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https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-12-2025 June 12, 2025 Praying Against Violence In America President Trump is currently being accused of opposing immigration and violating people’s rights as he and ICE deport illegal aliens from America. Listen to the following presidential quote: It may surprise you to hear that Trump did not make this statement! It is a quote from President Clinton’s 1995 State of the Union address. “At the time, illegal immigration to the United States had reached epidemic proportions, and every day Americans were crying out about lost jobs and increased burdens on taxpayers due to the rise in illegal immigration…As the debate raged on, President Clinton, nearing the end of his first term, had to respond. In his 1995 State of the Union address, he told both Congress and the nation that he heard them. His administration was going to move aggressively to secure the border and deport ‘criminal aliens’ faster than ever before. This was a move that was opposed by many liberals, except for a few courageous liberals like Representative Barbara Jordan of Texas, who raised the issue of mass immigration and falling wages.”(2) It may also surprise you to know that during Barack Obama's two terms in office, from 2009 to 2017, approximately 3.1 million noncitizens were formally removed from the United States.(3) This number is based on data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal years 2009 to 2016. This still ranks as the highest number of deportations by any administration. My, how things change. Anything Trump supports, the Left in America is against. Perhaps his greatest mistake regarding immigration may have been not coming out strongly in favor of illegal immigration. The Left would have immediately begun promoting deportation at a furious pace! The obvious fact of the matter is that President Trump did not create our current immigration problem. President Biden, Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas, and other liberal politicians created it by allowing 15-20 million illegal aliens to unlawfully enter our nation. Blaming Trump for taking steps to fix it – with the majority of Americans behind him, I might add – is like a person waking up after surgery and raging against the doctor for cutting him. The average American sees through the nonsense being trumpeted by the Left and understands that the riots in Los Angeles and elsewhere are being staged, orchestrated, and funded by anti-American organizations (this is a proven fact). Trump is now being accused of using the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army this upcoming Saturday, June 14, to celebrate his own birthday, filling the streets with tanks and military equipment as another step in his attempt to end democracy in America and become its dictator. Trump Derangement Syndrome [TDS] is becoming a more plausible explanation for the insanity every day. And fueling it is the tactic used by propagandists down through history and articulated by Hitler in his book, Mein Kampf. He wrote that the public will "more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one."(4) Sadly, this is often true. Protests are being planned across America this upcoming Saturday to oppose this [said] “birthday/coronation” of Trump becoming king. No doubt, many on the Left are hoping for more riots and violence. At the very least, they hope to spread the TDS virus. (Hopefully, those attending will wear their masks and follow the 6-foot rule.) While using sarcasm to make my point, the violence, looting, and destruction are no laughing matter. Just as occurred in 2020, people, including law enforcement individuals, will be harmed if this continues. We must continue to pray against the hatred and violence that demonic forces are trying to propagate in our nation. As a Give Him 15 family, we have prayed over our borders and waterways, now let’s pray against the rioting in our cities. Friday, one day in advance of the anti-Trump rallies, many believers will be going to the locations where they will occur in order to peacefully pray against violence and destruction. They will also pray for the salvation of all Americans, and anything else Holy Spirit leads them to cover. What a wonderful idea. Consider joining with others and praying at these locations. One such organization planning several of these prayer gatherings is NoKingButJesus.us. Let’s pray about all of this now. Pray with me: Father, we are very aware of demonic plans to oppose Your desires for America. We will not be caught off guard, we will not lose by default, and we will not make the mistake of assuming our battle is with flesh and blood. Though people are being used to foment violence, demonic forces are behind it. We are hearing and responding to Your strategy to pray against it in advance, before these gatherings even take place. We also continue to pray against violence and riots taking place in major cities across America. We bind the demonic forces in Jesus' name, and ask You to please supernaturally bring about an end to these actions. Please expose lies, corruption, and evil agendas. We ask You to give our national and local leaders wisdom as they deal with situations. Anoint them to bring forth the appropriate words and messages, and implement the right strategies. Tomorrow, as believers across our nation pray against the violence, give them wisdom and grant their appeals. Release Your mercy to our nation and heal our land. Give breakthrough after breakthrough, victory after victory. We stand on your promise in Deuteronomy 28:7: “The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.” Scatter the perpetrators of violence in our nation, and the evil forces influencing them. In Christ’s name we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that God is rising in America and His enemies are being scattered. ******************************* Click on the link today to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------- https://www.stateoftheunionhistory.com/2017/11/1995-bill-clinton-illegal-immigration.html Ibid. Yahoo.com/news https://libquotes.com/adolf-hitler/quote/lbv8k4k#google_vignette

https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-11-2025 June 11, 2025 Bartimaeus: Tenacious Persistence “When Jesus and His disciples had passed through Jericho, a large crowd joined them. Upon leaving the village, they met a blind beggar sitting on the side of the road named [Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus]. When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth was passing by, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me now in my affliction. Heal me!’ “Those in the crowd were indignant and scolded him for making so much of a disturbance, but he kept shouting with all his might, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me now and heal me!’ “Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him here.’ So they went to the blind man and said, “Have courage! Get up! Jesus is calling for you!” So he threw off his beggar’s cloak, jumped up, and made his way to Jesus. “Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ “The man replied, ‘My Master, please, let me see again!’ “Jesus responded, ‘Your faith heals you. Go in peace, with your sight restored.’ All at once, the man’s eyes opened and he could see again, and he began at once to follow Jesus, walking down the road with Him.” ‭‭(Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭46‬-‭52‬ ‭TPT‬‬) Mark gives us this account of an incident that occurred in Jericho, approximately fourteen miles from Jerusalem. As Jesus was leaving the city, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by and cried out for healing. Matthew’s account (Matthew 20:29-34) includes the fact that there were two blind beggars there together, and Jesus healed both of them. Bartimaeus seemed to be the spokesman for the two. If we dig a little deeper, we discover that Bartimaeus isn’t really his name – it just means “son of Timaeus.” “He was just ‘someone’s son’, an identity put on him by others that spoke nothing of his significance as an individual, unique person. He was just Bartimaeus the beggar – the man with no name.”(1) Interestingly, Bartimaeus calls Jesus the “Son of David.” “This was an explicit declaration of Jesus as the Messiah. It affirmed Bartimaeus’ belief in God’s covenantal promise to David in 2 Samuel 7, a promise that his son would be given an eternal throne.” “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12-13) This belief is confirmed when he refers to Jesus as “Rabboni” in verse 51. Some translations simply say “Rabbi,” but the accurate rendering is “Rabboni.” This form of the word does not simply mean teacher or master, but “my Master,” as the Passion Translation makes clear. Bartimaeus had heard enough about this man to convince him that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah. His Messiah and Master! I love Bartimaeus’ tenacious persistence. He was shouting, crying out to get Jesus’ attention, so much so that the multitudes around him were annoyed. “Stop it,” they said, “you are being a nuisance.” But Bartimaeus would have none of it. This was his chance to see again, and he wasn’t about to let it go by. He kept shouting with all of his might, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” (v. 48) At the right time and place, God is okay with intensity. He appreciates passion. We have all probably seen and heard exhibitionists seeking attention, interrupting church services, etc. Holy Spirit does not appreciate attention seekers. But He does appreciate sincere passion, loves exuberant worship, and is just fine with intense intercession. “John G. Lake, a missionary to South Africa in the first half of the last century, tells the story of a fever epidemic that struck a portion of South Africa. The devastation was such that in one month, a fourth of the entire population of that region died. There were not enough caskets to meet the need, and people were being buried in blankets, so great was the devastation. “Lake tells of a powerful intercessor who began to pray. For days, all day long and into the night, he stationed himself under a tree and prayed against the plague. Several times, Lake asked the man, ‘Are you breaking through?’ “He would reply, ‘Not yet.’ But one day he said to Lake, ‘I feel today that if I had just a little help in faith my spirit would break through.’ Lake got on his knees and joined the man in prayer. What happened next is amazing. Here it is in Lake’s own words: ‘As we prayed, the Spirit of the Lord overwhelmed our souls and presently I found myself, not kneeling under the tree, but moving gradually away from the tree. . . . I opened my eyes and witnessed such a scene as I had never witnessed before—a multitude of demons like a flock of sheep! The Spirit had come upon the intercessor also; he saw them as well and rushed ahead of me, cursing that army of demons. They were driven back to hell, or the place from whence they came. Beloved, the next morning when we awoke, that epidemic of fever was gone.(2) I realize many would shrink from such action in prayer—running and shouting at the enemy. There is, however, a time for such spiritual intensity. More than once, I have found myself shouting at spiritual powers or mountains of adversity while in intercession. In Scripture, Zerubbabel shouted grace to a mountain (see Zechariah 4:7). Israel shouted at Jericho (see Joshua 6:16). Gideon’s army shouted before the battle (see Judges 7:20). Jesus shouted on the Cross (see Matthew 27:50). It is okay to be intense at times in worship or prayer. There was one more significant act done by Bartimaeus. When Jesus summoned him, Bartimaeus took off his cloak, threw it aside, and was led to Jesus. What is the significance of that? Why would Mark’s gospel be so careful as to include it? This cloak Bartimaeus was wearing was most likely a government-issued coat that provided legitimacy to beggars, similar to a license for them to beg and collect alms.(3) When Bartimaeus heard that the Master had stopped and was calling for him, he knew his life was about to change. He would no longer need his beggar coat; he was about to get a new identity. And how! He was healed and began following Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem. Perhaps you need to find a private place where you can release some intensity and passion in your intercession to the Master. You may even do so with a friend or two. No, volume itself does not guarantee victory, but at times, the faith and authority in your heart need a strong release. When this is the case, let it out. Pray with me: Father, religion, social etiquette, and sometimes those around us try to dampen our zeal. It seems that we’re allowed to be emotional about everything but our relationship with You. But You showed us in Scripture that it’s okay to, at times, cry out to You passionately, and even to shout at demonic opposition. You were not annoyed in the least with the shouts of Bartimaeus. We ask You to awaken passion in Your people. Put fire and zeal in us, the type of zeal that causes us to run toward giants, as David did (1 Samuel 17:48). Give us zeal like Jehu, who drove his chariot furiously to take out Jezebel (2 Kings 9:20). Give us passionate love, such as that possessed by Paul when he said the love of God “fuels our passion,” (2 Corinthians 5:14, TPT). He said Your love constrained or controlled him; he was its prisoner. Give us this type of passion for others’ salvation and deliverance, hearts that won’t let go. Give us the love, tenacity, and determination needed to cry out for our nation until the fires of revival blaze with unprecedented intensity. We are tired of lukewarm Christianity. We are tired of half-hearted worship and perfunctory prayers. Give us the zeal Christ possessed; consume us with His heart of love. We pray all of this in His name, amen. Our decree: We decree that we will cry out for our nation until the fires of revival blaze with unprecedented intensity. ************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------- https://thirst.sg/the-things-we-need-to-throw-away/ Gordon Lindsay, The New John G. Lake Sermons (Dallas, TX: Christ for the Nations, Inc., 1979), pp. 29-30. https://thirst.sg/the-things-we-need-to-throw-away/

https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-10-2025 June 10, 2025 Things Are “Mostly” Okay While watching the news this morning, it struck me that many Americans, including myself, have been overreacting to the “mostly peaceful“ riots taking place in Los Angeles and being planned for other cities in America. This revelation helped me see that we have also been overreacting to other “mostly” situations, as well, adding unnecessary stress to our lives. My revelation could have been a result of the light from the “mostly peaceful” fires in the background, or the “mostly calm” demeanor of the news reporter as he dodged bricks. Whatever the reason, I am experiencing tremendous relief. The life-changing revelation I received was that “mostly” is good enough. Conservative Christians, for example, need to lighten up: believing most of Scripture is good enough; God was right most of the time. And whoever said a little leaven leavens the whole lump had to be exaggerating; mostly free from the leaven of sin is good enough. If most of the apples in the barrel are good, the others won’t actually be spoiled. And a loaf of bread mostly free of mold is fine; don’t overreact and throw out the whole loaf. Lawlessness in our nation is nothing to be concerned about. Obeying most speed limits, stopping at most stop signs and red lights, and staying mostly on your side of the yellow line is good enough. Most homes in America are safe; only a few have been taken over by squatters. Most items in our department stores are still there; people can only take up to $800 worth without paying. Quit worrying about it! The Biden White House was mostly free of cocaine; there was only a bag or two here and there. Our elections are mostly legal and fair; don’t be afraid. And by the way, most of our presidents have been sane and alert. Don’t worry about one. And what about sports? There are mostly only women in women’s sports and locker rooms; only a few guys. No big deal. Regarding boxing matches, mostly legal punches are good enough; only one or two below-the-belt shots shouldn’t hurt anything. And mostly obeying rules on the basketball court, football field, and baseball diamond should be sufficient. Breaking the rules occasionally is to be expected when the competition heats up. Feeling better yet? Your life would be so much less stressful if you would settle for “mostly.” The lack of common sense in our nation presently is a bit staggering. As is sometimes said, “Common sense is not as common as it once was.”(1) Some Supreme Court justices admittedly don’t know the difference between a man and a woman. (Remove the women on the Court and have only men, and you’ll be surprised how quickly they learn the difference.) It is now okay to groom small children for gender confusion and permanently neuter them. Two hundred billion dollars’ worth of waste and fraud in our government annually is no longer a big deal. That is billion, with a “B.” Paying hundreds of billions of dollars a year to Americans who don’t want to work is now okay. (The verse in the Bible [2 Thessalonians 3:10] that says if you don’t work, you don’t get to eat is no longer relevant today.) People who violate due process to come into America demand due process to be removed. Some politicians and judges agree. I’m concerned that many people in America may now be “mostly” crazy! Common sense is certainly not as common as it once was. The good news is that most Americans are not buying this “mostly peaceful” nonsense. Also, some good news regarding this mess is that salvation – bringing God into a person’s life – restores common sense. His Word can even heal damaged brain cells. A young man I met at Bible College had “fried” his brain on drugs. After coming to Christ, he spent five to six hours each day reading God’s Word, and the power therein healed his damaged brain. When I met him shortly thereafter, he was brilliant and had regained his proficiency as a concert pianist. Granted, this is not the same thing as common sense. But the point is simply that when God comes into our hearts and minds, He enables us to think more clearly…and sanely. Revival, saving millions of people, will raise the level of common sense in our nation. Stay the course. Appeal to heaven for the Third Great Awakening. “Toward the end of the nineteenth century, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel awoke one morning to read his own obituary in the local newspaper. It stated: ‘Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who died yesterday, devised a way for more people to be killed in a war than ever before, and he died a very rich man.” “Actually, it was Alfred’s older brother who had died; a newspaper reporter had bungled the epitaph. “But the account had a profound effect on Nobel. He decided he wanted to be known for something other than developing the means to kill people efficiently and amassing a fortune in the process. So he initiated the Nobel Prize, the award for scientists and writers who foster peace. “Nobel said, ‘Every man ought to have the chance to correct his epitaph in midstream and write a new one.’”(2) Revival will rewrite our epitaph. Pray with me: Father, turning away from You not only defiles our spirits, but it damages our souls. You created us to know and follow You in every area of our lives. You alone bring knowledge into its right alignment and perspective. Forgive us in America for allowing demons and humanistic logic to shape our thinking, causing us to legitimize insanity. Please restore to us a right mind as a nation; help us rewrite our epitaph. We pray for Your wisdom and understanding to be released in our government, our schools, and above all, our homes. Restore us back to being a nation that exalts Your truth above all else, Your ways above all others. Send a revival of love for Your Word and Your truth. Renew the mind of our nation. And we pray for Your peace and safety to come to our streets. We know that we have allowed spirits of murder, violence, and anarchy to be unleashed in our nation. We ask for Your cleansing and that we be delivered from these spirits; give protection to innocent people and their property. Protect our law enforcement agencies and other groups sent to protect. Deliver those who have been deceived into thinking the riots are just, that this is the best way to help those they feel are being oppressed. Give our leaders a wise strategy as they deal with all of this, and cause the plans of the wicked to fail. Release Your judgments on the efforts and funds of those who underwrite and foment the violence. All of this we pray in the name of Yeshua. Amen. Our decree: We decree that God will turn the current unrest around in our land and use it for good. **************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------- Author unknown Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993), p. 123.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-9-2025 June 9, 2025 Surprised By God’s Plan I did not foresee or plan Give Him 15; it was nowhere on my radar. When we began, I assigned a staff member to write a concise version, based on my messages and books, to which we added a short list of things to pray about. There was no video post or podcast. When I began writing them myself in 2020 – and expanded to the video versions as well – I only planned to do so for a few months, to help us get past the 2020 election debacle. I expected to then go back to the original concept. We set up a temporary, makeshift studio in a small bedroom, purchased a cheap camera and a couple of lights, and began the short-term project. Little did I know… The Lord obviously had other plans. The viewership exploded, and though I dragged my feet, I eventually acknowledged that God intended for the new version of Give Him 15 to continue. We scrambled, added employees, built a studio, purchased equipment, and I launched a new phase of my career. Life changed radically for both Ceci and me. Everything revolves around the posts: time off, such as vacations, other speaking engagements, and even sleep. Along with other responsibilities, it usually takes me 6 to 8 hours a day to research, write, edit, and record each post. Ceci helps with research and editing. Five employees are involved in producing every post, and we hired another just to keep up with the correspondence. We have now been sharing the expanded Give Him 15 videos, posts, and podcasts for almost 5 years. Has it been worth it? 100%! Those of you who have been with us for the past five years and have read or watched the posts daily, be encouraged. Over those years, you have read or listened to the equivalent of thirty-two (32), 200-page books, read or heard verses of Scripture referenced 13,000 times, and prayed nearly 1300 prayers, agreeing with tens of millions of believers around the world. You are growing in your understanding of prayer and God’s Word, and you are making a difference in the world. