I heard the Lord say that the word for the hour is “BE READY”! I then heard Him say the word “FORTIFY.” Both of these words build upon each other, as to be ready is to be fortified. God is clearly giving direction for the hour that is upon us; we can choose to heed it or not.
To be ready is to have everything needed to stand in place. This can be physical, but far more important is our spiritual readiness. This requires that our foundations be secured in Christ, all cracks sealed up, and all access to the enemy shut down. It also means to be ready for when God moves in fire to seal what He has established in His saints to transform them as He did the disciples at Pentecost, transforming them into His apostolic people, called to stand in the challenge of the hour. To be ready is to have our gates wide open to receive the King of glory—Lord Sabaoth, mighty in battle!
If Joshua needed a revelation of the Lord of hosts for the campaign to take the Promised Land, so do we. We are poised for an encounter with our eternal King. A breaker anointing of fire is about to descend on the saints, therefore the trumpets are sounding these words: “BE READY!” The direction to fortify must be readily adhered to. The charge to fortify must be carried out with zeal and wisdom, as fortification is required for the seven years ahead, taking us to 2030.
What Is God Meaning When He Says “Fortify”?
Fortify means to “provide with defensive works as protection against attack or secure”; to “brace up,” “build up,” “support,” “reinforce,” and “secure.” It means to strengthen mentally, physically, or morally; to add courage or endurance, mental or moral. In regard to health, it means to increase the nutritional value of food by adding vitamins or minerals.
God is directing us to fortify our souls, fortify our bodies, fortify our homes, and fortify our households.
To fortify your soul is to strengthen it with prayer. Regular times of intimacy and communion fortify our souls and build up our spiritual muscles as we are strengthened in faith. We are fortified by remembering past exploits, successes, and miracles in our history with our God, as David was.
To fortify your body is related to your health. This is something we have to take seriously, as God is calling everyone to get in shape for the race ahead and is now giving favor to do it. This can mean exercise or a changing of our eating habits.
To fortify your home is to make it a sanctuary for the Holy Spirit, ensuring that nothing can penetrate. Our homes should be marked by the Blood so that we can declare as Joshua did, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” (see Joshua 24:15). This can also be in the physical, fortifying your home against the elements, such as storms and hurricanes, as some have learned by experience and taken the necessary steps. (Photo via Pexels)
To fortify your household is to work to build strong, resilient marriages and families that can weather the storms of life. We do this by laying down our pride and power in order to build around the Lord, around love, forgiveness and reconciliation. It is to establish offense-free zones of His presence. A well-fortified place will become our fortress, a place that serves as a center for Holy Spirit strategies and applications, a place of protection from danger—a high place serving the Lord!
There are many passages in Scripture where God warns His people to fortify!
“Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey His laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest.
“‘Let us build up these towns,’ he said to Judah, ‘and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God; we sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.’ So they built and prospered.” (2 Chronicles 14:2-7)
Strengthen What Remains
I then heard the Lord say, “Strengthen what remains!” At the time, I did not remember that I had written these words previously, and was greatly surprised, when re-reading them, that God was saying the same thing and now emphasizing it again. Here is a small segment of what I had written:
“All flesh and self-glorification will be brought to nothing at the approach of the King. Through the work of fire kindled on the earth, the LORD is saying to His people, ‘Strengthen what remains.'”
“This is a new season, having new spiritual dimensions and measurements. STRENGTHEN AND FORTIFY the bulwarks; build the ramparts of defense; fashion the breakwater as protection from the storms. But know that I am the Breakwater that surrounds your life, your ministry, and your city! These protections are fashioned in Me, in the vast dimensions of My being that you will come to know as you serve Me wholeheartedly.
“I am your Breakwater—the Bulwark that stands in power between you and the tyranny of the day. Do not fear. I stand unmovable, surrounding you as the earth shakes around you. Look to Me! Keep your eyes fixed on Me and you will stand resolute with Me. Your praise and your worship to Me establish the line of defense. Let Me hear your voice! Worship Me like David did!”
A breakwater is a structure or wall that protects, providing a front against storms. It can be constructed as a line of defense from invading forces—a wall that acts as a bulwark, built as protection from enemy forces, or principles established to protect against tyranny. The Lord is speaking the words of Revelation 3:2 to His people, and especially to His leaders who have fallen into compromise with worldly principles and governments.
“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of My God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” (Revelation 3:2) (Photo via Peakpix)
These words were spoken to the church in Sardis who had fallen asleep and were in spiritual decline because they had surrendered to the principles of the world. Jesus was giving a strong word of warning and the opportunity to get things right, telling them to begin to strengthen the little they had remaining of the principles of the Kingdom. He was warning them to wake up what little, spirituality, they had left that was about to completely die. The NLT says, “…for even what is left is almost dead…”
Strengthen Your Stakes
Lastly, I heard the Lord say, “Strengthen your stakes”—an admonition to reinforce what we do have; that which we have gained in the Lord over the years. The good news is that for those who have remained faithful, there will come expansion and growth, and therefore there is the need to prepare for it! To reinforce is to give added strength or add support. If your stakes are made of wood, now may be the time to make them with iron! God is saying, “Be ready, I am about to accelerate and increase you! Now do the things that are necessary to accommodate growth.”
“‘Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,’ says the LORD. ‘Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, DO NOT HOLD BACK; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.'” (Isaiah 54:1-3, emphasis mine)
Who is like our God? In these times we must learn to draw strength from our awesome God who gave us the potential to have a superhero in mind and spirit. He has been working to transform our minds into superhero minds as He renews them and renews a right spirit within us. In this hour, we must possess hutzpah, backbone, and resilience and press through the old things, the old mindset, that try to steal our strength, confidence, and power! Hold on to the Word of the Lord!
“You shall laugh at destruction and famine, and you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.” (Job 5:22)
“I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 16:8)
“He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 62:6)
Faith Marie Baczko, Executive Director
Headstone Ministries International | Schools of The Last Wine
Email: contact@headstoneministries.com
Website: www.headstoneministries.com
Faith Marie Baczko is the president of Headstone International Ministries and HWAM – Headstone Women’s Apostolic Network. Faith is an apostolic, prophetic teacher and author, bringing significant revelation to mobilize, equip and strengthen the Body of Christ for this momentous hour of history. She carries key insights into the profound significance of Israel’s place in the purposes of God for the time of the summing up of all things in Christ. She models a life that inspires others to live undistracted and rigorously devoted to passionately pursuing Christ. Faith is an international speaker, and through her ministry and work in South America, she has garnered enduring relationships with pastors and leaders, united in passion for truth that is the foundation of revival. Her books are also available in Spanish.