Pastor Steven Watkins & JP Grier
Wind River Reservation August 2020

TAKING AUTHORITY

One might wonder how we got to the point of making the decision to post on Facebook the recent declaration, COVID = FEAR, JESUS = HOPE.  About a week and a half ago while driving to do an errand it was only all to clear the spirit of anti-christ and oppression was rising and taking its toll on our local community much less our country.  While driving to the post office recently, I saw a young man in his mid-twenties, late morning babbling to himself while walking down the street dressed like a Harry Potter witch. He was oblivious to those around him with a ridiculous grin on his face that was clearly demonic.  (I blessed him from my car) standard practice, and continued to the post office. Upon arriving, I went inside only to have a postal clerk interact with me for about 10 minutes in the dismissing manner!  This man was angry and sullen and all through our interactions he never once looked at my eyes but instead looked just to the right or left of my head to avoid the face.  I’ve learned enough to recognize a demon when I see it in someone  This clerk was controlled by a demon and while there was no one in the post office, he kept making me go back and forth from the service counter to the forms counter to repeatedly fill out a form he had decided was going to be a point of power between us that bordered on the bizarre!  The hostility coming off the man was stifling! After the third trip back and forth I smiled and knew what was occurring in the spiritual realm…. attack. I got the form, filled it out, and left the post office.  What was going on? Why was it escalating?

When I left the post office, I was resolute to do something the Lord put on my heart a week prior which was to post an order for T-shirts with the slogan on it Covid = Fear, Jesus = Hope.  I walked into the printer shop whom I knew from our previous SFC T-shirt runs and told Sandy what I had in mind.  She immediately said excitedly “she wanted to design it.”  I was truly appreciative as had no idea what it was supposed to look like.  I just knew it was time to declare in a different way… aggressively. Like so many people, who are frustrated with what is occurring with the unrest and unraveling occurring across the planet, Sandy was looking for a way to express her voice.

That declaration Covid = Fear, Jesus = Hope was launched on the SFC Face Book page July 24, and has generated the most shares, (83 currently) and close to 4,500 hundred reactions, 97% favorable.  It has also drawn more fire from Muslims, from Hindus and Atheists than any vpod to date. Why?   Previously all of our vpod’s and Blogs has been almost never opposed.  This opposition provides opportunity (when the response is not over the top) to proclaim Jesus as Lord over the planet.  Around 20 people a day are sending us questions about Jesus, about faith, about prayer and for the most part are genuinely seeking hope in the midst of the anti-christ spirit over the planet.  What surprised me the most was the numbers of Hindus advocating for Shiva, the Hindu God which means “Destroyer.”  I’ll talk a little more about this in a separate release.

When Covid first arrived, it was clear in the realm of the spirit a great spirit of fear was being released over the planet. This was “Phase One” of whats occurring now. Prophetical names we know well such as Rebecca Greenwood, Chuck Pierce and Dutch Sheets were seeing in the realm of the spirit the “Dragon” unleashing Covid on a vulnerable world. What’s the one thing a dragon brings with it besides destruction…  Fear.

SECOND PHASE: INTIMIDATION

I was given a rather unusual (even for myself) glimpse during this time, into what was occurring during the social unrest over the last couple months with the worldwide protest.  While working with an individual going through the process of deliverance the Lord let me know in no uncertain terms at the beginning of the riots surrounding the tragic death of George Floyd, a second spirit had been released over the world which was the spirit of “Goliath.”  Goliath if you remember held an entire army at bay, paralyzed in fact.

One man does not hold an entire army in a grip of fear.  But a principality can.  The riots over the last several weeks were irrational, uncommonly violent, and represented a demonic spirit.  The push back in the spiritual realm and even personally over the released word of Covid = Fear, Jesus = Hope was severe to our ministry because the “word release” was hitting it’s target in the spiritual realm.  Jesus and who he is… by release of truth… uncovers the plans of the enemy!   Every time someone clicked on the link and agreed with the truth statement the agreement in prayer got even more powerful!

THIRD PHASE: CONTROL

It was again during this time in a deliverance the Spirit gave sight to the spirit being released as a third wave assault on earth. Leviathan. The combination of worldwide governmental response to Covid and the riots saw something else appearing in the spiritual realm which was an anti-christ control spirit sent to neuter the church by silencing it.  Churches have been forced to close their doors, told they couldn’t sing and prohibited from assembling.  Secular governments shut borders, and sporadically controlled their populations against a disease which has less than half the annual mortality rate of tuberculosis which has been around much longer.  This reaction is not the reaction of a rationale society.  What has been produced is irrational fear and real uncertainty which has opened the door to a spirit of control or “Leviathan” to emerge and attempt to establish a worldwide system of authority using the Covid pandemic as its catalyst.  Snakes do what snakes do, which is, they control their victim and crush its opposition before devouring it.  This is a rather apt picture of what is going on now with the power dynamics taking place across the globe between political enemies.

