SPIRITUAL CLIMATE CHANGE
Morris E. Ruddick
“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a wedding for his son. But those invited made light of it and went, one to his farm, another to his 
business. The rest seized his servants and killed them. When the king heard, he was furious. He sent out his armies to destroy the murderers and their city. Then he said to his servants, those invited were not worthy; go into the thoroughfares of the city and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. They gathered all they found, both bad and good. So, the wedding hall was filled. When the king came in, he saw one without a wedding garment and said, ‘friend, how did you come without a wedding garment?’ He was speechless. Then the king commanded, ‘bind him and cast him into outer darkness; where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:2-14
The spiritual climate defines the heart of a society. It controls the power that reigns. It has been a key target in the struggle between good and evil for ages past.
The unrighteous quest for power, masked by the perception of a utopian society, ruled by an all-knowing, supposedly “for the common good” governmental system, manifested with Hitler’s Germany. At its core was the strategy of the “big lie.” These were propositions laced with hope, yet so outrageous that the inclination by those under its rule, was by faith to believe them, as the communications people were subjected to were controlled by the government.
This is the same undercurrent and hope that draws adherents into radical Muslim sects. Such perverse, subtle perceptions are the foundation of the premise being presented by secular-progressive political thinkers.
Yet, this mode of thinking is only superficially political. It is spiritual.
The basis of today’s world of political correctness is fast closing the gap with the world described in George Orwell’s 1949 novel titled “Nineteen Eighty-Four.” Orwellian “1984” terms include “Big-Brother,” group-think, speak-crimes and new-speak.
It portrays a government-controlled tyranny in which power, absolute power, is sought for its own end. It is a world of omnipresent government surveillance and public manipulation.
Another “futuristic” novel of its time, published in 1931 by Aldous Huxley, “Brave New World,” presents a world of pervasive psychological manipulation designed to bring the change to create a conformist, robotic-thinking society.
One of the most subtle dynamics of this premise is the removal of honor from a society’s leadership. Without honor, things quickly digress into unrighteousness and lawlessness.
The opening parable in Matthew 22 uncovers the potent nature of this issue of honor. When the king announced plans for his son’s wedding, pointing to the succession and his reign, it was met with rebellion and dishonor. Upon recovery, as the wedding finally was begun, those called who failed to meet the standard and respond with the honor due the spiritual significance of this event were dealt with decisively.
The Keys and the Standard
God’s people, whose identities are fully in Him, hold the keys and are the key to drawing the line with this age-old conflict defining the spiritual climate. As bearers of this truth, God’s people have been and are a target. If the strategy of convincing them to be like everyone else falls short, then they become objects for annihilation.
Governments are the means rather than the end. Freedom is the banner by which the Lord reigns. Honor is the underpinning of godly, true freedom.
Long ago, God established a standard within the community of His people. That standard is what we refer to as truth and the knowledge of His ways. When this standard, along with His presence are in full operation within the household of faith, then the impact of this spiritual climate on society produces positive ripples from His truth and presence.
The spiritual climate that manifests God’s presence holds the potential to change everything around it. The restoration of honor is crucial to this equation.
“When the earth experiences His judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” Isaiah 26:9
The Two Sides of Honor
The story of Job is a story of honor. Job experienced the bottom dropping out financially and health-wise. Despite his community long considering him as an honorable man, his circumstances drew accusations bringing his honor into question.
Yet, when the realities faced by Job resulted in humility and repentance that triggered a new and profound revelation of God, God honored him with an honor that far outshined that of his community.
The lynchpin that brought Job through to this new consciousness of God was that Job did not blame God. It is a factor marking the foundation of the spiritual climate in which God manifests. In all Job experienced, he upheld God’s honor and as a result was conferred with an honor and a new authority that only could come from God.
The Trust Factor
Honor begets trust. In the same “two-sided” way honor is reflected in the story of Job, so the dynamic of trust operates. It is reflected by the trust conferred by man, but the trust that comes from God bears a higher level of knowing and abiding in Him and with that will engender much greater levels of authority and fruit.
“Blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust and has not turned to the proud or to those who lapse into falsehood.” Ps 40:4
Understanding the Times
The spiritual dynamic at play in this hour has been manifesting for decades. It has involved the systematic rebranding and erosion of anything good tied to those called by His Name. It has sought to recast issues of foundational and honorable heritage. It has been a strategy of dishonor in the age-old conflict of Babylon and Chaldea.
“O God, do not remain silent and do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, and those who hate You have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, ‘Come and let us wipe them out that the name of Israel be remembered no more.’ For they have conspired together with one mind; against You they make a covenant.” Ps 83:1-5
Babylon and Chaldea are the chief strongholds that war against God and His people. Babylon is the spirit of the world, without the true God, empowered and propped up by Chaldea, the spirit of sorcery, the very gates of the devil’s supernatural power.
