Calling Forth the Sons of Zadok

But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok,
who kept charge of My sanctuary 

when the children of Israel went astray from Me, 

they shall come near Me to minister to Me;"
Ezekiel 44:15

There is a cry rising across the land for authenticity.  The younger generation seems to be leading the charge, though I dare say they are not alone.  Many of us from other generations are raising our voices with them.  And, we are not alone!

There is a call coming out of heaven.  It comes forth as a pure tone, much like a tuning fork, that is sounding forth with the very voice and character of the Godhead, and the honor of heaven's worship.  It is a pure.  It is perfect. It is trustworthy. It is holy and altogether authentic.

For weeks now, the Lord has had me looking at Ezekiel 44 to see the contrast between the priests who have strayed away from the ways of the Lord that He disciplines and limits in their approach into His presence and in their ministry among His people, and the "sons of Zadok priests" who are welcomed into His presence to minister unto the Lord and who are charged with leading God's people. There is much to be unlocked within this passage of Scripture, but for now I simply want to present a simple contrast between the two in order to reveal the sound of "authentic" Spirit-filled lives that both God and many are looking for today

Those who Stray from the Lord	Faithful ones as the Sons of Zadok
False Authority, produces an atmosphere of control and domination	True Authority, releases an atmosphere of liberty and security
False Worship, produces fast spiritual encounters and experiences	True Worship, releases genuine encounters and experiences with the Lord in love
False Anointing, produces "results" (manifestations, numbers, etc)  without lasting and enduring fruit of transformation	True Anointing, releases the grace of the Lord that exalts Christ and bears lasting fruit of transformed lives

Let's all commit to pray and seek the face of the Lord that we might be found to be faithful ones, as the sons of Zadok were, and that a holy remnant of faithful "Zadok" men and women will rise in the land resounding with the authenticity of the Lord.  It is such as these that will release the sound of heaven into the earth by lifting up the Christ in everything that do or say.  It is this pure and holy sound that will awaken the harvest in the land and bring about the lasting and enduring changes that are desperately needed in our day. 

Can you hear the sound of heaven?  

Can you see rising of the Zadoks? 

Can you hear the rumblings of awakening and reformation in our land?  

I believe you can.  Now let's press in, for now is the season and we were born for such a time as this!

What are you hearing?  Let's talk about it!  

Overcoming Spiritual Witchcraft, Part 2

The last several weeks during a weekly class we have been taking a look at "Overcoming Spiritual Witchcraft," and in order to know how to overcome we must first understand what "spiritual witchcraft" is and how it operates.  Our focus has not been on the blatant occultic witchcraft that operates in the realm of the world-at-large, but at the religious-type witchcraft that unfortunately operates within many of today's congregations and ministries.

Some has asked, "why do you call it witchcraft?"  And, the answer is quite simple, actually, and is based out of the Word of God.  Consider these passages, (we will look at other passages in future posts):

1 Samuel 15:23 (New King James Version)

 ²³ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
      And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
      Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
      He also has rejected you from being king.”

This passage provides some foundational understanding for our topic of concern.  Here we clearly see that  "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft."  The word "rebellion" comes from a root word that means "to be contentious, rebellious, refractory, disobedient towards or rebellious against."  Which is, according to this passage, equated to 'divination, witchcraft, the practice of divination or being of "false prophets." Such behavior is completely forbidden/prohibited by the Word of God.

Please take note (and this will become increasingly important as we grow in understanding of spiritual witchcraft) that witchcraft is linked to divination which is "the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means."  It is to "discover by guesswork or intuition, or to have supernatural or magical insight into future events or situations" - by a source other than the Spirit of God. Such discovery or insights are completely forbidden by the Lord and His Word.

For confirmation on this assertion, consider these passages:

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (New International Version)

⁹ When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. ¹⁰ Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in ¹¹ or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. ¹³ You must be blameless before the LORD your God. ¹⁴ The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

Secondly, linked to "spiritual witchcraft" is stubbornness which is as iniquity and idolatry.

Sometimes, we have a tendency to excuse stubbornness as just the way some folks are. . . but God defines it in far different terms.  The Hebrew word for stubbornness is "patsar" (H6484) and means "to press, push, be insolent, display pushing (arrogance, presumption)." Not a very pretty picture, to say the least, and this is equated to iniquity which means trouble, wickedness, sorrow, idolatry, trouble of iniquity, wickedness (from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain.  And if that is not bad enough. Stubbornness is equated to idolatry, which reveals the worship or practice of idolatry, idols, and often points to "family idol - a kind of idol used in household shrine or worship."

In both scenarios of rebellion-witchcraft, and stubbornness- iniquity and idolatry, there appears to be a link to determining to do things our own way, apart from submission to God or His delegated authorities, and to dangers connected to generational patterns that pass down through family lines.  Certainly these things can manifest in the realm of clear expressions of blatant witchcraft as seen in the occultic religious practices (i.e. Wiccan, Satanism, various forms of paganism, etc.).  However, for our purposes, we need to expand our understanding to see that these can easily operate within the church when we lean into forms, lifeless traditions, and activities that "look good" but come out of an attitude or heart that is not truly seeking the Lord, but going through the motions out of religious obligation, or of willful disobedience, self-will, stiff-necked stubbornness, or other forms of hidden rebellious attitudes and actions. Unfortunately, it is fairly easy to learn how to "look good" on the outside while concealing heart attitudes that are far from God.

While these things do not automatically equate to operating in spiritual witchcraft (it may simply be immaturity or ignorance), it certainly does throw up some serious warning signs that need to be addressed by repentance and humble submission to the Lord. Therefore, it is important that we remember the words of

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 (New King James Version)

¹¹ Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

For our discussions, let's consider this:

When we replace obedience to the Voice of the Lord, His Word both Logos and Rhema, with religious practices and forms of worship, and justify our actions of disobedience, for any reason, we open ourselves up to the powers of darkness operating in and through our lives as witchcraft, iniquity, and idolatry.

Through these blogs, please know that it is my utmost desire that we all come into greater measures of freedom from the snares of the enemy so that we might be effective vessels in the hand of the Lord to advance His Kingdom and push back the forces of darkness.

Let's discuss so that we might all come to greater measures of freedom in the Lord as instruments of His grace and power in the world today.

Many Blessings!

Jacquie