Healing History
Yesterday, we looked at connecting with the past, putting ourselves in God’s historical timeline in order to maximize power for today. Today we will look at disconnecting from national sins of the past, and healing the breaches or breaks in the timeline.
Every family, race, and nation has painful chapters in their story - points on their historical timeline with which they would rather not be connected. America is no exception. As I sought the Lord regarding this, He showed me that history can be “healed,” and nations can disconnect from their unrighteous and painful past. Not only is this possible, but it is also essential in order to attain a healthy future.
To help me understand this, Holy Spirit led me to Hebrews 11:3, “By faith, we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” A more literal Greek translation of the first half of this verse is, “By faith, we understand that the ages (aions) have been properly positioned, connected or aligned (katartizo) (1) by the spoken words of God…” (my rendering). “Ages” is the best translation of the Greek word aions. (2) This would include physical creation, but not be limited to it. This word also includes time.
The Greek word I translated as “properly connected or aligned” (katartizo), means putting something into its proper position, alignment, or connection. In biblical times, the “setting” of a broken bone was katartizo, as was the “relocation” of a dislocated joint; “mending” a torn net was, as well. The “restoration” of a fallen brother or sister (Galatians 6:1) is also this word. Generally speaking, katartizo means to properly position or align a person or thing, whether at its inception or as a restoration. The reason it is at times translated as “prepared” is because properly positioning something, as in the spine, prepares it for use.
Breaches in History
Interestingly, this verse in Hebrews 11:3 tells us God decreed the aligning and connecting of the ages. In other words, He declared the general flow of history, from age to age, and how each age would connect to the next. Isaiah 46:10 says He declared “the end from the beginning.” Also, foreseeing Adam’s fall and the effects of fallen humankind’s consequent sinful nature, God knew there would be dislocations and breaches in history’s timeline. Like potholes after a hard winter, His timeline would need seasons of repair. Defilement would come causing breaks, pain would then flow through history’s breaches, creating the need for restoration and healing - katartizo. God knew, for example, that innocent blood would be shed, abuses would transpire, idolatry would take place, covenants would be broken, slavery would occur, and a host of other sins would interrupt His plan.
These breaches in the timeline would mandate restorations, reformations, and reconnections to His predetermined plan. Therefore, God not only declared the aligning of the ages, but where He knew it would be necessary, He also decreed their realignment, the healing of history. The fact that God heals history can be clearly seen in Isaiah 58:12.
“And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise
up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the
breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.”
This verse clearly states that God heals, mends, and restores (katartizo) history, healing the broken points on the timeline. As the eternal Chiropractor, He realigns a nation’s spine. The mending of these breaks allows the pain of the past to heal, not simply be buried. Denial, as we know, only buries pain and causes the wound to remain unhealed.
Racial division in America is a prime example. Because we have not known how to place ourselves in the storyline, tapping into God’s redemptive ability to heal and restore, pain is still flowing through our broken history. Therefore, each new age/generation has to continue dealing with the wound and pain. Government tries to heal these breaches through laws and programs, but this will never succeed. Individuals attempt it by denouncing and condemning the injustices and prejudices, but this too, fails. Other misguided people espouse the “get over it” or “move on” approach. Meanwhile, the wound festers.
However, Isaiah 58:12 makes clear that God does want to heal the breaches of history and uses people to do so. “Those from among you…” is His plan. Katartizo is meant to occur through redeemed people as they understand and participate in God’s plan. We are the healers and peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Through humility, repentance, prayer, and fasting, God’s redemption occurs, and history can be healed.
I Stepped Into the Storyline
As this revelation regarding history grew in my heart and mind - connecting and disconnecting - for the first time, I knew I could truly put myself into our nation’s storyline. I was called to participate in the katartizo-ing of the ages, and I would do my part. I visited dozens of historical sites significant in our country’s founding and development, asking God to connect my heart with His original plan. I went to Washington, D.C., many times. I also traveled to many places where breaches had occurred in America’s timeline, including locations representing broken covenants (treaties) with the Native Americans, repenting for our sins. I visited ports of entry where slaves were brought into America and sold, identifying with the evil and repenting for our sins. I traveled to battlefields where innocent blood was shed, to legislative chambers where unjust and unholy laws were passed, and to courtrooms where those immoral laws were upheld. I visited those places, not as a tourist, but as an American, a participant, and an intercessor. I repented for MY history, asking God to cleanse it with the blood of Jesus and heal the breach, so that blessing could once again flow through that link in history’s chain.
I put myself into the storyline …to help heal the timeline.
To complete this process, in 2003 and 2004, Holy Spirit sent me to every state. To my knowledge, there is no significant part of American history - both the good and the bad - I have not identified within intercession to heal the breaches and extend the timeline. I certainly don’t share this to boast: indeed, I am but one of thousands who have participated in this identificational intercession. We became a generational link in His age-old chain and could now be His link to the future.
A part of the link between America’s yesterday and tomorrow is being forged with a flag. This flag bears a timeless message articulated in a fresh way by English philosopher, John Locke, in 1689: “And where the body of the people, or any single man, is deprived of their right, or is under the exercise of a power without right, and have no appeal on earth, there they have a liberty to appeal to Heaven…” (Right of Revolution: John Locke, Second Treatise).
Our founders believed him, staked their hope in prayer, and placed the phrase in our Declaration of Independence: “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions…”
George Washington added it to a flag and determined to fight for independence under this banner. No, the Appeal To Heaven flag is not America’s formal flag, but appealing to Heaven did birth Old Glory; without it she wouldn’t exist.
Now, through God’s orchestration and the embracing of the flag’s message by millions of Americans, that which birthed a nation is rebirthing it: appealing to heaven. It still works. If you haven’t already done so…put yourself in the storyline.
Tomorrow we will look at a powerful dream.
Pray with me:
Father, we try to hide our unrighteous past. You want to cleanse and heal it, restoring the painful dislocations. Much pain still flows through America’s breaches. We’ve primarily tried to heal them without Your supernatural ability, which is not possible. Yet, much repentance has been offered regarding America’s sins. We ask You now to heal us.
Remove the evil voices of those who attempt to divide us for monetary and political gain. Raise up pure leaders and healed healers. Give revelation and grace to those needing to forgive, and humility to those needing to ask for it. Heal the breaches.
Put America on Your adjustment table. Twist, push, pull, and maneuver in whatever ways necessary in order to realign us. Deliver us from lying, agenda-driven educators, media outlets, and government officials. Bring cleansing, adjustment, and awakening to the lukewarm Church. And light the greatest revival fire Earth has ever seen in the young generation here and around the world.
In Christ’s name. Amen.
Our decree:
We decree grace, cleansing, and healing into America’s storyline, and bind the accuser’s attempts to divide and conquer our nation.
Portions of today’s post were taken from my book An Appeal to Heaven.
Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, T: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 2675.
Ibid., ref no. 165
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