Intro from Jane Hamon: It's such an honor to fill in for my dear friend, Dutch Sheets, on Give Him 15. This has become a vehicle for discipling a nation, and has had a powerful impact on the lives of millions of Believers. Bless you, Dutch and Ceci, as you get some well-deserved rest.
The Thieves
Jane says: Tom and I were recently on vacation in the south of France. We were wandering around a farmer's market, going from stall to stall of fruits, veggies and flowers. I had on a cross-body purse which I kept a firm hand on; however, for a moment, I became distracted and reached for one of the products on display. Suddenly, someone brushed up against me, and I felt my purse being unzipped. I quickly grabbed my purse and looked around. Two women were walking close beside me, acting like nothing had happened. Before I knew it, a very large man came up behind these women and started screaming. He hit one woman in the head, and the women took off running. The man ran after them, screaming at them in French, obviously confronting them for trying to pick my pocket. The thieves got away but were unsuccessful in taking my money from me.
How many times has the enemy picked our pockets and stolen from us while we have been distracted by things going on around us? Jesus warned us in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Clearly, a thief is prowling around seeking to steal our finances, our health, our families, our peace and our divine purpose. He seeks to kill our hopes and dreams. He is determined to destroy the destiny of nations and generations.
A Call to Arms
As I prayed about this, I heard the Lord say, "The thieves did not succeed with you, nor will they succeed with My discerning Ekklesia. Like the man that pursued the thieves, I am issuing a call to arms for My people to discern the spirit of robbery and, like David at Ziklag, to pursue, overtake and recover all. It's time for My people to rise up and fight for their families and their land."
To define "call to arms," it means a call "to engage in active hostilities," to "prepare for confrontation"; "a demand for a group of people to fight against an enemy"; "a command to report for active military duty"; "an appeal to fight or engage in a conflict"; "a battle cry."
This is not a time to be passive spectators but active participators in the spiritual battle for our nation. There's an army rising up! (Photo via Pixabay)
Facing Off Against the Devourer and the Destroyer
Several years ago, I had a vision of a boxing ring. Inside the ring were two demonic spirits named the "Devourer" and the "Destroyer." They were not fighting each other, but rather were dancing around the ring, yelling at the assembled crowd and looking for an opponent. It was much like how Goliath mocked and taunted Israel, saying, "Who is going to fight me?" (see 1 Samuel 17:8-10). These demons were jeering at the crowd of people, mocking them and their Christ, and daring someone to step into the ring with them.
As I looked at the crowd, I knew most of the people were strong Believers and leaders who seemed mesmerized by what was being said. No one moved. No one stepped up. This seemed unusual because these people were real fighters who never backed down when the enemy was present. What was going on? As I watched, I thought, "Why doesn't someone get in the ring and knock their heads off and make them be quiet?" Then I saw the reason.
When boxers get in the ring, they often wear robes on their shoulders with their names written on the back. These demons had robes draped across their shoulders; however, rather than their names, these words were written: "This is just life."
I heard the voice of the Lord say, "Tell the people: No! This is not just life! It's not 'just life' that My people struggle financially during a bad economy. It's not 'just life' when your children go into rebellion when they go to college. It's not 'just life' when you get older, your body breaks down and you become vulnerable to sickness and disease. It is not 'just life' that your nation is being swallowed up by wrong ideologies. These are the works of the Devourer and the Destroyer. Rise up and fight back in the spirit, and recover all they have stolen."
It's Time to Catch the Thief and Make Your Appeal to the King!
Now is the time to catch the thief and take back all he has taken from us! Lives are at stake. Nations hang in the balance, waiting for the people of God to rise up and fight back through prayers, decrees and prophetic acts.
We see a biblical depiction of this in 2 Kings 8:1-6, in the story of the Shunammite woman recovering her house and her land. This is the same woman who received a miracle through the words of the prophet, Elisha, and bore a son after many years of barrenness (see 2 Kings 4:8-17).
