Posts Tagged ‘radical disciples’


When I was seventeen, the Lord gave me a dream of a vast farm filled with people clothed as in the days of Jesus, with long hair and beards, ministering to others who were dressed in combat gear. At the time, I did not understand the meaning, nor did I grasp the prophetic nature of what was being shown.

Yet the Word reminds us, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). This dream was a seed planted by the Spirit, waiting for its appointed time to unfold. I would dream this dream again and again over the course of the next 37 years.

Years later, in 2018, I dreamed again, and upon waking, the Holy Spirit began to speak. He revealed that the farm represented a community devoted to bringing in homeless veterans, offering healing, and discipling them into warriors for Christ. I asked why they remained in combat gear, and He said, “Because it was in that season the enemy took them captive.”

Yet I saw disciples tending to them, and the Spirit declared, “These too were once wounded, but now they are healed and restored, and they are dedicated to discipling their fellow veterans.” Truly, this is the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1, “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

In 2019, the dream returned, and this time I was entering the property. At the gate was a sign that read, “New Creation Ranch – A Veteran Restoration Community.” The name itself echoed the promise of 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This was no ordinary farm; it was a prophetic picture of restoration, a place where the broken would be made whole, and where warriors would rise again—not for earthly battles, but for the Kingdom of God.

More recently, the dream shifted to a graduating class. Each disciple who had been healed and trained was being commissioned to go forth and establish house churches. As I awoke, the Spirit reminded me of my long-held conviction for the home fellowship model. In July, a father in the faith prophesied that my wife and I would begin planting house churches, and since then I have heard the Spirit whisper, “Glory Houses – Ecclesia Government Houses.”

This aligns with the promise of Matthew 16:18-19, where Jesus declares, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” The ranch and the house church movement are not separate—they are one prophetic assignment.

Last night I had the dream again, and when I awoke I could literally smell the farm. When I started praying about it, Holy Spirit spoke boldly: “This is the Father’s calling on your life. You and your wife have been commissioned for this assignment.”

As you have sought first His Kingdom and His righteousness, He has matured you through seasons of trials, refining fire and revelation. Now the fullness of the vision is coming forth—land titles are being transferred, checks are being written, and laborers are being called from across the nation: farmers, mechanics, and skilled tradesmen.

The promise of Matthew 6:33 resounds, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The hour is approaching, and as we remain faithful, we shall see the dream manifest before our very eyes.

Let’s pray and decree that this dream will become a reality in 2026. Thousands of veterans are in dire need of assistance, many are taking their own lives, and the government of this world has no answers or solutions. In contrast, the Government of our King and His Kingdom does, and everyone who is called by His name, is granted the authority to legislate His Will.

~Dr. Russell Welch Co-Founder Remnant Warrior Ministries Warrior’s Discipleship School

New Creation Ranch


I declare to you today — unity in the Body of Christ is not a man‑made agreement, not a shallow handshake of tolerance, and not the silencing of truth for the sake of peace. True unity is born of the Spirit, forged in the fire of love, and anchored in the unshakable truth of God’s Word.


Jesus prayed, “Father, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21). This is not a suggestion — it is the cry of the Son of God, and Heaven will not rest until it is fulfilled.


We are one Body with one Spirit, called to one hope, serving one Lord, holding to one faith, sealed in one baptism, under one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:4‑6). This unity is not uniformity — it is the harmony of many members moving as one under the Headship of Christ.


I call the Church to put on love, “which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14). I call us to lay down pride, offense, and self‑promotion, and to take up humility, honor, and servanthood. For where pride rules, division thrives — but where humility reigns, the Spirit commands His blessing (Psalm 133:1‑3).


The days of agreeing just to avoid arguing must be exiled from the Ecclesia. The early Church did not sweep disagreements under the rug; they brought them before the council, and the council brought them before the Holy Spirit — and He alone settled the matter, witnessed and confirmed by the majority present (Acts 15:28).

The enemy of unity is the spirit that says, “My feelings override everyone else’s. You only respect me if you agree with me. If you don’t do what I want, I will break fellowship.” My brothers and sisters, that is not only the opposite of unity — it is the spiritual murder of unity.


This unity is not built on compromise with darkness, for “what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). It is anchored in truth, for Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth” (John 17:17). We will not trade truth for comfort, nor holiness for popularity.


I decree that the walls of division — denominational pride, racial prejudice, political idolatry, and personal offense — are coming down in Jesus’ name. I declare that the love of God will be the bond that holds us, the truth of God will be the foundation that steadies us, and the mission of God will be the fire that drives us.


The world will know we are His disciples not by our buildings, our programs, or our branding, but by our love for one another (John 13:35). And when the Church walks in this Spirit‑born unity, hell will tremble, the lost will believe, and the Kingdom will advance with unstoppable force.


So I say — rise up, Ecclesia! Lock shields, join ranks, and march as one. For the glory of the King, for the harvest of the nations, and for the day when every tribe, tongue, and nation will feast together at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

~Dr. Russell Welch
Elder / Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Warrior’s Discipleship School


A Contemplation on Scripture, Church Culture, and the Call to Consecration

Romans 12:1-2, as rendered in the Amplified Bible, offers a powerful summons to believers: to dedicate ourselves wholly to God, presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, and refusing conformity to the patterns of this world. Rather, we are urged to pursue continual transformation through the renewal of our minds, testing and approving God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will.

Setting the Scriptural Foundation

At its heart, these verses call for a life of consecration—a holiness not merely of outward form but of inward devotion. The apostle Paul’s words reach across centuries, challenging each generation to discern the difference between what is genuinely God-honoring and what is merely the prevailing current of culture.

Cultural Expressions and the Pursuit of Holiness

Throughout history, the Church has found itself navigating tension between cultural adaptation and sacred distinction. In every era, believers have grappled with questions about clothing, music, adornment, and customs—seeking to understand where adaptation ends and compromise begins.

The example of tattoos among pastors in the modern American Church surfaces as one such point of conversation. For some, tattoos may represent a freedom in Christ, a canvas for testimony and artistic expression; for others, they may symbolize conformity to secular trends or a departure from traditional notions of reverence.

Yet, the deeper question extends beyond tattoos or any particular external marker. It invites each of us to ask: Are we, in our hearts and actions, offering ourselves fully to God? Are we seeking to align every aspect of our being—body, mind, and spirit—with Christ’s likeness? Or are we subtly reshaping the boundaries of holiness for the sake of convenience, acceptance, or personal preference?

