|
Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'give him 15'.
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-24-2025 December 24, 2025 Holy Night, Indeed Here is some trivia for you. Do you have any guesses about what may have been the first song broadcast from space? The crew of Gemini 6 snuck bells and a harmonica onboard. On December 16, 1965, after reporting a “strange object” moving in the skies from north to south, they played a few lines of Jingle Bells. You can click here to hear the astronauts.(1) Have you ever wondered what the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was really about? “Though a host of modern internet sites and some magazine articles have tried to reduce ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ to little more than a silly Christmas carol, most scholars of the Catholic Church deem it a very important surviving example of a time when that denomination used codes to disguise their teachings in order to avoid persecution. They contend that it was “originally a poem written by Catholic clerics, and transformed into a carol at a time when celebrating the twelve days of Christmas was one of the most important holiday customs.”(2) The complete explanation of why each day’s “gift code” was chosen to represent the spiritual truth it pictures can be found through this link, but here is what each gift represented:(3) The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus. Two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments. Three French hens represent faith, hope, and love, and also the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The four calling birds are the four gospels. The five golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch. Each egg of the six geese-a-laying is a day in creation when God “hatched” or formed the world. Hidden in the seven swans-a-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (as the Catholics count them). The eight maids-a-milking represent the eight Beatitudes (from Matthew 5:3-10). Nine ladies dancing were the fruits of the Spirit. Ten lords-a-leaping were code for the Ten Commandments. The eleven pipers piping signify the eleven faithful disciples. The twelve drummers drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed. From my research, it doesn’t appear that this explanation can be proven, though it does have many believers. And it’s so good I’m just gonna go with it! O Holy Night And then there is my all-time favorite Christmas song, “O Holy Night.” Can there be more poignant words than these? “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”(4) And the moving third stanza, with the stirring words of love and freedom, reaches deep into the human soul. Here are the words of this wonderful song in their entirety, followed by a link to “The Nativity Story” with Josh Groban’s classic version of “O Holy Night.” Do yourself a favor: find a time when you can stop everything you’re doing, and both watch and listen to this five-minute video. It is NOT just him singing. You will be glad you did. This song will be today’s prayer and decree. O Holy Night “O holy night! The stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle, we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here came the Wise Men from Orient land. The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our Friend. He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger. Behold your King, before Him lowly bend! Behold your King, before Him lowly bend! Truly, He taught us to love one another; His law is love, and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, And in His name, all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we; Let all within us praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!”(5) *************************** Link: Josh Groban and The Nativity Story Click the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------- https://youtu.be/RmsOmqf7Hso?si=0Bh8q2VG4_-czcdj https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/the-12-days-of-christmas-lyrics-meaning.html Ibid. https://hymnary.org/text/o_holy_night_the_stars_are_brightly_shin Ibid.
- 2 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- give him 15
- dutch sheets
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-22-2025 December 22, 2025 A Fun Christmas Memory “In the same region, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will 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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.’” Luke 2:8-14 (NASB) “Great joy…for all people,” are some of the words spoken by the angel on the night of Christ’s birth. Today’s post is intended to stir up some joy in you. We live in precarious and perilous times, punctuated by evil dictators, corrupt governments, power-crazed politicians, woke educators, and God-haters. In the midst of evil and chaos, let me remind you that joy is a fruit of the spirit, not the emotions, and therefore is not based on circumstances. Happiness is based on circumstances which we can’t always control; joy, however, originates in our spirit and therefore flows from Holy Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22). In the angel’s announcement above, the word “great” is the Greek word megas, from which we get the English word “mega.” Megas means over and above, above and beyond, more than enough. Recalling pleasant memories of past Christmases is a wonderful way to awaken joy during the holidays. They can be from when you were a child, or even as a parent or grandparent, spending time with family. The memory/memories could be of a gift you gave, or one you were given. Maybe it’s a sleigh ride, a ski trip, a family trip, watching the Nutcracker, or Christmas movies with mom, or a football game with dad. Think of something and let it unlock some joy. Laughter is good. God said it’s like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22). Think of something from a Christmas past that’ll make you laugh. Here’s one of mine. We once had a dog named Mercedes. Sadie, as we called her, was a Boxer. God used Mercedes greatly in my life. She taught me patience, humility, poop-scooping, and the price of dog ACL surgery. I didn’t actually mind the poop-scooping in and of itself; it was the mocking laughter I could see in her eyes as I did it that irritated me. We bought Mercedes–yes, I paid for these lessons–because we moved to a rural area where coyotes and foxes could endanger our two other smaller dogs - they needed a bodyguard. Besides, everyone needs THREE dogs! The plan backfired. Mercedes took over our home. Ceci and the girls actually went to obedience school with her a few times. That helped - Sadie learned to sit. She came home and asserted her dominance by sitting on my chest. Seriously. I was stretched out on the floor watching a football game with a nice fire in the fireplace, when she looked proudly over at the girls and sat on my chest. “Good girl. Good sit,” they said, through uncontrolled laughter. True story. Then there was the time she TP’d (toilet papered) the backyard. Yep, she did. We had a fenced backyard, so at times, when we left the house, we’d leave the back sliding door open a foot or so to give the dogs some freedom. Upon returning home from church one Sunday, there was a trail of toilet paper from the powder room (for all you guys, that’s the half-bath you keep clean for guests) leading through the family room, out the back door, and into the yard. Once in the backyard, it seemed that Sadie’s creative side kicked in. She went over, under, around, and through, making circles, figure 8’s, and more. Then she did her “business” while I cleaned up the toilet paper. And if you don’t see the cruel irony of that, then you’re pretty slow. I swear she was laughing. True story. But perhaps my most humiliating experience with Mercedes was when I had to chase her around on the roof of our two-story house. I was hanging Christmas lights–you thought I had gotten off the subject of Christmas, didn’t you–and with the house layout, it was easy access to a portion of the roof from our daughter’s bedroom casement window seat. From there, I could walk to the remainder of the roof, even the higher parts. Of course, I left the window open. I was on all fours, carefully placing hooks for the lights on the gutters, when suddenly I heard a noise behind me. I turned, and there was Mercedes–she had joined me! I panicked. If she fell off this two-story roof and hurt herself, Ceci and the girls would never forgive me. My tone of voice and panicked attempt to grab Sadie scared her. She, of course, began running around and wouldn’t come to me. So I chased her, which caused her to run more…Kevin Costner became known to the Native Americans as “the man who dances with wolves.” I became known in our neighborhood as “man who dances with dog on roof.” True story. Remember something today that makes you laugh. If you can’t think of anything, picture me with a 70-pound, well-trained, obedience school graduate Boxer sitting on my chest. The Message version of Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Laugh. It’ll do you good. Pray with me: Father, in these precarious and perilous times, punctuated by evil dictators, corrupt and power-crazed politicians, terrorists, woke educators, and God-haters, we can still have joy. Cause the spirit of joy to rise up in Your people today. Even those in difficult circumstances, may the strength that results from joy arise in them. Temper their grief with moments of joy. If it needs to be a supernatural impartation, please do that. Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus, who brought us mega joy. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” Because of Him, we can rejoice. Remind us to remain focused on Him this Christmas season. And we pray for our nation. Please deliver our nation from evil doers; expose terrorists and their plans. Deliver us also from the devastation our sin and turning away from You has caused. Give us the joy that comes from true revival. Cause the awakening to create a national deliverance and turn millions toward righteousness. This has begun, but we need it to become a tidal wave! We thank You for all of this, and ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that “joy unspeakable and full of glory” is ours today through Christ. (1 Peter 1:8) ************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-19-2025 December 19, 2025 Introduction Several years ago, my dad wrote a wonderful devotional entitled The Gold That Washed Ashore (now out of print). Dad was old-school in his writing and preaching, crafting sermons of homiletic eloquence, and his devotionals were no exception. This is one of his great devotionals, combined with some of my thoughts. The title of today’s post is: He Came “For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 NASB) “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10 NASB) Dutch Shares When Christ came to earth, it was not as most expected. The religious world had overlooked the prophecy regarding a virgin conceiving (Isaiah 7:14); perhaps they simply had a different interpretation of the verse, since it was considered a total impossibility. At any rate, the birth of Christ through a poor, teenage virgin - from the other side of the tracks, Nazareth, of all places - wasn’t on the list of Messianic expectations. Nor was a manger (a feeding trough) for a crib, in a smelly, dung-filled stable. The scribes, Pharisees, and religious elite were confident the Messiah would be regal, wealthy, and come from their ranks, of course. You must admit, the Christmas story does strain the imagination. It is not so difficult to conceive of God coming to earth to rescue fallen humanity. But becoming a microscopic seed, placed in the womb of a teenage girl, fed by a cord from her placenta, and entering the world through a narrow birth canal is an entirely different story. It seems ridiculous, and certainly sacrilegious, to think of God in dirty diapers, burping, and crying for Mama. I can easily conceive of Him walking on water, but not of falling when learning to walk. Feeding the 5000 - no problem, but smearing food all over His face when learning to feed Himself? That’s a bit of a stretch. He was, after all, God. But to keep Christ from being truly human not only disqualifies Him from being our Savior, but it also misses God’s heart and message. Christ loved us enough to become one of us. Our Lord’s most common name for Himself was Son of Man. He chose to experience our humanness, feel our pain and hunger, wrestle with the wound of rejection, and know the disappointment of loss. His calloused hands knew hard work, His feet walked hundreds of miles, and He slept many nights on the ground. Jesus had to become human in order to bleed, die, and redeem us; and so He did. Let Him be one of us, and let Him into the muck and mire of our world. Dad speaks eloquently of Christ’s coming and of His redeeming purpose. From Dad “From Genesis to Revelation, there is a great scarlet thread of truth calling our attention to a coming Redeemer. This hope of a coming Redeemer was the secret of Abel offering a more excellent sacrifice than Cain’s. It was the only light that gleamed in the ark as it rolled over the waves of an ocean world. This hope guided the patriarchs and gladdened the prophets. Then…the Great Redeemer came. “He came, and was a great preacher. All the preachers of the centuries look small when we line them alongside the Man whose hands were calloused by a carpenter's plane and who wore the peasant smock of Galilee. He came, and was the greatest physician the world has ever seen. He was the world’s sympathetic friend in a world of pain. He came, and was the perfect example. “Yet, He came to be more than a great preacher, physician, or pattern. He came to be our Savior. He came to deal with the thing that drenched the world with blood, that bleached it with bones, and that filled the air with moans and groans. He came to bridge the gulf that separates humanity from God. He came to shut the very jaws of damnation and throw open the gates of gold. He came to fix us so we could appear as if the archer of hell never shot us through. “All the sins of all His people were gathered upon His shoulders. The heart of Christ became like a reservoir in the mountains, and all the tributary streams of iniquity ran down and gathered into that vast lake. Sin wrote its vicious history with the scourge, thorns, nails, spear, and throbbing agony - our sins, yours and mine. At Calvary, we see the wrath of God against sin inscribed in characters of blood, and we see sin's absolution: ‘Father, forgive them.’ (Luke 23:34) “We used to sing the great hymn: Oh, Now I See the Crimson Wave “‘Oh, now I see the crimson wave, the fountain deep and wide; ‘Jesus, my Lord, mighty to save, points to His wounded side. ‘I see the new creation rise, I hear the speaking blood; It speaks! Polluted nature dies! Sinks 'neath the cleansing flood. ‘The cleansing stream I see, I see! I plunge and, oh, it cleanseth me! ‘Oh, praise the Lord, it cleanseth me! It cleanseth me, yes, cleanseth me!’”(1) “Thank You, Jesus, for coming!” Pray with me: Father, we thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, as Heaven’s great gift. Thank You for the incarnation, Christ’s humble birth, and His substitutionary death. Thank You for the cleansing stream that flows from Him still. Jesus, You came. As we celebrate Your birth, we thank You for the humbling journey You made…for the sacrifices, the miles, the sleepless nights, and the tears. Thank You for the blood You shed, the stripes You bore, the crown of thorns You wore, the nails and the spear that pierced Your holy body. Holy Spirit, as we celebrate Christmas this year, remind us to celebrate our Redeemer as He should be celebrated, and love Him as He should be loved. And in closing, Father, we remember to pray against the plans of terrorists who have entered our nation. Jesus taught us to ask for deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:13). We do so now. Please expose the terrorists in our land. Give those who search for them breakthrough and unprecedented skill. We ask that You give President Trump and those working with him great wisdom and strategy. Break the back of radical Islam here and throughout the world. All of these things we pray in the mighty name of Yeshua. Our decree: We declare our faith that the cleansing stream of Christ still flows today, cleansing us from all sin and unrighteousness. *************************** Have a wonderful Christmas this year, celebrating Him! Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- https://hymnary.org/text/o_now_i_see_the_crimson_wave
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-18-2025 December 18, 2025 Introduction Today, I’m blessing you with a powerful Christmas post from our friend Cheryl Sacks. The insights she offers could most certainly shape the destiny of someone you love. Enjoy. The Best Gift You Can Give This Christmas Christmas awakens something deep in us—not just warm memories, but a longing to give the people we love something meaningful. Not another sweater. Not another gadget. Something with weight. Something that lasts. What if one of the greatest gifts you could give this Christmas doesn’t come wrapped in paper or tied with ribbon? What if the most powerful gift you can give your children, grandchildren, spiritual sons and daughters, or anyone God has placed in your life, is your blessing? Long before angels announced good news or shepherds ran to a manger, God Himself modeled this gift. Scripture says, “And God blessed them…” (Genesis 1:28). Blessing was His first act toward humanity—and it is still one of the greatest expressions of His heart. And today, He invites us to partner with Him in giving that same gift. Blessing Is God’s Heart Years ago, as I walked my living room floor praying for my husband, Hal, and our young daughter, something unexpected happened. My usual requests began to shift. Suddenly, instead of asking, I began blessing. “I bless Hal to be a faithful husband and attentive father—to walk in the fullness of his calling. I bless him with supernatural favor before leaders and gatekeepers, with peace that guards his heart and mind.” My voice grew stronger as I turned to Nicole. “I bless my daughter with joy that springs up like a fountain, with angelic protection, healthy friendships, and a heart that runs hard after God all the days of her life.” It felt as though heaven entered the room, and the Lord Himself was leading my words. His face seemed to shine toward me. In that moment, I realized: blessing is God’s language. It is His idea. His way. Throughout Scripture, blessing shaped destinies. Abraham blessed Isaac. Isaac blessed Jacob. Jacob blessed his sons. And their blessings always came to pass. Blessing is more than encouragement— it is a spiritual impartation—words carrying God’s authority, energized by His Word, spoken in His name, releasing His life over another person. Why Blessing Matters Today In a world saturated with criticism, comparison, and words that wound, blessing has become rare. Yet it is one of the most life-shaping forces we can release. A blessing isn’t something we simply feel in our hearts—it’s something we speak. Simple, yet powerful words like, “You are cherished… You are strong and steady… You bring joy wherever you go… You are protected, chosen, and deeply loved,” breathe identity and destiny into a person’s heart. The Consequences of Withholding Blessings Many parents and grandparents love deeply but unknowingly withhold the very blessing their children crave. Not out of lack of love, but lack of time, lack of modeling, or simply never having received the blessing themselves. But Scripture shows us that long silences create openings for the enemy: Words unspoken can feel like rejection Silence can crush hope Lack of blessing creates insecurity, fear, and confusion Hearts can close, and even generational blessings can be hindered A child—or adult—who never receives blessing will look for affirmation elsewhere, often in destructive places. But the opposite is also true: A spoken blessing can break shame, heal wounds, and set a life on a new trajectory. When we bless someone, three things begin to move in the Spirit: The Power of Our Words “Life and death are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Words aren’t empty—they are containers of spirit. They can bless or curse. Lift a heart or crush it. The Power of God’s Word When what we speak agrees with what He has spoken, His power flows through our words—like lightning precisely conducted through a rod—penetrating hearts, breaking lies, and restoring truth. The Power of His Name In Numbers 6, God promised that when His priests blessed in His name, He Himself would bless them. And today, in Christ, we stand in that same authority. Blessing Is Not Earned—It Is Given by Faith You may wonder, “Should I bless someone who is selfish or rebellious?”The answer to this question is an emphatic—Yes! Blessing is not a reward for good behavior. It is a prophetic declaration of God’s desire for someone’s future. We cannot confuse the word bless with the word praise—because those who need blessing the most—are the ones who deserve praise the least. We bless not because of who others are, but because of who God intends them to be. Blessing When You Don’t Feel Like It You may feel you can’t speak a blessing over a child, parent, or sibling because you’ve waited too long. Relationships may be strained or broken. Don’t let this stop you. When you gather this Christmas season, look for an opportunity to speak a blessing. If there has been a breach, anger, or bitterness, take the first step—reach out. Sometimes it feels impossible. But God often