The Sword and the Plow

When I pray about 5787, two images keep coming before me: a sword and a plow. I believe they speak to two ways the prophetic must serve the church in this season.

The sword speaks to intercession. Ephesians 6:17 calls the word of God “the sword of the Spirit.” We need prayer that is guided by His Word and alert to what is resisting His purposes. The prophetic intercessor must discern what to pray, when to pray, and what God is calling the church to confront.

The plow speaks to preparation for evangelism. Hosea 10:12 tells us to break up fallow ground, “for it is time to seek the LORD.” Ground left untilled cannot readily receive seed. In the same way, we must seek God, prepare hearts, and make room for His Word to be sown. I believe this is a season to sow faithfully. We cannot expect a harvest from ground we have left untouched.

The sword and the plow belong together. Prayer helps us discern the resistance; the plow prepares the ground for the seed. If we only confront what is wrong, we may never plant what is right. If we rush to plant without seeking God, we may miss the condition of the ground. Prophetic discernment should guide both our intercession and our evangelism.

Apply this where you live and serve. Is there a family member you have been trying to persuade when you first need to pray and listen? Is there a community your ministry hopes to reach without understanding its needs? Is there hard ground in your own heart? Ask God where to stand with the sword of His Word and where to begin the patient work of the plow. Then sow what He gives you to sow.