The Challenge of Modernization and Scriptural Integrity

As the world shifts, there can be a temptation to reinterpret, dilute, or ignore certain scriptures to better fit the spirit of the age. Paul’s exhortation stands as a gentle but firm warning against this: “Do not be conformed to this world… but be transformed.” The transformation he describes is thorough, inward, and ongoing—a renewal that resists superficiality for the sake of true spiritual depth.

Scripture warns against selective obedience and self-serving reinterpretation. The story of humanity’s first fall, as recounted in Genesis, reminds us of the peril in choosing personal judgment over divine instruction. God’s call to holiness has always been an invitation to trust, surrender, and obedience, even when it stands in contrast to popular opinion.

Clean Hands, Pure Hearts, and Approaching the Holy

To “climb the mountain of the Lord”—to enter His presence—is not a matter of outward ritual alone, but of inward purity and integrity. Psalm 24 declares, “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Those with clean hands and a pure heart.” It is possible, as you note, to misinterpret God’s grace as license for continued rebellion, rather than as the power to walk in newness of life.

Holiness, then, is not about legalism nor about careless liberty; it is about being clothed in the righteousness of Christ, standing in humble awe before God’s consuming fire.

Inviting Self-Examination and Humble Seeking

Rather than passing judgment on others—whether pastors with tattoos or congregants without—it falls to each believer, each community, to prayerfully examine their motives and practices in the light of God’s Word. The altar is a place for honest questions, surrendered hearts, and listening for Heaven’s answer.

Conclusion

The words of Romans 12:1-2 challenge every generation to forsake superficial conformity, to resist the easy path of cultural accommodation, and to instead pursue a life marked by sacrificial worship, radical renewal, and unwavering devotion to God’s perfect will. May we, as the Remnant, respond not with self-righteousness but with humility, seeking clean hands, pure hearts, and the clothing of Christ’s righteousness as we navigate an ever-changing world.

We would love to hear your comments on this topic.

~Dr. Russell Welch

Elder/ Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.

www.remnantwarrior.org


“For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the Lord; Who say to the seers, ‘You must not see visions’; And to the prophets, ‘You must not prophesy the truth to us. Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.’”
— Isaiah 30:9–10

We live in a time when the prophetic voice is being muted by a culture more concerned with comfort than consecration. A generation is rising that calls evil good and good evil, demanding illusions over truth, entertainment over holiness, and compromise over conviction. The sobering cry of Isaiah echoes now louder than ever.

But God is not silent. He is issuing a challenge—a holy summons to His people:

Will you stand in truth when it costs you favor?
Will you speak what I say even when they threaten to walk away?
Will your faith hold in the fire, or will you bend beneath the pressure of popular religion?

This is the challenge of the Lord. It’s not just a call—it’s a separation. A threshing. A dividing of wheat from chaff. And only those forged in radical faith will emerge as vessels fit for revival.

Faith Formed in the Valley of Testing

Radical faith is not born in atmospheres of ease—it is forged in fire, silence, and sorrow. It’s born when Heaven seems quiet, and Hell seems loud. When prayers hang suspended in the void and the only answer is “trust Me.”

To walk by faith is to believe in the midst of contradiction—to embrace the promise before the evidence appears.

Radical faith refuses to be defined by delay. It isn’t derailed by the absence of manifestation. It walks forward when the path disappears, because it knows the God who parted seas still walks with those who dare to believe.

Warriors Wanted: The Fight for Pure Faith

Paul’s call to “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) is not poetic—it’s a battle command. Because radical faith is warfare. It wars against delay, discouragement, and deception. It slays the idols of predictability and tears down the altars of passivity. And it anchors itself to the Word of the Lord, even when the outcome looks dead.

We are not called to blend into culture—we are called to challenge it. To be voices that will not echo the popular tone but thunder with the cadence of Heaven.

The remnant is rising—not to be liked, but to be loyal.
Not to be safe, but to be surrendered.
Not to comfort the rebellious, but to confront them with love and truth.

The Lord’s Challenge: Will You Risk It All?

Here’s the charge of the hour:

  • Do not dilute the Word.
  • Do not prophesy to please.
  • Do not trade your oil for influence.
  • Do not forsake obedience for applause.

The Lord is looking for those who will speak what He says, even when it costs them position, invitation, and approval. Prophets who won’t prophesy illusions. Seers who won’t turn their gaze away. Watchmen who refuse to sleep.

And warriors whose faith is louder than fear.

Radical Faith is Fragrant to Heaven

Your surrender isn’t invisible. Your pain is not pointless. Your faith is rising like incense before the throne. The Lord sees the valley. And it has not disqualified you—it’s preparing you.

Think of:

  • Abraham, who walked with no map, only a promise.
  • David, who chose worship while being hunted.
  • Hannah, who poured her soul out and still believed.

They didn’t just believe for breakthrough—they became vessels of it.

So will you.

A Prophetic Declaration for the Remnant

Speak this boldly:

I will not trade truth for comfort.
I will not prophesy illusions.
I will speak what the Lord says, even when it’s unpopular.
My radical faith will birth revival.
My valley will be my proving ground.
I will rise—not for recognition, but for righteousness.
The Word of the Lord in my mouth will not return void.

~Dr. Russell Welch
Elder / Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.


There is a groan rising from the heart of the Father—a cry echoing through the corridors of time, calling His Church back to the way of the Master. It is not a call to innovation, but to restoration. Not to strategy, but to surrender. Not to programs, but to people.

Jesus didn’t disciple from a pulpit. He discipled from a place of proximity. He didn’t build a brand—He built a brotherhood. He didn’t create consumers—He raised up carriers of the Kingdom. And He did it face to face.

From the twelve He called, He drew four into deeper intimacy—Peter, James, John, and Andrew. With them, He walked, wept, corrected, and commissioned. He poured into them everything the Father had poured into Him. And in turn, they poured into the others. This was not a hierarchy of control—it was a holy rhythm of impartation. It was the divine pattern: from the Father to the Son, from the Son to the disciple, and from the disciple to the world.

This model—relational, intentional, and incarnational—was the foundation of the early Church. For nearly four centuries after Pentecost, this was how the Gospel advanced. Not through cathedrals, but through kitchens. Not through institutions, but through intimacy. Disciples made disciples, and the world was turned upside down.

But then came Rome—and the fire became a form.
Then came Greece—and the mystery became a philosophy.
Then came America—and the mission became a marketplace.