meets us in the very moment we choose obedience. I think of a young woman named Karan who lived for years with deep anger and bitterness toward her ex-husband. Christmastime was particularly difficult when she had to surrender her three boys to him and his new wife for the holidays. One Christmas Eve, as she was begrudgingly preparing her children for their holiday visit, she cried out to the Lord to deliver her from bitterness. “Give him the china,” she sensed the Holy Spirit say. When he left, her husband had taken half of their china to his new home. Now Karan sensed God telling her to wrap up her half, write “Merry Christmas” on the box, and send it along with the children as a gift. As she placed the package in her children’s arms, the burden of anger and resentment miraculously lifted. Her bitterness was replaced with heartfelt compassion and a desire to pray for her ex-husband with her children and to bless him. That moment of freedom opened the way for her children to release their own bitterness and rebuild a loving relationship with their father. A single act of obedience opened the door for blessing—and blessing opened the door for freedom. This Christmas, Give the Gift That Lasts As families gather, as children come home, as some feel the sting of loneliness—let’s recover this ancient, biblical practice. Though parents and grandparents carry unique authority, every believer can bless others—neighbors, friends, coworkers, youth, and children God brings across our path. Some adults who never received a blessing at home say they received it from a coach, a teacher, a youth leader, or a spiritual parent. A blessing is simple. It can be spoken with a hand on the shoulder, through a text or card, around a dinner table, when you tuck your child into bed, or say goodnight to your spouse. But its impact? It can shape a destiny. Heal a wound. Break a cycle. Launch a calling. Who might Holy Spirit be calling you to reach out to and bless? You may be the only person in someone’s entire life who ever speaks their God-given destiny over them. This Christmas, let’s not just give gifts that last a few weeks or years; let’s give a gift that echoes into eternity. Pray with me: Father, thank You for blessing us with Your love, Your nearness, and Your Son. Anoint our words today. Forgive us for speaking carelessly or withholding blessing. This Christmas season, help us speak life. We bless our loved ones with the assurance of Your love. We bless them with wisdom, peace, and protection. We bless them with the ability to hear Your voice and walk in their purpose. We bless them with favor—with You and with others. May our mouths be fountains of blessing, filled with grace, truth, and love. Our decree: We decree that this Christmas season, we will use our words to bless and not to wound. That life will flow from our mouths, shaping destinies and healing hearts. We decree that the Spirit of God will anoint our blessing, and generations will be transformed. We decree that the blessing of the Lord will rest on our homes, our children, and all whom God has entrusted to us. We choose to bless. And heaven will bless through us. ************************ Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------- Today’s post was contributed by our Cheryl Sacks. She is the author of six books, including her latest, Fire on the Family Altar: Experience the Holy Spirit’s Power in Your Home, available at fireonthefamilyaltar.com or on Amazon
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-17-2025 December 17, 2025 A Warning from the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center I have been hesitant to write this post so close to Christmas, not wanting to weigh you down during this joyous time of year. However, in light of the increase in radical Islamist terrorism of late, I feel it is necessary to do so. One doesn’t need to be prophetic to realize that thousands of people with evil intentions entered our nation during Biden’s, Harris’s, and Mayorkas’s open borders. Agencies in our government are now confirming what we knew to be true. It is inconceivable that these individuals were unaware that this was happening. They, and those in their party who sanctioned it, are more than incompetent; they are liars and traitors. Though somewhat long, I’m going to share with you the opening remarks of Joe Kent, Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center. This was in his recent testimony at a Congressional hearing on December 11, 2025 (YouTube link). His comments confirm these concerns: From Mr. Kent “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, ranking members, and all the members of the House. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you and discuss the threats posed to our nation. “Despite the progress we’ve made so far in the Trump administration, the threat posed by terrorists of all brands remains very high right now. We’ve made significant progress under President Trump’s leadership. We have the jihadis of ISIS and al-Qaeda on the run in Iraq and Syria, thanks to the decisive action and strikes that we’ve taken since President Trump took office in January. However, we have a persistent threat from the individuals who were allowed into this country by the previous administration. “The number one threat that we have right now, in my view, is the fact that we don’t know who came into our country in the last four years of Biden’s open borders. What we have identified is alarming, and I want to share that with you today. We just recently put out a warning of the heightened risk of terrorist attacks posed to the homeland by terrorists, pretty much of all stripes, but in particular from ISIS and al-Qaeda. NCTC has been crunching the numbers and going through the sheer volume of known and suspected terrorists in the country that came in under the Biden administration. So far, NCTC has identified around 18,000 known and suspected terrorists the Biden administration let come into our country. These are individuals who, under normal circumstances, would never be allowed to enter our country because of their ties to jihadi groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda. Yet the Biden administration not only let them into the country but, in many cases, facilitated their entry into the country, just like the entry of the Afghan terrorist who committed the terrorist attack here just before Thanksgiving, killing one of our National Guard members and wounding another. That Afghan was brought into the country in a group of over 100,000 Afghans brought here during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. “These individuals, despite what has been reported, were not vetted properly to come into the United States. The individual terrorist who committed the attack in DC, was vetted to serve as a soldier in Afghanistan. The Biden administration essentially used his tactical-level vetting as a ruse to bring him here and into our communities. And we’ve seen the tragic results of that. Now, that Afghan, that attacker, that terrorist is just one of 88,000. We’ve identified 2,000 of that group of 88,000 who have ties to terrorist organizations. We’re working right now hand-in-hand with DHS and with the FBI to run down these 2,000, the Afghans who came here under “Allies Welcome,” who have ties to terrorist organizations. “And additionally, the other 18,000 individuals with ties to terrorist organizations that Biden let into our country. That is probably the top terrorist threat that we face right now. And that doesn’t include the individuals who came here illegally through the open border. That number, alarmingly, remains unknown at this time. We’re trying to figure out who those individuals are as well. “Also, adding to this elevated threat, we have ISIS and al-Qaeda that have found sanctuary in places like Afghanistan and Syria, due to the transitional nature of those governments, and also again in Iraq and some of the hinterlands of Iraq. And these terrorists are able to communicate and spread their propaganda and a lot of their know-how, thanks to the proliferation of encrypted apps and also due to just the internet at large. The new terrorist tactic that we’re seeing more and more is moving away from very deliberate cellular attacks that we can infiltrate easily while they communicate, into an inspirational methodology where you have key members putting out media and how-to guides to reach out and touch individuals inside the United States. “We recently disrupted one of those attacks just before Halloween, thanks to the work of the FBI with support from the entire US intelligence community in the joint terrorism task force model in Michigan. That plot touched multiple states and had ties to ISIS inside Iraq and Syria. Another issue that we are addressing right now, thanks to the decisive leadership of President Trump, is the scourge of fentanyl, gang, and cartel violence. Under President Trump’s leadership, we’ve designated these cartels and gangs as terrorist organizations. And rightfully so. These individuals, these terrorists, have killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, as these Angel Families will tell you firsthand. What President Trump has done by designating them as terrorists has allowed us to turn the tools of the intelligence community against them and watch-list them as terrorists, to prevent them from ever coming into America in the first place. “To date, we’ve added about 35,000 of these narco terrorists to our terrorist watch list. And we’ve stopped around 6,000 of these terrorists from ever entering our country, from setting foot inside America, so they can no longer kill Americans with impunity. These are just some of the issues that we’re covering 24/7/365 at the National Counterterrorism Center. And I look forward to discussing more with you all today. Thank you.” My Comments Though many have known that radical Islam has been one of the greatest threats to peace and safety throughout the world, most Americans have given it little thought. It was, after all, an ocean away. Biden, Harris, and the Dems changed that. The terrorists are here. Not only are thousands of them here, but we also have no idea where most of them are located within our nation. We must now pray diligently against this threat, asking God to give supernatural aid in finding and removing them. It will require His supernatural help to prevent many Americans from being maimed and killed before they are found. Pray with me: Father, we as Americans have been foolish, complacent, and irresponsible. Government leaders, judges, and millions of American citizens refused to oppose the fraud and corruption of the 2020 elections, allowing our government to reach its pinnacle of corruption. Combined with the preceding years of corruption and sin, we now face a crisis on many points. We need Your grace and mercy. And yet, You have promised these blessings to us. You said mercy was our new currency and that America would be saved. As intercessors, we have repented of America’s irresponsibility and sinful actions and humbly asked for cleansing. We now lay hold of Your gracious promises by faith (1 Timothy 6:12), declaring that You will deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13). Please expose the terrorists in our land. Give those who search for them breakthrough and unprecedented skill. We ask that You give President Trump and those working with him great wisdom and strategy. Break the back of radical Islam here and throughout the world. Save millions of Muslims here and throughout the world in this hour. Lift from them the veil of deception and reveal God’s Son and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, to them. Break the hold of principalities and powers that blind their minds and reveal Your great love to them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Our decree: We decree that terrorists will be exposed in our nation, and millions of Muslims will come to Christ. ******************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- Here is a YouTube link to the testimony above.
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-16-2025 December 16, 2025 “Live to Give” A Christmas Message “Jimmy was nine when his mom told him his little sister was sick and would die if she didn’t get a blood transfusion – and that Jimmy was one of the only people in the world who had the rare blood type needed. She asked him if he would be willing to let the doctors give his blood to his sister. “Jimmy was very somber. He didn’t know what was involved, but he loved his sister and agreed to give his blood. “On the appointed day, Jimmy was solemn, but brave, when the nurse put the needle into his vein and began to drain his blood. After a few minutes of watching the bag fill, he looked scared. The nurse said, ‘Don’t worry, it will be over soon.’ “The boy accepted her assurances and asked, ‘How much longer will it be before I die?’ “The nurse was shocked. ‘You’re not going to die!’ she said, and then wept when she realized Jimmy thought he had to give all his blood to save his sister.”(1) What a powerful story. No greater love… The Christmas season is one of the most remarkable times of the year. A time when we celebrate Christ’s birth as a human…so He could give his blood and die. Unlike Jimmy, He had to give all, laying down His life for us. Because of this, Christmas is, indeed, a time of giving. Appropriately so. As such, it’s also a good time for each of us to take inventory, making sure we maintain the proper heart toward giving and receiving - it’s more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35). The spirit of the age can sink its claws into us at times, without us even being aware it is happening. Christmas is also a great time of year for imparting to our children the spirit of giving. If done properly, they can be marked for life with God’s giving heart and nature. Or, sadly, Christmas can also be a time when we teach them that the greatest thing in life is receiving. Relax, this is not a post discouraging you from giving your kids gifts at Christmas. It is simply a reminder that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. Years ago, my life was marked by a man named Wayne Myers. He was, without a doubt, the person who embodied this truth more than any I have ever known. I’ve watched Wayne give tens of thousands of dollars away on multiple occasions, and be almost giddy with excitement in doing so. Sometimes the gifts were not so large. I once saw him empty his wallet for a Bible school student - while on his way to the airport! This was 40 years ago, when there were no cash machines to replenish his supply. He then asked his wife, Martha, traveling with him, if she had any more cash on her, because he wanted to give more than the amount he had on hand. That was Wayne Myers. So, some of you may be thinking, a few thousand dollars here and there is not that much for a wealthy person to give; many do that. Perhaps so. But Wayne was not a millionaire businessman or a philanthropist. He was a missionary to Mexico who, for all the years I was blessed to know him, didn’t even own a home. Wayne’s motto in life was “Live to give.” And he did. Wayne would become indignant if someone else tried to pick up the check at a restaurant. The giving nature of God oozed out from every cell of his body. His generosity was so infectious that one had to budget the number of times they heard Wayne speak each year because when listening to him, that month’s budget was often blown! Of course, Wayne was full of faith and God would return the money many times over. He demonstrated this hundreds of times. When listening to Wayne, you found yourself believing it, also. What a legacy. Ceci and I have tried to live by the truth that it is more blessed to give than receive, though nowhere near the level Wayne has walked in. And we have proven over and over the truth that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. Personally, although Wayne was used to fan the flames, this mindset was born in me while serving in a food line in Guatemala, after the horrendous earthquake of 1976. It killed 30,000 people in 30 seconds and left 1 million homeless. Having been there when it occurred, I stayed to participate in the relief work. In the village of San Pedro, which was obliterated, I was serving in a soup line. People were holding broken jars, cups, cans - anything they could find in which to receive a small portion of soup. Most hadn’t eaten for days. As I ladled out small portions, I was watching the soup disappear too quickly. Hoping against hope, I kept scooping...and watching. The last person in line was a lady holding her three-year-old daughter; they were the only two survivors in a family of six. As she got nearer, I could see it coming: there wouldn’t be enough. Still, I hoped. The last of the soup was served just before she held out her jar. As I looked into her eyes, my heart was shattered. It was like someone punched me in the gut. Through tears, I used my broken Spanish and said, “No mas, no mas” (“no more”). At that moment, I would have given everything I owned for just one more bowl of soup. My world was wrecked. My definition of success changed, priorities were reordered, and bank accounts were looked at differently. What had really mattered in my life was turned topsy-turvy. I began to truly understand that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Years later, Ceci and I were planning a ministry trip to Mexico City and decided to take our daughters, Sarah and Hannah, ages 9 and 7. We wanted them to see how less fortunate people lived in other countries. When our hosts asked us which tourist activities or places we would like our girls to see, Ceci surprised them. “An orphanage,” she said, “I want you to take us to an orphanage.” They found one two hours away, and our two daughters rocked and held orphaned children for an afternoon. Their journey was beginning as well. They began learning that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Do not allow Christmas to be defined solely by the act of receiving. Consider taking some time this year to teach your children the joy of giving to those in need. Perhaps take them to a feeding center and allow them to serve, or load up the family and take groceries to a family struggling financially. Set the entire family down and discuss together what you can do this year to help a less fortunate family enjoy Christmas. Sow a family gift to a missionary who is sharing Jesus with unreached people. Adopt a child through Compassion International, One Child, or another worthy ministry. There are many opportunities, just find one, even in your own community. Mark your children with the heart of Jesus. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for the incredible blessings we enjoy in America. Thank You for all You have given us through Your Son, Jesus. You taught us - and demonstrated - that it is better to give than to receive. This Christmas season, keep us reminded of this. We pray for those who are suffering lack this Christmas. The poor, hungry, homeless - we pray that they would find their way out of poverty and loss. Give them a fresh start. Father, we pray for the families of the soldiers killed by terrorists in Syria, and of those killed by the shooter at Brown University in Rhode Island. We ask for great comfort and grace to be given to them at this time. We also pray for the families of Jews killed and wounded by terrorists in Australia, asking for grace and comfort. Our hearts break for these innocent people. And most of all, we pray for those who do not know Christ as Savior. Send messengers to them with the good news. Assign intercessors to pray for them. Open their eyes, lift the veil, and reveal Christ to them. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that greed will not control us; generosity will be our guiding standard. ******************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- Adapted from: https://raycenter.wp.drake.edu/2016/04/28/the-ultimate-gift/