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me, and the primary reason for today’s post, has been that several million people in other nations read them and pray with us every day. The posts are translated (by nationals, not at our request) into Chinese, French, Indonesian, and Spanish – that we are aware of. When I was first told that 5-6 million people were reading it and praying with us each day in China, I was actually skeptical. “How would you know this, and why would they read them, since I focus primarily on America?” I asked. “Because I am part of the process. I translate them and send them to China, where they are distributed to the underground church,” she replied. “They read them because the principles you teach from God’s Word are valid anywhere. And they pray with you for America because they know the importance of the U.S. as a voice for the gospel and a stronghold of freedom.” I was stunned. Later, we learned about France, Indonesia, and Spanish-speaking nations. I am humbled beyond words that God is using Give Him 15 to mobilize this amount of prayer, encourage believers around the world, and teach them His ways. Thank you for joining us in other English-speaking nations, as well as China, Indonesia, France, Mexico, Central America, and everywhere else these posts are read. Thank you for your faithfulness to the cause of Christ, your prayers, and the price many of you pay to follow the Lord. Though my calling is to America, my heart is for the world. I know that the passion Holy Spirit imparted to me for a Third Great Awakening in America is related to her calling to preach the gospel around the world. Spiritually speaking, America’s national destiny is to serve you in this way. For myself and millions of Americans, making America “great” again is linked to this calling, not wealth and power. We are connected to you in the spirit, part of one great family and Kingdom, serving the same King. I, along with millions of believers in America, love you dearly and honor you. To think that this family began 2000 years ago in an upper room in Jerusalem with 120 people present is astounding. Jesus said we would expand from there to Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8), and here we are, millions and millions of us scattered throughout the entire world. Like leaven, His Kingdom is expanding to every tribe and tongue, and will continue to do so. It cannot be stopped, and the greatest expansion yet is imminent. Shalom to you today. We speak blessings and life to you. “May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up His face upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). Pray with me: Father, we pray for our brothers and sisters around the world today. We ask that You bless and strengthen them, giving them peace even in the most difficult circumstances. Let them know that they are loved by distant family members they have never met. Encourage them to persevere and hold onto their faith. Give them wisdom and revelation of You and Your ways, and direction for their lives. Some of them will lay down their lives for You; we honor them and ask for great grace to be given them as they do so. Give them great grace and comfort their families. And we pray today for incredible outpourings of Holy Spirit in their nations and people. Save millions throughout the world. Give them great signs and wonders in order to heal the hurting and confirm the gospel. Raise up powerful ambassadors for You, giving them strong anointings and great revelation. May it be said of them as it was of our ancestors in the early church, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John…they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). In the name of the Lord Jesus our Savior, we pray. Amen. Our decree: “And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10). ****************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-6-2025 June 6, 2025 Is Spiritual Warfare Necessary? “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:11-12) Yesterday, I shared on the subject of spiritual warfare. I want to continue the discussion today. Spiritual warfare is released in various ways. Worship can be a weapon against satan (Psalm 149), as are acts of love (Romans 12:20-21). Declaring God’s Word is certainly a weapon (Ephesians 6:17). Holy Spirit leads us regarding the manner in which we should release His power. In today’s post, my point is not so much how we wrestle, but that we wrestle! The word “against” is used six times in Ephesians 6:11-12. The Greek word is pros, which is a strengthened form of pro. Pro means “in front of,”(1) either literally or figuratively (as in superior to). We use the concept today in the English word “professional,” or in its shortened form, “pro.” A pro athlete is one who is “in front of” or “superior to” others. The word pros also has the connotation of stepping forward and facing toward something or someone.(2) The symbolism in this Ephesians passage is of a wrestler stepping forward and facing his opponent. God is saying to us, “Step forward and face the powers of darkness.” Seizing and Securing Our Inheritance As we involve ourselves in spiritual warfare, it is imperative that we remember we are not trying to defeat the devil. He is already defeated. We are representing Christ and enforcing His victory at the Cross. We do not re-defeat, we re-present. Everything we do in our intercession and spiritual warfare is simply an extension of what Christ did through His redemption at Calvary. He crushed satan’s head, according to Genesis 3:15. The Hebrew word for “head” in this verse, rosh, is actually referring to headship or authority.(3) But what Christ accomplished, we must enforce and lay hold of using His authority. What He provided for us, we must seize by faith, and sometimes our spiritual weapons. In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul told Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” Timothy had already received eternal life, yet paradoxically, he was told to “take hold of” it. Though it seems like a contradiction, you can own something and not have possession of it. The word translated as “take hold of” is epilambanomai and means “to seize.”(4) Through Abraham, Israel had been “given” their inheritance by God (Genesis 12), yet they still had to “take possession” of it: “Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it” (Joshua 1:11). Their “inheritance” was not yet their “possession.” And our inheritance through Christ does not automatically fall into our laps, either. We must “lay hold of/seize” it. Moffatt translates 1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight in the good fight of the faith, secure that life eternal to which you were called.” Wuest’s translation reads, “Take possession of the eternal life into a participation of which you were called…” As a nation seizes and secures territory in war, so must we seize and secure our inheritance in Christ. A Legal Breaking of Headship Many ask, “But why would spiritual warfare ever be necessary if Christ has already defeated satan and his demons? Didn’t Jesus take away his power? Not yet. Satan’s destruction wasn’t a literal one, but was, as we said, a legal breaking of his headship or authority. Nowhere does the Bible say Christ delivered us from satan’s power. It says He delivered us from his exousia—authority—or in other words, the right to use his power on us: “For He delivered us from the domain [exousia] of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. Colossians 1:13 “Behold, I have given you authority [exousia] to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power [dunamis] of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you.” Luke 10:19 Power never was and never will be the issue in God’s dealings with satan. Authority was and is the issue. Satan still has the inherent powers and abilities he has always had. He “prowls about like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8). And, contrary to what some teach, he still has his teeth. He still has “fiery darts” (Ephesians 6:16 KJV). If you don’t believe this, try going without your armor. What he lost at Calvary was the right (authority) to use his power on those who make Jesus their Lord. However, as a thief and a lawbreaker, satan still attempts to use his power and abilities on those who don’t understand this. Understanding and releasing Christ’s authority is the issue, and the key to victory. When we move in Christ’s authority, Holy Spirit backs it up with His power. This truth is well illustrated in the battle between Israel and Amalek in Exodus 17:8-13. In this famous passage, Moses went to the top of a hill with the staff of God in his hand (authority), while Joshua led the army on the battlefield below (power). As long as Moses held up the rod of God, Israel prevailed; when he lowered it, Amalek prevailed. The victory was not decided by the strength or power of Israel’s army. If this had been the case, they would not have faltered when the staff was lowered. Nor was it a morale thing—they weren’t watching Moses for inspiration while in hand-to-hand conflict! An unseen dynamic in the invisible realm actually decided the outcome on the battlefield. When the rod, representing the rule or authority of God, was lifted by the authorized leader of Israel, Joshua and the army prevailed. In other words, it was not power on the battlefield, though that was necessary, that was ultimately the deciding factor. It was the authority released on the mountain. Authority is the deciding factor when dealing with the spiritual forces of darkness, not power. Honoring and functioning in Christ’s authority will always release Holy Spirit’s immeasurable power. Pray with me: Satan is attempting to stir up increased violence in our nation. Let’s “resist” him (James 4:7) and “wrestle against” this (Ephesians 6:12) by declaring Psalm 140 together today: “Rescue me, Oh Lord, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men who devise evil things in their hearts; They continually stir up wars. They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah. “Keep me, Oh Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men who have purposed to trip up my feet. The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords. They have spread a net by the wayside; they have set snares for me. Selah. “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God; give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications. O God, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not promote his evil device, that they not be exalted.’ Selah. “As for the head of those who surround me, may the mischief of their lips cover them. May burning coals fall upon them; may they be cast into the fire, into deep pits from which they cannot rise. “May a slanderer not be established in the earth; may evil hunt the violent man speedily. I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and justice for the poor. Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.” ****************************** Today’s post was adapted from my book Intercessory Prayer, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://youtu.be/KLyI_xPEytk -------------------------------------------- Geoffrey W. Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Abridged (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1985), p. 935. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 4314. Ibid., ref. no. 7218. Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1977), p. 240.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-5-2025 June 5, 2025 “Then A Problem Arose” “Resist the devil and he will flee from you!” I declared. “How many of you address demonic spirits occasionally?” I asked in my most anointed preaching voice. I was on a roll, waxing eloquent on the subject of spiritual warfare. I was fresh out of Bible College and feeling like God’s latest addition to the “Brother Wonderful Fraternity of World Changers International.” I had those people right where I wanted them—hanging on every word. Then a problem arose. I was in Guatemala preaching through an interpreter. Unbeknownst to me, my interpreter, a young member of the congregation, did not share my theology. And her convictions ran deep! She looked at me indignantly and insisted in no uncertain terms, “I won’t say that!” For some reason, her words seemed to interrupt my anointed flow. “Excuse me,” I replied. “I won’t say that,” she said. “Why not? You’re supposed to say what I say,” I responded. “Well, I won’t say it.” “Why not?” I asked again. “I don’t believe we should do that.” “Well, the Bible says to do it.” “Where?” “James 4:7.” Keep in mind that a church full of people was watching this obviously unpleasant exchange between “Brother Wonderful” and his interpreter. My professors hadn’t prepared me for this in Bible College. No lectures were offered on “What To Do When Interpreters Won’t Interpret.” As I stood wondering what to do next, she opened her Bible and began looking for James 4:7; it took her FOREVER to find it. She then read it to the congregation. At least I think she did; she may have been telling them I was a heretic, for all I know. I tried to continue my message. “Ephesians 6:12 tells us,” I began. She, however, wouldn’t allow me to quote the verse. When I mentioned the reference, she stopped interpreting, looked for it in her Bible, and read it. I was planning to use quite a few passages of Scripture. This could take forever, I realized. I quickly ran through a few options in my mind: End the message (which probably would have been the smartest thing to do); Continue, with her taking time to find 20 more verses; or HIT HER WITH MY BIG BIBLE! None of these seemed acceptable. Then I had another idea. Realizing she didn’t know the Scriptures well, I began paraphrasing verses I wanted to comment on, stating them as though they were my thoughts. After she had translated my words, I would look at her with a smug smile and say, “That was from...” and give the reference, at which time she would bore into me with very unspiritual eyes. I don’t think the people learned anything, but I believe they enjoyed the show. Controversial though it may be, the Bible does clearly instruct us to resist the devil. It is often not enough to simply ask our heavenly Father to do or give us something, although this is most Christians’ only concept of prayer. Many times it is necessary to use our authority and enforce Christ’s victory, spoken of as “binding” and “loosing” (Matthew 16:19), “warfare” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), and “wrestling” (Ephesians 6:12). As Arthur Mathews said in his great book, Born For Battle: “Victory is an accomplished fact, but it does need a man to lay hold of that victory and precipitate a confrontation with the enemy, and resist him.”(1) Jack Hayford, in his insightful book Prayer Is Invading the Impossible, says: “To see both sides of Jesus is to see both sides of prayer. It is to see the need for compassion, for care, for concern, for weeping with those that weep, for sympathy, for groaning, for aching deeply because of what you sense transpiring in human lives. And it is to learn the place and time for anger, when we see Satan’s wiles successfully destroying; for indignation, when the adversary’s program violates territory that is rightfully Christ’s; for boldness, when demonic hordes announce their presence; for attack, when the Holy Spirit prompts an advance.(2) To be sure, extremes do exist regarding spiritual warfare. I once heard someone describe a religious cartoon they had seen. It portrayed the devil with 40 to 50 strands of rope around him and several individuals next to him discussing the situation. “What do we do now?” one of them asked. “I say we bind him again!” was the response of another. Yes, extremes exist, but it is impossible to separate the Hebrew word for “intercession,” paga, from warfare. Fifteen times it is used to describe physical warfare.(3) Violence and warfare are unquestionably included in the meaning of the word. It is translated in various ways when speaking of battle: “attack,” “fall upon,” “strike down,” “impinge,” and others (see Judges 8:21; 1 Samuel 22:11–19; 2 Samuel 1:11, 16). The essence is the same in all of them—people in battle, fighting one another. When applying the word to prayer, we are obviously speaking of spiritual warfare, not physical violence. But the point must be made that paga, the word for intercession, is a word used to describe warfare. Quoting Jack Hayford once again, he wrote, “But there is a way to face impossibility. Invade it! Not with a glib speech of high hopes. Not in anger. Not with resignation. Not through stoical self-control. But with violence. And prayer provides the vehicle for this kind of violence.”(4) Although the approach and methods of spiritual warfare are open for debate—certainly it is a subjective area—some facts are indisputable: We are in a very real spiritual war (see 2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Timothy 1:18). We are spiritual soldiers in this war (see Psalm 110:2-3; 2 Timothy 2:3-4). We are told to “wrestle” against the kingdom of darkness (see Ephesians 6:12). We are to “resist” the actions of the devil (which would in most situations be his demons) (see James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9). We are to “tread on” demonic opposition, which means exercise authority over them (see Luke 10:19; Romans 16:20). We are to cast out demons (see Mark 16:17). We have the authority to “bind” (forbid) and “loose” (permit) when dealing with the plans and efforts of satan’s kingdom (see Matthew 16:19). We have powerful weapons with which to overcome the kingdom of darkness (see 2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:10-20). I am not suggesting that you have screaming matches with demons. Personally, I have no interest in a conversation with demonic spirits. The Greek word for “bind” is first a legal term meaning to forbid based on legal authority.(5) The Passion Translation uses the word “forbid” to translate it, as does the Amplified and other translations. The Amplified also translates it “declare to be improper and unlawful.” Wielding “The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) means to declare the Word of God over spiritual battles, just as Jesus did when He was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11). Declare God’s Word over demonic situations, and forbid the actions to succeed. Let’s do so now, resisting the powers of darkness in their attempts to hinder the advancement of God’s Kingdom in America. Pray with me: Father, thank You for giving us the authority to resist and overcome demonic actions against us. We are told in Your word that demonic spirits produce infirmities, induce temptations, generate strife and division, and even initiate false doctrines. Grant us increased levels of discernment to know whether we are dealing with natural or spiritual causes. And when we discern that we are dealing with a spiritual cause, give us the boldness to use Your Word, the sword of the Spirit, and resist the demonic activity. Father, several spiritual leaders have discerned that spirits of hatred and murder are working to stir up violence in our nation. We know the antisemitism occurring is demonic at its core. Much of the hatred toward our president is demonically inspired. Racism is demonic. We bind these demonic plans and strategies that are bringing hatred and division, in the name of Jesus. We forbid the strategies to generate riots and murder in our land from succeeding. We ask You, Father, to cause a movement of love and kindness in our nation. You said love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). We ask You to tear down walls of division and uproot seeds of hatred. We ask that You stir up the church to pray against the violence and also to operate in the opposite spirit (Matthew 7:12), doing good and loving others. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Our decree: We decree that the spirits of violence in our land are being stopped by the power of Holy Spirit and His angel armies. ***************************** Today’s post was adapted from my book Intercessory Prayer, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------- R. Arthur Mathews, Born for Battle (Robesonia, PA: OMF Books, 1978), p. 113. Jack W. Hayford, Prayer Is Invading the Impossible (South Plainfield, NJ: Logos International, 1977; revised edition, Bridge Publishing, 1995), p. 45. 1977 edition. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980; Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., revised edition, 1991), p. 715. Hayford, Prayer Is Invading the Impossible, p. 5. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no.1210.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-4-2025 June 4, 2025 Finish Well..! The Summer of Love In the 2020 “summer of love,” 574 “mostly peaceful” riots occurred across our nation. Two dozen innocent people were killed, and upwards of $2 billion in property damage occurred. Kamala Harris famously said they wouldn’t and “shouldn’t” stop.(1) “On June 2, 2020, David Dorn, a 77-year-old retired police captain, was fatally shot after interrupting the burglary of a pawn shop in The Ville, St. Louis. The incident took place during riots in St. Louis, Missouri, following the murder of George Floyd. Stephan Cannon, who was 24 years old at the time of the incident, was convicted of his murder on July 20, 2022.”(2) We may be headed for another “summer of love.” Violence is amping up again, this time not stemming from anger toward police, but Jews… and Americans who support them: “On January 1, 2025, at around 3:15 A.M. CST (UTC–6), Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, then exited the truck and engaged in a shootout with police before being fatally shot. Fourteen victims were killed, plus the perpetrator, and at least fifty-seven others were injured, including two police officers who were shot. The attack occurred during New Year celebrations in the city, which was scheduled to host the 2025 Sugar Bowl later that day.”(3) Then on Sunday, April 13, 2025, a man named Cody Balmer, 38, was charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and other crimes after allegedly setting fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence. The fire occurred early on a Sunday morning while Governor Shapiro and his family were asleep inside. Balmer had broken into the mansion after jumping a fence and was reported to have planned to assault Governor Shapiro with a sledgehammer. While authorities have not officially stated a motive, Balmer reportedly said he targeted Governor Shapiro (who is Jewish) over Palestine, according to a search warrant. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, and Governor Shapiro and his family were safely evacuated.(4)
 On May 21 of this year, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were savagely gunned down as they exited the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The gunman showed no mercy, firing shot after shot, and shouting, “free, free Palestine.”(5) Then, on Sunday evening, June 1, in Boulder, CO, illegal alien Mohamed Soliman targeted Jews with a homemade flamethrower while shouting, “Free Palestine.” Twelve of those targeted were injured.(6) Biden’s Insane Open Borders Millions of illegal aliens are now in our nation, some of them very evil and violent people. During Biden’s reign of open borders, millions of illegals entered America. Some say 10 million, while others contend that it is closer to 20 million. An estimated 2 million of them were “gotaways,” those who did not want to greet Biden’s and Mayorkas’ welcoming committee at the border. One has to wonder why an illegal migrant would try to sneak into America when they could have walked right in, stopping temporarily to receive money, a cell phone, medical care, free transportation wherever they wanted to go, and free food and lodging when they arrived. The answer is not complicated. They were rapists, murderers, spies and terrorists, many of them on the terrorist watch list. Only a fool would deny that there are thousands of these evil individuals in America, now waiting to perform their heinous acts. The Left wanted them here. Do not allow them to get away with hypocrisy by now “condemning” the violence that illegals are performing. They are the ones who defended letting them in. Not one Democrat in Congress had the backbone or decency to raise a voice in protest. To the contrary, they promoted it. Innocent blood is on their hands. We now have leftist judges who do not want these criminals deported. The sad truth is that America is filled with leftists and Marxists who do not want the strong and free America that many of us once knew. This new breed of Americans was formed by educators, is funded by globalists, and fed by many in the media who also want to see America weakened. These leftists harming America are not stupid; they are deceived. As always occurs when the Left sees the need for another season of uprising, they are now working overtime on America’s campuses. Using the conflict in Israel and Gaza, they foment rage and violence. This has been ongoing in the Middle East for millennia, and if not stopped quickly, it will intensify in America. Predictably, efforts to restore America by President Trump and his administration, along with allies in Congress, are being resisted in every way possible, including violent rhetoric. The Left is willing to tolerate a few deaths to accomplish their goals, just as they did in 2020. They are fomenting anger and violence, with the goal of creating fear, unrest, polarization, and delays to Trump’s efforts. Nevertheless, President Trump’s team and conservative members of Congress are doing their best to oppose the traitorous activities taking place. However, they will not succeed without us. We must continue to pray fervently for them and for an intensification of the revival that has begun. The changing of millions of hearts through salvation will produce heightened levels of common sense, love, self-control, and peace. It will also weaken the powers of darkness that orchestrate much of the conflict and insanity from the invisible realm. Though this revival has begun, we must not grow complacent. It is expedient that we pray with more fervency than ever. We must finish well! “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)(7) Pray with me: Father, over and over in Judges chapter 1, You indicted the Israelite tribes for not finishing the task of possessing their inheritance. After achieving great victories under Joshua’s leadership, they grew complacent. This resulted in sin, compromise, and idolatry leavening itself into their lives and culture. Judgment followed. We ask You to do whatever is needed in the American church to keep this type of complacency from occurring in our day. Raise up the right voices, bring the right messages, and fan the flames of revival and awakening - both in the church and among unbelievers. We realize that restoration in America will not result from a restoration of earthly possessions and power. It must begin with a spiritual restoration that turns the hearts of millions to You. This will heal our land, bringing peace, strength, and prosperity. Therefore, we ask for the fires of revival to intensify. We ask for these fires to burn until they blaze with more strength and intensity than any revival in history. Shake the earth with this outpouring. Let the power released be unprecedented, the harvest unparalleled. Stir the hearts of leaders in the American church. Wherever necessary, break off complacency, lukewarmness, passivity, and fear. Restore vision, reawaken hunger, renew first love, and fan the flames of destiny that once burned in their hearts. Let a cry go up from the earth that heaven cannot resist, causing rains of revival to fall that earth cannot repel. Give our righteous and honorable government leaders wisdom. Give them renewed determination and zeal. Keep them from the effects of weariness and hope deferred that would cause their hearts to weaken. Give them strategies born in heaven, strategies that cannot fail. Please protect them. We ask that You remove from influence those who refuse to honor You and refuse to walk in truth. Stop them! All of these things we ask in the name of Jesus. And since we are asking according to Your will, we know we will receive that for which we are asking (1 John 5:14). Amen. Our decree: We declare that the praying church in America and around the world will now step into its finest hour. **************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/kamala-harris-lack-news-coverage-black-lives-matter-protests-1299205/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_David_Dorn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_New_Orleans_truck_attack https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Pennsylvania_Governor%27s_Residence_arson https://www.aol.com/justice-department-urged-seek-death-111507425.html https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/06/02/mohamed-soliman-boulder-colorado-terror-attack-suspect/83986962007/ https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/edmund_burke_377528

