Why Fortified?

A year and three months ago I was given a task, mission, specific ministry; etc. to establish and build something for the Father’s use. Keep in mind I had never established or planted anything of this magnitude that He has given me before, but I had scriptural basis on how to do what needed to be done, along with the help of the Holy Spirit. As I was taking notes, researching and doing other foundational things I was wondering what I should call this specific ministry. I had bounced some names off of my wife and neither one of us really came up with any good names, so I inquired of the Holy Spirit on what I should call this ministry and He gave me these words, fortify, fortification. Those words kept echoing in my head and I finally settled on Fortified Spirit.

The words, fortify and fortification are words that I am all about anyways being that I have a warrior spirit/mentality, I have held the position of a soldier and of course I love to fight (the battles of course are different now)! When you think of fortify, fortification or fortified what comes to mind? You probably think of strengthening, a fortress, defense; etc. and you would be right. There are two Hebrew words for fortified that I will use: chazaq (khaw-zak) and metsurah (mets-oo-raw). Some definitions of the word chazaq are: fasten upon, seize, to be strong, cure, help, repair, encourage, be established, prevail, withstand. Definitions for the word metsurah are: a rampart of protection, fenced city, and stronghold. Those are all some great definitions don't you think? One of the main themes in the Scriptures for us is to always be in Him, to be “established, rooted, built up” in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6:10 says, “be strong (fortified) in the Lord,” 2 Timothy 2:1 “be strong (fortified) in grace.” In Romans 4:20 Abraham was strengthened (fortified) in his faith/belief of Elohim’s (God) promise of offspring. We are also told in Romans 15:1 that “we who are strong (fortified) are called to bear the infirmity of the weak.” Are you getting the picture and theme here?

Everybody has probably at some time heard of the story of “three little pigs.” You know that “big bad wolf” was going around looking for whom he could devour (sound familiar?) and he went to the first two houses and blew them down because they were not made with anything that was solid or of good substance. They both of course ran to the house of the brother who knew about building a solid founded and fortified house. That wolf tried with everything he had to blow down (destroy) that fortified house but was unable to do it. The two who had no fortified stance/defense were protected by the one that did. They were in fear even in his fortified home because of what they had seen happen in their life situation, yet the “fortified” brother was not swayed by fear because he had faith in what he lived in because he knew what it was made of. A fortified spirit person is grounded in the faith because they know what it is made from. The enemy will come around just like that wolf seeking to steal (capture you and your faith), kill (murder your belief and stance) and destroy (end your relationship/connection to God). He will do a lot of huffing and puffing and will even try to use scare tactics, but when you are fortified all he can do is stay on the outside. But God always has a remnant that will not bow, will not be pressured and subdued in spirit, who will stand firm on His Word and their position in Him even in the face of death and will stand fortified and boldly. Didn’t the third pig bare the infirmity of his two brothers in their weakness of building a proper fortified home/lifestyle?

When you look at kingdoms and castles, the main thing that should always come to your mind first is the wall that is around it. That is known as a fortification or a fortress. Notice that it is usually massive as it has to cover the whole kingdom and castle. The walls are reinforced (fortified) and is usually made stronger than anything on the inside because of what its purpose and function is, which is safety and to be a defense. Fortified walls are meant to keep someone or something from just coming right in and taking, harming or doing what they want. Fortified walls are hard to breach and take down and throughout history you see how these fortified walls have been deterrents to many armies. Yes the walls could be climbed and possibly breached, but look at how much time, money and energy was used by those attempting to take the fortified wall. They were susceptible to arrows, spears, sniping, rocks; etc. and there were usually more casualties on the side of the breachers than there were those within the fortified walls.

Do you ever look at food items and see where it says that it has been fortified with certain vitamins and nutrients? What they are saying is, “yes it has vital things in it already but we are strengthening (fortifying) it to make it even better or more powerful to help your body and its health. What do you think the Word is? It is fortified food that gives you more powerful nourishment to fight off the sicknesses and disease of this world. There is a reason why the Word is considered “meat or food.” It has the vital “fortified” nutrients and vitamins that we need in our everyday lives, which is why we should “eat” of it daily.

Our spirit needs to be fortified to be able to stand and withstand the adversary and his minions and also against “that evil day” (Ephesians 6:13). We learn to fortify ourselves in the wrong way by putting up walls because of pains and disappointments and although that may keep some of the bad people out, it also sometimes keeps the Messiah out because your hurts cause you to refuse to let Him in. Also the other thing that that the fortified self does is it keeps the person in themselves. They become a prisoner in their own fortification. You need a fortified spirit that comes from being in Yahweh (God) instead of a fortified self. When we are chazaq (fortified) in the right spirit then we are encouraged, fastened, cured, repaired, established, able to withstand and strong in Elohim (God). In the Genesis account remember that God breathed His spirit into man, so you have Him inside of you, you just need to accept Him in there and fortify that spirit in Him….