The Power Behind ISIS

By Richard L. Spangler

(In light of the recent attacks in Paris, I feel the need to republish this article on ISIS. I hope it blesses you and you will answer the call of the Holy Spirit).

Most people are concerned and rightly so about the rise of ISIS. The brutality of these Islamic Terrorists, the mass executions and beheadings, are shocking. I began asking the Lord Jesus to reveal the spirit behind these terrorists and how do we as believers’ war against the power behind ISIS and defeat it and them.

I was recently led into a study of Jonah and was then led by the Holy Spirit to take a look at Nineveh. Most of us know some of the story Jonah and Nineveh and how Jonah did not want to go there because they were an evil people and an enemy of Israel. As I looked deeper into Nineveh, I found it was the capital of the Assyrian Empire and it was brutal its enemies and its own people. The leaders of Nineveh would use terror and brutality in order to maintain control over the empire. Their methods included, mass beheadings and making pyramids out of the heads, impaling people on stakes (an early form of crucifixion) and nailing bodies to the walls of the various cities in empire. This sounds strangely familiar to what is being done today by ISIS.

This is more than a man or a group of individuals doing these things for a short time in history. As we have seen these tactics have been used for thousands of years and have been used in the same region of the earth for the same purpose to control and rule over man by whatever means necessary. It is an evil principality causing men to control and manipulate mankind. It can be called the Assyrian Principality. Control over men is a tool that this principality uses to wage war against God and to stop the Word of God from being fulfilled. This is why all of these men and empires and governments have a demonically inspired hatred of Jews and Christians and an overwhelming drive to wipe out all Jews and Christians.

I asked the Lord, “How do we fight an evil spirit which is a principality?”

The Lord said, “You don’t, I do. Ask Me to rise up and fight.”

I then asked, “How do we ask?”

The Lord spoke, “Call upon all the Young Lions of Judah, and tell them how is the time to roar in Spirit. To raise the sound of praise and worship from every corner of the earth and intercede for mankind.”

I pondered for days about the Lord had said. Then I woke up one day an hour and half early by the Spirit and I was immediately and passionately worshipping the Lord God, Our Father. Then I found myself transitioning by the Holy Spirit. He led me into repentance for my sins. There was a release of forgiveness that was amazing and could not help but worship God more.

Then I found myself crying out for forgiveness for the Church as a whole. The Spirit then moved me to cry out for forgiveness for our nation. And remind the Lord of the covenant with this nation. After this, I began declaring His faithfulness to Israel and to His Bride (the Church). Then I began to declare that the Lord magnifies His Word above His Name (Psalm 138:2 AMP).

With that I cried out for the Lord God to arise and defend His Word from the Assyrian Principality, who has declared war on His people Israel, His Bride (the Church) and His Holy Word. I called on the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to wage war against this principality destroying its stronghold on the earth and totally defeating it and bringing confusion to its servants (men) on the earth. I Worshiped and Praised God for the victory.

This experience in worship and intersession is the guideline for the Young Lions of Judah to stand and roar in the Spirit against the Assyrian Principality and its allies. It’s time for the Young Lions to Roar.

©COPYRIGHT 2014 RICHARD L. SPANGLER

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Be Like Jonah

By Richard L Spangler

 We all know the story of Jonah, the prophet who tried to run from giving God’s message to Nineveh. But, there is much more to his story and that is why I titled this article “Be Like Jonah.”

   Never-the-less In Jonah chapter 3, he heads to Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. A city 60 miles wide and a population of 120,000. The Leadership of Nineveh was brutal to their enemies and their own people. The leaders of Nineveh would use terror and brutality in order to maintain control over the empire. Their methods included, mass beheadings and making pyramids out of the heads, impaling people on stakes (an early form of crucifixion) and nailing bodies to the walls of the various cities in empire. The Assyrians did not worship God Jehovah. Jonah knew all of this, No wonder he didn’t want to go there.

   Jonah was walking into a very politically incorrect situation and one that could cost him his life. In Jonah 3:4 He enters the city and declares the Word of the Lord of its impending destruction. A wonderful thing happens, the people of Nineveh believed God. The people proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth. After that the King heard of the move of God in the city and he joined in proclaiming a fast for man and beast. Then the king led everyone from their evil ways and the violence they had done. The people and the king repented. When God saw their works and their repentance and He decided not to destroy them.

   We should be like Jonah, he preached God’s message in a politically incorrect situation. Political correctness says for the church, and individual believer to keep quiet and don’t speak out. If we speak God’s Word we can be branded uneducated, backwards and politically incorrect. But if we, like Jonah, speak the Word that God in power and authority, telling them message of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, to the people around us we too can have the same results. We can change our neighborhoods, our cities, our states and our nation.

   We do not need to look to the political leadership of our nation for change. The leaders of Nineveh did not change until they saw the people change. The same is true of our leaders, they will not change unless we lead the people to change.

   It is up to us to take the message of God’s love to the streets of our cities like Jonah did and expect greater results. The reason I say greater is that we have the Holy Spirit. We have the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). The combining of the Fruits and the Gifts of the Spirit creates a far greater anointing than any Old Testament prophet ever had, so we can expect greater results.  

We are God’s messengers to this nation and to the world. It’s time to put action to our prayers for our nation. Do not be afraid of those who call you names and say you are politically incorrect, stand your ground and speak the Word of God, demonstrate His love and power and expect change.  

 ©COPYRIGHT 2014 RICHARD L. SPANGLER