The Confrontation
Still, the Bible is replete with the history of individuals and communities who would not waver in the face of death and who changed kingdoms and nations as a result. God has long reversed the bondages of evil through ones who have refused to waver before evil.
“Through you I will break nations in pieces. Through you I will destroy kingdoms and strongholds. Through you I will shatter governors and rulers. And I the Lord will repay Babylon and Chaldea.” Jer 51:20, 23-23
These verses in Jeremiah unveil not only the stand and the confrontational role of the household of faith against the powers-to-be in the natural, but it uncovers the source of their power, which God Himself will judge when we have done our part.
Rick Joyner recently commented on a word the Lord spoke to him: that revival would come when the hearts of the children return to the fathers. The issue evolves around honor. Whether it is the entertainment industry or news industry, the last few decades have seen a systematic erosion of the response to the honor of any who uphold righteous values, especially targeting the role of righteous fathers.
The response begins with the household of faith. At the heart of this matter is the societal standard, how the household of faith lives in community. The honorable demonstration of the reality of God according to His standard is what the world, losing its grip on hope, longs for. It is the factor that prompts the reality of God to manifest.
“So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him [and put him to flight].” Isaiah 59:19 NKJV and Amplified
This manifesting consciousness of God’s presence will short-circuit the masks and illusions perpetuated by evil and change the spiritual climate in its wake. At its root is the employment of power by God’s people, righteous power.
Spiritual Climate Change
The spiritual climate is regulated by and governed by the role of the true intercessor and with that the culture of the community of God’s people.
“Justice is turned back and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter. So truth fails and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. But the LORD saw it and it displeased Him. He wondered that there was no intercessor.” Isaiah 59:14-16
Numbers 25:10 describes the intentionality of intercession needed to change the spiritual climate. It tells how Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron stood in the gap and made atonement for the sin of the Israelites. His intercession was described as being zealous for God’s honor. Because of that his descendents were conferred a covenant of a lasting priesthood.
The prophet Daniel stood in the gap, repenting and making atonement for the iniquity of His people. It takes the righteous to operate with this anointing and with this level of authority.
“Then Daniel turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.” Daniel 9:3
Today’s righteous prophetic intercessors must accept their role of standing in the gap and repenting and making supplication as Phinehas and Daniel did. In no way overlooking the potential of the role of righteous political leaders, the household of faith in the West has been guilty of putting their trust in the government for their answers while succumbing to confusion, as the anti-God forces have systematically usurped the elements of authority bearing on the spiritual climate of our society.
In the mid-1980s there was a planning conference held in Boulder, Colorado by gay activists. They mapped out a 25 year plan and proceeded to execute it. Their influence and agendas went beyond talking the talk and penetrated key circles of the media, entertainment industry, politics and even technology and business. They declared war, while the Christian community at the time was consumed with a mix of abuses of power and division — or simply found themselves confusing their role in upholding a higher standard with projecting a superficial image of being “nice people.”
Spiritual climate change will not come without unequivocal confrontation.
“Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at the sorcerer saying, “You who are full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing for a time.” Acts 13:9
The Maturity Factor
Operational maturity within the household of faith is no longer an option. For far too long we’ve promulgated a mind-set of being a band of followers, ever-learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth. The great deception in this mode of thinking is that spiritual maturity is somehow tied to a higher level of doctrinal knowledge. That’s the “one ups-man” approach the Pharisees gave the people. It immobilized them. Jesus came to set the people free from that trap and mobilize them. True spiritual maturity is putting your faith in action, being doers of the word and not hearers only, who deceive themselves (James 1:22).
Elijah risked it all to face overwhelming odds arrayed against him in order to confront evil and uphold God’s honor. All it takes is a righteous remnant with the faith and courage to risk everything.
“Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the storehouse of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?” Job 38:22, 23
The wedding feast is fast approaching, which will distinguish those who will be the chosen from those called.
The heroes of faith spoken of in the book of Hebrews were not seduced by their comforts or their quest to maintain their survival. They conformed to the truth spoken of by Jesus that the greatest love (John 15:13) is that evidenced by those willing to give up their lives for God’s honor and for those who would follow them. Some did just that. Some, in facing the crucible, walked into spectacular miracles.
Such a resolute mind-set is the maturity factor needed to trigger His glory and change the spiritual climate. God’s glory will not abide with the glory sought by men. The ground occupied by those willing to sacrifice at the level Jesus pointed to is sacred ground. God is not looking for glory-hounds, but rather the Stephens and those with the spirit and spiritual maturity to confront the realities and uphold God’s honor with their all.
“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.’” Num 25:10-13
