this time I saw what was causing the righteousness to carry more weight. The Hand of God was tipping the scales in their favor. They had surrendered their weaknesses to Him and were covered in the blood of Christ, and as a result His strength became their strength. Through Him they could carry greater weight and authority than the demonic spirits and principalities that had multitudes bound in sin. This combination of righteousness living and intercession is what will birth reformation in our Nation and in the world! Give yourself to righteousness and intercession and you will become one of the “ten righteous” that shifts the course of our Nation from destruction to deliverance!

“Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, “There is change in the air.” Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me.”

Song of Songs 2:13 TPT