Dedicated to my Calvary Preschool Soul Sisters...
Back on 3/15/22, a missionary from Mexico was invited to my women’s Bible Study Group. This missionary was a pastor, but he also had the gift of intercessory prayer, healing, and words of knowledge. A Word of Knowledge is a gift of the Holy Spirit where the knowledge received can only be known through inspiration of the Holy Spirit to edify (strengthen, encourage, give guidance) the Body of Christ.
I had never met this pastor. He knew nothing about my Bible Study group just that we were excited to have him come share the Word with us.
After giving us an amazing message from the Word, he had us stand up and one by one he began to pray over each lady. It wasn’t in any specific order but as the Holy Spirit led him.
Well, he looks over at me intently and takes my hand and says,
“With you, God has a very special agreement. (He repeats) With you, God has a very special agreement. You have been called from your mother’s womb with a purpose, to serve Him. I see a shining sword in your right hand. He has given you power and authority to defeat serpents and scorpions. And, above all to defeat the devil that rises up against the will of God. In the Name of Jesus, continue to wield the sword and continue sounding the trumpet, says the LORD. Because you are a preacher of His Word. For this reason, God called you and through you, there will be healing and liberation.
You have been hurt. You have been beaten. You have been wounded severely, but you have been brave. God heals your heart tonight. And something new begins to happen in your life. In Jesus Name. Amen.”
Well, he looks over at me intently and takes my hand and says,
“With you, God has a very special agreement. (He repeats) With you, God has a very special agreement. You have been called from your mother’s womb with a purpose, to serve Him. I see a shining sword in your right hand. He has given you power and authority to defeat serpents and scorpions. And, above all to defeat the devil that rises up against the will of God. In the Name of Jesus, continue to wield the sword and continue sounding the trumpet, says the LORD. Because you are a preacher of His Word. For this reason, God called you and through you, there will be healing and liberation.
You have been hurt. You have been beaten. You have been wounded severely, but you have been brave. God heals your heart tonight. And something new begins to happen in your life. In Jesus Name. Amen.”
Only God could have revealed to him through the Holy Spirit, that I was a Preschool Bible Teacher who loved to blow my shofar. I admit I play it very badly but I'm trying. I figured it was confirmation from the LORD that I was doing what the LORD had called me to do.
However, in December, I was told that I needed to step down from my position as Chapel Teacher because they did not want me to pray for Israel. In my chapel program, we would recite and memorize Psalm 122:6-8:
We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. May there be peace within her walls and prosperity. For the sake of my family and friends, I pray, "May she have peace."
We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. May there be peace within her walls and prosperity. For the sake of my family and friends, I pray, "May she have peace."
Sadly, praying for Israel, which is Biblical, had become an offense at a Christian school.
I went back to my journal and reread the word from the pastor. I admit I was in a pit of despair and needed some encouragement from the LORD. I was crying out to God asking, “Who am I now? What is my purpose?”
Here is what I was reminded of:
My calling from God has not changed. I am to serve Him. I am a preacher of His Word. I must continue to wield the Sword which is the Word of God. And I must continue to blow the trumpet, my shofar, to come against the demonic forces that rise up against the will of God to silence me. He has given me power and authority as a child of God, co-heir of Christ, His ambassador to free those in spiritual bondage and to lay hands on the sick and pray for their healing. I’m not sure yet how God wants me to do that, but I know that is what I have been called to do.
So, here is the message for you. You have also been called from your mother’s womb with a purpose to serve Him. It may not be as pastor or evangelist but it’s God’s divine purpose for your life.