What was once a movement became a monument.
What was once a family became a franchise.
What was once a fire became a formula.

Today, many churches have traded the model of Christ for the methods of culture. Discipleship has been outsourced to programs, seminars, and branded curriculums. Pastors are treated like CEOs. Congregants are treated like customers. And the goal is no longer transformation—it’s retention.

We have built systems that are efficient but not eternal. We have created structures that are scalable but not spiritual. We have trained people to follow a church, a doctrine, a personality—but not a Person. We have made disciples of denominations, not disciples of Jesus.

And the fruit is evident.

We have churches full of attenders but empty of disciples.
We have leaders who are celebrated but not consecrated.
We have believers who know the language of faith but not the life of it.

But Heaven is not silent. The Spirit is not still.
The winds of reformation are blowing again.

The Holy Spirit is re-forming the Church—not around platforms, but around people. Not around programs, but around presence. He is calling us back to the table. Back to the fire. Back to the face-to-face.

This is not a nostalgic longing for the past. It is a prophetic summons for the future. The Church of tomorrow must be built on the foundation of Christ’s model—not man’s machinery. We must return to the way of the Master.

Jesus didn’t say, “Go and build churches.”
He said, “Go and make disciples.”
And He showed us how.

He walked with them.
He lived among them.
He taught them in the streets, in the fields, in the storms.
He corrected them in love.
He empowered them with truth.
And then He sent them with fire.

This is the model we must reclaim.
This is the fire we must rekindle.
This is the blueprint we must rebuild.

Religion builds hierarchy. It demands allegiance to a system. It creates disciples of doctrine, not disciples of Jesus. It elevates the pulpit and forgets the person. It teaches people to worship pastors and defend denominations, rather than to walk with the Lord of all creation.

But the Kingdom is different.
The Kingdom is relational.
The Kingdom is incarnational.
The Kingdom is built on love, not leverage.

So I plead with you, Church—return.
Return to the face-to-face.
Return to the fire.
Return to the way of the Master.

Let us raise up a generation who walk as Jesus walked.
Who disciple as Jesus discipled.
Who love as Jesus loved.

Let us build not with bricks, but with lives.
Not with programs, but with presence.
Not with systems, but with sons and daughters.

📖 “He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out…” — Mark 3:14
📖 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” — Matthew 28:19

Let the Remnant decree:

We, the sons and daughters of the Most High God, stand in the authority of the blood of Jesus,
clothed in righteousness, armed with truth, and awakened by the Spirit of the Living God.

We decree this day:

That the Church shall return to the model of the Master—to the face-to-face, life-on-life, Spirit-led discipleship that Jesus Himself walked in and imparted.

We renounce the counterfeit systems of religion—discipleship built on programs, platforms, and personalities. We break agreement with the spirit of hierarchy, control, and celebrity. We cast down every model that exalts itself above the knowledge of Christ.

We declare:
The days of shallow Christianity are over.
The days of spectatorship are over.
The days of man-made disciples are over.

We call forth a reformation of discipleship—rooted in relationship, fueled by the fire of the Holy Spirit, and patterned after the life of Jesus.

We decree that the Remnant shall rise—
not as passive believers, but as burning ones.
Not as churchgoers, but as Kingdom carriers.
Not as consumers, but as commissioned sons and daughters.

We declare that the war is raging—and the time for preparation is now. We will not send untrained soldiers into battle. We will not raise orphans when Heaven has called us to raise heirs.

We prophesy:
That the wilderness shall become a training ground.
That the secret place shall become the strategy room.
That the table of fellowship shall become the altar of transformation.

We call the Church back to the fire.
Back to the feet of Jesus.
Back to the way of the cross.
Back to the face-to-face.

We decree that every disciple raised in this hour shall walk in the authority of Christ, carry the compassion of Christ, and manifest the character of Christ.

We declare that creation is groaning—not for more sermons, but for sons. Not for more buildings, but for builders. Not for more religion, but for revelation.

And we say:
Let the sons and daughters of Yahweh arise!
Let them be trained, tried, and transformed!
Let them be sent into the harvest fields with fire in their bones
and the Word of the Lord in their mouths!

We decree:
That the Church shall no longer make disciples of denominations, but disciples of the King. That we shall no longer raise up followers of men, but followers of the Lamb.

This is the hour.
This is the call.
This is the decree.

🔥 Return to Christ-like discipleship.
🔥 Prepare the Remnant for war.
🔥 Let the sons and daughters arise.

In the name of Yeshua, the Captain of the Lord’s Host, we seal this decree.

Amen and amen.

The time is now.
The call is clear.
The model is Christ.

Let us return.

~Dr. Russell Welch

Elder / Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare


We are not just in another season—we’re in a spiritual epoch. A threshold moment where destinies are being either activated or aborted based on the alliances we allow. The warfare is no longer general—it’s surgical. The enemy isn’t throwing random attacks; he’s mapping out your relationships, stalking your alignments, and seeking access to your call through open doors of unchecked connection.

In this critical hour, the Lord has whispered a solemn charge to me: Let Me govern your alignments.”

This isn’t about becoming skeptical. It’s about becoming sanctified in how we align. The Holy Spirit is sounding an alarm across the Body: “Stop entertaining every handshake. Stop validating every olive branch.” Because not every invitation is from Heaven. Some are beautifully packaged assignments from hell.

I’ve seen firsthand how, when one demonic alignment is severed, the enemy will often send a carefully crafted replacement. A subtle infiltration. These substitutes don’t come how you’d expect—they come wrapped in familiarity, affirmation, and spiritual language. They quote the Word. They mention Jesus. They speak of unity and healing. But they carry the residue of what you were just delivered from.

He revealed to me that some of these connections—though outwardly peaceful—are actually bound to people or networks that God has clearly marked for disconnection. And if you’re not discerning, you will find yourself yoked to what you were once freed from.

This is why I’ve been relentlessly declaring the need for a radical awakening to the gift of discerning spirits. Not a shallow intuition. Not emotional skepticism. But Holy Spirit-led perception that pierces through soulish layers and unveils what spirit is truly operating behind the veil.

Discerning of spirits is not just a “side gift” for deliverance ministers—it is a survival gift for every believer, and a governing gift for those called to lead in this final hour. It’s the difference between partnering with destiny or falling into delay. Between building with living stones or mixing with strange fire.