https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-3-2025 June 3, 2025 The Upcoming Healing Summit– Power Is Increasing There are various reasons why people do not receive supernatural healings. It is not my purpose to list and comment on those reasons today, nor do I pretend to always know why a person does not receive a healing from God. And I certainly would never insinuate that everyone I pray for is healed; anyone who asserts this is dishonest. My purpose for today’s post is simply to urge individuals to not give up on receiving their healing or miracle. This is not always easy. We have all prayed for things we did not receive, and when this occurs, the tendency is to question either our faith, God‘s will, or the method. And, sadly, the tendency is also to lose hope and give up. We’ve all been there. The Scriptures offer us accounts of those who experienced disappointment regarding being healed of physical conditions. John 5:1-9 shares the account of the man healed at the pool of Bethesda. Lame for all 38 years of his life, he lay daily at the pool, waiting for an angel to move the water in hopes that he could be the first into the pool and be healed. When Jesus asked if he would like to be healed, the man simply said someone always beat him into the water. Clearly, he had lost all hope of being healed. Jesus, however, ended the man’s wait and made him completely whole. And in Mark 5:25-34, the story is related of a woman who had suffered a hemorrhage for 12 years. She had exhausted all of her resources on treatments and physicians, but had only grown worse (verse 26). Certainly, naturally speaking, there would have been little or no hope of recovery. Then she heard about Jesus, and He was nearby. “If I could just touch him,” she thought, “I would be well.” Two problems confronted her, however, in getting to Him. Multitudes were around him, making it difficult to press through the crowd. And secondly, according to Jewish law, her hemorrhaging made her “unclean.” Consequently, she was forbidden to touch anyone else, as it would make them ceremonially “unclean” (Leviticus 15:19-33). In her desperation, she overcame 12 years of disappointment and hope deferred, ignored the Levitical law, pushed through the crowd, and touched Jesus. God honored her faith, and rather than Jesus being defiled, she was healed. In Acts 3:1-10, we are told of another individual who had been lame from birth. He was now over 40 years old (Acts 4:22). Jesus, the Great Healer from Galilee who had healed thousands of people in Israel, had walked by the man dozens, if not hundreds, of times. It is impossible that this man had not heard of Jesus. No doubt he had hoped… but, no, Jesus had chosen not to heal this man. He obviously had given up hope for a miracle - he asked Peter and John for money, not healing. And yet, this man was not totally accurate in thinking God had chosen not to heal him. The Lord had not decided against doing so; it just wasn’t yet time for his miracle when Jesus passed by. However, in Acts 3, Peter discerned by the leading of Holy Spirit that not only was it God‘s will to do so, it was now time. In one of the most dramatic miracles recorded in Scripture, the man was instantly healed and became an incredible sign and wonder to all of Israel. Three disappointed people. 1) “Someone else always seems to be healed, but not me.” 2) “ I have tried everything, and doctors/medicine can’t help me.” 3) “The great miracle worker called Jesus passed me by.” And yet, the miracles came. I know it can be difficult to persevere, but don’t give up on receiving your healing/miracle. We have entered a time in which numerous prophetic voices have stated that a new season of the miraculous is being birthed in the spirit. There are seasons when the actions of a nation or people hinder God’s power and blessing from being released to them. In His grace and mercy, God works to produce repentance and a return to Him. When this occurs, He is able to pour out His Spirit once again, which includes many blessings. Healing and miracles are two of the blessings always associated with revival. I, and many others, believe we have entered one of these seasons. Millions will be saved, and many will be healed supernaturally. When we discern that it is time for the “rain” of God’s Spirit to be poured out in a fresh way, we are instructed to ask for it (Zechariah 10:1). When Elijah discerned that it was time for rain, he had to travail in prayer to birth it (1 Kings 18). When Daniel discerned that it was time for restoration in Israel, he had to enter a season of prayer to produce this (Daniel 9). This principle, combined with discernment of the Lord's timing, is why some of my friends and I are conducting the Healing Summits in Middletown, Ohio. We are asking God for a broad release of healing rain, and we are also doing so for specific individuals who desperately need supernatural healings. We have received credible reports of many healings in the previous summits. Most of them have not been life-threatening conditions, but simply healings related to injuries, pain, and other debilitating illnesses. However, there have been several reports of verified healings regarding tumors, cancers, and other life-threatening conditions. We are asking for more, believing for bona fide, visible, undeniable signs and wonders. The next Healing Summit is June 27, once again being held at the Oasis Church in Middletown, Ohio. Please join us, either in person or online. Petition the Lord with us for this outpouring of signs and wonders. If you need a miracle, ask for yours. If you are a leader, please agree in prayer with us for the release of signs and wonders throughout the earth. Ask for miracles in your services on a regular basis. Consider joining us via the livestream, and when we begin praying for people, do the same in your gathering. We believe the corporate agreement of the body of Christ is accomplishing much. You need not guarantee miracles when you gather, just give God the opportunity to move. Let’s agree in prayer right now for the increase of signs and wonders throughout the earth. Pray with me: Father, You say in Your Word that signs and wonders accompany the preaching of the gospel. Although there has been a lull in the manifestation of this over the past few decades, we believe the atmosphere of earth is pregnant once again with your miraculous power. You told us to ask for the release of this power. Therefore, we are doing so. Send the rain of miracles throughout the world, miracles of such magnitude that people are awakened to the reality of who You are. Our hearts are moved, Father, over the suffering of people. Use us to bring healing and deliverance to others. Release the gifts of Your Spirit to perform these miracles and deliverances. Increase faith and revelation among believers, enabling them to believe for this, and stretch forth Your hand to heal. Use this service in Ohio on June 27 to increase signs and wonders throughout the earth. We ask that Your power be present to heal, and that signs and wonders be done in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Use this gathering and the miracles that occur to bring great glory to Him. And in His name we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that power to heal the sick is increasing in the body of Christ, both here in America and throughout the world. ***************************** To find out more about the upcoming Healing Summit on June 27, go to OasisWired.org Click on the link below to watch the full video.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-2-2025 June 2, 2025 Buy the Opportunity One of my favorite verses on revival is Acts 3:19: “Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” As is often the case, it is challenging for our English translations to fully convey the Greek content of this verse. The phrase “times of refreshing” is loaded with meaning. “Times” is translated from the word kairos, which means “strategic or opportune time.”(1) Kenneth Wuest, a very literal translator of the New Testament, uses the following phrases to translate kairos: “epoch-making periods” (Acts 3:19); “strategic, significant period” (Acts 12:1); “strategic, epochal time” (Acts 19:23). Using a combination of his words, kairos times are strategic, significant, and potentially epoch-making. America and the nations are about to experience an “epoch-making” revival.(2) I checked Mr. Webster’s meaning of the hyphenated phrase “epoch-making” to gain greater understanding. He said it means “significant by virtue of ensuing historical developments,”(3) “a period of time characterized by momentous events or changes,”(4) and “a fixed point of time from which succeeding years are numbered.”(5) That’s what we’re after - “momentous events and changes.” A revival so great it is “historical,” one “from which succeeding years are numbered.” This is how we speak of historical floods, such as the Johnstown Flood of 1889 or the Big Thompson Canyon (Colorado) Flood of 1976. The size of a flood is measured by how often one of that proportion occurs: a 50-year flood, a 100-year flood, etc. We want a flood of the river of God so great that it is epoch-making, even historical. The word “refreshing” in Acts 3:19 is powerful. Anapsuxis is composed of two words, ana and psucho. Strong’s Concordance says ana means “repetition, intensity or reversal.”(6) Zodhiates agrees, and adds the word “increase.”(7) Psucho means “to breathe, blow, or refresh with cool air.”(8) Here are five definitions of anapsucho or anapsuxis: “to draw breath again” “to revive by fresh air”(9) “to cool or refresh with a breath” “to regain strength” “restoration”(10) Using these definitions, Peter is saying that proper responses to Holy Spirit allow God to breathe on us, revive us, restore us, and give us new strength. I especially like the concept of intensity in ana. God wants to breathe on us again intensely. Peter was probably thinking back a few days to Pentecost when the breath of God blew intensely, once more filling humans with the Spirit and life of God. In Ezekiel 37:1-14, dry bones are used to picture spiritual death. When reversing this, God first caused the bones to reconnect; then He put skin on them, “but there was no breath in them” (v. 8). The prophet was then told, “Prophesy to the breath…say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life”’” (v. 9). God’s life-producing breath is what was released in Genesis 2:7. He breathed into Adam’s lifeless body, infusing it with His life. In Acts 3, Peter probably thought back through history - Genesis, Ezekiel, Pentecost - and prophesied that this life-giving breath could blow again if the people would repent and turn to God. They did, and God did. Many winds of revival have blown since, and God is ready to do it yet again! He is going to release His breath, another wind, to our generation, and He will do so with great intensity. Buy the Opportunity! We must seize the opportunity. Twice, the New Testament tells us to “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:15-17; Colossians 4:5, KJV). “Redeem” is translated from exagorazo, meaning “buy or purchase,” and “time” is kairos: buy the opportune time.(11) Indeed, opportunities must be bought; they cost us time, energy, abilities, money, even our very lives. Those who don’t spend what is necessary and “buy” them, lose opportunities. When Apple Computer fell on difficult days, its young chairman, Steven Jobs, traveled from Silicon Valley to New York City. His purpose was to convince Pepsico’s John Sculley to move west and run his struggling company. As the two men overlooked the Manhattan skyline from Sculley’s penthouse office, the Pepsi executive started to decline Jobs’s offer. “Financially,” Sculley said, “you’d have to give me a million-dollar salary, a million-dollar bonus, and a million-dollar severance.” Flabbergasted, Jobs gulped and agreed - if Sculley would move to California. But Sculley would commit only to being a consultant from New York. At that, Jobs issued a challenge to Sculley: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want to change the world?” In his autobiography, Odyssey, Sculley admits Jobs’ challenge “knocked the wind out of me.” He said he’d become so caught up with his future at Pepsi, his pension, and whether his family could adapt to life in California, that an opportunity to “change the world” nearly passed him by. Instead, he put his life in perspective and went to Apple.(12) We are not going to miss our opportunity to change the world! We will buy the opportunity for an epoch-making revival. Allow God to increase vision in you until it motivates you to action. Vision is a life-changer, a rearranger, a cause producer. Its hunger can be insatiable, a motivating force creating energy and energizing creativity. Passionate vision moves us from mere mental assent to physical exertion. It separates the hearer from the doer, converts from disciples, and mediocrity from excellence. It is also what separates a ripe harvest from a reaped harvest (see Matthew 9:37). Let’s once again ask for increased vision and greater passion for a historical, epoch-making revival, and for willing hearts to buy the opportunity. Pray with me: Father, we ask You to increase our passion and vision for the epoch-making revival You have planned. Light the flames of passion in the church to such intensity that no price will be too great to pay. Awaken our hearts to seize the moment, buying the opportune time that has been created. Bring greater vision to the church, motivating us to write history. Breathe on the dry bones of the earth and give them life. Save and deliver, redeem and transform. Make this revival epochal, historic, unlike any other. We believe entire nations can and will be born again in a day. Do it, we pray! Send the rushing, mighty wind of Acts 2. Give us miracles on the level of Acts 3 that cause millions to be saved. Blow Your breath all over the world. We ask these things through Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the life-giving breath of God is bringing an epoch-making revival to earth again, and this cannot be stopped! ************************ Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. ref. no. 2540. Kenneth Wuest, The New Testament: An Expanded Translation. Eerdmans, 1961. New Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus of the English Language, s.v. “epoch-making.” Ibid. The Consolidated-Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary, s.v. “epoch.” James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. ref. no. 303. Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard, rev. ed. AMG Publishers, 1990. p. 1804. Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary. Word Bible Publishers, 1992. p. 1496. Ethelbert Bullinger, A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament. Zondervan Publishing House, 1975. p. 631. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, abridged. Eerdmans, 1985. p. 1352. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. ref. no. 1805. Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching. Baker Books, 1993. p. 278.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-30-2025 May 30, 2025 Eagles and Arrows Our friend, Gina Gholston, recently sent the following word to me. I find it very interesting that it references past dreams regarding the Lord merging the fruit of several revivals in history, including the Welsh revival. When sending the word Gina had no idea I was going to Wales, and I did not know what she had written in this post until I returned. Gina shares: The Lord has been reminding me of two dreams I had a few years ago. Dutch has talked about these dreams before, so they are not new to those who have followed the GH15 posts through the years. But I am feeling that there is a prophetic revelation God wants us to receive through them now. Although we find ourselves in a time of necessary governmental shifting in our nation, we, as the Ekklesia, must not forget that the one thing that will save our nation is an awakening to an awareness of God! We have now begun to witness that awakening! In 2020, I had a dream that took place on the grounds of the Red River Meeting House near Russellville, Kentucky. A mighty revival occurred there in 1800. In the dream, I saw a geyser burst forth, releasing waters of revival, and I heard the Lord say, “It’s time!” He was revealing that wells of revival would be opened once again. I then saw 100 bald eagles being sent out from that place, drenched in the waters of that opened well; each was carrying three arrows and a rolled-up piece of paper in their talons. In the dream, I also saw lines being drawn on a map of the United States. Those lines connected the Red River Meeting House, Cane Ridge (1801 revival), and Azusa Street (revival in1906), forming what appeared to be a spearhead. Then another line came from the nation of Wales (revival of 1903-1904), forming what looked like the shaft of the spear. Each of these is a location that experienced major moves of God in past years that brought spiritual transformation. Seeing this formation in the dream, the Lord said to me, “I am going to spearhead another greater move of My Spirit in your time, and it’s time.” Then, in 2021, I had another dream in which I was standing with someone on a deck-like structure in the heavens. From this place, we were looking down, observing the United States of America. I did not know who the man was standing next to me, but I could feel a strong anointing from him, and his presence was causing me to have an indescribable hope for America! As we looked down, we saw what first appeared to be warplanes flying over the U.S. The man next to me nonchalantly said, “Oh my, I wonder what is happening in America? And what do all of these warplanes mean?” He said this, not with concern, but almost as though he wanted me to see something that wasn’t obvious. He looked at me as if I should know the right answer to his questions. I said, “Those are not warplanes. Those are eagles! I have seen them before in a dream. There are one hundred of them, and they are carrying water from the well of revival that has been unlocked and is now gushing forth into the nation.” I noticed that each eagle was still drenched with water from the opened revival well of Red River Meeting House, and in their talons were the 300 arrows and the rolled-up piece of paper. As the eagles flew across America, they suddenly began to dive simultaneously toward the land. It appeared that they would hit the ground, but instead, they leveled off and began to drop their 300 arrows. [Intercessors did a prophetic act regarding this in 2023, burying 300 arrowheads throughout the nation.] When each arrow hit the ground, it ignited as though it had hit a gas pocket. Up from that spot would come a spiraling column of fire. Then the water the eagles were releasing began to be ignited by the fire until it seemed that all of America was ablaze. In the dream, I fell to my knees as I became very aware of the power and presence of God! The gentleman next to me then began to speak under a heavy anointing. “You have seen correctly! This is how America will be saved! Do not doubt it! A sweeping move of the Spirit of God is coming, igniting the land with the fire of His presence, bringing a swift and undeniable awakening. What appears to be one thing is about to be revealed as another thing. Some are in fear because of how things appear, but others SEE with holy awe and expectation! The eagles are on assignment. They carry ‘Fire Power.’ They carry glory, and at the precise moment, their arrows will be released, and they will hit their targets, and the move of God will ignite and spread very quickly!” He then said again, “DO NOT DOUBT IT!” I then instinctively knew that this man was Duncan Campbell. That was the end of the dream. ******** Duncan Campbell represents a major move of God that took place in the Hebrides Islands from 1949-1952. The revival fires that burned in those islands were so powerful and transforming that multitudes were born again as the glory of God filled their land. It is of great significance that God put this man in the dream. It declares to us that the same transforming power of God that saved the Hebrides Islands will manifest in our time to save our nation! As I have pondered these dreams, I feel that Yahweh is revealing we have now entered the time of fulfillment. The dropping of the fiery arrows pictured by the prophetic acts of planting 300 arrowheads in 2023, is igniting fires of awakening in America and around the world. Strategic pockets of revival history and prophetic promises for now are merging. We are seeing it happen! Though it may have seemed that America was destined for emanate destruction, God is saying, “Look again! See things from My perspective.” He has a plan! He has declared His verdict: America shall be saved! That salvation will come by way of another great move of His Spirit! This is a prophetic promise that has been “set to the rhythm of Heaven’s time clock,” and now God says, “It’s time!” Two very significant aspects of releasing an arrow: Arrows are piercing. They leave an undeniable mark on whatever they hit, and, The releasing of an arrow is well-timed and intentional. If an arrow hits a target, it’s because it was specifically aimed at that target. God knows the location of the fire pockets. He has determined this moment to strike the land with the demonstration of His power, which will ignite and spearhead this next great awakening! Watch for this. Stay focused and filled with expectation. The fire may seem small at first, but a spark can quickly become a blazing fire, demonstrating the reality of our all-powerful, all-consuming God. Do not doubt this! Pray with me: Yahweh, saturate us with the waters of Your prophetic promises and purposes that You have determined for our times. Light the flames! May we witness an undeniable move of Your Spirit ignited by the release of the piercing arrows of Your glory! Cause the church to change her perspective, Lord, no longer judging things by what we see through the lens of our natural understanding. Cause us to look with holy awe and expectation. We will now witness the supernatural awakening as You spearhead another greater move of Your Spirit. And Father, we refuse to grow complacent in praying for the governmental changes needed in America. For decades now, the left has used activist liberals in the courts to further their radical agendas. We appeal to You to expose their corrupt efforts and thwart what they are currently doing. Rein in and restore integrity to our judicial system, from the top down, we ask. In Jesus’ name, amen. Our decree: We decree that the arrows from God’s glory are hitting their targets, and the fire of Holy Spirit is igniting the land with awakening. ************************ Today’s post was contributed by Gina Gholston. You can find out more about her at GinaGholston.com. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-29-2025 May 29, 2025 Honoring the Past to Empower the Future I mentioned the phrase “synergy of the ages” when speaking at The Bible College of Wales this past Sunday (see yesterday’s post). I teach on this phrase in depth in my book An Appeal to Heaven, explaining the setting and purpose for which God first spoke it to me. Today’s post is an overview of the concept. Throughout the biblical narrative, we observe a profound pattern of continuity where God’s dealings with His people weave through generations, connecting past acts of faith with present encounters and future promises. Isaac restoring Abraham’s wells (Genesis 26), Jacob’s divine encounter at Bethel where Abraham had also met with God (Genesis 28), and Elijah’s retreat to the same cave in which Moses found sanctuary (Exodus 33, 1 Kings 19) are all examples. These stories exemplify how honoring the efforts of past individuals and connecting with their actions are vital for spiritual growth, divine favor, and divine continuity. And this connection produces the “synergy of the ages.” This pattern of continuity highlights the importance of recognizing that our spiritual journeys are not isolated, but are part of a rich tapestry woven throughout history. By understanding and honoring the efforts of those who came before us, we tap into a divine synergy that energizes our faith and propels us toward divine purposes, as these three examples demonstrate. Let’s look at them further. 1. Isaac and the Wells of Abraham In Genesis 26, Isaac re-digs the wells that his father Abraham had originally dug; the final well was Beersheba, which means “the well of covenant.”(1) Redigging the wells symbolizes more than just restoring water sources; it’s about reclaiming the spiritual and covenantal legacy of his father. Abraham’s faith and obedience had established a divine covenant. By connecting with Abraham’s actions, Isaac demonstrated respect for the spiritual foundations laid before him. This act of honoring past efforts not only restored physical sustenance but also signified a spiritual continuity—affirming that the promises of God are passed down through obedience and remembrance. 2. Jacob and Bethel In Genesis 28, Jacob’s dream of the ladder reaching to heaven occurred at Bethel, where Abraham called on the Lord and built an altar after his first encounter with God and received his calling (Genesis 12). At this special place, the Lord echoed the promise to Jacob. Bethel, meaning “House of God,” was a sacred site that symbolized divine visitation and covenant. Jacob’s experience there connected him to the spiritual heritage of Abraham and Isaac, demonstrating that divine promises are passed down across generations. Jacob set up a stone pillar and poured oil on it, showing reverence for the divine encounter and the sacred place. Many scholars believe the stone used for this pillar was from the very altar Abraham had previously built there! Recognizing and connecting with the actions of those who came before establishes spiritual continuity and deepens one’s sense of divine purpose. 3. Elijah and the Cave of Horeb In 1 Kings 19, Elijah found himself exhausted, discouraged, and on the run after a series of prophetic confrontations. God led him to a cave on Mount Horeb—also known as Mount Sinai. Many scholars believe this cave was the very “cleft” in a rock from which Moses encountered Yahweh, as described in Exodus 33. This cave wasn’t merely a physical refuge; it symbolized a sacred space where divine revelation and renewal occur. Elijah’s visit to the cave connected him to the legacy of Moses, the lawgiver, and to the divine encounters that had shaped Israel’s identity. God’s instruction to Elijah at this place to stand on the mountain and listen for His voice is similar to the earlier divine appearance to Moses (Exodus 33). It signified that Elijah’s spiritual destiny was intertwined with Moses’ and Israel’s entire history. By honoring the sacred space where Moses met with God, Elijah was invited into a continuum of divine revelation—a “synergy of the ages”—where the faith of past generations empowered the present. The recurring theme in these biblical accounts is that honoring the efforts of our spiritual ancestors is vital. Doing so produces: Spiritual Legacy and Identity: Recognizing the efforts of past individuals helps us understand our connection to God’s overarching plan. It reminds us that we are part of a divine family, inheriting promises, blessings, and responsibilities. Faith Reinforcement: Connecting with previous acts of faith and obedience builds our confidence in God’s faithfulness. It encourages us to trust in His promises, knowing that He has been faithful across generations. Divine Continuity: These biblical narratives reveal that God’s dealings are continuous and cumulative. Honoring past efforts aligns us with God’s eternal purposes and opens the way for new divine encounters. Inspiration and Motivation: Stories of God’s faithfulness inspire us to persevere through challenges, knowing that we stand on the shoulders of giants, who also trusted and obeyed God. Spiritual Renewal: Revisiting sacred sites or recalling divine acts can serve as catalysts for personal and corporate renewal, rekindling our passion for God and His purposes. As you can see, connecting with the actions of past individuals is not merely about remembrance; it’s about spiritual alignment and empowerment. When we honor the sacrifices, obedience, and divine encounters of those who came before us, we tap into a divine synergy that transcends time. This connection creates a spiritual bridge that sustains faith through trials and ignites divine activity in our lives. Conclusion: Embracing the Synergy of the Ages The biblical accounts of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Elijah reveal a divine pattern—an ongoing connection between God’s people that spans generations. Recognizing and honoring the efforts of those who went before us is vital for spiritual growth, divine favor, and the continuation of God’s plan. By connecting with the actions of past individuals, we participate in the “synergy of the ages,” allowing faith and effectiveness to multiply and flow from one generation to the next. This sacred continuity not only bolsters our personal walk with God but also strengthens the spiritual fabric of the church at large. As we honor the past, we lay a firm foundation for the future, ensuring that divine promises are passed on, fulfilled, and expanded in future generations. In embracing this divine synergy, we become active participants in a timeless covenant—standing on sacred ground, honoring sacred acts, and trusting that God’s work continues, unbroken, across the ages. Pray with me: Father, thank You for the faithful members of our spiritual family who have gone before us. We owe them more than we can imagine. They labored, stood for truth, honored You and Your ways, and many gave their lives for Your cause “...Of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38). You continue in this Hebrews passage by stating, “Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours” (Verses 39-40, The Message). You have said through prophets that a synergy of all past revivals is going to be released in our day. All that You have poured out and restored – all the gifts, anointings, and manifestations of Holy Spirit – released in one powerful revival. We ask for this now. Cover the earth with Your glory, as You promised (Habakkuk 2:14). We are also careful to remember and pray for our leaders. We pray for President Trump and his team, our Congress, and the judicial system of our nation. We pray that they would be given protection and wisdom. We also pray that they would be stirred in their hearts to recognize and honor You, continuing the heritage of our Founders. And again today, we ask You to bring correction and order to our judicial system in America, including the Supreme Court. Uproot evil, destroy corrupt seeds, replace judges who need replacing, and restore common sense and wisdom. All this we pray in Jesus’ name, amen. Our decree: We declare that we will honor the lives and efforts of past believers, finishing what they so effectively started. ************************** 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. 884.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-28-2025 May 28, 2025 Breaking Open the Wells Firstly, I want to say thank you to Ceci for doing such a wonderful job on yesterday‘s post while I was traveling home from Wales. She always does an amazing job. I was in Swansea, Wales, to speak this past Sunday at the 10th anniversary (since its reopening) of The Bible College of Wales. The school has its roots in the gre at Welsh Revival, the effects of which are still being felt around the world. Here is a little background. The Great Welsh Revival The Welsh Revival of 1903-1904 transformed Wales and had lasting impacts on Christianity worldwide. The revival was characterized by widespread spiritual passion, mass conversions, and renewed commitment to Christ among Welsh communities, particularly within the Methodist, Baptist, and Independent churches. The outpouring of Holy Spirit was sparked by the preaching of Evan Roberts, a young evangelist whose passionate sermons and deep spiritual conviction inspired thousands. Leaders emphasized the importance of personal repentance, a return to biblical principles, and the need for individual revival as a means to restore spiritual vitality to the nation. The moving of Holy Spirit led to large gatherings and thousands of conversions, much prayer, tremendous worship, and incredible testimonies. The movement quickly spread across Wales, affecting towns and villages and leading to a significant increase in church attendance and conversions. Churches reported revitalized congregations, increased moral standards, and a decline in negative social issues such as drunkenness and crime. The revival also influenced other parts of the U.K. and beyond, inspiring movements worldwide. The social impact was profound, as the revival fostered a sense of community, hope, and moral renewal. It also prompted many to pursue active evangelism and social reform. The revival is generally regarded as one of the most powerful and influential spiritual awakenings in history. By 1904, the revival began to wane, but its effects persisted for years, leaving an enduring legacy of spiritual passion and a renewed sense of purpose among Welsh Christians. The great Welsh Revival of 1903 and 1904 remains one of the most notable religious revivals in history. Rees Howells Rees Howells was a product of this revival. He was born in 1879 in Wales, became a Christian, and then discovered a deeper relationship with Christ during a period of time spent in America. He moved back to Wales and was deeply impacted by the great revival. Rees became a missionary and developed an incredible life of faith and prayer. He is best known for founding The Bible College of Wales in Swansea in 1924, and the intercession that took place there. Throughout his life, Howells emphasized the importance of prayer and intercession, believing that prayer could influence global events. During World War II, these convictions led him and his students to dedicate themselves to interceding on behalf of the Allied forces and the war's outcome. Many people, and I am certainly one of them, believe Rees and his students were instrumental in saving the world from Hitler and the Nazis. Rees’s approach to prayer included spiritual warfare, a powerful tool to combat evil and influence nations. He encouraged his students at the Bible College of Wales to pray earnestly for the military, leaders, and civilians affected by the conflict. The students engaged in continuous prayer, often dedicating entire days to intercession, believing that their prayers could impact the course of the war and bring about divine intervention. Throughout the war, Howells and the students held regular prayer meetings, praying specifically for the safety of soldiers, the defeat of oppressive regimes, and the preservation of freedom. They also prayed for wisdom for Allied leaders and for peace to be restored quickly. Many testimonies from those associated with the college recount the supernatural leadings of Holy Spirit, and confirmations of their prayers being used to stop evil forces. Their deep faith that God would intervene through their prayers was vital in overcoming the darkness of war. Through Norman Grubb’s book, Rees Howells: Intercessor, his life and ministry continue to inspire believers in the power of prayer to influence global events, and bring about divine purpose during times of crisis. The Rebirth After Rees’ death, The Bible College of Wales was eventually relocated in 2009 from Wales to England and renamed Trinity School of Ministry. The Wales campus fell into disrepair; the buildings deteriorated, weeds overtook the property, and portions of it began being sold to developers. On a visit to the area to honor and connect with the roots of revival in Wales, Holy Spirit put into the heart of a Singaporean pastor, Yang Tuck Yoong and his congregation, Cornerstone Community Church, to purchase the campus and restore it. They raised the millions of dollars necessary from believers in Singapore, purchased the property in 2012, and conducted a thorough and beautiful restoration. The school reopened in 2015, not as a typical Bible College, but as a 12-week ministry training course to propel individuals towards the Kingdom purposes of God for their lives. It was my great honor to be part of the opening ceremonies. When Pastor Yang invited me to speak at the BCW’s 10th anniversary, I felt an immediate desire to do so, honoring what God did through Rees Howells, and what Pastor Yang and his congregation have done to re-dig this well. Being there once again was very moving for me. I slept in the restored bedroom of Rees Howells and could still feel the presence of the Lord, not only there but throughout the grounds. This sacred place represents revival, prayer, the sacrifices of fellow believers, and the spiritual joining of the nations. By looking back and honoring what Holy Spirit - and those in the great cloud of witnesses - accomplished in the past, we tap into the fruit of their labors and see the power they released multiplied today. Thank you, Pastor Yang and Cornerstone Community Church for reopening this well and for giving me the honor of participating in this wonderful anniversary celebration. Pray with me: Father, You have taught us the importance of honoring those in the family who have labored before us. We stand on great shoulders, reaping from seeds we did not sow, “entering into the labors of others” (John 4:38). May we be found faithful, in order that others coming after us can do the same. Thank You - and the Welsh church - for the well of revival dug for us in 1903 and 1904. Thank You, Rees Howells, and the nameless students with him, for the well of intercession dug for us in Swansea, Wales. And thank You, Pastor Yang, and his congregation, for reopening that well for us all. It is flowing once again, releasing its living water. Lord, as we move into another great awakening, this one worldwide, we ask that You cause the “synergy of the ages” to manifest. Give us fruit from every previous revival, combined into one unprecedented outpouring of Holy Spirit. We will be faithful to honor those who laid down their lives to produce those former revivals, giving all the glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. And in His name we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree the opening of the wells of revival around the world, releasing rivers of living water! Click on the link below to watch the full video.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-27-2025 May 27, 2025 Foxes and Fleas “Have you ever noticed how incredibly easy it is to focus on what’s wrong with life? It’s easy for even ordinary irritations to build into occasions for grumbling and dissatisfaction. The weather; traffic; the alarm clock not going off on time; the noisy neighbors. We seem to easily find irritants rather than the good in life. We complain about our job, snap at our spouse, get honked at by traffic, or worse. Sometimes it seems there are more bad moments than good in life. If we don’t stop and take a good look at our perceptions of these situations, we soon find that we have bitter, negative experiences all day long. “The effects of focusing on the negative can hurt us more than we may realize. You may have heard that there is a link between our emotional health and our physical health. God created our minds and our bodies to be at peace with each other. When we are embarrassed (something that happens in our mind), our faces go red (a response in our body). When we’re nervous, we get sweaty hands or butterflies in our stomachs. When we’re angry, our blood pressure rises. What we think and feel affects us, spilling over to our health and well-being.”(1) Life is comprised of moments and choices. “Choices have consequences - they are both a gift and a responsibility. What we choose to think about, and how we act on those thoughts and feelings, have a massive impact on the quality of our lives (Deuteronomy 30:19). Have you ever looked back on a bad choice and thought, What in the world was I thinking??”(2) We might find ourselves in a situation where someone else’s thoughtless decision now puts us in a challenging, possibly even devastating position. Do we blame them for the hurt that it causes us? After all, we can feel pretty justified when it is someone else’s fault, right?? If they had done things differently, handled it better, made a sounder, more careful decision, considered someone besides themselves, we could go on and on, finding justification, and stroking our pain. Life is all about relationships – not just at home, but at church, in the workplace, and throughout life. Healthy relationships are built on communication, understanding, mutual respect, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and love. Many problems come when there are misunderstandings, unmet expectations, and offenses. These cause detrimental thoughts, which, over time, can poison relationships and cause things to implode. Working through differences takes grace, humility, and effort. If we don’t put forth the effort, we won’t see the answers, and nothing will change.(3) Let’s ask Holy Spirit to help us not hang on to the pain. Ask Him to help you to become willing to forgive. Did you get that? If you’re not yet willing to forgive, ask Him to help you become willing to forgive. He knows our hearts, and He’s willing to help. God has wired us for love and acceptance, not conflict. By telling ourselves the truth and applying God’s Word, we can once again find peace. But realize, learning to make good choices, right choices, and sometimes making difficult decisions, is a lifelong commitment. As we do this, however, we will grow and be an example for others to do the same. You are an influencer – especially to those in your own home, and in your sphere. Let’s choose to bear good fruit. God has an amazing plan for us and uses the hard moments in our lives to shape us. He uses the difficult situations to truly forge who we become. Our responses to them mold our character. It’s our reactions to the challenging circumstances in life that truly make us who we are. God desires for us to be men and women known for our godly character and strength. And as you know, the best example of all is Jesus. Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) tells us: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” James 1:3-5 “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and be complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (NLT) Romans 8:28, the Amplified Classic tells us: “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) tells us: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” In Corrie ten Boom’s book The Hiding Place, Corrie shares about her life in a Nazi concentration camp. As prisoners, she and her sister were placed into barracks at Ravensbrück, Germany. The building was packed with dirty and sweaty prisoners: 1400 people were crammed into a space designed for only 400. Plumbing had backed up, walls and floors were soiled and putrid. There were rows of narrow platforms stacked three high and wedged side-by-side, end-to-end, where they slept; there were no individual beds. Another misery would soon be discovered. Corrie wrote: “Suddenly, I sat up, striking my head on the cross-slats above. Something had pinched my leg. “‘Fleas,’ I cried. ‘Betsie, the place is swarming with them!’ “The sisters prayed, asking the Lord to show them how they could live in such a place. They knew they would not be allowed to move to a different location. As they read from the Scripture that morning (from a Bible Corrie hid in a pouch around her neck), they were reminded to give thanks in all circumstances. “‘That’s it, Corrie,’ Betsie said. ‘That’s His answer. Give thanks in all circumstances [1 Thessalonians 5:18]. That’s what we can do. We can start now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!’ “‘Such as?’ I said. “‘Such as being assigned here together.’ “I bit my lip. ‘Oh yes, Lord Jesus!’ [Then Betsey said,] “‘Such as what you’re holding in your hands.’ I looked down at the Bible. “Yes! Thank You, dear Lord, that there was no inspection when we entered here! [Had they searched Corrie, they probably would have found the hidden Bible.] “‘Thank you,’ Betsie went on serenely in prayer, ‘for the fleas and for…’ “The fleas! This was too much. ‘Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.’ “‘Give thanks in all circumstances,’ she quoted. ‘It doesn’t say “in pleasant circumstances.” Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.’ “And so we stood between tiers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time, I was sure Betsie was wrong.” Only later did the sisters realize how strategic the fleas were to their situation. Every night, they held a Bible study in their barracks, but feared the guards would enter and see them. Night after night, no guard ever came near. Soon, they grew bolder and began having two services, sharing the gospel with many prisoners. The sisters couldn’t understand why there was no supervision or harassment by the guards in their barracks, as in others. They finally realized that it was because of the fleas! The guards would not come near because of the fleas. “Corrie writes, ‘My mind rushed back to our first hour in this place. I remember Betsie’s bowed head, and her thanks to God for creatures I could see no use for.’”(4) ******* We do not have to deal with imprisonment at Ravensbrück as the ten Boom sisters, but we all face our own difficult situations and hard places – the little foxes or fleas nipping at our heels (Song of Solomon 2:15). They tempt us to grumble at our situation or hold onto our hurt. Friends, let’s give Him our broken places, the challenging situations, and ask Holy Spirit to heal our hearts and make a way. And may we give thanks for His love, His patience, and transforming power. Pray with me: Lord, I thank You for our friends who have joined me today. We pause and say that we are grateful for our many blessings. Thank You for loving us, for Your guidance, and for being faithful to us, even when we are not always faithful to You. Today, Lord, we are being candid and real, asking for You to touch our souls: our minds, our strong wills, and emotions. Cleanse us and heal us. We choose to let go of what doesn’t please You. We give it to You, Jesus. We are grateful, oh Lord, and we celebrate You this day. In Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we will let go of what doesn’t please Jesus, and will embrace the new. ******************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------- Carole Lewis, A Thankful Heart (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2005), pp. 9, 11, adaptation. Dr. Caroline Leaf, Who Switched Off Your Brain (Inprov, Ltd. and Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2011), p. 14. Ibid., pp. 14, 19, adapted. Corrie ten Boom and John and Elizabeth Sherrill, The Hiding Place (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Publishing, 1971).

