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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/july-11-2023 July 11, 2023 This Is Why We Pray Though not terminal, the fall of America has been dramatic, perhaps as stunning as any in history. I share the following facts, not to inform you - you’re already aware of them - but to remind you why a merciful but difficult shaking is coming; and why we find it necessary to surround America’s borders with much prayer in order to protect her. Our prayers are important and effective: we are saving a nation. With this in mind: Government Many in our government are corrupt, oppose Biblical morality, are liars, and reject our godly roots. They are unpatriotic, disregard the Constitution, censor Americans they disagree with, persecute parents who oppose the indoctrination of their children, favor the murder of babies in the womb (and even after birth) , defend and promote the mutilation and permanent sterility of confused children. They lie about pandemics, mask children, and terminate the jobs - and facilitate the termination of - thousands of Americans who refuse to take untested and ineffective vaccines. They rig elections, frame Presidents and their supporters, and conduct phony impeachments and hearings. They open our borders - not just to immigrants seeking a better life - but to drug dealers, terrorists, murderers, rapists, human traffickers, cartels, gang members, etc. They defund the police and use our justice system to prosecute the innocent, while allowing the guilty to go free. They weaken our military by promoting insane “woke” ideologies and by allowing generals to conspire with enemy nations behind a President’s back. They shut down the free speech of political opponents while allowing allies to burn buildings. They pass laws that promote immorality. And they waste our money by the trillions of dollars. Judges Many judges disregard the Constitution by routinely legislating from the bench, making rulings based on their politics and preferences. In disregard of our history, they expelled God from our schools and government, while sanctioning the murder of 60 million babies in the name of “privacy.” They openly reject God’s Word and ways, even His definition of “marriage” and “gender.” Education Educators have neglected to teach our children math, history, geography, civics, reading, and writing. They have, instead, turned our schools into indoctrination centers, teaching: that leftist and Marxist ideologies are good, while America and capitalism are evil; a false history of America; that whites are bad; and doctrines that undermine biblical morality, the sanctity of marriage and family, and respect for parental authority. They also now insanely and depravedly allow boys to expose themselves to girls in bathrooms and locker rooms, and allow perverts and drag queens to perform for small children. Americans In General Many Americans have forgotten their history, their God, their Constitution, and how to vote. They have forfeited their God-given rights, lost their love of country, and rejected patriotism. They prioritize pleasure over work, convenience over sacrifice, and self-indulgence over self-restraint. And they have - as Lincoln said - forgotten the God that made us great. The Church The Church has stayed largely silent during this collapse, losing its savor (saltiness) and shining no light. Most Christian leaders will not even speak out against killing babies in the womb; some actually criticize those who do. Having adopted a “get along” theology - believing this is “love” and empowers the gospel - they criticize, as well, those who speak out against corrupt government. In order to get along and grow churches, many refuse to teach all of Scripture - mentioning nothing that might convict of or confront sin, and thereby, abandoning true repentance and biblical discipleship. Most of the church also abandoned prayer, favoring “seeker” atmospheres. The body of Christ listened to “feel good” messages every Sunday, singing “happy songs” about God taking care of us, while the culture around them crumbled. It is tragically reminiscent of the Titanic taking on water “as the band played on.” Now she finds herself wondering how it all went to hell. So, to those who are praying for America, I say: “Thank you, you are saving a lost nation!” Gina Gholston, who received the dream about “Painting our Borders” and “Commanding the Foreword, ” posted on her Facebook page last week: “As I was reading the reports of so many who are taking their place to ‘Paint the Borders’ and ‘Command the Foreword,’ the Lord reminded me of a word He spoke to me in January of 2020. I do believe we are seeing this word unfolding now! “‘I will reveal My “sent ahead ones,” and they will release My strategy for the days ahead! I will make their voices like the sound of trumpets, each trumpet releasing a unique sound. My called-out ones will be alerted and drawn to the sound, and My Spirit will instruct them for movement! I will work a work, and none will stop what I do!’” Thank you for continuing to “Paint your State”! Check out some of the reports on the “Paint Your State” hub on the Give Him 15 website. Ceci was reading through the reports today, sharing with me how this amazing grassroots effort is continuing to spread throughout the nation. Don’t stop! Pray for your state, and then pray for our leaders in your state and in Washington, D.C.! Your prayers ARE making a difference. Pray with me: Father, Your word teaches us Your ways. It explains the results of walking in covenant with You, of breaking covenant with You, of obedience and disobedience. It teaches us the fruit of righteousness, the wages of sin, and carefully lays out the laws of sowing and reaping. In Your Word, You also explain the remedy for our sins and disobedience. This is found in the blood sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. As we identify with Him, placing all of our faith in Him alone, we are redeemed, made new, restored, and healed. Even the corporate sins of nations are cleansed when we do this. You have made very clear Your heart of mercy and grace. You told us You do not take pleasure in judgments, even of the wicked; instead, You delight in mercy. That’s because mercy is Your nature - You are merciful! Your throne is called “Grace,” and You said it dispenses mercy, telling us to come boldly and ask for this. The Mercy Seat in the Old Testament, covered in atoning blood, was a picture of Christ’s blood-covered Cross. HE is our access to, and our guarantee of, Your mercy. His blood cleanses of ALL sin and unrighteousness. Our faith today is in NOTHING but the blood of Jesus. Not good works, not the church, not other religions, not penance - nothing but the blood of Jesus. Through His blood and in His name, today we stand in the gap for America, an apostate, rebellious, and prodigal nation. Through Christ’s blood and the strength of Your mercy, we humbly and boldly ask for grace. Cleanse us. Heal us. Restore us, that we might once again be a beacon, a nation worth emulating, a nation of strength - inside and out. We thank You for protection of our nation through the blood of Jesus that is being “painted” onto her through prayer. We thank You for the anointing oil of Holy Spirit, that not only covers our borders, but is also soaking into the soil of this nation. There, it is mixed with the oil of past generations’ anointings. Our prayers are causing a shaking, building pressure, and this synergistic mix of oil is about to erupt into flaming geysers of holy fire. Cleansing and deliverance, salvation, and restoration are coming. And nothing will stop this…because the prayers will not end, nor will Your mercy. Our decree: God’s grace is great, abounds, and is more than sufficient. ********************* Click on the link below to watch the full video.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/july-10-2023 July 10, 2023 Rebuilding the Walls The book of Nehemiah is a great account of restoration. Against all odds, Nehemiah, along with a remnant of Israelites, was used by God as part of the rebuilding of Jerusalem; he led the efforts to rebuild the city walls. His name, fittingly, means “Yahweh comforts.” The Babylonian captivity of Israel, prophesied by Jeremiah, had ended. Prior to Nehemiah’s role, Zerubbabel and Ezra had led remnants back to Jerusalem to rebuild and reestablish the Temple. God had used a pagan king, Cyrus, King of Persia - the nation now ruling the area - to allow this and even help them: “This is what Cyrus, king of Persia, says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to rebuild for Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. And every survivor, at whatever place he may live, the people of that place are to support him with silver and gold, with equipment and cattle, together with a voluntary offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’” (Ezra 2:2-4 NASB) In Nehemiah’s time, however, the people living in Jerusalem were still in distress, walls of the city still in ruins: “And they said to me, ‘The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and disgrace, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’” (Nehemiah 1:3 NASB) There could be no complete restoration without the walls of the city being rebuilt and the gates put in place. When Nehemiah heard the report of the city’s condition, he wept and mourned, fasted and prayed for days. (Verse 4) This time of mourning, fasting, and praying lasted for four months (see verses 1:1 and 2:1). His grief became so great that he appeared before the king - he was the king’s cupbearer - with a sad countenance (2:2), which was punishable by death. In other words, Nehemiah’s heart for the kingdom of God outweighed concern regarding his own life. However, because of God’s hand upon him (2:4-8), he was given grace and favor by the king. King Artaxerxes not only allowed him to go to Jerusalem and lead the effort of rebuilding the walls, but also helped by providing materials. Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem, surveyed the situation, then asked the Jews that had previously returned to the city under Zerubbabel and Ezra to help him rebuild the walls. Their response was encouraging: “Then I said to them, ‘You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates have been burned by fire. Come, let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a disgrace.’ And I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, ‘Let’s arise and build.’ So they put their hands to the good work… So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” (Nehemiah 2:17-18; 4:6 NASB) Through much opposition from other nationalities in the region - lies about them to influence the king, mocking to dishearten the builders, and threats to intimidate them - they finished the job. Nehemiah is a great read - take a look. Why this history lesson? My friend, Pat McManus (pastor and prayer leader from Illinois), sent me a text today. Here is a summary, in my words: “As I have been pondering what is going on around us, I wonder if - in the process of rebuilding the walls of our land - we have come to the place pictured by Nehemiah. Nehemiah understood the time he was in, a time of rebuilding the walls and resetting Israel. I believe we are entering the same type of season, a time when God is igniting the hearts of many to stand, rebuild the walls and see the nation restored to His original intent. “As Tim [Sheets] has said, I believe we have come to the time of a reset in the land. We are being positioned for this reset, which will advance God’s kingdom on earth. The need to prepare for change is at hand. The time of establishing the truth of the Word in the hearts of His people is now. Prepare your heart for what the Lord is about to do.” I believe Pat is right. I believe God has done much spiritually to prepare America for a great reset. I know globalists and others talk about a reset of their own. Don’t be distracted by that. God has His own plans for a restoration, a reset, in our land. He has placed in the heart of a growing remnant an understanding of the times; intercessors - “builders” - are at work. As we surround our nation with prayer, securing the “walls and gates,” He is helping us - even though the opposition is great. Stay the course! Here is another great report on painting our borders - “rebuilding the walls” - sent to me by my friend, David Ruleman. Although it has already taken place, it is worth mentioning: “I posted this on FaceBook and on GH15 Florida: ‘A call to the wall, a call of intercession, has gone out from our friend, Dutch Sheets. This Saturday [past], prayer warriors and intercessors in 67 counties in Florida will be joining intercessors in all 50 states as we Command the Foreword. We will be declaring the 1607 covenant Robert Hunt made with God for America, and also issuing other declarations as Holy Spirit leads. This will be in different locations all over Florida. For more information on Prayer Link Florida and to become part of this state-wide movement, go to www.prayerlinkfl.org. “With glistening hope, David.” It’s working, friends, keep painting. Pray with me: Father, just as You did with the sons of Issachar, You have raised up a people in our day who can discern the times. The movement of intercession over the last 30 years has been incredible. And you have been using those prayers to prepare hearts around the world for Your next great wave of harvest. We know this will not be stopped. As thousands of believers pray around our nation, You are using those prayers to prepare the way for Your reset of America. We are encouraged that so much of what is occurring is a grassroots movement - not organized by one ministry or voice. Encourage those who are faithfully praying. Give them strength, wisdom, insight, and protection. As the anointing of Holy Spirit is released across the nation, we decree now that it is not only securing our land, but is breaking yokes of bondage, opening blind eyes, and bringing people to Jesus. We command now Your kingdom authority and victory to come into our land! We command Your Will to be done! On earth as in Heaven! We declare that satan has been defeated, and we release the fruit of Christ’s victory into the streets, schools, homes, businesses, churches, and governments of America. Deception will be broken, eyes will continue to be opened, America will awaken, and salvation will come to millions. We also ask for this to occur in other nations. Worldwide revival! That is our prayer. In Christ’s name, amen. Our decree: We decree that America’s walls and gates are being rebuilt, her calling restored, and her foundations reset. ****************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/july-7-2023 July 7, 2023 Building Walls of Protection There are different types of prayer: priestly prayer (petitions), kingly prayer (declarations and decrees), the prayer of agreement, travailing prayer, intercessory prayer, and other descriptive terms we could mention. Although in the thinking of many, the word intercession has come to be synonymous with prayer, it is actually just a descriptive term describing one of these various facets. The Hebrew word for intercession, paga, has several shades of meaning, all of which can be accomplished through prayer. One of these meanings is the marking of "boundaries" or "borders,” the point at which two territories meet or connect. Paga is used repeatedly this way in Joshua 19, describing the boundaries of the tribes of Israel. Placing this definition into the context of prayer, paga is establishing boundaries or walls of protection. It is the posting of “No Trespassing" signs in the spiritual realm, and the placing of that which belongs to us under the protection of the Most High. I love Psalm 91:1-4 from THE MESSAGE: “You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, say this: ‘God, you're my refuge. I trust in you, and I'm safe!’ That's right - He rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you under them; you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.” In their book, Living and Praying in Jesus’ Name, **** Eastman and Jack Hayford, recount the following story: “A missionary, determined to take the gospel to an interior region of China, experienced the sovereign protection of God. Ruthless bandits along the road had prevented this area from being reached. However, this young missionary went, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. He later returned to the base without having seen any bandits. Shortly thereafter, other missionaries heard a rumor circulating throughout the area: the bandits had not attacked because an entourage of eleven soldiers had traveled with him. As he had actually traveled alone, the missionaries concluded angels must have protected him; but why eleven? “The missionary wrote about this experience to his home church in the United States. His pastor asked when this had happened. Upon receiving this information, the pastor excitedly communicated his part of the story. The pastor had been prompted by God to call a special prayer meeting for this missionary. When the date of the prayer meeting arrived, the pastor was disappointed at the poor turnout. That changed, however, after he received the missionary's amazing report. The pastor was thrilled to tell him, "You'll be pleased to know that, counting myself, there were exactly eleven of us who were praying for you that very day."(1) Those 11 faithful intercessors became a wall, a perimeter of protection, around this missionary through their prayers of intercession, causing Psalm 91 and Proverbs 18:10 to become realities. God wants us, also, to believe in the power of the name of Jesus and use it to build walls of protection. Isaiah 26:1 and 60:18 speak of God's protection as walls: "In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: ‘We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security.’" "Violence will not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise." In his book Prayer That Moves Mountains, Gordon Lindsay tells a remarkable story similar to the one about the missionary to China. It is a remarkable picture of building protective walls and boundaries through prayer: “Unknown to a Christian Armenian, bandits followed his caravan as he transported merchandise across the desert to a town in Turkish Armenia. The bandits waited until after dark to attack, but upon approaching the caravan, they were astonished to see high walls surrounding it. The same scenario happened on the following night, with high walls again protecting the caravan. On the third night, however, the walls were broken in places, allowing the bandits access to the merchant. Frightened by the mystery of the walls, the leader of the bandits offered to spare the merchant and his caravan if he would just share the secret of the walls with him. Having no knowledge of the walls, the merchant replied that all he knew was that each evening he prayed, committing himself and those with him to God, but that on this particular evening, he had not prayed as usual, due to his tiredness, and that probably accounted for the breaks in the wall. This testimony so amazed the bandits that they gave their lives to Christ.”(2) Many would find this story unbelievable. Yet why should it surprise us? God simply allowed people to see what was actually there in the spirit realm: walls of protection. Zechariah 2:5 calls them walls of fire: "’For I,’ declares the Lord, 'will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” As we paint the boundaries of our states and nation, we are “marking” our territories, staking claims, and posting “No Trespassing” signs in the spirit. We are telling satan and his kingdom: “This land belongs to the Lord. He has given us stewardship of it, and we will not allow you to steal it.” Even as a shaking comes - to tear down evil authority structures, cleanse our nation and turn it back to God - we will protect it, as instructed. The shaking will neither destroy nor define us. Covenant will define us. “Under God” will define us. The Gospel of Jesus Christ will define us. “Evangelist to the World” will define us. We confidently declare that righteousness will prevail, mercy will triumph, and destiny will endure. Pray with me: Father, we are painting our borders blood red, sealing them with the finest of oils. Though the encroacher, the trespasser and thief, has attempted to steal our inheritance, he shall fail here just as he did in heaven. His defeat is sure, having been accomplished by Christ, whose blood we now apply through prayers of obedience. Whatever the shaking may be, we know that mercy will endure and triumph over the reaping America experiences. We will emerge stronger, wiser, purer, more humble, and ready for another phase of destiny, another season of harvest. Baal’s hold is weakening, the light of exposure is disinfecting his putrid decay, and revealing to America the folly of our sins. We know You are about to finish what You’ve started. So we will keep painting, keep sealing. We will keep announcing that truth will prevail, Your plans will succeed, and America shall be saved. We will continue to prepare for harvest, here and around the world. Our appeals will not diminish, our faith will not waver, and our God will not fail. In Yeshua’s name we pray. Amen Our decree: We decree that we, the Ekklesia, will serve the purpose of God in our generation. (Acts 13:36) ******************* Portions of today’s post were taken from my book The Essential Guide to Prayer, How to Pray with Power and Effectiveness (published by Baker Books). Click on the link below to watch the full video. ________________________ **** Eastman and Jack Hayford, Living and Praying in Jesus’ Name (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1988), pp. 13-14. Gordon Lindsay, Prayer That Moves Mountains (Dallas, TX: Christ For the Nations, revised 1994), p. 39.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/july-6-2023 July 6, 2023 A Great Symphony of Prayer “Again, I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:19-20; NASB) “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:16; KJV) The word “agree” in Matthew 18:19 is the Greek word sumphoneo(1), from which we get the English word symphony. It’s easy to see the concept in this word: one sound, made of many sounds. There are many instruments in a symphony, all playing the same song, in the same key, with the same tempo, with one conductor. Any deviation from these demands can be heard immediately, creating discord, dissonance, perhaps even cacophony. (I’ve heard too many cacophonies in churches!) With Holy Spirit as our Conductor, a great symphony of prayer has been forming in America. It can be heard in homes, churches, vehicles, forests, along the sides of roads and rivers, on snow-covered mountains, and in lush valleys. Listen closely, and you’ll realize it is also in many languages, coming from other nations as well. The sound of the Ekklesia Philharmonic Orchestra is no doubt rapturous to heaven, filling the throne room with great joy, even as it transforms into a sweet-smelling incense (Revelation 5:8). The second verse above, Ephesians 4:16, is less known by the church, but packed with anecdotic language describing the church. The context of the verse, Ephesians 4, is the body of Christ - pictured as a human body, with its diverse parts and functions, working together. Let’s take a closer look at a portion of this verse. “Fitly joined together” is an interesting and complex Greek word (sunarmologeo)(2), made from 3 words. Sun(3) means “together”, harmos(4) means “joint; joining”, and lego(5) means “to put in order; arrange or gather together.” A derivative of lego is logos, arranging thoughts into words in order to communicate them. Our English words logic and logical come from logos. This word is used as one of the names of Jesus in John 1:1. This is because Christ embodies the logic, the reasoning of God; He is the expression of God to us. Jesus is saying to us through this amazing word (sunarmologeo) and verse: You are My expression. As I revealed the Father, You will reveal Me. You are My body; you are My words. I made each of you unique, as different in your giftings, callings, and preferences as an ear is from a foot; or, to use the symphony analogy, as different as a tuba is from a violin. But if you connect, work together, “play the same song” - I will be revealed. Your sound, Your song, is meant to reveal Me. As we release our many prayers in this season, with different Scriptures and words, in so many ways and places, Christ is being heard and seen. Holy Spirit is the Conductor - He will show you your part. I love how He is leading people to “paint” their state in different ways. Some go, others who cannot physically travel around their state, do so on maps with their fingers and words. What a great sound that must be to heaven! Some write decrees, some use their State Constitutions, others read Robert Hunt’s decree - think of the power being released across the land as all this occurs. It’s the Synergy of the Ages Symphony! Grab your instrument, and let’s go. Here are a few more reports and examples of painting the borders of our states: From Virginia: “Thank you for your call to “Command the foreword.” I am one of the moms in Loudoun County who has been vocal in our fight against corruption in our school boards. “I have already gathered many groups to prayer walk around our city and schools, but I believe this is the most important assignment of all. In the burning promptings of Holy Spirit, I started a prayer call to recite our (Robert Hunt) 1607 Covenant daily and have joined in “painting” Virginia’s borders and anointing the land with oil. I am now partnering with groups doing the same with Intercessors For America. I promise to continue to do my part. Thank you for your leadership. You have the partnership of Loudoun County, VA. America IS being saved! Our children will have a future and prosper, in Jesus' name.” And from North Dakota: “We are pastors and leaders of a prayer ministry called Gateway Prayer, and we lead a Prayer Gathering to pray for the community, our region, and nation every Thursday evening at 7 pm at one of our local Community Centers. We have intercessors in attendance from 6-8 different churches (so far) in the Bismarck area. “We encourage everyone to read or listen to Give Him 15 every day, and we are following the words you are bringing from prophetic voices in the nation. “We love and appreciate your ministry and wanted you all to be aware we are linking arms from North Dakota, also referred to as “the bread basket of the world.” From a U.S. Embassy: “I am a service member currently serving at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile, although my home unit is in Texas. Yesterday Holy Spirit moved me to go to the embassy and pray for every state and U.S. territory as I walked around the atrium. I agreed and renewed our commitment to the covenant of dedication made on 29 April 1607. After all, U.S. embassies are sovereign U.S. territories, so they need to be painted, as well! America shall be saved! The third great awakening has already begun.” (shared with permission) We hope you are enjoying the new Paint Your State online hub on our GiveHim15.com website! Your response has been amazing! Thank you for your patience, as this is our first time building an interactive web page. My staff has asked that I share two important facts that will improve your user experience: 1 – First of all, you may have noticed by now that you are receiving email notifications whenever there is activity in the group you joined. This is the default setting for every member profile. We realize you may not want this feature because it may quickly clog up your email inbox! To personalize or manage your notification settings, go to your profile located in the upper right-hand corner of GiveHim15.com, and click your profile. Once on your profile page, go to "Settings." On this page, you can adjust what activities will trigger an email being sent to you. 2 - Secondly, if you would like to see what is happening on other state group pages, you can do so by clicking the PHOTO of the state (instead of clicking the "Join" button). You only need to "Join" a group if you want to contribute a post or comment in the group feed. We hope you take some time to see what other states are doing - you will find it extremely encouraging; I know I did! Pray with me: Father, we rejoice with You as the church, the Ekklesia, comes together in agreement for the protection of America. We are connected in Christ, releasing the same sound, playing the same song. Continue stirring hearts to do so, and releasing creativity and insight into where to go, how to do so, and what to pray. You said a shaking is coming to turn around our nation, not to destroy it. You said as we “command the foreword” and paint the states with the oil of Holy Spirit, we were releasing both the shaking that would cleanse, and the protection needed to preserve our land. You told us not to fear the shaking. Your Word also tells us not to fear. Therefore, we are unafraid of any shaking that occurs. We remind ourselves that we are also joined to our brothers and sisters around the world. They are part of Your cherished family and prayer orchestra. We pray for them, as well. Strengthen them, provide for them, and encourage them. Send revival to the nations! Deliver them from evil governments and systems - tear down the strongholds of darkness. Shake down evil, even as you do so here in America. We know evil will exist until Your return, but grace will prevail, and Your Kingdom will expand. We pray these things in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the sound of the Ekklesia is on key, in perfect harmony, and clear. It is bringing fire and protection to our land. ******************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/july-4-2023 July 4, 2023 Happy Birthday, America! On our nation’s birthday as a nation, let’s “command the foreword” by looking at some of the great declarations and statements made by American Founders. These quotes are powerful, inspiring, demonstrate their faith, and confirm America’s purpose. Founding Father Patrick Henry led the Virginia Militia, was a member of the Continental Congress, a 5-time Governor of Virginia, and more.