THE RISE OF THE PHOENIX WHO SEIZES AUTHORITY ILLEGITIMATELY By Robin Kirby-Gatto March 15, 2013 We will now see revelation as it is in scripture through Judges 9 regarding the attack of the phoenix. God led me to Judges 9 the morning before I read the article regarding the phoenix and God spoke to me that this is the chapter in scripture that reveals the strategies of the phoenix and God’s victory for His people! Before we get into Judges 9 the groundwork has to be laid. Judges 9 is about Abimelech and gets into his rule and reign over God’s people. However, Judges 8 reveals his birth and the rule and reign of his father as judge over God’s people. 28 Thus was Midian subdued before the Israelites so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had peace and rest for forty years in the days of Gideon. 29 Jerubbaal (Gideon) son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 Now Gideon had seventy sons born to him, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine, who was in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelech. 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33 As soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelites turned again and played the harlot after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the Israelites did not remember the Lord their God, Who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side; 35 Neither did they show kindness to the family of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, in return for all the good which he had done for Israel. Judges 8:28-35 We see that when Gideon was judge that Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not lift their head against God’s people. Midian means “brawling, contention” (Hebrew Word # 4079) and is associated with the Hebrew word meaning contest or quarrel, brawling, contention, discord, and strife. (Hebrew Word #4066). It comes from the root wood diyn meaning “to rule, o judge, to strive, contend, judgment, judge, minister, strife and strive.” (Hebrew Word # 1777). This indicates that those not in God’s legal authority would rise up to oppress God’s people by illegitimately ministering, ruling, judging which leads to ungodly judgments and strife. While Gideon ruled 40 years Israel had peace from the enemy ruling and reigning over them. Gideon means “feller as in warrior. It comes from the word gâdâ which means to fell a tree, to destroy anything –cut (asunder, in sunder, and down) hew down. This is something you might not know. Feller is a lumberjack that “fells.” Fells means “to cause to fall by striking; cut or knock down.” (thefreedictionary.com). Gideon torn asunder and struck down the high places where the pagan gods were lifted up by Israel. Gideon contended with God’s enemies and brought order to God’s people removing illegal judging, ruling and reigning or even ministering over God’s people. The enemy usurped God’s authority to rule and reign as judge through contention, strife brawling!! Do you see this!!! Now go back to my dream from note 1 where the lady came into my kitchen to cook the putrid looking lima beans and it is the green that we are focusing on; green indicates envy in the dream to come against godly jealousy. 16 For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. James 3:16. Through envy the enemy brings contention (brawling) SELF-ISH AMBITION BECAUSE THE god THAT THE PERSON IS TRULY SERVING IS SELF (not serving God), WHICH LEADS TO REBELLION!!! We will see more on this to come. Again, remember we are not wrestling against flesh and blood but against demon ruling powers that come against God’s authority. Therefore, pray for those caught up in this. Moreover, it is good for us to have the Hebrews 4:12 Sword of the Spirit to come into our heart to expose any rebellion that might be within our vessel. Gideon had many wives and bore 70 sons. However, the one born to his concubine in Shechem was Abimelech. Gideon then died shortly thereafter and was buried at Ophrah. After Gideon’s death the Israelites became harlots again and served Baal and made baal-berrith their God. Moreover, they did not show kindness (honor) to God’s authority (Gideon and his family). Schechem means “a ridge” and comes from the word meaning “the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens, the spur of a hill, the back, consent, portion, the shoulder.” (Hebrew Words # 7927 & 7926). Therefore, Schechem indicates authority, carrying the burden of the people. It was in this place that Abimelech was born. Abimelech is a philistine name meaning “father of the King.” With the component of these two words together there is indication that Abimelech would rise up as “king” bearing the peoples burdens, however it would not be by the blessings of God as we will see later. Remember the phoenix rises its neck up and then spreads out its wings, the neck rising up indicates usurping authority and taking rule and authority illegitimately. Moreover, the people were now worshipping Baal-berith and no longer honoring God’s authority. Baal-berith means “Baal of the covenant.” :god of the covenant" and the concordance states it is "a Phoenician diety," which is related to the word PHOENIX (Hebrew Word # 1170). Baal means master, husband, ruler. Therefore, we see here that the enemy is after the COVENANT and the phoenix rises up to be god of the covenant, to be baal!!!! If the enemy can get God’s covenant not from God; God is married to His Word, but if the enemy can get it from God’s people then God’s promises will not manifest! Now let us go on further with Abimelech in Judges 9. Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem to his mother’s kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, 2 Say, I pray you, in the hearing of all the men of Shechem, Which is better for you: that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one man rule over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 3 And his mother’s kinsmen spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother. Judges 9:1-3 It is after Israel is playing the harlot, committing adultery and not honoring God’s authority, that NOW Abimelech comes along. Abimelech went to Shechem to his mother’s house and family. In the place of “authority, going after the neck” Abimelech seeks to rise up as king, by pulling on the name of his father!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU SEE THIS!!!!!!!! OH GET READY!!!! HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SEE AUTHORITY USURPED BECAUSE PEOPLE UNDER THE MINISTER SAID “GOD TOLD ME TO DO IT THIS WAY, THAT WAY, YOU ARE DOING IT THE WRONG WAY!!!” WOAH GOD IS ABOUT TO PREACH!! See there is no way to rule without others in agreement for the illegitimate rule to take place or can we say CONTROL!!!! When people have given up being under God’s authority and want to play the harlot against God, speaking evils out of their mouth, slandering and doing evil work the enemy has them so deceived that they think it is GOD telling them to speak against that man or woman of God, when it is satan the deceiver that through self-righteousness and pride causes them to rebel against God, by rebelling against His authority!!! Abimelech starts complaining to those who are to be ruled over by godly authority about the authority that has been placed over them through the lineage of Gideon. Then comes the persuasion; Abimelech starts persuading others that he truly is the rightful ruler because his father was ruler as judge and the other nations have kings so why not make him a king!!! As they listened to the deceived rebellious one, those that had given ear to the rebellion were persuaded that it was God when it was a deceiving spirit. How many ministries and churches have been divided because of circumstances like this one here in Judges? God does not, nor ever will bless rebellion. While I was in the gym working out that morning prior to my bible reading I looked down at the free weights I was standing over, get this while doing “shoulders” (lol- of all things) and I noticed the 70 pound weights. Now I simply do not “notice things” unless it is God causing me to notice. That same morning I read Judges 9 and noticed the 70 sons of Gideon that Abimelech was saying would rule over the people. Therefore, 70 here is not the amount of those that rule but rather 7-God’s perfect 10-completion and testimony of Himself, of His rule!!! Therefore, Abimelech coming against the 70 sons here is truly coming against the perfect rule and authority of God. 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and foolhardy men who followed him. 5 And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and slew his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was left, for he hid himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together and all of Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king by the oak (terebinth) of the pillar at Shechem. The men moreover give Abimelech “70” pieces of silver, indicating God’s perfect rule and authority, but it was not; it was rebellion. They get the silver out of the house of Baal-berith, indicating that the way in which God’s authority and rule would be usurped is by those that had a covenant with Baal/those in rebellion to God’s authority. The first place Abimelech goes is to his father’s house. Remember his father Gideon is the son of Joash and is buried in Opharah in Joash’s tomb. Joash means “Jehovah –fired” indicating the fire of God. (remember Psalm 50:3) 3 Our God comes and does not keep silence; a fire devours before Him, and round about Him a mighty tempest rages. Psalm 50:3, this indicates God’s rule. The tomb is located in Opharah which comes from the root word meaning “ashes.” (Hebrew Words # 6084, 6082, 6083). Opharah symbolizes the ashes of death, the death of Gideon, Abimelech’s father, and out of those ashes was Abimelech's attempt to rise; he seized authority illegally by the name of his father and made himself king! In this place of death. Abimelech kills the 70 brothers, indicating coming against God’s perfect rule and reign, through the death of his brothers. Remember Psalm 50:19-20. 19 You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. 20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. Psalm 50:19-20. Abimelech kills his brothers on “one stone!” Can you see the revelation? Christ Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone and it is on that One Stone that the church is built! Therefore, Abimelech symbolizes illegitimate authority that usurps God’s authority and destroys in the name of Jesus, thereby the Church!!!! Can we say the great inquisition!!!! Can we say witch trials!!!! Can we say the trial of Jesus!!!!!!!! Oh my!!!! The destruction did not come from outside of the church but in the church and in the name of the church!!!!! Rebellion rises up by phoenix when the enemy sees the harvest coming in for a ministry or church and begins to pluck the fruit, trying to persuade others and causing them to listen to words of rebellion that would cause others to rise up with them and usurp God!!!!!!!!!!! Jotham the youngest son was left and hid himself because he was Gideon’s offspring, his son. Jotham means “Jehovah is perfect!” Jotham indicates the 70, the perfect rule of God!!!! Therefore, God conceals from the enemy His perfect rule that in time will rise up and confront the rebellion of the enemy to expose it in God’s church (this only applies to churches where rebellion is manifesting) and open the eyes of His people, so that they can repent!!!!!! The men gather in Shechem at Beth-millo, which in Hebrew means a rampart, as filled in, accomplish, confirm, consecrate, be fenced, fill, full, etc. (Hebrew Words # 4407, 4390). Abimelech became their rampart, their FENCE!!! He was made king in Shechem by the oak of the pillar! 