Nov 30, 2002

I had a vision where I was sitting on a lion which had a crown on it's head. I was dressed in World War 1 battle dress - a tin hat and camouflage clothes and wearing a gas mask. "Why do I need a gas mask?" I asked the Lord in the vision. He replied, "Because this is not a battle to be fought with swords and guns. This is chemical warfare. Your enemy is subtle."

Then I saw another lion behind me with a soldier dressed the same. The soldier represents other Christians standing in the battle. Behind was an angel riding on a lion and more angels following on lions. "You are not in this battle on your own. You have angels on your side. As you blow the Shofar (Ram's Horn), you release angels into the battle", the Lord said.

Then as we rode, I saw a black lion advance against us. As we engaged, I threw a bomb at it. I continued to throw more bombs. One had the name 'WORSHIP' written on it, another 'PRAYER', the third 'FASTING'. "These are the weapons of your warfare. These are stink bombs!", the Lord said. I was puzzled by the term 'stink bombs'. The next day I was praying and I felt the Lord lead me to 2 Corinthians 2 verses 14 - 16:

'But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.'

This is what he meant by chemical warfare. Satan hates worship, prayer and fasting because they are so powerful in dismantling the strongholds he has established in this world. They are literally a stench in his nostrils, like the phrase 'it stinks!' when we talk about something we find objectionable. Note also that it is Jesus, as the Lion, that is leading this procession of soldiers and angels. As I threw these bombs I saw the lion turn and flee.

I feel that God is urging me to call the Church to get a hold of the importance and necessity of a life of prayer, worship and fasting and also to see that because Satan hates these things so much he has a strategy to stop every effort to establish houses and lifestyles of prayer, worship and fasting. Therefore, we should not be surprised if we find it difficult at times to pray, worship and fast. We need to stand together and pray for one another in the fight. We can't do this on our own. We need to stand together in accountable relationships, submitting to one another in love.

There is also significance in that these 3 weapons were used together. The Lord says that the Church needs to see afresh the importance of using them together rather than in isolation. There is coming an increasing shift in emphasis in corporate meetings away from compartmentalizing them to integrating them. Then there is more power released. I feel the Lord urging his Bride to stop saying, "I'm a worshipper, you're an intercessor" as if one was better than the other. And there is coming a new emphasis on the musician as intercessor operating under a prophetic anointing to set captives free as they play their instruments, these instruments becoming 'wordless prayers' under the operation of the power of the Spirit.