This gift:

  • Divides between what’s anointed and what’s admired
  • Identifies spirits that mimic truth but operate in mixture
  • Protects against assignments disguised as assistance
  • Reads the frequency of a voice, not just the tone of their message

And we need this desperately. Because deception no longer looks demonic—it looks divine. The counterfeit has evolved. It doesn’t come yelling rebellion. It comes whispering agreement. It doesn’t knock down your door. It asks for a seat at your table. And if you are not governed by the Spirit, you’ll offer hospitality to sabotage.

Leaders, gatekeepers, intercessors: if ever there was a time to sharpen your discernment, it is now. Your ability to hear clearly in this hour will determine the purity of what you build. If you do not allow the Holy Spirit to inspect every alignment, you risk constructing with compromised materials.

Many are frustrated—not because of a lack of vision—but because of corrupted partnerships. You can’t build Zion with Babylonian bricks. You cannot steward the presence of God while partnering with those the Lord has marked as misaligned. There are connections that dilute your fire. Conversations that dull your hearing. Partnerships that make you question what God already made clear.

This is the hour to return to the altar of separation. To consecrate not only your actions, but your associations. The Holy Spirit is cleansing the camp, not out of harshness, but out of mercy. Because the rising Remnant cannot afford to walk with blinders on. We are being commissioned to build with precision, not popularity.

Let the gift of discerning spirits arise in you—not for judgment, but for governance. Not to puff up, but to protect the oil. To shield the pure thing God is birthing in this hour from mixture and manipulation.

The Lord is raising up shepherds who can smell the difference between sheep and wolves in sheep’s clothing. He’s commissioning watchmen who don’t just see danger—they feel it in their bones. He’s calling forth sons and daughters who will guard their gate with fasting, weeping, and authority.

So I say this with a trembling heart: Let Him govern your alignments. Let Him cleanse the prophetic gate. Let Him strip even the counterfeit covenants that once brought comfort. Because the price of tolerating mixture is the forfeiting of momentum.

You don’t need everyone. You need the right ones—those whose spirits resonate with what Heaven is building through you. Those whom the Father has assigned, not those whom the enemy has disguised.

This isn’t the hour of convenience. This is the hour of consecration.

The remnant is rising—and they will not be known by title or platform, but by purity, discernment, and unshakable alignment with the King.

~Dr. Russell Welch

Elder/ Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.

www.remnantwarrior.org


“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” — Revelation 12:11

There are stories—and then there are weapons.

When a child of God begins to testify—not just with words, but from the deep well of lived redemption—something violent happens in the spirit realm.

We aren’t reciting nice Christian clichés or sweet Sunday school memories. We are dropping bunker busters into the hidden bunkers of darkness. And the enemy knows it.
See, Satan can argue with doctrine. He can twist Scripture. He can even mimic religion. But what he cannot do is unwrite your story.

He cannot edit your encounter. He cannot mute the voice of the one who has seen the face of Jesus in the fire and come out clean.
Every blood-bought, Spirit-ignited testimony carries the residue of heaven’s authority.

It’s not just a memory—it’s a missile. Because when you speak what the Lord has done for you, it tears through lies, shame, and demonic strongholds like a bomb detonating beneath the enemy’s feet. He flees not just because you’re shouting—but because the Spirit backs up every word with power.

Your story—yes, yours—when surrendered to Jesus, carries the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead. So don’t hold it back. Don’t sanitize it.

Let it thunder. Let it shake the gates of hell and remind the darkness that its grip on you has been forever broken.
Every time we testify, we’re not just telling people what happened—we’re announcing what’s possible.

So release it. Declare it. Prophesy with your history. Because your testimony isn’t just a story…

…it’s a supernatural detonation that leaves no hiding place for the enemy.

The following testimony is one that I have in my own life, that everytime it is shared, I can litteraly since the devil seeking a place to hide from it it’s power….

________________________________________________________________

There are moments that divide your life in two. March 28, 2016 was that moment for me.

It was 1:43 in the morning. I was sleeping in a quiet room in a historic inn in Saluda, North Carolina, when a voice—clear and undeniable—spoke into the silence: “Wake up.”

It wasn’t a nudge from the subconscious or the remnants of a dream. It was a holy disruption, slicing through the stillness like lightning. I sat up, heart pounding. The clock confirmed the time. I turned on the light and searched the room. Empty. I stepped into the hallway—stillness. No footsteps. No voices. Nothing. But something within me had already shifted. I was awake in a way I hadn’t been in years.

Then the voice came again, even more weighted: “Open the Bible.”
I walked over to the desk where a Bible sat, worn and waiting, almost like it had been placed there for this very night. As I opened it, the pages fell to the Gospel of John, and my eyes were immediately drawn to John 3:16. It wasn’t just printed on the page—it glowed in my spirit.

Again, the voice spoke: “Read.” I pushed back: “I’ve read this a thousand times.” But the command came once more, unwavering: “Read.”

And so, out of simple obedience—or maybe exhaustion—I read: “For God so loved the world…” And with those words, heaven invaded.

In an instant, I was no longer in that room. I was back in the kitchen of my childhood home. I was three years old. My father, in a fit of drunking rage, had just struck my mother. He was gripping my brother’s arm, dragging him toward the mechanical ringer of an old washing machine. I, somehow, had escaped my high chair and crawled into the cabinet under the sink—my hiding place. My refuge. My prison.

That memory had haunted me my entire life. But this time, the scene was different. I wasn’t alone.
Jesus was under the sink with me.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t preach. He simply was. Present. Near. Unshaken by my fear, yet fully attentive to it. That one moment rewrote decades of belief. I had always thought I was abandoned in that kitchen. But now I saw—He was with me even then.

Then, like a movie reel spooled by grace, moment after moment from my life unfolded before me. Every scar. Every failure. Every hidden sin. Every silent scream. With each scene, I turned to Jesus and asked, “What about this? Surely this disqualifies me. Surely this is the moment where Your love stops.”

And every time, He looked at me—not with disappointment, but with eyes blazing like mercy—and asked, “Who told you that lie?”
Over and over: “Who told you that lie?”

That question shattered me. Because for the first time, I saw the architecture of my shame—not as truth, but as deception. I had built an entire identity on the idea that I was barely tolerated by God. That I was accepted only because He had to. That the cross was more obligation than desire.

But now I knew: I was never barely tolerated. I was deeply wanted. Loved beyond comprehension. Not in spite of my brokenness, but pursued through it.

