When the Going Gets Tough
The unprovoked massacre of October 7th was just the tip of the iceberg. Globally, it was the harbinger of dark
destructive forces, being set in motion against not just Jews and Israel, but Christians in both Western and non-Western settings around the world. These assaults have manifested and been fueled by hate not only spiritually, but by overt social, political, media and governmental voices and structures.
Scripture gives us a strong historic response to mobilized evil. History likewise recounts those who have responded to the infiltrations of these dark forces intent on the destruction of those known by His Name. This last generation has had voices crying in the wilderness with attempts to mobilize influence and maintain standards in the voices and structures of society.
There’s an old military adage: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” This observation certainly describes the need for a more proactive root-level response to the heightened clamor, rhetoric and violence against both Christians and Jews.
What has been manifesting is something more. It is far more organized and deadly and is going to take something more in response. The cost of being a practicing Christian or Jew has reached unprecedented levels, not seen since the rise of Nazi Germany.
Persecution and anti-Semitism have found penetration and justification embedded deeply in the infrastructures of Western thinking and culture.
The response bleeds into the political, cultural and spiritual foundations of Western Civilization and no longer can be ignored or responded to passively as just manifesting outside our own cities and neighborhoods. It’s in our backyards.
I’m writing a book about the back-story of the move of God that emerged after the 1975 regime change in Vietnam. It is an insight not normally seen by Western eyes whose vague glimpse into the darkness that came to overshadow those days ….with narratives being shaped by perverted political spins seriously distanced from the realities.
To the point, what got lost in the wash is this response to the hardships and loss of freedoms had its beginnings with the desperation-prayers of hungry, persecuted believers crying out to God for help and relief.
The untold story recounts the dramatic impact and influence that those prayers started making in the course of their nation. Insights needed as the world grapples with its response to the creeping darkness.
The intent of this message is to highlight the overcoming power believers possess in facing overwhelming circumstances, in what may appear as completely impossible. Yet as Isaiah clearly notes, when the darkness seems to gather and multiply ….the response of Light will be more than enough to disperse it. Our response is never to cower in the face of darkness, but to hold steady as with the strategies and expectation that Light will always disperse darkness.
There is no question of the shaking of our comfort zones that we unconsciously or consciously tend to hang onto ….awakening and reinforcing our access to this power.
Likewise, it engenders a closer look at oversimplified precepts of doctrine, that digress into or are combined with myths and falsities overshadowing Truth, which serve to downplay this overcoming power, triggering a passivity and a misguided turning the other cheek.
Light Over Darkness, the Kingdom Authority Equalizer
The sequence of stories reflected between Luke 20 and 22 capture a number of key insights into the response of the power of good over evil ….all of which is resident in what manifests within the cultural context of the Kingdom of God.
The sequence begins with Jesus refusing to debate His authority with those challenging it. Both personal nor community authority are indisputable and bedrock to the response against amassing evil. Unfortunately, we have lost the edge when we allow our faith to digress into debating precepts of men or simply failing to take a stand against amassing evil.
Solomon observed that the wicked flee when no one pursues but the righteous are as bold as a lion (Prov 28). The prayers of the righteous in post-1975 Vietnam penetrated the infrastructures of the ruling elite with God’s influence and brought significant, unexpected change. As Paul wrote the Corinthians, the Kingdom of God is not just in word, but in Spirit and in power.
Insight into the power of the resurrection bears on the turbulence and response to the conflict leading up to the fulfillment of the time of the “gentiles” (also translated “nations).” The Passion translation renders Luke 21:24: “…and Jerusalem will be trampled by the nations until the time of world empires comes to an end.” Facing such turbulent times, Jesus gave the admonishment to be encouraged, as the Kingdom is near.
In this sequence in Luke, in approaching His crucifixion, Jesus shared the Passover with His disciples. In doing so, He gave believers the potent sacrament of the Last Supper along with the wisdom of the significance of servant-leadership.
Embracing Both Spiritual and Natural Power
This balance expected of those Jesus had been grooming for leadership was then summed up in Luke 22:35-36 as He
reminded them of a time in their training, when He had instructed them to depend solely on spiritual realities. At that time, what He intended them to recognize: was the Kingdom authority they had in conducting their spiritual quests without depending on cloak, purse or even sandals.
In affirming that they had lacked for nothing, Jesus’ response was “Now, take your purse and if you don’t have a sword, then sell your cloak and buy one.”
This admonition suggests a contextual difference between shaking the dust off your feet when employing the power of God to advance the Kingdom outside one’s own community (Luke 9:5; Matt 10:14; Mark 6:11) and turning the other cheek (Luke 6:29; Matt 5:39) when confronted with conflicts in one’s own household or community.
God’s Peace and Community Authority
One of my sources of spiritual wisdom recently commented on making prayer more effective. That comment was that for most believers, we don’t need to pray more, we need to pray better. For me, that shouts two key factors. First, understanding the importance of our authority to co-labor with Him to speak to the issues and decree ….and secondly, to avail ourselves of the opportunity to pray together with others. In other words, tapping and employing both our personal and community authority.
