Rodney Shipman
My family and I were relaxing and watching an Animal Planet show about lions and how they live. Little did I know that God was speaking to me at that time. That next Sunday as I was in my office soaking in God�s presence waiting for the service to start, I heard the voice of the Spirit say, �I am the Lion of the tribe of Judah and I want to roar over you.� I responded, �Yes, Lord, roar over me.�
Later that day in the worship part of the service, I heard Him speak again, �I want to roar over you.� My response was, �Yes, Lord, roar over us. I declare now that you have come to roar over us.� Almost immediately the worship began to crescendo and His presence began to intensify. The next night we were in some special services here in the area and again I heard, �I want to roar over you.� Again I said yes. The worship there also increased and intensified.
As I meditated on this over the next few days, I thought back to Animal Planet. The documentary showed that when a lion defeats another lion and takes over the pride, a new order is set into place. The new king�s roar establishes his authority and speaks to those who hear his roar. God began to show me how He is the King of His Kingdom and He is ready to roar. Two thousand years ago on the cross of Calvary, Jesus first roared when He said, �It is finished!� He was establishing His authority and taking back what had been stolen.
When a lion roars in the natural, one of the things he is establishing is his claim to new territory. We know that Psalm 24 tells us the earth is the Lord�s and the fullness thereof, but because of sin, false religions, witchcraft and satanism, many places are not under the domain of Christ�s Kingdom. They are not blessed and prospering as they should be. Paul tells us in Romans 8:13-23 that creation eagerly waits and even groans for the sons of God to be revealed. We are aware that gangs have taken over cities and drug lords have taken over neighborhoods. False religions have taker over nations and regions of the world. As Peter tells us the devil roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). The devil has stolen what belongs to the rightful King by lying to and deceiving His people. We must recognize this and begin to allow the King, Jesus, to roar through us so His territorial authority over us can be reestablished.
God told Joshua that every place the soles of his feet would tread had been given to him. Joshua 1:1-7 also says that God would prosper him wherever he went. In Psalm 2:8, God tells us to ask and He will give us the nations as our inheritance. The word translated as �nations� here refers to people groups. It could be your neighborhood, city, region or nation. As we walk and pray, we should allow the King to roar declarations through us and take hold of the territory that belongs to Him "When the King roars over us, it allowsus to roar with faith and confidence sothat we can roam freely in His territoryunder His authority because there is a new order and a new Kingdom."
Still, it is not enough to reclaim territory; we must also see a new authority released there. The lion�s roar indicates the establishment of authority. A lion�s roar can be heard five miles away in every direction. When the new lion roars, he is saying, �I am now the new leader.� Every lion within hearing knows who is in charge. It is time that we, by faith, release the authority that we have in Christ. When we roar, everyone within ''[a certain radius should know He is in charge.
Matthew 8:5-13 tells the story of the centurion who came to Jesus on his servants� behalf. Jesus was willing to go to the man�s house to heal his servant, but the centurion knew there was no need. �I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. I say to this one, �Go,� and he goes. And to another, �Come,� and he comes.� He understood Christ�s authority and knew all it would take was the spoken word of Christ to heal. He was correct.
Later, we see Jesus asleep in a boat when a storm comes. His disciples think they are going to die, but Jesus steps up and roars and the storm becomes still. When some lepers cry out to Him, �You can heal us if you would,� again He roars and they are healed as they go down the road. When Lazarus was in the grave and all hope was lost, this King of authority stepped up to the grave and roared. Death was defeated. When He roars in His authority, no enemy can stand.
Matthew 28:18, 19 says that all authority has been given to Him and in that authority we can make disciples of all nations. Ephesians 1:20-23 hears Paul telling us that Christ is above all and Head over all things for us, the Church. When Christ roars over us, it is to allow us to operate under His authority. The pride that a lion leads can go out and hunt without fear. They can live within his territory knowing that their King is strong and will fight for them. His territory is established in His authority.
"I am the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
and I want to roar over you."
When a lion king roars, a new order is established. The lioness knows that she has a new king. All cubs from the previous king will be killed. This causes the king�s mate to come into season shortly after the cubs are killed so she can submit to the new king in intimacy. He can plant his domain in her to bring forth his fruit.
James 4:6-10 tells us that when we submit to God, we can resist the devil and he will flee from us. In this position of submittal, we learn the love of our King. That love gives us the boldness and confidence to live under His authority and in His territory where we can feast and flourish as His pride. When the King roars over us, it allows us to roar with faith and confidence so that we can roam freely in His territory under His authority because there is a new order and a new Kingdom.
Lord, Lion of the tribe of Judah, come roar over us and let Your Kingdom come! Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Establish Your territory, Your authority and Your order over our lives, our families, churches, cities, regions, nations and world.
ROAR!!
Shih-Tzu