When the vision ended, I looked at the clock. 1:45 a.m. Only two minutes had passed. But in those two minutes, I was born again—again. Not to a new set of religious rules, but to a new identity entirely.

The final words of the encounter echoed like a commissioning: “Study the Book of John until you get the revelation of My life for you.”

That invitation became the doorway to a new way of living.

For over nine years now, I’ve lived in the deep waters of the Book of John, learning not just the teachings of Jesus, but the tone of His heart.

And like the Apostle John—who referred to himself not by his achievements, but by how Jesus saw him—I began to claim the truth for myself: “I am the disciple whom Jesus loves.”

Not just forgiven—transformed.

Not just surviving—reborn.

God’s love didn’t simply bandage me—it recreated me. It didn’t just comfort my wounds—it removed my shame. It revealed that I wasn’t a sinner struggling for grace, I was a new creation, born of divine affection. I didn’t have to earn what had already been poured out. I had only to receive.

This wasn’t behavior modification. This was spiritual resurrection.

The love of God is not abstract. It’s not poetic sentiment.

It’s a force more potent than trauma, more healing than time, more trustworthy than logic. It finds you in the most hidden places and refuses to leave you unchanged. It sits with you under the sink, and then walks with you out of it—into light, into identity, into freedom.

I am no longer hiding. I am no longer orphaned. I am no longer lost in the echo of old lies. I am found in the voice that still whispers to this day: “Wake up.”

And I’ll never be the same.

I pray this stirs boldness in your spirit to no longer silence the song of your story. Your testimony—every scar kissed by grace, every moment redeemed by mercy—is not a mark of shame, but a weapon of wonder.

Don’t let the enemy keep your voice buried beneath fear or regret. You carry keys wrapped in hope—keys that can unlock chains in others. So speak, not just for your own freedom, but for theirs. Hell trembles when you remember who you are.

_Dr. Russ Welch
Remnant Warrior Ministries
www.RemnantWarrior.org


I was going to post this last night on my facbook page, but Holy Spirit said to wait, and this morning He directed me to post here and share it on our other social media platforms.

In a recent encounter with the Lord, Holy Spirit repeated the following word in the same order 3 times: Visions, Dreams, Revelations, Prophetic wisdom and Application.

Then the Lord said; “I am refining and Re-defining My vison and Dream for you, your wife and Remnant Warrior Ministries that will carry you into new season as I Have decreed a shift in the Spiritual that is now manifesting in the natural, for I have declared this to be a New Age of the Church, the Kingdom Age”.

The Holy Spirit “Now is the time to cast the vision – Gather the Warriors”.

🔥 REMNANT WARRIOR MINISTRIES: BORN OF THE LORD, LED BY HIS SPIRIT! 🔥

Remnant Warrior Ministries was never the creation of man—it has been established by the sovereign hand of God. From the very beginning, this ministry has existed under the governing authority of Holy Spirit, guided by His wisdom, empowered by His presence, and commissioned for His divine purpose.

This is not a ministry built on human ambition—it is a Kingdom assignment forged in the fire of the Lord’s vision, birthed by the Spirit, and called forth to train, equip, and send warriors for the expansion of Heaven’s reign on Earth.

🔥 We walk not by our own plans, but by His divine mandate!
🔥 We seek not our own glory, but His Kingdom come!
🔥 We move only where the Spirit leads, fulfilling the call that has been set before us!

📖 Zechariah 4:6 declares:
“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.”

Let all who hear this word know—this ministry belongs to the Lord!

The gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and His warriors shall march forward in victory!

🔥 ANSWERING THE CALL TO RECLAIM THE FIRST COAST! 🔥

The First Coast—from Fernandina Beach to Palm Coast—has a divine destiny, one that has been written in Heaven long before the foundations of this region were laid. The Spirit of the Lord is moving, stirring hearts, and calling forth a rising army of warriors, intercessors, and kingdom leaders to reclaim this land for His glory!

At Remnant Warrior Ministries, our leadership does not seek titles or recognition—we seek transformation. We stand as Gate Keepers, entrusted by the Holy Spirit to train, equip, and release warriors who will carry the unshakable fire of Heaven into this generation.

We are burning with the passion of the Lord for His Bride, His Church, His people. The time for compromise is over—the time for Kingdom expansion is now!

🔥 REMNANT WARRIOR MINISTRIES IS NOT JUST A NAME—IT IS A MANDATE! 🔥

There are many who have taken hold of the name “Remnant” for their own gain, seeking to capitalize on what the Holy Spirit is doing in this hour. These counterfeit movements trap people within their spiritual webs, using their gifts to validate their own religious empires rather than releasing warriors into their true Kingdom assignments.

BUT THE TRUE REMNANT WILL NOT BE HELD CAPTIVE!

From the beginning, Remnant Warrior Ministries has been anchored in radical loyalty to the King, His Kingdom, and His righteousness. We do not seek to steal identities—we seek to establish warriors in their divine calling. We do not exist to hoard power—we exist to train, equip, and release under the commissioning authority of the Holy Spirit!

📖 Joel 2:3 declares:
“A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, but behind them a desolate wilderness; yes, nothing shall escape them.”

🔥 THE FIRST COAST SHALL NOT BE LOST—IT SHALL BE FILLED WITH HIS GLORY! 🔥

We are calling forth warriors, intercessors, leaders, and prophetic voices to join us in this divine mission. We are raising up an army that will not simply follow but will be trained to lead—to pray with supernatural authority, to move cultural mountains into the sea, and to establish Kingdom dominion on the earth.

📖 Mark 11:23 declares:
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him.”

🔥 THIS IS OUR WAR—BUT IT IS ALREADY WON! 🔥

To the warriors, answer the call!
To the intercessors, raise your voice!
To the leaders, stand firm in truth!

The Spirit of the Lord is moving across the First Coast, shaking foundations, breaking deception, and releasing Heaven’s agenda into the region. Every stronghold of darkness will fall, every false system will crumble, and the fire of God will consume everything that is not aligned with His Kingdom!

🔥 THIS IS NOT JUST A MOVEMENT—IT IS A HOLY COMMISSION! 🔥

Join us. Partner with the Holy Spirit. Step into your warrior assignment. The Kingdom is advancing—and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!

🔥 THE LORD’S REMNANT IS RISING! 🔥

The Remnant is not just a scattered few—it is a divinely preserved company chosen by God, hidden for an appointed time. They have been sealed by His hand, refined by His fire, and entrusted with the fullness of His glory.

