Written by: Yuka Smith
“The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die.”
GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON’S ADDRESS TO THE CONTINENTAL ARMY BEFORE THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND | TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1776
It’s unbelievable how current those words are! God is fighting today and is looking for willing vessels. George Washington knew what his Godsend assignment was in this pivotal battle. He was filled with the Spirit in power enabling him to fight with great courage. The address spoken showed his army how they could, under God’s protection, have the victory by standing in the work of God. A winning message was heard.
I can hear General Washington saying, “What can save us? But God!” The words implored his beleaguered troops to be strong, “Be strong, yea be strong!” These same words have echoed throughout the passage of time. Listen. They are reverberating again.” Be strong, yea be strong!”
God saved Washington and his troops at this battle. They were certainly facing defeat outnumbered 2 to 1. Then rain slowed the British troops, fog rolled in to hide their retreat as the sun rose, wind miraculously changed direction to allow them to silently escape through the water.
Americans today are asking much the same. “What can save us? But God.” We have been spared destruction time and time again. But now, America is close to destruction. We need more willing vessels to be miraculously strengthened. He will imbue you to fulfill your destiny in the war against evil. He will use you for His victory.
There is an army of willing vessels throughout this nation today, a remnant, crying out to God, much like Samson saying, “strengthen me just once more.” (Judges 16:28)
God will not let America die without mounting a counterattack on evil. Every word George Washington spoke in his address to the Continental Army on August 27, 1776 applies equally to us. We are in a war to save America once again.
God doesn’t expect us to serve Him in our own strength. We simply cannot serve and interact with God in our own power. God’s power is so great that we are entirely dependent on His grace to walk in it. When the Lord appeared to Daniel, the vision Daniel received zapped him of all his personal strength. That was until God provided him with supernatural strength so that Daniel was able to receive what God wanted to give him. That strength came into Daniel in a five-word phrase. It was, “Be strong, yea be strong!” Daniel 10:19 says that at that moment, he was physically strengthened with the ability to follow God into the deeper things the Lord wanted to give him.
His Spirit is calling out to us as in 1776, again saying, “Be fearless. Don’t be intimidated. Do what your heart tells you is right. Because the spirit of God lives in your heart, and your heart never lies to you.”
And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
1Chronicles 28:20