(1) He was also a great orator. As tensions continued to grow between Britain and the colonists, Henry presented resolutions to the Virginia Convention to raise and establish a militia. His opponents urged caution. On March 23, 1775, Henry uttered the now-famous line, “Give me liberty or give me death.” Sadly, many Americans have never heard the rest of this amazing speech.(2) Here are a few more lines: “...If we wish to be free…we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us! “.... We are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power...We shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations…The war is inevitable, and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come. “...Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”(3) Years later, regarding his belief that America was founded on Christianity and the Gospel, Patrick Henry said: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”(4) The Adams Family The contribution to America’s birth by our second President, John Adams, cannot be overstated, nor can that of his family: wife, Abigail; son, John Quincy; and cousin, Samuel. On July 1, 1776, John Adams spoke to the delegates at the Continental Congress: “Before God, I believe the hour has come. My judgment approves this measure, and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it. And I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God, it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, and Independence forever!”(5) The Declaration of Independence was approved the next day, July 2, edited somewhat the following day, and formally adopted on the 4th. On July 3, Adams wrote to Abigail, with prophetic insight it seems, regarding the importance of what had just been approved: “The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever. “You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means; that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction, even though we [may regret] it, which I trust in God we shall not.”(6) On June 20, 1776, shortly before the Declaration was ratified and released, Abigail Adams had written to John of her great faith in God: “I feel no anxiety at the large armament designed against us. The remarkable interpositions of heaven in our favor cannot be too gratefully acknowledged. He who fed the Israelites in the wilderness, who clothes the lilies of the field and who feeds the young ravens when they cry, will not forsake a people engaged in so right a cause, if we remember His loving kindness.”(7) Our sixth President, John Quincy Adams, the son of John and Abigail, was a brilliant man; he was actually serving America’s government at 14 years of age!”(8) On July 4, 1801, America’s 25th birthday, he made the profound statement: “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity…”(9) In a speech celebrating our 61st birthday, July 4th, 1837, he expounded on this belief in an even more profound statement: “Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day? “Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the Progress of the Gospel dispensation? “Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth? “That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the Saviour and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets 600 years before.”(10) Absolutely incredible! And we must never forget the great Samuel “Sam” Adams, known as the “Father of the American Revolution.” He instigated the Boston Tea Party, signed the Declaration of Independence, called for the first Continental Congress, and much more. After the Declaration of Independence was signed, some wept, others bowed their heads in prayer. Samuel Adams rose and stated:(11) “We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and…from the rising to the setting of the sun, may His kingdom come.”(12) Happy 247th Birthday, America! To these and other patriots in the great cloud cheering us on, and with whom we enjoy the synergy of the ages, we say: “Though floundering, the dream lives! We shall work and appeal until it is fully revived - your labors and sacrifices will not have been in vain! Thank you for the foreword you gave us; we’re commanding it today.” Prayer and Decree (based on the Founders’ quotes): As Robert Hunt declared and Patrick Henry confirmed, America was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will not allow this truth to be stolen. An appeal to the God of Hosts will prevail again. We shall not fight our battle alone - there is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations. Just as Adams spoke of seeing the “light and glory,” we believe the light of truth and glory of God will prevail and be seen in America! We are “the posterity” that He prophesied would triumph. We echo Abigail Adams’ faith: “We feel no anxiety at the large armament designed against us. He who fed the Israelites…clothes the lilies…and feeds the ravens will not forsake a people engaged in so right a cause.”(13) And we agree with John Quincy and Samuel Adams: “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.” And we will restore this purpose of the Sovereign to America. (14) Our decree: We decree that as we “command the foreword” - the purpose God stated for America at her beginning - it is shaking down the evil structures in America and resetting our destiny..! ****** ****** ****** Click on the link below to watch the full video. _____________________________ William J. Federer, America’s God and Country (Coppell, TX: FAME Publishing, Inc., 1994), p. 287. https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/deep-dives/give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death/ Ibid. Steve C. Dawson. God’s Providence in America’s History (Rancho Cordova, CA: Steve C. Dawson, 1988), Vol I, p. 5. David Barton, The Myth of Separation (Aledo, TX: WAllBuilder Press, 1991), pp. 25, 258. M.E. Bradford, The Trumpet Voice of Freedom: Patrik Henry of Virginia (Marlborough, NH: Plymouth Rock Foundation 1991), p. iii. July 1, 1776. Dan Amoot. America's Promise (Dallas, TX: The Dan Smoot Report, 1960), p. 6. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and the Glory (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1997), pp. 307-308. William J. Federer, America’s God and Country (Coppell, TX: FAME Publishing, Inc., 1994), p.9. Ibid. p. 3. Ibid. p.15. Ibid. p. 18. Ibid. p. 18. Marshall, Peter and Manuel, David. The Light and the Glory (Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 1977). pp. 307, 309. William J. Federer, America’s God and Country (Coppell, TX: FAME Publishing, Inc., 1994), p. 23. Ibid. p. 3. Ibid. p. 23.

8 min read July 3, 2023 The Independence Day (That Almost Never Was) Today’s post is about God’s intervention to save our Republic through Roger Sherman and Benjamin Franklin. I am going to venture a guess that most of you know little, if anything, about founding father, Roger Sherman. His contribution to America’s beginning was extremely important. Sherman was distinguished as the only founding father to sign all four of America’s major founding documents: The Articles of Association, 1774; The Declaration of Independence, 1776; The Articles of Confederation, 1777; and the Constitution of the United States, 1787. Can you imagine the honor?! “Sherman was a shoe cobbler, surveyor, and merchant prior to his political career. He was a self-taught lawyer, a state senator, a superior court judge, and a judge in Connecticut for fourteen years. Later, he was a member of the Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention, where he made 138 speeches. He then became a U.S. representative from 1789-91, and at the age of 70, was elected a U.S. Senator, serving from 1791-93.”(1) Many Americans, like me for my first 45 years of life, do not know much about the Constitutional Convention and our other founding events and documents. Here is a very brief overview of significant events leading up to and including the convention: In 1776, the 13 American colonies declared their independence from Britain. (The Declaration of Independence) The Revolutionary War took place from 1776-1783. During this time, the 13 United States functioned under The Articles of Confederation. The Constitution had not yet been written. The central government, however, had little power or income (which, generally speaking, is good) and therefore, could not effectively support an army and provide for other needs. James Madison and George Washington were among those who feared the young country was on the brink of collapse. In 1787, in an attempt to remedy this, a Federal Convention of the states was planned in Philadelphia. This was 11 years after the Declaration of Independence had been written. (It was not called the Constitutional Convention until later.) The delegates assumed they were meeting only to make improvements to the Articles of Confederation. While there, however, most of the delegates decided a completely new system of government was needed, not just a revision of the old. The convention lasted from May 24 to September 17; it was VERY contentious. For a while, it seemed they would fail in their efforts.(2) “On Thursday, June 28, 1787, the deletes were embroiled in a bitter debate over how each state was to be represented in the new government. The hostile feelings created by the smaller states being pitted against the larger states, were so bitter that some delegates actually left the Convention. “Benjamin Franklin, being the President (Governor) of Pennsylvania, was hosting the rest of the 55 delegates attending the Convention. Being the senior member of the convention at 81 years of age, he commanded the respect of all present, and, as recorded in James Madison’s detailed records, he rose to speak in this moment of crisis: “‘Mr. President: The small progress we have made after four or five weeks of close attendance and continual reasonings with each other - our different sentiments on almost every question…producing as many noes as ayes, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. “‘We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which, having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist. And we have viewed the Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances. “‘In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly appealing to the Father of lights to illuminate our understanding? “‘In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. “‘To that kind Providence, we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? “‘I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? “‘We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that “except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without this concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. “‘And what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war, and conquest “‘I, therefore, beg leave to move - that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.’(3) “Roger Sherman was the person to second Franklin’s motion that they begin opening each daily session with prayer.(4) This was approved, and the practice has continued since, although poorly attended and supported. Shortly after this, Sherman made the suggestion that state representation in the Senate be equal and that state representation in the House be based on population. This historic proposal, which came to be called the ‘Connecticut Compromise,’ was adopted, and the system has been in use since. Sherman was also on the committee which decided the wording of the First Amendment. (5) ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’ “Roger Sherman once described the necessity of ‘Admiring and thankfully acknowledging the riches of redeeming love, and earnestly imploring that divine assistance which may enable us to live no more to ourselves, but to Him who loved us and gave Himself to die for us.’(6) “Why is it that such a giant of a man is so little covered by the textbooks of today? To think that the only man to sign all four of our major founding documents, establish prayer in Congress, develop the compromise for just representation between House and Senate is unknown to most Americans baffles the mind.”(7) Today, we celebrate his contribution to our God-inspired Constitution. Today our prayer is from Abraham Lincoln, taken from his proclamation of a National Fast Day, on March 30, 1863, and his answer to a question, just before Gettysburg, asking if the nation would survive: “Whereas, it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history: that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord… “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. “Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! “It behooves us then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.(8) “I do not doubt that our country will finally come through safe and undivided. But do not misunderstand me…I do not rely on the patriotism of our people…the bravery and devotion of the boys in blue…(or) the loyalty and skill of our generals… “But the God of our fathers, Who raised up this country to be the refuge and asylum of the oppressed and downtrodden of all nations, will not let it perish now. I may not live to see it…I do not expect to see it, but God will bring us through safe.” (9) ******************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. _____________________________ Sherman, Roger. Lewis Henry Bouotell, The Life of Roger Sherman (Chicago: A.C. McClure & Co., 1896), 213. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1986), p. 137. Edwin Gaustad, Faith of Our Fathers (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987), p. 158. Leo Godzich, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Phoenix, AZ: NAME Publishers), p. 63-64. William J. Federer, America’s God and Country (Coppell, TX: FAME Publishing, Inc., 1994), p. 558. Benjamin Franklin. June 28, 1787. James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 (1787; reprinted NY: W.W. Norton and Co., 1987), pp. 209-210. David Barton, The Myth of Separation (Aledo, TX: WallBuilder Press, 1991), pp. 108-109. Gallard Hunt and James B. Scott, Ed., The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America, reported by James Madison (New York: Oxford University Press, 1920), pp. 181-182. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc, 1987), pp. 122-124. George Bancroft, Bancroft’s History of the Constitution of the United States Vols I-X (Boston: Charles C. Little & James Brown, 1838), Vol. II. Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, Oregon: American Heritage Ministries, 19887), pp. 159-160. Sherman, Robert. June 28, 1787. James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 (1787; reprinted NY: W.W. Norton and Company, 1987), p. 210. Sherman, Roger. Lewis Henry Bouotell, The Life of Roger Sherman (Chicago: A.C. McClure & Co., 1896), 213. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1986), p. 137. Edwin Gaustad, Faith of Our Fathers (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987), p. 158. Sherman, Roger. John Eidsmoe, Constitution, p. 321. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloomington, MN: Garborg’s HeartN Home, Inc., 1991), 8.23. Leo Godzich, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Phoenix, AZ: NAME Publishers), p. 65. Abraham Lincoln. March 30, 1863. James D. Richardson, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents 1789-1897 (Published by Authority of Congress, 1899), Vol VI, p. 164. Gary DeMar, God and Government, A Biblical and Historical Study by Atlanta, GA: American Vision Press, 1984), p. 128-129, also David Barton, The Myth of Separation (Aledo, TX: WallBuilder Press, 1991), p. 259, also Benjamin Weiss, God in American History: A Documentation of America’s Religious Heritage (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1966), p. 92. Willard Cantelon, Money Master of the World (Plainfield, JN: Logos International, 19765), p. 120. “Our Christian Heritage,” Letter from Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, NH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), p. 6 Gary DeMar, The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision, Inc., 1993), pp. 53, 99. Abraham Lincoln. June 1863, in a discourse with a college President. Johnson, Lincoln, pp. 109-110. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloomington, MN: Garborg’s Heart ‘N Home, Inc., 1991), 4.26.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-30-2023 June 30, 2023 The Difficult Made Easy As more and more people awaken to the power of prayer, God is training and connecting them. Our personal times of prayer are critically important, but we should also pray with others, activating the power of agreement and the synergy it produces. As Tom Schlueter has told us this week, it takes an army. I can assure you that our need for this will increase, not diminish, in the days ahead. For the past two days, Tom and I have shared several principles necessary to develop and function as an army. Here is a brief recap: Grassroots - We are ALL priests, representing Christ, the High Priest. No “big me’s, little you’s.” All the blades of grass form the grassroots movement; all the knots comprise the net. Position - All have a “position,” a sphere of influence, they are assigned to pray into, as well as a position in the army. Obedience - The Texas prayer network under Tom began through his act of obedience, driving and praying around the entire circumference of the state. Inclusion - Leaders must recognize all the “knots,” allowing them to take their places in the net. Connect - Leaders must work to connect the army, and also to train them. In today’s post, Tom and I want to share a few more principles regarding building a prayer army. In 2003-04, obeying a clear word from Holy Spirit, Chuck Pierce and I traveled to all 50 states, gathering leaders and intercessors. Our purpose was to help unite the intercessors, and release prophetic words of purpose and strategy to each state. Summaries of what Holy Spirit said to them are given in our book, The Prophetic Destiny of a Nation. Tom shares two words Holy Spirit released over Texas: “Dutch declared: ‘There is a mantle on Texas to bring forth change in America. I say there is a governmental anointing on the State of Texas – on the church of Texas – to rise up in her position in heavenly places and begin to legislate, to release the government of God, that changes the government of man.’ “Chuck released this word. ‘There is a nation in your loins, and you will birth a nation. God is giving you the authority to address giants who are stopping it. There will be a grassroots movement from Texas, that will be seen throughout the nation, and the giant will be addressed. It will be known that from Texas a nation was birthed, a nation went to war, and a nation had the victory.’” Now you know why the concept of a grassroots movement is so important to Tom! One of the things I have appreciated so much about him and TXAPN is their determination to hear and obey what Holy Spirit says. HE gives them their strategies and assignments. Without exception, the most significant breakthroughs and transformation around the nation are occurring in states that follow this pattern. That should not surprise us: “Put your trust in the Lord your God, and you will endure. Put your trust in His prophets, and succeed” (2 Chronicles 20:20, NASV; also see Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14). Yes, prophecy must be judged (through Scripture and the ways of God) and must be carefully interpreted. But, if and when it is deemed to be a word from Holy Spirit, prayer and faith must then be released, action and obedience implemented. As a prayer army, a united company, Tom and TXAPN have honored the Lord’s instructions in many ways. As examples, Tom says: “When I started forming a network in my own city of Arlington, Texas, I would simply reach out to people in my own congregation. They then reached out to people in other congregations. We met more people as we started gathering in small prayer groups and carrying out prayer initiatives for the city. Before we knew it, we had over 25 congregations or ministries represented in the network and over a hundred people praying together for our city. We were committing ourselves to each other for a common purpose and goal. Assignments from the Lord that are difficult for one or two people become easy when many are doing them. “For instance, at the Lord’s prompting, I easily drove my car the forty-four miles around the circumference of our city. But when the Lord said to prayer walk it, this was no longer a task for one! It had to be an army - and we had one. We walked it seven times! “Later, the Lord instructed me to drive the circumference of the state, which I did. But as the army formed, He asked us to pray at all the rivers, all 254 counties, all the courthouses, and all the entry points in and out of the state! It takes an army! And it requires obedience!” Another word from the Lord which TXAPN obeyed required humility and some soul-searching. Tom tells us: “The first prophetic word I gave as this network formed, was in 2007. After Chuck Pierce commissioned me, he surprised me by handing me the microphone. The Lord immediately declared through me, ‘I will use this state to help change a nation, if you’ll deal with your two major sins as a state - pride and independence.’ “These words define two of the greatest obstacles the Ekklesia faces in arising to its destiny as a grassroots army. We must remind ourselves that the world does not revolve around us - our ministry, our network, or our ideas. Too many people are competing for the limelight, seeking to be the most important leader or ministry. Most would deny this motivation, but the fruit reveals otherwise. “Here in Texas, we’ve had to deal with both of these sins on a regular basis. Even throughout our nation, many would say that Texas is filled with pride. Texans often consider themselves the greatest, most important, and biggest (at least until they visit Alaska). “They also consider themselves to be independent ‘cusses,’ people who can do it by themselves, regardless of what the rest of the world says or does. The antidote to this is covenant. The Lord has driven this revelation deep into our network. A desire for covenant drives us. The numbers, our leadership style, strategies - these don’t define our network. Covenant relationships and connections define us! “To deal with the roots of pride and independence in Texas, the Lord had us conduct a ‘pride and independence’ initiative. He led us to go and pray in Independence, Texas (yes, there is!), where we declared our dependence on Him, and then to Pride, Texas (yes, there was!). Fittingly, at Pride, Texas, the only thing left of the town was Pride Cemetery. In these places, we repented and asked for those roots to be uprooted from Texas. We believe this was done, and the fruits of humility and cooperation will now prevail.” Pray with me: Father, we are not looking to build more organizations or institutions. We do want to build life-giving relationships, connecting with other believers to advance Your cause. We are asking You today to enact a sovereign, highly effective movement to unite believers for Your causes. In Yeshua’s name, we denounce and bind the religious, sectarian spirits that divide us. Forgive us for the pride and religiosity behind our man-made walls, and do a work to unite us. May inclusion replace division, cooperation replace isolationism. As we expand existing prayer networks and build others, we ask You to create many opportunities for people to connect. Show leaders how to be found, and seekers how to find. And as we work together, “paint” every state and national border with Holy Spirit’s presence and power. Anchor every state to the secure anchors You have placed in the nation. As individuals and teams “command the foreword,” release the resurrection power of Holy Spirit into the roots You gave our nation. We decree over America once again that You formed us, You will resurrect us, and You will preserve us. You are exposing and judging evil in America, and will continue to do so - in government, media, education, and elsewhere. You will shake down every antichrist kingdom and eradicate every wicked scheme. And You will prevail. In Jesus' Name we pray..! Our decree: We decree that the prayer movement is expanding, the Ekklesia is growing, and a glorious church is emerging. ********************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------------- You can find out more about Tom Schlueter and the TXAPN and see books he has written at TomSchlueter.com.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-29-2023 June 29, 2023 Connecting the "Knots" The body of Christ’s misunderstanding and misuse of certain words has cost us greatly. Two of those words are “calling” and “ministry.” We have taught that clergy, or those who do full-time ministry as a vocation, are “called” to the ministry. The rest of you non-called Christians, well, I’m sorry, but I guess you just have jobs - in order to support the called. The Bible, however, teaches that all believers have a “calling” from God (Ephesians 1:18; 4:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 3:1; 2 Peter 1:10). The verse in 2 Timothy 1:9 says God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.” All believers have a holy calling and purpose! The Greek word (klesis)[1] means “an invitation.” We have also grossly misused the word “ministry.” There are actually six New Testament words for minister or ministry, all of which mean “to serve.” Each of them offers a different nuance and/or purpose for the serving. The one normally associated with what we call “the ministry” is diakoneo(2)/diakonia(3), which simply means “to serve, attend or wait on.” We also get the word deacon from this word. In Acts chapter 6, it is used both for both the apostles’ “ministries” (Acts 6:4) and the deacon’s “ministries” (Acts 6:2). One group served natural food to the widows; the other served spiritual food to the entire church. Both were servants. Diakonia simply means to serve another, regardless of the purpose. We are ALL called to ministry or service for Christ. (My apologies to all the “clergy”, but there is actually only one “Reverend.”) Tom Schlueter “serves” as the leader of the Texas Apostolic Prayer Network, which consists of over 10,000 Texans “serving” their state in prayer. Tom gave us most of yesterday’s post. In light of Holy Spirit now taking each state to a new level of prayer, I’ve asked him to share a few more comments today regarding how this can occur. Tom shares: “I clearly remember the day I read this comment from Dutch: ‘I want to honor the faithful intercessors and other front-liners who have worked diligently to see the purposes of Christ accomplished in America. Most of you are never paid a penny for your labor, never receive glowing introductions, and will never stand on a stage. You’re the nameless, faceless heroes the prophets assured us were coming. Thank God you’re here. Your best days are ahead of you.’ “I wholeheartedly agree. “Ministry has been ‘religiously’ defined as the people on the platform, the stage, the front lines, or behind the pulpit, and sadly, they are perceived as the important ones. Regarding prayer, those running the networks are considered the important ones. Wrong! YOU are the important ones. As we said yesterday, you are the blades of grass in God’s grassroots movement. Without you, what God wants to do now for your state and our nation will not occur. Remember, a general without an army is not a general! “I have a fishing net hanging in my office next to a logo for our Texas prayer network. I’ve often pulled down that net and taken it to our gatherings. I hold it up and ask everyone: ‘Can you tell me which knot you are?’ They give me a strange look. Then I say to them, ‘You need to understand that you are a knot in this net.’ I then ask, ‘Which knot is most important?’ They always give me a puzzled look. Then I tell them: ‘Your knot is the most important, because without it, there’s a hole in the net.’ Every knot is important. Then, if we’re going to build an army, we need to ‘connect the knots.’ The Beginning “I believe it was 2005, before I became the leader of our network, and I was attending a conference in Oklahoma City. I had just visited a Native American tribal leader in Oklahoma and was returning to the conference to report on the meeting. I found my friend, Apostle Jay Swallow, who had sent me, in the green room with a few other leaders. Dutch Sheets was there. As I listened to the conversation, Dutch suddenly turned to me and asked, ‘Tom, can you tell me how intercession is going in Texas?’ I told him I knew people in Texas were praying, but I had no sense that they were connected. Later in the conference, Dutch came to me, along with other leaders, and prophesied that he believed I would be a catalyst for leading prayer in the state of Texas. “Then, in June of 2007, Chuck Pierce commissioned me to lead the state of Texas with a newly forming prayer network. The commissioning was held in the auditorium of our state Capitol in Austin, which was packed with intercessors from across the state. The network was birthed…and yet, not fully, because none of those people were truly connected with each other. They had simply been invited to a meeting. Connecting the “Knots” “Many have asked me how we developed this large and successful network of intercession. I have tried to come up with key points or a formula we used, but there simply isn’t one. The network grew out of a simple act of obedience. You see, even before I was commissioned by Chuck Pierce, the Lord had already told me to drive the circumference of the state and pray. He had asked me to do the same thing regarding my own city of Arlington, which I had done. So, after we were commissioned, my wife and I set out on our journey. I had emailed those on the email list we had just obtained when I was commissioned, asking them to join us in their area. Out of that email communication, many lunches, prayer gatherings, and other connections were made as we circled the state. Out of those connections, the Lord said, ‘Ask these to be on your team; they will be part of this newly forming network.’ “This was somewhat of a stretch - they had not been vetted or examined. And as it turns out, they, like me, are not perfect! But they were chosen by Him. And these connections were the beginnings of a net that grew and has now generated a statewide transformation affecting the entire world. What a joy it has been to see these 12-15 leaders in Texas grow to over 100 coordinators throughout the state. And to observe how these leaders have changed the very atmosphere of our state by obediently carrying out what God has asked them to do in their regions. Through their efforts, the number of intercessors now connected exceeds ten thousand. “We are all blades of grass, knots in a net, and as we connect, we will witness the transformation of cities, states, and a nation.” This brings me to two more of the words for servants/ministers. One is huperetes(4) which means, “a subordinate, servant or attendant.” It is used to describe King David in Acts 13:36, as he ”served” God’s purpose in his generation. Ah, but there is a hidden meaning! This word comes from two Greek words meaning “under” and “rower”. An under-rower was one of several people who rowed a boat or small ship in that day. The key to their success was the synergy produced when they rowed together, simultaneously. Thirty men who take turns rowing produce only the strength of one - thirty different times. But thirty men rowing simultaneously create a force that can move a small ship. This is why they rowed to a cadence. When God can get a group of servant ministers (diakonia) to connect and row together (huperetes), the body of Christ can do the last word for a servant: therapon(5). This word, meaning “servant, attendant, or minister,” includes doing so to cure and heal! (See Matthew 4:23-24). We get the words “therapy” and “therapist” from this Greek word. As Tom said, “We are all blades of grass, knots in a net (diakonia), and as we connect (huperetes) we will witness the transformation of cities, states, and a nation (therapon).” Pray with me: Father, Jesus demonstrated true ministry - servanthood - as He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by satan (Acts 10:38). He came, not to be served, but to serve and give His life for many (Matthew 20.28). David, a king, was called a servant. Your apostles were called servants. We ask for great revelation to invade the church regarding our call to servanthood. And we ask for our hearts to be moved upon by Holy Spirit, bringing us passionate desires to connect, to work together. We ask that denominations, movements, leaders, and all believers would be moved on to produce this. Convict the church of judging one another, criticizing, and causing and/or honoring divisions. Show us the religiosity and pride behind this and bring a spirit of repentance and love. And we ask for connections - millions of them. Build prayer connections, enabling us to fulfill the assignments you’ve given. We ask that EVERY state have a STRONG prayer covering by the Ekklesia. We declare that every state will be painted - anointed - by the oil of Holy Spirit, sealed and protected. Anchor every one of them to You and Your protective hand. Through the shaking, return our nation to You and send the greatest awakening EVER. In Christ’s name, amen. Our decree: We decree that Spirit-led connections are occurring, causing great power to manifest in our land. ************************ Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), Ref. No. 2821. Ibid. Ref. No. 1247. Ibid. Ref. No. 1248. Ibid. Ref. No. 5257. Ibid. Ref. No. 2324.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-27-2023 June 27, 2023 Partnering in the Assignment Holy Spirit has done much in the past several decades to awaken the church regarding the importance and power of prayer. Hundreds of good books have been written; many ministries focus almost solely on prayer; several prayer networks have formed; many churches are praying; and thousands of prayer groups meet regularly here in America and around the world, with millions of people praying. We are also growing in our revelation and understanding. This growth, both spiritually and numerically, is a big part of God’s plan for bringing about the coming harvest. Thousands of these intercessors and groups have already tapped into the assignment to “paint”/anoint the perimeters of their states, securing them and releasing Holy Spirit fire. (You can read the posts and learn more about that here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) Today, I’m sharing some of the reports we’re receiving, both to encourage you and also to give examples of how this can be done. For the remainder of the week, I’ll be teaching various principles and guidelines to help you. Here are some of the reports: Alaska A team flew to Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley), the highest mountain peak in North America at over 20,000 feet, and prayed for Alaska and the nation. They sent me a video and pictures from there, one of them showing the words “An Appeal To Heaven” written in the snow. I love the obedience, creativity, and commitment! Kansas Sandy Neuman, a friend and key prayer leader in Kansas, sent the following: “This is our Kansas foreword. It will be declared in each county, along with anointing them - and whatever else each team wants to do. One retired couple is going to drive the perimeter, anointing the borders. We’re on it!” “Kansas’ Command The Foreword: ‘In 2023, we, the people of Kansas, agree and renew our commitment to the covenant of dedication made on April 29, 1607, by Reverend Robert Hunt at Cape Henry, North America. ‘“We do hereby dedicate this land and ourselves to reach the people within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to raise up godly generations after us and with these generations, take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this covenant of dedication remain to all generations as long as the earth remains, and may this land, along with England, be evangelists to the world. May all who see this cross remember what we have done here, and may those, who come here to inhabit, join us in this covenant and in this noblest work that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled. From these very shores, the gospel shall go forth, not only to this New World, but the entire world. ‘All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee. For the Kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules among the nations’ (Psalm 22:27-28). “‘That spiritual stream of the covenant of freedom and liberty crossed the land now called The United States Of America, and we were the recipients of that initial prayer of dedication in 1861, the year of statehood. Kansas is the fruit of that covenant at Cape Henry. We now join in with that original design and purpose for the entire nation. “‘As the preamble to the state constitution states, “We, the people of Kansas, are grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges…” Kansas declared freedom then and has continued to this day to pursue the Gospel of the Kingdom.”’ Sandy and the teams of intercessors in Kansas always take seriously the word of the Lord and DO it. What a great decree! South Carolina Here’s a great report from South Carolina: “President Trump will be speaking from Pickens County Main Street in Pickens, South Carolina, on July 1. Given your Friday’s teaching on anointing states, God’s Prayer Group, which meets in Easley, South Carolina (part of Pickens County), felt led to go and anoint all the corners of our county. The city of Pickens is also petitioning for an ordinance to be a sanctity of life city. There are many prayer teams praying in this area. Praise God for your leadership as well as the leadership God is putting into place in our area. Tuesday morning, we will meet and pray (with a 98-year-old intercessor!) from 9:30 to 1:00. Then, from 6 to 9 pm, we will go to the four corners of our county to paint the anointing oil on the perimeter. “Mama Ruth is 98 years young. She has prayed for 70 years for revival for Pickens County. We meet and pray in her home on Tuesday mornings. She is passing much wisdom into us ‘younger’ prayer warriors. She will not be able to go with us on the drive on Tuesday night, but she will be covering us in prayer as we go out. “God bless you! Thank you for imparting so much from God to us all!!!” Gotta love that! INDIANA A friend, leader, and intercessor, Janet Douglas from Indiana, sent me the following: “We have some [in our church] who love the daily GH15, and I love that they do. Before I can get in the door, they’re sharing what you said that day. “We’re mobilizing all of Indiana this week and sending them next week to complete the assignment. Some of these ladies are in their 70s & 80s, yet they often tell me they feel they’re just coming into their season. I love it, and it’s because of your obedience. So keep doing what you’re doing. Know that Indiana is behind you all the way.” Victory from His Promises Daily Prayer Call My friend, Clay Nash, leads a daily prayer call with several thousand people joining in any given week. Here is what he and his team had to say: “As a part of the Victory from His Promises Daily Prayer Call, we are working to mobilize people from various areas and groups to act on some key prophetic words… “You likely heard the messages from Dutch Sheets last week at the Ohio Ekklesia Hub with Tim Sheets (Link here), and his Give Him 15 Messages from a dream by Gina Gholston last Wednesday through Friday, plus his continuing emphasis on "Command the Foreword." All of these messages fit together into a clarion call for the states of our nation to secure our borders. “We invite you to collaborate and anoint the borders closest to where you live, securing the territory from enemy activity and decreeing the angelic hosts into position…We encourage you to collaborate with others - individuals, ministries, and networks - within your areas to cover the boundaries of your state. If more than one group does any given location, REJOICE! Let's join together with ‘every joint supplying’ -- every person and group bringing their portion to fulfill God's purposes. “Please respond to let us know what you are doing - the state and counties you are covering, when you plan to do the assignment, and any specifics you would like to share on how God is leading you to ‘anoint the borders of your state.’ We would love to know, via email, when the assignment has been completed, along with any testimonies you would like to share so that we will post them on the website for the prayer call (claynash.org).” Many more individuals and teams are taking this word seriously. I hope you can join them! Pray with me: Father, thank You for awakening the church to the power of prayer. Thank You for motivating so many in the body of Christ to work together for Kingdom causes, partnering and supporting one another. We ask You once again to bless their efforts, giving them people who will participate and support what they do. Your people, operating in unity, cause You to multiply power. As intercessors and leaders travel to different points in their states, anointing them with oil and praying prayers of protection, we ask for clear guidance. Show them where You would like them to go. Give them the prayers and Scriptures You desire to be declared over their territory. Move on the hearts of many to honor these instructions. And we all agree in prayer today that as this occurs, the borders of all 50 states will be covered with the protective anointing of Holy Spirit. We declare that Psalm 91 protection will come to the states and our nation. We declare that as the shaking comes to dismantle evil and turn America back to You, we will be protected from evil. As You instructed, we will not fear the shaking. And we also declare that the simultaneous outpourings of Holy Spirit will occur, as You revealed in the dream that gave us these instructions. And thank You for the answers to these prayers we are praying. In the powerful name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that obedience to the Lord’s instructions, and the unity we are operating in to do so, is multiplying His power over our land. ******************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-22-2023 June 22, 2023 God Needs Our Agreement As we enter a season of “Commanding the Foreword” (Work While You Celebrate (Part 2)), it will be helpful to revisit the important biblical principle of agreeing and partnering with previous generations. Declaring statements made in the past by God - and those made by others at His inspiration - is to do more than just honor predecessors. We do so to release the power of yesterday’s words and promises into today. When God searched history to accent great lives of faith, He chose to list some that did NOT receive the fulfillment of their God-given promises (Hebrews 11). These people went to the grave with unrealized promises from God, yet they had truly believed, even making it into the great Hall of Faith. Clearly, they weren’t deficient in their walk of faith; why then did they die without seeing the promises fulfilled? The last two verses of Hebrews 11 give us the simple yet incredibly important answer: “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made complete” (Hebrews 11:39-40, NASV). Some promises made by God to an individual/s are multi-generational and not intended to be fully accomplished in their lifetime. The person (or persons) to whom the promise was made is sometimes only the “womb” in which the “seed” is planted. The following generation/s furthers the growth, brings it to birth, and stewards that which is born. Jesus said, “For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have come into their labor” (John 4:37-38, NASV). The Greek word translated “complete” in the above verses from Hebrews (telioo)[1] also means “to finish; to mature; to reach the intended goal.” Think about the ramifications of this: there are many promises God has made to individuals now in heaven that He cannot “finish” or fulfill without us. What He started through them cannot “mature” or “reach its intended goal” until we grab the baton and run our leg of the race. That is profound in its significance. Why wouldn’t the Lord tell us to command the foreword of America - that which was written and declared at the beginning?! Several people have contacted our office asking how to find appropriate quotes from America’s early leaders and Founders. Three of the best books for quotes and information regarding America’s beginning are: Faith of Our Founding Fathers by Leo Godzich America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations by William J. Federer The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel They are all TREMENDOUS. In yesterday’s post, I shared a few quotes/facts you can use. In the remaining portion of today’s post, I’ll share a few more: GOVERNMENT In 1643, John Winthrop, who stated that “we shall be as a city on a hill…” (which we mentioned yesterday) organized the New England Confederation, consisting of New Plymouth, New Haven, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Their Constitution, the first document in America where colonies united themselves, read, “Whereas we all came to these parts of America with the same end and aim, namely, to advance the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel thereof with purities and peace, and for preserving and propagating the truth and liberties of the Gospel.”(2) William Penn, author of the book No Cross, No Crown, which he wrote while imprisoned in the Tower of London, was the founder of Pennsylvania. His first legislative act, “The Great Law of Penn,” stated, “Whereas the glory of Almighty God and the good of mankind is the reason and the end of government, and government itself is a venerable ordinance of God...let there be established laws as shall best preserve true Christian and Civil liberty, in opposition to all unchristian, licentious, and unjust practices, whereby God can have His due…” (3) Penn asked God to make Pennsylvania “the seed of a nation” (4) and God answered his prayer. Our Declaration of Independence was decreed there in 1776. Four times it references God - as our Lawmaker, Creator, Judge, and Protector. The Liberty Bell that rang there that day had inscribed on it: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10). Our Constitution was written in Pennsylvania in 1787, born through prayer, asked for by Ben Franklin. In it, our government’s three branches were formed according to Isaiah 33:22. “The Lord is our Judge…Lawgiver…King; He will save us.” The righteous seeds Penn and others planted produced a righteous nation and government. We must command these truths embedded in America’s fabric to come alive once more. EDUCATION “One hundred six of America’s first 108 colleges and Universities were founded on the Christian faith. Students at Harvard and Yale were required to read the Scriptures twice daily. Harvard’s founders stated: ‘All knowledge without Christ is vain.’ Its motto was ‘For Christ and The Church.’ Yale’s founders stated that ‘Every student shall consider the main end of his study is to know God in Jesus Christ…’ Princeton’s motto was ‘Under God’s Power She Flourishes.’. The first president of Princeton, Jonathan Dickenson, said, ‘Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the Cross of Christ.’ The great pastor, Jonathan Edwards, was the 3rd president of Princeton.”(5) Noah Webster, who published the first American Dictionary of the English language in 1828 said, “Education is useless without the Bible.”(6) “The Moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws…All the miseries and evils which men suffer…proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.” (7) Webster also said, “The principles of genuine liberty, and of wise laws and administrations, are to be drawn from the Bible and sustained by its authority. The man, therefore, who weakens or destroys the divine authority of that book may be accessory to all the public disorders which society is doomed to suffer.” Profound! (8) What God began in America is not finished. He needs our agreement and commands in order to complete it. Use these and other facts regarding her founding, find more through research and study, and “Command the Foreword.” It will generate power. Pray with me: Father, You are the great Olam El, the Everlasting God, who declares the end from the beginning. When our forefathers were stating their faith in You, declaring Your plans and heart for America, and covenanting to partner with You in fulfilling them, You looked ahead and saw us. You knew You would have a people in 2023 who would arise in faith and agree with what was declared back then. We are that people. As we do so, our faith today is not in our ability to declare and command perfectly. It is not in our wisdom, understanding, or abilities. Our faith is in You, Your mercy offered through Christ, and Your ability to work all things after the counsel of Your will. With this faith, we command Your purposes into our government, established under You and Your Word. We declare that You are our Lawgiver, Judge, and King. We declare that the seeds of righteousness planted in our land are not dead, they will bring forth righteous fruit. And we declare that the weeds and thorns will be uprooted and destroyed. We declare over our education system that evil and perversion will be uprooted. We declare that Christ and His Word will once again be honored. We declare that all knowledge not rooted in Him is vain, and cursed be all learning that contradicts the Cross of Christ. We declare that to know Him is the highest goal of all learning. We command a return to truth and a rejection of deception. We pray and command all these things in His holy name. Our decree: We decree that we embrace our God-given roots and destiny, thereby allowing God to finish through us what He started in this land. ****************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. No. 5046. Leo Godzich, Faith of Our Founding Fathers, (Phoenix, AR: The National Association of Marriage Enhancement Publishers, 1982), p. 40. William J. Federer, America’s God and Country [Encyclopedia Of Quotations], (Coppell TX: FAME Publishing, Inc., 1994), p. 503. Leo Godzich, Faith of Our Founding Fathers, (Phoenix, AR: The National Association of Marriage Enhancement Publishers, 1982), p. 78. Ibid, pp 105-111. William J. Federer, America’s God and Country [Encyclopedia Of Quotations], (Coppell TX: FAME Publishing, Inc., 1994), p. 676. Ibid, p 678. Ibid, p 679.