HOW DO WE THE BRIDE RESPOND?

We declare and pray.  A true declaration is really a prayer form that is aligning with and declaring what already is a truth principle and the intent of God the Father.  The enemy kingdom hates these declarations because when God’s people exercise their authority through their commander the Son of God, and declare and pray, they practice warfare in the spirit realm or the “taking down of strongholds” 2nd Corinthians 10:4  The results of this warfare can also be seen in the material realm as part of its result.  People get healed of Covid, (we’ve seen many to date through international prayer efforts),  communities receive peace and begin experiencing restoration, people are eager and desirous to receive Jesus as savoir.   We pray for the right things though, not our political agenda, but that the leaders God has put in charge are given his wisdom and that the people being subjected to fear are protected and their eyes opened to truth. And we declare against the enemy’s kingdom as a defeated kingdom on borrowed time. We declare Jesus is King, God is supreme, and fear does not prevail!  Keep on declaring church Jesus = Hope!  We have been given “authority to tread on the scorpions and snakes” (Luke 10:19).  We are the watchmen and women on the wall sent to protect the world and set the narrative to God’s plan in the name of Jesus our King.  Let’s continue to do so and not grow weary!   What an amazing time we live in!

Be still….and know that I am God…. (Psalm 46: 10)

I would like to invite you as many of you follow Sentinel For Christ from all over the world and some of you are new, to take a breath. Chaos is not in control.  The God of the universe is in control.  He is the one who loves us from all nations and peoples. Even if it was just you or me on planet earth, I believe He would have sent Jesus for us.

God’s love and concern over us is a truth principle embedded into the fabric of the heavens and the universe; even the ground of our planet that if you believe it, it has great power to meet us with whatever is confronting us. Right now, there is a supernatural attempt to saturate the world with fear and hopelessness.  It’s trying to root itself in communities and nations to cause disorder and unbelief.  God is in control and the enemy of men and women, satan, will not prevail.

Right now, let’s proclaim something clear. I want you to speak it as you read it where you are. Jesus is King, not a virus, not chaos, and not division.  Jesus is also King over all governments, nations and peoples.  I know as I’ve been around long enough as some of you spoke those words the power of God was felt within you in a way that immediately changed the atmosphere around you. You actually felt it. Christian or just someone seeking after God.

It’s been a long time since the world was facing a crisis that put people on edge and caused this type of concern and worry.  We are seeing just how fragile and vulnerable our society; our nations and our planet really is.  Last week while purchasing groceries before all the lockdowns and restrictions were in place, I could feel the profound anxiety surrounding me. The elevated level of fear amongst the people in my immediate vicinity was shocking.  I prayed quietly for all of them and myself, “Lord break this atmosphere which hangs over the planet right now.”

Psalm 46 is a prayer for the world right now. It gives us appreciation that all generations face times of uncertainty or “seasons” when it feels like the wheels are coming off everything.

Notice the circumstances reflected in this short little Psalm.  Its brief but powerful in its implications

“GOD is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1-3)

That’s a picture of a unstable earth where uncertainty prevails and even the security of what seems unmovable is toppled.  But notice even in this circumstance God, “is a refuge and strength.”  Right now, in your country, your home, or your circumstance, God is a refuge for you.

God is not far from anyone one of us regardless of where we live or what surrounds us. This Psalm’s promise is “He’s a place we can go.”  That’s what a refuge is.  It’s safe.  He a source of strength.  Many need His strength right as their strength has been far overwhelmed.  God waits to give His strength to those who ask.  Because this is a promise of God it reflects an reliable aspect of who He is right now, not back in history but now in our present circumstance. The amazing fruit of believing this promise is:

Fear, anxiety, even dread can be managed.  Even wiped out.

“THERE is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Highest dwells. God is within her; she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.  Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:4-7)

It’s the river aspect of this Psalm I wanted to highlight. At first it puzzled me.  Water of many types, oceans and rivers are used in the scriptures of the Bible to say something about God and particularly how He interacts with people. This “river” mentioned in Psalm 46 is no exception.

The river is a picture of the favor of God.  Its not a picture of a raging torrent but a supplier of life-giving pouring favor (kindness) from God over the earth by the vehicles of streams which branch off of the main artery.  Just like a naturally occurring river runs it course over the ground, and divides into smaller streams which water the area providing life to the earth, the river of God waters the earth with His favor. In this Psalm the portrait is God’s abundant favor to the earth flowing over it to reach the people he loves, everyone.   The writer of this Psalm thought it so important in the midst of raging uncertainly to point this out.  This river which reaches out to the world makes the very City of God glad, the place where He dwells.