7 When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, Hear me, men of Shechem, that God may hear you.8 One time the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, Reign over us. 9 But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, by which God and man are honored, and go to wave over the trees? 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, You come and reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go to wave over the trees? 12 Then the trees said to the vine (grapevine), You come and reign over us. 13 And the vine (grapevine) replied, Should I leave my new wine, which rejoices God and man, and go to wave over the trees? 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, You come and reign over us. 15 And the bramble said to the trees, If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon. 16 Now therefore, if you acted sincerely and honorably when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved—17 For my father fought for you, jeopardized his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midian; 18 And you have risen up against my father’s house this day and have slain his sons, seventy men, on one stone and have made Abimelech, son of his maidservant, king over the people of Shechem because he is your kinsman— 19 If you then have acted sincerely and honorably with Jerubbaal and his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you; 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the people of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let fire come out from the people of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech. 21 And Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech his brother. When Jotham, the son of Gideon who would have rightful authority to be a judge, heard about what Abimelech and the people did he then went to the top of Mount Gerizim; he was going to confront rebellion, confront the phoenix on the mountain; phoenix had spread its wings out and lifted up its neck against God’s perfect authority. Remember phoenix rises from stealing authority (thief) causing others to be adulterers, and killing their brother or sister (the ashes of death) who is in rightful authority by the words of their mouth!!!!! When grace came because of Jesus, He said that by your words you murder another and He speaks on the heart. This is what I have experienced time and time again by the enemy hitting me in my rightful authority in our ministry (Rich and I). Many times I’ve been attacked through jezebel, but the attack by the spirit of phoenix has been a different attack and is more aggressive and confrontational when it comes against me by the enemy through those given over to its device. I have endured this attack before and overcome but the fact that we were on the verge of a greater breakthrough and going higher in ministry indicated that phoenix was coming to attack again and try to steal from our field (the Lord’s Harvest in the ministry). 18 But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles [him]. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech. 20 These are what make a man unclean and defile [him]; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean or defile [him]. Matthew 15:18-20 Jotham confronts Abimelech and the people from Mount Gerizim, where according to Deuteronomy 11:29 the blessings of God resided. 29 And when the Lord your God has brought you into the land which you go to possess, you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. Deuteronomy 11:29. Gerizim in Hebrew means “to cut up” and “to cut off.” (Hebrew Words # 1630 and 1629). It is what Gideon was anointed to do, to be a feller, to cut off the enemy’s rule and reign thereby allowing God’s perfect rule and reign. On this place Jotham speaks to Abimelech and God’s people. 8 One time the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, Reign over us. 9 But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, by which God and man are honored, and go to wave over the trees? 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, You come and reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go to wave over the trees? 12 Then the trees said to the vine (grapevine), You come and reign over us. 13 And the vine (grapevine) replied, Should I leave my new wine, which rejoices God and man, and go to wave over the trees? 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, You come and reign over us. 15 And the bramble said to the trees, If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon. Judges 9:8-15 Here Jotham is indicating those that walk in obedience that will not seize authority that has not been given them but instead HONOR GOD and His rightful position as He has given to man. The Olive tree says I am not ruling over man because my fatness (my anointing) honors GOD, and to seize authority illegitimately is out of the question. Likewise, the fig tree says that its fruit is sweet and to leave that “work of the Lord” to go rule and reign is out of the question. Then the grapevine when asked replies that its new wine, which REJOICES GOD AND MAN, is that to which it has been called, not to rule illegitimately. Therefore, because the people were adulterers and deceived they then went to the bramble brush, which represents thorns and pain. It means to ‘pierce and make fast; a thorn-tree.’ (Hebrew Word # 329). Jotham was comparing Abimelech to the bramble bush, that which would pierce and be a thorn to the people. Jotham then declares if God is the one that has anointed Abimelech then let it be good, but if Abimelech illegitimately made himself king and the people anointed him then let “fire come out from him and devour” the people THIS IS THE RISE OF THE PHOENIX!!! THE PHOENIX RISES UP IN AUTHORITY ILLEGITIMATELY BY REBELLION AND BEGINS TO DEVOUR OTHERS (stealing, murder-through slandering, usurping God’s authority, and being a false witness). Jotham rebukes the people for dishonoring God’s true authority, Gideon and Gideon’s family. Jotham states that the people have usurped God’s authority and dishonored God’s authority when they CHOSE TO ANOINT ANOTHER TO RULE OR MINISTER OVER THEM, THEY CHOSE REBELLION!!!!!! Then Jotham declares that not only will fire come out of Abimelech to devour the people but fire will come out of the people to devour Abimelech, so the end result is death. It is necessary to guard against your ministry and home when this attack comes in; it is trying to stir up contention because of envy that has been stirred out of pride and self-righteousness. The enemy will try to attack you with the attack of the phoenix to steal the fruit of the ministry or of the home. However, the way in which to confront this attack is by the authority of God through Christ Jesus, in which we rise up and appropriate covenant declaring Psalm 80 and 50 over ourselves!!! Declaring Covenant!! 22 Abimelech reigned three years over Israel.23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,24 That the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers. 25 And the men of Shechem set men in ambush against [Abimelech] on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told to Abimelech. Here we see that God sends an evil spirit and this spirit comes upon the men to deal treacherously with Abimelech, the whole system of rebellion is collapsing on itself. The reason the spirit is sent is because of the violence of shed blood, blood guiltiness by which Abimelech committed and those which came into agreement with Abimelech. Therefore, those that are caught up by the deception of this spirit, God will send an evil spirit, He will send Phoenix, which He is over to come and devour the system of rebellion!!! It is likened unto Korah and God is reminding me of the man who sunk in a sink hole recently which was a terrible frightening thing but truly in this hour GOD IS SPEAKING, THAT REBELLION WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN HIS HOUSE AGAINST HIS MINISTERS!!!!! THOSE IN REBELLION WILL FIND THEMSELVES IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE LORD THAT IS FRIGHTFUL, like Abimelech, the men of Shechem and Korah!!! 9 Then Korah assembled all the congregation against Moses and Aaron before the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. 20 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin and will You be angry with all the congregation? 23 And the Lord said to Moses, 24 Say to the congregation, Get away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 Then Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he said to the congregation, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins. 27 So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the door of their tents with their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. 28 And Moses said, By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I do not act of my own accord: 29 If these men die the common death of all men or if [only] what happens to everyone happens to them, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord causes a new thing [to happen], and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up, with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol (the place of the dead), then you shall understand that these men have provoked (spurned, despised) the Lord! 31 As soon as he stopped speaking, the ground under the offenders split apart 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households and [Korah and] all [his] men and all their possessions. 33 They and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol (the place of the dead); and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 And all Israel who were round about them fled at their cry, for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. 35 And fire came forth from the Lord and devoured the 250 men who offered the incense. Numbers 16:9-35 CHURCH WE HAVE TO WAKE UP BECAUSE GOD WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS ANY LONGER AND HE TRULY IS SPEAKING!!!! PHOENIX COMES TO CAUSE REBELLION!!! IT WORKS THROUGH THE EGGS LAID BY LEVIATHAN, THE ADDERS EGG, THAT WHEN IT CRUSHES THERE IS A VIPER, PRIDE, THAT IS BIRTHED AND THROUGH PRIDE BEING BIRTHED THE PHOENIX COMES TO RISE UP FROM THAT PLACE BECAUSE DEATH IS THE FRUIT, ASHES ARE ALL AROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!! KORAH DID NOT GO TO SHEOL BY HIMSELF!!!!!! HE WENT WITH WITH MANY AND MOREOVER THOSE THAT DID NOT GO WITH HIM THAT STOOD AGAINST GOD'S AUTHORITY WERE DEVOURED!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS PSALM 50:3 GOD'S FIRE DESTROYS THE SEED OF REBELLION, THE SEED OF THE PHOENIX!! Our God comes and does not keep silence; a fire devours before Him, and round about Him a mighty tempest rages. Psalm 50:3, MORE TO BE CONTINUED…….

• < Prev
• Next >