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-21-2023 June 21, 2023 The Cape Henry Assignment The past four days - beginning Friday in Ohio, then to Virginia Beach and Cape Henry, and finally, home late last night, Monday - have been a whirlwind for me, almost a blur. As I write this post today, Tuesday, I am trying to process all that has taken place. (The posts are always written and recorded the day before their release.) And I want to begin by thanking the thousands of you who joined us in prayer during these significant four days. The time at Cape Henry on Monday morning was very strong and deeply moving. I was joined by Jay Comiskey and Greg Hood. Standing on the shores where Robert Hunt and his fellow worshipers planted the cross in 1607 always touches something deep in my heart. That day began a new chapter in Earth’s history: God began His work of raising up a booming trumpet for the Gospel of the Kingdom, the good news of Jesus Christ’s redemption and rule. He also announced His purpose for this nation, a nation that was still in seed form, and recorded it in heaven and on earth. Hell and all those aligned with her have sought to silence this voice of spiritual and natural freedom. And though the voice is currently weak, at times barely a whisper, it remains. And America’s voice is being restored. I am reminded of Christ’s words in Matthew 12:20: “A bent reed He will not break, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish, until He leads justice to victory” (NASB). The great Passion Translation says, “He won’t brush aside the bruised and broken. He will be gentle with the weak and feeble, until His victory releases justice.” Jesus was quoting Isaiah 42:3, a prophetic reference to Himself. His heart has not changed; He is still fanning the sparks of smoking wicks and nursing wounded reeds. His mercy endures forever. As we stood on the shores of Cape Henry, agreeing with Holy Spirit’s words through Robert Hunt, we knew we were blowing on the remaining spark of America’s destiny and applying the healing oil of Christ to her wounded soul. We read from the dream in which we were told to “command the foreword,” and then did so, reading Hunt’s prayer, dedication, declaration, and Psalm 22:27-28, which he also quoted. We also commanded the “Foreword” inscribed on the Liberty Bell, whose sound waves pierced the heavens on the day of America’s formal birth, July 4th, 1776: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10). As I have stated on previous posts, this was a verse describing the Year of Jubilee, an ordinance in Israel that forgave all debts and restored liberty to all, which was fulfilled by Christ, our Jubilee. America’s destiny is to partner with Christ, proclaiming to all the world the freedom offered in Him. We commanded the words of the Mayflower Compact, written in 1620: “For the glory of God and advancements of the Christian faith.” We commanded the words spoken by John Winthrop on March 21, 1630, describing America as “a city on a hill,” a phrase taken from Christ’s words in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:14). No less than 14 U.S. Presidents have quoted Winthrop and this verse in reference to America. We commanded from the Declaration of Independence - its four references to God and an appeal to Him for help. All of these decrees at Cape Henry on Monday morning were laced with other Scriptures, along with spontaneous prayers and declarations inspired by Holy Spirit. We honored those who have gone before us, and we honored our Lord Jesus Christ, taking communion there on this sacred ground. After partaking in communion, we performed a prophetic act, pouring juice and placing a piece of bread in the sand, declaring that the blood of Jesus is cleansing our land and returning us to our destiny. A memorable day, indeed. But it wasn’t over. I went back to Virginia Beach, the headquarters of CBN, Regent University, The 700 Club, and other international ministries founded by Pat Robertson, in order to attend his memorial service. Hundreds of leaders from around the world were there to honor this great man. It was extraordinary, celebrative yet very moving, and conducted with true dignity and excellence. I was impacted by all that was said and done, but throughout the entire service kept being reminded of how Pat Robertson, a descendent of Robert Hunt, had been used to literally fulfill Hunt’s “Foreword” of 1607. Hundreds of millions of people around the world have heard the Gospel through The 700 Club, with perhaps as many as a billion of them praying to receive Christ. The Gospel has literally gone from there to the entire earth. It was incredibly moving and very humbling to be present at the honoring and celebration of this great man’s life and legacy. How appropriate that on this day, we had gone to the place where his calling actually began four centuries ago, and commanded it into America once again. I’m sure a couple of men in “The Cloud of Witnesses” - Hunt and Robertson - were smiling. We must now move this “foreword” forward. No pun intended. We must finish our assignment of seeing America healed and restored through a Third Great Awakening. This voice of the Gospel - America - must be strong in the days ahead. We, Christ’s Ekklesia, have been commissioned to this cause. By God’s grace, the authority of Christ, and the help of Holy Spirit, we will not fail. In the words of the great hymn, written by Martin Luther and sung at Robertson‘s celebration service: “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe, does seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal. “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing. You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same; and He must win the battle. “And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him. “That Word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them abideth; the Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill: God's truth abideth still; His Kingdom is forever!”(1) Pray with me: Father, our prayer today is that we would be found faithful, worthy of the legacy left to us by Christ and those gone before us. May the Church of Jesus Christ in this nation find its voice once again, releasing that voice with the thunderous strength and power of Holy Spirit. Rend the heavens and come down! Display Your awesome strength and glory. Heal and restore this land, regardless of what it takes. We will not fear the shaking, for our Kingdom cannot be shaken. Give us the strategies we need with which to fulfill our role and the wisdom to implement them with Your understanding and counsel. The greater One, Holy Spirit, is in us; we will listen to Him! All this is for You, Father, for Yours is the Kingdom, and power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we, the Ekklesia, will fulfill the purposes of God in our generation. (Acts 13:36) ********************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. _______________________________ Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, [A Bulwark Never Failing], written in 1529. Public Domain.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-19-2023 June 19, 2023 Command the Foreword! As you are listening to/reading today’s post, I’ll be in Virginia Beach, attending a memorial service for Pat Robertson, who founded The 700 Club, CBN, Regent University, and more. It is my privilege to honor the memory and legacy of this great man. He has left a phenomenal and indelible mark on the world that will endure into eternity. While there, Dr. Greg Hood and I will also be visiting Cape Henry, just a few minutes away, which was mentioned last week as we discussed Gina Gholston’s recent dream. In the dream, intercessors were given instructions from the Lord, who used a unique phrase, one which made no sense to us until He explained it. Here is that portion of the dream: “Then the Lord spoke and said, ‘There is a shaking coming, but you must not fear! You must know and be convinced that this nation is anchored and surrounded. KNOW that! Be convinced of it!’ “Then, a manilla folder appeared in the lap of each of the leaders on the stage. We opened our folders to find one sheet of paper each. On the paper were listed four instructive bullet points. Across the top of the page was written: ‘COMMAND THE FOREWORD!’” Gina continued, “I understood that a foreword is something written for the beginning of a book. Was God saying that everything was going to be destroyed by the coming shaking and a ‘new book’ was going to be started? There was a microphone on the stage, so I walked up to it and asked, ‘Lord, what does this mean?’ “He answered audibly, speaking to all of us, ‘It’s time to command what was written at the beginning. Command the Foreword! Bring this nation back into alignment with that which was written in the beginning—when this land became a nation. This is the purpose for which she was established. The Foreword is the prophetic decrees that were spoken in agreement with My intended purposes. Now, I say to you, ‘COMMAND THE FOREWORD!’ Know My purposes! Decree those purposes! Do not back down! Agree and decree, and your decrees will provoke a shaking that will bring this nation back into alignment with My original Foreword.” (You can read last week’s posts from this dream here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.) Notice that commanding or decreeing the “Foreword” is actually what would release the shaking that turned America back to her original purpose. In her book Carry On, which relates this dream, Gina states that the prayer and decree made by Robert Hunt at Cape Henry is one of the most important “Forewords” in America’s beginning. I wholeheartedly agree, and have believed this for many years. She quoted the statement from Hunt, which he made on April 29, 1607: “We do hereby dedicate this land and ourselves to reach the people within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to raise up godly generations after us, and with these generations, take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this covenant of dedication remain to all generations as long as the earth remains, and may this land, along with England, be Evangelist to the world. May all who see this Cross remember what we have done here, and may those, who come here to inhabit, join us in this covenant and in this noblest work that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled. From these very shores, the gospel shall go forth, not only to this New World, but the entire world.”(1) After this declaration, the following powerful Bible passage was read: “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee. For the Kingdom is the Lord’s, and He ruleth among the nations” (Psalm 22:27-28). Robert Hunt’s Spirit-led decree regarding this land IS America’s destiny. Some, however, have other plans for us. While in Philadelphia this past Saturday, in his first campaign speech, Joe Biden said, “We are not only changing this country, we are transforming it.”(2) On October 30, 2008, Barack Obama said, “We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.”(3) On May 14, 2008, Michelle Obama said, “We are going to have to change our conversation; we’re going to have to change our traditions, our history; we’re going to have to move into a different place as a nation.”(4) Sometimes true motives just have a way of slipping out. Rest assured; God has other plans! As Gina states in her book, she recalled hearing the phrase “command the forward/foreword” some time ago in another dream, though she didn’t mention the context. I remembered hearing it as well, because she had shared it with me and others. However, in that dream, she only HEARD the Lord SAY the words; they were not written, as they were in the recent dream. She and all of us who heard the dream related, assumed we were to command the “forward,” not “foreword.” Because of this, the phrase made little sense to us at the time. Now we understand what we are to command. While on the plane traveling to speak for my brother, Tim Sheets, at the Oasis Church this past Friday night, I decided to search in my files for the previous dream. Since we now understand the phrase, what other significant details might it contain that would finally make sense? I found the dream, which was given to Gina on October 3, 2020. In this dream, the setting was a gathering at The Oasis - where I was now headed - called The Reset 2020 Convocation. As we conducted the convocation, the Lord suddenly spoke to us audibly, instructing us to “COMMAND THE FOREWORD!” (Not “the forward.”) When He did so 3 large angels blew silver trumpets. In the Scriptures, one of the purposes for which Israel blew silver trumpets was to call the people to war (Numbers 10:9). In the dream, after the Lord spoke these words and the angels blew the trumpets, Gina said, “There was a very, VERY strong shaking. We all felt the shaking, but we were not afraid or disturbed by it…and we knew it was going out into the nation.” In both dreams, “commanding the foreword” brought a shaking to the nation! Here is one more extremely significant insight Gina offers in her book regarding the Lord giving the same dream twice: “Dutch Sheets sometimes jokes that I have started dreaming in sequels. It does seem a bit odd, but it’s actually a very important indication for us to consider. In the book of Genesis, Joseph stated to Pharoah that when God gives ‘sequel’ dreams, it is ‘because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass’ (Genesis 41:32, KJV). A look at this passage in a couple of other translations of the Bible makes this even clearer. The New Living Translation reads: ‘As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and He will soon make them happen.’ The Amplified Version states: ‘That the dream was repeated twice to Pharaoh [and in two different ways] indicates that this matter is fully determined and established by God, and God will bring it to pass very quickly.’ “Much of the time, prophetic words or dreams are given for a time yet to come, but the fact that God has given two dreams concerning His desire for the church to continue with the flow and function of His original intentions is an undeniable indicator that something major is ready now to be revealed. Not only is it undeniable, it is established by God, and He intends to bring it to pass very quickly.”(5) Back to Greg Hood and my visit to Cape Henry today. Only God could have orchestrated: a spontaneous trip sent from the same place (the Oasis Church) where in the dream, He gave the initial instructions to the place where Robert Hunt made his prophetic declaration to attend the memorial service for ONE OF HIS DESCENDANTS, Pat Robertson. That’s right, the man “summoning” me there, for whom I’m going in order to honor his life, is a descendant of the very man who made the 1607 declaration. Only God..! Pray for and with us today as we command the foreword at Cape Henry. Prayer and Decree: “We do hereby dedicate this land and ourselves to reach the people within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to raise up godly generations after us, and with these generations, take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this covenant of dedication remain to all generations as long as the earth remains, and may this land, along with England, be Evangelist to the world. May all who see this cross remember what we have done here, and may those, who come here to inhabit, join us in this covenant and in this noblest work that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled. From these very shores, the gospel shall go forth, not only to this New World, but the entire world.”(1) “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee. For the Kingdom is the Lord’s, and He ruleth among the nations” (Psalm 22:27-28). ******************* (On Wednesday, I will share a report regarding my trip to Virginia Beach.) Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------- https://gapmovement.com/dedication-prayer https://www.c-span.org/video/?528768-1/president-biden-speaks-rally-philadelphia-union-members https://www.nationalreview.com/2013/10/obama-transforming-america-victor-davis-hanson/ Ibid. Gina Gholston, Carry On, Becoming Faithful Stewards of Our Spiritual Inheritance, (Copyright 2023), p 35.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-16-2023 June 16, 2023 Work While You Celebrate (Part 3) We have been looking at a dream given to Gina Gholston, from her new book, Carry On. I highly recommend this important book. Also, if you have not yet done so, I suggest you read Wednesday’s and yesterday’s posts, in order to have the complete context for today’s post. In Thursday’s portion of the dream the Lord told us to “command the foreword,” a reference to what was declared over America at our inception. These decrees would provoke the shaking that will bring us back into alignment with His declared purposes. Holy Spirit then released to us a powerful baptism of fire. Here is the next portion of the dream; I’m also including the last paragraph we shared yesterday: ******** Final Portion of the Dream “A paint brush and bucket filled with oil appeared at each person’s feet. The Lord instructed, ‘As you go from here, carry the oil and secure the perimeters of your states. Paint the perimeters with the oil, and they will be secured.’ We knew He was showing us that this, like the cables and anchors, will secure them when the shaking comes. “Then the attention of each of the leaders was drawn back to the piece of paper in our folders. [Mentioned in yesterday’s post.] We looked at and began discussing each of the 4 bullet points. The first said: ‘Get it anchored! Anchor the nation.’ Beside that point was a red check mark, meaning this had been completed when the angels secured the steel cables to the anchors. The second point said: ‘Secure the perimeters of all fifty states. Paint the perimeters with the oil!’ This was why we had been given the buckets of oil and paint brushes. The third bullet point said: ‘Establish an anchor in each state, and connect it to the guide wire.’ We all understood this to mean each state must be anchored and connected to the cables the angels had secured to the anchors on the outer perimeters of the nation. The Lord was now referring to these cables as ‘guide wires.’ The last point said: ‘Establish a prayer grid in each state.’ We understood this to mean that prayer teams were to be established in each state, a grid of prayer teams listening in prayer and ready to move quickly with assignments the Lord would give. “Throughout the dream, the map remained on the screen, and the geysers (spiritual outpourings) continued to erupt. There were many eruptions—first, in the eastern part of the nation; then, slowly they began springing up throughout the entire nation. Groupings “The Lord then instructed all of us to get into groups, according to the state in which we lived. Each group would be sent back to its state to watch in prayer and carry out assignments regarding the bullet points. Fifty state groups were formed. “Then, four more groups were formed and assigned to regions. These would watch in prayer, facilitating and assisting assignments given to the state groups in their region. “Finally, a group was formed and assigned to the entire nation. These individuals would watch in prayer, assisting in the facilitation of assignments given to the regions and states. “After joining our groups we stood, holding our buckets of oil and paint brushes. We knew our first priority was to get the perimeters ‘painted’ with the oil, and this had to be done quickly. Calendar “Then, on the overhead screen, a calendar was laid over the top of the U.S. map, a one-year calendar showing all the months and days of 2023. September was circled in red ink, then we saw the finger of God tapping this month of September. Upon seeing this, we again felt a rush of urgency, realizing God was showing us there wasn’t a lot of time to get everything done. “There was excitement over the spiritual ‘eruptions’ that had already taken place, but also a deep knowing that this was only a beginning - much had to be established and accomplished. And we knew we were being ‘sent’ by the Lord to do the work.” End of dream. Dutch’s Thoughts As she related the dream, Gina shared some of the thoughts, insights, and “knowings” she experienced when it occurred. She gives more in her book. Other parts of the strategy given by the Lord must be prayed into further and developed carefully. What is symbolic, what is literal? How should the perimeters of the states be “painted” or anointed? The Texas Apostolic Prayer Network, led by Tom Schlueter (tomschlueter.com) has already been anointing and “branding” the borders of Texas, based on a word from Holy Spirit several months ago. In the past, he and members of his network have literally driven the entire perimeter of Texas, anointing and sealing it with prayer. More than once! I suspect other leaders are already hearing and doing assignments from Holy Spirit similar to those in the dream. How else are states to be “anchored” to the national “cables” and “anchors”? What, if any, gatherings need to occur around the nation to help facilitate the Lord’s instructions? I and other leaders are processing these things and asking Holy Spirit for insight. It seems clear, and Gina in her book seems to agree, that these preparations need to occur/be in place by September. I, of course, will keep GH15 listeners updated. Gina’s Thoughts I want to conclude by reading some final thoughts Gina shares in her book regarding being “anchored” to Christ, the hope of our souls. She begins by quoting from Hebrews: “Hold tightly to the Hope set before us. This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it] - a safe and steadfast hope.” (Hebrews 6:18-19; AMP) “We are anchored in hope, and that Hope has a name: Jesus! He is the secure and steadfast anchor of our souls! As we place our complete trust in Him, we will follow as He leads, not only securing ourselves to Him as our anchor, but we also become a vessel through which Holy Spirit will work to impact our territories.”(1) Gina then offers an interesting insight about “painting” with the anointing oil of Holy Spirit. “Jesus declared, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed Me’ (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18). As heirs of salvation, when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon us, we receive the same anointing that was upon Jesus, which enabled Him to release the power of God everywhere He went. It is very interesting that the Hebrew word ‘anointed’ in this scripture is mashach, which means ‘to rub with oil, to anoint,’ and it also means ‘to paint.’(2) “Jesus has painted us with the oil of his anointing, which enables us to release decrees, prayers, and acts of obedience to God, with His power and authority. We paint and smear our homes, churches, schools, businesses, regions, territories, states and nations with the oil of His Spirit as He flows through us! In one sense, we become His paintbrush! When we allow Him to work through us, the anointing flows and power is released to paint the atmosphere with the transforming glory of God.(3) “This is the time that we must appeal to heaven, not just to petition for our wants and desires, but for the purpose of hearing God’s desires and instructions for us. Then we can work with Him to fulfill those desires. The days ahead are crucial. We cannot be influenced by what is happening around us; we should be influencing what is happening around us! As we hear the instructions from the Lord and follow those instructions, we will turn the tide of evil.” (4) *********** Pray with me: Father, we thank You for this dream. Though we are disappointed that a shaking must come to our nation to finish the process of reconnecting us to You and Your purposes, we are confident that we can trust You. And Your Word makes it clear that shakings will come, leaving behind only Your standing Kingdom. Give understanding and wisdom to leaders and intercessors around the nation as we implement your instructions. Show us how to “paint” our states, with the anointing of Holy Spirit. Show us how to anchor each one and build the prayer grids. And show us how to connect intercessors and leaders for these purposes. Continue to cleanse our land, so it can be healed and restored. We declare, as You have taught us to, that America exists to preach the gospel of the kingdom to all the world. We exist to proclaim liberty throughout the land. We covenanted to be “under” You, and to be Your evangelist to the world. We decree that this will be fulfilled to Your fullest intent! And we pray these things in the name of Yeshua, amen. Our Decree: We decree that by September of this year, preparations for the Ekklesia to cover and protect our land will be in place. ************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ==================================== Portions of today’s post were taken from Gina Gholston’s new book, Carry On. You can find this portion of the dream in Chapter 8, “Anchored in Hope,” pp.125-127. Find out more about Gina and this book at GinaGholstonMinistries.org. Gholston, Gina. Carry On: Becoming Faithful Stewards of Our Spiritual Inheritance. Gina Gholston, 2023, p.125. Strong’s #4886 Gholston, Gina. Carry On: Becoming Faithful Stewards of Our Spiritual Inheritance. Gina Gholston, 2023, pp. 125-126. Ibid, p.127.

