October 29, 2012 – Allen and Diane Lake
A Call to Intercession
Several years ago, I had a vision. It actually started with a dream in which the Lord showed me a visual representation of some of the generational issues I still struggled with at that time. The dream was set in the basement of my childhood home and showed members of my family experiencing obvious demonic manifestations. I understood the name of Jesus had the power to break what I witnessed, so in this dream I kept flicking a light switch on the wall on and off, on and off, while repeating Jesus’ name. The light failed to come on, but I knew the key was the power of Jesus’ name.
I was still flipping the light switch on and off in my dream when I woke up. As I did, I heard the Lord say, “The key is to press in for your city and your nation.”
That certainly got my attention. By then fully awake but puzzled, I asked the Lord, “What was that again?” I lay there pondering the dream and what seemed to be an obvious reference to my earlier prayers asking the Lord to free me from lingering generational issues. And quietly, I heard the Lord speak again. He said, “As you press in for your city and your nation, I will forgive your sins.” And then I had the vision.
I saw the throne room of God and Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father. And I heard a voice say, “Consider the high price that was paid, that Someone might live to intercede for you day and night from the throne.”
As you would guess, my intercessory prayer life has never been the same. Jesus gave His very life to intercede eternally for me (Rom. 8:34), and I knew He was asking me to step up my prayer life in light of His example.
I am now finally free of the generationally rooted migraine headaches that were behind my original petitions to God. My experience was when I received this impartation, took my eyes off of my own problems and myself, I was, in time, healed. Could Jesus be asking you to broaden your focus by spending more time in intercession for your city, your state, and your nation?
Christ Is Waiting Until
For many years, I thought Jesus could come at any moment. Many churches and denominations teach that we are only waiting for Christ’s return because He wants to give us more time so that more people can be saved to be with Him in heaven.
Logically, something is wrong with this picture because historically only 10-15% of the total population (perhaps 20% at most) comes to the saving knowledge of Christ. (1) So the longer He waits, the more people go to hell.
And scripturally, something is wrong with this picture as well. Acts 3:21 states that Jesus is being held in heaven until the restoration of all things. When the final thing is restored according to God’s divine plan of restoration, then Jesus will return. Jesus longs to come back. I saw this in a vision one time – Jesus pining, longing, aching to come back for His church – but He cannot do so until His bride makes herself ready. (Eph. 5:27; Rev. 19:7)
The prophets have declared that the third and final church reformation has begun. Birthed in 2008, it will reach completion with the fulfillment of Revelation 11:15, when all the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.
It is the prophets who hear the purposes of God for a particular time and season. (Amos 3:7, Rev. 19:10b) Together with the apostles, they are the foundation for the church which Christ Himself is building. (Matt. 16:18, Eph. 2:20, 3:5) Symbolically, the third reformation begins with the mysteries revealed to the prophets (Rev. 10:7) and finishes with Revelation 11:15 when the mountain of the Lord is established on top of the other mountains. (Isa. 2:2) We cannot transform the cultural mountains represented in this mandate unless the bride of Christ recognizes her mission.
Like Paul, we want to remain expectant that the Lord will return at any time. (1 Thes. 4:17) But like Peter, we must recognize that God wants us to engage. (2 Pet. 3:12) We must both look for and hasten the day of the Lord. A mystery, for sure, but one we must grab hold of!
All Things Shall Be Put Under His Feet
In every move of God, several scriptures are brought to light as significant and relevant for the time. In this third and final reformation, there is an emphasis on Hebrews 10:13. Verses 12 and 13 say:
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.”
According to scripture, Christ finished His work on the cross (John 17:4) and is now sitting at the right hand of God. (Eph. 1:20, Heb. 10:12) By divine proclamation, all things have been put under Christ’s feet. (Eph. 1:22) But like much of what is spiritually decreed, the kingdom of darkness doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo! It will take a body of Believers—moving in unity, willing to declare His purposes, rising up in power and anointing and using their delegated authority to execute God’s judgments and implement His divine purposes and plans!
Let me say it again. He is waiting for a body of Believers who will rise up in power and authority to implement His plans. (Matt. 11:12) How can we know His plans? As individuals, we can all hear His voice (John 10:4), but as a body, we must also listen to the company of prophets. If we sit back, focus on ourselves, and simply wait for His coming, it is likely that we will not see it in our lifetime. Someone must be that generation that hears His voice and prepares the way. Let’s be that generation that prepares the way and sees the fulfillment of the Revelation 11:15 transition to His coming!
What can I do?
1. Participate in the upcoming Bridal Canopy Initiative on Oct. 31! If you are in Montana, please contact us through the information on the State webpage; we need your help in covering the State corners! In whatever state you happen to live, please take this opportunity to be part of a prophetic prayer and worship event that is sure to change the atmosphere over the nation!
2. Seek the Lord for strategy. This is a Jeremiah 33:3 season. Not only do we need to seek the Lord for strategy and vision, we need to do it now. I personally recently experienced an angelic encounter in which it was spoken that the next seven months are critical to receiving this impartation.
3. Pray and declare the victory. We are seated at the right hand of God in Christ (Eph. 2:6), but we can only see this victory if we have set our minds on Christ. (Col. 3:1, 2)
4. If you are not plugged into a prophetic company, it would be a good idea to do so. USRPN is one obvious resource, but many reputable and established prophetic streams exist and can be easily accessed through technology. Relationship with a local body or church is essential, but if we are not connected in some way with the prophetic voices for our time, some of what God is doing in this season is going to pass us by.
5. Finally, pray for the nation. Like never before, God is looking for a generation who will hear His voice and prepare the way for His coming. (Isa. 40:3) It’s time to “look up,” for the time of our redemption draws nigh! (Luke 21:28)
Sources
1. Bishop Bill Hamon; Christian International Ministries, IGAP 2012.
Diane is a writer, speaker and minister ordained with both Christian International and Generals International. Her articles are regularly featured on The Elijah List, as well as platforms like Charisma Magazine, Charisma News, Intercessors For America and others. She and her husband, Allen, co-founded Starfire Ministries with a vision to see the kingdom established beyond the four walls of the traditional church. They host a podcast with Charisma Podcast Network, and serve as Church Mountain, Regional, and Montana Coordinators for the Reformation Prayer Network, and as Media Mountain Leader/Facilitators for C.I.’s Culture Influencers.
