“When the Gadites rise the Goliaths will fall.” I heard the Holy Spirit speak those words Tuesday night after I hung up from our Appeal to Heaven prayer call.
We're praying out the prophecies over the nation and we were praying out a prophetic word Tim Sheets released, part of which read: “As Esther, they will rewrite them by My statutes. Governors of the culture will now come forth. Remnant warriors will now emerge who have the heart of David, the wisdom of Solomon and the tenacity of Paul.”
While I was praying through that part of the prophecy, the Holy Spirit started showing me the Gadites. I began to pray for the mighty warring Gadites to rise and take out the Goliaths. Again, when I hung up I heard the Holy Spirit say, “When the Gadites rise the Goliaths will fall.”
Who Are the Gadites?
The Gadites came from the tribe of Gad. Gad was the seventh son of Jacob. His name means “troop.” The Bible describes the Gadites as “men able to bear shield and sword, to shoot with a bow, and who were skillful in battle, who went to war” (1 Chr. 5:18). When Jacob blessed his 12 sons before he died, he prophesied, “Gad shall be attacked by raiding bands, but he shall raid at their heels” (Gen. 49:19). In other words, it looked like Gad had lost the fight but he made a comeback. Isn't that what it looks like in America even now?
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We find another mention of the Gadites in 1 Chronicles 12:7-9: “From the Gadites mighty men of valor, men of the war battalion, who could handle shield and sword, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains, separated themselves for David in the stronghold in the wilderness” (MEV). Remember, it was the Gadites who stood on the side of righteousness with David amid Absalom's great rebellion. The Gadites are the ones who will stand strong amid the Great Falling Away we're seeing in the church even now.
Matthew Henry's Commentary describes the Gadites this way: “They were able-bodied men, men of incredible swiftness, not to fly from, but to fly upon, the enemy, and to pursue the scattered forces. In this they were as swift as the roes upon the mountains, so that no man could escape from them; and yet they had faces like the faces of lions, so that no man could out-fight them. They were disciplined men, trained up to military exercises; they could handle shield and buckler, use both offensive and defensive weapons … They were daring men, that could break through the greatest difficulties. What enemies those were that they met with in the valleys, when they had passed Jordan, does not appear; but they put them to flight with their lion-like faces, and pursued them with matchless fury …”
Goliath Must Fall
The Gadites had faces like lions. I like that. It means the fierceness and boldness showed on their faces, intimidating their enemies. Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
How bold is a lion? They aren't called the king of the jungle for nothing. The Bible calls the lion “strongest among beasts” (see Prov. 30:29-30). Amos asked, “The lion has roared; who will not fear?” (Amos 3:8) You can hear a lion roar from miles and miles away. And Peter warns us to, “Be sober and watchful, because your adversary the devil walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Of course, Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (see Rev. 5:5).
Goliath, on the other hand, was just an uncircumcised Philistine. Unlike the Gadites, Goliath was not in covenant with God. Goliath could not claim the promises of God. Goliath may look big—and he is—but he is no match for the Gadites. In your life and in this nation, Goliaths have risen up to war against us. But take heart. When the Gadites rise, the Goliaths will fall. Rise up now, bold as a lion, and decree and declare your victory over Goliath. Stand for truth amid the rebellion! It's time to roar! Decree and declare that the Goliaths attacking this nation will fall, in Jesus' name!
Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.