* 6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-15-2023 June 15, 2023 Work While You Celebrate (Part 2) Yesterday I began relating a dream given to Gina Gholston, from her new book, Carry On. Many of you are ordering it, which I highly recommend. (Her website is a bit overwhelmed. Just keep trying and you’ll get through.) PLEASE read yesterday’s post if you haven’t seen it, in order to have the complete context for today’s and tomorrow’s posts. We ended yesterday’s post at the point in the dream when God said a shaking was coming to America, but also told us not to fear. He assured us that America is “anchored and surrounded” by angels. Here is the next portion of the dream, followed by Gina’s own comments and interpretation: The Dream Continues: “Next, there appeared a manilla folder in the lap of each of the leaders seated on the stage. We opened our folder and found one sheet of paper each. On the paper were listed four instructive bullet points. Across the top of the page was written: COMMAND THE FOREWORD! “When I read those words, I was a bit confused. The phrase was not ‘Command the Forward.’ I understood that a foreword is something written for the beginning of a book. Was He saying that everything was going to be destroyed by this ‘shaking’ He had said was coming and that a ‘new book’ was going to be started for America? “There was a microphone on the stage, and I worked up enough courage to walk up to it and ask, ‘Lord, what does this mean?’ “He answered audibly, speaking to everyone in the coliseum, ‘It’s time to command what was written at the beginning. Command the foreword! Bring this nation back into alignment with that which was written in the beginning—when this land became a nation. This is the purpose for which She was established. Those prophetic decrees were spoken in the beginning in agreement with My intended purposes. Now, I say to you, “COMMAND THE FOREWORD!” Know My purposes! Decree those purposes! Do not back down! Know what I have said and established. Agree and decree in agreement with Me, and your decrees will provoke a shaking that will bring this nation back into alignment with My original “Foreword.”’ Baptism of Fire “In that moment, the place in which we were gathered began to vibrate with what felt like an electrical current. A wind started to blow, and then it was as if fire just dropped down out of the heavens onto every one of us. It wasn’t a natural, flaming fire; it was the fiery presence of the Lord as He entered the building in a visible, tangible demonstration. “When this happened, people began falling onto the floor, overwhelmed by the presence of the Lord. Some fell to their knees and began to weep. Others were running around, lifting their hands with shouts of joy! “The thought that came to my mind in that moment was, ‘This is a true baptism of Fire!’ And no one in the room was exempt from it. No one questioned or debated it. No one was offended by the reactions to it! No one said, ‘We don’t believe in this!’ or ‘This is not how we do it at our church!’ The baptism of fire came with force and everyone received it! Somehow, we all understood that we were being transformed by the Fire of God. The Oil “After some time, the leaders and all of those in the room were able to sit back down. As we each took our seat, a paint brush and a bucket filled with oil appeared at every person’s feet. The Lord instructed us, ‘Go from here. Carry the Oil and secure the perimeters of your states. Paint the perimeters with the Oil, and it will be secured.’ We knew He was showing us that this, too, will help to secure us when the shaking comes.” Gina’s Comments: “We must settle in our minds the indisputable fact that God has not led America to this point for the purpose of allowing everything He has said and done to crumble and fall…In the dream, He made it clear that He has never forgotten the purposes He has had for America since before she was established. He referred to these purposes as His ‘original foreword.’ Our true history records that an idea and a longing began to stir in the hearts of a group of men and women in England. God placed in them a longing for a homeland where they could be free to live productively and worship Him without restriction. That desire provoked them to leave everything they had known, and with huge steps of faith, set out on a long, arduous journey of discovery. “The journey led them to the eastern shores of what would become one of the greatest nations on earth. Her greatness would not be because the people did everything right - many dark moments have been recorded throughout our history. Her greatness would be because She was established as a nation ‘under God.’ He led those pilgrims to these shores, and upon their landing, they planted a cross on the beach. Then, through them, God prophesied His intentions for the nation’s existence. “On April 29, 1607, Reverend Robert Hunt stood and offered this prayer: ‘We do hereby dedicate this Land and ourselves to reach the people within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations, take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this covenant of dedication remain to all generations as long as the earth remains, and may this land, along with England, be Evangelist to the world. May all who see this cross remember what we have done here, and may those, who come here to inhabit, join us in this covenant and in this most noble work that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled. From these very shores, the Gospel shall go forth, not only to this New World, but the entire world.’ “The following Bible passage was then read: ‘All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee. For the Kingdom is the Lord’s, and He ruleth among the nations.’ (Psalm 22:27-28) “While I do not fully understand the symbolism and location of the anchors [mentioned in yesterday’s post] to which the angels secured America in the dream, I am sure the Cross they planted at Cape Henry marks one of them. As Robert Hunt released his prophetic prayer, right then and there, God revealed His purpose for the United States of America. From those words we can conclude, at the very beginning of this nation, God was anchoring her deeply to His prophetic declaration, ‘America shall be saved!’ “Though she has rocked and reeled in the tempest winds of evil agendas - and at times it has seemed she would surely fall - America still stands! She stands because God has purpose for this nation! He has never forgotten nor abandoned His original desires. His plan has not failed. His words have not been altered! “Our nation is once again reeling in the adverse winds being stirred by evil agendas designed to uproot the anchors and destroy the foundation of our Christian heritage…but it will not happen. God has summoned His Ekklesia. He is marking us with a fresh baptism of fire, filling us afresh with His Spirit. A shaking is coming, but He has secured us to the anchor. We must know that and be convinced of it!” Tomorrow, we will look at the instructions in the folder the Lord gave those in the coliseum. They are important. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for raising up America as a voice for the good news of Christ’s Kingdom and redemption. This is undeniable. We are humbled and honored to be part of this plan. And though as a nation we have abandoned this calling, You have not; You intend to revive and re-fire it. We are forever grateful that the restoration and fulfillment of this purpose is not dependent on those who oppose You, but on Holy Spirit and the church. We, the Ekklesia of Christ on earth, say yes to this calling. We say yes to our healing, and yes to whatever is required in order for You to accomplish it. We do not fear this. We are anchored by You and Your purposes, and we are surrounded by heaven’s host. We now do as You instructed and command America’s foreword: • We are a nation under God. • We are in covenant with Yahweh. • As an evangelist nation, we exist to fill the earth with the gospel. • The Liberty Bell, rung on the day of our formal birth, confirms this through the scripture it contains, Leviticus 25:10. • We were birthed by heaven under thousands of appeals. Our decree: We, the Ekklesia of Christ, will command America’s foreword into the airwaves of America, allowing Holy Spirit to reestablish its reality. And we will receive the fresh baptism of fire! ****************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------- Most of today’s post was taken from Gina Gholston’s new book, Carry On. You can find the dream in Chapter 8, “Anchored in Hope,” pp.115 - 124. Find out more about Gina and this book at GinaGholstonMinistries.org.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-14-2023 June 14, 2023 Work While You Celebrate (Part 1) Yesterday I mentioned that I believe this fall marks a pivotal point in our nation. The war for the soul of America will amp up to new levels. We must be ready for this, and I believe we will. For the remainder of this week, I am going to read and discuss a dream given to Gina Gholston, in February of this year, which relates to this. Here is the first part, taken from her incredible new book, Carry On: Intercessors Summoned “I dreamed that thousands of people had been summoned by the Lord to gather in a certain place. I am not sure of the location, but we met in a very large colosseum-type building. The seating was sloped downward, with a stage at the bottom. Thousands of people were in the seats, and on the stage, hundreds were sitting in chairs. I knew the people in the auditorium were intercessors from around the nation, and those on the stage were leaders - of businesses, ministries, churches, denominations, colleges and schools, political leaders, etc. U.S. Map and Geysers “As we all took our seats, suddenly, a huge overhead screen appeared. On it was a map of the United States. On the map, geyser-type eruptions began popping up in various cities. The first one was near Lexington, Kentucky; we knew this represented what was happening, at the time, at Asbury College. “Then the other ‘geysers’ began erupting on the map, spewing out fire, water, and oil. This was all happening in real-time. We were literally watching a move of God as it was quickly spreading throughout the nation. Thunderous applause and celebration broke out in the Colosseum as we watched this happening on the map. “As the celebration broke out, suddenly, the voice of God resounded. It seemed as though His voice came through a P.A. system; it sounded like loud, deep thunder. We could feel the vibration as it shook the floor beneath us. “He said, very adamantly, ‘Do NOT become distracted by the movement!’ This brought a collective gasp from the crowd as we all wondered, ‘What does that mean?’ “He continued, ‘Celebrate the movement, YES! But do not become distracted by it! Work while you celebrate!’ He repeated this three or four times. That phrase, ‘Work while you celebrate!’ gripped us deeply. It was like a jolt that readjusted our focus. There was great joy for what was beginning to happen, but at that moment, we were all captured by a sense of urgency. It was then that we realized this was not a ‘normal’ gathering; it was an urgent call to attention.” Dutch’s Comments The purpose of this gathering of leaders and intercessors was to release significant instructions and strategies to them. The strategies become much more detailed in the latter part of the dream. In this portion, however, God gave us encouragement and a warning. We were encouraged as we watched the growing outpouring of Holy Spirit in America. This has begun and will intensify. It was right to rejoice and celebrate this! Then, however, the Lord surprised us with a stern warning: “Do not be distracted by the movement! Celebrate…but work while you celebrate!” Whether it be in athletics, business, or spiritual efforts, our human nature has a tendency to “let up” when we experience breakthroughs, significant progress, or momentum. Coaches can often be heard warning players after they attain a good lead, “Don’t let up!” Why? Comebacks by the opposition are possible. And also, as the profound and eloquent saying goes, “It ain’t over til it’s over.” Obviously, America has not yet broken through into a full-blown revival. Until then, we must persevere. And even when revival hits its full stride, there will still be much work to do, including the guarding of what is happening. The Dream Continues “The map continued to be seen on the screen, and real-time happenings continued to show on the map. Then, on the stage, two MASSIVE steel cables dropped in front of the leaders seated there. Each cable had a very large steel ring on each end—so, two cables and four rings. “As soon as the cables hit the stage, four angels appeared and carried the cables out of our location. We then could see the angels—with the cables—on the overhead screen. Two angels carried one cable, each holding a ring in their hands. One angel went north to an anchor that had already been set in place and was attached deep into the ground. The angel placed the ring over the anchor, securing it in place. The other angel took his ring south and secured it to an anchor there. The two angels with the other cable, took their rings east and west, securing them to anchors in those locations. “Then, on the stage, in front of the leaders, two more cables fell. The four angels returned and did as before, this time taking the cables and securing the rings to anchors located northeast and southwest, northwest and southeast.” Now, we were looking at the map on the screen through the crisscross of these cables that had been anchored in place. Then the Lord spoke and said, “There is a shaking that is coming, but you must not fear! You must know and be convinced that this nation is anchored and surrounded. KNOW that! Be convinced of that!” Dutch’s Comments In this portion of the dream, angels are seen anchoring America with huge cables that extend across the nation - north to south, east to west, northeast to southwest, and southeast to northwest. The cables were connected to previously placed anchors attached deep in the ground. This formed a strong anchoring grid, crisscrossing America. As we watched this, the Lord delivered yet another warning. Here are His words again: “There is a shaking coming, but you must not fear! You must know and be convinced that this nation is anchored and surrounded. KNOW that! Be convinced of that!” We will talk more about the anchoring of the nation tomorrow, commenting on another profound statement made by God in the dream. Today, however, I want to comment on the “surrounding” of America. Gina told me that when she heard the word, she was reminded of comments from my brother, Tim Sheets, and Chuck Pierce. Each has had visions of 51 government angels assigned to America. In Chuck’s vision, 4 more angels - ruling angels - were seen. He told me, “The 4 ruling angels were in position, surrounding the U.S. The 51 angels were sent by them to each state; then they were all sent to D.C.” Tim said, “Three or four years back, I saw one angel for each state capital and one for Washington D.C., all government angels. Then, last year at Thanksgiving, again in December, and two more times in January of this year, I saw these 51 government angels surrounding Washington, D.C., along with four Seraphim. They were using the decrees of the Ekklesia to weave a cocoon around D.C., which they had also done at the state capitals. Our words were being used like thread. I then heard Holy Spirit proclaim one word which I knew was a play on the word ‘reformation.’ He pronounced it ‘re-form-action’!” These visions are so encouraging and confirm what the Lord spoke in the dream, “America is anchored and surrounded. KNOW that!” I am confident there is a shaking coming, as was also stated in the dream, but we must be confident that our prayers and decrees have been effective. It still works! Regardless of what is implemented by evil forces in their attempt to destroy America, their efforts will fail! In tomorrow’s portion of the dream, we will hear specific and profound instructions from the Lord regarding our role in His “re-form-action.” Pray with me: Father, America’s drift from You has become a chasm. We grieve deeply as we see sin flaunted and celebrated at the White House, though we love and pray for the salvation of every participant. Only the prayers of those standing in the gap, appealing to Your mercy through the blood of Jesus, have preserved our nation. We thank You for Your incredible mercy. On this Flag Day, we also thank You for this dream, assuring us that America is anchored and surrounded. As we continue to reap the whirlwind of our sins, we also declare our faith that America shall be saved. When the iniquitous cup of the evildoers is full, their hold on the land will be removed. Yet even in this, we pray for their salvation. Your love and mercy are so great! We will not fear the shaking. We trust You to do what is necessary to save this nation. As unrighteous kingdoms fall, Your Kingdom will stand and expand. Even now, in obedience to Your command, we decree, “Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as in heaven!” Cover the earth with Your glory as the waters cover the seas. We also commit to persevering, working while we celebrate Your outpourings. We will not let up or lose focus. We will see this process through to its finish, fighting the good fight of faith and laying hold of eternal life. All of this we pray and decree through Christ’s authority, amen. Our decree: We decree that America is anchored and surrounded by prayers and angelic activity. She will stand. *********************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- Parts of today’s post were taken from Gina Gholston’s new book Carry On. You can find out more about Gina and this book at GinaGholstonMinistries.org.

7 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-13-2023 June 13, 2023 [Yesterday, I intended to give thanks once again to those who provided last week's posts for me. I apologize for forgetting to do so. I heard and read many wonderful comments about how insightful and powerful they were, and I agree completely. I am blessed to have so many wonderful and gifted friends. Thank you so much! And the time away with our staff went very well.] Prelude to today’s post: Today, as a spiritual watchman for our nation, I’m beginning a series of important posts regarding what I see coming in America. Satan has planned for decades to oppose and destroy our destiny, and his plans will intensify. God, however, has other plans. We must discern satan’s schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11), while hearing and implementing God’s strategies. Over the last several weeks, I have sensed that a very difficult season/shaking is coming to America this fall, and will continue into next year. If I am correct, it will require the Ekklesia, the praying church, to rise up in great strength and faithfulness in order to protect our nation and her God-given destiny. The war for the soul of America will come to a head during this window of time. The shaking caused by our sin and rebellion, accentuated by a very ungodly government and America-hating players on the world stage, will intensify. They all see this window as critical to maintaining and strengthening their hold over the U.S., yet many in America are waking up. The enemies of our liberty and strength see this and know they must overcome this awakening NOW as well as make further advances. Their efforts - those in power and those from outside our nation - will be intense. (Yes, this window of time includes the critical 2024 elections, during which these forces will stop at nothing, regardless of how sinister, in their attempt to hold onto power; they simply must stay in power, or they will fail. Still, the election is only part of the greater agenda of those who want to forever change America. There are and will continue to be many other aspects to their efforts.) Do not allow these warnings to intimidate you. We have known that only God can save and restore our nation, and that this can only occur through the prayers of the church and a Third Great Awakening. As prophetic intercessors and leaders, we realize there is no other hope - that evil is too entrenched in America for natural remedies and human efforts alone to reverse it. However, we also know that God’s plan is to intervene, that salvation can and will occur - America shall be saved! And we know that God has raised up a faithful remnant capable of being His instrument, His voice, and His method in this hour. Other trusted prophetic leaders have also been sensing this turbulent time and have sent me strong warning dreams and words. They, too, know the prayers of the Ekklesia must be mobilized and, if implemented faithfully, can and will prevail. Their words always include hope and encouragement. For weeks now, I have given much thought and prayer to these alerts. Some of my recent posts (regarding God preparing us, the church not being intimidated, etc.) have actually been done with all of this in mind. Over the next several days, I will be addressing what I and others are hearing, relating some of the dreams and insights. It is truly a season for soberness, watchfulness, faith, hope, the revelation of Christ’s victory, and the implementation of God-given strategy. Like Esther facing Haman and David facing Goliath, we have been prepared. We do not have a spirit of timidity, and will not be intimidated. Like Timothy, spoken of in yesterday’s post, we will fan the flames of faith, life, power, love, and a sound, disciplined mind. And we will prevail. In the remainder of today’s post, Gina Gholston, a prophet, encourages us to remember our past victories, allowing them to bolster our faith, just as David did when facing Goliath. Tomorrow, I’ll begin unpacking a very detailed dream she was given regarding the coming season. Gina shares: ******************* Armed With Experience “Life is a journey, and there are things that happen along our journey that we won’t always understand. But, if we will trust God and, with faith and obedience, keep following Him, He will order our steps down the path of His destiny. Every faith-filled step we take results in the accumulation of valuable experiences with Him, benefiting us as we move into His unfolding future. “Experience is a game-changer! Someone once said, ‘A man with experience is never at the mercy of a man with an opinion.’ As we walk with the Lord, we experience His willingness and ability to keep us, provide for us, heal, and deliver us. We emerge from every circumstance with a stronger confidence - an unshakable faith in God. “The story of David and Goliath illustrates the difference experience with God can make. For David, the showdown with Goliath was a defining moment. The destiny inside David had met its prophetic timing, and whether he realized it or not, the event wasn’t only about defeating a giant; it was a moment that would forever impact history. I’m sure David didn’t realize the magnitude of the moment he had stepped into, but his past experiences with the Lord had prepared him for the transition that was about to take place. As he heard the giant mocking God and the armies of the Lord, righteous indignation rose in him, provoking David to take a stand no one else was willing to take. David wasn’t the most qualified. According to men’s standards, he wasn’t even properly equipped to take on such a fight. But he had courage within him that others there did not possess. When David ran toward the giant, his past experiences with the Lord gave him uncommon confidence to face and defeat Goliath! “As I was pondering this story, I heard the Lord say: ‘There is an event coming which those with a ‘David experience’ will be able to face while others will not. So I say, gather up those experiences and stand ready. Remind yourself of what I have done for you. Remember My faithfulness and stand firm in your faith in Me. The curtain is about to rise to reveal the stage for this defining moment, and My bold Ekklesia will be presented to this nation and the world, equipped and ready to advance My original plans and intentions. ‘So, rise up, Davids! There is a cause. Stand! It’s time! You are not alone. Remember Me. Gather up your experiences and turn to face the giant with a confident knowing that I Am greater in you than anything formed to work against you. Let faith arise and secure your footing as you release this confident declaration: “The battle is not mine; it belongs to the Lord! I am anointed to hold the sling, and I take my place. Experience has taught me that God is with me; He will order my aim, and the giant will fall!’” “God has said to me several times, ‘2023 will be one for the history books.’ We are in a definite defining moment. I know we have heard that before, but it’s true! Defining moments are critical moments. They are also ‘deciding’ moments. When the giant in that valley was mocking God and the army of Israel, a defining moment was unfolding, and someone had to make a decision to step forward. Everyone was hearing the mocking. Saul and his armies were far more equipped than David to do something about it, but were overcome by fear and intimidation. The decision they made was to stand idle. But David’s experiences with God had taught him that God is good, able, and faithful! The timing of God, combined with his experiential knowledge of God, provoked David to resist fear and step into the moment, impacting history through his courage. “I’m sure we don’t fully grasp the magnitude of the life-changing transition we have moved into; for many of us, however, the process is now giving way to purpose. This defining moment requires us in the church to make a decision: will we stand idly by while darkness covers the earth, or will we shine with the light of the glory of God to become history-makers? For those with ears to hear, the Lord is saying, ‘It’s time to gather up your experiences and step into this defining moment with courageous faith and undaunted expectation to see My power and glory revealed.’ “Events are unfolding now that are requiring the people of God to step up and be what we’ve been becoming. Doors are opening, leading us into the necessary opportunities, connections, and positions to accomplish His purposes. Experience has taught us that He is with us, and He will guide us. So, remember what you have learned and remember what He has said. Stay ready at all times to take those courageous leaps of unrelenting faith in God that will enable us to impact history!” ********** Pray with me: Father, we hear the mocking and the jeering of the giants in our land. Fear has wrapped itself around the minds of many, causing them to stand idly by, some even compromising their faith. But You have an uncompromising remnant that will not bow to fear and intimidation. We are equipped with experience that has taught us You are faithful, greater in us than anything working against us. You are fighting for us. As this defining moment unfolds, we will stand and declare Your Word and faithfulness. In our strength, we cannot overcome the giants, but You have filled us with Your Spirit, and by His enabling power, we will take our place. The battle belongs to You! We will boldly stand, obey, pray, and release faith-filled decrees. We are confident You will order our aim, and the giants will fall. In Jesus’ name and authority, we pray! Amen! Our decree: The timing of God, the Word of God, and our experiential knowledge of God are motivating us as they did David. We resist fear and will step into this moment with courage and faith, impacting history for the glory of God! ************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------- Today’s post was written by our friend Gina Gholston and taken from her book Awakening the Church to Awaken a Nation. You can find out more about Gina at Gina Gholston Ministries.org