How could it possibly accomplish that you might wonder?  Because the effect of the water pictured here is God’s favor which will have its intended effect on the people God desires passionately to bless.  All we have to do is ask and receive it.

God’s heart is glad when reconciliation and restoration take place between His people and all of us, even if we don’t feel like we know Him that well, we still are His people.  We may feel forgotten but we’re not forgotten.  As you read this you are not forgotten by God.  In fact, it’s quite the opposite you are loved deeply and desperately by Him.

“For God so loved the world (men and women) that He gave his only Son that whoever would believe in Him would not die but have everlasting life.”   (John 3:16) God the Father in Jesus invested a long time ago in the world when he committed His Son Jesus to rescue the earth through the cross. 

COME and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth.  He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. (Psalm 46:8-9) 

What does it mean for God to bring a desolation on the earth. The “desolations” here are in the context of the wars referred in verses 8 & 9.  God will put all chaos and war to an end.   There is spiritual war occurring in the heavens and earth and wars amongst nations. God, however will end all of them.  Why do these things occur in the first place?  The truth is desolations don’t have to come.  They occur when we get to far from the river.  In the same way a city won’t thrive without water, if we run to far from the favor of God’s toward us, we can find ourselves in a desert, either physically or spiritually.   Even the busiest among us can be profoundly isolated in life.  God’s antidote is to be connected to this life-giving favor and kindness offered by Him. It doesn’t take a tragedy or a pandemic to cause it, but adversarial times certainly have the ability to reveal it.   

Notice one more aspect of a river.  Smaller streams flow towards a greater river.  Many of us may be coming into contact with God now feeling like we have little or no knowledge about Him, about religion, about church and how to have a relationship with God.  I know many have the impression of God on their hearts right now as the world feels completely unsettled.  One voice we might be hearing is loaded with fear, even frustration as fear and anger are common partners.  This is not the voice of God’s favor.  We want to be sensitive That God desires to comfort us in this midst of what is occurring.  This is how God’s voice speaks.  God’s voice is never detached from the circumstances that surround us. This is why so many of us fail to recognize it.  We think if God would speak to us it would be recognizable like human communication.  But the Bible tells us “God is Spirit, and those who reach for Him and seek to have relationship with Him must come through spirit.” God is speaking to the world now through His voice which is a desire for comfort.  This voice of comfort is like that smaller stream which we stumble upon that provides life and leads to even greater life, the greater river referred to in this Psalm. He is already communicating to people encouraging them to reach out for Him as he will provide.

Why not tell God right now, if this is speaking to your spirit “I hear you Lord.”  “I receive your comfort.”

Now let me share how beautiful, how personal this river truly is.

“On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ (John 7:37-38) 

Jesus was referring to the Spirit of God.  The Spirit of God is the very personality or you might say the “being” of God Himself. The God of refuge of Psalm 46; is Spirit and desires to be experienced and living through a human being who thirst for Him. This living water Jesus was referring to reflects the gift of intimacy of this possible relationship.  The “rivers” in Jesus words are metaphor for God’s Spirit living in those who thirst for him.  The river of God, His presence, His favor and comfort are found in the Spirit of God which can live in us.

And all it takes is a thirsting for Him to receive this.

Consider what a thirst means. It’s not anything intellectual or emotional other than a real need for something that provides life. In this case water.  But the life-giving water God offers through His Son Jesus is much more than physical water.  Its spiritual life that comforts, and soothes and provides purpose and resilience even in the midst of uncertainty and surges up into something more than “life as we know it.” It becomes eternal life.

When men and women reach out to God, this transformation can occur. When they “thirst” for Him and acknowledge Him (which is a form of self-surrender) and simply ask for Him; He reveals Himself in the face of His Son Jesus.  God does not withhold life to those who seek Him.  Then what was an encounter at a small stream of God’s presence.  His grace leads to a river of favor which becomes eternal life, complete, abundant.  When this occurs the truth of the Psalms final declaration become an amazing reality for those who surrender to Him: 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:10-11) 

God is waiting for the world to ask for help.  He’s also waiting on those who know Him to walk like they do.

When things get tough in the world its remarkable just how quickly God is held high and exalted.  God is exalted because He never left.  He’s always been there.  It’s just people tend to find Him easier when things feel desperate.  The beauty of God and His love is He’s not far from anyone.  I find great comfort in that.  He has an invitation now for each and every one of us:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

God and His Son Jesus have the world in control.  They are not going to give something ibroken to us.  Jesus made that clear when he said:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Reach out and ask God for the peace needed in your circumstance right now.  Its there for the asking if you want it.

J.P. Grier

M.S. Counseling M.C.M. Pastoral Counseling

JP Grier is the founder and contributing writer at SentinelforChrist.com – A network of Christians helping each other to press deeper in Christ.  You can reach JP at: sentinelforchrist@sentinelforchrist.com