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-12-2025 December 12, 2025 The Appeals That Saved Us Then Will Save Us Now In yesterday’s post, I wrote about realigning America with heaven, based on Matthew 6:10, where Jesus instructed us to ask for His Kingdom rule to come “on earth, as it is in heaven.” I shared about how America’s Founders were aligned with heaven in the founding of our nation. I also said, “We need more than patriots in government to restore America; we need patriotic intercessors, those willing to appeal to heaven for America’s realignment with God. Our Founders recognized this need in our nation’s beginning. This is why Washington commissioned the creation of the Appeal To Heaven flag and flew it over America’s naval vessels and battlefields in the Revolutionary War.” Our Founders believed so much in the power of prayer–appealing to heaven–that they spoke of it in the Declaration of Independence: “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States…”(1) Think about that - the power of prayer is mentioned in the first legal document of our nation, the Declaration that began America’s existence! Patriot and signer of the Declaration, Samuel Adams, referenced this a year later during one of the most challenging points of the Revolutionary War. Adams is certainly one of my favorite Founding Fathers. In September of 1777, a year after declaring independence, things were not going well for the American patriots. They had lost New York City and Fort Ticonderoga, and were badly defeated at the Battle of Brandywine, losing hundreds of soldiers. They were losing ground quickly in Pennsylvania, and the Capital, Philadelphia, was about to be captured by the British. The patriots quickly hid the large Liberty Bell, inscribed with the quote from Leviticus 25:10, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof,” just in the nick of time. Congress then fled to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and then to York. Ira Stoll says of the desperate time, “John Adams of Massachusetts wrote in his diary, ‘The prospect is chilling, on every Side: Gloomy, dark, melancholy, and dispiriting.’ “The number of delegates present at Congress had dwindled to a mere twenty from the fifty-six members who had signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Those remaining gathered for a private meeting in York to question whether there was any hope of success.”(2) One of those still present was the aforementioned Samuel Adams (John Adams’s cousin). Sam had already lost much during the war. Friends had been killed, his home was destroyed, and he was on the run. In an act intended to demoralize, the British had desecrated the Old South Church in Boston, which had been attended by his family and many of the Founding Fathers. The pews were removed, the floor was covered with dirt, and it was used as a riding academy. At this difficult time of great despair, the indomitable Sam Adams gave the remaining members of Congress a pep talk: “If we despond, public confidence is destroyed, the people will no longer yield their support to a hopeless contest, and American liberty is no more. Through the darkness that shrouds our prospects, the ark of safety is visible. Despondency becomes not the dignity of our cause, nor the character of those who are its supporters.”(3) Stoll states that Adams continued his words by “comparing the American revolutionaries to the Israelites who had left the slavery of Egypt. According to Exodus, chapter 13, God had guided them in the wilderness with a ‘pillar of cloud by day’ and a ‘pillar of fire by night.’ Then Adams said: “‘Let us awaken then, and evince a different spirit, – a spirit that shall inspire the people with confidence in themselves and in us, – a spirit that will encourage them to persevere in this glorious struggle, until their rights and liberties shall be established on a rock. We have proclaimed to the world our determination “to die freemen, rather than to live slaves.” We have appealed to Heaven for the justice of our cause, and in Heaven we have placed our trust. Numerous have been the manifestations of God’s providence in sustaining us. In the gloomy period of adversity, we have had “our cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.” We have been reduced to distress, and the arm of Omnipotence has raised us up. Let us still rely in humble confidence on Him who is mighty to save. Good tidings will soon arrive. Heaven shall never abandon us while we act worthy of its aid and protection.’”(4) Thomas Jefferson once called Sam Adams: “truly the man of the Revolution…for depth of purpose, zeal, and sagacity, no man in Congress exceeded, if any equalled, Sam Adams.”(5) The Founders may have given up, had it not been for the passion and faith of this amazing man. The original American dream wasn’t about wealth, but freedom—freedom to worship and freedom from tyranny. It was also about partnering with God to release the light of His word to all nations, and exporting His glorious gospel to the ends of the earth. It was a shared dream, born in the heart of God and deposited in the womb of our nation. However, some in America have perverted this holy desire and God-honoring partnership, turning the dream into a narcissistic lust for money, possessions, power, and pleasure. As uncontrolled appetites always do, the gluttonous cravings gradually grew in intensity until people no longer controlled them—they controlled the people. Liberty became license; independence became rebellion; and their “freedoms” enslaved them. Of course, at some point, the piper – which for America became the discordant notes of our perverted dream – will always demand his payment. Consequently, America is no longer feeding on the dream; the dream is feeding on us. The spiritual giants of debt, abortion, violence, racism, addictions, and sexual perversions – all are strongholds that have been ruling and destroying America. It didn’t stop there. Our government became completely chaotic, losing the ability to govern, even with simple common sense, let alone wisdom and accurate constitutional law. Black-robed ideologues found the right to abortion in one word, “privacy”! Many of our leaders deny our true history and oppose our Creator. God’s ways are scorned, and amorality is the new law of the land. The true American dream is in jeopardy. If Adams were alive today, his response to this loss of life and reason would be, in part, a passionate plea to “appeal to Heaven once again. The God who saved us then will save us now!” And so we do. Pray with me: Father, You created America in amazing fashion, doing so to use her as a trumpet of the gospel to the ends of the earth. We are humbled and deeply moved by this. We are also greatly impacted by the knowledge that we were born under a movement of prayer, that appealing to You was the source of our freedom. You have brought the Appeal To Heaven flag out of history’s archives, and we are appealing once again. Just as our Founders placed in the Declaration of Independence, we are “appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions.” As we do, we are confident that You will once again free us from oppression, this time originating from within, and realign us with Heaven. We ask that You overthrow the evil trying to destroy our heritage and destiny. Overthrow those who defile our children and promote perversion. Overthrow false gods and false religions. We bind the spiritual powers behind these efforts in the name of Jesus! And Lord, pour fuel on the revival that has begun in America and other nations. Cause it to burn brightly! Save billions, we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ...Amen. Our decree: We decree that the appeal to heaven is being made again...and will succeed again! **************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. https://billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/declaration-of-independence?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1461766925&gbraid=0AAAAAD-kVKqpyyA_RtSa0Dah8zX7H-fIL&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9OnJBhD-ARIsAPV51xM-tqurABdl8OaoAWyBmYrw3KMKv2obotEK-5OJlySjd7-VgcSSZG0aAhCYEALw_wcB https://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0901/2008015005-s.html Ibid. Ibid. Ibid
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-11-2025 December 11, 2025 Realigning America with Heaven “Pray, then, in this way… Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) America’s Founders knew they were aligned with heaven when they declared themselves a sovereign nation on July 4, 1776. Although they obviously wanted independence from Britain for personal reasons, they also knew God was involved in the decision. The great book, The Light and the Glory, states the following regarding the signing of the Declaration of Independence: “The magnitude of what they had done began to weigh upon them, and they realized that they and their countrymen were no longer Englishmen, but citizens of a fledgling nation barely a few minutes old. Many stared out the window. Some wept openly. Some, like Witherspoon, bowed their heads and closed their eyes in prayer. John Hancock broke the silence: ‘Gentlemen, the price on my head has just been doubled!’ “A wry chuckle followed, and then Samuel Adams rose: ‘We have explored the temple of royalty [speaking of Britain’s monarchy], and found that the idol we have bowed down to has eyes which see not, ears that hear not our prayers, and a heart like [a] millstone. We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and…from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come.’”(1) Forty-five years later, our Founders still believed God had been involved in the birth of America. I repeat the profound quote I mentioned yesterday from John Quincy Adams, the son of John and Abigail Adams and sixth president of the United States, which he stated on July 4, 1821: “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”(2) Sixteen years later (July 4th, 1837), which was sixty-one years after the signing of the Declaration, Adams still believed this, and actually connected the birth of America to the birth of Christ: “Why is it that next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day? . . . Is it not that in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation?”(3) Adams was not equating the significance of America’s birth with the birth of Christ. He was linking the purpose of our birth with the birth of Christ. Our Founders knew that God's plan in forming America was for us to be a trumpet of the gospel to all the nations of the earth. Liberals, atheists, secularists, and revisionists seethe at this reality, but as John Quincy’s father, Founding Father John Adams, stated, “facts are stubborn things.”(4) If You Can Keep it Our Founders also knew that, because of the hearts of sinful man, the preservation of the Republic and our alignment with heaven were fragile. After America won the War of Independence and our Constitution was finally written and ratified, Ben Franklin was asked, “What do we have, Doctor, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”(5) How prophetic this warning turned out to be. We are once again fighting desperately to maintain our Republic. Founder and patriot Sam Adams also knew the challenges of sustaining our nation’s existence and its alignment with heaven. He stated in Philadelphia on August 1, 1776, just a few weeks after signing the Declaration of Independence: “Our Union is now complete; our Constitution composed, established, and approved. You are now the guardians of your own liberties.”(6) Four years later, in a letter to James Warren dated October 24, 1780, Adams stated: “If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”(7) In recent history, Ronald Reagan spoke of just how fragile America’s freedom and destiny are. At his inauguration as Governor of California, this future President stated: “Perhaps you and I have lived too long with this miracle to properly be appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing, and it's never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.”(8) We are now in need of the patriots Sam Adams spoke of. However, we need more than patriots in government to restore America; we need patriotic intercessors, those willing to appeal to heaven for America’s realignment with God. Our Founders recognized this need in our nation’s beginning. This is why Washington commissioned the creation of the Appeal To Heaven flag and flew it over America’s naval vessels and battlefields in the Revolutionary War. We will look at this tomorrow. Pray with me: Father, the world looked on in amazement as thirteen unorganized, army-less, poor colonies defeated the world’s greatest empire. It seemed impossible, yet they did, and we know how they did it. They recognized that their cause was linked to Yours, and they chose to become partners with You, making You the Senior Partner. They would become a sovereign nation, yes, but a “nation under God.” They asked for Your help, even placing the request on a banner and raising it over the battlefields. You responded, coming to their aid. You have now resurrected this flag and re-awakened the appeals. It was effective then; it will be now. The same activity that birthed our nation is now rebirthing it. Breathe on the call to prayer, Father. Energize it with Your Holy Spirit. Cause it to be abundant and vibrant in America and around the world. We have been, and continue to appeal to You for worldwide revival. We appeal to You for the destruction of demonic strongholds, false religions, and human systems opposing You. We appeal to You for the uncovering of deception and release of truth in our land and other nations. We ask for grace and mercy, but we also appeal for justice. Pour out Your Spirit in America, a great deluge of power and glory. Do so until we are once again a light to the world, a carrier of the life-giving gospel, and a beacon of truth. We boldly decree this shall be so, in the mighty name of Jesus! Amen. Our decree: We decree that America is being revived and restored through God-honoring patriots and faith-filled intercessors! ****************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- Marshall, Peter and Manuel, David. The Light and the Glory (Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 1977). p. 309. William Federer, America’s God and Country, FAME Publishing Inc., 1994, p. 18. Ibid. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/32621-facts-are-stubborn-things-and-whatever-may-be-our-wishes https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/constitutionalconvention-september17.htm https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/2001/11/03/samuel-adams-advocates-american-independence-1776/ https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/278707-if-ever-a-time-should-come-when-vain-and-aspiring https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/january-5-1967-inaugural-address-public-ceremony
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-10-2025 December 10, 2025 The Power of Our Covenantal History, Part 2 Review In yesterday’s post, I shared that David used the strength of his covenantal history with God to defeat Goliath. We in America can do the same. The passage depicting this battle begins by telling us that the land Goliath wanted belonged to the tribe of Judah and had been given to them by God. David was part of this tribe, meaning the land belonged to him. Then, David emphasized that he was in covenant with God while Goliath wasn’t, as seen in the fact that he refused to call the giant by any name other than “Uncircumcised Philistine.” Circumcision was associated with being in covenant with God. These two historical facts guaranteed victory, but David continued to brandish his history with God, testifying of the supernatural ability God had given him when facing a lion (1 Samuel 17:34-36): “I seized him by his beard, attacked him, and rescued the lamb,” he said. As if that wasn’t amazing enough, David also killed a bear! “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine,” David decreed (verse 37). This small, physically insignificant young man had faith that was anchored—not to his own abilities—but to a history of God’s faithfulness. It is significant that David stated this history. There is power in giving testimony to past victories. After teaching on the power of history recently, I was asked by a Messianic Jewish rabbi if I knew the meaning of the Hebrew word for “testimony.” I did not. “The word doesn’t mean simply to convey something from the past,” he informed me. “Its literal meaning is ‘to repeat an action or do it again.’ We Hebrews believe,” he continued, “that when we share what God did in the past, it releases the same power once again into the present...in other words, power is released to ‘do it again.’ Whoa! My head was spinning. He continued, “That’s one of the reasons we share with our children the stories of what God did in our Jewish history. It isn’t only so they’ll know their cultural history; it is also so the power in that history can be released to them today. For example, when we tell them about Passover and the Exodus, we believe God’s delivering and saving power demonstrated back then, will be released to save and deliver our children from bondages they may have today.” Whoa times two! The rabbi went on to tell me that he and his congregation had been experiencing healings from repeatedly sending believers to sick individuals and having them recount healings they had received in the past. When they testified of their healings, God’s power was released to “do it again.” This drove me to my lexicons. While studying the word “testimony,” which meant exactly what the rabbi had said, one dictionary sent me to the Hebrew word for “remember.” Similarly, it doesn’t mean simply to think about something from the past; it means to do what is being thought about.(1) This is why God tells us in Isaiah 43:26, “Put Me in remembrance...” He doesn’t require this because He sometimes needs a reminder. Rather, He is instructing us to ask Him–based on something said or done in the past–to take action today. God “remembered” Hannah, who had been barren, and she conceived (1 Samuel 1:11). He “remembered” His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and commissioned Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 2:24). For God, remembering involves action. This was life-changing revelation for me. I finally understood why God said we overcame satan by “the word of [our] testimony” (Revelation 12:11). And I believe this is why David stated his testimony of the lion and the bear! After doing so, David then grabbed his staff, five stones, and his sling, and approached the giant (see 1 Samuel 17:40). Why would David want to be encumbered with his staff when fighting Goliath? In those days, men carved symbols depicting their history on their staffs; it was their journal, of sorts. David’s staff no doubt depicted pictures of a dead lion and a dead bear—his testimony, his history with God. David made one stop on the way to the battle, visiting a nearby brook to gather stones as ammo for his sling. Even this seemingly insignificant act was connected to David’s history. The root Hebrew word from which “brook” is derived actually means “inheritance.”(2) That may seem strange, but Hebrew is a pictorial language, and this word pictures receiving something, then possessing the authority to control where it goes; thus, it is an “inheritance,” or a “streambed.” Actually, it is perfectly logical for Holy Spirit to use this symbolic picture of an “inheritance.” After all, it WAS David’s land, his inheritance. David held his “history” in one hand, reached into his “inheritance” with the other, then ran to face the giant. And yet, there is still one more connection to David’s history which played a part in this battle with Goliath: his Judah nature, his DNA. Many Christians know that Judah means “praise.” That, however, is a derived meaning. In this pictorial language, the Hebrew word actually pictures the extending of the hand. This is why the word is used for “praise” – we raise or extend our hands when we praise. However, because Judah means to extend the hand, it also means “one who throws a stone.”(3) In his history, David was from “the tribe that throws stones!” I sometimes imagine David as a young boy, spending countless hours alone, watching his father’s sheep. He obviously turned those times into many hours of communing with God. Early in that season, he must have thought, What weapon do I want to become proficient with? A bow? Somehow, that didn’t seem appealing to him. Perhaps a sword is what I should learn to use, he may have thought. No, that isn’t me, either. Suddenly, from somewhere deep in the heart of this young shepherd boy, a thought began to waft up: I’m from the tribe that throws stones. And the rest, as they say, is history. I don’t need a sword or spear, David thought as he prepared to face the uncircumcised Philistine. The land he’s trying to steal was given by God to the stone-throwing tribe - my tribe! What I need to do is reach back in my history and deep into my DNA. We believers in America, are going to defeat the giants invading our nation, and will do so in part using the same weapon David used: our spiritual history. The God who formed and preserved America in her past will fight for her today. As you pray for our nation, boldly declare His past faithfulness, believing in the power of testimony. Speak of our birth; declare about the revivals of the past; wave the Appeal To Heaven flag. Here are two quotes from John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States and son of John and Abigail Adams, that you can use as weapons: “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.” (John Quincy Adams, July 4, 1821)(4) In 1837, at the age of 69, in delivering a Fourth of July speech at Newburyport, Massachusetts, Adams said: “Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day? Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?”(5) Pray with me: Father, we thank You for the many victories You have given America over the years. Thank You for Your supernatural help when we were created as a nation. You aided us in this endeavor when success looked absolutely impossible. We have inscribed that history not only into our history books, but also our hearts. Like David with his staff, we carry that history with us into today’s battles. We refuse to fear today’s giants. They are small when measured against You. We wave the Appeal To Heaven flag, as did Washington and his troops, and declare Your faithfulness. We wave the flag over abortion. We wave it over idolatry. We wave it over unrighteous government. We wave it over our godless education system. We wave it over dishonest media. We wave it boldly and declare, “You are saving America!” Our decree: We decree that America exists for the glory of Christ. We will war with that truth, and overcome the spiritual giants trying to rule our nation. *********************** Yesterday and today’s posts are taken from my book Giants Will Fall. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- Strong, James. The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Red-Letter Edition. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001). Reference no. 3034. Ibid., ref. nos. 5157 and 5158. Ibid., ref. no. 3034. William Federer, America’s God and Country, FAME Publishing Inc., 1994, p. 18. Ibid.