7 min read June 12, 2023 Don’t Be Intimidated! “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelled in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason, I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:1-7; NASB). Paul had assigned his spiritual son, Timothy, to lead the Ekklesia (the church) in Ephesus. Timothy was a young man at the time, 30-ish. This assignment would have been difficult for anyone, but to a young 30-year-old, it was very challenging. Some background information on Ephesus will be helpful. “With a population of 250,000, Ephesus was the capital of a Roman province in Asia and was the fourth greatest city in the world, after Rome, Alexandria in Egypt, and Antioch of Syria. Called ‘the mother city of Asia,’ Ephesus was a significant center of trade, located near a harbor at the mouth of the Cayster River in western Asia Minor (Modern-day Turkey). The city lay in a long, fertile valley. Major roads connected Ephesus to all the other significant cities in Asia Minor. “Ephesus was known for its amphitheater, the largest in the world, designed to hold up to 50,000 spectators. It was also the location of the great temple of Artemis, or Diana built in 550 BC. This temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World…Much of the Ephesian industry was related to this temple. Craftsmen sold shrines and household images of the goddess that worshipers could take with them on long journeys. The Ephesians were very proud of their religious heritage (Acts 19:35).”(1) Ephesus became Paul’s headquarters for two years after he planted the church there (Acts 19:10). A short time later, he assigned Timothy the responsibility of overseeing this church. This was not one building or congregation, as we would picture it today, but the entire body of Christ in Ephesus. Various significant events in Scripture took place at Ephesus over a 35-year time period. I will not read these, but am including them in the written version for those who are interested: “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, such that even handkerchiefs and aprons touched by him healed sickness and cast out demons (Acts 19:11). Paul wrote the epistle of 1 Corinthians while there. The seven sons of Sceva, Jewish exorcists, attempted to imitate Paul’s power and were attacked by demons because the demons did not recognize their spiritual authority (Acts 19:13–16). Many new believers ‘who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone’ (Acts 19:19; BSB). The total value of the sorcery books they destroyed was 50,000 silver pieces. [Each piece of silver, probably Greek drachmas, was the equivalent of a day’s wages.] Priscilla and Aquilla discipled Apollos there (Acts 18:24–26). Timothy had his first pastorate there (1 Timothy 1:3). It’s thought that the apostle John and Jesus’ mother, Mary, lived in Ephesus after Jesus returned to heaven (see John 19:26–27). Paul may have faced wild beasts in the amphitheater (1 Corinthians 15:32). Jesus directed to Ephesus one of His seven letters in the book of Revelation (Revelation 2:1–7).”(2) The book of Revelation was written in AD 96, thirty years after Paul’s letter to Timothy. In this letter to the church at Ephesus, Jesus commended them for their hard work, perseverance, rejection of false teaching, endurance, and hatred of sin (Revelation 2:2-3). He also rebuked them, however, saying, “You have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4). The believers at Ephesus, struggling beneath the weight of a godless and immoral culture, had maintained commendable outward religious activities, but internally they had lost their passion for Christ. It is easy to see how intimidating it could be for a young man in his early 30s to be charged with overseeing this great work in such an influential, but very ungodly, city. Timothy was no doubt very mature for his age, having been raised by a godly mother and grandmother, and mentored by Paul while traveling with him on his journeys. Paul would not have placed him there had he not been confident Timothy could fulfill this assignment. Nevertheless, it was extremely difficult and had begun to take its toll on this young man. Persecution, false teachers, the city being an international hub of sorcery and witchcraft, great immorality, strife in the church - exacerbated by disrespect from older men because of his young age - these pressures and more were wearing Timothy down. He was discouraged and intimidated. Paul knew that before he left for heaven, Timothy needed further instruction and encouragement from him as his spiritual father. Thus, a second letter was written to Timothy - the last letter Paul would write before his martyrdom. He began with the important words shared in our opening. I want to summarize them for you. Paul begins by affirming his love for Timothy as a spiritual son and speaks a blessing of grace, mercy, and peace to him (v. 2). This is more than a formality; he knows his words carry life and power. Paul then assures Timothy that he is praying diligently for him - night and day (v. 3). Again, Paul is confident his prayers will make a difference. Then he states his confidence in Timothy: “I know the faith that is in you, imparted from your grandmother and mother, and also the gift I imparted to you through the laying on of my hands” (v. 5-6). Paul was encouraging Timothy. “You can do this!” was the meaning of these words. Then this wise, apostolic spiritual father became stronger in his exhortation. “Now, I’m instructing you, Timothy, to stir up (KJV), kindle afresh (NAS) the gift I put in you!” (v. 6). Notice: God would not do this for him, nor would Paul. Timothy would have to do it! The Greek word used for “stir up,” anazopureo,(3) is challenging to translate. Only used this one time in the New Testament, it is made of 3 different Greek words. Ana(4) means “again;” zo(5) is a shortened version of zoe, the “life” of God, and pureo(6) is from pur, meaning “fire or lightning.” Paul was telling Timothy, “I know what is in you, because I put it there by the power of Holy Spirit. Now I need for you to rise up and fan the flame, blow on the embers. Get the life flowing, the fire burning, again!” This is a very strong exhortation. The verb tense of this word indicates continuous or repeated action: “You will need to do this repeatedly, continuously, Timothy. One time won’t be adequate. I need you to really press into this! With the faith in you, speak life and fire into your gifts. Make them come alive and burn with passion. YOU do this! God’s power (dunamis),(7) His love (agape),(8) discipline, self-control, and soundness of mind (sophronismos)(9) were also given to you. Get these forces working in you again (v.7). Then Paul adds one more thing, reminding Timothy of what he had NOT been given: “God has not given us a spirit of timidity” (v. 7). Though some translations say “fear” instead of “timidity,” the Greek word is deilia,(10) not phobos.(11) Phobos would mean a phobia or fear. Paul knew Timothy wasn’t dealing with that type of fear, but with intimidation. You can easily see that the words timid, timidity, and intimidation are all related. “Satan is intimidating you, son,” Paul was stating, “telling you you’re too young, you don’t have faith, your gifts aren’t adequate for this job, the warfare is too great…This has brought intimidation and timidity, eroding your confidence and causing your fire and passion to wane. You’re not walking in the power of God’s life in you. But these are all lies. You are NOT weak, timid, or insecure. You’re strong! Gifted! Full of faith! And well able to do this.” This Is A Word For Us As God’s remnant prayer army, His emerging Ekklesia, we have been assigned a great challenge. Our nation is facing great evil, incompetent and lying leaders, abhorrent immorality, and much more. Things could get worse before the necessary changes come. In light of this reality, we could easily become discouraged and intimidated, just as Timothy did, doubting our calling and ability to be used by God to heal our land. My goal and assignment today is to break anything of that nature off of you. We ARE called, equipped, empowered, and anointed for such a time as this. Fan the flames of Holy Spirit fire in you! Command them to burn! Speak to the life of God in you and command it to explode! Stir yourself up in your Holy faith! Reject every demonic lie trying to convince you that the giants of the land are too big! We are well able to take the land! Pray with me: Father, as Your Ekklesia, the church, moves into one of the most critical seasons in America’s history, I pray for the refreshing wind of heaven to blow on them. Re-fill them with Holy Spirit. Give them tenacious hearts and minds in this season, enabling them to fan the flames of passion within. Remind them of who they are. Remind them that they are filled with Your glorious life. Remind them that they have been called for such a time as this. Remind them that they are more than conquerors through You and Your love. Remind them that Holy Spirit, the Greater One, lives within to help and lead them. Remind them that they can do all things through the exalted Christ indwelling them. Remind them of Your heart to redeem and restore. Remind them that satan was defeated, and that redemption is finished. And now, as tens of thousands of us around the world agree in prayer, creating synergy and multiplication, we break off of the church all fear, intimidation, lethargy, complacency, and lukewarmness. We fan the flames of passion and faith. And we declare together that we are well able to possess the land! The name of Jesus seals this! Our decree: We decree that all intimidation is broken off of the Ekklesia and that the spirit of faith is prevailing. ********************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ---------------------------------------------------- https://www.gotquestions.org/Ephesus-in-the-Bible.html Ibid. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. No. G329. Ibid. Ref. no. G303. Ibid. Ref. no. G2222. Ibid. Ref. no. G4442. Ibid. Ref. no. G1411. Ibid. Ref. no. G26. Ibid. Ref. no. G4995. Ibid. Ref. no. G1167. Ibid. Ref. no. G5401.

7 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-8-2023 June 8, 2023 As I have stated this week, all of our DSM staff work remotely, with the exception of the product department, and do so from 4 states. This has worked well, both for them and the ministry. Since we are rarely together, we have a week-long retreat each year to build camaraderie and necessary team dynamics. This is that week. I have asked five leaders, all of whom carry God’s heart for America, to do this week’s GH15 posts for me. They have been tremendous, and today’s, by my friend Larry Sparks, is superb. Larry serves as publisher for Destiny Image. His book, Pentecostal Fire (available at Amazon), is, without question, one of the best I’ve read on revival. His contact info is included at the end of today’s post. Larry encourages us that revival has already begun and challenges us not to despise small beginnings; acorns become oak trees! This post will light a fire in you. Here’s Larry. ****************** Next Stop: The Shekinah Glory - Prophetic Word from Azusa Street “Tell My Church I am reintroducing her to Pentecostal Fire.” Since Holy Spirit gave me this mandate in early 2021, I wrote the book Pentecostal Fire to provoke readers to cry out for the fullness of revival in their lives and in their generation. “Pentecost” is an old-time word, but if we want to move in Book of Acts-level power, we must return to Pentecost to advance into the future. Back to the Future I recently made my own prophetic visit to “Pentecost past.” Like any good Spirit-filled believer, I journeyed to the Bonnie Brae House, which is where the 1906 Azusa Street Revival was ignited. Since I didn’t have an appointment, I wandered outside, praying for any insight Holy Spirit wanted to release. I laid my hands on the outside gate, praying, “Lord, do it again. We need that kind of landscape-changing move of God today.” Good news: it’s stirring and brewing. Then, Holy Spirit spoke an unusual phrase to my heart. It brought much clarity to what I had been prayerfully processing in this season. He said, “Don’t Stop Short of the Shekinah Glory.” Let me provide some context. Don’t Criticize the Acorn Because It’s Not Yet an Oak Tree When God is moving, we can fall into one of two extremes if we’re not careful: Criticism or complacency. Criticism rejects present revival stirrings because the move of God is still in its infancy. Complacency occurs when genuinely enthusiastic Christ-followers claim that what is currently happening is the fullness of the great end-time revival. What’s happening right now–Asbury and the campus outpourings, the Jesus Revolution movie, and all the prayer, worship and repentance gatherings–is the great revival in acorn size. Pastor Bill Johnson of Bethel Church speaks of revival beginning as an acorn which ultimately grows into a mighty oak tree. It would be foolish to look at an acorn and treat this seed like it was already the mighty oak; it would be equally foolish to completely dismiss the acorn, rejecting it as false because it had not matured into adulthood yet. We don’t reject an infant because he or she is not grown-up yet; we celebrate every step of the child’s development. This should be how we steward revival in every phase. How Will You Respond to the Trickle? We don’t reject an acorn because it’s not an oak tree; likewise, we don’t reject a trickle because it’s not yet a mighty rushing river. Ezekiel’s River encounter started with a trickle. The prophet recounts: “Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side” (Ezekial 47:2). How we steward the ‘acorn’ and the ‘trickle’ is essential, as it reveals to Heaven if we are fit to venture into deeper depths. Heaven does not seek the flawless; simply those who refuse to graduate from being hungry for more. What caused Ezekiel to move from a trickle to ankle-deep to being fully immersed in the river? A desire to keep moving into deeper waters. After he experiences the river in “trickle” form, we see how Ezekiel decides to move forward: “Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep.” He didn’t criticize the trickle because it was small, nor did he camp out at the trickle, claiming it to be the full River–Ezekiel simply went onward because he was convinced that there was more. “Don’t Stop Short of the Shekinah Glory” Back to the Bonnie Brae House prophetic word: “Don’t stop short of the Shekinah glory.” Shekinah is a Talmudic Hebrew term that describes a Biblical reality. God’s Shekinah Glory is His majestic, manifest presence that visibly dwells among humankind. God manifested His presence in the Old Testament as a pillar of fire and cloud. When He descended upon Mount Sinai, He came with thick smoke, lightning, and all manner of activity that human senses could experience. The Shekinah was the holy Presence of God that dwelt behind the tabernacle curtain, beyond the veil. It was widely inaccessible to everyday people. One had to navigate appropriate Old Covenant protocol just to be represented before God’s holy Presence by the high priest. Then the cross changed everything. How do I know the Shekinah glory is accessible to believers today? The New Covenant in Jesus’ blood grants us access to experience in fullness what those in the Old Testament could only taste and see in part. Pentecost was not a theological concept; it was a release of divine glory. Tongues of fire appeared visibly over the heads of the Upper Room company. The sound of a mighty rushing wind brought multitudes to see and hear what was going on. The atoning work of Jesus dealt permanently with the veil of separation that kept mankind at a distance from the Shekinah; now, this glory lives in you, and you have access to drink deep of its endless riches. We might be witnessing a “trickle” of that Shekinah Glory right now, but I believe Scripture and revival history provokes us to keep crying out and moving forward. God is Not a Concept or a Theology; He’s a Person. I have a strange “life Scripture.” It’s not “I can do all things through Christ” or Jeremiah 29:11. Mine is Isaiah 64:1 because it represents everything my heart burns for: “Oh, that You would tear open the heavens and come down, that the mountains would quake at Your presence” (NASB). A landscape-changing Holy Spirit outpouring is a theological availability–but what makes an available blessing become an accessible reality for us today? An Isaiah 64:1 cry of desperate, constant prayer. Our intercession builds a bridge between theological availabilities and living realities. Isaiah 64:1 exposes a heart that is dissatisfied with head knowledge and theological concepts; it reveals one who knows that God’s Shekinah glory is available and that we cannot settle for anything less. Isaiah 64:1 is the appropriate response of a Biblically literate follower of Jesus and student of revival history. I pray that you consume enough Bible information and revival testimony to reach a breaking point—where you can no longer live satisfied with good theology without longing for the living God to tear open the Heavens and break into real-time and space with His Shekinah glory. Oh, that the response would be as it was on the Day of Pentecost–the onlooking masses would witness in awe asking, “What must we do?” Pray with me: Lord, tear open the Heavens and come down. I’ve read too much to be satisfied with status quo. Everything I see in Scripture and history reveals that You are the God who manifests Himself. For the sake of a world under the influence of darkness, manifest Yourself. And Lord, here I am – use me to move through! Any area of my life that is not compatible with hosting greater measures of Your Presence, Holy Spirit, release the gift of conviction. Make more space for me to host Your Shekinah glory. I’m so grateful to be born again and that Holy Spirit lives in me. But Lord, I ask that Your Spirit would rest upon me as He did Peter and Paul, as He did Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake, and DL Moody, as He did upon the 120 gathered in the upper room at Pentecost. Father God, show us what it looks like to see an open Heaven over a household, a city, a region, yes, over a nation. We celebrate the trickle – but we will contend for the glory deluge. Our decree: We decree that the God Who moved in revival, fire and glory in times past will do it again! We decree that the God of the Great Awakening, Who swept America with conviction, mass repentance, and societal transformation, will sweep America again. The God Whose Presence descended upon the tens of thousands gathered in the Kentucky frontier during the Cane Ridge camp meetings will descend again. The Holy Spirit, Who fell like Pentecostal fire upon the Azusa Street saints, manifesting His glory as a physical cloud, where limbs grew back because of the thickness of His presence, will fall again. We pray these hymn lyrics from William Booth: Look down and see this waiting host, Give us the promised Holy Ghost, We need another Pentecost, Send the fire today! ************************ Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------- Today’s post was written and recorded by our friend Larry Sparks. Larry has been in ministry for more than two decades. He serves as publisher for Destiny Image and travels internationally, teaching on revival, strategy for sustained spiritual awakening, and Pentecostal Fire. Larry holds a Master of Divinity from Regent University in Church History and Renewal and hosts regular programs on God TV and the It’s Supernatural Network. Portions of today’s post were taken from Larry’s book Pentecostal Fire which is available at Amazon.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-7-2023 June 7, 2023 As I stated yesterday, all of our DSM staff work remotely, with the exception of the product department, and do so from 4 states. This has worked well, both for them and the ministry. Since we are rarely together, we have a week-long retreat each year to build camaraderie and necessary team dynamics. This is that week. I have asked five leaders, all of whom carry God’s heart for America, to do this week’s GH15 posts for me. They’re all OUTSTANDING! Today’s, by our friend Cheryl Sacks, is strategic and extremely important. She and her husband, Hal, are incredibly gifted prayer leaders for the entire state of Arizona, and Cheryl is also a great writer. (Do yourself a favor and read her books! You’ll find a link at the end of today’s post.) Their insights on prayer, revival, and impacting young people - including mentoring them as leaders - are second to none! If you follow the GH15 posts regularly, you’ll know of my passion for young people. Today’s post challenges and instructs us regarding prayer and action for this generation, which satan has so ruthlessly targeted. We must not lose this battle! Here is what Cheryl has to say: *********** The Crisis in Our Schools: “It’s Time to Speak Up and Step In!” Across the nation, a wave of fervent prayer for our schools is rising like never before. But what’s unprecedented is the extent to which intercessors are also “putting feet” to their prayers. This past school year, record numbers of parents showed up to speak out at city councils and school board meetings, joined education action groups, or ran for office. And, for the first time ever, the crisis in our classrooms is superseding political affiliations and uniting fathers, mothers, and grandparents. Concerned parents and grandparents are running for every position, from mayor to governor, in order to protect children and the rights of parents to know what is happening in their children’s classrooms. Politicians, school board members, and school officials who are not listening to their concerns are being removed from their positions and voted out of office. In Virginia, school administrators refused to talk to parents upset by pornographic and sexually explicit material in public school libraries! Then-governor Terry McAuliffe stated in response, “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.” This cost him the governor’s mansion. In Wisconsin, the Eau Claire Area School District was recently sued in federal court by parents objecting to school policies that promote students’ gender transitioning without the notification or involvement of their parents! Shockingly, the district’s official Gender Support Plan states: “Remember, parents are not entitled to know their kid’s identities. That knowledge must be earned . . . we must not act as stand-ins for oppressive ideas/behaviors/attitudes, even and especially if that oppression is coming from parents.”[1] One mother in the Phoenix area spoke out and stepped up in a dramatic way. Dressed as a cat, she addressed her local school board meeting and voiced her concerns about a male school board member who was dressing in his deceased wife’s clothing and identifying as a woman. The mom asked the parents and members of the school board who were attending the meeting whether they would address her as a cat if she identified as one. “Wearing ears, whiskers, and a tail does not make me a cat; neither does wearing lipstick and a skirt make this man a woman,” she pointed out. Her efforts paid off. She later received a surprising amount of community support after confronting the school board. Ultimately, the male school board member was removed from his post.[2] Now, that’s not to say concerned parents should show up at school board meetings dressed as a cat. However, if we don’t speak up and step in to push back against ungodly, destructive values in our schools, those with evil intent—who are pushing harmful agendas upon our children—will speak up, step in, and prevail. Do you think these destructive efforts against our children can’t happen in your school district? Chances are, they already have. Of course, we need to pray. Prayer should always be our first response, not our last resort. But often, as we intercede, God will call us to be the answer to our own prayers. Prayer will open up the way, but someone must come in and “occupy” the territory (physical or spiritual) for which we are praying. We must do more than fight a few battles; we must be present inside of, and bring godly values into, the places we want to see transformed. This is what God told Joshua when he was getting ready to lead the people to go in and take possession of the land God had promised them. God told Joshua, “Every place where you set your foot will be yours.” We praise God for the victories already won as believers around our nation have stepped into the fray and taken back territory for God’s Kingdom. For example, just recently, in a significant “religious freedom” decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, the high court ruled six to three that a public high school in Washington State violated Coach Joe Kennedy’s rights when he was disciplined and ultimately fired for taking a knee and praying quietly at the 50-yard line after football games. A lawsuit followed, and seven years later, our nation’s highest court agreed with our U.S. Constitution that Kennedy’s religious rights had been violated.