In a prophetic intercessory time with my God Encounters Ministries staff, I found myself declaring by the Holy Spirit, “It is time for the Lion to roar!” I have enough experience to know to flow with the “river of God” believing that I, or others, would be able to interpret the encounter later. A rumbling continued in my heart, and out of my mouth, the overflow of abundance tumbled forth, “It is time for the Lion to roar!”
Knowings started coming to me that this experience contained a multi-dimensional realm of understanding that would require prayer and time to properly process and steward. There is always at least a three-stage process in handling revelation or words from the Lord in a prophetic vein. These are often referred to as: 1. revelation, 2. interpretation and 3. application. Since it is always important to start the process of interpreting revelation with prayer and with the Word of God, I began to search the Scriptures.
Prophetic Imagery of the Lion’s Roar in Scripture
“Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing His purpose to His servants the prophets. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:7-8).
“For thus the Lord has spoken to me: Like the lion, and the young lion, roars over his prey, against which a multitude of shepherds is called out against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor disturbed at their noise, so shall the Lord of Hosts come down to fight for Mount Zion, and for its hill” (Is. 31:4).
“As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man, and all four had the face of a lion on the right side, and the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle” (Ezek. 1:10).
Natural and Spiritual Parallels
According to I Corinthians 15:46, “However, that which is spiritual is not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.” Therefore, this experience and other prophetic encounters can have powerful implications not only in the natural, but also in the spiritual as well.
I believe this prophetic encounter can be unpacked from three distinct angles:
- The literal natural power and purpose of the roar of a lion
- Letting the lion roar in church history—especially the Great Reformation
- The effects in spiritual warfare of the Lion of Judah’s roar of praise
Lessons in the Natural: The Power of the Roar of a Lion
Studies have shown that the roar of a lion can be heard up to 5 miles away! It is the loudest roar of any cat, reaching up to 114 decibels, and it announces the presence of this king of the beasts. It leaves no doubt in the minds of all living creatures within earshot that the “King is present!”
Not only does a lion’s roar mark out the boundaries of its territory, but it can also be a rallying point for straying members of its tribe. This has amazing prophetic implications as we enter a season of a harvest of souls and a transition from priestly ministry into kingly ministry. Perhaps this roar of the Lion King is signifying great change is coming!
Lessons in the Spiritual: The Lion’s Roar in Church History
This Fall 2017 marks the 500thanniversary of the Great Reformation in church history. The phrase, “Let Lion Roar” was a statement made by significant church leaders from that period of time. When the Lion of Judah roared from heaven 500 years ago, it came at a time of great disillusionment and was used to bring forth great hope and new life.
We are going to see an awakening that reaches through social media (the Gutenberg press of our day) and many other means to touch disenfranchised youth, the lost, church denominations and even the nations of the earth. Movie theaters are going to become some of the most influential pulpits in this generation for the gospel of the kingdom.
Yes, it is time for the Lion to roar forth once again!
The Lion of Judah’s Roar of High Praise
As we know, Judah is one of the 12 tribes of Israel and Judah means praise. With that in mind, let’s consider the following four scriptural points as it relates to the Power and Purpose of High Praise.
- Praise: Is the Place of God’s Residence
“But You are holy, O You who inhabits the praises of Israel” (Ps. 22:3).Praise sanctifies the atmosphere around us. How? Because God is enthroned on the praises of Israel. God is lifted up and exalted, and a throne is established as a place of authority and blessing from which He rules from in the midst of His people.
- Praise: Is the Way into His Presence
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and enter His courts with praise; be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Ps. 100:4).Praise establishes a highway that releases the visitation of His presence. Praise is a form of proclamation that is built from God’s throne to you. The purpose of praise is to release God’s blessing upon us as we praise the Lord. As we glorify Him, He turns it back upon us in blessing. (See Isa. 60:18.)
- Praise: Is A Garment of the Spirit
“To preserve those who mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified” (Isa. 61:3).Through the exchange of the cross, God gives us garments of praise for the garments of heaviness. He exchanges the dark, the gloomy and the negative for that which is beautiful, glorious, and uplifting. Praise is a mantle, a type of clothing we put on. We cast off heaviness by entering into the sacrifice of praise. You will look differently, act differently and talk differently when you put on the garment of praise!
- Praise: Is a Weapon of Spiritual War
“Whoever sacrifices a thank offering glorifies Me and makes a way; I will show him the salvation of God” (Ps. 50:23).Praise is a spiritual warfare weapon, a means of deliverance from the strongholds of darkness. Sometimes you simply need to praise your way out of the entrapment of the enemy by releasing the High Praises of God from your heart vocally. Store up the Word of God in your heart so that it naturally overflows!
A Proclamation for Empowerment
Father, in Jesus’ name, we call forth the roar of the Lion of Judah in our lives, families, cities, in church history and society once again. We desire prophetic intercessory encounters in each of our lives. We welcome the sounds of heaven into the earth realm today. We declare that as we release the High Praises of God it will be a powerful weapon of spiritual warfare used to silence the works and power of the evil one in Jesus name. Amen and Amen!
I believe that the Lion of Judah is arising in this hour to call forth the greatest harvest of souls in modern church history. Let the Lion roar!
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