A few nights ago while sitting in silence the Lord began to download a word that I’ve been studying and meditating on. Despite who this may offend, my goal is to obey God.
The Lord said: “This is the turning point. From this day forward what you say you believe and what you have read in my word will matter more than anything else. More than ministry, more than church buildings, more than business or influence. Your belief and your response will be tested in the fire. The landscape has changed: confession and conviction will now carry consequence; private faith will surface into public fruit.”
Boldness Like Peter and John
Read Acts 4:1–31.
Peter and John were arrested because they preached in the name of Jesus, and because about 5,000 people believed The Truth as a result (Acts 4:4). The council commanded them to stop, but “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit” replied:
“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19–20, ESV)
When they were released, the believers prayed:
“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness … And when they had prayed, the place … was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29–31, ESV)
This is the model for us today. The shaking produces courage. The persecution produces purity. And the Spirit produces boldness.
Lamb and Lion
Many know Jesus as the Lamb who was slain (John 1:29, Revelation 5:6), but now He is revealing Himself as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). The Lamb redeems; the Lion roars. The Spirit is calling believers to move from passive “niceness” to holy boldness and Spirit-led kindness (Galatians 5:22–23).
Beware of Scattering the Sheep
In the mix of all of this the enemy’s agenda is to scatter the flock (John 10:12). Satan is whispering to believers: “Leave your church if your pastor doesn’t speak on this event or that crisis.” This is the spirit of division at work.
If you are part of a body of believers who pray, preach the gospel, teach the Word, and seek Jesus — remain planted. Do not demand from your pastor or leaders what God has not required. Their only assignment is to speak as the Spirit leads (Jeremiah 3:15). The church is not a courtroom.
Do not confuse silence with compromise. While it is true that some leaders struggle with cowardice, we must be careful not to place that label on everyone. To group every leader together is not discernment but dishonor — and dishonor often disguises itself as bravery. True courage is found in praying for leaders, honoring the assignment God has placed on them, and discerning by the Spirit rather than by offense. Pray for those in leadership (Hebrews 13:17, 1 Timothy 2:1–2).
Do not partner with agendas that promote leaving one another’s churches for momentary offense or viral moments.
Jesus is who you are there to encounter. He is our Judge first, our Savior always. Our loyalty is to Him — His Word, His Spirit — not to platforms, not to public outrage, and definitely not our demands.
False Accusations and Rebellion
Jesus warned that when truth comes, rebellion responds with accusation. They accused Him of blasphemy (Mark 14:61–64). They stoned Stephen because his words cut them to the heart (Acts 7:54–60). Today, those who confront sin and rebellion are often accused of racism, hatred, or division.
But Scripture says:
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” (Isaiah 5:20, ESV)
When someone declares the truth of God’s Word, it is not racism or hate speech — it is light exposing darkness (John 3:19–21).
Our Response Should Always Be:
- Repentance – Stop mocking, slandering, and scattering. Return your heart to the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:14, Acts 3:19).
- Prayer for Leaders – Intercede for pastors, not accuse them. Pray for courage and purity (Ephesians 6:18–20).
- Discerned Boldness – Learn to speak truth without mixture. Boldness with love, clarity without slander (Colossians 4:6).
- Endurance – Endure to the end with purity of heart (Matthew 24:12–13).
Do not be deceived by Smoke & Mirrors: The Strategy of Deception
The enemy is mastering illusion, stirring up fear, anger and racial tension, not to bring justice, but to scatter the flock, to divide families, to pit one brother and sister in Christ against another, to provoke civil war in the heart of the land. He is using half-truths, false accusations, social media outrage, and selective narrative to craft a counterfeit justice.
- What are “Smoke and Mirrors”?
These are tactics that mask truth. They spotlight one issue (race, injustice, etc.), emphasize hurt, and magnify outrage, but often omit context, omit grace, omit full truth. The enemy steals the narrative by exaggerating, by triggering fear, by separating instead of reconciling. - Why Satan uses them:
Because a divided house is weak. John 10:12 says: the hireling flees, but the shepherd stands by the sheep. If the sheep are scattered, the shepherd can’t shepherd; Christ’s body is weakened. Satan’s goal is always to derail unity, to create factions that accuse one another rather than pressing into God together. - How it leads toward civil war (spiritual and social):
When people are stirred up by anger, not by truth; when identity becomes more important than Gospel; when social media and public opinion become the measure of right; when Christians choose sides over justice vs. peace without discernment — division deepens. If unchecked, it can escalate into hatred, unrest, even violence — spiritual civil war among believers, and physical among people.
Scriptures to Anchor Yourself In
| Scripture | What It Speaks To |
|---|---|
| 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 | False apostles, deceitful workers disguising themselves as servants of righteousness. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. |
| Matthew 24:6–13 | Wars and rumors of wars; truth being mixed with deception; many falling away; love growing cold. |
| Jeremiah 9:6 | A people living amidst deception, rejecting knowledge of God. |
| Psalm 140:1–5 | Tongues sharpened like serpents, plotting wickedness, evil speakers, violence. (The imagery of hidden snares and betrayal.) |
| Psalm 83 | Enemies consulting together in secret counsel against the people of God. |
| Ephesians 5:6 | Do not be deceived by empty words — warnings of God’s wrath over disobedience rooted in being led astray. |
Correction & Encouragement
- Test every impulse: Is this from the Holy Spirit?
- Let us be slow to join accusations, but quick to pray and to intercede
- Speak truth — but do so with humility, love, clarity. Resist the urge to join mass condemnations and calls to abandon your Pastor, unless God has clearly led.
A Charge to Pastors & Leaders
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28, ESV)
You are under assignment from God to guard the flock — not to satisfy every demand, not to answer to every trend, but to remain faithful to the Gospel. Satan’s tactic in this hour is smoke and mirrors — inflaming racial division, stoking offense, and scattering sheep through suspicion.
You will be accused. You will be pressured to speak where the Spirit has not led, and silent where the Spirit says “declare.” Do not bow to fear of man. Your obedience is not to the applause of people but to the command of God.
Do not be reckless with words — but do not be timid either. Truth must be spoken in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). Pray for discernment. When you do not know what to say, wait on the Lord. When you are called to speak, let boldness in the Spirit, not anger of the flesh, flow from you.
The Lord says: “Shepherds, protect My flock. Do not partner with the scattering spirit. Lead with truth, compassion, and courage — and I will fill your mouth.”
Prayer:
“Lord, purify my heart. Deliver me from slander, division, and cowardice. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and let my mouth be an instrument of truth and love. Strengthen our pastors and leaders for this hour and journey ahead. Help us to partner with what you are doing in this hour. Shake our gatherings with boldness and signs that testify of Jesus. Amen.”
As we wait patiently for the return of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Pastor Sandy Edwards
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