Throughout history, God has always reserved a Remnant—those who refuse to bow to the systems of compromise, who stand unwavering in their devotion to the Lord. This generation is no different. The Lord has been preparing His own, keeping them concealed until the moment of spiritual revelation.

Just as Gideon’s army hid their flaming torches inside clay pots, so has the Lord hidden His Remnant—carriers of His pure light, His undeniable glory. But the moment is coming when the Spirit of God will shatter the coverings, exposing the fire within His chosen ones! The light will pierce the darkness, break deception, and uproot every counterfeit system that has entrenched itself within the American Church.

📖 Isaiah 60:1 declares:
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!”

This is the hour! The Remnant is no longer silent. They will rise in authority, moving in supernatural discernment, power, and prophetic fire to dismantle the religious structures that have held the people captive.

🔥 No more pretense.
🔥 No more deception.
🔥 No more powerless tradition disguised as truth!

The Spirit of the Lord is exposing the systems that have replaced His presence with rituals, His voice with legalism, His power with dead works. The true Church is emerging—the Church that walks in the fullness of His Spirit!

🙌 Remnant warriors, your time is now! 🙌
⚔️ Stand firm in the truth.
⚔️ Walk boldly in the anointing of the Spirit.
⚔️ Let the fire within you break the chains that have held the Bride of Christ captive!

🔥 THIS IS THE AWAKENING OF A GENERATION! 🔥

The Lord’s Remnant will no longer be hidden. The light will shine, the captives will be set free, and the glory of the Lord will shake the nations!

🔥 DISCERNMENT: THE REMNANT’S MOST POWERFUL OFFENSIVE WEAPON! 🔥

and to another the working of miracles, and to another prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and to another discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. ‘ (1 Corinthians 12:10, AMP)

In the realm of spiritual warfare, many focus on power, prophecy, and the authority of declarations, yet one of the most underrated but absolutely critical weapons in the arsenal of God’s Remnant warriors is discernment of spirits. This is not just a defensive gift—it is an offensive weapon, one that pierces through deception, exposes demonic strategies, and dismantles the enemy’s strongholds before they manifest!

We are living in a time when false light masquerades as truth, where the enemy has infiltrated even the highest places of influence—including governments, ministries, and movements—to subtly reshape narratives, twist doctrine, and redirect destinies.

But the Lord has given His Remnant spiritual sight, an ability to see beyond words, beyond facades, beyond manipulation. Discernment is the safeguard that prevents warriors from being led astray, and it is the sword that cuts through the spiritual darkness attempting to enslave the people of God!

🚨 DISCERNMENT AS A SHIELD AGAINST DECEPTION! 🚨

📖 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns:
“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

The enemy does not always come as the obvious adversary. He infiltrates, disguises, and mimics righteousness so convincingly that even well-meaning believers can fall prey to false teaching, misleading movements, and counterfeit spiritual authority. That is why discernment is crucial—it is the lens through which we separate what is truly of God from what is a clever imitation of the truth.

The Remnant must operate in spiritual discernment to uncover:
⚔️ False leaders—those who use the Church for control rather than kingdom advancement.
⚔️ Deceptive doctrines—teachings that twist the Word of God to align with worldly ideologies.
⚔️ Counterfeit movements—ministries that claim to walk in power but operate under man’s agenda instead of God’s Spirit.
⚔️ Hidden snares—partnerships, alliances, and assignments that appear godly but carry a subtle spirit of compromise.

🔥 DISCERNMENT AS A WEAPON TO DESTROY THE ENEMY’S PLANS! 🔥

The greatest strategy of war is foresight—knowing the enemy’s moves before they strike. And discernment is the supernatural ability to recognize strongholds, demonic assignments, and hidden agendas before they have the chance to take root.

💥 With discernment, the Remnant will:
🔥 Expose the schemes of the enemy—unmasking the hidden plans before they unfold!
🔥 See beyond surface-level deception—preventing infiltration into churches, ministries, and kingdom assignments!
🔥 Release divine strategy—equipping warriors with prophetic precision on how to counterattack!
🔥 Establish true Kingdom centers—ensuring that training grounds for warriors remain pure, consecrated, and Spirit-filled!

📖 Hebrews 5:14 declares:
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

⚔️ DISCERNMENT MUST BE TRAINED AND SHARPENED! ⚔️

This is not a gift for the passive or the unprepared. Discernment must be cultivated through intimacy with the Holy Spirit, deep study of the Word, and a surrendered lifestyle that remains free from distraction and compromise.

🔹 WARRIORS, TRAIN YOUR EYES!—Your discernment must go beyond gut instinct. Ask the Holy Spirit for clear revelations, confirmation, and divine strategies.

🔹 INTERCESSORS, WATCH AND PRAY!—The Spirit reveals hidden dangers to those who seek Him in the secret place. Let your prayers pierce through enemy plans before they come to fruition!

🔹 PROPHETS, SPEAK BOLDLY!—As deception rises, the Remnant must stand unshaken, declaring the truth and confronting the counterfeits with Spirit-led authority!

🔥 THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR NAIVETY. THIS IS A TIME FOR SUPERNATURAL SIGHT! 🔥

The Remnant must wield the sword of discernment, standing as watchmen upon the walls, refusing to be led astray, refusing to allow the enemy to manipulate and redirect their God-given assignments!

🙌 Warriors, arise! Sharpen your discernment, wield it with wisdom, and step into this next phase of battle fully equipped! 🙌

📖 Agian, Isaiah 60:1 declares:
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!”

THE TIME OF COMPROMISE IS OVER! DISCERNMENT WILL LEAD THE REMNANT INTO VICTORY!

🔥 THE TRUE REMNANT VS. THE COUNTERFEIT MOVEMENT! 🔥

This is the hour where the name “Remnant” has become a banner waved by many, yet not all who claim it carry the heart of God. There are those who have taken hold of this identity, not to serve the Kingdom, but to capitalize on the mighty move of the Holy Spirit. They cloak themselves in righteousness, yet behind the veil, their intentions are self-serving, drawing people into spiritual webs of deception, using their gifts as validation for building religious empires rather than equipping the saints.

🚨 BEWARE OF THE COUNTERFEITS! 🚨

📖 Matthew 7:15 warns:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

These deceptive structures do not seek to train, equip, and release—rather, they seek to take captive, enslave, and redirect destinies for personal gain. The counterfeit Remnant seduces warriors, stealing their identity under the guise of mentorship, only to twist their calling into submission under their own agenda.

