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Recently God spoke to me: “The nations are entering a period of intense shaking. Economies, societies, governments and institutions will all shake. Do not be distracted by the shaking, for in the midst of the shaking there is an awakening.
“Many of My people will grab hold of their destinies and declare My purposes for their lives. They will speak to the chains that shackle them and say, ‘You will be no longer. I am here to run to the front lines. I will not be shackled and I will not be muzzled.’“
Awaken! Let’s Change History!
In the modern church, many respond to shaking with fear and start declaring that the end is near. In the early church, believers responded to shaking with faith and declared radical new beginnings. Individuals, cities and nations were transformed. It’s time to change history and not walk in fear.
Acts chapter 3 tells of a lame man who was laid at a temple gate to beg for money. After Peter and John prayed for him, the man went from lame to leaping. All who saw the miracle were in awe. A crowd gathered and Peter preached. His preaching set off a ruckus with the religious leaders. They took Peter and John into custody, severely threatened them and insisted that they no longer speak in Jesus’ name. After Peter and John were released, they returned to the believers and informed them of all that had happened.
The believers lost no time. They went straight to prayer: “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30).
God took quick action and responded with a supernatural sign and an impartation of supernatural boldness: “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
When God shook the place where they were assembled He was saying, “Don’t be discouraged. I’m the One who is going to do the greatest shaking.” The enemy shakes to intimidate and destroy. God shakes to awaken and empower. As Paul said to the young Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).
People filled with fear become agitated and their minds become darkened. People filled with the Holy Spirit become bold and their minds become clear. With a clear mind, we are able to defeat enemy strongholds.
The Sons of Anak Are About to Encounter the Sons of God
When God led the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan, He was leading them into one of the biggest demonic strongholds on the earth. It just so happened that it was also their Promised Land. The darkness over the land of Canaan was terrible. The three sons of Anak were situated at Hebron (Josh. 15:13-14). They were legendary war lords, demonically empowered—invincible.
The surrounding territories lived in dread of them. Hebron was a mountain stronghold; however, it was only one of many strongholds in Canaan. God used a small, outwardly weak, nomadic nation to defeat strong, established, demonically empowered nations.
We should not be intimidated by shaking. The evil forces that many fear today occupy territories that God has destined for His people and His purposes. It’s time for the shakers—the sons of Anak—to become the shaken; the invincible to become the defeated; the fearful and intimidated to become the awakened. It’s time for the “sons of Anak” to encounter the “sons of God.”
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Nathan Shaw helps bring individuals and churches into dynamic encounters with God’s indescribable love. Over the last 20 years he has been instrumental in ushering in significant moves of the Spirit in over 10 different nations. Many have experienced life-changing prophetic encounters and dramatic visitations from God. Nathan is the author of two books: “Passion and Fire” and “Unto the Least of These.” Nathan is senior pastor at Fire and Destiny Centre, Dunedin and Celebration Church, Mosgiel.
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