I wrote the header of this block some days ago and never finished as the title dropped in my spirit by seeing the efforts of so many beautiful young churches. Nehemiah was a man with an overview insight and a sensitive heart, which is a rare but essential combination. He saw the building efforts, heard about the situation of his people and directly reacted with the gift that was given to him: a strategic builder, submitted to the heart of God.

The need of a safe environment when a ‘city’ is in constant danger through the attacks of a persistant enemy!

Today I was rereading a mail by a young friend who googled on Gates, walls and watchmen as he was sending me this graet link. I believe it are the right words that I can add to the “Nehemiah’s concern” impression!

Gates, Walls and Watchmen – An Increase of Fresh Vision and Courage

Daryl Crawford-Marshall, Sydney, Australia

My Vision of the City Gates

As I was praying at the beginning of February, I was taken into an encounter where I found myself standing in an old, dusty city, resembling a place one would expect to experience in Biblical times. I found myself in what appeared to be the very heart of the city, a place where many market stalls and/or trading areas were functioning and large numbers of people were moving around. From this location, I was able to see too clearly all the way through to the many city gates directly ahead of me.

Looking around, I started to notice that I was continually being bumped and shoved as many people were pushing past me and were running all around. As I paid this a little more attention, I realized that this was, in fact, a very frantic scene. I could see that many people were crashing into the stalls and running in and out of the openings of the houses and that many had arms full of goods. I could then suddenly see that this city was actually under siege.

As soon as I recognized this, I shouted as loud as I could, “SOMEBODY, SHUT THE GATES!” As soon as these words left my mouth, I found myself immediately at the gates and could now better see that people were not only coming in through the gates, but were also entering in through large, broken down areas of the city walls too. I then looked down and could see that the gates had actually been wedged open by the intruders and the city defenses had been entirely breached.

I then felt the Lord say, “What you are seeing, is what many believers are experiencing in their soul.”

I was then taken up, as if in an instant, onto one of the standing turrets at the end of one of the walls and was able to see that the walls at the front of the city, on either side of the gate, had been broken down. I instinctively looked at the Lord, who I knew was now standing on my right side, and said, “Lord, but now there’s no place for the watchmen to stand!”

Right as I said this, I knew that the watchmen actually represented a discerning as to what was being allowed to come into the city and that this city could not function well again until its breaches were fixed, gates closed, and watchmen re-established on its walls.

I then heard the Lord speak again and say, “This is what happens when senses and discernment become dulled and desensitized. When there is no longer self-control over temptation, walls begin to weaken and, in time, can be broken down. The wedge you saw represents a newly established spiritual stronghold. The ground you see will remain occupied until the gates are reclaimed and the breaches again fortified.”

I instinctively knew that the fortification of the walls would have to come from a person’s accountability within their local Church community, and the closing of the gate from their repentance.

I then knew what was meant by Peter when he stated, “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11 NIV), and also remembered the Scripture from Proverbs: “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control” (Proverbs 25:28 NIV).

My Vision of Rebuilding the Walls

Then I saw a change of scenery, and saw many people working to start rebuilding the walls of the city. I saw ropes being used to haul stones into place and one man helping another to build what would surely be impossible for one person to build alone. As they pulled the stones back into place on the walls, I saw their arms flex with strength as if they had been trained for this very purpose.

I heard the Lord say, “I am bringing fresh courage to those who have not felt strong enough to resist temptation. Their breakthrough is coming. The people that you see resisted similar temptations and can now help others to do the same. They have been made strong through the process of resistance training.”

I could see that the people who were building the wall had already been strengthened to do it by building their own walls prior, and I was shocked to see how quickly the walls were made ready and strong as they began to work together.

I strongly believe that the Lord is calling some of us into a new level of walking out vulnerability and accountability within community at this time. I also believe that as this process is undertaken, that many Believers will experience an incredible increase of courage, fresh vision, renewed spiritual sensitivity, and incredible freedom as they do!

Daryl Crawford-Marshall

DCM Ministries

Email: daryl@dcmministries.com

Website: dcmministries.com

Daryl Crawford-Marshall is a prophetic equipper, teacher, and revivalist. He and his wife, Belinda, live on the East Coast of Australia and are the Associate Pastors at Jubilee Church, Sydney. Daryl is a man of encounter who has a passion to train others to recognize the voice of God, engage with Heaven, and move in the supernatural. Regularly ministering at churches, healing meetings, and prophetic schools, he is often invited to teach on subjects such as supernatural encounters, spiritual realities, releasing the miraculous, and building healthy prophetic community. Daryl is an active member of the Australian Prophetic Council, releasing prophetic words over the nation as well as working alongside churches, businesses, and individuals to provide prophetic insight in a consulting capacity.