⚔️ BUT THE TRUE REMNANT HAS A DIFFERENT CALL! ⚔️

From the beginning, Remnant Warriors Ministries has been deeply anchored in loyalty to the King, His Kingdom, and His righteousness! This is not a ministry of control—it is a movement of empowerment!

🔥 The TRUE Remnant does not steal identity—it establishes identity in Christ!
🔥 The TRUE Remnant does not enslave—it equips and sends out!
🔥 The TRUE Remnant does not hoard power—it releases authority under the commissioning of the Holy Spirit!

This is a time of Apostolic equipping—a season where warriors must not merely follow but be trained to lead, to pray with supernatural authority, and to move cultural mountains into the sea through intercession!

📖 Mark 11:23 declares:
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him.”

🔥 THIS IS THE CALLING OF THE TRUE REMNANT! 🔥

The Kingdom of Heaven is not built on control—it is expanded through true discipleship! The time has come for warriors to rise in discernment, to recognize the counterfeit movements, and to boldly step into their true commission!

🙌 THIS IS NOT A SEASON OF SUBMISSION TO RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS—THIS IS A SEASON OF DIVINE ACTIVATION! 🙌

🔹 To the Remnant—walk boldly! You are called to establish the Kingdom.
🔹 To the warriors—stand firm! Your voice is meant to shake nations.
🔹 To the intercessors—pray without ceasing! Your petitions will move mountains and shift cultures.

🔥 THE TRUE REMNANT CANNOT BE STOPPED. THE KINGDOM IS ADVANCING! 🔥

And in closing I want to touch on the following part of the Mandate that the Lord has also laid upon our hearts at Remnant Warrior Ministries:

🔥 REMNANT WARRIORS OF MAINE—THE TIME TO RISE IS NOW! 🔥

The Holy Spirit is moving powerfully, and the Lord is calling His Remnant in Maine to take their place in this divine mandate! This state was never meant to be forgotten—it was destined to be a Spiritual Gate, an entry point for the Fires of Revival that will sweep across America!

For too long, the religious spirit has sat enthroned, keeping Maine bound, silencing prophetic voices, and hindering the pure flow of God’s presence. But that time has come to an end! The Lord is tearing down every counterfeit altar, dismantling every system that opposes the move of His Spirit, and restoring Maine to its rightful place as a launchpad for His glory!

I decree this passage over the State of Maine:

Romans 13:11 declares:
“Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ].”

🔥 MAINE SHALL BURN WITH HOLY FIRE! 🔥

From this gate, the Fires of Revival will ignite, sweeping down the East Coast, bouncing through Florida to impact California, and spreading across the West until this entire nation is set ablaze with the glory of God!

🚨 CALLING ALL WARRIORS, INTERCESSORS, AND KINGDOM BUILDERS! 🚨

📖 Joel 3:9-10 declares:
“Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’”

This is not a time for hesitation—this is a time for bold action! The remnant must rise, take position, and release Heaven’s agenda over Maine!

🔥 WARRIORS, STAND YOUR GROUND!
🛡️ Refuse to let the religious spirit dictate the move of God.
🛡️ Reject false coverings that seek to silence prophetic voices.
🛡️ Declare that Maine will be a beacon of revival, not a resting place for deception!

🔥 INTERCESSORS, LIFT YOUR VOICE!
🛡️ Release prayers that shake the foundations of darkness.
🛡️ Declare the Word of the Lord over Maine until it trembles under the weight of His glory.
🛡️ Tear down every stronghold that has resisted Heaven’s invasion!

🔥 APOSTOLIC LEADERS, STEP FORWARD!
🛡️ Train and equip the next generation of warriors who will carry revival through the nation.
🛡️ Establish Kingdom centers that will function as spiritual command posts for awakening.
🛡️ Do not shrink back—this is the hour of activation!

🔥 MAINE SHALL NOT REMAIN IN CHAINS! THE GATE IS OPEN—THE FIRE IS COMING! 🔥

This movement cannot be stopped. The Lord has spoken, and His warriors will answer. We will stand, we will fight, and we will declare that Maine belongs to the Lord!

🙌 THIS IS THE AWAKENING! THE TIME IS NOW! 🙌

Join us. Partner with the Holy Spirit. Step into your warrior assignment. The Kingdom is advancing—and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!

🔥 WHO WILL ANSWER THE CALL? WHO WILL STAND FOR MAINE? WHO WILL FIGHT FOR THIS NATION’S REVIVAL? 🔥

Let me know if you’d like even more expansion or a specific prophetic emphasis—this call is going forth in power! 🔥⚔️

~Dr. Russell Welch

Elder/ Apostolic Teacher Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.


For generations, religious institutions built by man have stood as towering structures—grand in appearance, massive in influence, and seemingly unshakable. Yet beneath the surface, many of these institutions have traded holiness for human strategies, exchanged divine encounters for market-driven growth, and embraced cultural relevance at the cost of biblical truth. But God’s answer has never been found in religious empires. His answer is found in His Holy Remnant.

The Religious Institution: Form Without Power

Religious institutions often function as well-oiled machines, designed to captivate the masses with polished sermons, well-organized programs, and marketing strategies that mirror the corporate world. The focus is often placed on numbers—church attendance, social influence, financial expansion—measuring success by worldly standards rather than spiritual depth.

Many of these institutions, though outwardly thriving, are inwardly compromised. They cling to seeker-sensitive models that dilute the truth of the gospel to make it more palatable to the modern culture. Messages become motivational rather than transformational, appealing rather than convicting. The presence of God, once sought in desperation, is now scheduled into services with precision, yet rarely truly encountered.

In the name of relevance, many have abandoned reverence. Truth is softened, repentance is overlooked, and holiness is dismissed as outdated. They operate on strategy instead of Spirit, elevating human wisdom over divine guidance. Growth is pursued not through revival, but through consultants and business models. And while these institutions expand in influence, they lack the power that was evident in the early Church—the kind of power that shakes foundations, heals the sick, and overturns the works of the enemy.

The Holy Remnant: Marked by God’s Presence

In stark contrast, the Holy Remnant is not defined by numbers, grandeur, or influence. They are hidden, set apart, refined by fire, and consumed by an unshakable devotion to Christ. They are not concerned with appearance but with presence—the presence of God that cannot be fabricated or manipulated but must be earnestly pursued.

