“I was sent to war and conquered!  All Praises belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Joel 3:9 says, “Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war!  Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.” (NIV) It is an announcement to all the godless nations: A battle has been prepared!  Fighting men of God are on alert! Ready to attack!

May 16th , while getting ready to go to the airport…Satan as usual, was uncomfortable…he was doing his best to stop me from leaving…I was ill with fever, cough and colds.  But I said to him…”get away from me Satan!  I am advancing this time and you can not stop me!  My God is going to prepare me for something…and I am going for it, in the Mighty Name of Jesus! Amen!”

Together with other delegates, we reached Toronto Airport at around 5:30 PM.  While waiting for the rest of the delegates to arrive, we hang out to our favorite coffee shop, ‘Tim Hortons’.  Looking around, seeing God’s people posing for photos, I asked myself, “Lord, what is your gift to me on this WIN Congress?”  God was silent.

Time to go in the plane!  As one family of God, I have seen the caring of one another.  Time to settle…did we sit still?  Oh no!  We laughed like little children…just enjoying the moments. And one thing that struck my heart and it seated there until we arrived Vancouver was when Ptr. Bong Gonzales said, “Do you notice that there is no ‘reverse” for airplane? It is always forward?”  And I said to myself, “Lord, in serving You, there is no reverse…no turning back…and whatever it takes, whatever you have in store for me there at the WIN Congress, no turning back.   

Arriving at the Vancouver Domestic Airport…we were happy to see Ptr. Raymund Dagampat who had helped us get on our shuttle bus to Radisson Hotel. 

And the day has come!  Saturday, the Congress was opened with the welcoming anointed praise and worship by the CYN Music team. The first session was shared by Ptr. Bong G., “The Unavoidable Warfare”!  What a remarkable opening! It is true, the target of the enemy is you and me, God’s creation, God’s covenant people and God’s redeemed. And identifying who the enemy is, his works and goals, including his strategies and even his strength and weapons – “there’s a need to fight!  To do the spiritual battle!  And yes, the Spiritual Pearl Harbor will attack!”  From this session alone, I believed each one was already encouraged to ‘rouse’ and attack!  Carrying the weapon for victory: submitting to God’s will, to His Word, putting on the whole armors of God, declaring God’s goodness, united with fellow fighting men of God, carrying the Name of Jesus, I declare that it is true when he ended up with this words, “every human being is in warfare of life!  God wants us to choose to wage war and win every battle!”

And victory is upon God’s people! (1 Sam. 17:47)

The “Preparation for Warfare” shared to us by Ptr. Mary Juarana during the second session was enlightening!  Why we need to be strong? Because the Bible says so! (Joshua 1:9).  Being strong is having a proper relationship to God with constant confession with an open heart, and not by compulsion, for the higher our calling, the higher the standard.  She added, “We must possess a radical spirit always filling up with the love of God for when God wants to use us, there is no limit to His ability.”

Ptr. Rose Gonzales, the JIL Canada WIN Pastor shared during the 3rd session the “Strategies for Effective Warfare” (cascading of WIN strategy).  Jesus is our model, in praying and in warfare!  WIN means simply standing in the gap before the church, nation, people and government. Amazingly to know that in JIL all over Canada, there are at present 2738 members of the WIN and 1224 are Fasting.  Glory to God!  I believe after this WIN Congress, there will be more members to join because these 219 delegates who attended the congress will share and testify that there is a MASSIVE NEED for more Warriors and intercessors!  There is a call for a job to be done.  For those who are willing, loving, with zealousness, dedicated fervent and persistent enthusiastic spirit to perform in demolishing all plans and wiles of Satan through the Living God by prayer or intercession and warfare, transforming all believers to be Passionate, Prophetic and Patriotic Prayer Warriors in winning the world for Christ’.

Sunday, no one seems had slept through the night!  I could hear that very early morning around 2:30 a.m. the rushing of waters! I thought I was dreaming!  But no!  One of my roommates was already taking shower, singing “Amazing Grace” getting ready for the High 5 Prayer Service – “Drawing Near to the Lord of Host”.  To be honest, that was one of the best Dawn watch or High 5 Prayer Services I had attended so far!  The best because, though I did not have sleep that night, I managed to prepare myself ready in the very early morning with joy as if I am going to meet my God in person! Like a bride meeting her groom! Approaching God’s throne when I did my step of faith to go and kneel down before God while the Music Ministers were singing “The Power of Your Love”, I just talked to God, saying, “Lord, just hold me please!  Hold me and never let me go! Hold me close.  Let your love surround me.  Bring me near to you, Lord! Draw me to Your side!”  I thought, I was really hugging God at that moment!  It seems so real! And I don’t want to let Him go either!  I don’t want to end that moment!  A very precious moment with my God!