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-9-2025 December 9, 2025 The Power of Our Covenantal History When preparing to share at the Flashpoint Gala this past Saturday night, Holy Spirit reminded me of David’s victory over Goliath, applying the story to our battle today with spiritual giants. What many do not know is that David defeated Goliath on the strength of his covenantal history with God. The lessons are important for us. The first thing God tells us in the story is the location of the battle. “Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines,” (1 Samuel 17:1-2). I realize that doesn’t interest you. You’re like me, Come on, Holy Spirit, get to the good stuff: Goliath’s description; the drama of his taunts; the fear of the Israelites; David, the young sheepherder; the battle; off with the giant’s head. I skipped those two boring verses for the first 60 years of my life. And missed a nugget. This location was in the territory of Judah, which was the tribe of Israel David was part of. Holy Spirit was informing us, right from the start, that this land belonged to David and his tribe. It had been given to them by God generations ago. David had more than squatter’s rights to the property the giant was trying to claim; he had divine rights. If he followed God’s instructions, the truth of these first two verses of the story assured him of victory. The God who created and owns the earth (see Psalm 24:1) had the right to assign it to whomever He pleased. And in history, He had given it to the tribe David belonged to. Battle over. Don’t think so? I’ll give you another reference that reinforces this truth. When Nehemiah was allowed by the Persian King Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem in order to rebuild its walls, he faced great opposition. The locals, led by Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, despised the Jews and were determined to stop them from building. When Nehemiah faced their threats and opposition, he stated his case for success in one verse: “I answered by saying, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We, His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it,’” (Nehemiah 2:20 NIV). “We have a historical, God-given right to this city,” Nehemiah declared. “You don’t. Therefore, we win, you lose.” Case closed. It is beyond doubt that God raised up America for His purposes. He owns America, just as He does the entire earth; in that right of ownership, He delegated stewardship of this nation to followers of Christ, believers who would partner with Him in His great cause of redeeming the world. Do not listen to the liars and revisionists that say otherwise, be they secularists or deceived Christian leaders. If the body of Christ in America fully grasps this revelation, the giants attempting to steal our nation have no chance. Uncircumcised Philistine David’s next “history weapon” can be seen in the fact that not once did he call Goliath by name. He referred to him only as the “uncircumcised Philistine.” What is that all about? Imagine two guys about to fight, perhaps in a bar or at a rugby match, who begin shouting insults at one another. Jed: “You’re ugly.” Jethro: “Your mama is ugly.” Jed: “You’re a wimp.” Jethro: “You couldn’t beat up a flea.” I know, these are a little weak. Not exactly Rambo-level insults, but I’m trying to keep it clean here. And you get my point: insults and degrading salvos are flying back and forth. Then, one of them shouts at the other, sealing the deal with the ultimate insult: “Well, you’re UNCIRCUMCISED!” Huh? Didn’t see that one coming. As strange as it seems, there was actually an important reason for David’s choice of names. Circumcision symbolized covenant with God (Genesis 17:13). Since the days of Abraham, this had been the case. It was, some believe, a requirement mandated by God for health purposes. Circumcision served the added purpose, however, of picturing New Testament believers who would have the “flesh” of our hearts circumcised (see Romans 2:28-29). For our purposes in this story, however, what we must understand is that David was stating to the giant, “I’m in covenant with God; you’re not. Since those in covenant with one another share a military alliance you’ll be fighting God, not just me. This battle won’t be decided by your size, experience, weaponry, or strength. It was decided a long time ago when my great-granddad cut covenant with God, and I’m going to defeat you through my covenantal history. I win; you lose.” No wonder secularists want to deny America’s history with God! We shouldn’t be surprised that former President Obama once said we were not a Christian nation, contending that we were also a Muslim nation, a Hindu nation, an atheist nation, and so on.(1) Karl Marx once said, “The first battlefield is to rewrite history.”(2) The demons controlling Marx knew the importance and power of history. And, of course, demons today inspire anti-Christ forces in America to try and rewrite our history for the same reasons. As believers, we must stake our claim to the fact that God birthed America, and that He and our Founders made covenantal promises to one another. I’m not suggesting that God and those who came to these shores entered into a covenant on the same level as the old and new covenants in Scripture. There are different levels of covenants, however. The biblical word means “a compact, confederacy, league.”(3) The great Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon defines it not only as covenant, but as “an alliance (of friendship); an alliance (of marriage); a constitution; agreement.” The fact that our Founders covenanted with God when they came to this land is beyond dispute. Take time to read America’s Covenant With God by Dr. Eddie Hyatt, which makes this abundantly clear. Here is a link to that article. Do not underestimate the importance of this. God put into the hearts of our forefathers to come to this land. He did so to raise up a nation that would form an “alliance,” a “sacred agreement” (the definitions of covenant) to partner with Him for the propagation of the gospel to all the earth, to be a city on a hill shining His light for all to see. Obviously, God’s intent was not for this to be accomplished through mistreating First Nations people. Agreements, covenants, and purchases of the land could have taken place with them, just as William Penn did in what is now Pennsylvania.(4) His land and covenant is the “seed” of our nation (Penn’s words), not Washington, D.C. God’s plan is obviously for all races and ethnicities to share in the privilege of representing Him and enjoying the benefits that come with this. God redeems and cleanses nations, however, and continues to use America, just as He did with Abraham and Israel. We must believe this and do as David: stake our claim to this land based on our alignment with God and His plans, purposes, and promises. That is what empowers us to take out spiritual giants. Well-meaning leaders alone won’t do so, nor will wealth, great strategies, strong armies, wise educators, or pure motives. Covenant will overthrow spiritual giants! People aligned in covenant share resources and strengths; they also share enemies. If the Ekklesia in America faces the giants of our day armed with the decrees that this land belongs to God (“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,” Psalm 24:1); that He Himself established our nation to represent Him; and resist the giants in His name - we will defeat them! War with covenant! War with history! Pray with me: Father, we thank You for America’s history with You. We are humbled by the privilege of partnering with You in Your great cause. Thank You for cleansing and healing our unrighteous past. The powers of darkness have determined to cripple and ultimately stop us from being a voice and light for You, but Your mercies endure forever! We place our faith in the eternal covenant we have with You through Christ. We also stand on the alliances our Founders made with You, and on the fact that You keep covenant and mercy to a thousand generations (Deuteronomy 7:9). We reach back into our history, declare our faith in You, and decree that we will once again be a light to the nations. We will once again be a strong voice of the gospel and of freedom to all the nations of the earth. The spiritual giants opposing You in America are in covenant with satan and his kingdom, whom You have defeated and stripped of authority. Therefore, in the authority of Christ’s name, we decree that the giants of unrighteous government, false religion, and all other antichrist forces will fall and Jesus will be exalted. Revival is here and coming, and America shall be saved. We pray and decree these things in Jesus’ name, amen. Our decree: We decree that empowered by our covenant with Yahweh through the blood of Jesus Christ, and the covenant America made with Him as a nation, we will defeat every giant of darkness in America. ************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------ Obama, Barack. “‘Call to Renewal’ Keynote Address.” Washington, D.C., June 2006. https://sojo.net/articles/transcript-obamas-2006-sojournerscall-renewal-address-faith-and-politics Washington, Ellis. The Progressive Revolution: History of Liberal Fascism Through the Ages, Volume V, 2014-15 Writings. (Lanham, MD: Hamilton Books, 2017). p. 219. Strong, James. The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Red-Letter Edition. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001). Reference no. 1285. https://www.historycentral.com/TheColonies/peenind.html
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-8-2025 December 8, 2025 Introduction I am coming to the end of a long, very demanding travel schedule. Last week I was on the road for the entire week. To help me out, I asked some of our favorite Give Him 15 guests to write posts. They have been outstanding. Today is the final day of guest posts, and this one comes from our good friend and host of FlashPoint, Gene Bailey. Gene gives us a wake-up call regarding Islam’s intent to transform our nation. We must oppose this, even as we pray for the salvation of every Muslim, whom we love. Gene’s title is: The Final Countdown My topic today is a sensitive one for many believers, but it really shouldn’t be. We know who the ruler of the universe is. We know who went to the Cross and we know who rose from the dead forever to rule with the Father in heaven. Yes, we know Jesus. But sometimes it’s easy for believers to forget the enemy has many ways to wage war against the Body of Christ. Today, I’m going to hit head-on the war that is facing the body of Christ. Today, more than ever, we need to know the tactics of the enemy. Portions of today’s post are from Bill Federer’s book, What Every American Needs to Know About the Qu’ran. In 2006, Keith Ellison of Minnesota became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress. Niraj Warikoo of the Detroit Free Press (12/25–26/06), quoted Ellison’s speech: “You can’t back down. You can’t chicken out. You can’t be afraid. You got to have faith in Allah, and you’ve got to stand up and be a real Muslim.” Ellison, who said little about being a Muslim while campaigning, went on to tell his Islamic audience: “We’re going to continue to face them. They’re not going to stop right away. But if you, and me too, stick together, if we believe in Allah, Subandhu wata’ala, if we turn to the Qur’an for guidance, we’ll find an answer to the questions we have.” If one turns for guidance to the Qur’an, which Keith Ellison swore into office upon, one finds many disconcerting verses within its chapters, called suras. I want to be as concise as possible here. These are taken directly from the Qu’ran: “Believers, take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends.” (Sura 5:51) “Infidels are those who declare: ‘God is the Christ, the son of Mary.’” (Sura 5:17) “Infidels are those that say ‘God is one of three in a Trinity.’” (Sura 5:73) “Make war on the infidels who dwell around you.” (Sura 9:123) “The infidels are your sworn enemies.” (Sura 4:101) “When you meet the infidel in the battlefield, strike off their heads.” (Sura 47:4) “Mohammed is Allah’s apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the infidels.” (Sura 48:29) “Prophet, make war on the infidels.” (Sura 66:9) “Kill the disbelievers wherever we find them.” (Sura 2:191) “The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger ... will be that they will be killed or crucified or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off or will be expelled out of the land.” (Sura 5:33) “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” (Sura 9:29) “Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom.” (Sura 47:4) “Believers, do not make friends with those who have incurred the wrath of Allah.” (Sura 60:13) “Never be a helper to the disbelievers.” (Sura 28:86) Are these verses from the Qur’an taken out of context? Does it matter if a politician swears on a Qur’an? Is it Islamophobic to be concerned? Is Islam a peaceful religion? A stock investment may sound good, but the investor must do diligence and examine the track record of its past performance. Similarly, one must examine the track record of Islam’s past performance to see how the Qur’an has been interpreted throughout history. As the axiom goes, “Past performance is the best indicator of future behavior.” “When the first Muslim American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the Holy Qur’an,” stated President Obama in Cairo, Egypt, June 4, 2009. The dilemma is, can one swear to defend the Constitution upon a book which seeks to replace it? The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the “free exercise” of religion, yet Mohammed said, “Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him.” (Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Book 84, No. 57). Islamic law relegates non-Muslims to “dhimmi” status, where they are not to propagate their customs amongst Muslims and cannot display a Cross, Christmas decorations, or a Star of David. Does it really matter if one swears upon a Bible, a Qur’an, a Bhagavad Gita, a cookbook, or a comic book? Laying the cornerstone of the Jewish Community Center, May 3, 1925, President Calvin Coolidge stated: “The patriots who laid the foundation of this Republic drew their faith from the Bible ... We cannot escape the conclusion that if American democracy is to remain the greatest hope of humanity, it must continue abundantly in the faith of the Bible.” Calvin Coolidge stated at the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 5, 1926: “The principles of human relationship which went into the Declaration of Independence ... are found in the texts, the sermons ... of the early colonial clergy ... They preached equality because they believed in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. They justified freedom by the text that we are all created in the divine image … “The Declaration of Independence is a great spiritual document ... Equality, liberty, popular sovereignty, the rights of man–these are not elements which we can see and touch ... They have their source and their roots in the religious convictions ... “Unless the faith of the American in these religious convictions is to endure, the principles of our Declaration will perish. “We cannot continue to enjoy the result if we neglect and abandon the cause...We must go back and review the course which they followed ... They were intent upon religious worship and there was a wide understanding of Scripture. “We live in an age of science and of abounding accumulation of material things. These did not create our Declaration. Our Declaration created them. The things of the Spirit come first. Unless we cling to that, all our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren scepter in our grasp.” ****************** We are at the final countdown. If Christians do not stand up for the rights this country was founded upon, we will end up under Communistic Islam’s boot. Yes, you heard right, communism, socialism, and Islam are rapidly combining forces to overtake America. Even the Muslims who proclaim Islam is a peaceful religion will soon realize what is at our door. It’s time to choose… Pray with me: Heavenly Father, we come to You today ever so grateful for this nation and the blessings America has enjoyed. We know it is only because of You. We pray for a continued spiritual awakening in these United States. Show us how to be strong, how to be wise and bold as a lion when it comes to our faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Our decree: We decree every man and woman come to the knowledge that “There is only one God, and there is only one way that people can reach God. That way is through Christ Jesus, who as a man gave Himself to pay for everyone to be free,” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Christ said thou shall have NO other gods before Me. We, as His representatives on earth, enforce this truth. Jesus is Lord over the United States, the earth, and the universe. “That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow of those in heaven and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.!” (Philippians 2:10-11) ************************ Click on the link below to watch the full video.
-
- 2
-
-
-
- give him 15
- dutch sheets
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-4-2025 December 4, 2025 Introduction As I have been stating, I am coming to the end of a long, very demanding travel schedule. This is the final week of the stretch and I will be on the road the entire week. To help me out, I have asked some of our favorite Give Him 15 guests to write posts. They are outstanding. Today’s and tomorrow’s posts by revivalist Larry Sparks are inspirational exhortations on - you guessed it - revival! Today’s title is: Will You Make Room? Let every heart prepare Him room. Christmas. I love this time of year. While I thoroughly enjoy the festive decorations, mass quantities of sweet treats, and the overtly Christ-honoring carols blaring over speakers in shopping malls and coffee shops, there is a profound revelation captured in the Christmas story… about how we can welcome and receive more of the move of God in our lives, churches, and nation. So prepare for an unusual Christmas perspective! A verse in the Christmas story that challenges me to this day is Luke 2:7: And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (ESV). I want to highlight the last phrase, no place for them in the inn, and come back to that. Right Now… Prophetically, I am convinced we are living in the days of Ezekiel 47. I’ve shared this with the amazing Give Him 15 audience in times past about how this portion of Scripture gives us a stunning illustration of the different levels, depths, and dimensions of the river of revival. Every week, we are witnessing thousands turning to Christ through major evangelistic outreaches (Greg Laurie’s Harvest crusades), Unite US gatherings held at public universities, and the incredible work that local churches across the world are doing, day after day, to see a harvest of souls brought to Christ. God is moving, the river is flowing. Wild Celebration… but Thirsty for More When I consider that Oceanside, California, hosted the largest water baptism in American history this year, I celebrate wildly (and that it involved multiple churches and ministries working together). When I review the thousands coming to faith in Christ through Greg Laurie’s Harvest crusades, I am overwhelmed. When I am bombarded on social media with reports of the thousands of students who are attending the Unite US college gatherings, and the hundreds and thousands who are turning to Christ, getting water baptized, and experiencing genuine transformation, I am filled with thanksgiving. These are only three examples of the spiritual activity we have witnessed just this year, and the only response we should offer is wild celebration… with no “buts.” What I means is, I don’t want to be a revival connoisseur (thank you Tommy and Miriam Evans for this colorful designation) where I “tip my hat” to what God is doing, but I cannot get too excited because I am either being overly cautious, or worse, I refuse to celebrate until the move of God taking place suits my personal preference. I wonder if this is how people have missed revivals, awakenings, and moves of God in times past: they refused to celebrate what God was doing because it did not look like their idea of a move of God. My encouragement: wild celebration will position you to appropriately pray and cry out for more. God is a god of stewardship, and He is searching to and fro throughout the Earth for those who will recognize what He is doing, celebrate it, and steward His activity. So, I celebrate wildly what the Lord is presently doing, but until we see people overshadowed by the Holy Spirit to such a degree that their shadow releases healing and deliverance (according to Acts 5), I’m crying out for more. Until I see people so saturated with the Spirit that their everyday clothing releases healing and deliverance anointing (Acts 19), I’m crying out for more. Until I see notable miracles break open entire cities and territories for the expansion of the Gospel (Acts 9), I’m crying out for more. There’s always more of God for us to experience, but please understand, to experience more, we need to make room for the more. Not a Tame Lion We have been gloriously experiencing the beginning stages of Ezekiel 47, where the prophet describes being ankle deep, knee deep, and waist deep in the River of God (see v. 2-4). We’ve been witnessing a beautiful measure of God’s move in our nation right now, and while we celebrate, we recognize there are deeper dimensions accessible to us. Are we waiting for God to do something sovereign? I am convinced the Sovereign Lord has extended an invitation to us, basically asking, How deep do you want to go? I believe we are at a threshold. When you are standing in a river up to your ankles, knees, or even waist, you can still control the environment. You still have your footing on the ground. It’s stable, it’s safe. You don’t run the risk of the river completely consuming you and thrusting you into its wild current. But there is a dimension of God summoning us that is wild. It’s where we experience the wildness of the Lion of Judah. Perhaps one of the most iconic and appropriate descriptions of this expression of our Great King is the conversation between Susan and Mr. Beaver in C.S. Lewis’ iconic masterpiece, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In describing the lion Aslan, a type and shadow of Christ, we read this conversation between the characters: “Aslan is a lion– the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh,” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”...“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver …“Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” In the same book, Mr. Tumnus notes, “He’s wild, you know. Not a tame lion.” These descriptions are not meant to frighten, but invite us into deeper encounters with the Living God. For centuries (even back to the days of Jesus), a religious spirit has sought to put God in a box. Sadly, this same spirit is alive and well today, and it might be the primary enemy of the Spirit’s move in our lives and world. It’s a perspective that demands God Almighty to fit in a box of expectation and comfort. But we all know that Yahweh has never fit in any box. A funny, but practical example of what this might look like. My pastor and spiritual father, Dr. Norman Benz, recounts the season of unusual spiritual outpouring in their Florida church in 1997 (sustained for several years). When people were touched by the Spirit’s power, they would shake, fall, and weep. They would also laugh… uproariously. Pastor Norman recounts, “I didn’t like the laughter... but I know it was God.” That’s a sign of maturity, where we welcome God on His own terms. We cannot judge a move of the Holy Spirit by our personal preferences. Maybe our preference is a few quiet tears are shed, when in fact, the wild River of God wants to touch someone radically with holy laughter and liberate them from decades of fear and depression. Will We Make Room for the Wild River? …there was no place for them in the inn. I don’t want this to be said of my life. Oh, I long to be a place where the Spirit can rest and do His unrestrained work. But an unrestrained mighty work of the Holy Spirit demands that we have an absolute and unwavering trust in His control. His way, His plan. When we make room for the Spirit’s work in our lives and in our midst, no matter what it looks like or what reproach we might receive, we are truly entering the realm of the Wild River—the next stop on Ezekiel’s journey. “Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.” (Ezekiel 47:5) ********** Pray with me: Father, every time Your Holy Spirit moves with power, it’s a confirmation that Jesus died, rose again, and received everything He prayed for. Jesus prayed to You, Father, that we would experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. So in this season, I ask for a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit on my life. My family. My city. My nation. Send Your Spirit, Lord, for Jesus’s sake! Lord, send Your Wild River of revival that we cannot control---that floods the Earth with salvation, healing, deliverance, and supernatural transformation. Our decree: We decree that we will make room for the move and presence of the Holy Spirit, no matter the cost. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------ For additional inspiration on how you position yourself to experience personal revival during this Advent Season, please download my free e-book, The Glory Has Come, at www.larrysparksministries.com/gloryhascome Link to Free E-book, www.larrysparksministries.com/gloryhascome About Larry Sparks Larry Sparks has spent over two decades in ministry, igniting hunger for the Holy Spirit and calling the Church into revival and awakening. A Master of Divinity graduate from Regent University and mentee of Pentecostal historian Dr. Vinson Synan, he served as publisher of Destiny Image for 13 years. Today, Larry travels globally—preaching, teaching, and sounding a prophetic call for the Church to return to Book of Acts-level prayer, presence, and power. He is the bestselling author of Pentecostal Fire and serves on the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders under Cindy Jacobs. He lives in Texas with his wife and daughter. References: Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
-
- 2
-
-
- give him 15
- dutch sheets
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-3-2025 December 3, 2025 Introduction As I stated yesterday, I am coming to the end of a long, very demanding travel schedule. This is the final week of the stretch and I will be on the road the entire week. To help me out, I have asked some of our favorite Give Him 15 guests to write posts. They are outstanding. Today’s inspiring post by our friend, Cheryl Sacks, which I’ll be reading, points out the incredible speed at which God is moving us into revival, and challenges us to “keep pace with what He is doing!” Cheryl’s title is: Racing into Acceleration I was seated in a bobsled at the top of a gleaming ice-carved track, poised at the edge of impossibility. The course shone brilliantly white, majestic, and alive with activity. Endless bobsleds stretched before us—filled with athletes, all waiting for the race to begin. Then, without warning, we were catapulted forward. The acceleration was instantaneous—a breathtaking surge that tore the air from my lungs. We hurtled down the track, slashing around razor-sharp curves, plunging into valleys, then shooting up blinding inclines. The sled tilted and lifted, threatening to break free from the ice. My heart pounded, caught between exhilaration and sheer terror. It was a dream the Lord gave me thirty years ago—one He has brought back to me with an urgency I cannot ignore—because the acceleration I saw then is what we are entering now. In the dream, we weren’t steering; we were being carried—drawn by a power far greater than human strength. The wind roared, the ice shook beneath us, and it felt as though creation itself was trembling. This wasn’t just speed—it was divine momentum. Heaven’s purposes were racing toward fulfillment. Then I woke up. Instantly, I knew the Lord was unveiling a time of divine acceleration—when events on earth would unfold with breathtaking speed. You and I are stepping into a spiritual hour unlike anything this generation has ever witnessed. We are living in the fulfillment of what the prophet Amos described: “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up.” Amos 9:13 (MSG) Yes, darkness is spiraling quickly, but God’s movement is advancing even faster. What looks like chaos is actually divine momentum. This is the hour when shaking and awakening collide—when disruption jolts the Church awake and draws multitudes to the Truth. We must be ready. I hear the Lord saying, “What you have now cannot contain the magnitude of what is coming. Now is the time to prepare for the masses of lost people who will run toward truth in this shaking hour.” The Time Is Now If you want to see what divine acceleration looks like in real time, let me share the story of my friend Des Wadsworth, pastor of Grace Community Church. Once a thriving megachurch, the congregation had dwindled through five pastoral transitions. When Des moved from the U.K. to take the reins, he found a faithful but weary flock—mostly older believers—and only fifty students in the college ministry, despite being located beside a major university. After five years of laboring with little fruit, Des came to the end of himself. He cried out to the Lord for direction. Just before the New Year, the Lord answered with a single word: “PRAY!” Des realized he had been a man who prayed but was not yet a praying man. And Grace was a church that prayed, but not yet a praying church. That revelation pierced him. Everything was about to change. He announced to his elders, “We are going to become a praying church!” From that moment, things shifted. Every meeting—children’s classes, board meetings, worship rehearsals, Sunday services—was preceded by prayer. Des began leading the Monday night prayer meeting, and every church leader started attending. Almost overnight, the prayer meeting surged—from a handful of intercessors to ninety—and then climbed past 350. The college ministry began to grow, too—fifty students became five hundred. Then it grew by five hundred every week. Students filled the 1,200-seat sanctuary every Thursday night for worship, prayer, and Bible study. They packed every inch of standing room, then filled two overflow buildings, linked by livestream. Des’s son, who leads the college ministry, said, “Dad, students won’t think watching a livestream in another building is cool.” But there was no option—the hunger was too great. That night, when they gave a simple, old-fashioned call to accept Christ—inviting students to stand and come forward—young people rose to their feet everywhere, even in the overflow buildings. There is no elaborate setup. No big-name speakers. No hype—and yet they keep coming. Last week, 1,800 Gen Z-ers poured in—desperate for God. Des said they never asked God for a larger church or a bigger college ministry. They simply prayed the Lord would bring in the lost. And that He did—so powerfully they can’t contain the numbers coming. Today, the church that was aging and dwindling is alive—bursting at the seams with young people passionately pursuing God. The older generation isn’t just sitting in pews—they’re discipling the younger ones. What’s happening at Grace Community Church is not an isolated story—it’s a prophetic picture of what God is releasing across the land. Nowhere is this more visible than in Gen Z. A generation once lost in confusion is running toward truth. The same move of the Spirit transforming Grace is breaking out on university campuses. And it’s spreading nationwide. Large-scale ‘UniteUS’ college gatherings are igniting worship, prayer, and the proclamation of the Gospel. Thousands of students are accepting Christ and being baptized. Gen Z’s foundations are shaking. They are searching for something real—something unshakable. Many are discovering the only answer is Jesus. The assassination of Charlie Kirk sent a shockwave through Gen Z, intensifying a movement already stirring and confronting many with the seriousness of the hour. A generation is waking up—right before our eyes. The harvest is massive. How will we disciple them? The Book of Acts gives us a clear model: believers gathered in the temple and from house to house. Healings and miracles broke out in the streets. Thousands were born again every day, and homes became places of discipleship and encounter. We are seeing this pattern again—believers ignited with holy fire, homes transformed into revival centers because the harvest is so great. In places such as San Francisco—where many might never set foot inside a church—believers like our daughter and her husband are opening their doors. They are inviting neighbors and families from their kids’ sports teams into their home. As conversations unfold and friendships form, hearts open. People notice God’s peace and presence; they ask questions, and before long, they’re being discipled around the kitchen table. This is the kind of grassroots discipleship that will enable us to steward revival and sustain the harvest. This is not the hour to retreat or wait for things to settle. The shaking around us is not subsiding—it’s escalating. Comfort zones are being dismantled, and the Church is being summoned to the front lines. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. Every believer is needed—every prayer, every act of courage, every voice that will speak truth and hope into the chaos. It is no longer a question of if revival will come; revival is here. The real question is: Will we be able to keep pace with what He is doing? We are being carried forward by a move of the Spirit, accelerating with undeniable force. I hear His urgent call: Where are the ones who will rise to contend in prayer for the lost, get ready to disciple the harvest, rebuild the spiritual altars of our homes, our churches, and our nation? Is it you? Will you say, “Here am I, Lord, send me”? Pray with me: Heavenly Father, we say “yes” to Your divine acceleration. Empower us to build altars of prayer in our homes and churches. Pour out Your Spirit upon our campuses and cities. Let revival flow from home to home, heart to heart, until the earth is filled with Your glory. Our decree: We decree that this move of God cannot be contained; it cannot be stopped. The harvest will come in. Churches will overflow; college campuses will be aflame. Our homes will become revival centers, our families will burn with holy fire, and the sound of awakening will thunder across this land! **************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- Cheryl Sacks and her husband, Hal, are leaders of BridgeBuilders Int’l, Phoenix, AZ. Their newest books, Fire on the Family Altar: Experience the Holy Spirit’s Power in Your Home and Unshakable: How to Prepare for Uncertain Times, will equip you for the days ahead.