Years later, when the boy was a teen, he fell over dead. This woman, full of faith, cried out to the prophet, made an appeal and saw her son raised from the dead (see 2 Kings 4:32-37).
Several chapters later, the prophet told the woman there would be a drought in the land and to take her son and go live elsewhere for a few years. She was gone seven full years, during which time someone else moved into her house and took possession of her land. To be clear, it belonged to her. She obeyed the prophet. But the robber saw an opportunity and took it. She could have just said, "Oh well, this is life! After all, I was gone for seven years. I understand how that can happen." No! She did not accept the "this is just life" lie. She didn't accept it when her son dropped dead years before, and she wouldn't accept it now. (Photo via Picryl)
2 Kings 8, verses 3 and 6, tells us what happened next: "It came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and her land... So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, 'Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.'"
Notice she made an appeal for both her house and her land. This is the position of the Ekklesia today. We need to contend for our own "house": our families, finances, health, etc. But we also need to contend for our land, our territory and our nation. It's not an either/or situation; it is both/and. We need to rise up and boldly come before the throne of grace to make our appeal to the King, an appeal to Heaven for full recovery. We must open our mouths to pray, decree and prophesy.
The king's decree was to restore all. The Shunammite was not just going to get her house and land back; she was to receive a full recovery—sevenfold—of all that should have been hers from the time she left the land until that day. To ensure she got back everything, the king appointed a certain officer to assist her and enforce the restoration. This is the picture of God sending angelic hosts from His throne to war for our families, the Church and our nation.
Pray with Me
Lord, give me eyes to see everything the thief has stolen from me, my family and my nation. I repent of the "this is just life" passivity and commit to answering Your call to arms. I will pursue, overtake and recover all the thief has robbed from me, my house and my land, in Jesus' name.
Our decree: I decree angels are being sent to bring a sevenfold restoration of all that has been stolen. Prodigals are coming home, property is being restored, and America will recover her destiny and once again be a shining light to the nations.
(Today's post was contributed by Dr. Jane Hamon. Jane is a gifted teacher and storyteller, and has written five insightful books, including Discernment: An Essential Guide to Hearing the Voice of God. You can find out more about Jane at www.tomandjanehamon.com. To watch this full word, click here.)
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Jane Hamon
Vision Church @ Christian International
Email:Â click here
Website:Â www.visionchurchci.org
Tom and Jane Hamon are the senior pastors of Vision Church @ Christian International in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Their ministry together is an example to the Body of Christ of a husband and wife team working in tandem and unity to accomplish God's purposes. Their ministry is characterized by a rich deposit of God's wisdom to provide apostolic covering for the Church, prophetic teaching and ministry, and demonstration of Kingdom anointing and power. They travel as an apostolic/prophetic team to the nations, imparting both the spirit of wisdom and revelation to establish the Church and break open territories through spiritual warfare for the Kingdom of God to be experienced in a powerful and practical way. Jane has also written several books, including her very practical work on Dreams and Visions, her call to marketplace ministers called The Cyrus Decree, and her proclamation over women in the Church to arise and be The Deborah Company.
Dutch Sheets
Dutch Sheets Ministries
Email:Â click here
Website:Â dutchsheets.org
Dutch Sheets is an internationally recognized author, gifted teacher, and conference speaker. He travels extensively, challenging believers for passionate prayer and societal reformation. Seeing America experience a sweeping revival and return to its Godly heritage is Dutch's greatest passion. Dutch has written over 23 books, many of which have been translated into over 30 languages. His international bestseller, Intercessory Prayer, has sold over 1 million copies worldwide. Dutch has pastored, taught in several colleges and seminaries, and served on the board of directors of numerous organizations. He is fondly known to many as Papa Dutch. Treasuring time spent with their family and grandchildren. Dutch and Ceci, his wife of 40 plus years, enjoy quiet walks in the woods, reading, and playing a little golf. They make their home in beautiful South Carolina.
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Article posted on June 5, 2023: 