Ptr. Evelyn Licayo entertained us with the truth regarding the “Dangers and Pitfalls of a Warrior” during the 4th session.  I was laughing to some examples and illustrations, but I can’t deny it…the truth hurts! (John 8:32). Yes, many do not know that they are deceived because of a hidden or not easily recognized danger or difficulty that falls on as a pitfall of a warrior.  One example is the “becoming demon conscious”…being so over spiritual that could make one a “weird warrior”…that everything that we see bad is of demon’s.   Another example is the “Spiritual Arrogance” – being people conscious instead of magnifying the Word of God.  (Miriam and Aaron Nu. 12:1-9).  Staying close to God, walking in holiness, in purity while seeking Him daily through reading of His Word and being with fellow Christian would protect us from falling into this pit!

Another session (the 5th) is I considered part of my preparation as being equipped shared by Ptr. Monette Navo.  Learning and knowing the importance of “Spiritual Mapping” (seeing the world as God sees it).  There is a need to going into the stronghold, identifying the spirit on that place as if scouting the land and used it as a tool for effective prayers. (Ja. 5:16).  I learned that it is the warrior who goes for the spiritual mapping and the intercessor will pray on behalf.  And I felt this when we had our Monday tour passing the place called “East Hasting”…I have seen the very low and very bad affluence on that area!  And something crawled around my neck, a heat that I can not explain as if choking me. My heart was crushed seeing people on the street while Ptr. Raymund D. was talking about the people’s way of living. And I said to myself…”ah, this is a serious business, we need to wage war!”

The 6th Session was about “Taking Over the Enemy Territories” by Ptr. Aldrin Navo.  Yes, enemies are around and we must secure our perimeter fence!  The devil’s scheme and plot to destroy God’s people is rampant, everywhere.  As warriors and intercessors, we have a job to do!  There is an urgent call: To take over the enemy territories seriously!!!  Look around! Consider where you live, your physical location, be more politically concerned, what is the financial and commercial influence in your community, in your family, is there any religious fanaticism? The enemy is a defeated foe yet, will not stop to snatch us from God.  He is even trying to penetrate our health system through human services, schools, education, mass media and culture.  It is not a joke!  It is real! The truth: learning to be contented (1 Cor. 10:10),with a faith though as a size of a mustard seed (Mat. 14:30), and doing things as Christ strengthening us (Phil. 4:13), we will gain a territory for Christ!

Finally, the Commissioning!  My heart is full of gladness that I participated to this last activity, The ‘Enlistment’.  It is God Who enlist, therefore I accept it. (John 15:16).  When I went back to my seat, God gave me His Word in Jeremiah 17:5, 7 “Cursed is the one who trusts in man who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord….but Blessed is the man that trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him”.  Then after, it followed the “Empowerment”.  It is God who empowers and I received it through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, through God-inspired persecution mentioned in Acts 8:1 and through the laying of hands with prophetic word (1 Tim. 1:18-19).  Finally, the “Deployment”.  It is God who deploys, therefore, I set out. (Matt. 28:18-20/Luke 4:18-20/Acts 1:8).

I received a Prophetic Word that day.  When Ptr. Aldrin called me and said, “Warrior ka!”, I received it and I claimed it.  I am a conquering Warrior that prays for Christ!  But the question ended up when I sat still on my chair: “Are you ready to die for your faith?”

Monday, before we heading back to get our luggage (departure time), we were given a nice tour to see the Vancouver “Prayer House” or the “Mission House”.  The place is so beautiful not only because it is surrounded with trees, flowers, green leaves and grasses, but because it is also surrounded by mountains…it is so peaceful and it is really conducive for being with God alone!  I am happy to know that I am a part of it.  All the Praises and Glory belongs to the Son of the Living God, my Lord, Jesus Christ!  

Shared by:

Sis. Babes Ocampo
www.jil12ocampo.homestead.com
JIL Toronto