Birth-Pangs
Over the ages there has always been the game-changers, those whose impact has risen above the ordinary. But then,
there have been those, who in giving birth to what they were called to do, have paid the ultimate cost. Not in vain, their lives have contributed to making the difference in the progression of this age-old conflict. Revelations points to them as those “who loved not their lives unto death.”
As we approach these days described as the beginning of birth-pains, or as the King James and New King James translate as the beginning of sorrows, Jesus pointed to a need for something more. It reflects an intentionality, a level of devotion and dedication needed among the elect. A reflection of overcompensating by staying consecrated and operating in His rest. When this dynamic manifests within the community, it releases a groundswell of the supernatural.
Community consecration, electrifies the process and the power; charging the spiritual atmosphere and triggering God’s wonders. Accompanying its impact are the birth-pangs of not just a new season, but the threshold of a new age. All combined, it begins releasing evidence of the high-point developments described in Revelations, the tipping of the scales, in this age-old clash between good and evil.
It was not so many years ago that I was acquainted with a man of God who was just such a game-changer. I had the highest respect and admiration for who was, as a unique voice for the Kingdom-thinking required for the age now before us. This man was prematurely killed in a plane crash.
Times and Dimensions Beyond the Ordinary
His message, his faith and the life he lived were over-to-top. On the two occasions, I had the honor of ministering on the same platform in which Myles Munroe was the featured speaker. We got to know one another and found we thought a lot alike. On one occasion, he called me forward to minister alongside him.
The tragedy of his death followed unusual opportunity and success. It reflected deep penetration into seemingly impenetrable lairs of darkness. Explaining this success, I remember him humbly telling me how God had given him a strategy to enable him to have the finances to minister to poor, remote communities around the world, that didn’t have the financial means to bring in special speakers, no less ones with the anointing and authority needed to confront the levels of entrenched darkness holding them captive. Myles did so at his own expense.
Considering that he had over a million on his mailing list, the strategy followed the thought that if only 10 percent gave a dollar a month, it would have a major impact on his revenue stream. With his dollar a month appeal, even more came forth.
What began unfolding quickly became incredible opportunity. Employing a private jet, the opportunity was enabled for his team to travel to remote areas. It was a genuine incursion into regions long considered the unchallenged domain of deep darkness, with amazing spiritual awakenings that resulted. And with his wife Ruth at his side, he pushed hard in capitalizing on this opportunity.
Yet, being acquainted with a range of prayer strategies employed by ministries making tangible Kingdom inroads into the deeper lairs of darkness, in retrospect, it wasn’t enough. The reality and need to overcompensate in intentionality requires more than the glow associated with preliminary success.
The deadliness of the backlash struck when returning to his home-base in the Bahamas during a storm. His jet came in too low and crashed. The world was cheated of his foresight and impact from this prescient Kingdom voice. It was later learned that the overworked pilots had miscalculated a most basic premise learned in flight training, for the field elevation needed in their landing.
When Standard Operating Procedures Require More
The story of Myles Munroe is a story that has happened over the ages all too often to ones like him. It reflects those emerging above the chaos and fray, with voices that penetrate the darkness, often impacting deep darkness.
So then, with evidence of that occurring and even amassing in recent months, it is time to pause, to reconsider priorities and the need to gather, to reconsecrate. To start reaching for that dimension labeled as “something more.”
Most recently, it was Charlie Kirk. There have been others. During biblical times, the book of Hebrews notes ones of their stature, whose voices provoked backlash that resulted in:
“…mockings and scourgings, of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawn in two, tempted, slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. Heb 11:36-38
The radical change that came to Paul the apostle’s life resulted in him reaching hard and reaching high. With reason, he wisely notes the costs involved in being a game-changer, one who ushers in these birth-pangs.
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.2 Cor 4:8-10
Concluding this observation, Paul states that despite these costs, we are not to lose heart. Nevertheless, in an atmosphere with such extreme realities and costs, pressing forward offers strong reason for reflection and for those who are especially wise, for introspection.
James warned that the standard required of being a voice for God is high. Especially when the clamor is intense. Yet
even Jesus refused to allow the conflict to digress into a debate. Paul got it right in pointing to the demonstration of the Spirit in power.
“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” I Cor 2:4-5
Birth-Pangs and God Arising
The story of Job illustrates the birth-pangs tied to when only God’s intervention will do. We’re at the door of that threshold.
The story of Job reflects the cost tied to God arising and the season changing. Job grappled with a number of serious issues confronting a man of his stature and community influence. The stance, the loss and challenge had relational roots, with it being only the tip of the iceberg.
The underlying issues ranged from the trivia of the backbiting of those Job presumed to be friends, to him having to intervene with sacrifices for the unrighteous behavior of his party-prone kids. Along with the toxic response of his wife when the bottom dropped out, once God unveiled His intent for Job, their future ties with Job were either eliminated or left to the discretion of Job’s prayers.
