Preachers Are Not Enough to Defeat the Spirit of Antichrist During These Last Days
Jesus said: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matt. 4:4 NKJV). Notice that Jesus did not say, “Christians shall not live by bread alone”; He said “man.” The Word of God applies to all people and all areas of life. It is the hour when believers need to hear and speak the counsel of God into every sphere. There is a fresh Word proceeding out of God’s mouth to your ear—can you hear it? Everything changes the moment you do.
I first learned about hearing God and distinguishing His inward voice, rhema, and His Word in Scripture, Logos, from Kenneth Hagin and Derek Prince. That was over 20 years ago. It makes sense that a fresh perspective would emerge in this strategic hour when so many conflicting ideas and opinions are being broadcast 24/7. Anyone with discernment can see that the collision of spiritual realms has heated up in a cosmic war of words.The spirit of antichrist is described by Daniel as a “little horn” with a large and dangerous mouth: “This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully” (Dan. 7:8 NIV). The last days will be characterized by the clashing of swords in the mouths of messengers. In each sphere or realm in conflict—political, cultural, or religious—the battle in the heavens will be fought through competing narratives and voices.Nothing could be more important than the practice of hearing and speaking what the Lord is actually saying. That is the reason I am excited about Redefining Rhema. In this unique book, Dr. Ed Delph and David Lake have combined forces, and thus synergized their research and anointing to produce something fresh. Ed is undeniably a spokesman for releasing Kingdom transformation in culture, while David brings a fresh prophetic edge to the message.
Nothing could be more important than the practice of hearing and speaking what the Lord is actually saying.
Redefining Rhema is a vital message because societal reformation can only be released to the degree that the church exits its own mountain and engages every other mountain of society. For Kingdom transformation to take place on a cultural level, the church mountain needs to stop trying to replicate preachers to expand the church mountain and, instead, start sending men and women with the mind of Christ into the mountains of culture that are presently under the influence of false messages and demonized messengers. We need a few more anointed educators, school administrators, journalists, filmmakers, mayors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs and fewer Sunday sermon critics.Words are being released into the earth; there’s no doubt that an army of unsuspecting Millennials are drinking it all in. What’s going to cut through the strategies of darkness? Laborers who wield the sword of the Lord in their respective mountains of influence. This sword is God’s rhema. I believe a defining hallmark of these laborers will be this: they will know how to hear and speak the utterance proceeding out of the mouth of God. Their words will stick fast in the minds and hearts of those who hear them. They will be Heaven’s apologists, and when the enemy tries to hem them in, Jesus will show up through them: “For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict” (Luke 21:15 NIV).
What’s going to cut through the strategies of darkness? Laborers who wield the sword of the Lord in their respective mountains of influence. This sword is God’s rhema.
So I invite you to consider where you are right now. Consider your sphere of influence. Consider your present assignment. Celebrate it, because this is where God wants to designate you as a mouthpiece, a catalyst of transformation. Preachers have their place, but their calling is not superior to yours. In the same manner the preacher releases words that are Spirit and life (John 6:63) from a pulpit, you will find your words just as powerful in the marketplace sanctuary where God has placed you. Ed Delph and David Lake have delivered a work that will position you to hear words from Heaven and release the transformation strategies of the Kingdom into whatever sphere you are called to in this season.