The Hebrew alphabet is alpha-numeric; it also has word pictures associated with its letters. The letters associated with this Hebraic year 5777 are the ayin and the zayin. The ayin has a numerical value of 70 and the zayin has a numerical value of 7 forming the “77.” The word picture associated with ayin is an “eye” and the word picture associated with the zayin is a sword or weapon. When one puts the pictures together it could be said that the year 5777/2017 would be a year “to see the sword or to see the weapon”.

There are many verses throughout scripture that relate to swords and weapons. I want to share some prophetic insights that I believe can be gleaned from some of those verses.

Kingdom Shift

We are in a time of transition in the nation as well as in the church. In the church we are seeing the transition from Saul’s kingdom to David’s kingdom. Saul’s kingdom is a picture of the old wineskin of ministry where it’s all about the one man show. Saul wasn’t too concerned about seeing the people equipped for the day of battle. As long as he and his sons had swords and as long as he looked good in the eyes of the people then the Saul kingdom was satisfied. (1Sam.15:24-30) In Saul’s kingdom the people were only equipped with tools for agriculture and not tools for advancement. (1Sam.13:21-22)

In the Saul wineskin of ministry we have equipped the saints with tools to sustain programs instead of equipping them with tools to complete their purpose. The scripture says that in the day of battle there was no sword found in the hands of the people but there was a sword found in the hands of Saul and Jonathan.

1Samuel 13:22 “in the day of battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and Jonathan his son was there found.”

The reason no swords were found is because there were no blacksmiths found in the land. The The blacksmith’s are the one’s who forge the weapons. The scripture even tells us that the Lord created the blacksmith who makes weapons for their purpose.

Isaiah 54:16 “Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals And brings out a weapon for its work; (NASB)

I believe these blacksmiths are modern day revivalists. The blacksmiths no how to steward the fire. They know how to maintain the flame. These modern day revivalists know how to steward the fire of revival. They know how to maintain the flame in the secret place of prayer and fasting and study. The blacksmiths know how to use the hammer to not just break down, but they know how to build up. These modern day revivalists like Jeremiah know how to use the hammer of the Lord to break down strongholds of the enemy and build up the saints with the prophetic word of the Lord. (Jer.23:29)(Jer.1:10)

The blacksmiths are not afraid to get a little dirty ,they are not afraid of the heat of the forge. They are willing to work in rough conditions to see a weapon released. These modern day revivalists like the blacksmiths are not afraid to be a “little more undignified than this”. (2Sam 6:21-22) They are willing to toss out their agenda’s for the agenda of the Lord. This can appear dirty and messy to the religious eyes. The revivalists are not afraid of the heat that brings purification and transformation because they know the fire is producing a weapon that will be able to stand in the day of battle. The blacksmith can see the finished product. This vision enables the blacksmith to endure the process. The revivalists can see the end result of a region that’s been transformed through revival before it happens. This vision produces a faith that releases a work of forging/birthing and contending for revival in that region. I believe the forges are the revival hubs that the Lord is raising up in this time. These forges are hubs that house the fire of prayer and the fire of the Lord’s presence where saints are awakened and equipped for advancement.

The Armory

In this year of the sword and weapon we must realize we have access to the armory of the Lord. The scripture tells us that the Lord has an armory and that the armory is opened. I believe there is an open invitation for the wounded and weary warriors to come and get refreshed in HIS presence. In the process of refreshing the weapons are being renewed as well.

Those that have hung their shields of faith on the wall of doubt are being renewed. Those that have fastened the Sword of the Spirit on the belt of tradition instead of truth are being renewed as they enter into the Lord’s armory. The weapons of discipleship, devotion, and demonstration is being released from the Lord’s armory. The weapons of family and fellowship and identity are being released to break down the strongholds of isolation and abandonment as sons are becoming soldiers.

Now is the time for those that have lost their prophetic edge (axe head) to find it again in the river. Just like one of the sons of the prophets, some saints have been trying to build and advance the kingdom without their prophetic edge. Those that have lost their prophetic edge will find it again in the river of God’s presence. (2Kings 6:1-6) As the water strengthens the metal of the blade in blacksmithing, the water of the word and the river of God’s presence will strengthen your prophetic edge. You are God’s weapon, HIS battle axe released to destroy the works of the enemy. (Jer.51:20)

In this year of the sword and weapon as we continue to see wars and rumors of wars in the natural (Mt.24:6) we must remember that our weapons are not carnal but they are mighty not against other saints but against the strongholds of the enemy and flesh. (2Cor.10:4)

We need to know the time. We are in a time of awakening. In this time of awakening we must put on the armor of light and advance against the kingdom of darkness.

Furthermore, knowing the time, now is the moment to awake from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us take off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly, as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in immorality and wickedness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.