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-23-2025 May 23, 2025 The “Communion” Revival There is absolutely no doubt that we are in the beginnings of revival in America, an outpouring of such proportions that it will be considered another Great Awakening. Many efforts have contributed to this: much prayer, worship gatherings, repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, and more. America has obviously not been fully cleansed and transformed – sin still abounds – but cleansing and transformation are the results of salvation and revival, not the causes. Small acts of obedience have been essential; grassroots efforts that are often unseen by the masses combine in the spirit realm to become great waves of anointing and momentum. Occasionally, however, the Lord leads individuals to convene larger gatherings of believers. Lou Engle and The Call come to mind, as does Washington for Jesus, A Million Women, and others. One of the more unique, larger gatherings Holy Spirit has orchestrated was Awaken the Dawn in October of 2017. Fifty-eight tents lined the Washington Mall, filled with 24/7 worship led by 1700 worship teams. Yes, I said 1700. Fifty thousand people attended, and 4,000,000 watched and participated online! Many people were saved, including government officials, many more were healed, and statewide movements of prayer and revival were birthed in every state. This event truly was used to help birth a new day. Since 2017, Awaken the Dawn has hosted 800 tent gatherings in capitals, campuses, and cities around the nation. Holy Spirit has sovereignly led David Bradshaw and Awaken the Dawn to host another gathering on the National Mall this upcoming October 9-12, called Communion America. Though David and his ministry are hosting the week, it is truly a collaboration of several ministries, including ours. The power of unity and agreement will contribute to the release of incredible breakthroughs for our nation. Fifty tents, one for each state, will be filled with 24/7 worship, culminating in partaking of the Lord’s Table together. The sacrifice of Christ will be honored as millions of people there and throughout the nation take Communion together. Without question, this will further open the heavens over America. I will be there – consider joining me. I realize many of you, due to jobs and other responsibilities, cannot attend every event of this nature. However, if it is possible, you should consider attending this gathering at least for a day. We are told in Scripture that three times a year, all men in Israel who could possibly do so were required to attend the major feasts in Jerusalem (Exodus 23:14-19). Joel 2:16 emphasizes gathering the nation to seek the Lord‘s restoration. These and other references emphasize the importance of God’s people coming together at times. The sacrifice and agreement that takes place accomplish things in the spirit that do not occur as we gather in our smaller gatherings. I can safely say that God has used various visits to Washington, D.C., to accomplish as much or more in my heart than any other activity. There is something about taking a stand in our nation’s capital – as both a citizen of heaven and of America – that is incredibly significant. My emotions have run the gamut when doing so, from overwhelming travail accompanied by many tears to exultant, powerful decrees. If you have never made such a pilgrimage, this would be a great time to do so. During my visits, not only have I been used, I have been marked. Nothing has done as much to solidify the revelation that this is MY country as have these visits to pray in Washington, D.C. Holy Spirit has told me many times while there, “Take ownership of this nation – it belongs to you.” Why Communion? The Lord has informed numerous leaders over the past few years that Communion would play a significant role in what He’s about to do. This is not a new phenomenon, by the way. The great Cane Ridge revival of the 1800s was born out of Communion. That great revival rocked our nation and birthed the Second Great Awakening. It is no exaggeration to say that Communion birthed an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that saved our nation. Why would the Lord choose Communion to launch and be the focal point of an outpouring? The answer seems simple: nothing honors, calls attention to, and reminds us of the Lord‘s sacrifice and our salvation more than partaking of the Lord’s Table. Imagine the honor He will feel when millions of His family do it together in this gathering. And imagine the terror hell must feel when we do so! Nothing overcomes the powers of hell like the blood of Jesus. God’s decree of freedom for the human race was written with the blood of Jesus. It covers the Mercy Seat of heaven and unlocks God‘s mercy on earth. The book of Hebrews says that the blood of Christ “speaks!” (Hebrews 12:24). Indeed, it does. Loudly. I believe its message of freedom will reverberate in the heavens over our nation this October, as millions of us join together to honor its life-giving power. Please get behind this effort in any and every way possible: your prayers, participation, and by spreading the word. You can also help with financial support, as these events cost a couple of million dollars. Perhaps you can sow a gift into this. Ceci and I will certainly be doing so. Check out the link we are providing, which will explain the event more fully and tell you how you can support it. Pray with me: Father, we know You relate to people, not just as individuals, but as groups of people. Family units are blessed and cursed, as are cities and entire nations. Also nations, just like individuals, possess divine purposes and destinies. We know You raised up America to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the Earth. And though we have rejected You and turned from this calling, in Your mercy You are restoring us. We declare that we will experience a great harvest, and also be used to reap an incredible harvest in other nations. Without a doubt, You have led David Bradshaw and Awaken the Dawn to host this Communion gathering on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Now, we ask You to breathe Your life, favor, and blessing into it. Give it wind. Move upon the hearts of tens of thousands of people to attend, and millions more to participate online. We ask that through this event, Christ would take His rightful place in our nation. As we partake of the bread and wine that week, arise and scatter Your enemies. Give us great breakthrough in the heavens, shattering strongholds and lifting the veil of darkness off millions of people. Let the power released as we gather merge with the power released from millions of prayers and other significant events in our nation over the past 30+ years. Amalgamate and synchronize these into one huge explosive release of Your power. We ask for all the funds needed to accomplish this event. And we continue to pray for our government leaders. Today, we focus on the judicial system of America. This branch of our government is out of order and out of control. Many of those in it release injustice, not justice. Many judges, including Supreme Court justices, oppose You, disrespect Your Word and ways, violate our Constitution, and reject common sense. We ask You to stop this somehow! Bring Your redemption into rebellious elements of this branch of our government. Remove those who oppose You and give us righteous and wise judges who honor You. Continue to give righteous leaders in the executive and legislative branches of our government wisdom and understanding, as they seek to transform America back to health. Pour out Your Spirit on our government – let history read that the government of America was impacted greatly by the Third Great Awakening. Change our government! Awaken it! Enlighten it! Return it to our righteous roots. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that another great Communion revival has begun and will come to fullness in America. ****************************** Visit this link to find out more about the Communion America event scheduled for October 9-12, 2025. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-22-2025 May 22, 2025 God, Government, and the Church One of the fastest ways to create controversy is to mix the subjects of God, government, and the church. It is easy for me to see why the leftist and antichrist elements in our society don’t want God or His Word influencing government. It is inconceivable to me, however, that believers would fall prey to this error. The belief that we are to separate God and government is one of the greatest possible heresies. His influence is meant to permeate EVERY facet of life on Earth. “Government” is the overseeing or management of an entity. Our English word comes from two Latin and Greek words, which mean “to steer a ship.” Governments are actually sometimes referred to as “ships of state.” AI provided me with the following definitions of government. “A government is the system or group of people responsible for making and enforcing rules, providing public services, and ensuring the overall organization and function of society. It’s the body that makes decisions and establishes policies that affect society, including economic activities and human rights.” Who wouldn’t want God’s help with this?! Trying to steer ships of state through storms, currents, icebergs, and other dangers without the Creator’s guidance is like “the captain of a ship on a dark night who saw faint lights in the distance. He told his signalman to send the message: ‘Change your course 10 degrees south.’ “Immediately, he received the response: ‘Change your direction 10 degrees north.’ “The proud captain was angry that he was being challenged, so he sent a further message: ‘Change your course 10 degrees south. This is the captain speaking!’ “He received the response: ‘Change your direction 10 degrees north. I’m Seaman Third Class Jones.’ “The captain, thinking he would terrify this insubordinate sailor, wired a third message: ‘Change your direction 10 degrees south. I am a battleship.’ “The final reply came: ‘Change your course 10 degrees north. I am a lighthouse.”(1) In the Genesis creation, King Jesus prepared Earth, a planet in His Kingdom, to be the home of His future family. He then formed this family, beginning with Adam and Eve. Next, He assigned them, and their descendants, the responsibility of governing or managing their home, the earth, (Hebrew: radah and mashal) and delegated to them the authority needed to do so (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:6). As those with delegated authority, they were obviously to manage according to God’s will and ways - the principles under which His Kingdom operates. This was all interrupted at the Fall. We humans lost our relationship with God and decided we could manage the earth without God’s help and guidance. We would just do as we pleased. Chaos ensued. The first son born to Adam and Eve, Cain, killed the second son, Abel (Genesis 4:8). By chapter 6 of Genesis, God said “the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent…was evil” (verse 5). The ship was sinking. The Repair But God had a plan for recovery. Jesus was incarnated – He became human – to restore us to God’s family, which all believers know. What is not as well known is that He also came to restore our assignment and authority to manage the earth. The first Adam had lost this, the last Adam recaptured and restored it (1 Corinthians 15:45; Matthew 28:18-20). Our authority to represent God’s Kingdom on earth now flows to us, not from our natural connection with the first Adam, but from our spiritual connection to Christ, the last Adam. This is why we operate “in His name.” Through this delegated authority, Christ uses the church, His Ekklesia, to once again accomplish His Kingdom will and purposes here on earth (Matthew 16:18-19). When Jesus said He would build His Ekklesia/church, an Ekklesia was a governing body. How would this governing assignment be fulfilled? Not by force! Jesus was not saying we would “govern” or release His will by using physical force, but through spiritual authority and the implementation of His ways - the principles under which His Kingdom operates. To picture this, He said His Kingdom was like leaven, meaning that it permeates and influences all with which it comes into contact (Matthew 13:33). When we operate according to His Kingdom principles, He is steering the ship through us. The same is true when we offer biblical prayers and Spirit-led decrees. As I alluded to earlier, God’s divine influence should occur in every facet of life on earth. This especially includes government, with its incredible responsibility of “steering the ship.” God intended for ALL earthly government – whether in a home, a city, or a nation – to be an extension of HIS delegated authority, releasing HIS love, resulting in HIS righteousness, justice, and peace on the earth. The more influence God is given – the more a government aligns with His Word and Kingdom principles – the more peace, health, and justice are released into that jurisdiction. In the Scriptures, government leaders – not just spiritual leaders – were almost always involved in God’s saving and transforming of a people and nation. To contend that God would not want to influence government is not only heretical, it is absurd, even asinine. America’s Restoration It is impossible to overstate the significance of God being increasingly worshiped and honored by elements of our government. Worship and prayer are now occurring regularly in the White House and congressional offices. President Trump has invited God into the White House. He is attempting to restore not only America’s greatness, but also honor and restore America’s Christian heritage. Coming from the most powerful position in our nation, this is opening the door for even more righteous change in our nation. As all seeds do, the seeds of truth are multiplying after their kind. Spiritual hunger is begetting spiritual hunger, spiritual life is begetting spiritual life. This is flowing down to the nation. (Note: From Israel's history - as the king went, the people followed - whether in righteousness or idolatry - Ron) Revival has begun and will now multiply. As it does, it will provide the power and ability to also reform laws and systems in accordance with God’s ways and Kingdom principles. We must pray for this to continue. Pray with me: Father, thank You for what You are doing in our nation. Our faith is certainly not in government; it is in You, the God of government. As You are honored in portions of our government, life and blessings are released. We see this beginning. And again, we thank You. We understand our responsibility to represent You and Your Kingdom in our land. We carry Your heart, we possess Your authority, and we are Your voice. We ask that You keep the church motivated to pray and be a voice for good in our nation. We ask that this manifest in government, education, families – and every facet of life in America. Multiply the harvest and empower the reformation. We pray for our leaders as they make decisions that steer the ship of America. Help them avoid mishaps and wrong turns. Give them the ability to rule righteously, honoring Your Word and ways. Through this, restore greatness to our land and make us a blessing to all the nations of the earth. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that the earth’s government is on Christ’s shoulders; He is our King (Isaiah 9:6-7). ***************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------ Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1993), p. 134.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-21-2025 May 21, 2025 Notable Miracles that Bring Awakening Part 2 We are continuing on the topic of notable miracles today because I believe Holy Spirit is renewing our minds when it comes to the topic of miracles, signs and wonders—the supernatural demonstrations of Jesus’ Kingdom. These are not secondary matters that should be subjects of controversy, but essential, non-negotiable expressions of our faith. Tim’s book, Angel Armies: God’s Supernatural Enforcers, is a timely and prophetic work that is reminding Jesus’s Ekklesia—you and me—of what time it is in the spirit. It’s time for us to see cities, regions, and entire geographies influenced by the Gospel. The New Testament Ekklesia of the book of Acts (and the first several hundred years of church history) regularly practiced proclamation AND demonstration; it was not one without the other. Undeniable gospel demonstrations of power and miracles accompanied gospel words. In the book, Tim shares: “Holy Spirit reminded the first Ekklesia of Christ’s words recorded in John 14:12: ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.’ “Again, it’s one of the things Holy Spirit does. We are told He brings all things to our remembrance [hupomimnesko](1). And no doubt, Peter and John remembered these words very clearly in the events that Luke captured in Acts chapter 3. “As they approached the gate called Beautiful, Holy Spirit filled them with a surge of power and great boldness. Peter fastened his eyes on the lame beggar and said, ‘Look up here at us.’ And when he did, expecting to receive alms or a donation, Peter said, ‘I’m not giving you silver, and I’m not giving you gold. I’ve got something for you that money cannot buy. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk’ (see Acts 3:6). Then he grabbed his hands and pulled this man to his feet. Immediately, his feet and ankle bones received strength, and this man leaped and began to run, glorifying God throughout the temple. “Muscles, bones, and ankles that had never been used instantly received strength. And beyond that, this 40-year-old man, who had never walked, received a miracle in his brain and nervous system; balance and coordination were supernaturally provided. “When you’re born, you have to learn how to walk. Some who have been in accidents must relearn to walk. This man had never walked. But instantly, there was coordination between his spinal column and brain; signals were sent to muscles and ankles that had never operated, and strength was instantly given to atrophied muscles. People were astounded as they watched this lame man, whom they had passed by for years, jumping and running throughout the temple. Who wouldn’t be astounded? “Amazingly, religious leaders, priests, and the Pharisees didn’t like it. Can you imagine that? They felt it would diminish their importance and influence, so they had Peter and John arrested for doing this. I mean, that’s hard to believe unless, of course, you live in our present times. “The next day, Peter and John were brought before the council and asked whose authority they operated under to heal this man. Peter and John answered, ‘Jesus, the resurrected Lord, whom you guys crucified. We did it in His name.’ Through faith in His name, this man had been made whole. “The leaders of the dead religion didn’t like that one bit, so they determined they were going to intimidate Peter and John. They persuaded the government to partner with them and issue a decree to Peter and John that said, ‘We forbid you to ever do this again, and do not even preach in the Name of Jesus.’ Peter and John replied, and I’m paraphrasing, ‘Go pound sand. You can’t intimidate us. We’ll do exactly what our King told us to do. We’ll not be silent. He told us to speak in His name, and He told us to do miracles in His name.’ “The Sanhedrin council got together, wondering what they could do about this. Acts 4:15-16 says: ‘But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it” (Acts 4:15-16 NKJV).’ ‘Saying, what are we to do with these men? For that an extraordinary miracle has been performed by (through) them is plain to all the residents of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it (Acts 4:16 AMPC).’ ‘What should we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem can clearly see that they’ve performed a notable sign and wonder—we can’t deny that (Acts 4:16 TPT).’ “In other words, ‘It’s too obvious. We can’t deny this. We can’t bury it.’ And they had to let them go. “Now, in another apostolic age and to other Ekklesias, Holy Spirit is once again saying to press into the miraculous healing realm, believing for notable miracles to occur in the Name of Jesus. “The word ‘notable’ is the Greek word gnóstos,(2) and it means known, great, knowable, recognizable, capable of being known. In other words, these are miracles that anyone can recognize as miracles: clear, visible, and great, coming only from God. ‘Only God’ power. ‘Only God’ possibilities. ‘Only God’ manifestations. ‘Only God’ workings. ‘Only God’ accomplishments. ‘Only God’ actions. ‘Only God’ deeds. “In other words, notable miracles are miracles ‘only God’ can do, and everybody knows it. God-actions on earth that can’t be denied. They are signs that say, ‘God did that.' A person running and jumping after being lame for 40 years is a notable sign. Holy Spirit is saying to us: ‘…you are now moving into days when notable miracles will increase through Kingdom Ekklesias. They are flowing into towns, cities, regions, states, nations, and religions. People will be forced to admit that God performed them. ‘I want you to believe Me for supernatural power to come into your churches and lives. Believe Me for God-possibilities. Believe for God-actions to start being released around you. Believe for God-manifestations and deeds. Believe for God-accomplishments to flow through your life.’ “We must believe for notable miracles that grab the attention of the world; notable miracles that prodigals can witness; signs and wonders that unbelievers can see. This will grab their attention, convincing them that Jesus is Lord. Raise your faith level. Believe that the same works, the same healing power, the same miracles Jesus performed, we shall do also, not through our power, but by the same Spirit, Holy Spirit, that raised Christ from the dead. It is now time to follow the lead of Holy Spirit into supernatural times, supernatural manifestations of signs and wonders. It’s time to receive His anointings for signs, wonders, healings, and notable miracles. ************ Pray with me: Father, we raise our faith level to believe You for both proclamation AND demonstration of the gospel. As Your Word is preached with boldness, we ask You for notable miracles that will confirm the words being communicated. We thank You that the world will see a demonstration of Your miracle working power that is absolutely undeniable. And although we have been speaking of Your supernatural power being released to work physical miracles, we also ask for it to be released in other ways. Release Your power to change and transform the thinking of people in our nation. Do so in order to change laws and systems, reforming our nation. Bring about breakthroughs in other nations, stopping violence and oppression. The youth revival has now begun – cause it to intensify and expand to all age groups in every nation. Release Your power to stop any planned violence against those in our government. Deliver us from all evil plans to harm them. Stop violence in our land and thwart the plans of those who seek to divide us. All of this we ask in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we are living in days of undeniable demonstrations of miraculous power that will capture the world’s attention, directing multitudes to Jesus. *********************************** Today’s post was taken from my brother’s book that was just released, entitled Angel Armies: God’s Supernatural Enforcers. You can find it on Tim’s website or Amazon. 