I got up early the other day for my sweet, quiet time with the Lord and kept feeling this urge to reread “Visions from Heaven: Visitations to My Father’s Chamber” by Wendy Alec. I began reading where I last left off and read something I did not recognize. “In this next season, it is important that My dread champions who receive My mantles for the end-times battle that dawns. That any places that are still vulnerable to the enemy are sealed off by My Holy Spirit…the places of abandonment … the place of safety.”

Dread champion…what is that? And do I qualify?

But the LORD is with me like a dread champion; therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail they will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed, with an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten. – Jeremiah 20:11

Jeremiah indicates God as his dread champion (Hebrew word “ariyts”), meaning awe-inspiring, terror-striking, awesome, terrifying, ruthless, mighty, warrior that is feared or dreaded by His enemies. As children of the King of kings, we too are to be dreaded by our enemy. But are we?

We live in a time where 2 Timothy 3:2 warns that people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. And a time where people call evil good, and good evil (Is. 5:20). Where do we stand in this day? Are we truly walking in the Spirit? Or are we walking in the flesh?

It’s easy to read Galatians 5:22 which lists the fruits of the Spirit and feel good especially if we look at the fruitful characteristics in ourselves while pointing out the sinful characteristics (those of the flesh) in others. Yet as Disciples of Christ, we are to read the whole Scripture and adjust our lives to it (be transformed)…not adjust Scripture to fit our life.

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5:16-26

“What characteristics am I illustrating, that of the Spirit or of the flesh?
And therefore, am I being persecuted by the world or tolerated by it?”

John 15:18-21 says, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.”

The battle is real; the battle is here and now. This is an urgent time.

I’m sure you sense it; I’m confident the Holy Spirit has been stirring an urgency in you. We live in a time when there’s an all out assault on our Christian faith…right here, on our own American soil. We, the Church, have gone too long being lulled by the world’s affairs. Too long distracted at the helm. Allowed too much to slip by on our watch. The world would love for us to be passive and continue following political correctness. As the Lord’s Remnant Army, His Dread Champions…how are we going to respond?

I was listening to Disciple’s song “Attack” and listened to the lyrics “Are you ready for a fight?” I realized how we’re raised being told not to fight…”Don’t fight!”…”Stop your fighting!” This is wishful thinking. But there comes a time when we need to rise up and yell, “FIGHT!!!!”

We are to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Romans 13:11-14 says, “This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”

It is time! Time to arise and shine! Dread Champions arise in this very day…this very hour!

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you (Isaiah 60:1-2).

Are you armed? Are you ready? What are your weapons? What are you skilled in?

The battle is the Lord’s and therefore let us put our hope in Him alone. But know, He is counting on US…His Remnant Children, who He calls to radical obedience!

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

We have a vital part therefore we must be prepared by being armed with the truth! Be not deceived by political correctness or popular cultural trends. God’s Word is immutable; the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Nothing needs to be added nor removed nor should it, as warned in Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6, and Revelation 22:18.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 – For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

Dread Champions…pray, fast, worship, and KNOW the Word for yourself. Study it, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15) and test everything against the Word (1 John 4:1, 1 Thes 5:21, Acts 17:10), love as Jesus loves, live a godly life, and fight the good fight of faith without compromise!

God is counting on us; we are counting on God!

Father God, ready Your Army! Grow us in courage to stand and continue standing. Remind us to love as Your Son, Jesus loves but without compromise by accepting false teaching! May we never waiver nor be lukewarm but burn brighter in our commitment to You in this dark and depraved world.  And having done all, to stand…no matter what we may face…be it trouble, persecution, or death. In Jesus’ name, Amen!