
Rise Of The Blacksmiths
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