Removing the blindspots in this issue of authority for ministering/ praying believers facing conflict is vital. It begins with recognizing the authority needed when confronted with evil. A key blindspot involves an issue confusing and distorting our grasp of God’s peace with passivity. During the Middle-Ages certain sectors of the church began replacing the power of God’s peace in confronting evil with passivity …..focusing on turning the other cheek when the response called for shaking the dust off their feet.
The employment of force and even militant power with God at the helm has precedent from the days of possessing the Promised Land to the days of David unifying and establishing the kingdom. It is supported by Jesus’ recognizing the depth of the Centurion’s faith and Paul’s description of the authority given to righteous civil governments.
This dual thrust, employing both the natural and spiritual dimensions of God’s authority and power over darkness, has been described by a Christian historian of Islamic history and doctrine. Raymond Ibrahim’s in-depth analysis of original texts from the five centuries of the Crusades, uncovers realities, historical distortions and myths regarding the foundations and history of the Templars and Hospitallars.
The rise of these militant monks was a response to the rampant uprising of Islamic persecution of Christians and Jews in the Middle Ages.
His message has very pointed relevance to the response given to today’s global rise of anti-Semitism and anti-Christian persecution movements. This severe persecution of Jews and Christians by radicalized Islamists in the Middle Ages has particular historical parallels to the Islamic doctrinal foundations seen manifesting in this hour.
The author’s premise points to the dual authority (“….sell your cloak and buy a sword”) of the larger community response to persecution for those known by His Name. (“The Two Swords of Christ,” Raymond Ibrahim, 2025, Post Hill Press).
To the point, when conditions reach what Isaiah described as darkness covering the earth and deep darkness the peoples, the expectation and response should not be passive, but be recognizing and appropriating both the natural and spiritual extent of God’s authority available over His people, as He manifests His glory.
“You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” Ezek 38:16
It’s being poised, as a prayerful community, in entering that place transcending human effort, to embrace the Lord of Hosts, the God of the Armies of Israel, the Lord of Glory. It embraces the discipline and commitment needed when the only option is the Lord showing up in His glory, facing evil with zero tolerance, yielding human weakness to His strength with the expectation of one chasing a thousand to flight and two putting ten thousand to flight.
“The LORD has opened His armory and has brought out the weapons of His indignation; for this is the work of the Lord God of hosts.” Jer 50:25
It suggests the manifestation of the glimmer of the glory to be revealed with salvation that Simeon prophesied with His encounter with the baby Jesus.
“For my eyes have seen Your salvation, that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples. A light for revelation for the gentiles, and for glory for your people Israel.” Luke 2:30-32)
Jeremiah faced and embraced the challenge of this reality. His task was beyond the ordinary in terms of human
effort. He needed far more. Yet that is the point. His response demonstrates both the balance and the trigger between his role and the role of the Lord of Hosts in the release of God’s power.
“You are My battle-axe and weapon of war: for with Me, you will break the nation in pieces; with Me you will destroy kingdoms and strongholds; and with Me you will break in pieces governors and rulers. And I will repay Babylon and Chaldea.” Jer 51:20, 23, 24
Again, through the partnership with Him, we destroy kingdoms and strongholds, setting the stage for His sovereign intervention to repay Babylon and Chaldea. Likewise, Isaiah captured this mix between the natural and supernatural power in his 46th chapter in the call of the angelic birds of prey from the east, and the man of His purpose from a far country.
Entrance into the Secret Place
What Simeon foresaw and what Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Isaiah tapped involved entering what scripture refers to as the secret place. It is that place of operating beyond self, where the human side of consequences begins to pale and fade. It abides in the fear of God and consciousness of His presence. It activates with the knowledge of having the condition of the Lord of Hosts as the equalizer in the threats to Life ….knowing that in exercising His significant authority in the destruction of dark kingdoms and strongholds, that the Lord would then execute judgment on Babylon and Chaldea, undermining the powers of the worldly and demonic realms that embrace the prevailing darkness.
Entering the secret place has a cost. It has no tolerance for personal ambition. It eschews the approval of men in its perspective and way of thinking, with an overshadowing embracing of God’s priorities. The secret place is where there is no fear of bad news, but with the Psalmist it simply responds with a bedrock trust in the Lord. It is the place Daniel found in the king’s court where the fear of the Lord boldly displaced the fear of man ….releasing God’s power. It embraces the pivotal depth of Peter’s authoritative “giving” decree to the lame beggar: “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, I give to you. In the Name of Jesus, get up and walk.”
“Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who take great delight in His instructions. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor. The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and slink away; their hopes being thwarted.” Ps 112
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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/
2025 Copyright Morris Ruddick — info@strategic-initiatives.org
Since early 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors and leaders committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For more information go to https://strategic-initiatives.org