[3] This decision importantly corrects the mistaken impression of many that religious speech and actions must be suppressed to avoid the First Amendment’s prohibition of “establishment of religion.” The majority opinion, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch says, “That reasoning was misguided.” This ruling should give hope and encouragement to Christian employees of our public schools, clarifying a First Amendment issue that has troubled our education system for decades. It will, for example, protect teachers who bow their heads to give thanks over their lunch in the cafeteria or wear a cross around their neck. The Supreme Court’s majority opinion mentioned those examples specifically. This ruling would also apply to students who wish to pray at sporting events or on school campuses, on their own time, or who desire to place a Christian sticker on their backpack or binder. We can rejoice in this tremendous victory to uphold religious liberty in our public schools on behalf of believers—parents, students, teachers, coaches, administrators, support staff, and concerned citizens alike—who are “speaking up and stepping in.” This results not only from excellent legal representation and the application of godly justice by the Supreme Court, but because of the concerted, fervent intercession of the Body of Christ—which, in Coach Kennedy’s case, persevered for over seven years as his lawsuit made its way through the courts! Let’s continue to intercede together and reclaim this young generation. Our prayers are making an incredible difference. Praise God! But we must not only pray for our schools; we need to “speak up and step in”! The Church is not supposed to be a “holy huddle”—rather, we are called to be agents of societal transformation. One primary way we do this is by using the spiritual authority we’ve been given in prayer, declaration, and godly action. Where followers of Jesus are absent, a vacuum is created. If the Church doesn’t get involved on both a spiritual and practical level, this vacuum will surely be filled by the philosophies and values of the world. Pray with me: Lord, we fervently cry out to You to activate Your Church. Open our eyes to see what is really going on in our children’s classrooms. Awaken Your people to get involved in the concerns and governance of our schools by voting, attending board meetings, and serving as board members! Make us “salt and light” to our local communities, and help us take responsibility for our young people and our schools, in Jesus’ name. Our decree: We declare that God’s Church is rising up into her calling as the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities and schools. In the authority of Jesus Christ, we break the power of the spirit of apathy, and decree an awakening over God’s people that will release them into passionate prayer and effective involvement in the concern and governance of our nation’s schools, for the glory of God! ************************ Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------- Cheryl Sacks is the author of Reclaim a Generation, 21 Days of Prayer for Schools available at prayershop.org. Her newest book, Fire on the Family Altar: Experience the Holy Spirit’s Power in Your Home, available at Amazon.com, is a handbook to ignite revival fire in your home and nation and disciple the next generation to be reformers of culture. You can learn more about Cheryl and her husband Hal’s work at bridgebuilders.net. --------------------------------- [1] Sam Shilts, ”Parent Group Files Lawsuit Against Eau Claire School District Over Gender Identity Policy, News8000.com, September 7, 2022, updated January 24, 2023. [2] “Mom Dresses Up As a Cat at a School Board Meeting to Prove a Point,” https:youtube.com; December 15, 2022. Stephen M Lepore, ‘I’m a cat. Meow, meow: Mom dresses as a CAT and says she identifies as one in protest over trans school board member who ‘wears his deceased wife’s clothing in front of school kids,’ Dailymail.com, updated December 16, 2022. [3] Ron Blitzer, “Coach Joe Kennedy Celebrates Supreme Court Win,” Fox News, June 27, 2022, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/coach -joe -kennedy-celebrates -victory-supreme-court.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-6-2023 June 6, 2023 All of our DSM staff work remotely, with the exception of the product department, and do so from 4 states. This has worked well, both for them and the ministry. Since we are rarely together, we have a week-long retreat each year to build camaraderie and necessary team dynamics. This is that week. I have asked five leaders, all of whom carry God’s heart for America, to share this week’s GH15 posts for me. They are all OUTSTANDING! Today’s is by our good friend, Gene Bailey, a true patriot and host of the powerful program, Flashpoint, seen on The Victory Channel. Gene paints a clear picture of America’s roots, destiny, and current condition. His faith-filled challenge and powerful decree to see America restored will stir Flashpoint of Revival is one of the best! As always, you’ll find out more about Gene at the end of today’s post, as well as info regarding his book. Needed: Patriots of Faith Welcome to Give Him 15. I’m Gene Bailey, and I am truly honored to bring you today’s post. Today in America, we face evil as no generation before us has ever encountered. Sure, many generations have encountered evil outside our borders. But this evil is from within. Freedom in America has never been more at risk. Let’s rewind a few years. The day was January 5, 1967. As Ronald Reagan began to deliver his inaugural address, he immediately spoke of freedom. Let me quote a famous portion from that speech: “Perhaps you and I have lived too long with this miracle to properly be appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing, and it's never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended CONSTANTLY by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.”...(1) Those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have NEVER KNOWN IT AGAIN. Many Americans, as well as many elected officials, have lost the importance of the founding documents our country was founded upon. And at the core of every document is freedom. On April 29, 1607, Robert Hunt landed on a beach in Virginia we now call Cape Henry. He instructed the landing party to cut out a portion of the ship’s beams from the hull. Notice the commitment level here. Cutting pieces out of your ship is not exactly a good thing to do. Yet they did it. The landing party took those timbers and erected a cross and drove it into the beachhead proclaiming this land for God; for freedom. From that day to this, America has been blessed in many ways, but has also seen her share of peril, trauma, and turmoil. For over four hundred years, we’ve traveled a difficult road. We’ve produced documents of faith and freedom like the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence, reiterating that we are a people who seek to follow God. Still, at times we’ve been more divided than we’ve been united. But God has always had a remnant—a praying people whose hearts He has gripped, who have taken their place working with Holy Spirit, to see that America stayed on track with His purposes. Today, God is gripping the hearts of people who are willing to work with Holy Spirit in this hour and follow Him into a tremendous last-days harvest. Our nation’s values have seemingly been usurped by the devil’s own agenda. Chaos and contention are raging. Evil has raised its ugly head, seeking to silence, discredit, and dismantle the greatest threat to the accomplishment of his schemes—the awakened Church. We don’t see anyone in government standing up and drafting a document like the Mayflower Compact. Quite the opposite. Those in positions of greatest power are using propaganda to promote a socialist, anti-God worldview. Our cries for revival may seem to be drowned out by the loud evil agendas of hatred and control. We know God heard Robert Hunt and his men on April 29, 1607, as they declared that this nation belonged to Him. He took them seriously. He hasn’t forgotten. Know this: God is not in a panic, trying to come up with a response to the evil that has been unleashed in America. Long before this chaos began, He was already positioning His “Mordecais” and His “Esthers” for such a time as this. His redemptive plan for America is already set into motion. As we respond to God and take our places, we will see His plan trump the enemy’s schemes. Though it sometimes seems like evil is winning, it’s not too late for our country. God has not stopped paying attention to America—He is very much at work. Let’s be sure we don’t fall back to sleep and miss the opportunities He’s setting before us! What we see raging in our nation cannot be understood by carnal thinking because It’s not carnal; it’s spiritual. It’s not about Republican or Democrat; it’s not about race or gender—it’s about good and evil. There are principalities and hordes of demonic spirits that are attempting to dismantle America’s righteous foundation and destroy her God-given identity. But take heart—God still has a remnant, and we’re seeing it arise! This is not a time for weak-willed Christians. This is no time to back down from the truth—we have to be strong enough not to cave into the pressure of the world around us. The local church is meant to be a training ground that gives us this strength and equips us for the war we are facing. Mylon LeFevre tells the story of being in Army boot camp and seeing some of the recruits daydreaming and even napping during hand-grenade training. Can you imagine?! But in a similar fashion, we’ve sat in church and listened to the Word preached for years, maybe daydreaming or napping, not realizing that that Word was our “hand-grenade” for life-and-death situations…like now! The good news is, it’s not too late. As we determine to take a bold and committed stand against godless, lawless agendas, we must first remember that our battle is not against people, but against evil principalities. We’ve been supplied with supernatural weapons that are mighty through God for the pulling down of every stronghold and casting down every argument and every high thing that seeks to exalt itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5). America is not lost. But we are going to have to fight for it, alongside people you don’t totally agree with—even the ones sitting next to you at church. I’m not saying we should agree with heresy or follow unbiblical and ungodly teaching—I’m saying we have to be willing to see things differently, including each other. God has designed us to need each other! None of us can do this all alone. If we want to fix America, then it's up to the Church to bring revival to the streets. Our decree today is the Watchman Decree. My wife Teri and I, along with Dutch and Ceci Sheets and Hank and Brenda Kunneman, all had a part in writing this. As a Patriot of Faith, I attest my allegiance first and foremost, to the Kingdom of God and the Great Commission. Secondly, I agree to be a watchman over our nation concerning its people and their rights for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Whereas we, the Church, are God’s governing body on the earth. Whereas we have been given legal power from Heaven and now exercise our authority. Whereas we are God’s ambassadors and spokespeople over the earth. Whereas through the power of God, we are the world influencers. Whereas because of our covenant with God, we are equipped and delegated by Him to destroy every attempted advance of the enemy. We make our declarations: We decree that America’s Executive Branch of Government will honor God and defend the Constitution. We decree that our Legislative Branch (Congress) will write only laws that are righteous and Constitutional. We decree that our Judicial System will issue rulings that are Biblical and Constitutional. We declare that we stand against wokeness, the occult, and every evil attempt against our nation. We declare, and we now take back our God-given freedoms, according to our Constitution. We declare that we take back influence at the local level in our communities. We decree that we take back and permanently control positions of influence and leadership in each of the *Seven Mountains. We decree that the blood of Jesus covers and protects our nation. It protects and separates us for God. We declare that our nation is energy independent. We declare that America is strong spiritually, financially, militarily, and technologically. We decree that evil carries no power, authority, or rights in our land nor over our people. We decree that we will operate in unity, going beyond denominational lines in order to accomplish the purposes of God for our nation. And we decree that AMERICA SHALL BE SAVED! (*The Seven Mountain of cultural influence are: family, religion, government, business, education, arts and entertainment, and media) ******* Thank you for joining me today. Portions of today’s post are from my book FlashPoint of Revival. ********************** Click on the below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------- Today’s post was contributed by our friend Gene Bailey. Gene serves as Senior Executive Pastor of Eagle Mountain Church International and hosts Flashpoint and Revival TV on the Victory Channel. You can learn more about Gene and find his book Flashpoint of Revival at GeneBailey.com ______________________________ https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/january-5-1967-inaugural-address-public-ceremony

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-2-2023-1 June 5, 2023 Pursue, Overtake, and Recover All All of our DSM staff work remotely, with the exception of the product department, and do so from 4 states. This has worked well, both for them and the ministry. Since we are rarely together, we have a week-long retreat each year to build camaraderie and necessary team dynamics. This is that week. I have asked five leaders, all of whom carry God’s heart for America, to share this week’s GH15 posts for me. Please trust me when I say: each post is OUTSTANDING!!! Today's is by Jane Hamon, without question, one of the leading prophetic voices on the earth. Jane shares a powerful dream and teaching on recovering what satan has stolen from us. Further insights regarding dreams and hearing God’s voice can be found in her extraordinary book Discernment: An Essential Guide to Hearing the Voice of God. I highly recommend it. We have provided a link to Jane’s ministry at the end of today’s post. Enjoy! ******************** It’s such an honor to fill in for my dear friend, Dutch Sheets, on Give Him 15. This has become a vehicle for discipling a nation and has had a powerful impact on the lives of millions of believers. Bless you, Dutch and Ceci, as you get some well-deserved rest. Tom and I were recently on vacation in the south of France. We were wandering around a farmers market, going from stall to stall of fruits, veggies, and flowers. I had on a cross-body purse which I kept a firm hand on; however, for a moment, I became distracted and reached for one of the products on display. Suddenly someone brushed up against me, and I felt my purse being unzipped. I quickly grabbed my purse and looked around. Two women were walking close beside me acting like nothing had happened. Before I knew it, a very large man came up behind these women and started screaming. He hit one woman in the head, and the women took off running. The man ran after them, screaming at them in French, obviously confronting them for trying to pick my pocket. The thieves got away but were unsuccessful in taking my money from me. How many times has the enemy picked our pockets and stolen from us while we have been distracted by things going on around us? Jesus warned us in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” Clearly, a thief is prowling around seeking to steal our finances, our health, our families, our peace, and our divine purpose. He seeks to kill our hopes and dreams. He is determined to destroy the destiny of nations and generations. As I prayed about this, I heard the Lord say, “The thieves did not succeed with you, nor will they succeed with my discerning ekklesia. Like the man that pursued the thieves, I am issuing a call to arms for my people to discern the spirit of robbery, and like David at Ziklag, to pursue, overtake and recover all. It’s time for my people to rise up and fight for their families and their land.” To define “call to arms” it means, “a call to engage in active hostilities; to prepare for confrontation; a demand for a group of people to fight against an enemy; a command to report for active military duty; an appeal to fight or engage in a conflict; a battle cry. This is not a time to be passive spectators but active participators in the spiritual battle for our nation. There’s an army rising up! Several years ago, I had a vision of a boxing ring. Inside the ring were two demonic spirits named The Devourer and The Destroyer. They were not fighting each other but rather were dancing around the ring, yelling at the assembled crowd, and looking for an opponent. It was much like Goliath mocked and taunted Israel saying, “Who is going to fight me?” These demons were jeering at the crowd of people, mocking them and their Christ and daring someone to step into the ring with them. As I looked at the crowd, I knew most of the people were strong believers and leaders who seemed mesmerized by what was being said. No one moved. No one stepped up. This seemed unusual because these people were real fighters who never backed down when the enemy was present. What was going on? As I watched, I thought, “Why doesn’t someone get in the ring and knock their heads off and make them be quiet?” Then I saw the reason. When boxers get in the ring, they often wear robes on their shoulders with their names written on the back. These demons had robes draped across their shoulders; however, rather than their names, these words were written: “This is just life.” I heard the Voice of the Lord say, “Tell the people, no! This is not just life! It’s not “just life” that my people struggle financially during a bad economy. It’s not “just life” when your children go into rebellion when they go to college. It’s not “just life” when you get older your body breaks down, and you become vulnerable to sickness and disease. It is not “just life” that your nation is being swallowed up by wrong ideologies. These are the works of the Devourer and the Destroyer. Rise up and fight back in the spirit and recover all they have stolen.” Now is the time to catch the thief and take back all he has taken from us! Lives are at stake. Nations hang in the balance waiting for the people of God to rise up and fight back through prayers, decrees, and prophetic acts. We see a biblical depiction of this in 2 Kings 8:1-6 in the story of the Shunammite woman recovering her house and her land. This is the same woman who received a miracle through the words of the prophet, Elisha, and bore a son after many years of barrenness (2 Kings 4:8-17). Years later, when the boy was a teen, he fell over dead. This woman, full of faith, cried out to the prophet, made an appeal, and saw her son raised from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-37). Several chapters later, the prophet told the woman there would be a drought in the land and to take her son and go live elsewhere for a few years. She was gone seven full years, during which time someone else moved into her house and took possession of her land. To be clear, it belonged to her. She obeyed the prophet. But the robber saw an opportunity and took it. She could have just said, “Oh well, this is life! After all, I was gone for seven years. I understand how that can happen.” No! She did not accept the “this is just life” lie. She didn’t accept it when her son dropped dead years before, and she wouldn’t accept it now. 2 Kings 8:3,6 tells us what happened next: “It came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and her land…. So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.” Notice, she made an appeal for both her house and her land. This is the position of the Ekklesia today. We need to contend for our own house: our families, finances, health, etc. But we also need to contend for our land, our territory, and our nation. It’s not an either/or situation. It is both/and. We need to rise up and boldly come before the throne of grace to make our appeal to the king, an appeal to heaven for full recovery. We must open our mouths to pray, decree, and prophesy The king’s decree was to restore all. The Shunammite was not just going to get her house and land back; she was to receive a full recovery, sevenfold, of all that should have been hers from the time she left the land until that day. To ensure she got back everything, the king appointed a certain officer to assist her and enforce the restoration. This is the picture of God sending angelic hosts from His throne to war for our families, the church, and our nation. Pray with me: Lord, give me eyes to see everything the thief has stolen from me, my family, and my nation. I repent of the “this is just life” passivity and commit to answering your call to arms. I will pursue, overtake and recover all the thief has robbed from me, my house, and my land. In Jesus’ name. Our decree: I decree angels are being sent to bring a sevenfold restoration of all that has been stolen. Prodigals are coming home, property is being restored, and America will recover her destiny and once again be a shining light to the nations. ********************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------- Today’s post was contributed by Dr. Jane Hamon. Jane is a gifted teacher and storyteller, and has written five insightful books, including Discernment: An Essential Guide to Hearing the Voice of God. You can find out more about Jane at TomAndJaneHamon.com.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-2-2023 June 2, 2023 Salty and Bright In what we call The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16). My friend, Dwain Miller, said regarding this passage: “We lost our seasoning ability (saltiness) by not embracing our calling and responsibility as the Ekklesia. When we do embrace it, we prevent corruption in society, even as salt prevents corruption when it is used to preserve food. Each of us has a sphere of authority given to us by God, in which we must release our influence as the Ekklesia: our families, cities, and other areas of responsibility. However, the world has come to a place where they expect the church to function only in the realm of empathy and sympathy. They become nervous when we step out into our responsibility as the Ekklesia of God. The devil does not like us moving into the secular realm with Christ’s authority. That’s when things get stirred up, kingdom clashes occur. “If we simply feed the hungry and clothe the poor, we are accepted. The church needs to do those things, yes, but we also need to use our authority against the dark structures holding people in that bondage of poverty. We need to release them spiritually to become everything God created them to be. When we do so, however, we stir up conflict in both the spiritual and earthly realms.” Shockingly, the Pharisees didn’t approve of Jesus healing people and delivering sinners. He healed a blind man in John 9; they didn’t like it. He forgave a lady of adultery in John 8; they didn’t like this either. The apostles healed a lame man in Acts 3, which also drew their ire. Why would kind, compassionate acts so upset the antichrist crowd? Because the authority the Ekklesia moved in verified a message they didn’t like and caused the hearts of people to turn to Christ. The works of the church weakened Christ’s enemies and strengthened the church. It is no different today. As the Ekklesia moves into society saving the lost, healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out demons, we’ll be persecuted by the religious and political. When we release kingdom strategies for systemic societal problems, we have been and will be attacked. And most assuredly, when we carry our moral convictions into government arenas, those who disagree with us become irate. They think we’re so clueless we can’t see their hypocrisy: they can take their beliefs and moral values - or lack thereof - into government, education, sports, media, etc., but we’re not supposed to. Their decree: “No free speech for Christians and conservatives. No voice. Just go to your churches once a week and be quiet everywhere else.” They accuse us of what they do: forcing their beliefs on others. In reality, we don’t operate in tyranny; they do. Jesus, our Leader, said our method would be to speak truth, be salt and release light. We must be prepared for the confrontations and accusations we will face with the religious and political spirits operating in our time. When the Pharisees and Sadducees had seen to it that Jesus was crucified, they thought they had finally rid themselves of the threat to their power. Many people had been following Jesus and causing them no end of troubles. We can imagine the religious leaders brushing their hands together after Christ was sealed in the tomb, boasting to one another, “Well, we took care of that problem!” Their problems had only just begun! In Acts 2, the outpouring of Holy Spirit occurred. The church had a holy boldness deposited in them by the Spirit of God, and were unstoppable! They realized jail, imprisonment, and beatings would be the result of telling others about Jesus. But they did so anyway, preaching an uncompromising message and refusing to water it down, unafraid of who would be listening. Salt. Light. Miracles began taking place, and they preached boldly. Acts 4:13 says, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” This terrified the religious leaders. They had control over the people, having actually developed an anti-Christ system in order to maintain this control. They operated in tyranny, lies, and wickedness. Now, their problem was exacerbated. There was no longer only one Jesus to deal with. Increasing numbers of people were carrying Christ within, being baptized in the Holy Spirit, speaking a clear, biblical message and performing miracles. And the church was multiplying. In Acts 5:12, it says, “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.” Salt. Light. The response of the Pharisees and Sadducees to all this was to throw the apostles in prison. But the Lord sent an angel in the night to open the prison doors and deliver them. Nothing could stop the early Ekklesia, for God was with them. The religious, political spirit wanted to silence the Christians. No voice! But the demonically empowered opposition discovered that a greater power was in the Christ-followers, and it could not be stopped! This is where we are today. We have entered an Acts 4 and 5 season; Holy Spirit’s anointing and authority is growing in us, restoring our saltiness, our preserving and seasoning ability. I believe Christ likes the sound of clashing kingdoms; it means we are advancing His kingdom in the earth. A wise Pharisee named Gamaliel said in Acts 5:38-39 (NKJV), “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” There could be no more appropriate verse for those currently leading our nation and those vomiting their filth into our schools and airwaves. Darkness hates light - always has and always will - and spoiling bacteria hates salt. The next time you see these forces manifest, remember, the Pharisees gnashed (ground) their teeth in rage toward Stephen, shouted loudly, and covered their ears before stoning him (Acts 7:54-60). Don’t be surprised when those who hate God’s ways, hate you. Stay salty, and stay bright. Pray with me: Father, You are raising up a salty and shining Ekklesia on the earth. We are grieved by what is happening around us, with America’s spiritual demise, but we are not discouraged. You have