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. 5279. Ibid, ref. no. 1110.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-20-2025 May 20, 2025 Notable Miracles that Bring Awakening! In my brother Tim’s new book, Angel Armies: God’s Supernatural Enforcers, he includes a chapter that references a phrase from Acts 4 where critics and persecutors of the gospel describe the miracle that took place in Acts 3 (the lame man who was healed at the gate named Beautiful). The religious critics commented, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it” (Acts 4:16 NKJV). This notable miracle clearly had a far-reaching impact. Notable miracles reveal the Father’s heart to bring wholeness and healing. They are needed in this hour because they can do what the greatest strategies fail to accomplish: break open cities, regions, and territories for the advancement of the gospel, igniting territorial awakening. In the book, Tim shares: “We must understand that we, the Ekklesia today, are to move in supernatural power. It is a part of the Father’s plan. The Ekklesia is supposed to flow in the supernatural power of Holy Spirit. “Sadly, much of the church has become stagnant because it has settled for the natural. But the remnant that has been prepared for our times, the remnant in the true church, the King’s Ekklesia, is refusing to settle for only the natural realm way of doing things. “The Lord has said prophetically that we are stepping into His most supernatural era…signs, wonders, miracles, and healings, and also what the Scriptures call notable healings or notable miracles. We must grow our faith now, daring to ask for the double portion. We are not going to change history without the supernatural. “In March of 2022, Holy Spirit gave me a prophetic word that I believe is amping up now for this era: “Kingdom revivals involve notable miracles. In Acts 3 and 4, shortly after the outpouring of Holy Spirit in Acts 2, Peter and John were going to the temple for the 3 o’clock prayer meeting. On their way, they had to pass through the temple gate that is called the Gate Beautiful, where a lame man sat begging for money. This man was 40 years old and had been unable to walk from birth. Every day, his family would bring him to this gate and lay him down so he could beg for money. That was his source of income. “Hundreds of thousands of people had walked by this man as he lay at the gate. Jesus Himself had passed by him many times. All the disciples had seen this man and walked past him. But on this day, Holy Spirit was emphasizing miracles to the Jerusalem Ekklesia. “Peter and John knew firsthand the miraculous healing power of Jesus. They were with Jesus when He had healed those unable to walk. They were standing beside Him when blind eyes were opened. Peter and John were also there when deaf ears were opened. They were there when leprosy and other skin diseases were healed, and the flesh on individuals became like that of a newborn baby or child. “They were there when a woman was healed of a blood disorder she had dealt with for 12 years. She had spent all of her money to see if a doctor could help her find a cure. Then one day, she heard that Jesus was coming by and hope began to rise inside of her. Twelve years of anguish and pain, but Jesus was coming by. She believed that if she could just touch the hem of His garment, she would be healed. She slipped through the crowd and touched His garment; when she did, Jesus said, ‘Who touched Me? Who touched Me?’ “Peter said, ‘Lord, there are hundreds of people. Many have touched You. We’re having to part the crowd to get You through. What do You mean?’ “Jesus said, ‘No, someone touched Me differently, pulling anointing from Me. I felt virtue leave My body.’ “Virtue is the Greek word for power. Dunamis is the actual word used here.(1) Jesus said, ‘Dunamis was pulled from Me.’ The same power, dunamis, that Holy Spirit later brought at Pentecost flowed from Christ, and instantly the woman was healed. Her pain was gone, and the blood disorder was cleansed. Peter and John witnessed that miracle. “The words Jesus spoke to His disciples the night of the last supper are also words to all believers. In John 14:12-14, He made what I believe is one of His most astounding statements. “If it is timeless, it is true today. The passage says ‘greater miracles,’ meaning greater in number, not greater in quality. Jesus did signs, wonders, and miracles in a relatively small area: Israel and its surrounding regions. But we are scattered throughout the entire world. We need far more, greater in number, signs, wonders, and miracles because of the size and the scope of our assignment into all the world.” Pray with me: Father, we recognize that demonstrations of Your Kingdom power through signs, wonders and notable miracles open territories to the Gospel. Miracles reveal that Christ is alive, He is working in the world, and the gospel is true. We recognize that being used to work miracles is not reserved for the spiritual elite or select few. All believers who follow Jesus in faith can be used to do the same mighty miracles He did, through the empowering of Holy Spirit. Lord, use our hands. Use our words. Overshadow us with Your Spirit as You did the Apostle Peter in Acts 5. Saturate us with Your glory as You did the Apostle Paul in Acts 19. And Father, we are reminded today that prophets have said we are entering a renaissance age. We ask for wisdom to be given to our government leaders as they work to bring about appropriate changes. As the tug-of-war occurs between those espousing leftist, globalist, antichrist ideals and those seeking to reform America back to biblical ideals, give favor and success to those aligning with You. Give us revival - millions of salvations, and reformation - a return to Your ways and plans. In Jesus’ name we ask, amen. Our decree: We declare that notable miracles are breaking out from the presence and glory of the Holy Spirit. These miracles will draw attention to Jesus, and open territories to receive the gospel. ***************************** Today’s post was taken from my brother’s book that was just released, entitled Angel Armies: God’s Supernatural Enforcers. You can find it on Tim’s website or Amazon. 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. 1411.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-19-2025 May 19, 2025 The Choice “I’m gonna blow your doors off!” My frustration could no longer be contained on this particular morning’s commute in 1988 to teach at Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas. I was running late that day, and as was often the case, my three-year-old daughter, Sarah, was with me so she could attend the preschool classes. When we pulled out of our subdivision, we ended up behind an elderly man driving an old pickup truck at about 20 mph. After following him for about five minutes on a country road that offered no opportunity to pass, we finally turned onto a four-lane highway. By this time, I had totally lost my patience, and as I zoomed by his vehicle, I mumbled, “Man, I’m gonna blow your doors off!” Sarah was quiet for the next two or three miles, which I thought was rather unusual. Then, with great concern in her voice, she asked, “Daddy, why are you going to blow that man’s doors off?” While watching Sesame Street, she had recently heard the story of The Three Little Pigs and the big bad wolf who blew their houses down. Now she was picturing me literally blowing the doors off this man’s truck! She had obviously been thinking about this nonstop since hearing my exclamation, and was rather alarmed and puzzled. Try explaining to a three-year-old why passing a person’s car is sometimes described as “blowing their doors off.“ Then, of course, she needed to know that I really didn’t dislike this elderly gentleman, just his driving. After this enlightening experience, I realized I would need to be more careful about what I said around children. They are listening! We’ve been looking at Martha’s failure to listen to Christ as He taught in her home. Let’s take one more look at this powerful passage. There are still a couple more pearls hidden in it that are just too good to pass up. “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her"’ (Luke 10:38-42). The Lord made an important statement to Martha, telling her that only a few things are really necessary in life. So far, so good. Food, water, shelter from the elements, oxygen - the list of essentials really is short. Then, He dropped the bombshell: “Really only one.” He had me, then He lost me. I’m ready to admit that many of my “essentials” in life really are not. Most are for comfort, pleasure, or personal satisfaction. But the seemingly absurd claim that only one thing in life is really necessary is rather hard to swallow. But Jesus said it, and we have to deal with it. Connecting the statement to Mary’s decision to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to His words makes His meaning rather obvious. Here's my opinion of what Jesus meant by these words: “Martha, if you will truly connect with Me, everything else in life will fall into place. Order will be established; relationships will make sense; I’ll guide your steps into purpose and destiny; everything will work well if you’ll simply listen to Me.” Astounding, incredible, wonderful, generous...and simple. Yet life gets complicated. The pace quickens, the to-do list grows, and the Martha side of our nature kicks in. The voice of the Master is then drowned out by the pace of life. When this occurs, and it will, the solution is to return to the simple strategy of Mary: sit and listen. The passage in Luke says that Mary “chose” the right activity. Most of us don’t believe, or we don’t take the time to consciously consider, that we always have the ability to choose the simple devotion demonstrated by Mary. But we do. Jesus then referred to Mary’s choice as “good.” That seems rather lame until the Greek word used is really understood. There are two Greek words that He could have used, agathos(1) and kalos(2). Kalos means something is made well and looks good. It is even used for “beauty” or “handsome”; in our day, we use the phrase “good-looking.” Kalos can even include inner beauty or virtue. The word stops short, however, of suggesting practical usefulness. A good example of kalos would be a beautiful picture - it looks good but has no practical use. When a word is needed, however, that adds the concept of usefulness or benefit, agathos is chosen. To fully convey this aspect, agathos is often translated “good works.” Essentially, kalos is good looks, agathos is good works. Jesus said Mary chose agathos. The irony of this is astounding. The person doing nothing was credited with doing the “good works,” not the person doing all the good works! That ain’t right, as we sometimes say. But it was, and it is. Christ was saying, “You look good, Martha, but your busyness won’t produce the good works you are looking for. Mary chose that which will enable her to truly do good works, and her fruit will remain.” We must always remember that it is Christ's life flowing through us that produces eternal fruit in others, not our abilities and self-chosen activities. I’m afraid all of us are seduced by this “good-looking” seductress of busyness once in a while. Jesus warned a group of believers in Scripture that this was happening to them. “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead,” He said to the church of Sardis (Revelation 3:1). To the casual observer, their works must have been impressive. But the Lord looks not at our outward appearance, but at the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7). His message to the Sardis believers was, “You’re kalos, not agathos. Stop with all the busyness and choose the good part - Me.” Christ is the source of all that is good - destiny, fulfillment, well-being. He offers us access to an infinite fountain of blessing. But we must make choices each day that will steer us toward accomplishing the good works He prepared for us. Choose to drink from His living waters. May our hearts never be led astray from a simple, pure, and steadfast devotion to Christ. Pray with me: Father, we pray for Your kids, so many of whom have become kalos motivated. Many have bought the lie that polish, size, buildings, and “a name that we were alive” define success. Many have become so “good” at it, they no longer even need Holy Spirit. Yet, as our churches grew, no positive changes occurred in the divorce rate, crime rate, deaths from drugs, homelessness, human trafficking, government, and other concerns. In fact, we lost ground in all of these areas. We have epitomized kalos. But this is changing! A “sit at His feet” movement is occurring; a “tired of religion” company of believers is emerging. We are hungry for You! And we will pass on our insatiable hunger to a dissatisfied and hungry generation, an “I’ve tried it all and nothing has satisfied” company, desperate for the real thing. They are ripe for agathos, and You won’t disappoint them! Our decree: We decree that the great rescue is beginning! *********************************** Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------------- “Strong’s Hebrew: 18. (agathos) -- Good, beneficial, virtuous.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/18.htm. May 12, 2025. “Strong’s Hebrew: 2570. (kalos) -- Good, beautiful, noble, excellent, honorable.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/2570.htm. May 12, 2025.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-16-2025 May 16, 2025 The Distractions Yesterday, we looked at the biblical account of Mary and Martha, two sisters who entertained Jesus in their home. While Martha was distracted as she prepared Him a meal, Mary was seated at the Lord’s feet, hearing and understanding His words. The passage is so pregnant with revelation that it merits another look. “Now as they were traveling along, [Jesus] entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving along? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42). I’ve already acknowledged my tendency toward Martha-ism. I am important, after all! Someone once gave me a double-billed cap - one pointing left, the other right - imprinted with the words, “I’m their leader. Which way did they go?” I still wear it proudly! How sadly appropriate is this cap. There was a time when I needed only two of me to accomplish all of the “urgent” and “important” things I’m “called” to do. Now, I need me in triplicate. And my Martha ministry is still growing - soon I'll need to be omnipresent! Jesus disagreed with this outlook on ministry. In a loving yet stern way, He told Martha she was “worried and bothered about so many things” (v. 41). Not good, especially when we take a deeper look. “Worried” is merimnao(1), which has in its root meaning the concept of dividing or separating something. It is revealing that worry is defined by a “divided” mind. When we’re worried about something, no matter how hard we try to focus on other things, a piece of our mind keeps being drawn back to our concern. Our mind, therefore, is described as being “divided”. Martha, it seems, had so much going on in her life that her mind was divided between many concerns; “so many things” was the phrase Jesus used. And like all of us at times, her balancing act wasn't working as well as she thought. She was “worried and bothered”. Martha was, in all likelihood, servant-motivated. She was probably one of those gifted people who can do several things at once, and was most likely a hard worker. In this instance, however, Mary had it right. Multitasking can be good, but not when Jesus is talking. The Lord appreciates hard work, and He knows that at times we are going to be very busy. But He also wants times when we're all His. Take the cap off and sit for a while. The word bothered is also painfully revealing. It is the Greek word turbazo, which is derived from the Latin word turba, meaning “a crowd”. Webster says “disturb”, “perturb”, and “turbulent” are all derivatives of the same word.(2) When life gets too crowded, we get disturbed. Perturbed comes next, followed by turbulence. Like an airplane flying through a storm, our emotions bounce up and down, making us short-tempered and irritable. Our health suffers, as do our relationships. Martha was not only irritated at Mary, she was even a little miffed at Jesus. “Do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me,” she grumbled. Barking out orders to God in accusatory language probably created just a little bit of turbulence in this room full of people! Mary wasn’t the problem, however, and Jesus certainly wasn’t. Martha simply needed to take her cap off, slow down, and listen. Her “crowded” mind couldn’t shut out all the noise. Many offices nowadays have ambient noise generators. They admit a constant but quiet sound, low enough so as not to be disturbing, yet loud enough to drown out other noises. They’re used in phone centers to drown out other voices, in counseling offices to provide privacy, and in various other businesses. Martha’s ambient noise generator was her service for Christ. Amazing, but true. Believe me, I understand. Her generator was the rattling of dishes, the banging of cupboards, and the clanging of utensils; my generator is the internal noise caused by travel, preaching and teaching, writing, correspondence, meetings, Give Him 15s, and more. All good, but not when they muffle the voice of the Master. Your ambient noise generator may be running a business, driving nails, keeping books, raising kids, social media, or even a hobby. It doesn’t matter what it is, just turn it off once in a while. Mary didn’t have one of those contraptions. She was mesmerized by His words. Her attitude was, “If He wants something to eat, He’d better stop talking. Because until He does, I’m not leaving this spot.” Why did Martha feel differently? Perhaps it was her personality, or could it be that Jesus had grown a little too familiar to her? Scholars agree that Jesus was very fond of Martha, Mary, and their brother, Lazarus, and stayed in their home when in the area. Had Martha heard Him enough that the excitement had worn off? Does this ever happen to us? In Christianity today, Philip Yancey writes: I remember my first visit to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Rings of Japanese and German tourists surrounded the geyser, their video cameras trained like weapons on the famous hole in the ground. A large, digital clock stood beside the spot, predicting 24 minutes until the next eruption. My wife and I passed the countdown in the dining room of Old Faithful Inn overlooking the geyser. When the digital clock reached 1 minute, we, along with every other diner, left our seats and rushed to the window to see the big, wet event. I noticed that immediately, as if on signal, a crew of busboys and waiters descended on the tables to refill water glasses and clear away dirty dishes. When the geyser went off, we tourists oohed and aahed and clicked our cameras; a few spontaneously applauded. But, glancing back over my shoulder, I saw that not a single waiter or busboy - not even those who had finished their chores - looked out the huge window. Old Faithful, grown entirely too familiar, had lost its power to impress them.(3) I’m afraid this describes many Christians’ relationship with the one we call Faithful and True. We’ve known Him so long, become so accustomed to Him, well, you know... Don’t ever stop being impressed with Jesus! Get out of the kitchen once in a while. Slow down. STOP! Fight tenaciously for quality time at His feet and never lose your hunger for the pleasure of His company. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for desiring to communicate with us. But so often we let Your voice be drowned out by other noises. Help us to always remember what is most important - You. You are worthy of the highest affections of our hearts. The harsh yoke of busyness and heavy burden of over-activity, we remove now and lay them at Your feet. Holy Spirit, help us to continually break away from the bustle and shut out all the noise. Today, we choose to cease from striving, so that with singleness of heart, we can rest at Christ’s feet, and be washed in Your words and love. May busyness never crowd out of our lives precious opportunities to enjoy the pleasure of Your company. And Father, we want those now coming into the family to be born into a “presence” movement, an “I’ve tasted and I’ve seen” movement. May they be “Presence Junkies!” Addicted! Give us this type of revival!! We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Jesus is building a church that will listen first, then do exploits. ***************************** Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------ “Strong’s Hebrew: 3309. (merimnaó) -- To be anxious, to worry, to care for.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/3309.htm. May 12, 2025. 2. The Consolidated Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary (Chicago: Consolidated Book Publishers, 1954), s.vv. “disturb,” “perturb,” “turbulent.” Philip Yancy, “What Surprised Jesus,” Christianity Today, September 12, 1994, 88. Used by permission.