-
- 2
-
-
-
- give him 15
- dutch sheets
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/december-1-2025 December 1, 2025 The Walk I love to walk. The farthest I’ve walked in one day, is just over twenty miles. I know the distance because on a hunt, my nephew measured it using his GPS. On this particular day, such a long walk wasn’t planned. My brother Tim, his son, another friend, and I were scouting, looking for the best way in and out of a specific location. We were confident there was a dirt road at the base of the mountain we were standing on because we could see portions of it. The woods, however, were too thick to see where it led. We debated for a few minutes whether to carefully make the VERY steep descent, which was a LONG way down. If we were wrong about where the road led, the climb all the way back up the steep mountain would be grueling and dangerous, if not impossible. But since we really wanted to check out the road and were confident it would lead us out, we decided to take the risk. We were wrong. Way wrong. I can’t begin to tell you just how wrong we were! The road was actually on the other side of a broad stream. No way across. And even if we could have gotten across, the road was on private land! The area was gorgeous, with lush meadows bordering aspen trees and the beautiful mountain stream. But there was no access to the road. Thinking we would no doubt find another road if we followed the stream, we walked a mile or so. Eventually, we happened upon another hunter sitting at the edge of the stream. Relieved, we conversed for a few minutes, then asked him where another road out of the area was located. “There is no road out of here,” he answered. “There has to be,” we insisted, our concern mounting. “My dad and I have been hunting here for twenty-five years,” he said, “and I guarantee you there is no road in or out of here. The dirt road across the stream is private, and the owner allows NO ONE to use it. You can’t get over there, anyway.” “How did you get here?” we asked, still unwilling to believe him. “Horseback. We pack in and camp for the week.” We told him where we had parked on top of the mountain, and asked him how to get to it. With a slight grin and a confident demeanor, he pointed to a trail we could see meandering several thousand feet up the mountain. “Up that trail, boys,” he said. “That’s the only way out of here. That’s why they call it ‘Hell Hole.’” Shocked and a little panicky, we said, “We have to be out by dark!” It was around noon at the time. He gave us a warning smile and a piece of advice: “Then you’d better get going.” We made it just before dark - with sore feet, tired legs, and bragging rights: We’d been to “hell” and back. Actually, it wasn’t that bad for a true walker. And it was so gorgeous down there, I’ve always wanted to go back. Hey, if you wanna make the memory, you gotta take the walk! If a person planned ahead, packed a lunch, and plenty of water, it wouldn’t be all that bad. And the peaceful meadow nestled up against the beautiful mountain stream - well, it was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The higher we climbed on our way out, the more beautiful the view of the stream and meadows below became. To me, Hell Hole was Heavenly, a view and an experience I’ll never forget. Perspective is everything. Enoch was a walker. You’ve probably heard of him. He was the guy whose friendship brought Yahweh such pleasure that the Lord decided to go ahead and translate him to heaven: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him,” (Genesis 5:24). The concept of Enoch “walking” with God is fascinating. The Hebrew word used can mean several things. It describes the flowing of a river, the descending of a flood, the blowing of the wind, the tossing of the sea and, of course, walking. The basic idea is movement. It is used metaphorically to speak of the pathways of one’s life. For example, a son can “walk in” or “follow after” the ways of a father. Enoch followed after God and His ways, walking with Him on the pathway of his life. The meaning is quite simple: He lived life with God. Not satisfied with the mundane existence of life without God, Enoch decided to prioritize and enjoy the pleasure of His company. Somehow, he knew walking with God was a decision HE had to make - not God. The Scriptures do not say, “God walked with Enoch,” although that obviously occurred as they spent time together. No, the wording is important and the point is clear: “Enoch walked with God.” The Scriptures do tell us how the Lord felt about this relationship, however. The New Testament says of Enoch: “He obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God” (Hebrews 11:5). “Pleasing” is from the Greek word euarestos. “Well-pleasing” would be a more literal translation; the prefix eu means “well” or “good,”(1) and arestos means “to please.”(2) Seeing other people gloat over their grandkids has always been pleasing (arestos) to me. Now, having my own grandkids is well-pleasing (euarestos). Enoch’s walk was more than pleasing to God; it was well-pleasing. This hyphenated word isn’t used much nowadays. A more contemporary way of describing Enoch’s relationship with God would simply be that he brought Him “great pleasure.” The Passion Translation uses the word “pleasure” in this verse: “[Enoch’s] life had become a pleasure to God.” Fascinating, isn’t it? What is for us “the pleasure of His company“ can become for God “the pleasure of our company.” For most, this is an unheard-of concept. It’s one thing to believe God can use us. And believing that our obedience to His laws pleases Him? No problem. But I can’t help but wonder how many people realize their presence can bring pleasure to the Lord. Don’t be deceived into thinking that only a few spiritual elites, such as Enoch, could have such a relationship with the Lord. Paul said to the Corinthians, “We also have as our ambition… to be euarestos to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). A literal rendering of the latter part of Hebrews 12:28 would read, “Let us have gratitude, by which we can offer to God euarestos worship with reverence and awe.” It absolutely is possible to become a pleasure to Father God. When this is known and embraced, life becomes an exciting and glorious journey. Yes, there will be hills to climb, but they’re part of a wonderful destiny to fulfill, not a journey to endure. And the higher you climb, the more magnificent the view. Whatever else you do today, be sure to also spend some quality time with Abba. You were made for His pleasure. Take the walk! Pray with me: Father, teach us to walk in rhythm with the beat of Your heart. We know it brings great pleasure to You. We want to be pleasing and delightful to You. Help us to prioritize, reroute, and walk tirelessly, following the ways of Your heart. May the cry from within us be as Moses’: “I’ll only move forward if You do.” We choose to be led along on the pathway that brings honor and glory to You. May pleasing You, Father, be our greatest ambition, such that when our lives on this side of eternity end, it will be said of us that we walked faithfully with You, choosing to offer You the pleasure of our company. And Father, though America - and many other nations - are in challenging situations, even “hell holes,” You are willing to transform them all into redeemed places of beauty. Reveal Your gracious heart. May many nations taste and see that You are good, Your ways just. We call this forth in the name of our great Redeemer, Christ Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we WILL walk with God, pleasing Him and enjoying the pleasure of His company. ***************************** 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. ---------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 2101. Ibid, ref no. 701.
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-28-2025 November 28, 2025 Thanksgiving, One More Time In keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, today I’m going to do something just a little different. I am sharing the words of four of my all-time favorite hymns, releasing them as praise and thanksgiving to our great God. I love many of the old hymns. Personally, I believe we should incorporate them into our charismatic and contemporary worship more often. They are not only reverential, majestic, offer heartfelt thanks to the Lord, and declare the greatness of God, they are filled with tremendous theology that, sadly, many believers seldom hear. The hymns will be our post and our prayer. I hope you enjoy these masterpieces as much as I did compiling them. Hymn Number One “Reginald Heber was born in 1783 to a wealthy, educated family, and died in 1826. He was a bright youth, translating a Latin classic into English by the time he was seven, entering Oxford at 17, and winning two awards for his poetry during his time there. After graduating, he entered the ministry and over the course of his life wrote 57 hymns, one of which is an all-time favorite of mine. “Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity! “2. Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea. Cherubim and seraphim, falling down before thee, Who was and is and evermore shall be. “3. Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide thee, Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see, Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee, Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity. “4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea; Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.”(1) Hymn Number Two “Thomas O. Chisholm was born in Franklin, Kentucky, in 1866 and died in 1960. His boyhood was spent on a farm, and then he taught district schools. He spent five years as editor of the local paper at Franklin. He was converted to Christianity at the age of 26, and in 1903, he entered the ministry. His aim in writing hymns was to incorporate as much Scripture as possible and to avoid flippant or sentimental themes. I think you will agree with me that he certainly succeeded in the following hymn. “Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father; There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be. “Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness, Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hast provided; Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. “2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness, To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. [Refrain] “3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside. [Refrain]”(2) Hymn Number Three “Carl Gustaf Boberg (1859-1940) was born and lived his years in Sweden. After finishing his time as a sailor, he began working as a lay minister; he was also the editor of a newspaper and served in the Swedish Parliament. Jason Soroski gives us the following story regarding the hymn he gave us. “In 1885, [Boberg] was inspired by the sound of church bells ringing during a wild thunderstorm, and penned the poem ‘O Great God.’ “…three years later, someone liked it enough to match the words with a traditional Swedish melody, and when Boberg found out about it, he quickly published the poem once again in his own newspaper in 1891, this time with the musical notation added. “Fast forward a few decades to the 1930s - Somehow this poem put to music had traveled across borders, and English missionary Stuart Hine heard the song (in Russian) while in Poland. Deeply moved by the song, he translated it into English, tweaked the musical arrangement, some of the wording, and took it home with him to England. [In English, the song title changed slightly.] “On to the 1940s - Evangelist Dr. Edwin Orr heard this new version of the song being sung by native tribal people in Assam, India, and being deeply inspired by it, he brought the song back to the United States. We are still unsure how the song ever got to India to start with. “In 1954, the song found its way into the hands of George Beverly Shea, who sang it nearly 100 times during Billy Graham’s 1957 New York crusade. In 1959, it became the theme song for Billy Graham’s weekly radio broadcast, bringing [it] into the national consciousness. “In 1978, the performing rights organization ASCAP named it as “The All-Time Outstanding Gospel Song” in America. It has consistently been listed as one of the greatest hymns ever written, usually falling at #2 (right behind Amazing Grace). “How astonishing that this song, recorded over 1,800 times in the last 50 years, had its origins as a poem in a small town in Sweden, written by a sailor turned lay-minister, and somehow wound its way around the globe.”(3) Believers around the world will be forever grateful that Boberg gifted us with this amazing hymn, How Great Thou Art. “O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works thy hands hath made, I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed; “Refrain: Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art! “2. When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze; [Refrain] “3. And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the cross my burden gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin; [Refrain] “4. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim “My God, how great thou art! (Refrain)”(4) Hymn Number Four And we simply can’t leave out this final hymn. “George Bennard (1873-1958) was born in Youngstown, OH. When he was a child the family moved to Albia, Iowa. He served with the Salvation Army in Iowa for several years before he was ordained in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1913, he secured his place in hymn-writing history by giving us the following classic. “On a hill far away stood an old rugged Cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. “Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged Cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged Cross, and exchange it some day for a crown. “2. Oh, that old rugged Cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear Lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary. [Refrain] “3. In that old rugged Cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see, for ‘twas on that old Cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me. [Refrain] “4. To that old rugged Cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear; then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, where His glory forever I’ll share. [Refrain]”(5) *********************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- https://hymnary.org/text/holy_holy_holy_lord_god_almighty_early https://hymnary.org/text/great_is_thy_faithfulness_o_god_my_fathe https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/the-story-you-don-t-know-behind-how-great-thou-art.html https://hymnary.org/text/o_lord_my_god_when_i_in_awesome_wonder https://hymnary.org/text/on_a_hill_far_away_stood_an_old_rugged
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-27-2025 November 27, 2025 A Day of Thanksgiving The pilgrims first celebrated the holiday Americans call Thanksgiving after their first harvest in 1621. History says it was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims. The gathering lasted three days. In 1789, our first President, George Washington, issued a national proclamation of “Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God.”(1) Abraham Lincoln issued another proclamation in 1863 and made it a national holiday, referring to it as “A day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”(2) In their proclamations, they refer to God as: The: Almighty God (three times); That great and glorious Being; Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; The great Lord and Ruler of the Nations; Most High God; and Beneficent Father. So much for the myth of separating God from America’s government. Washington’s and Lincoln’s proclamations are reverential and God-honoring. I won’t read them, as the verbiage and style of the day are a bit different than ours, but I have included them as an attachment at the end of today’s post for those who do wish to read them. The following is a proclamation and prayer for us to offer today; please agree with me as I read it: Heavenly Father, we in the United States pause today to acknowledge Your gracious and omnipotent hand. America was Your idea. You formed a nation of nations - Native Americans, Asians, Europeans, Africans, Latinos, Middle Easterners, and more. Though our journey included the inevitable challenges associated with human frailties, including sinful actions, Your sovereign power overcame our flaws and formed the United States of America. We are very aware that our birth was not just for our blessing and benefit; we were invited into a covenantal partnership with You to proclaim Your redemption from sin’s horrible curse. We acknowledge and agree with the words of Robert Hunt at Cape Henry in 1607: “The gospel of the kingdom will go forth from these shores, not only to this land, but to all the nations of the earth.” We agree with the words from Holy Scripture inscribed on the Liberty Bell: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof,” (Leviticus 25:10). This is America’s destiny and our great honor. We are thankful, Father, for the covenants our Christian Forefathers and Founders entered into with You. They sacrificed greatly in order to fulfill Your plan, knowing they were drawn to these shores – not just to enjoy liberty – but to accomplish Your divine purposes. We are grateful for their sacrifices made so long ago, and the incredible prosperity we have enjoyed due to their covenantal partnership with You. May they be forever honored and always see righteous fruit from their labors. Thank You for preserving us in times of war, disease, sin, and rebellion. In the war of our birth, we were saved through appealing to heaven; in the horrific Civil War, we fought one another and lost half a million sons, husbands, fathers, and brothers, yet You kept the dream alive; in two world wars, You preserved us from evil despots intent on ruling the world. Through all the difficulties and trials of four centuries, YOU have been faithful to preserve us. “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1). You have blessed this nation - of You, through You, and to You are all things. Thank You, gracious and beneficent God! Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man, on this day, we as a nation thank You for Your great sacrifice in becoming one of us - a member of the human race. Thank You for experiencing the gnawing pangs of hunger, for feeling the heartbreaking pain of a loved one’s death. Thank You for walking dusty roads to heal diseased bodies, taking detours to redeem thirsty hearts, and spending sleepless nights in prayer. Thank You for exposing the wiles and hatred of the serpent, the destructive power of pride, and modeling true love. Thank You for revealing the Father to us once again, and creating the way for us to reconnect with Him as our Abba, our Papa. Thank You for paying such an incredibly high price: the incarnation, the beatings and lashing, Gethsemane, the mocking, the crown of thorns, the wrath of Hell, the hideous Cross, the stain of sin, and sting of death. Thank You. Gracious Father, wonderful Savior, and blessed Holy Spirit, though we as a nation have dishonored, rejected, and even mocked You, Your love endures. We have worshiped idols, embraced false religions, shed innocent blood, defiled Your marriage covenant, and expelled You from our schools - yet Your mercies endure. Our government has risen up against You in pride and rebellion, rewritten Your laws, legislated murderous and immoral rights, and declared that You are no longer welcome in their functions and procedures - yet You have demonstrated amazing grace and patience. And while the church should have been Your instrument of preservation from these ills, she became lukewarm, complacent, and ineffective. In spite of these and many more evils, You have promised to save America, healing our brokenness, returning our hearts to You, and preserving our destiny. Thank You, gracious Father. Thank You for the restoration occurring in the church; thank You for the army of intercessors You have raised up here and around the world - we owe them so much. Thank You for the awakening that has begun in America, regarding both our spiritual condition and the horrible fruit this has produced. Thank You for the overthrowing of evil in our government that has begun. Thank You, in advance, for the greatest worldwide outpouring of Holy Spirit in all of history. Because of Your mercy, America will once again be a strong voice for the gospel of the Kingdom throughout the earth. For all of this and more, we give You thanks. Amen. And I thank YOU for being part of Give Him 15. Together, we are making a difference! President George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public Thanksgiving and Prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be - that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks - for His kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation - for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war - for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed - for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted - for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us. “And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions - to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually - to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed - to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord - To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us - and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. “Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.” (George Washington)(3) President Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation: “The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. The population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union. “In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed. “Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth. By the President: Abraham Lincoln.”