A pretty heavy judgment for the indiscretion of failing to recognize the stature of Job, whose role had buoyed their own standing, in the season-change upon them.
Lures, Blind-Spots and Signs of the Times
Now, at issue, in this current emerging season, as we engage with the standard noted in Revelation, is the spiritual alertness to avoid the debilitating lures that come from the love of the world, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Not unlike the wayward and vocal members of Job’s family and friends, they represent the lures, the blind-spots to becoming casualties for the wrong reasons.
So, it is not without precedent that our journey of life holds before us what God posed to the Jews in Deuteronomy 30, that of traversing that narrow corridor between life and death.
While Jesus’ Matthew 24 description of the beginning of birth pains becomes far more explicit, He highlights the indicators, whereas Ezekiel (38) gives additional insight into matters of timing, the principality-source and the bottom-line intent of Israel’s destruction.
Matthew 24 points to there being wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and violent shifts in the earth, increased lawlessness and deception, accompanied by growing hatred and persecution of any who identify as God’s people, along with the many of those sufficiently blinded by the love of the world, the lust of the flesh or the pride of life ….that the overwhelming nature of the atmosphere would result in their faith growing cold.
The revealing glimpse Ezekiel had into these “times of birthing” specifically begins with a time of peace for Israel, followed by Magog’s surprise initiative against them, all of which will initiate an overwhelming response from on-High.
Staying Focused as Change Takes Root
Regardless of the interpretation of where we currently find ourselves on this timeline, it is clear that the season of birth-pangs has begun. As the signs of persecution and anti-Semitism gain traction, the impact will extend from the game-changers, to all who are known by His name. All.
Wisdom shouts for the need to compensate, giving focus to the steps required from being overwhelmed. A response that must begin with avoiding isolation.
Simultaneously, intentionally staying focused requires protecting yourself from the distortions and hype of the fray. This ranges from the rants so prevalent in “breaking news” and across social media, with the lures of finger pointing, history revisionism and speculative eschatology.
Each spewing hatred, uncertainty, fear and unrest. Each being distractions from the needed focus described in Revelations in facing these days by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and loving not their lives unto death. Each being key.
At the crux of this ministry is the reach and wisdom “to understand the times, to know what to do.” Having personally reached the juncture of being an octogenarian, wisdom shouts to keep your hand to the plow and avoid presumption. It demands an outlook that considers anything developing beyond such a sharp focus should be considered a gift of God.
Intentionality with Equalizing and Overcoming
So, in facing the birth-pangs, the issue demands being intentional about the focus. Again, it includes avoiding being overwhelmed. It involves staying connected. And proactively pushing yourself back from the fray. Giving heed to embracing the mindset and attitude that manifests with priority given to embracing the blood of the Lamb, the word of your testimony …..and loving not your life unto death.
Intentionality. It’s worth checking yourself, simply considering what intentionality your life reflects.
These words from the resurrected Jesus in Revelation do contain the elements applied efficiently and strategically, by believers in post-1975 Vietnam after losing their freedoms. With great impact on the course of their nation, through simple gatherings of what proved to be “birthing-prayer” efforts, these desperate believers responded with a model needed for the times ahead.
The blood of the Lamb gives sharp focus to Jesus’ sacrificial death in making the atonement needed for Life in the crucible of this conflict. The power and cleansing is in the blood. The ancient, eternal blood covenant. Representing one of those spiritual mysteries that wields authority and power, it has ties to the Christian practice of the Lord’s Supper, the Jewish Passover and the Abrahamic covenant of bread and wine that took place with Melchizedek.
The word of our testimony is simply always being prepared with the answer to why our life of faith must be so intentional. I recall years ago, despite all the experiences and revelations that Paul had, that he never got over His encounter with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus. The game-changing role that his life reflected, always came back to the testimony of what it was that changed him.
And then, it involves the perspective of the cause …..of loving not your life unto death. I’ve expressed before that people may live for a vision, but will die for a cause. The reality of our journey with God must always have its focus on our undivided love and devotion for the Lord, not the journey.
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Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner of the Joseph-calling and God’s economy message, being an international voice for the higher dimensions of spiritual game-changers and intercessors since the mid-90s. As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation, the Strategic Intercession Global Network [SIGN] and designer of the God’s Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program and the Jewish Business Secrets YouTube series, Mr. Ruddick’s messages equip leaders and economic community builders with strategy where God’s light is dim in diverse regions around the globe.
He is author of “The Joseph-Daniel Calling;” “Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;” “The Heart of a King;” “Something More;” “Righteous Power in a Corrupt World;” “Leadership by Anointing;” and “Mantle of Fire,” which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders with destinies to impact their communities. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.apple.com/ibooks and www.BarnesandNoble.com.
Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts mobilize economic community builders imparting influence and the blessings of God. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to 3838 South Wabash Street, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card at https://strategic-initiatives.org/donate/