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-15-2025 May 15, 2025 The Decision “Now as they were traveling along, [Jesus] entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”’ (Luke 10:38-42 NASB) This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture - and one of my least favorites. While it confirms the affections of my heart, it also convicts the decisions of my mind. I’m a Mary at heart, loving my quiet times and the moments when I find myself reveling in the Lord’s presence. At other times, however, life forces me into Martha mode, and I find myself trapped in the maze of a merciless schedule with seemingly no way out. Life is a constant balancing act, and too often the scales tip the wrong way. The most important things - God, family, and good health - are sometimes outweighed by the proverbial tyranny of the urgent. If we are not careful, the American Dream can become a nightmare. This passage concerning Mary and Martha is loaded with helpful insights to aid us in overcoming this tendency. To find the nuggets, we must dig below the surface and do a few word studies, but I assure you, the treasure buried there is well worth the effort. Let’s begin with two Greek words used in the simple statement, “Mary...was listening to the Lord’s word.” “Listening” is akouo(1), and has a broad range of meanings, depending on its context. It can mean simply “to hear,” but at times it carries the stronger meaning “to understand, hear with the ear of the mind; to hear effectively so as to perform what is spoken.” “Word” is logos(2) - Mary was listening to Christ’s logos. This is not the normal Greek term for spoken words (that is rhema)(3). Logos, which includes spoken words, has the added meaning of “connecting” or “linking” words in order to communicate thoughts and messages. Logos, therefore, embodies the logic that words are communicating - the meaning, message, or content. It’s easy to see the connection to our English word “logic,” which is indeed derived from logos. Mary was sitting quietly, listening intently to what Jesus was saying, and therefore was hearing more than mere words. She understood the message they were conveying. She was making the connection. Jesus’ words were penetrating her heart and mind, bringing knowledge, creating paradigms, and shaping beliefs. Martha, on the other hand, was busy working. She was so busy, in fact, that the Lord said she was “distracted” (perispao)(4). The literal meaning of the Greek word used is much stronger than simply being distracted. In fact, the picture it communicates is brutal: “to drag around in circles.” Ouch! Busyness can indeed be a real drag. Okay, that was bad. But the point is important. Martha was more than just distracted. Her tendency toward busyness had gotten her life out of balance. Ecclesiastes, the book of Scripture in which Solomon delineated his frustration with life, tells us, “God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated” (Ecclesiastes 7:29 GNT). We allow life to get out of control and far too complex. We must de-complicate things. Paul said to the church at Corinth, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). While Mary was enjoying the simple pleasure of His company, Martha was allowing it to further complicate her life. Be like Mary - do some simplifying at His feet! There is an interesting word in the passage that adds tremendous insight to the Lord’s gentle but revealing correction to Martha. Jesus told her she was distracted by all her “preparations.” The word used here (diakonia)(5) is also the Greek word for “ministry.” In the Scriptures, there is no distinction made between serving or ministering to someone in a general sense, or doing so in what we’ve come to call “the ministry.” As far as God is concerned, whether we’re serving a family member, a friend, or a congregation, we’re all ministers. (Tell your friends to start calling you reverend!) The words used by Holy Spirit in this passage were chosen carefully in order to convey a critical understanding: No matter how important or noble our activities may be, including working for Him, they don’t trump time with Him. Nothing we could possibly do in life is more important than Christ, our first priority. His words provide us with equilibrium - they keep our lives balanced. They form the beliefs, understanding, and wisdom we can use to build our lives. They provide structure and strength. If our foundations are not laid with the strengths and wisdom found in His words, they will crack under pressure. The Lord used this analogy with Joshua as he was about to take over Moses’ leadership role (see Joshua 1:1-9). What a daunting task! Yahweh told Joshua to carefully listen to His words and remember them, reminding Israel’s new leader that they would bring him success and prosperity. The Lord then gave him an interesting command: “Do not tremble or be dismayed” (v. 9). “Dismayed” is translated from the Hebrew word chathath(6), meaning “to break.” Hebrew scholar Spiros Zodhiates says, “The meaning ranges from a literal breaking to abstract destruction, to demoralization, and finally to panic.” He likens it to the concept we use nowadays of “cracking under stress.”(7) God was telling Joshua to “chill out,” to not let the stress get to him. The Lord knew Joshua’s assignment would be difficult. Possessing the promised land would be more demanding than camping in the wilderness. The latter involved the stress of day-to-day life; the former would add to this the struggle of war. The pressures on Joshua would be extreme. How could he keep from cracking under stress, maintain freshness, and joy? The solution would be listening to (akouo) the words (logos) of God. For you and me, it will be the same. No matter how hectic your life has become, slow down for a few minutes each day and listen to Him. Get off the treadmill of life and spend some quality time enjoying the pleasure of His company. Let nothing stop you. With childlike simplicity, hang out with God. Young Tommy had been an unexpected “bonus child” to his parents, and he continued to surprise and delight his family with his spontaneous expressions of love. Shortly after he turned five, Tommy asked his mother, “How old were you when I was born?” Upon learning she had been thirty-six, he exclaimed, “What a shame!” A little puzzled, his mother asked him what he meant. Tommy’s reply: “Just think of all those years we didn’t know each other.”(8) Take a lesson from Tommy. Don’t allow another day - let alone another year - go by without getting to know Him intimately. Pray with me: Father, we repent for letting the busyness of life keep us from the most important thing - time spent with You. Jesus, we don’t want to be casual listeners; we want to sit at Your feet and listen as You speak. Be it a loud trumpet call or a gentle whisper, we want to hear and follow every leading of Your heart. Father, we ask for wisdom and revelation, that we may truly come to know You. Holy Spirit, help us to apply our hearts to understand the messages Abba conveys, such that they’ll penetrate and transform every part of us. Let our lives be founded upon the wisdom of Your Word. Jesus, we choose to slow down and connect with You, heart to heart. Once again, let us enjoy the pleasure of Your company. Our decree: We declare that we will sit and listen to Christ, Abba, and Holy Spirit. ******************************* Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------- “Strong’s Hebrew: 191. (akouó) -- To hear, to listen, to understand.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/191.htm. May 12, 2025. “Strong’s Hebrew: 3056. (logos) -- Word, speech, message, account, reason, doctrine.” https://biblehub.com/greek/3056.htm. May 12, 2025. “Strong’s Hebrew: 4487. (rhéma) -- Word, saying, utterance, matter.” https://biblehub.com/greek/4487.htm. May 12, 2025. “Strong’s Hebrew: 4049. (perispaó) -- To be distracted, to be pulled away, to be over-occupied.” https://biblehub.com/greek/4049.htm. May 12, 2025. “Strong’s Hebrew: 1248. (diakonia) -- Service, ministry, office, relief, support.” https://biblehub.com/greek/1248.htm. May 12, 2025. “Strong’s Hebrew: 2865. (chathath) -- To be shattered, dismayed, terrified, broken.” https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2865.htm. May 12, 2025. Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: New American Standard (Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1990), 1729. Adapted from Alice Collins, “All Those Years,” in Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul, ed. Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, and Marci Shimoff (Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 1997), p. 20.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-14-2025 May 14, 2025 Make It Serve You I have shared posts on the subject of forgiveness for the previous two days [May 12 & May 13]. Today’s post reveals, to some extent, the sense of humor God has. A couple of years after insisting that I forgive a man I blamed for so much pain in my family, and giving me the grace to do so (read about it here), the Lord led me to Christ For the Nations Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas. Shortly after arriving, to my complete surprise, I ran into the son of this man, who was also there as a student. Tom (not his real name) happened to be in the cluster of 15 or 20 students who became my inner circle. He was a few years younger than me and had no idea of the hatred I once held for his dad. I’m sure he was completely unaware of what had even taken place a few years prior to this. Tom had gotten into drugs and alcohol while in high school and became horribly addicted. He had come to Christ and was attending the Bible institute to help firm up his walk with the Lord. I found it very encouraging that I could relate to him with no feelings of awkwardness or resentment. About six months into my time there, Tom had a bit of a relapse and used some recreational drugs, which was obviously against the strict policy of the Bible College. The school was not a rehabilitation center equipped to deal with drug addiction and rehabilitation, so they were very firm in their stance. To violate the policy meant dismissal, along with suggestions for finding a place more suited to helping them. Of course, if Holy Spirit led otherwise, they made exceptions. The Dean of Men, who would be making this decision and doling out the consequences, called me to his office. I knew him somewhat from some on-campus prayer meetings I had attended. He was quite strict regarding the school’s policies, He was also very prophetic. He prayed regarding situations of this nature, asking Holy Spirit to give him wisdom and guidance. I had no idea why he was summoning me to his office. He explained what happened with Tom, and spelled out the normal consequences for the offense. “I feel I am to give him another chance, however,” he stated. “I believe his heart is pure and repentant. He is a friend of yours, isn’t he?” he asked. “Yes,” I said, “he is a friend.” I felt truly spiritual being able to say that. Not that I was proud, you understand. My assumption was that the Dean was about to ask me if I thought it was a good idea to give Tom another chance. NOT! “I’ve seen you spending time in the prayer room,” he began. I was, indeed, attempting to become an intercessor. I certainly wasn’t an expert, but was passionate. “I am willing to give Tom a second chance,” he said, “if you are willing to take him on as a personal assignment. You must accompany him to the prayer room every day and pray with him, teaching him to pray, and helping him get free from his addictions.” Did I mention that this Dean was very prophetic?! He knew nothing about my past with this young man’s father. Nothing! But had he ever heard from God! I said yes, and left the room dumbfounded. I’m not sure what my exact words to the Lord were when I left the dean’s office, but they were something like this: “Well, God, You sure do have a sense of humor.” “I do,” He answered. “But I’m doing more than being humorous. I’m finishing the job. Drive the nail into the coffin of your past. Make satan pay. Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). You are free in your heart; now seal it with your actions.” I was able to do this assignment. I led this young man to the prayer room every day - actually, he had no choice - and prayed over him, as well as making him pray, for an hour or so. Surprise, surprise! It worked…for both of us. We chased off his demons and buried my past pain. Only God. Tom became free and, as far as I know, was able to remain free. The word “overcome” in the verse above (Romans 12:21) is the Greek word nikao.(1) It means “to conquer, prevail, overcome; even legally - to win in a court of law.” It’s a wonderful word describing our God-infused ability to be overcomers in life. There is one place, however, where Holy Spirit evidently decided this word was not strong enough to describe the overcoming nature He has given us. Romans 8:37 tells us: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us,” (NASB). The KJV says we are more than conquerors. As this revelation was breathed into Paul by Holy Spirit, so he could pass it on to us, Paul was overcome by the strength of what he was seeing. As he searched his mind for the correct word, he came up empty and finally had to take two words and make them one: hupernikao, translated above as “overwhelmingly conquer.” This Greek word is used nowhere else in the New Testament. The prefix huper means “overwhelmingly, over, beyond, exceedingly, excessively, more than.” Our English word, hyper, comes from this Greek word. Paul, overwhelmed with emotion and excitement, shouts with his pen, “We are hyperconquerors! We overwhelmingly conquer! Our ability to conquer is excessive, over the top!” Holy Spirit wants us to overwhelmingly conquer our past and anything else satan throws our way. “Through Him who loved us,” Paul goes on to say (Romans 8:37b). Everything God does is motivated by His heart of love. He’s a Giver, a Blesser, a Healer, a Destiny-provider. When He asks us to release, let go of past offenses, He is actually saying, “Here’s how I can get rid of your pain. Let me have it.” Forgiveness, releasing the person who hurt you, is one of the ways God erases the negative side of the ledger. He moves your pain into the asset column, working it for your good, making it serve you! You can do this. Let it go! Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Your determination to heal, equip, and strengthen us for success. You have a plan for each of us and You are determined to accomplish it. We pray the prayer of the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24). (“Hurtful way” could be translated “way of pain.”) Reveal any pain in us that could hinder our destiny. We want clean hands and pure hearts. We pray now for our brothers and sisters who struggle with the pain of past experiences. Help them let go. Pour Your grace into them, enabling them to release it all to You. You are such a good Father, and You will release and heal them completely. And we pray that in the coming revival, we will be healing agents. We ask You that through our wholeness, we will produce wholeness. We can be the generation that heals our land of racism, division, and strife. Start in us, Your people, then anoint us to release Your healing. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will walk in the wholeness of Christ and minister His wholeness to those in need. *************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ---------------------------------------------- “Strong’s Hebrew: 3528. (nikaó) -- To conquer, to overcome, to prevail, to gain victory.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/3528.htm. May 12, 2025.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-13-2025 May 13, 2025 The Power of Forgiveness Yesterday, I spoke with you about offenses and forgiveness. The New Testament word translated as “offense” actually came from animal traps. This word was the stick upon which a piece of raw meat was placed. When an animal reached for the meat, the trap was sprung, and they were captured. It is very revealing that the word for “offense” basically means to “take the bait.” This is also why it is called “picking up” an offense. Regarding forgiveness, in yesterday’s post, we mentioned that the New Testament word means “to release.” A good translation of Luke 6:37 would be “Release, and you will be released.” When we release the person who has offended or wounded us, we can then be released from the bruises and pain they caused us. Releasing them releases us. We also said yesterday that forgiveness is a choice - a decision - not a feeling. My Testimony When I was 17 years old, my family went through a very difficult time. The Board of Directors of the church my father had planted removed him and took the home where we were living. The house had been given to our family, but for tax purposes, it was put in the church’s name. We were left penniless and homeless. I didn’t know at the time that they had removed my father because of immorality. Shortly thereafter, he divorced my mother and married the other woman. Our family was devastated once again. Circumstances had gone from bad to catastrophic. I became bitter at Dad for his role in this, and at the church that abandoned my family, especially the chairman of the church board. I focused much of my anger upon him, an anger that soon became a bitter hatred. After all, he kicked us to the street. I said on several occasions that I could not kill this man, but I would rejoice if someone else did. Though it was irrational, I also became bitter at the church, in general. I associated my pain and my family’s disintegration with religion, and swore I would never darken the door of another church. Becoming very rebellious, I ran from God and turned to drugs and alcohol. God was incredibly patient. He protected me and, for two years, waited patiently for me to come to a point where I could respond to Him again. I returned to Him and have enjoyed a wonderful walk with God since that time. Around six months into my renewed walk with the Lord, He began dealing with me about my hatred for the man I had blamed for many of our problems. I heard Holy Spirit very clearly telling me I needed to forgive him. I did not angrily resist the Lord, but I did not believe I could ever truly do so. The bitterness I had against this man was so strong, I had no confidence whatsoever that I would be able to forgive him; I told the Lord this. Holy Spirit was gentle with me, not condemning. His promptings always came as a gentle nudge deep in my heart. He was, however, insistent and persistent: “You will have to do this if you want My best for you and to truly be free from all of the pain this caused.” When my heart softened to the point that I was willing to try, Holy Spirit began teaching me how to do it. Some of what He taught me I shared in yesterday’s post. He revealed to me that I could have emotional feelings of anger, hurt, etc., and still choose to forgive from my heart, overruling my emotions. As an example, He said, “You don’t like to get up early some days and go to work, but you do it anyway because it’s the right thing to do; it’s your responsibility. You don’t like to exercise, but you do it anyway because you know that you need to.” Then came the final blow, “Jesus did not want to go to the Cross, but He did so anyway, for the joy He knew it would produce later” (Hebrews 12:2). “Choose to do this because it’s right, even though you don’t want to. Don’t allow your feelings to rule you. If you will make this choice and maintain the decision daily, I’ll be able to release you from all the pain, resentment, and hatred. Your responsibility is to let go; it’s My responsibility to heal your emotions and release you from every effect of this. Choose life!” Somehow, the dots connected in my thinking. I realized I could overrule my “feelings.” I didn’t have to “feel” like it, and I didn’t need any positive feelings toward this man. I simply needed to “release” him to God, trusting Him to do what was right. I did so daily, saying something along these lines (it’s important to say it), “I choose to release David [not his real name] from all he did to hurt my family.” Every time he came to mind, and unpleasant feelings began rising up inside of me, I would say it again, “I choose to release David from all he did to hurt my family.” Some days I had to do this multiple times. After a couple of weeks, he was rarely coming to my mind, and when he did, I felt less emotion. I continued this process. A week or two after that, he came to mind again, and I realized that I felt no pain or anger whatsoever. I was shocked! I knew God had released me from all the effects of what had occurred two years earlier. The Proof However, Holy Spirit wanted to show me that I was truly healed. One Sunday night, my mom and I were returning home from a church service and stopped at a local restaurant to grab a bite to eat. There were no tables available, and we were waiting for one when I noticed this particular man and his wife seated across the room. He noticed us at the same time. I also saw that he and his wife were seated at a table for four people, and two of the chairs were empty. He jumped to his feet and headed in our direction. Well, I thought to myself, he wants to say hello. I’m about to find out if this is real. He wanted to do more than just say hello. “Would the two of you like to join us at our table?” he asked. “Sure,” said my mother, “that’s very kind of you.” I kept waiting for that angry, bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach that used to surface when I thought of him. I expected at least a few negative emotions. But there were none. I was not having to feign being nice to him while burying my anger and hatred. It was actually easy - it felt normal to treat him with kindness. I felt no pain whatsoever. I thanked the Lord for delivering me from my chains of bitterness. No, this man did not become my friend, but he was no longer my enemy. Friends, regardless of the level of your pain, who hurt you, or when it occurred, God can and will do this for you. Let’s pray. Pray with me: Father, it is impossible to go through life and not have many opportunities to forgive. You said offenses will come. You did not tell us to forgive only if we felt like it; You simply said to do so. You never ask us to do anything You will not enable us to do. So we choose this day to honor Your word and obey it from our hearts, our spirits, regardless of how our emotions feel. As we obey what You have said, our emotions and feelings must come into alignment with the Word-based decision we make. They must…and they will. As we release, we will be released. Father, we ask for tremendous grace to everyone praying this prayer with us now. Give them the grace to forgive and release. Let a process of healing begin for those who have been abandoned, abused, rejected, betrayed, and wronged in any way. Release a strong revelation that forgiveness is a choice we can all make. May today mark a new beginning for them, and all the negative results of what they have suffered be reversed. Let this begin today. We ask that You heal bodies through this. Mend hurting hearts and minds. Tear down the walls we’ve built to protect our emotions. Cause victims to be victimized no longer. Let the abused go free. Release captives, mend broken hearts, and restore hope. We ask that today truly be a new beginning. And we ask it all in the name of the great healer, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will walk in forgiveness to all. *************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-9-2025 May 9, 2025 The Importance of Honoring Our Mothers In America, on this upcoming Sunday, we will celebrate our Moms. Exodus 20:12 lists the fifth of the Ten Commandments: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Ephesians 6:2-3 echoes the commandment: “Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” An article on the website CompellingTruth.org shares interesting insights on honoring our parents: “What does it mean to ‘honor’ one’s parents? In the Old Testament, the word translated honor is the Hebrew kabad. It means to be heavy, weighty, rich, and glorious. In other words, our parents should be a significant priority in our lives. They should not be ignored or taken lightly. Our choices should take their needs and wishes into serious consideration. “The Greek word used for honor in Ephesians 6:2 is timao. It means to determine the value of something; in this case, determining that the value is high. We should give our parents a high value, even higher than those in ministry (Mark 7:9-13), and treat them accordingly. “What, specifically, does this look like? Basically, we are to take every passage that describes how we should treat others and apply it to our parents. Love them with agape love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Treat them with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Speak of them and to them with respect (Ephesians 4:29). Forgive them wholeheartedly (Matthew 18:21-22). And seek reconciliation when issues and misunderstandings get in the way (Matthew 18:15-17).”