Day 47 — Israel in Crisis
It's a very rare thing for me to write out my comments before I speak. I use notes to trigger my memory and keep me focused, but I never write out my entire talk. However, in London the other day, they were very concerned about time, as there were a dozen speakers and then a curfew. I had 4 minutes. So, I wrote down every single word. When I got to the end of my message, I could not tell you why, but instead of saying bring them home, which is the primary mantra that we all have been using, I felt in my spirit to speak directly to Hamas.
I remember being a little bit nervous as I wrote those words. To be clear, I wasn't speaking to the people of Hamas but the demonic powers behind Hamas. That's what gave me pause. Little ole’ me does not want to pick a fight with a massive principality. But I felt that with 10,000 other people with me, we could make an impact. These were the final words of my speech:
“We speak to Hamas and say in the spirit, ‘Let God’s people go!’”
Of course, I was thinking of Moses. He did not use a catchphrase. I love the phrase bring them home—NOW!), but it’s a little bit nebulous. Who are we asking to bring them home? Hamas? The soldiers? The politicians? As believers, we know that the battle is in the spirit. I felt we should speak to the spirit behind this demonic entity known as Hamas.
If I'm honest, I didn't think much of it. I mean, I did... I felt led by the Holy Spirit to speak those words... But I wasn't expecting the next day to start hearing about a hostage release. But why not? After praying and abstaining from certain foods for three weeks, Daniel saw a breakthrough with the Archangel Michael as he defeated the Prince of Persia, a demonic power similar to the one behind Hamas. In fact, it’s most likely the same one, as Hamas is governed by Iran, which is ancient Persia.
I did not want to write this e-mail because it would look like I was trying to take credit or draw attention to myself. That is not my goal. And if we really did have some effect on Sunday night when we spoke those words, to God be 100% of the glory. The glory of man is absolutely worthless.
My goal in writing this is because maybe this is a key to how we should pray. What if every believer were speaking those words in the spirit to the demonic powers and proclaiming, “Let God's people go!” If I had the budget, we’d print T-shirts and bracelets. But there's no time. Instead, let's all agree in prayer together for the demonic powers to let God's people go.
Will you pray with me? Can we agree together? I know the enemy is not powerless, and I don't confront him lightly. I do so with the fear of the Lord, understanding my own weakness. I don't want to put a target on my own soul. But our lives belong to God.
Now is the time to take our stand in the spirit and declare, “Let God's people go!”
Daniel understood that his fight was not in this visible world but in the spirit—what Dr. Michael Heiser called the unseen realm. That is where the battle is. Paul echoes this in Ephesians 6:
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (v. 11-12).
It's easy to feel hopeless. Particularly when you are so far away from the conflict. But we have power through prayer.
Let’s say it together, “Let God’s people go.”
A few words on the hostage deal
There’s no such thing as a good deal when you’re dealing with the devil. You take what you can get. As I understand it, the 150 prisoners that are being released are nearly all minors. None of them have blood on their hands. Bringing back 50 Israeli children is the priority.
It will make things harder for our soldiers going forward. But when we allowed Hamas to invade our border and kidnap 242 people, we put them in the driver's seat. Our weakness is our humanity in Israel. Hamas cares little for the prisoners that they will get back. They have already said that the blood of the Palestinian people belongs to them for the revolution. In their dark hearts, these 150 souls belong to them.
In the past, we have traded one thousand living prisoners for one hostage. God will see that! We value life; they value death. We're trading prisoners; they’re trading hostages. Please continue to pray for our political leaders, flawed as they are, that they will be led by the Holy Spirit at this difficult time.
For those of you from America, tomorrow is a day to gather with your families for Thanksgiving. Please remember those in captivity, some of them Americans, and pray with your families for the release. Speak in the spirit, “Let God’s people go.”
