"The Dread Champion"

April 2008

by Kay Winters

One year ago the body of Christ was on the threshold of entering into a season of testing that was so intense that many felt they would succumb to the battle. For a brief period of time a segment of the Church felt crippled. Barely able to walk, our souls were crushed with disappointment and we sat in disbelief as unrighteousness paraded itself before us. The following scripture was written upon the tablets of our hearts.

II Corinthians 4:9 “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken struck down but not destroyed always caring about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”

God’s ways are not our ways and His way of bringing us to our new gate of promise and inheritance comes with a price. We have a choice whether to yield our hearts to His convictions or choose self justification. Many are in the midst of physical and financial trials. Some have even seen the angel of death draw near. Through this winepress He is asking the question, “Who do you say that I am?” It is from this place and hour of testing that we are being prepared to be given a new war mantle to possess the gates of our enemies.

Jeremiah 20:11 “The Lord is with me like a dread champion; therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed because they have failed with an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten.”

The dread champion lives within us and He shall cause us to triumph. As this season of testing subsides, fear no longer will have victory over us. Purification and circumcision is changing our hearts and we will be like Peter, a rock, from which the Lord will build His church.