(1) Interesting thoughts. Our late friend, Quin Sherrer, shared some great insights a while back on honoring mothers, and on the history of this special day: “Did you notice that mother is singular in Mother’s Day? Special honor for YOUR special mom. You shower her with hugs and gifts. A phone call. Maybe even a meal out. “On Mother’s Day, you may honor your birth mom, an adoptive mom, foster mom, stepmom, grandmother, or even an aunt who ‘mothered’ you. Or perhaps you thank a special “spiritual” mom who taught and encouraged you in your Christian walk. I’m glad there is a day set aside nationally to pay tribute to them. History of Mother’s Day “In America, the ‘original’ Mother’s Day was observed in St. Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908 - spearheaded by Anna Jarvis as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children.(2) “On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a national day to honor motherhood on the second Sunday of every May. In his first proclamation, he stated that ‘the holiday offered a chance to [publicly express] our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.’ He also saw it as a way to honor mothers who had lost sons during World War I.(3) “‘Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the said Joint Resolution, do hereby direct the government officials to display the United States flag on all government buildings and do invite the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.’(4) “Restaurants report it as their best day of the year. More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than on any other day of the year. We do it to honor those women who loved us - and put up with us - all those years. We display flags, wear white carnations, buy gifts, and take mom out to eat.”(5) “What about those of us who no longer have our precious moms with us? We can still remember and honor them by thanking God for their sacrifices, influence, and prayers. “Have you thought about sending a note of appreciation to a mom who influenced you? Maybe they counseled or prayed for you during a difficult season of your life? Or encouraged you in your career, or Christian journey? Perhaps someone else’s mom, who took time to care for you? Cards and phone calls can brighten their day and make them feel appreciated and special.” Signs of Motherhood I thought I would attempt to bring a few smiles to the moms joining me today. In the book Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul, Liane Kupferberg Carter shares an article listing several signs in moms that indicate what she refers to as “Advanced Mommydom.” (Don’t worry that you don’t understand some of these, guys. Just defer to the ladies.) Liane states: “You know you’ve crossed the threshold into advanced mommydom when: You count the sprinkles on each kid’s cupcake to make sure they’re equal. You hide in the bathroom to be alone. Your child throws up, and you catch it. You’ve mastered the art of placing large quantities of pancakes and eggs on a plate without anything touching. You hope ketchup is a vegetable because it’s the only one your child eats. You can’t bear the thought of your son’s first girlfriend. You find yourself cutting your husband’s sandwiches into unusual shapes. You fast-forward through the scene when the hunter shoots Bambi’s mother. You become a member of three aquariums because your kid loves sharks. You hear your mother’s voice coming out of your mouth when you say, “Not in your good clothes!” You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you. You use your own saliva to clean your child’s face. You say at least once a day, “I’m not cut out for this job,” but you know you wouldn’t trade it for anything.”(6) Honor a mother this week, especially this Sunday. You’ll be glad you did. Pray with me: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our mothers who brought us into this world. We are so grateful for them and the sacrifices they made to see us through our good seasons as well as our trying ones, challenging times as well as triumphant and joyous times. Show us creative ways to honor them. And help us teach our children and grandchildren how to bless the mothers and grandmothers who have gone before them, especially for those who left footsteps of faith for them to follow. For the last couple of decades, it seems that we in America have failed to teach the important principle of honor. Whether it be our nation, its flag, our military, others who sacrifice for us, or even our fellow man in general, we have lost ground in this area. Help us to recover it. You told us to “in honor, prefer one another” (Romans 12:10) and give “honor to whom honor is due” (Romans 13:17). This is not an insignificant issue to You. And lastly, we honor You above all others. Thank You for Your love and blessings. And all of this we pray in the name of Your great Son and our Savior, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will honor our parents, as God has instructed us to do. ************************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------ Www.Compellingtruths.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother’s_Day https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woodrow-wilson-proclaims-the-first-mothers-day-holiday Ibid. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother’s_Day Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, and Marci Shimoff, Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul (Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.), pp. 135-137.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-8-2025 May 8, 2025 “Doctor, When Do I Die” We are focusing this week on prayer for unbelievers. Yesterday, we shared three biblical truths that will increase our faith for this. Our faith grows by reading, hearing, speaking, and meditating on God’s Word. Today, we will look at five more faith-building truths regarding God’s heart for unbelievers. FACT #1: God Is Hungry to Save While on earth as a flesh-and-blood human being, with very real human appetites and needs, Jesus demonstrated that His hunger to save sinners was greater than His hunger for food. In John 4, He went out of His way to minister to a confused, immoral Samaritan woman, married and divorced five times, and currently living with yet another man. Jesus forgave her, poured His living water into her, and introduced her to God as Father. Immediately afterward, when encouraged by His disciples to eat, Christ simply said, “I have food to eat that you do not know about” (John 4:32). He was so excited about what happened with this seemingly hopeless lady that He had lost His physical appetite! She shared her testimony with the village, and many of them believed upon Him because of her words. They asked Jesus to remain in the village for a while, and He agreed to stay for a couple more days to teach and share with them. “Many more believed because of His word, and they were saying to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One truly is the Savior of the world”’ (John 4:41-42; NASB). Jesus hasn’t changed; He still loves to rescue the lost. FACT #2: Jesus Was Willing to Become Human and Die to Save Us Another powerful faith-building truth is that Jesus chose to become human in order to redeem humanity. No one, absolutely no one, could possibly imagine what it entailed for Christ to do so. He loves us so much that He chose to pay this price, rather than have us remain outside His family. When faced with the agony of the Cross, Jesus stayed the course choosing torture, humiliation, and death, rather than angelic deliverance. He could have called upon legions of angels to deliver Him (see Matthew 26:53). However, His desire to save us was and is so strong that no price or sacrifice was too great. He did this for YOUR family and friends! Put a face to the price He paid! In his book Written in Blood, Robert Coleman tells the story of a little boy whose sister needed a blood transfusion. The doctor had explained that she had the same disease the boy had recovered from two years earlier. Her only chance for recovery was a transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the disease. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor. “‘Would you give your blood to Mary?’ the doctor asked. “Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, ‘Sure, for my sister.’ “Soon, the two children were wheeled into the hospital room—Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and healthy. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned. “As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny’s smile faded. He watched the blood flow through the tube. With the ordeal almost over, his voice, slightly shaky, broke the silence, ‘Doctor, when do I die?’ “Only then did the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated, why his lip had trembled when he’d agreed to donate his blood. He’d thought giving his blood to his sister meant giving up his life. In that brief moment, he’d made his selfless decision.”(1) Johnny didn’t have to die to save his sister. However, this was not the case with Christ. Our condition required Jesus to give His blood and His life. And He did it gladly. That’s how much He loves us. FACT #3: God Delights in Showing Mercy Still another important truth is that the Lord delights in showing mercy (Micah 7:18). It isn’t a stretch of God’s righteous nature to give mercy to unbelievers; He delights in doing so! Nineveh was a wicked city whose level of sin reached a point that demanded judgment (Jonah 3:4). However, when the people of Nineveh repented, God delighted in changing the verdict and releasing mercy! His heart hasn’t changed! He is just as excited to show mercy to your family member or friend. FACT #4: Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost (see Luke 19:10). Our holy and infinite God humbles Himself to seek fallen man. Unfathomable. I can wrap my finite mind around we humans being told to seek God, but every brain cell goes into overload when told He seeks us. God pursuing those who hate and reject Him? Where does such incomprehensible love come from? There simply are no words. God is on a quest. Every day, He looks down the road, waiting for another prodigal to crest the hill. When He sees one, He runs - yes, He RUNS to them - and embraces them even while they’re still covered with slop and mud. Then He restores the prodigal’s inheritance and throws a party saying, “My child is home!” (Luke 15:11-32). And His love is just as great for those who have never known Him. FACT #5: Our Restoration to God Is the Theme of the Bible! And finally, think about this: the entire Bible is the story of God’s plan and desire to save the fallen human race, to restore them into His family. Genesis brings us very quickly to the Fall - chapter 3. The remaining 1186 chapters of the Bible are the story of God’s quest and plan to redeem the human race. After Adam’s fall, He didn’t run from us; we ran from Him (Genesis 3:8). He’s been chasing us ever since. God‘s heart is to save. Meditate on, feed your heart with the truths we shared yesterday and today. You will soon be filled with faith, fully convinced that the God who seeks and saves will do so for those you desire to see saved. Pray with me: Father, satan’s plan to capture us began with him distorting Your heart. He has never stopped. The deceiver paints You as legalistic, mean-spirited, hard to please, one who loves to judge harshly, and who is distant and unapproachable. You, however, are the essence of goodness and kindness. Your merciful heart is to redeem. You desire intimacy with us, always seeking our companionship. Yeshua is the ultimate proof of Your love and compassion. You said in Your Word that we have power to demolish the mindsets satan and sin have planted in unbelievers, and to stop his schemes and plans from succeeding against them (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Therefore, we bind the lies, deceptions, mindsets, and beliefs he has ingrained in our prodigals and unbelievers for whom we pray. (Matthew 16:18-19). According to Luke 15:17, You can and will bring them to their senses. You will lift the veil from their eyes and shine Your light into the darkness (2 Corinthians 4:3-6). We use Christ’s keys of authority and release this now! (Matthew 16:18-19). We open the door for truth and light to reach them, and close the door to deception (Isaiah 22:22). We have been offered no less by You, Father, and by Your grace and power, we will accept no less! We ask and release these things in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that unbelievers and prodigals - by the millions - are coming to their senses and will come to the Heavenly Father. ******************************* Today’s post was adapted from my book How to Pray for Lost Loved Ones, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------- Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1993), p. 25.

https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-7-2025 May 7, 2025 Our God Loves To Save! I want to follow yesterday’s post with three encouraging facts regarding God’s desire to save the lost and restore prodigals. As you think and meditate on these truths, not only will they encourage you, but your faith will grow, causing your prayers to be more powerful. In later posts, we will teach specifically on how to pray for the unsaved. FACT #1: God Desires that Everyone Be Saved The beginning point of faith is to know God’s will - what He desires and has said. Regarding unbelievers, the Scriptures tell us He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV). We don’t have to wonder about God’s desire or willingness regarding the lost; He could not have made His will any clearer. The Lord wants every person to believe upon Christ and be born again. FACT #2: God Is Able to Save He CAN deliver and save. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save” (Isaiah 59:1). Not only is God willing to save the lost, He is capable of doing so. He has sufficient power and knows how to bend, shape, and change the perspective of unbelievers, bringing them to a revelation of Himself. Holy Spirit can break off every satanic stronghold and bring them to a knowledge of the truth. Allow the following story to encourage you: “While hitchhiking home, Roger Simms was picked up by an older gentleman in an expensive car. They talked about many things, including Mr. Hanover’s business in Chicago. Roger felt a strong compulsion to share his faith, but was apprehensive about witnessing to a wealthy businessman. Finally, nearing his destination, Roger spoke up. “‘Mr. Hanover, I want to share something very important with you.’ “He explained the way of salvation and asked if Mr. Hanover would like to receive Christ as his Savior. To Roger’s astonishment, the businessman pulled over to the side of the road, bowed his head, wept, and prayed the prayer of salvation. He thanked Roger, saying, ‘This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.’ “Five years later, while in Chicago on a business trip, Roger went to Hanover Enterprises. The receptionist told him it would be impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but Mrs. Hanover was available. A little disappointed, he followed her into an office. “After exchanging greetings, Roger explained how Mr. Hanover had kindly given him a ride years ago. Suddenly interested, Mrs. Hanover asked when this had happened. When Roger told her it was on May 7, five years earlier, she asked if anything unusual had happened during his ride. “Roger hesitated, wondering if giving his witness had been a source of contention. But, feeling the prompting of the Lord, he told her that he had shared the gospel message and that her husband had accepted the Lord into his heart. “She began sobbing uncontrollably. After a few minutes, she explained that she had thought her prayers for her husband’s salvation had not been answered. After leaving Roger at his destination, Mr. Hanover had died that day in a horrible head-on collision.”(1) God is faithful! He knows how to unlock people’s hearts, how to convince them of their need and Christ’s provision, and when the time is right for them to be presented with the opportunity. And this certainly does not have to occur in a house of worship. God knows when to orchestrate hitchhikers’ travel home; He can cause unbelievers to drive the right highway, at the right time, and can motivate them to pick up the “evangelist.” God knows what He is doing! Don’t miss the fact that Mrs. Hanover had been praying for her husband’s salvation. Our prayers release God’s power; never forget this. (I will teach on this later in this series.) FACT #3: Christ’s Very Name Is Savior Another faith-building truth is Christ’s very name. “And you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). “Jesus” comes from the Hebrew word Yehoshua, from which we also get Yeshua. Both names mean “Jehovah/Yahweh is salvation,”(2) originating from yasha, which means “save”.(3) Christ is called Yeshua because He is the Savior. Think about that: Jesus chose to name Himself, “the Lord who saves.” He wanted no confusion, no ambiguity, no doubt as to His heart and desire. I like to imagine the conversation that may have occurred as the Godhead was planning our salvation: After discussing the unimaginable truth that Christ would have to become a human, suffer, and die to redeem us, the Father asks Christ: “What name shall we have people call you when you become human, Son? Most High? Creator? Omnipotent One? Everlasting God?…” Perhaps pausing to consider the question, the Lord simply replies, “Let’s not complicate it. I just want them to know I’m coming to save them from the Fall, from the curse of their sins. Just have them call me Jesus, Yeshua, ‘Yahweh who saves.’ In fact, let’s just shorten it to ‘Savior’”. And that’s what they did. The angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11) “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (1 Timothy 4:10). The Greek word for Savior adds further insight. It is soter, meaning “a deliverer that is God.”(4) It comes from sozo, meaning “save, rescue, deliver, or make whole.”(5) Whether it be Hebrew or Greek, Jesus proudly wears this name as His title! He loves to save! He WILL save your loved one, your friend, your neighbor! Charles Finney shared the following testimony of a father who came to a realization of the Lord’s intense desire to save his family: “I knew a father who was a good man, but who had misconceptions about the prayer of faith. His whole family of children had grown up, without one of them being converted. One day, his son grew ill and seemed ready to die. The father prayed, but the son grew worse and was sinking into the grave without hope. The father prayed until his anguish was unutterable. There seemed no prospect of his son surviving, so he poured out his soul as if he would not be denied. “Then, He received an assurance that not only would his son live, but he would be converted. God also assured him that not only this son, but his whole family would be saved. He came into the house and told his family his son would not die. They were astonished at him. ‘I tell you,’ he said, ‘he will not die. And no child of mine will ever die in his sins.’ Sure enough, the son lived, and the man’s children were all converted.”(6) Believe in the heart and power of the Savior! What He did for this father, He will do for you. Tomorrow, we will look at a few more passages of Scripture that will build our faith as we pray for unbelievers. Pray with me: Father, we pray today that faith will arise in the hearts of believers throughout the world. Awaken faith in them that You want to see people saved, and that You are well able to do so. You are mighty to save. We pray today for those who don’t know You. We ask You to awaken unbelievers to their need of You, and to Your provision and love. We release Holy Spirit’s power to break every stronghold and frustrate every strategy satan is using to keep them deceived and bound. We loose them from all demonic control and all deception. We prophesy to the wind of Holy Spirit: blow on the dry bones, giving them life (Ezekiel 37). Save and deliver them, in the name of Yeshua. Release Your power, revelation, and salvation. Send the appropriate believers to share with them. Pour out Your Spirit in homes, on campuses, in our churches – do it everywhere. We ask for this not just here in America, but around the world. All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that “the Lord who saves” is coming with another wave of revival to redeem a billion people here in America and around the world. *************************** Today’s post is adapted from my book How to Pray for Lost Loved Ones, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------ Alice Gray, Stories for the Heart (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 1996), pp. 225-257. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3091. Ibid. Ref. no. 3467. Ibid. Ref. no. 4990. Ibid. Ref. no. 4982. Charles G. Finney, How to Experience Revival (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1984), p. 58.