(4) ***************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------- https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw8a.124/?q=1789+Thanksgiving&sp=132&st=text http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm https://www.mountvernon.org/education/primary-sources-2/article/thanksgiving-proclamation-of-1789/ http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-26-2025 November 26, 2025 Thanksgiving: The Communion Meal Tomorrow we will celebrate one of America’s greatest holidays. Today’s post will help you do so with greater understanding and, hopefully, an even greater appreciation for our many blessings. Although not widely known among most Americans, the holiday is linked to the Cross, our redemption, and the matchless grace of God. Grace The word “grace” is one of the most important terms in our language. In its broader application, “grace” encompasses the incarnation of Christ (His becoming human), His sufferings, the gift of our rebirth into God’s family, and every benefit we receive from this. We neither earned nor deserved any of these blessings; they are ours only through God’s grace, His “unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15), bestowed on us from His great love. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). “Grace” is derived from the Greek word charis,(1) a significant term that also conveys “goodwill, loving-kindness, or favor.” It is also translated as “thanks,” the response offered for benefits or favor.(2) Never at a loss for words, “Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament defines grace (charis) as the ‘spontaneous act of God that came from the infinite love in His heart, in which He stepped down from His judgment throne to take upon Himself the guilt and penalty of human sin, thus satisfying His justice, maintaining His government, and making possible the bestowal of salvation upon the sinner who receives it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who became a Sin-offering for him on the Cross’”(3) Wow! “The New Testament also uses other forms of this word: charizomai, ‘to give graciously’(4); and charisma, ‘a gift that is graciously given.’(5) For example, in 1 Corinthians 12:4, 9, 28, 30, and 31, the term charisma features prominently in Paul’s teaching about spiritual gifts. Paul stresses that the gifts of the Spirit are gifts of God’s grace. These spiritual ‘grace gifts’ are not developed through natural talent, but instead bestowed upon believers by God. In The Dynamics of Spiritual Gifts, William McRae defines a spiritual gift as ‘a divine endowment of a special ability for service upon a member of the body of Christ.’”(6) Mary and the Church Charis was also the root word used by Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1:28, telling her she was “highly favored” (charitoo),(7) Indeed! The honor of being entrusted to carry Christ in her womb, birth the Savior of the world, and then to nurture Him for Yahweh, was truly immeasurable favor. Yet, the same word is used one other time in Scripture, Ephesians 1:6, when describing the great favor granted to us as believers, who also now carry Christ in our spiritual wombs! Almighty God is in us!!! The fountain of life, the breath of God, the nature of God Himself is in us in the spirit of Christ. That gift comes from charis, grace. Thanksgiving Now, would it surprise you to know that charis, this Greek word for grace, is the root word for “thanksgiving”? Thanksgiving, or “the giving of thanks,” comes from the Greek word eucharistia. The word could also be translated “giving thanks for our grace gifts.” When America set aside a day “of public Thanksgiving and Prayer” to “Almighty God,” as George Washington stated in his official proclamation (which I will include in tomorrow’s post), it was to thank God for His incomparable benefits of grace through His Son, Jesus Christ! We aren’t simply giving thanks for the physical freedom, prosperity, and abundant blessings we enjoy in this great nation; we are acknowledging that we enjoy these things because of the grace of God and the gift of His Son! Communion And for the icing on the cake, or should we say the stuffing in the turkey, this Greek word for Thanksgiving (eucharistia) is also the word for the Eucharist, the Lord’s Table: Communion. This covenant meal is called the Eucharist, not just by Catholics but also by many evangelicals, because it’s a word Jesus used when initiating the meal: “when He had given thanks” (eucharisteo). He then gave the disciples the bread and wine, which represented His body and blood (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). “Thanksgiving” originated, not with the Pilgrims, but at the Last Supper, when God’s “grace meal” was inaugurated! Tomorrow, when sharing the meal with family and friends, remember that Thanksgiving is rooted in the Lord’s Table, Communion, through which we celebrate God’s “grace gift” of His Son to us. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Your unspeakable gift, Yeshua, and His sacrifice. Through Him, we have been welcomed into Your family, made Your heirs and His joint-heirs. As we Americans celebrate our many blessings this week, we remember that these blessings come through this grace-gift. Thank You! And as we take time to acknowledge and thank You, we also give thanks for the grace-awakening that has begun. Thank You for the millions of grace-salvations coming soon, the grace-returning of prodigals, the grace-deliverances, the grace-miracles, and the grace-reset of America. Thank You for the grace-cleansing and grace-healing of our land. As we eat the grace-meal tomorrow, we will remember that it is a celebration of Your abounding grace! We will also remember that Thanksgiving isn’t just America’s meal; this is the world’s meal. Thank You for saving a billion souls in the great grace-harvest that has begun. Thank You for a deluge of grace in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, North and South America. Pour it out! Flood the earth with grace! Signs, wonders, miracles, dreams, visions, deliverances, radical salvations - all poured out by the Spirit of grace! We celebrate this with You! In Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that every good and perfect gift is from the Father through Christ, with whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning (James 1:17). ***************************** 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.5485. https://www.gotquestions.org/charis-in-the-Bible.html James Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament, Vol 21 (Eerdmans, 1997), pp. 138–139. Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, ref no. 5483. Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, ref no. 5486. William McRae, The Dynamics of Spiritual Gifts (Zondervan, 1976), p. 18. Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, ref no. 5487.
-
- 2
-
-
- give him 15
- dutch sheets
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-21-2025 November 21, 2025 The Advantage “It is to your advantage that I leave,” Jesus told His disciples (John 16:7). Can you imagine a more ridiculous-sounding statement? They had traveled with Him for three years, listening to Him expound on life, the ways of God, and the kingdom of heaven. His words carried such wisdom and authority that even His enemies said of Him, “Never has a man spoken in the way this man speaks” (John 7:46). The disciples had watched Him cure blind eyes, open deaf ears, heal paralytics, cleanse lepers, and raise the dead. Once, when He needed money, He procured it from the mouth of a fish. On another occasion, when He needed to cross a lake and didn’t have a boat handy, He simply walked on the water. And when storms tried to mess with Him, He knocked the wind out of them with the power of His words. Then, He has the audacity to tell these men, “I’m going to leave you, and it’s for your own good.” One can only imagine the shock and disbelief of the disciples. “He is leaving us?! This is good?! We don’t think so!!!” Two understandings will help us embrace why Christ said, “It is to your advantage that I go away.” The first has to do with His use of the word advantage, or as the King James Version says, “expedient.” The Greek word is sumphero, which means literally “to bring together.”(1) And since bringing the right things or people together produces benefits or advantages, this Greek word was used for the concept of “expediency” or “gaining an advantage.” Christ was telling His disciples, “My departure will cause a new connection (sumphero) to take place for you. This ‘bringing together’ will be of great benefit to you, more so than even My physical presence.” The second piece of information that brings enlightenment to Christ’s words is an awareness of who He was going to connect the disciples with: Holy Spirit. Why would this relationship be so advantageous? Because Holy Spirit would be with them in spirit form, not in a flesh-and-blood body as Christ had been, and could therefore be everywhere at once. AND, He could actually be “in” them, not just “with” them (John 14:17). I don’t believe many of us come anywhere close to grasping this revelation in its fullness. Almighty God is in us. What might we be like if we received the full revelation of this? Perhaps we would become “little Christs”, which is the meaning of the word Christian. Perhaps Christ’s words concerning us doing the same works He did - and even greater works - would be fulfilled? We would no doubt be miracle workers, life transformers, fearless, completely unselfish, always led by Holy Spirit, and walk in perfect love. The late Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, states this regarding Holy Spirit: “He guides us (John 1:13), empowers us (Micah 3:8), and makes us holy (Romans 15:16). He bears witness in our lives (Romans 8:16), comforts us (John 14:16-26), gives us joy (Romans 14:17)... “As our teacher of spiritual truths, the Holy Spirit illuminates our minds with insight into the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) and reveals to us the hidden things of God (Isaiah 40:13-14)... “As you are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Bible becomes alive, prayer becomes vital, your witness becomes effective, and obedience becomes a joy. Then, as a result of your obedience in these areas, your faith grows and you become more mature in your spiritual life.”(2) Holy Spirit is all of this and more. Though it isn’t often considered, He was Christ’s “Helper.” As a human, Jesus was filled with, led by, empowered by, and anointed by the Holy Spirit (see Luke 4). Acts 10:38 also tells us Christ derived His power and anointing from Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit resides in us and wants to be our source of power and strength. However, we often fail to make the connection, thereby preventing His power from flowing. A missionary, Herbert Jackson, told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push - popping the clutch, we sometimes call it. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. Jackson went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car to start it. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave his car running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly explained his method for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years, needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting the power to work.(3) Ouch! J.B. Phillips’ translation tells us in Ephesians 1:19, “How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God.” When we make firm our connection with Holy Spirit, His life and power can flow through us. Don’t waste this amazing help. Second Corinthians 13:14 says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” The term “fellowship” is from koinonia and is rich with meaning, revealing some of what the Holy Spirit wants to be in our lives. The following English words are all translations of koinonia: Fellowship - Holy Spirit wants to visit with us. Communion - Holy Spirit wants to commune with us. Sharing together - Holy Spirit wants to share His insights and power with us. Participation in or with - Holy Spirit wants to participate in our efforts and activities. Distribution - Holy Spirit wants to distribute revelation, gifts, anointings, and blessings to us. Impart - Holy Spirit wants to impart God’s nature and benefits to us. Partaking - Holy Spirit wants us to partake of His anointing and life. Partnership - Holy Spirit wants to partner with us. Companionship - Holy Spirit wants the pleasure of your company. “May the koinonia of the Holy Spirit be with you.” What a loaded statement. Get better acquainted with Holy Spirit! Pray with me: Thank you, Father, that after Your Son Jesus’ time on earth, You sent us another Helper, Holy Spirit, to dwell not just among us, but within us. His indwelling is given to guide and empower us as we steward the great victory that Jesus won. We want to experience all of who He is and what He does. We don’t simply want to know about Him; we desire to have Him active in every part of our speech, actions, and thoughts. We want to manifest the empowerment for Christ-likeness and kingdom advancement that He brings. Holy Spirit, You’re our connection to communion with the Father, to further glimpses of His depths, and to doing greater works than Jesus. Give us a full revelation of how we can be led by You in every way. Open the scriptures and position our hearts to understand koinonia with You. And Father, as revival unfolds in our land, this will be a pouring out of Holy Spirit. Pour Him into the young people of our nation until His presence floods every campus in America. Fill millions of youth with Holy Spirit. And flood Washington, D.C., with Holy Spirit, also. Give wisdom and revelation to righteous leaders, leading them as they lead our nation. Make them aware of Your desire to help them, and then share Your insights and strategies for reforming our nation. Think through them! All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that another great outpouring of Holy Spirit has begun in our land and around the world. We will not miss the time of our visitation! *************************** Watch the full video by clicking on the link below. --------------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 4851. Bill Bright, The Holy Spirit (San Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers, 1980), pp. 116, 121, quoted in Robert Heidler, Experiencing the Spirit (Ventura, CA: Renew Books, 1993), p. 182. Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993), p. 182.
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-20-2025 November 20, 2025 Introduction Today and tomorrow, I’m going to share on the subject of our great Helper, Holy Spirit, and the incredible source of power that He brings us. Today’s teaching is actually from my brother, Tim. As always, his insights are outstanding. Tim’s title is: The Divine Mentor There was a time when I was trying to pray about something, but just couldn’t seem to find the right words. I wrestled with it for a while, until finally, I heard Holy Spirit whisper so clearly, “Let Me do it.” When I yielded and allowed Him to speak through me, there came an immediate release, and the burden I’d been carrying lifted as He began to plead to God on my behalf. Romans 8:26 (TPT) says, “At times we don’t even know how to pray or know the best thing to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.” This is a powerful picture of supernatural intercession. When we pray in our “spirit language,” Holy Spirit rises within us to intercede far beyond what our natural words can express, aligning our hearts and our prayers with the perfect will of God. Verse 27 continues, “God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet He also understands the desires of the Spirit.” This is not referring to our human spirit, but to Holy Spirit Himself. Holy Spirit passionately pleads through us, His holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny. What divine assistance this is! God’s Word shows us that being filled with Holy Spirit is what enables this supernatural partnership. Just as we see in the book of Acts, believers were filled and then refilled with Holy Spirit. It wasn’t a one-time event, but was a continual experience. Staying filled with Holy Spirit connects and synergizes us with God’s divine plan, both individually and corporately as the Ekklesia. To walk with Holy Spirit is to live in continual partnership with Him. As Romans 8:1 reminds us, we are to walk according to the Spirit’s guidance, from our spirit, not according to the flesh. This means living daily in a relationship with Him, walking and listening, and praying as He inspires us. He breathes on our prayers, our words, and our decrees inspired by Him and God’s Word. What a gift, what a Helper, what a partnership. Accomplishing Our Destiny Every person carries a God-given purpose. The Lord told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had plans for you” (Jeremiah 1:5, MSG). What a profound truth. Before you took your first breath, God already knew you. He had written your story and prepared divine plans for your life. Holy Spirit empowers us in the unfolding of this destiny. That reality should fill every heart with hope. King David echoed this truth in Psalm 139:13-18 (TPT): “You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank You, God, for making me so mysteriously complex. Everything You do is marvelously breathtaking… You saw who You created me to be before I became me.” Before you were ever born, God gave you purpose. The Greek word for purpose is prothesis(1). Pro means “before,” and thesis means “a written plan.” In other words, God wrote your life’s thesis before you were formed. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB), “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” Yes, this speaks of redemption, but salvation is not just about what we are saved from. It’s also about what we are saved to. We are redeemed to live out our God-given purpose and potential. Salvation is the doorway into a life of divine destiny. A life filled with possibilities, assignments, and Holy Spirit-empowered impact. Many believers understand what God has delivered them from, but they haven’t yet discovered what He has called them into. They stop at forgiveness, without stepping into fullness. But Holy Spirit has come to empower us to live as sons and daughters of God now, not merely in Heaven someday. He empowers us to live as heirs of His Kingdom, walking in the inheritance and purpose He wrote for us before time began. Even when we miss it–once, twice, or ten times–Holy Spirit never stops working, guiding, aligning, and reconnecting us with the destiny God purposed. Before you were born, God wrote your name, your potential, your callings, your giftings, and even your divine connections, into a plan that would unfold across your lifetime. And then, in love, He gave you the freedom to pursue it. Holy Spirit understands that plan fully. He knows the path that leads into your destiny, even when circumstances seem to block the way, and He never stops working. Through every season, whether it feels like progress or delay, the Spirit continues weaving your life into alignment with God’s purpose. He is always leading you forward, always connecting you to destiny. Jesus described Holy Spirit in John 14:26 as the One who comes alongside us to help, to aid, and to support. Part of His role is to draw forth this destiny and purpose. What an incredible benefit this is. There are dimensions of our destiny that we simply cannot reach in our own strength. Certain elements of who we are destined to be require the assistance and empowerment of Holy Spirit. That doesn’t mean we can’t experience success on our own; we can, but not the fullness of all God designed us to be. This comes only through partnership with the Spirit. He is the empowerer of greater purpose. When you come to crossroads and destiny decisions, invite Holy Spirit to guide you, to speak to you, to instruct you. The Greek word Jesus used in John 14:26 describes Him as our parakletos, our Divine Mentor, Counselor, and Advocate.(2) What a truth: you have a Divine Mentor living within you! No one can lead you like He can. The Spirit’s guidance and intercession are always in alignment with the Father’s will and in perfect harmony with His plan for our lives. Each day is an invitation to yield, listen, and follow His leading, so that our lives collectively become a living testimony of His glory and power. Pray with me: Holy Spirit, lead us into the fullness of our destinies, deeper into God’s will and the plans You have written for us. Empower us to walk fully in our God-given potential. Fill us afresh and help us become all God saw for us before we were even formed. You are our Helper, our Teacher, and our Divine Mentor. We trust You to lead, guide, and direct us today, helping us advance the Kingdom of God. As Your Ekklesia, we pray and decree heaven’s purposes on earth. We ask for the fullness of America’s God-ordained destiny. Cause our nation to align with Heaven’s plan and fulfill every purpose You have planned. Deliver us from the socialism, Marxism, humanism, and globalism attempting to invade our land. Give our leaders the wisdom needed to cope with issues associated with the invasion of millions of illegal aliens, an out-of-control welfare system, the corruption of the Deep State, food and health crises, and so much more. We ask for the healing of our land, knowing this will occur only as revival transforms the heart of our nation. Righteousness exalts a nation. In Yeshua’s name, we ask these things. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Holy Spirit is flowing through the Ekklesia, equipping us to fulfill our assignments and impact the earth with God’s Kingdom power. ********************* Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about Tim here. 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. 4286. Ibid. ref. no. 3875.
