Extending the Sceptre

by David Demian

A few months ago, as I was getting up to share in a church meeting, the Lord asked me “David, when was the last time you bothered me?” My first response was “I hope I never bother you, Lord!” But then the Lord said to me, “No, David, I want you to bother Me”.

Immediately I thought of the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. The widow was so relentless in demanding justice that finally the judge decided

'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. (Luke 18:4-8)

I believe the Lord is asking the church of Canada at this time to bother Him that He might release His justice in our nation.

His Name Will Be Feared
The Church today has little impact on the world because when we speak, the authority of the Lord is not backing us up. And so God’s name is not feared and honoured but mocked by our government, our courts and by unbelievers. ‘”Where is your God?” they cry.

I come from a Middle Eastern culture and in our culture, the son’s delight is to bring honour to the name of his daddy. So if my daddy is being laughed at and mocked, it brings deep grief and a determination in my heart to do whatever it takes to restore honour to his name

This is the same determination I have in my Christian walk. I want to see God’s name feared and honoured in this nation. I am not saying that everyone will believe in the Lord. But when God was with Israel, all the heathen nations around them feared the God of Israel, whether they believed in Him or not. He was revered because it was clear to all that He was with Israel.

In May 2001, on the Journey of Hope, the Lord led us to pray in an area known as the Canadian Forest. As we met in this location, near the Valley of Ajalon (where the sun stood still for Joshua) the Lord impressed upon our hearts that He wanted us to prophetically declare that righteousness will come back to the nation and government of Canada.

Our prayer at that time and our faith still today is that God will shake everything that can be shaken. Those who will walk in righteousness according to His precepts will find unprecedented favour. And those who will not respond wholeheartedly to His declared purposes will find judgment coming swiftly. Our government and nation will seek righteousness and all the laws that are contrary to God’s will and that defile the nation will be reversed. And Canada will be an example of a nation that walks with the Lord, fearing and honouring His name.

The nations [Canada] will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth [our government officials] will revere Your glory. (Psalm 102:15)

Extending the Sceptre
In 1999, after the Winnipeg Gathering, the Lord spoke clearly that when the Church would take its place in humility, brokenness and unity, He would make the government yield and submit to what He is declaring. When it is known that God is walking with the Church, the government will begin to look to the Church for counsel and wisdom even as in Biblical times, when kings consulted prophets of the Lord about the affairs of state.

Over the next few years, through a number of regional and national leadership Gatherings the Lord began knitting the hearts of leaders from many denominations and regions across the country. These relationships led to a covenant of unity at the Kelowna Gathering in September 2001. Over 110 leaders, representing about 50 cities in Canada, promised to lay down their personal agendas and even their own lives for one another to see God’s purposes fulfilled in the nation.

Within the last month, the Lord spoke to us that He is now ready to extend His sceptre of authority to the Canadian church at the upcoming Charlottetown Gathering. We believe this signifies a profound change is coming in the spiritual climate of our nation. There is the roar of a heavy rain.

And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. (I Kings 18:41-42)

I believe God is raising up a remnant throughout Canada that He has prepared for such a time as this. A remnant that will cry out, day and night, like never before. Now is the time to put our hands to the plow and not look back. Now is the time to travail without ceasing until we see the cloud the size of a man’s hand appearing on the horizon. And then, like Elijah, the spirit of the Lord will come upon the Canadian church and we will run with supernatural speed into the fullness of God’s purposed destiny for our nation.

Esther Fast
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:15-16)

We believe that we stand at another crossroads as a nation. Over the last five years the Lord has been sifting us, testing us, stretching us, walking with us one step at a time. And now it is time for the next step in our journey. It is time for His righteous rule to be established in His Dominion called Canada (Psalm 72:8). It is time for His name to be revered again in our nation.

To prepare ourselves for Charlottetown, we are calling the Church to a three-day fast, from sundown July 16th to sundown July 19th. Some may be led to undertake an Esther fast. Each one should fast according to the measure of grace he feels from the Lord. No matter how we choose to fast, let our hearts be one in our desperation to lay hold of all the Lord has declared for the Charlottetown Gathering.

The release of the fullness of His gifts to the Church (apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors) to prepare us for the next phase of our journey.
The release of the sons to walk with the fathers.
The release of the church in Atlantic Canada to take its place in the spiritual leadership of the nation.
The release of creative gifts that will raise a standard of holiness, righteousness and the fear of the Lord.
The release of the French and English in Canada to walk together.
The release of authority to the Canadian church to provide wisdom and counsel to the rulers of our nation.

Let us give ourselves no rest and Him no rest until He establishes His kingdom, power and authority in our nation. (Isaiah 62:6)