We have all been called for such a time as this to wield the Sword of the Spirit. As the days are growing darker and more and more people are falling away from the faith, it means we have to share the Word of God without compromise. We cannot water it down, omit parts that may offend, and play the politically correct game with the Gospel. Jesus said, “They will hate you because they first hated me. My Word offends. (John 15:18-25) I did not come to bring peace but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)”
The Apostle Paul wrote the following to young Timothy, but he also wrote this to us:
2 Timothy 4:2-4
Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
Here is what I was reminded of:
My calling from God has not changed. I am to serve Him. I am a preacher of His Word. I must continue to wield the Sword which is the Word of God. And I must continue to blow the trumpet, my shofar, to come against the demonic forces that rise up against the will of God to silence me. He has given me power and authority as a child of God, co-heir of Christ, His ambassador to free those in spiritual bondage and to lay hands on the sick and pray for their healing. I’m not sure yet how God wants me to do that, but I know that is what I have been called to do.
So, here is the message for you. You have also been called from your mother’s womb with a purpose to serve Him. It may not be as pastor or evangelist but it’s God’s divine purpose for your life.
We have all been called for such a time as this to wield the Sword of the Spirit. As the days are growing darker and more and more people are falling away from the faith, it means we have to share the Word of God without compromise. We cannot water it down, omit parts that may offend, and play the politically correct game with the Gospel. Jesus said, “They will hate you because they first hated me. My Word offends. (John 15:18-25) I did not come to bring peace but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)”
The Apostle Paul wrote the following to young Timothy, but he also wrote this to us:
2 Timothy 4:2-4
Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
The devil is trying to silence Spirit filled, Bible-Believing Christians all over the world, because there is power in the Word of God to heal the sick, free the captives, fight demonic attacks, and bring salvation to the lost.
To be Disciples of Jesus Christ, will cost us. Jesus told us, “Count the cost before you follow Me because you have to be prepared to pick up your cross daily.” When the pastor mentioned that I have been hurt, beaten, severely wounded, this is what resonated with my spirit. I have been hurt deeply over the years. Most of the time it has come when I have been sharing the Gospel, doing the work of ministry, or trying to spiritually grow. It has usually come from those who are close to me – family members, teachers, friends, and co-workers. This is part of the cost. I am sure you have all encountered it on some level. Whether it is rejection or mocking or verbal attacks.
But Jesus promises us that we will overcome by the word of our testimony and the Blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11). So, like the pastor told me, “You have been brave” I wanted to say “I have? I haven’t felt brave.” But maybe bravery is just getting up from the fetal position and putting one foot in front of the other. And God promised me, “something new begins now.” And I am going to trust Him on that. And so can you. God is going to use us all in ways we never expected. We are being stretched, strengthened, and equipped for every good work.
In the book of Acts, the church grew because it was persecuted. For the longest time, this preschool has been my refuge. My sanctuary. My family. Maybe God is calling me to expand my ministry. To take a step of faith into unknown territories. Whether that territory is right up the street, my own neighborhood, or into the community…. only God knows. What He is saying is “Be sure to pack your Sword and be armored up.”
As for the shofar. It is called the trumpet of God. It goes all the way back to Abraham and Isaac when a ram was sacrificed in place of his son. It is a symbol of Jesus being the ultimate Lamb of God and the power of His voice and name. The shofar was blown on Mount Sinai when God gave the Law. The shofar was blown to knock down the walls of Jericho. The shofar will be blown at the 2nd Coming of Christ when He rides in to save Israel from the nations who are attacking her and He rules and reigns from Jerusalem. We blow the shofar in faith because it is a call to return to the LORD, a call to action, a call to wake up the spiritually asleep, it’s a call to come together, it’s a battle cry to knock down the stronghold walls before us, and it is getting our spiritual ears ready for the Trumpet of God to blow and call us home.
In Psalm 89:15, David wrote: Blessed and happy are the people of who know the joyful sound [of the trumpet’s blast]! They walk, O LORD, in the light and favor of Your countenance!
So ladies, I am passing the baton so to speak and passing on the trumpets. It’s time to wield the sword and blow the shofars.
So ladies, I am passing the baton so to speak and passing on the trumpets. It’s time to wield the sword and blow the shofars.
Love,
YOLANDA
(Written 1/25/2023)
