Ron Sawka Ministries
Sept. 25, 2024; Elul 22, 5784
“And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’ So He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come’” (Josh. 5:13–14).
“And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies” (Exod. 12:51).
Meeting Him as Lord of Hosts
On Wednesday, October 2, Teddy and I will depart for a one-week trip to Bulgaria for a Catch The Fire World Conference. This coincides with Tishrei 1 (October 3), the beginning of the new Hebrew Year 5785. As such, I began to list some of the things I felt the Lord was going to emphasize or highlight. One of those is understanding and knowing that God is the Lord of Hosts–that He actually commands armies comprised of angels and believers.
My journey of beginning to understand why this is so important began while ministering in Burma earlier this month. Just before getting up to speak, the Holy Spirit began to remind me that God is the Lord of Hosts (Commander of the Heavenly Armies). It is by far His most commonly used name in the Bible—used well over 250 times. The Lord kept emphasizing this to me, not just while in Burma, but ever since. Here are some reasons why I believe this will be so important in the year ahead:
1. It’s a Necessity for Spiritual Warfare
I immediately saw that all of this is connected with Revelation 19:1–15. After fervent praise and worship, Jesus on a white horse, followed by the armies of heaven (saints and angels), goes forth to strike/judge the nations. I have long felt this is somewhat a picture of what happens whenever we have corporate praise and worship. I knew that during those meetings in Burma that He wanted to and would lead us—His earthly army, along with the angelic army—to something unusual. One of the remarkable things was that He used us to briefly silence the voice of the enemy in the ears of national leaders (I wrote about this in last week’s update, here).
2. It’s a Necessity for Increased Harvest
After Burma, I have seen more. In Joshua 5, we read how Joshua, the commander of the “earthly army,” went to look at the walls of Jericho, the first major obstacle they had to overcome after crossing over the Jordan into the Promised Land. Undoubtedly, Joshua was searching for a strategy, and was surprised to see a man with a drawn sword. It was the Lord, but Joshua didn’t recognize Him. It was only when he challenged him and the man spoke that Joshua knew it was He. That makes me wonder how many of us also will have a hard time adjusting to the Lord as a man of war. Exodus 15:3 states, “The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His name.”
This has tremendous implications for us for the end-time harvest, because that is what we are now entering. As a church, we are very much like Joshua and Israel crossing into the Promised Land. I believe the first 2000 years of history of the church is like the two-and-a-half tribes occupying the land on the “uncrossed” side of the Jordan. Much, much good has happened, for which we are all thankful. Yet we know God has a great deal more for us to inherit. He wants a much greater harvest. Some are saying we should expect at least a billion-soul harvest in the next 10–20 years. Some say it should be more. How will this happen? I believe that like Joshua, we will find ourselves meeting the Lord and getting to know Him as Commander of the army.
3. Worship Like Never Before
No doubt Joshua was looking at Jericho and hoping to gain a strategy when he met the man with the drawn sword. When he realized who He was, Joshua quickly fell to his face and worshiped. When he asked for a word from the Lord, he was only told to worship more. We read, “‘What does my Lord say to His servant?’ Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, ‘Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.’ And Joshua did so” (Josh. 5:14–15). It was then the Lord revealed strategy to take the city.
Spending time with the Lord and worshiping Him will become more and more important. It’s why the twelve apostles told the church to choose seven other men. They said, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer [spending time with God] and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). It was the same for the leaders of the church in Antioch. As they ministered to the Lord, He birthed the strategy of sending out Paul and Barnabas (see Acts 13:2).
Changes for MPP?
I have felt for some time that the Lord has some important changes coming for MPP, and that these changes would be coming as we enter the new year. Yes, I need new strategy. But that isn’t the most important thing. The most important thing is to always be a worshiper. I must spend time with the Lord. He will speak and He will birth what He wills.
Thanks for praying.
Ron and Teddy
Ron’s Travel Ministry Schedule
Oct. 3–12 — CTF World Conference, Sofia, Bulgaria
Nov. 24—CTF Noda, Venue at: Saitama, Japan
Jan. 22–25—Project 173, Mexico City, Mexico
A Month for New Beginnings
Elul—The Sixth Month of the Hebrew Year 5784
September 4–October 2, 2024
I feel “New Beginnings” is an apropos title for this sixth Hebrew month, Elul. We have come through the three weeks of “dire straits” in Tammuz and Av (Tammuz 17–Av 9/July 23–August 13). Although “dire,” we are to look at them as a time of birth pangs, and therefore birthing. Also, the whole month of Av was about the Lord “roaring from Zion” (see Joel 3:16).
Recently, the idea of new beginnings was further impressed on me while reading Haggai. I hadn’t really noticed before, but Haggai gave that important prophetic word that now was time to build the temple on the first day of Elul (see Hag. 1). The returned exiles were impoverished and in disarray. Things weren’t going well in Jerusalem or in Israel as a whole. Yet it was to these very discouraged people that the prophet thundered out, “Now is time to build.” He prophesied that they were continually saying, “Now isn’t the right time,” but that directly contradicted God’s prophetic word that “Now is the time.” The prophecy explained that the reason for their hardship and poverty was because they weren’t doing what God said.
We know the rest of the story. Their hearts were stirred. They obeyed and began to rebuild. From then on, the blessing of God was poured upon them. Everything began to change for the better.
So, let this be an exciting month. Move into the new beginnings the Lord has for you. Read Here.
Praying for One Nation Every Day
Let’s keep praying, declaring, and believing every day for our own city, our own nation and one other nation in the world. Prayer strategy that comes from Apostle Karen Dey (New Zealand/Sri Lanka)
Click here to read Apostle Karen Dey’s document.
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