"A Decade for the Voices of Purity, Character and Family Values"

     As I shared in a recent article, I believe we have entered a season that will usher in new levels of restoration, radical obedience, radiance and pentecostal power. I've been hearing the Lord say, "It's time to begin 'doing the stuff'—all of it, nothing held back. It's time...for the future is NOW!"

     In a recent vision I saw Him holding a package labeled "Signs" that was about to be unwrapped. I believe this is an indication we are about to see an unveiling of new levels of signs and wonders that will accompany this increased power!

     As exciting as this sounds, there will be some qualifications. One thing the Lord showed me is that this new season will bring an emphasis on the importance of leadership. Another is the understanding that nothing can be withheld—nothing can be held back.

     The book of Acts provides our model for pentecostal power under the guidance of mature leadership. I felt directed to the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). You may recall how the apostle Peter called the couple out for withholding some of the proceeds from the sale of a piece of property from the Lord. Like Peter affirmed, the property and proceeds were theirs to do with as they wished, however, they made an agreement between themselves to withhold a portion of what the Holy Spirit had impressed upon them was the Lord's.

     I've heard the Lord say to be sure to bring the WHOLE tithe into the storehouse (Mal. 3:10, NIV). Whatever the Holy Spirit has impressed upon you to give, be sure to give it fully, with nothing held back. For whatever reason, purity increases power, and we will not have one without the other.

     The Lord also showed me that we will see a return to character and family values. To understand what's involved in a prophetic word like this, it would be good to unpack a few things first.

     Whenever the Lord reveals His will or prophetic purposes to us, there is a natural tension that occurs. For example, obviously the Lord's going to come back a second time, yet 2 Peter 3:12 tells us to not only look for that day, but to hasten its coming as well. I believe this hastening has two parts—prayer and action. We are to pray and intercede in agreement with His plans, and also act in accordance to help bring them to pass.

     In the Old Testament the example of Daniel illustrated this. The Lord had revealed through the prophet Jeremiah that after seventy years the exiles would return (Jer. 25:11-12, 29:10). Daniel, however, did not assume this word would automatically come to pass. It was already his custom to turn his face daily towards Jerusalem to pray, but as he discerned the time of fulfillment approaching, He began to intercede in a brand new way (Dan. 6:10, 9:1-19). His understanding of times and seasons, the purposes of God, and the role God's people play caused him to pray in a fresh new way.

     If we truly want to see a word like this come to pass, there must be those who pray. I felt the Lord showed me it will be the "death intercessors" who do this—who save moves of God from death (or delay) by their prayers.

     In much the same way that a prophetic word can set a direction and a prophetic course for your life, the Lord can use a word to set the course and direction for a nation. Much of life is a conscious choice, and a prophetic word reveals the "end goal" to aim for, so choices can be made in preparation of reaching that goal.

     Again, the example of Daniel and the seventy-year exile is useful in continuing to unpack this. The reason why a specific time frame of seventy years of captivity was given was to prepare the exiles to return. Additionally, during captivity they were told to build houses, plant gardens and expand their families. They were not to just pine away or bide their time, but be productive—they were to be an oasis in the middle of exile (Jer. 29:4-14).

     I see some fascinating correlations between this example and a return to character and family values. If you subtract seventy years from the year 2020, you get 1950—a decade in which, for the most part, traditional family values were still intact (in the U.S.). But by the 1960s a visible shift had occurred.

     By 1962 prayer had been removed from schools, and reading the Bible was forbidden in classrooms by 1963. In 1967 Hollywood moved away from their more wholesome standard of production code (the Hays Code), in favor of a less moral standard of rating (the MPAA). The 1960s are commonly depicted as having been defined by "sex, drugs, and rock and roll," giving clear evidence of a moral shift away from traditional family values towards "free love."

     Fast forward to today, where men and boys are allowed to share locker rooms and restrooms with women and girls. Something is clearly wrong with this picture, if you ask me. I sense it's time to shift back the other way.

     I love the fresh expectation that a new year brings. Already there are numerous, exciting prophetic words for the Hebraic year 5780 and the Gregorian year 2020. Although God is outside and beyond time, He has chosen from creation to define for us the times, the seasons and the years (Gen. 1:14).

     Under the old covenant, each year eternal covenant was protected as reflected in the seven major feasts (Lev. 23). Even if the Jews were in exile or there was no central temple in Jerusalem, they were to celebrate these appointed times set by God as a symbolic reminder of eternal covenant.

Christians today are not obligated to keep the celebration of these feasts, but even a cursory understanding of them enhances our faith. It's interesting that the root word for "feast" (Strongs #2282) conveys the idea of moving in a circle, such as in a dance, a religious ceremony, a sacred procession or a celebration of a solemn holiday.

     2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) reads: "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere." Under the new covenant, it is Christ who leads us in a cyclical, triumphal procession each new year. If there is an area where we are still held captive, whether personally or as a nation, we are still to be productive—the salt, the light, the fragrance—to be an oasis to unbelievers.

     Jeremiah prophesied that the Lord would take away "...the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride..." for seventy years (see Jer. 25:10-12, NKJV). Then in chapter 33 he prophesied their return:

     "Thus says the Lord: 'Again there shall be heard in this place...the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: "Praise the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for His mercy endures forever"...For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,' says the Lord." (vs. 10-11, NKJV)

     Friends, I believe this will be the year—the decade—for the voices of purity, character and family values to return.

Diane Lake
Starfire Ministries
Email: info@starfireministries.org
Website: www.starfireministries.org

Diane Lake is a writer, speaker and minister ordained with both Christian International and Generals International. She and her husband, Allen, co-founded Starfire Ministries with a vision to see the Kingdom established beyond the four walls of the traditional church. They serve as Church Mountain, Regional, and Montana Coordinators for the Reformation Prayer Network (led by Mike and Cindy Jacobs), and as Media Mountain Facilitators for Christian International's newly emerging "7 Mountain Kingdom Influencer Network." They have three grown children and are blessed to call beautiful western Montana home.

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