increased our revelation and we know Holy Spirit is filling us with the fullness of Your authority, grace, and strength. Lord, we thank You that the rising Ekklesia is maturing into greater and greater authority. We purpose to function with maturity in all You have created us to do and be. We loose this powerful identity shift to all in the church who will receive it. We will not allow Your enemies to define us, or our boundaries. We will do and say all You have called us to manifest. We’ll do so in love for that is Your nature, but we will do it. We pledge to be salt and light, and to make America once again a city on a hill, not darkness in a tomb. We want You to be glorified and made manifest through the activities of Your Ekklesia. We pray that the Ekklesia (the church) will arise and go forth in dunamis power, just as the early Ekklesia did. We have been given the keys to Your Kingdom resources. We will use those keys, and as You instructed us, declare, “Kingdom of God, Come! Will of God, be done - in and through us.” We resist fear and ask for boldness, as the early church also did. And we ask for the great grace, great power, great miracles, and great results they received. We declare this to be so in the name of our King, Jesus! Today’s decree: We declare that God has, and is, gracing the Ekklesia in America to be salt and light, fearless and bold, as we expand His Kingdom into every dark place! *********************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-1-2023 June 1, 2023 Turning the World Right Side Up If you follow the 15s regularly or read any of my books, you know I love to study the meanings of Hebrew and Greek words in Scripture. Seeing different definitions, nuances, and uses of a word expands my understanding of what is being said. Also, in some instances, there are multiple Greek words for one English word. For example, there are at least three different Greek words for “time.” One word (chronos)(1) means time in a general sense, as in chronology; another word (kairos)(2) means a strategic or opportune time, and still another (horaios)(3) means the right time. When we do not know which of these words is used, we cannot fully understand what is being said. Ephesians 6:18 exemplifies this. The verse tells us to “pray at all times.” The word used, however, is kairos, strategic or opportune times. We aren’t being told to pray “all the time,” though many interpret the verse in this way. The passage begins by describing the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged, then speaks of our armor and weapons. Finally, verse 18 then tells that, like all good soldiers, we must “be on the alert” for one another, watching for satan’s strategically timed attacks against our fellow soldiers. When we discern them, we must pray at that strategic time! The verse speaks of well-timed intercession against satan’s well-timed attacks. This is also the meaning of Hebrews 4:16, which tells us to boldly approach the throne of grace to obtain mercy in times of need. Time is kairos, meaning “well-timed” help. The Amplified Bible says, “Well-timed help, coming just when we need it.” With this explanation, the importance of knowing which word is used for “time” can easily be seen. Another subject in which this differentiation of words is important has to do with our spiritual maturity. There are at least four Greek words for a daughter or son, each depicting a different level of maturity. Nepios(4) means “no speech” and refers to an infant or baby; a paidion(5) is a toddler or young child; and a teknon(6) is a teenager or young adult. Finally, a huios(7) is a fully matured “son.” (Spiritually speaking, huios is not gender-based; just as a male can be part of Christ’s “bride,” females can be a fully matured “son.”) In Christ’s day, when a child matured and had been adequately trained, they were “placed” into “sonship.” For this important transition, a public ceremony called a huiothesia(8) was held. This word literally means “placed as a son.” It was different than a bar mitzvah ceremony and normally occurred at 30 years of age. The father of the child would invite members of the community to this event, for it was a public announcement that the child was now a fully mature son with full authority to represent the family name, business, etc. During the ceremony, the father would announce, “This is my beloved son (huios), in whom I am well pleased.” This is why Father God spoke these words at Christ’s baptism (Mark 1:11); He was declaring that Christ was fully authorized to speak for Him and conduct His business. It was Christ’s huiothesia. Huiothesia is usually translated “adoption as sons” in the New Testament. Technically, however, the word isn’t saying we are being adopted into God’s family. It is saying that as His children, already in the family, we are being positioned or placed into “sonship.” God’s plan is to mature us from spiritual babies to mature sons and daughters, qualified to fully represent Him. This understanding is important in Romans 8. The chapter tells us that as God’s children, we have all the rights, blessings, and privileges of being in His family. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children (teknon) of God, and if children (teknon), heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:16-17; NASB). However, the passage makes an important distinction between children and sons, saying that “sons” (huios) of God are led by His Spirit. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons (huios) of God” (Romans 8:14; NASB). Many of God’s kids are not yet led by Holy Spirit. Though they have access to His blessings, they are not mature enough to know His voice and ways. Children have rights and benefits; sons possess authority. The passage goes on to say that creation is groaning and travailing, waiting for the revealing of the “sons” of God - NOT His children (verse 19). The children of God cannot bring healing to the earth; only mature sons and daughters, those led by Holy Spirit, can do so. Obviously, a time of complete healing and restoration will one day come to the earth, just as a full manifestation of our sonship will one day occur. But as Christ’s Ekklesia, we are to manifest a level of this sonship now, representing His spiritual authority and releasing His healing to a groaning earth. I am confident that God has matured a company of believers throughout the earth into their “sonship” stage. Like David’s mighty men, whom we spoke of in yesterday’s post, they have grown in wisdom and knowledge. No longer spiritual babies or children, these believers have matured to a point where they can be trusted with Christ’s authority. As mature sons and daughters, they will bring salvation, healing, and restoration to impoverished nations, teaching them to prosper. They’ll transform governments, education, economies, medicine, farming, and more. They will be healers of decimated cities and nations (Isaiah 58:12), deliverers of the oppressed and downtrodden (Luke 4:18-19). This is all part of the discipling of nations we were commissioned to in Matthew 28:18-20. Although we are moving into an era of tremendous warfare on the earth, with evil increasing and manifesting in many ways, God has a people prepared to accomplish His will. We must not fear but stand boldly in his name, releasing His kingdom authority and salvation. We are His healers and deliverers. We must move in humility, but also in power. We must operate in love, but also in authority. We are ambassadors of the King of kings, and this can be our finest hour. Pray with me: Father, we are a people called for such a time as this. You have prepared the Ekklesia to accomplish Your purposes in the earth. Though at times, in our human-ness we feel inadequate as we see the evil abounding in the earth, may we always be reminded that Your grace abounds even more. Keep us reminded that we are equipped for this battle, not from our own strengths and gifts, but because of the Greater One in us and Christ’s authority upon us. We join our hearts as a great prayer army, agreeing in intercession for the church. We ask for a high level of revelation to be released in Your people that will awaken us to our calling and equipping. Make this revelation as powerful for us as it was for Peter, who only weeks after denying Christ, stepped into the fullness of his apostleship and authority. Bring revelation of Holy Spirit’s transforming power, of the incredible reality that He resides within us. Through His holy presence in us, we truly are more than conquerors, and can do all things through Christ. Pour out Your Spirit. Awaken Your spiritual army. Cause us, Your sons and daughters, to realize our authority and position in Christ. Infuse us with new levels of humility, love, faith, boldness, and discernment. Do these things with such strength that we, like the early Ekklesia, turn our world “right side up.” We pray this in Jesus' Name. Our decree: We decree that sons and daughters of the Most High God are stepping into the fullness of their destiny. *************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. _________________________ James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 5550. Ibid. Ref. no. 2540. Ibid. Ref. no. 5611. Ibid. Ref. no. 3516. Ibid. Ref. no. 3813. Ibid. Ref. no. 5043. Ibid. Ref. no. 5207. Ibid. Ref. no. 5206.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-30-2023 May 30, 2023 The Power of Our Words “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him. Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you.” Mark 11:23-24 Today, I would like to discuss the number one way we impact the unseen realm of the spirit. The answer may surprise you: it is with our words. Whether releasing our faith, ministering the power and/or life of Holy Spirit, or warring against satan’s kingdom, the number one way we influence the spiritual realm is with our words. Why is this the case? I don’t pretend to know all of the complexities and ways of God. This much I do know, however: one of the primary ways He releases His power and authority is by speaking. He commands, declares, and decrees. When He does, His words release power, life, blessings, judgments, and of course, they create. With His words, God created all that exists (Genesis 1; John 1), and with the power of His words, he holds the universe together - keeps it working as intended (Hebrews 1:3). Obviously, spiritual power is released and carried by words. It isn’t the words themselves that are powerful; it is the source of the words. Jesus said on one occasion, “The words I speak are spirit and life” (John 6:63). When God made us as spirit beings like Himself, in His image and likeness, He created us with the ability to also release power and authority from our spirits, through our words. Amazing, isn’t it? We believe, we speak - we’re born again (Romans 10:9)! We believe, we speak - mountains of adversity gone (Mark 11:23)! Yes, the words spoken must be consistent with God’s Word and will. But when they are and we speak them, they are infused with His power and life. How forcible are right words! (Job 6:25 KJV). Job’s word for “forcible,” (morat) means “to press.” (1) One of its biblical uses describes a king pressing his seal of authority onto a decree or legal document with his signet ring, making it legally binding, the law of the land. Words seal deals and decree laws. They are powerful, even unto life and death (see Proverbs 18:20-21). The New Testament says we are justified or condemned by them (see Matthew 12:37). Wars are started with words. Love is communicated through words. Instruction and education are shared by words. Deception and confusion are propagated with words. Kingdoms are built with words. People are controlled by words. Lives are shattered and healed through words. The world was created by words…and so is our personal world. Words may very well be the greatest conduit of authority and power in the world. God’s “Let there be” created the world and everything in it. Ecclesiastes 12:11 says, “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies” (KJV). Nails help us build, construct, assemble, and hold things together. So do words. The Master Craftsman used words to build the earth, the seas, the mountains, and all the other amazing elements and dimensions of creation. And, as we said, His words hold it all together. Luke’s gospel says that even the incarnation - God becoming human - was caused by a combination of God’s words and Spirit. When Mary asked how she, a virgin, could have a child, the angel informed her that the power of Holy Spirit would overshadow her and impregnate her with Jesus (1:35). Then he said, “Nothing will be impossible with God” (1:37). This translation of Luke 1:37 doesn’t do justice to the strength of what the angel actually said. The most literal and accurate rendering is: “No word spoken by God is without power.” (2) What a statement this is, and what ramifications it carries for us. Our all-powerful God infuses transcendent power into His words. They become the carriers of His awesome strength. God also calls His Word a sword with which He rules and judges. His declarations not only create and build, they also judge and destroy; they’re both constructive and destructive. Consider the following: “Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:16); “Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war...with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:16; see also 19:15, 21). Some of God’s decrees are to create or perform in the present; others are declarations regarding the future. In Isaiah 46:9-10, God says of Himself: “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Our amazing God stands outside of time, looks ahead, declares the future, and eventually, time catches up to His decree. How preposterous the fools who think they will outwit or overpower Him! When time catches up to a decree God makes concerning the future, He often involves us in its fulfillment. We become the voice of God on earth, decreeing His decrees for Him! Job 22:28 says, “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.” (3) The first part of the verse could be more literally rendered, “You will decree a decree.” We discern God’s will and/or His decree - what He has determined about a given situation - and we decree His decree. Incredible! The verse then states that when we decree His decree, it will be “established.” This is the Hebrew word quwm, which means “to rise.” (4) God’s Word is called a seed (1 Peter 1:23), and when we sow it into a situation, we are sprinkling the seeds through which He causes His will to spring up. Quwm also describes a variety of other activities, including God’s “creative, saving, and judging action” rising up. (5) Our decreeing of the Lord’s Word releases His creativity, His salvation, and yes, even His judgments! I once stood and watched as a minister prayed, then commanded a young boy’s crooked legs to be healed. His lame legs were supported by metal and leather braces. As the minister prayed, the air was filled with the sound of joints popping; muscles and tendons formed, bones became new. The young man, who had never before run, took off his braces and ran around the church. We watched with amazement and awe. The entire congregation celebrated with this young man over his creative miracle... which was released through words! I also watched another miraculous healing take place as the same man ministered to a lady who had stomach cancer. He spoke to the cancer, commanding it to leave her in Jesus’ name. The woman immediately vomited up the cancer, completely healed... again, through the release of Spirit-led words! I know these stories sound like fiction, but in the 1960s, it was not strange to see miracles like these take place in services across America. Thousands were healed supernaturally. I personally witnessed dozens of healings. Both of the above miracles were substantiated by doctors. I know, because the minister was my dad. Pray with me: Father, we release the power of Your words into America. (If you live elsewhere, do this for your nation.) We declare that the earth is the Lord’s - Yours - and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1). All of it is owned by You. You are the King of all the earth (Psalm 47:7). All authority on earth belongs to You (Matthew 28:18-19). Yours is the Kingdom and power and glory forever (Matthew 6:10). We declare that Your authority is now being released over the government of America, and that You are dismantling the arrogant systems and political forces that oppose You. All who have opposed You, along with the strongholds they have built, will be pulled down. Unrighteous laws they have written will be reversed in the coming season of revival and reformation. Their evil ways and activities will be exposed. Your angels are on the move now to expose and dismantle. We declare Your words that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness, and that Your mercy endures forever and triumphs over judgment. Through Christ’s cleansing blood, appropriated through our confession of sin, repentance, and faith we declare that America shall be saved! And we declare that the Ruler over and Lover of the nations will have His great worldwide harvest. Man can’t stop it, and demons can’t stop it. It shall be…in Jesus’ name! Our decree: We obey Christ and command over America: Kingdom of God, come! Will of God, be done in this land! ******************* Portions of today’s devotional were taken from my book Authority in Prayer. (6) Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------- 1. Strong, James. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 7th ed., Abingdon Press, 1980. 2. Bible Hub, “For no word from God shall be void of power.” https://biblehub.com/multi/luke/1-37.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. 3. “Strong's Hebrew: 1504. גָּזַר (gazar) -- to cut, divide, decree.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1504.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. 4. “Strong's Hebrew: 6965. קוּם (qum) -- to arise, stand up, stand.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6965.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. 5. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Workbook of the Old Testament. Moody, 1980, p. 793. 6. Sheets, Dutch. Authority in Prayer: Praying With Power and Purpose. Baker Publishing Group, 2015, pp. 102-106.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-31-2023 May 31, 2023 David’s Elite Fighting Force “So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam, and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented and bitter gathered to him, and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.” (1Samuel 22:1-2; NASB) Holy Spirit led me to speak from this passage last weekend at Chuck Pierce’s Pentecost gathering. These verses speak of the beginning of David’s preparation to be king over Israel, and of the beginning of his elite fighting force, referred to in Scripture as “David’s mighty men.” Some historians consider this the most skilled group of fighting men in history. This is obviously subjective and in no way intended to be a slight to the great warriors that have existed throughout history. It is simply to point out what an incredible fighting force they were. It is important to know the context of these verses. David had recently been anointed as the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:12-13). At the time, He had no idea of the process that would occur to prepare him, a process that would take 20 years! This is true with most of us when we hear prophetic words. We assume they will happen relatively quickly and, indeed, some do. At times, however, God is announcing His plans for down the road…sometimes many roads. The current king, Saul, had no intention of allowing David to take his position. To stop it, he turned against David, no doubt motivated by demonic spirits that controlled him. Saul was insanely jealous and eventually even became a murderer, killing priests of God (1 Samuel 22:16-19) and attempting to murder David (1 Samuel 18:11; 19:1). Due to these attacks, David had to flee. He landed in a cave named Adullam. God used these years of David’s life to prepare him. In no way am I suggesting God was behind these attacks on David or the evil that overtook Saul. I’m merely pointing out that He used them as part of David’s preparation. David wrote several of the Psalms from this cave, learned to persevere and forgive, developed character and a high level of trust in God, grew in his ability to receive revelation and also in his wisdom. David also became a leader. It is not enough to be a slayer of bears, lions, and giants. Wielding a weapon is not as powerful as wielding wisdom. Fighting skills, though important for David, did not equate to wisdom, hearing from God, and leadership skills. The same is true for us. The ability to war spiritually against Satan’s forces, though very important, does not qualify us for other responsibilities in God’s kingdom. These will require different aspects of maturity. David’s Mighty Men Back to the context of these verses. Other outcasts joined themselves with David at the cave of Adullam. They were described as those in: Distress - the word also means “anguish, stress, disability, even confinement.” Their difficulties were so severe as to be disabling; they were completely trapped and confined by their circumstances. Debt - they had nothing and were poverty ridden. Bitter - this is actually two words in Hebrew, meaning literally, “bitter of soul.” Life had been cruel to them; they were down and out, in great anguish, trapped in poverty, and bitter at their plight. The passage says David became the “captain” of these 400 “losers,” or so they seemed. Here is what I believe Satan was likely saying to David: “You think you are the new king over God’s people? Okay, here is your army. Let’s see how you enjoy leading these hopeless, helpless misfits I have decimated.” Satan excels in his mocking attempts to discourage us and defer our hope, until it becomes debilitating and robs us of faith. God, however, was saying something else to David: “Look through My eyes, David - this IS your army. Do with them what I had to do with you. You were the youngest, the smallest, and the least respected in your family, but I saw what no one else could see and chose you to be king over Israel. You cannot see it with your natural eyes, but I have sent you world-class warriors. Love and lead them, and I will help you train them into the greatest fighting force the earth will ever see. And, by the way, you are not worthy of leading thousands in My Kingdom until you are willing to love and lead the 400 down-and-outers.” David passed the test. And so did the 400! Some of these warriors killed hundreds of enemy soldiers in single battles (2 Samuel 23:8; 1 Chronicles 11:11); one fought until he could no longer control his fingers, so he held on to his sword with his heart and kept fighting (2 Samuel 23:10). When the battle was over, they had to pry his fingers loose from the sword. Another warrior jumped into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion (1 Chronicles 11:22). “They were equipped with bows, using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and to shoot arrows from the bow…mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains” (1 Chronicles 12:2, 8; NASB). Over time, and as their numbers grew, they also developed spiritual gifts and anointings. It was said of the soldiers from the tribe of Issachar that they had understanding and discernment of the times to know what Israel should do (1 Chronicles 12:32). This was not stated in the context of the priesthood or government, but of David’s army! Talk about “intel”! Holy Spirit has been speaking to me, through “David’s mighty men,” about the prayer army He has created today. Honestly, we were far from impressive 30 years ago when He began. Go back 20 more years, and this army didn’t even exist! Intercessors were VERY “few and far between.” The church looked more like David’s cave-dwellers: poor, distressed, and holding on ‘til the rapture. But God saw something else - warriors at heart! And Jesus, the “Son of David,” went to work by His Spirit. He trained, restored gifts, equipped, seasoned, poured out revelation and increased wisdom. Many in His body have become a true Ekklesia - authorized representatives of His Kingdom authority on earth. No longer cave-dwelling outcasts, they are mighty men and women of faith, equipped for the spiritual battle of our times. These warriors have matured in His Word and ways, been filled with Holy Spirit, honed their gifts and discernment, learned to use their swords, and are ready to win the spiritual war now being waged. I say to this remnant of warriors: “Be strong in this hour! Our King is the true King over all the earth. He is Owner and Ruler of all, presiding over a Kingdom that will never cease, not only in its existence but also in its expansion (Isaiah 9:6-7). And He is coming to reap the harvest of the ages, pouring out the former and latter rains for harvest (Joel 2:23). You are ready for this! You have been trained and equipped! Now…be bold, strong, and fearless. Announce Christ’s victory and declare His harvest over the earth DAILY - over your families, cities, nations, and the earth! “YOU ARE HIS VOICE..!” Pray with me: Father, thank You for showing us through David’s mighty men that our beginning condition does not dictate our end. You take those who are weak, poor, downtrodden, in anguish, disabled, bitter of soul, even steeped in sin and transform them by the power of Your Spirit. We see dry bones, You see an army. Thank You for allowing us to enlist. Thank You for the transforming work You have done in the church over the last 30 years. You have indeed raised up an Ekklesia the gates of hell cannot prevail against. Like David and his mighty men, You have made us ready for the giants. We can run through a troop and leap over a wall. Like Joshua and Caleb, we are well able to take the land. We declare now over the United States of America: Revival is coming to you! Revival is coming to your young people, their schools, their gangs, their hearts. Revival is coming to your streets, neighborhoods, churches, businesses, government, the military, the rich and poor, and every race. The exposing of evil ideologies, plans, and strategies will continue: government, its agencies, education, media - all exposing will continue. Their agendas will be exposed, their dishonesty will be seen for what it is, and a majority of Americans will continue to awaken to what is truly occurring. Holy Spirit will uncover! Angels will war on our behalf! The plans and purposes of Christ for our nation will be fully restored and accomplished! And we declare all this in His name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the army of God is ready and equipped for spiritual war, and will prevail in this hour. ********************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.