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-19-2025 November 19, 2025 Introduction As our friend Gina Gholston participated in the recent days of praise, the Lord gave her a word for us. You will find it encouraging! The title of Gina’s post is: The Fruit of Our Praise For the past several days, in obedience to the prophetic word of the Lord from Chuck Pierce, we released our praise to God in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. Praise is a powerful thing. It’s a weapon that shifts the atmosphere. It also shifts our focus from ourselves to our Heavenly Father. True praise provokes a fresh awareness of God, and when we think on Him and recall His goodness, it ignites hope and awakening within our own lives. One morning this past week, as I was praising the Lord, Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance an actual event that I witnessed many years ago. I wrote about this event in my latest book, so I picked it up and read the story. As I read those words and remembered that event, my praise went to another level and another decibel! And in that moment of high and sincere praise, I heard the Lord say, “Divine intervention has been activated. Through your praise, the shield of faith has been raised, and you will now see an undeniable deflection of the fiery darts of the enemy. What has been intended for evil will now be turned for good. This will result in testimony after testimony of My power and goodness, evoking an awakening to an awareness of Me that will bring the nation back to life!” What an encouraging word! It reveals that our praise doesn’t just give us access to God, it gives God access to us because He comes where He is acknowledged . . . and where He is, there is life! Now, here is the testimony of the event the Lord reminded me of that morning. Several years ago, I was privileged to be part of a missionary work team assigned to build a home for a pastor and his family. It was an incredible project that actually became supernatural! God enabled our small team to build that house from the concrete slab to a near-completed home in just ten days. While it was a hard, laborious task, it was also a joy to work with this amazing team and watch the project come to completion, one task at a time. My friend and assistant, Darlene, was also on this trip. And while we are by no means professional carpenters, we were so honored to work alongside and assist those who were. One part of the building we were helping with was framing the home’s interior walls. With power tools and pneumatic nail guns, the framing was going pretty quickly. Darlene was assisting one of the carpenters, who was using the nail gun. She was holding the wall studs in place as he was nailing them. As they worked on one wall, they were in a squatting position, and the carpenter using the nail gun was facing Darlene as she held the board being nailed. Somehow, the nail gun jerked just as he was pulling the trigger, and the nail missed the board and hit Darlene directly on her knee. Nail guns have a high-pressure force that can shoot a nail several feet and still penetrate the tip of the nail into a board. Darlene was right in front of the gun, just inches away, when the trigger was pulled. When the nail launched and hit her knee, it was one of those moments when everything seemed to stand still as we helplessly watched the event unfold. It all happened so quickly, and there was absolutely no denying what should have happened. But God! The end result should have been a nail blasting into and causing severe damage to Darlene’s knee, but instead, the end result was an amazing testimony of God’s protection! Despite the tremendous pressure driving the nail forward, the Lord supernaturally deflected it. It simply tapped and bounced off her knee and fell to the ground—not even leaving a mark on her! Our God is awesome! He is almighty! When we remember His greatness, we cannot help but release our praises to Him! In the light of our awakened awareness of Him, confident faith arises, impacting our prayers and decrees. Our ability to walk and work with Him also increases as He works through us to change things once thought impossible. I am reminded of a line from an old song that says, “God specializes in things thought impossible. He can do what no other power can do!”(1) The atmosphere of this nation is now filled with a swirl of sincere praises that have flowed from hearts and lips declaring the goodness of our great God! Our focus is on Him, and our faith in Him is ignited within us. He has been good. He is good! He is great, and He is greatly to be praised! Our shouts of praise have captured the attention of Heaven. Heaven is responding to our sound. God is pleased, and He has come to inhabit our praises. Divine intervention has been activated to extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy. God is turning things in our favor. His favor surrounds us like a shield that deflects the enemy’s evil intentions. God is putting His finger on some things, as the word from Chuck declared, and hell’s agenda is losing its grip on this nation. Testimony after testimony of Yahweh’s power, intervention, and goodness is being proclaimed, and the words of our testimonies are awakening the nation to an undeniable awareness of our mighty God. He inhabits our praises, and under the weight and reality of His abiding presence, life is being restored! Our combined prayer and decree: Father, You are great, and You are greatly to be praised. We recall Your goodness, and our hearts can’t help but release shouts of praise and thanksgiving to You. O, how great is Your faithfulness! We turn our eyes upon You, and we find hope! Your love and favor surround us like a shield that deflects the fiery darts of our adversaries. Snares that have been crafted and meant for our downfall are being broken and destroyed. You, O, Lord, have enabled us to rise with overcoming power by the blood of Jesus and the words of our testimonies. Our shouts of praise will not be silenced! We lift our voices loud and strong to worship You, and You rush in like a mighty wind, the Ruach of Yahweh, to bring our nation back to life! Amen! You have come to inhabit our praises. Your divine intervention has been activated, and we will now see an undeniable deflection of the fiery darts of the enemy. What has been intended for evil will now be turned for good. Testimony after testimony of Your power and goodness will continue to rise and evoke an awakening, an awareness of You that will bring the nation back to life! *********************** Today’s post was contributed by our friend Gina Gholston. Portions were taken from Gina’s book, Along the Journey. You can find out more about Gina at GinaGholston.com Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------ 1. Oscar C. Eliason, Got Any Rivers, 1931; copyrighted 1945 by Singspiration Music (ASCAP); Brentwood, TN.
-
- 1
-
-
- give him 15
- dutch sheets
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-18-2025 November 18, 2025 Introduction Last week, I shared with you a prophetic word given to Chuck Pierce, which instructed us to offer praise to God three times a day for a week. The word said this would release God’s judgments against lies that have held America captive. You can read Chuck’s prophetic word here. The seven days ended Sunday, but many of us who heard about and started the weeklong process after it began are continuing for a few more days, simply to honor the Lord and “contribute” our week of praise. Following up on Chuck’s word, I wrote two posts last week on the power of praise, and more importantly, why it is so powerful. I did so again yesterday and will continue this theme through tomorrow. The title of today’s post is: The Priority “Firsts” can be good or bad. First place is usually good, as are first-class and first-rate. First-degree is usually bad, as is the need for first aid, and the first half, and the first baseman can be either. While thinking about this, I recalled several of my firsts, along with a one- or two-word thought concerning each of them. Here are ten: First major-league baseball game attended (awe) First day of school (intimidated) First car (junk) First date with Ceci (priceless) First time seeing both daughters (love) First dirty diaper change (nausea) First sermon (nice try) Compiling a few of my “firsts” was fun. Some were extremely important, others only memorable. The same would be true with yours. There is one first, however, that is essential and that all of us must keep number one. Jesus referred to it as our “first love.” When writing to the Ephesian church, He said, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4). The Greek word translated “first” in this passage is protos, meaning “foremost in time, place, order, or importance.”(1) Since it would be illogical to assume Christ had been the first person each of them loved, it seems reasonable to conclude He was using the word in the sense of importance. “You have abandoned the love that should be your number one priority,” was His obvious meaning. The root word for protos is pro, meaning “superior to” or “in front of”; and yes, protos is where we get our word professional, or its shortened form, pro. A professional is one who excels in a particular field. I used to play golf; Scotty Scheffler does, as well. But there’s a big difference between us: He’s a pro, I’m an amateur. Watching each of us swing a golf club once would leave no doubt as to the difference. Shopping is another activity performed by both pros and amateurs. I shop occasionally - when God is punishing me for speeding or some other serious offense. I’m an amateur shopper and have no desire to ever be anything but an amateur. Ceci, on the other hand, is a pro. And as is fitting, she enjoys it. We both do what we enjoy: I watch a football game, she shops. Life is good. Placing the literal definitions of pro and protos into the context of Revelation 2:4 makes clear what Jesus was saying: Relationship with Him should be “in front of” or “superior to” all others. He wants to be our “priority” love. Christ told us elsewhere that loving God is the first of all the other commandments (Matthew 22:37-38). This begs the question of why - why does God demand to be first? Is He narcissistic or egocentric, demanding that we make Him the center of attention? Or, is God insecure, in need of our affirmation? The obvious answer to both of these questions is a resounding “NO!” The Lord is self-confident and self-assured, and yet this confidence is filtered through the utmost humility. He has neither pride nor insecurity issues. Why then does He demand to be number one? Because He wants us to be fulfilled. Complete. Satisfied. The reason God must be first in our lives is profound in both its simplicity and importance: The very purpose for the creation of humans was relationship with God. We were made to be one in spirit with Him, joined together spiritually like a husband and wife. First Corinthians 6:17 says, “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” Our union with Him completes us. There is a place in the heart of every human God made only for Himself. Period. If we don’t get this right, the pieces won’t fit. Nothing else can fill this void, including other people, money, pleasure, or accomplishments. And certainly not religion; we weren’t created to connect with a system or organization, but a person. God understands this, of course, and for our benefit, reminds us of His love for us and our need for Him. Before correcting the church at Ephesus Jesus told them: “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false: and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary” (Revelation 2:2-3). What believer wouldn't be pleased to hear such praise? Yet Christ makes it clear that these accomplishments are not the heart of the matter. A good performance can't replace intimacy with Him. If this misconception is allowed to control us, our good works will devolve into meaningless religion - every time - satisfying neither God nor us. Our “performance” must flow out from a relationship with Him; never replace or be equated to it. It is also important to understand that our first (priority) love is not based on emotions or feelings. It would be unrealistic to think we can maintain the same level of emotional excitement that typically occurs when we first meet Christ. Such a sustained emotional high is not a reasonable expectation in any relationship, whether it be with your spouse, a friend, or the Lord. If Christ is currently number one in your life and you are enjoying the pleasure of His company, treasure it. Let nothing come between the two of you. But if you, like the church of Ephesus, have allowed other things to take priority over your relationship with Him, reprioritize. Make Him protos again - superior to all else. And if you have never yet discovered Christ as your first-love soul mate, well, get ready to find out why you exist. Amazing joys await you. Pray with me: Holy Spirit, search our hearts and show us where we’ve failed to ascribe to our Father, to Jesus, and to You the highest place. Reveal to us the ways in which we have compromised our commitment to You, forsaking our first love. Thank You for tenderly drawing our wayward hearts back to the priority of loving You and receiving Your love. Without Your loving leadership, we are incomplete. May nothing else replace the pleasure of Your company. Father, our nation once honored You first. But like the Ephesians, works, wealth, and pleasure crowded You out. For most Americans, You’re not even a distant second. However, from Your Word and from history, we know this can change. Smoldering embers can blaze again, cold hearts can burn with passion, and prodigals can run into the arms of love-sick fathers. With Your power and love, even dry, dead bones can live again. Breathe once again on this apostate nation. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen. Our decree: We declare that America is returning to her first love; a harvest of lovers is coming, and Jesus will be prioritized above all! **************************** Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company and published by Baker Books. 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. 4413.
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-17-2025 November 17, 2025 Introduction Last week, I shared a prophetic word given to Chuck Pierce, which instructed us to offer praise to God three times a day for a week. The word said this would release God’s judgments against lies that have held America captive. You can read Chuck’s prophetic word here. The seven days ended yesterday, but many of us who heard about and started the weeklong process after it began are continuing for a few more days, simply to honor the Lord and “contribute” our week of praise. Following up on Chuck’s word, I wrote two posts last week on the power of praise, and more importantly, why it is so powerful. I will continue this theme through Wednesday. The title of today’s post is: Earth-Shaking Praise In today’s post, I would like to highlight two biblical accounts that illustrate the power of praise. The first is from 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. In this passage, Judah was about to be invaded by a great multitude of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites (vs. 1-2). Judah’s king, Jehoshaphat, called for prayer. “We don’t know what to do,” he said to the Lord, “but our eyes are on You” (v. 12). The Lord’s response to Jehoshaphat and Judah was that this battle was not theirs, but His; they would not even need to fight. Just put their trust in Him and His prophets, and they would succeed (verses 14-20). When it came time for the battle, Judah was told to simply offer praise to the Lord (v. 21). They obeyed, sending a choir ahead of their army. The choir sang, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (v. 21). The praise brought the presence of the Lord, and as we saw when Jesus walked the earth, God’s presence has a very unsettling effect on demonic forces. When Yeshua showed up, demons screamed and cried out for mercy. Here in 2 Chronicles, God’s enemies became so disoriented and confused that they began to fight and kill one another (v. 22-23)! The passage says God “ambushed” them. The Hebrew word used means “to lurk, or lie in wait.” I love it! God was “lurking” in the atmosphere waiting for Judah’s praise to usher Him onto the battlefield. And just to make sure we make this connection, the Lord began verse 22 with the words, “And when they began singing and praising.” I am confident that as we have been praising and worshiping over these past few days, God has been setting ambushes against those who oppose Him in Washington, D.C. He was “lurking” in the heavenly realm over our nation’s capital, just waiting for our praise to invite Him in. Praise attracts God’s presence, and His presence routs the enemy. Paul and Silas Acts 16 gives us another powerful illustration of this. It’s the fairly well-known story of Paul and Silas praising God in their prison cell, which resulted in an earthquake that caused their deliverance. When recounted, the emphasis is almost always on their miraculous deliverance. However, the chapter and account are about SO MUCH MORE than just their deliverance. It begins with Paul and his missionary team traveling and preaching the gospel in different regions. When they started to go in several different directions to different cities, Holy Spirit repeatedly stopped them. He finally gave Paul a dream or night vision: “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us” (verse 9). The team obeyed, going to Philippi, and a remarkable series of events transpired. They led an influential businesswoman named Lydia to the Lord. They then cast out a spirit of divination from a slave-girl who brought great profit to her masters through her fortune-telling. Her masters were angry and had Paul and Silas beaten, thrown in jail, and put in stocks. At midnight, these two battered and bloody warriors began singing hymns of praise to God. The Lord heard their praise, and always enjoying the company of His kids, rushed to Philippi and into this jail cell. In His haste, it seems the Lord landed a little too hard! The earth shook, the chains broke loose, and all the prisoners were freed! Rather than fleeing, however, they decided to lead the jailer and his family to Christ and baptize them. It would seem that revival broke out in Philippi, and the Philippian church became one of the Lord’s key strongholds in the region. As I mentioned earlier, it is clear that this passage is about so much more than these apostles’ great deliverance. God had a bigger plan. Lydia was the first convert in Europe, and Philippi was the first church established on the European continent. Let that sink in: the gospel was invading a new continent! These events became earth-shaking, quite literally. And it was all born of praise. Not just the praise that occurred in the jail cell, by the way. Lydia, we are told, was “a worshiper of God” (v. 14). Even though she had not yet heard the gospel regarding the Messiah and therefore had not yet been born again, she was a devout Jewish worshiper of Yahweh. Perhaps it was her worship that created the vision inviting Paul to Macedonia! One thing is certain: praise and worship played a significant role in the gospel’s breakthrough into Europe. Last week, when God told us to praise Him, and that this would create breakthrough in Washington, D.C., there is ample biblical evidence of the word’s validity, as you can see. Keep it up. Praise Him, and as you do, ask Him to invade our nation’s capital, ambush His enemies, and shake it with His mighty power. When Chuck sent me this word last week, he included Jeremiah 49:16, saying the verse indicated God’s intentions against His enemies in D.C. Chuck actually sent it to me from two translations: “‘Your fierceness has deceived you, the pride of your heart, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill! Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there,’ says the LORD.” (NKJV) “‘Your capacity to terrorize has deceived you and made you arrogant. You make your home in the rocky crags and seize the top of the mountain; but even if you build your nest high as an eagle’s, from there I will drag you down,’ says ADONAI.” (AMP) And, so be it! Pray with me: As our prayer and decree today, let’s use praise from the great hymn written by Martin Luthur, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. “A mighty Fortress is our God, a Bulwark never failing. Our Helper He amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe. His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate. On earth is not His equal. “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing. Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He! Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same. And He must win the battle. “And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us. We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him. His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure. One little word shall fell him. “That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth. The Spirit and the gifts are ours, through Him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also. The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still. His Kingdom is forever!”(1) ************************ Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------- https://hymnary.org/text/a_mighty_fortress_is_our_god_a_bulwark