Unlike the institution built by man, the remnant does not bow to cultural trends. They refuse to compromise truth for popularity, choosing instead to stand firm even when the world rejects them. They are governed by the Holy Spirit, not church boards or leadership strategies. Their gatherings are not orchestrated performances but sacred assemblies where the power of God moves freely.

The Holy Remnant understands the urgency of the hour. They are aware of the deception infiltrating the Church and the spiritual battle raging over nations. While many within institutionalized Christianity are distracted by programs and social status, the remnant is interceding, discerning, and advancing the Kingdom in ways unseen by the masses.

They carry the fire of revival—a fire that cannot be extinguished by opposition, persecution, or rejection. Like the early Church, they gather in small groups, in secret places, wherever the Spirit leads. They may not have the platforms of religious leaders, but they have the favor of God. And it is through them that true transformation is coming.

God’s Answer Is Found in His Remnant

At this critical hour, God is not looking for institutions; He is looking for surrendered hearts. The answer to the crisis facing the Church and the world is not found in larger congregations or refined religious systems—it is found in the humble, devoted, Spirit-led believers who carry the mantle of the remnant.

God has always used a remnant to shift history. When Israel turned away from Him, He preserved a remnant. When wickedness ruled, He raised up prophets. When the religious leaders rejected Christ, He birthed the early Church through a small group of radical followers. And today, in the shadows of religious empires, He is once again raising up His remnant.

The remnant is His answer. They walk in kingdom authority, speak with prophetic clarity, and live in unwavering faith. They are not concerned with trends or titles but with the advancement of God’s will on the earth. Where religion has failed, the remnant will prevail. Where institutions have compromised, the remnant will stand. And through them, revival will come.

The Call to the Remnant

Are you among them? Will you choose to be set apart rather than blend in? Will you stand in truth, walk in holiness, and seek His presence above all else?

Now is the time. The remnant is rising. Will you answer the call?

~Dr. Russell Welch

Elder/ Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.


There are many parallels between the natural and the spiritual. Take for example some of the most decorated soldiers In school they we not always the popular one, often times they led a quiet life, with no fan base or groups of fellow students to cheer them on, kind of like Gideon, the Shepherd boy who turned king, and the disciples whom Jesus chose.

In fact most students wanted to be amongst the popular ones, or just to be friends with them, even though it could and often duid cost them their own integrity, to where they basically sold out their destiny to gain access to what they deemed as that of societal value.

Yet in the spiritual realm, these quiet ones who quietly went about their own business with no desire to be noiticed, were labeled arch enemy number #1 by the forces of darkness.

Now, people looked at them through spiritual eyes, they may have just picked up on the inward tenacity that fueled their warrior spirit within them.

The same could be said for the modern-day Church landscape, where many want to be part of the “popular Church”. You know, the big Church with a grand ole production of entertainment in their services, big screens and smoke machine. Because after all. they must be authentic, just look at how many people they have drawn, and the money they are receiving. Campuses are being built in the most affluent and popular neighborhoods.

Now, for the record, I am not claiming that they all fit in this class, however, I want to share a dream I had 20 years ago.

Now this was a very real-life dream where I found myself standing next to a man who showed me a picture of a mega Church which by all accounts on the surface looked like it was prospering, and it was also adding to the Kingdom.

But upon a closer look, the man beside me revealed it was actually a grave yard of stolen destinies, where like Esau, they had sold their destiny for a temporary fix, a hunger they felt needed to be filled,

He then took me in the spirit to now be standing in front of what appeared to be a rundown Church, the paint on the outside was peeling, the cross on the steeple was a little crooked, and once inside you could see the carpet was worn, the pews were outdated, the choir books where held together with what looked like duct tape – yet up at the front where the altar was, something powerful was happening.

As we walked up there I saw what seemed to be all the members of that congregation, from the youngest to the oldest and they were all on their knees unified in praying as their voices blended into one strong voice, where each member was happily praying in agreement with the others in the group.

Then I was taken from that scene and found myself in a room where I saw a person on a hospital bed, the machines attached to them had just been turned off, and the medical personnel had started to turn away, when all of sudden, a streaming light came through the ceiling and touched their head, and all at once the person on the bed rose up, and shout Thank you Jesus.

Then I was whisked in the spirit to a dark alley way, where I saw an individual whose body had been withered down to skin and bones, and this individual was about to stick their arm with yet another needle, when all of a sudden a man, who was surrounded by light reached out and touched their shoulder, and immediately health came back into their body, their pale like death white skin began to shine like the light around the one who had just touched them.

From the place of a very deep and dark prison of addiction, they walked out of the chains that had bound them. Then just like the one who had just touched them they began going through the alley touching others, and the sound of chains dropping to the ground began to resound through the whole alley way, even to the point that people walking on the enjoining streets could hear the sound.

Then once again, I was taken in the spirit to a bedroom where a young women was crying on the edge of the bed, where she held a pill in her hand, I noticed the writing on the box next to her bed which read, morning after pill. she was crying and asking the Lord to forgive her, but she could not keep the child in her any longer.

All of sudden the man who had been accompanying me stood beside her and I suddenly noticed that He had long white hair. He walked over and stood beside her, where He reached out and gently grabbed her hands, and spoke with a voice that sounded like a thousand rivers, softly rushing through a canyon. He said its ok daughter, I am here now and I will be with you from this day forward, you are greatly loved, and this child inside you is not a mistake, for I have blessed you with this child, knowing the loving mother you shall be to her.

And then I found myself back in that little Church and realized that each person there was not concerned with what the building looked like, or the part of town it was located in. Suddenly I began to discern as I stood there that these were the faithful ones, spoken of in Revelation 12:11, those who could care less about what people thought about them, or what their building looked like, for their days were consumed with the assignments that the Father had given them, knowing their faithfulness and steadfastness.

As I turned, I noticed something that I hadn’t noticed when I first saw the sanctuary, although now seeing it, and due to its showing the signs of having been there for years, with a hill of spent candle wax on the floor, was a golden candle stand, with six spent candles, and one candle which was still burning ever so brightly.

So my dear brothers and sisters, are you driven to belong to the popular crown, do you have to be part of the big show? Or does your heart burn with the same passion for the world as does the heart of our Lord.

If you said yes to the atter, ask Holy Spirit to direct you to a Kingdom family whose whole focus is on the King, His Kingdom and His Righteousness.

And remember, Big isn’t always better, sometimes the small thigs have a greatest impact.

~Dr. Russell Welch
Elder / Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.