Romans 13:11-14

A few months ago as I was speaking at a conference the Lord began to release a word concerning alignment. At the time I knew that only part of the word was released and that there was more to come. About a month ago as I was seeking the Lord concerning his body and the nation, I received the fullness of the word. I saw a plumb line being released from heaven. The plumb line swung back and forth quickly and then progressively slower until it hovered over the nation. As the plumb line became steady I asked the Lord what he was saying to me.

I heard the Lord say: “Alignment is the assignment. Many think alignment for assignments, but I say alignment is the assignment. I’m releasing a plumb line of awakening for the nation. I’m looking for a greater agreement between heaven and earth. Intercessors arise, awake, align, and appeal. I’m releasing my revivalists and reformers into the regions to survey the land.

They will carry the plumb line of awakening and co-labor with the master-builder to establish regional strongholds of the kingdom. Just as the sound of Nehemiah’s trumpet called the people to work and war at the wall, I’ve released a sound to war in prayer and labor in love rebuilding the walls of intercession in the regions. Those with a mind to work can discern the sound. Do not grow weary, a fresh wind is being released and will empower you to contend for what you’ve been called to build.”

The Plumb Line Of Awakening

“This is what He showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall made using a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand” (Amos 7:7).

A plumb line is a cord or string that has a weighted bob at one end (usually a piece of lead). It is used in construction to test what is being built. Its primary use is to make sure things are vertically true. I believe the Lord is testing how true we are vertically. That’s if our public life is lining up with our prayer life. He is looking at the hearts of men to see if they are truly aligning with His purpose and plan for the next great awakening that will sweep across this nation and into other nations.

Those that are in proper alignment have positioned themselves to hear the sound and are currently working and warring for what the Lord is building. Those that are out of alignment are at risk for laboring in vain (see Psalm 127:1).

Sounding Nehemiah’s Trumpet

Throughout Scripture there is always a sound before a move. The children of Israel released a sound at Jericho and the walls fell (Josh.6:20). Gideon’s army sounded trumpets and broke the clay vessels, and then the Midianites moved out (see Judges 7:20). Elijah heard the sound of rain and then outran the king’s chariot (1 Kings 18:41-46). There was a sound of rushing wind in the upper room and then the believers went out and preached the gospel (see Acts 2:2-14). Nehemiah’s trumpet released a sound to gather together, gird up the breaches and guard the wall of intercession (see Neh. 4:17-21). I believe many in the body of Christ who have a mind to work (see Neh.4:6) are hearing the sound to come together in unity, putting aside denominational and traditional differences in order to work and war for the kingdom. This is not a time to be fearful; this is a time to fight.

We are no longer fighting for our preferences, programs, and titles, but we are fighting for brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, wives, and houses (see Neh. 4:14). “After I looked around, I stood up and said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, ‘Stop being terrified because of them! Remember instead that the Lord is great and awesome.

So fight for each other—and for your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.’ … Those rebuilding the wall and those hauling the loads were working with one hand doing the task, but with the other hand holding the weapon. For the builders, everyone had his sword bound to his side, even while rebuilding. The trumpet blower worked beside me. I said to the nobles, the rulers, and to the rest of the people, ‘The work is vast and over a large area. Since we are spread along the wall far from each other, assemble to us there at the place where you hear the trumpet sounded. Our God shall fight for us.’ So we labored in the work with half of them holding spears from sunrise to the rising of the stars” (Neh. 4:14,17-21).

4 Keys for the Intercessors

As the plumb line was released, I believe the Lord was calibrating four areas of intercession that are key to awakening.

Those keys are to Arise, Awake, Align and Appeal.

Arise: We must arise from our position of apathy and passivity and step into our apostolic and prophetic government (Eph.2:20) (1Cor.12:28).

Awake: We must awaken to the reality of the condition that we are in and see ourselves not as the world or tradition sees, but as the Father sees. From understanding, we will be able to discern our position in the kingdom and align our prayers effectively. We have had a lot of fervency and less effectual prayers in past seasons but that is changing. As we are awakened to the reality of our righteousness in Christ, then our prayers will avail much (see Is. 52:1, Eph. 5:14, 2 Cor. 5:21, James 5:16).

Align: We must come into agreement with our high priest Jesus Christ, who is ever living to make intercession for us. We must align our head, hearts, and hands to the mind of Christ, heart of the Father, and the working of Holy Spirit (see Heb. 7:24-25).

Appeal: We must make our appeals in the highest court, the courtroom of heaven where we have and advocate with the Father. We must make our appeal to heaven for this nation (see Ezek. 22:30,1 John 2:1, Phil. 4:6). I believe there have been those that have felt as if they were swinging and swaying back and forth in this past season, feeling as if they were tossed to and fro. This was not a wind of doctrine causing the sway; it was the process of the plumb line bringing alignment. The Lord has been testing the hearts of men to see if they are vertically true. The plumb line did come to a rest and so will those that are being aligned. Do not grow weary in this hour the Lord is aligning you for awakening. A fresh wind is being released that will empower you to contend for what you’ve been called to build.

Original Post On Charisma Magazine