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-14-2025 November 14, 2025 Review Holy Spirit gave my friend, Chuck Pierce, a very important prophetic word this past weekend. It refers to a seven-day window and assignment, running from this past Monday through this upcoming Sunday (Nov. 10-16). During this week-long window, the Lord is asking us to release praise to Him three times a day. The seven days have obviously already begun, but you can still participate. Please do so, perhaps even adding a few days, so that you also do a total of seven days. God would certainly honor that. You can find Chuck’s prophetic word and my explanation in Wednesday’s post. Today I want to talk about why we praise the Lord, which I also did yesterday. Why would God ask for this? Our title is: The Invitation God loves being with us. Consider the following invitation: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20 KJV). The Almighty, the Creator, the Everlasting God of heaven and earth wants some time with us. Do you, like me, find it interesting that He knocks on the door? I suppose God could simply knock it down. Or just walk through it! But that would be an intrusion, and God doesn’t intrude into our space; He waits to be invited in. Like anyone, He wants to be celebrated, not tolerated. Two hidden meanings in this verse reveal far deeper insights than can be seen through a casual reading. The word “sup” in this verse is not a generic word for eating. This is the word in biblical times for the main evening meal. The Jewish new day began in the evening, at sunset. At this evening meal, the family would discuss the day’s events, and while doing so, the new day would begin and be planned. Jesus is saying to us in this verse, “Let me into your world. Let’s dine, fellowship, and plan the new day.” A second possible interpretation is given in the margin of The Passion Translation: “The Aramaic can be translated ‘I have been standing at the door, knocking.’ Jesus knocking on the door points us to the process of an ancient Jewish wedding invitation. In the days of Jesus, a bridegroom and his father would come to the door of the bride-to-be carrying the betrothal cup of wine and the bride-price. Standing outside, they would knock. If she fully opened the door, she was saying, ‘Yes, I will be your bride.’ Jesus and his Father, in the same way, are knocking on the doors of our hearts, inviting us to be the bride of Christ.” What an invitation! In this verse, the Lord began by saying, “If any man hears My voice . . .” Hearing and discerning God’s voice is not a gift, but a learned art. We must learn to commune with the Lord as a real person and on a personal level. When you take the time to wait and listen, you learn to allow God to be a part of your thinking. His thoughts become yours. The obvious insinuation in this phrase is that our actions, not His, will determine whether or not we hear Him. Again, sensitivity is learned and developed. Like the frequencies on a radio, our minds and hearts must tune in. A few years ago, one of my staff members shared a humorous episode about listening. “My sister-in-law was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner and planning for various family activities. As she did, her young daughter spoke to her about several different and important things in her life, to which mom would periodically mumble, ‘Uh-huh.’ Finally, wanting to do something to make this more of a two-sided conversation, the little girl tugged on her mother’s arm to get her full attention. Once she knew her mother was really listening, she said, ‘Mom, why don’t you talk for a while now, and I’ll say Uh-huh.’”(1) I can’t help but wonder how often God is knocking and calling, only to find us so busy we really aren’t listening. He will never treat us this way. You’ll never find Him so busy with others or so distracted running the universe that He feigns attentiveness to you, mumbling “uh-huh” while actually thinking about something else. He has plenty of undistracted time for you, and He’d like some in return. The Scriptures tell us God is actually “searching” for this level of relationship. From the moment we were separated from Him by Adam’s sin, He began the search. “Where are you?” He called to Adam and Eve as they hid from Him (Genesis 3:9). Incredibly, we’re told that His eyes “move to and fro” throughout the earth looking for those whose hearts are fully His (2 Chronicles 16:9). One of my favorite Bible stories as a young kid was of a man named Zacchaeus. He was a hated tax collector who had become wealthy, most likely by defrauding people, charging them more than they actually owed. Somehow, this man had become enamored with Jesus, so much so that he climbed a tree to get a good look at Him as He passed through his village. Jesus wanted Zacchaeus to get more than a look, however; He invited Himself over for dinner! “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5). Jesus knocked, and Zacchaeus opened. The visit was obviously impactful - it always is when Jesus comes over for dinner. “Lord, half of my possessions I’ll give to the poor,” he promised before the dinner ended, “and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much” (Luke 19:8). When challenged as to why He would be the guest of this thieving “sinner,” Jesus merely referenced His own “searching heart.” “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Christ simply has an insatiable desire to eat and fellowship with friends, family, and seekers. Jesus was on a mission then; He’s on the same mission now. He wants some time and conversation with you. The next time He knocks, open the door. Make your house one of the regular stops for His searching eyes. Let no distraction interfere. May your heart always remain an open door to Jesus, as you seek to mature in the art of discerning His knock and voice. As His eyes search this world for a surrendered heart with which to commune, may His gaze always stop with you. Welcome Him to sit at the supper table of your soul to dine and dialogue with you. As we give Him praise today, fulfilling the word from the prophet, let’s not do it out of duty. That will bring neither Him nor us any pleasure. Do it from the heart, knowing that He wants to spend time with us. Invite Jesus into your world and our nation. When He shows up, His enemies scatter; they melt like wax in front of a fire (Psalm 68:1-2). What a way to win a battle! Pray this Psalm with me: “God! Arise with awesome power, and every one of your enemies will scatter in fear! Chase them away—all these God-haters. Blow them away as a puff of smoke. Melt them away like wax in the fire. One good look at You and the wicked vanish. But let all the righteous be glad! Yes, let them all rejoice in Your presence and be carried away with gladness. Let them laugh and be radiant with joy! Let them sing their celebration songs for the coming of the cloud rider whose name is Yahweh! “To the fatherless, He is a father. To the widow, He is a champion friend. The lonely He makes part of a family. The prisoners He leads into prosperity until they sing for joy. This is our Holy God in His Holy Place! But for the rebels, there is heartache and despair. “O Lord, it was You who marched in front of Your people, leading them through the wasteland. (Pause in His presence) The earth shook beneath Your feet; the heavens filled with clouds before the presence of the God of Sinai. The sacred mountain shook at the sight of the face of Israel’s God. You, O God, sent the reviving rain upon Your weary inheritance, showers of blessing to refresh it. So there Your people settled. And in Your kindness, You provided the poor with abundance.” (Psalm 68:1-10 TPT) ********************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------- Dutch Sheets, Watchman Prayer (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2000), 47.
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-13-2025 November 13, 2025 Introduction Holy Spirit gave my friend, Chuck Pierce, a very important prophetic word this past weekend. It refers to a seven-day window and an assignment, running from this past Monday through this upcoming Sunday (Nov. 10-16). During this week-long window, the Lord is asking us to release praise to Him three times a day on behalf of our nation. The seven days have obviously already begun, but you can still participate. Please do so, perhaps even adding a few days, so that you also do a total of seven days. God will certainly honor that. You can find Chuck’s prophetic word and my explanation in yesterday’s post. For today and tomorrow, I would like to discuss why we praise the Lord and why God asks us to do so. Our title is: Why Our Praise Is a Weapon Elevators are convenient. . . and sometimes awkward. Who in their right mind likes being in an elevator with people they don’t know? The longer the ride, the louder the silence. Several years ago, I was trapped in the back of one of those torture chambers in the airport of one of the vacation capitals of the world - Orlando, Florida. There were only about a HUNDRED people in this elevator! Who hasn’t heard of Disney World, Epcot, and other hot spots there? And based on the lines at these tourist attractions, every person in the world has been there! Consequently, the airport is crowded and hectic. When the elevator stopped at my floor and the door opened, no one moved. After a couple of seconds, thinking no one else was getting off at this level, I spoke up rather urgently from the back, “Excuse me, I need to get off here.” You’d have thought I asked for everyone’s phone number! Backs stiffened, heads turned, eyes glared, and the man closest to the door turned and - in a most condescending tone - scolded me. “Be patient,” he snarled. “I’m just trying to be a gentleman and let the ladies off first.” After we all exited, one of the ladies with him turned to me and, rather snootily, decided to become my therapist: “You need a vacation, sir. We are in Orlando; why don’t you take a few days off and chill?” I was tired, and perhaps this had caused me to unintentionally speak louder than I realized. Or maybe my urgency sounded like impatience. What did I do? Being the godly man that I am, I took it on the chin and calmly moved on - WITH MY BLOOD PRESSURE ELEVATED AND MY INNER THOUGHTS EXPLAINING TO THEM WHAT IDIOTS THEY WERE! And being the spiritual giant I am, within a few short weeks, I had forgiven them - as you can tell! - and moved on. Doesn’t take me long! Most of us dislike being misunderstood and misjudged - especially in an elevator! I don’t think God likes it either, and He is, without doubt, the most misunderstood person in existence. Perceived as distant, He is often ignored. Considered judgmental and legalistic, He is thought by some to be intimidating and one to steer clear of. And mistakenly thought of by His children as one who likes hearing how great He is, He is praised. LOL - I had you, then I lost you. Before you stop reading or listening, hear me out. Obviously, praising and worshiping God is a good and appropriate thing to do. It’s our reason for doing so that needs some tweaking. Yahweh isn’t narcissistic, needing to be told how wonderful He is in order to satisfy an inflated ego. Nor is He insecure, needing to be reassured that He really is awesome. He doesn’t show off - praise doesn’t stimulate some macho corner of His heart, motivating Him to action in order to demonstrate His power. And He can’t be bought - our worship doesn’t cause Him to “reward” us with His presence and power simply because we made Him feel good. Frankly, God neither needs nor desires to be told how great, unique, powerful, or loving He is. The Almighty is quite confident and very secure. He does, however, seek worshipers. The difference is huge - immeasurably so. We ARE the worship. God longs for the singer, not the song. Our hearts are what transforms singing into worship, not the words and music. God would rather have a love-filled glance from our eyes than a song parroted from our lips. We can, in fact, worship without even opening our mouths. Enoch was translated to heaven without experiencing death. Why? He brought pleasure to God (Hebrews 11:5) by walking with God (Genesis 5:24). Notice that God uses the word “walking,” not “worshipping.” His worship was released - not just with words - but through his actions and his life. I’m certainly not downplaying the incredible importance of music and singing. I’m simply pointing out what makes these actions worship. When my kids were young and anxiously waited for Daddy to come home from work, they didn’t meet me at the door with a song. They jumped into my arms and gave me a big hug. When God created us, He made kids, not a choir; family members, not church members; He’s into love, not liturgy. And it wasn’t His “lording” nature that prompted Him to create us - He could have made a few billion more angels had that been His desire. It was His loving nature. God is a father at heart. Jesus, who came to earth to reveal to us what God is truly like (John 1:18), gave a profound glimpse of Abba’s loving and relational heart through an encounter with a rather loose-living woman. Looking for love in all the wrong places, this five-time divorced, currently shacked-up societal outcast was about to meet a man who wanted her heart, not her body. Christ told her He knew her lifestyle, yet His actions proved He wasn’t condemning her. He had assured her that He could satisfy her thirsty heart by placing a well of salvation in her. He shifted the concept of worship from the place to the person, which was a radical paradigm shift in her day. I’m sure she had never thought about this, and certainly not that God was actually seeking worshipers. “He’d like you to be one” was the obvious invitation. She was hooked. That God might actually be seeking her companionship, not her body, was beyond this woman’s wildest dreams. How could He possibly want her? But He did. In one moment, her shame was broken, and joy filled her heart. It feels good to be wanted for the right reasons. This new worshiper was so excited that she ran and told her village about Jesus, and ultimately, the entire community came to believe in Him. Jesus was too excited to eat! The great psalm of praise, Psalm 149, tells us that as we praise God, the sword of the Lord is released against His enemies, those who oppose His rule (verses 6-9). However, one of the preceding verses (v. 4) tells us why: “the Lord takes pleasure in His people!” The reason our praise is a weapon against evil is because our all-powerful God responds by showing up! Our relational God, Abba, is moved by our affection - He desires our company. That is what attracts Him to praise, not His ego. Our Father inhabits our praise (Psalm 22:3) because He loves spending time with us. Let’s make the great 149th Psalm our prayer and decree today. Pray Psalm 149 (TPT) with me today: Triumphant Praise “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! It’s time to sing to God a brand-new song so that all His holy people will hear how wonderful He is! May Israel be enthused with joy because of Him, and may the sons of Zion pour out their joyful praises to their King. Break forth with dancing! Make music and sing God’s praises with the rhythm of drums! For He enjoys His faithful lovers. “He adorns the humble with His beauty, and He loves to give them victory. His godly lovers triumph in the glory of God, and their joyful praises will rise even while others sleep. God’s high and holy praises fill their mouths, for their shouted praises are their weapons of war! These warring weapons will bring vengeance on the nations and every resistant power— to bind kings with chains and rulers with iron shackles. “Praise-filled warriors will enforce the judgment decreed against their enemies. This is the honor He gives to all His godly lovers. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” TPT *********************** "Hallelujah - Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His faithful people. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people." "He crowns the humble with victory. Let His faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron," "To carry out the sentence written against them - this is the glory of all His faithful people (His Godly ones). Hallelujah - Praise the Lord." NIV
-
https://www.givehim15.com/post/november-12-2025 November 12, 2025 A Seven-Day Assignment Holy Spirit gave my friend, Chuck Pierce, a very important prophetic word this past weekend. It refers to a seven-day window and assignment, running from this past Monday through this Sunday (Nov. 10-16). Even though the seven days have obviously already begun, we can still participate! Here is Chuck’s word, then I will make a few comments: ******* “I am calling My people into a seven-day awareness. The next seven days, you must be aware. Praise Me like you’ve never praised Me before. As you praise, come into agreement with Me, saying, ‘I want a nation to come alive over the next seven days. I want the lie structure that is holding this nation to be captured. I want the liars to start being divided and for God-inspired decisions to be made about the future.’ “For this nation has been layered with lies from past administrations. This has formed a veil of deception that has hindered My will for the future. I will begin to divide the structure of lies and those who have followed the lies. From that, clarity will come, allowing wise decisions to be made that will affect the atmosphere of this nation for the next two years. “The next seven days are key to an announcement that there is a future in this land. This must be contended for. Move forward with Me. Praise Me in the morning, praise Me at noon, and praise Me at night. Then I will come down, inhabit the praise, and break the hold of those that are holding their finger in place over what I desire to do. This will be a week that I remove fingers that are touching what I long to accomplish in this land. I will do that by putting My finger on the real issues in the next seven days.” ******* My Thoughts This prophecy clearly states that we are in a critical seven-day window of opportunity. As is often the case, the Lord has chosen not to give specific details regarding what is taking place behind the scenes, only that we are in this window and He is asking us to participate with Him. This prophetic word speaks of a veil of deception built from lies in the government of America. It should not surprise us to hear the Lord say this; we know that many in our government are dishonest and have created a web of deceit. The roots of this are spiritual. Jesus said the devil is a liar, the father of lies, and that there is no truth in him (John 8:44). He then told the Pharisees that the devil was their father, and that they were following His desires. Likewise, we have many in Washington, D.C., following their father, the devil. This word is telling us we have reached a point where their web of deceit over America can be broken. The Lord said He will divide their structures and their unity. In other words, He will dismantle that which they have built, cause it to unravel, and even divide those who have worked together. It is fascinating that we are already starting to see this begin. I have never seen those on the Left fight against each other as they have this week (regarding the government shutdown). They are feeding on those in their ranks who voted to reopen the government, and Senator Schumer for not stopping them, like piranha in a bloody pond. But God not only said He would divide them, but would dismantle their web of deceit and break the hold of their fingers. The picture I have is of a strong hand peeling back the clenched fingers of someone trying to maintain their hold on an item. The Lord said they were touching and attempting to hold back His will/what He desires to do. This word clearly points out the fact that God works in partnership with His body and family. He certainly has enough power to do this without our help, but that is not how He operates. He wants — and because of this decision — he needs our partnership. He told us in James 4:2 that at times we have not simply because we haven’t asked. “Contend for this,” He tells us through this word. Holy Spirit clearly tells us that if we participate in these 7 days of praise and awareness, it will enable wise decisions to be made this week that will affect the atmosphere of America for the next two years. He also told us to be “aware!” This speaks to me of the watchman concept in Scripture. One of the meanings of the multiple Hebrew and Greek words for watchman in Scripture is simply to be aware! Some translations use the phrase “be alert,” or “be on the alert.” This tells me Holy Spirit will reveal issues throughout the week that He wants us to pray for and/or make decrees regarding. Those who listen intently to Holy Spirit will partner with Him in unusual ways. And lastly, Holy Spirit emphasizes the instructions of radically praising God, telling us to do so morning, noon, and night. This is perhaps a way of instructing us to praise Him throughout the day, all day long. In other words, stay in an attitude and heart of praise throughout the entire day. It could also mean to literally set aside three times a day–morning, noon, night–and give Him praise. For example, in Daniel 6:10, Daniel entered a season in which he prayed and offered thanks to God three times a day, defying orders not to do so. The results were remarkable. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions in order to destroy him. God sovereignly closed the mouths of the lions and protected Daniel. The king was so moved that he threw Daniel‘s enemies into the lions’ den, and released the following decree to the entire kingdom: “I issue a decree that in all the realm of my kingdom people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever. He rescues, saves, and performs signs and miracles in heaven and on earth, He who has also rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:26-27; NASB) A king, his kingdom, and the purposes of God were all impacted by Daniel‘s prayers and the Lord‘s response. Verse 28 of this chapter adds that Daniel enjoyed success from that point forward in the reigns of Darius and Cyrus. Wow! There are some amazing results. Let’s join Chuck in this. Jump into the week, be radical in your praise, and allow God to inhabit those praises with his mighty power (Psalm 22:3). Let’s seize this moment of opportunity to impact our nation. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for this window of opportunity in America. As we obey Your instructions, we ask You for sensitivity and discernment. Help us to remain alert - aware! We commit to creating a throne for You with our praise (Psalm 22:3), a place from which You can rule in our nation. Dismantle evil structures, expose lies, and unravel webs of deceit. Give us this week the breakthrough You spoke of. Peel off the fingers holding back Your plans and release the announcement that Your future for America is secure. Bring forth the wise decisions You spoke of, decisions that will affect the atmosphere of our nation. We conclude today by offering You praise from Psalm 117, the Passion Translation: “Let everyone everywhere shine with praise to Yahweh! Let it all out! Go ahead and praise him! For He has conquered us with His great love, and His kindness has melted our hearts. His faithfulness lasts forever, and He will never fail you. So go ahead, let it all out! Praise Yahweh!” Our decree: We declare that God is enthroned in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). ****************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.
-
- 1
-
-
- give him 15
- dutch sheets
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:

