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https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-10-2026 June 10, 2026 Holy Spirit, Our Battle Partner 1 Chronicles 12:32: “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.” First Chronicles 12 is the account describing King David’s great army of soldiers. Verse one tells us “These are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war.” Verse 38, at the end of the chapter, repeats the fact that these were David’s “men of war.” These “mighty men” have been considered by some historians to be among the greatest fighting forces to ever exist. Some of their feats, as recorded in 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11, seem almost impossible. These soldiers were no doubt assisted by Holy Spirit, just as Samson was. The Holy Spirit is the most neglected source of help in the world. He is actually called our Helper (parakletos)(1) in Scripture (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) and is our source of power on the spiritual battlefield (Acts 1:8). The Amplified Bible actually uses seven words to translate parakletos: Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, and Standby! The Greeks provide a great picture for us of Holy Spirit’s help in spiritual warfare. In history, “Greek soldiers went into battle in pairs so that when an enemy attacked, they could draw together, back-to-back, covering each other’s blind side. One’s battle partner was his paraclete.”(2) Holy Spirit is your battle partner - that should bring some comfort! Back to 1 Chronicles 12 and the children of Issachar. An interesting thing happens three-fourths of the way through this chapter. In verse 32, God shifts temporarily from describing battlefield prowess to intel. It turns out that those from the tribe of Issachar weren’t known for fighting with swords and spears, but with their spiritual ears! They were David’s prophetic corps. The phrase “understanding of the times” doesn’t mean they were historians or observers of present-day trends. The word used for “understanding” is biynah,(3) and means discernment and wisdom. It is what God gave Daniel, enabling him to understand dreams and visions (Daniel 1:20, 9:22, 10:1). Solomon was also given this gift (1 Kings 3:1-15). Biynah would be the equivalent of “the spirit of wisdom and revelation” mentioned in Ephesians 1:17. “Time” is the word eth(4), meaning an appointed or strategic time, much like the Greek word kairos.(5) Issachar likely had an anointing to discern general times and seasons as well, but the context here is specifically for times of war. David’s “mighty men” included “discerning men!” Imagine that! David was able to go to one of his military units and ask, “What is Holy Spirit saying about this battle? What are you discerning?” And Issachar was able to respond: “Here’s what God is showing us, and the strategy He has given.” Now there’s some intel!!! Based on 1 Corinthians 10:6, we should assume from David’s example that prophetic insight - as well as spiritual power - is critical in order for us to win spiritual battles. The questions: “What is Holy Spirit saying about this situation? What is His strategy?” are nonnegotiable if we are to be “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). Ignoring Holy Spirit’s help occurs when we make Christianity a religion instead of a relationship. Our walk with God is not supposed to be based on religious rituals and doctrines, and Holy Spirit didn’t lose His voice when the Bible was written. He wants to communicate with us! When God created Adam and Eve in Eden, He created His family, not a religion. Family is what was lost at the Fall and what Yeshua restored at the Cross. And Jesus said to call God “Father” (Matthew 6:9). Get to know your Friend, Holy Spirit. He was sent to teach us (John 14:26), guide us into truth, and show us things to come (John 16:13). He was also sent to make us overcomers, those who reign in this life (Romans 5:17), not just the world to come. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for sending Holy Spirit to be our Helper. Just as Jesus was filled with, led, empowered, and anointed by Holy Spirit, we have been promised the same help. We ask You to bring a fresh infilling of Your Spirit to the Ekklesia; sharpen our discernment and mature us to be led more accurately by our Helper, and more effective in revealing Christ on the earth. We trust You, Holy Spirit, as our great Paraclete. We know You are our protector and strength in battles. You make us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) and cause us to always triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14). We ask for greater levels of this, not just for ourselves but for our leaders. Give the spirit of wisdom and revelation to our government leaders who have placed their faith in You. Defend them in their battles, and lead them in their decisions. Awaken in them the same awareness of their need for Your help that our Founders had when writing our Constitution. They called on You for help at the start of EVERY day, and You answered. You will do the same today. We ask especially that wisdom and revelation be given to them at this time regarding Iran. Satan’s subtlety is his greatest weapon, and he endeavors to infuse this ability into those aligned with him. We bind his ability to deceive our leaders and ask that Holy Spirit’s discernment be given to them. All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will not neglect the support of our great Helper, the Holy Spirit. ********************************** 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. 3875. Gordon Dalbey, Healing the Masculine Soul (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003), p. 124-125. James Strong Concordance, ref. no 998. Ibid., ref. no. 6256. Ibid. ref. no. 2540.
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Seek the Treasure * Dutch Sheets * GiveHIM15 * 6/11/2026
ronscarpa posted a topic in Off Topic posts
https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-11-2026 June 11, 2026 Seek the Treasure In yesterday’s Give Him 15 post, I spoke of our great Helper, Holy Spirit. He gives us discernment for life’s journey, including for our spiritual battles. Today, I want to continue this discussion. Holy Spirit doesn’t always share His plans and insights when we want or think He should. There are times when He must wait until the time is right. “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah 33:3) This famous verse of Scripture has been heard by almost every believer. On one occasion several years ago, I woke up at 3:33 AM and heard the Lord say to me, “Jeremiah 33:3.” At least, I thought I had awakened at 3:33 AM, until I woke up again at 3:33 AM and heard the same words! When I finally did wake up, I realized I had dreamed that I woke up at 3:33 AM - twice! - and heard the Lord say “Jeremiah 33:3.” The Lord wanted to “awaken” me to this verse and do so with extra emphasis, so He gave me the same dream twice. I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but upon waking, I knew immediately that God wanted me to look at Jeremiah 33:3. We all find comfort in the promise that if we call upon the Lord, He will answer us and show us great and mighty things. But I decided to dig a little deeper and began by reading the verse in several biblical translations. I was immediately intrigued by the Amplified Classic Bible: “Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).” The phrase “fenced in and hidden” surprised and fascinated me. “Mighty” is the word that motivated the Amplified translators to add this additional phrase. My first thought was, Well, which is right? “Mighty?” or “fenced in and hidden?” Out came the lexicons. The Hebrew word is batsar.(1) It is a very fascinating word. Follow me closely: the root concept is “to cut off,” including the aspect of separating or isolating something. It was often used in the context of doing so in order to protect it. This is why the Amplified translators used it to describe something “fenced in and hidden,” like a garden or vineyard; the word was even used to describe gold, which is “cut off” from view and “hidden” by the ground. Batsar also took on the meaning of a city that was cut off, inaccessible, and therefore, “fortified.” The concept of mighty, therefore, is not referring to physical strength or military might, but to something hidden and inaccessible, thus, protected and “mighty.” The Amplified Bible got it right. This amazing verse says that God at times reveals information or revelation that has previously been hidden, and not yet made known. He will “unhide” it, if you will. This can be seen also in the fact that a different form of the word, betser,(2) is used to describe gold that was once “hidden” but has now been discovered and mined. Using this analogy of gold, we could say that God is going to reveal the treasure of His Word, or the prophetic revelation necessary for us to succeed or prosper (Joshua 1:8). We actually sometimes use the phrase “a wealth of information.” The “treasure” of information Holy Spirit gives could be prophetic insight regarding the times and seasons, how to break through in a given situation, or direction for the future. Any new insight revealed by Holy Spirit would fit the description of batsar/betser. God is willing to reveal the understanding we need to break through and prosper. Our Counselor and Teacher, Holy Spirit, wants to release the spirit of wisdom and revelation to you (Ephesians 1:17). He wants to “uncover” truth, information, and insight for you. Uncover is actually the literal meaning of revelation. Let Him help you mine the gold. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Thy words were FOUND, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (emphasis mine). Too often, we fail to “find” the gold, the revelation we need, because we are not diligently looking and listening. Psalm 107:9 tells us God satisfies the thirsty and the hungry, filling them with what is good. “The problem isn’t God’s refusal to speak but our refusal or inability to get quiet enough to hear. Silencing the soul is a learned art. The psalmist David spoke of this. ‘Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother’ (Psalm 131:2). When we quieten the soul, we can hear His voice in our hearts.”(3) However, one more point must be made. Holy Spirit doesn’t always share His information, plans, and insights with us exactly when we want them or believe that He should. There are times when He must wait until just the right time. He protects certain information to keep us from moving ahead of His timing and from hindering His plans. Isaac comes at God’s time, not ours (Genesis 17:21), and His plans are shared in His timing, as well. He guards them until the right time. The Passion Translation translates this verse: “Cry out to Me and I will answer you. I will reveal to you great things, guarded secrets that you never could have known.” How about that - guarded secrets! The awesome promise of this verse, however, is that if we call upon God, at just the right time He will answer and reveal great, guarded secrets to assist us in life. As King Solomon was about to begin his reign over Israel, he prayed a prayer God couldn’t resist. “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9). The phrase “an understanding heart” could actually be translated “a hearing heart.” The translators struggle with the concept of a “hearing” heart, so they don’t translate it this way. But the Hebrew word is shama,(4) and it means “to hear.” Solomon asked for a hearing heart, in order to lead God’s people appropriately. God answered Solomon’s prayer, revealing to him treasures of wisdom; we can read them in the book of Proverbs. Why don’t you take a little time today and ask God to reveal some treasure to you? Pray with me: Father, we echo the words of the Psalmist, who asked You to “open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Your law/word” (Psalm 119:18). There is no problem we have, no situation we face, for which the answer cannot be found in Your Word, revealed to us by Holy Spirit. Give us the hunger and tenacity to dig for the treasure, for You have said that if we call upon You, You would answer and show us the hidden pearls of revelation we need. No, these priceless gems are not lying out in the open for the casual seeker to come across them “accidentally.” You do not cast Your pearls before swine. They must be sought, treated as the priceless treasure they are. But for the hungry, You have promised to help us mine the gold and find the treasure. Give us hungry, seeking hearts, just as Solomon possessed. And we know You will respond to that hunger by opening our eyes to find hidden treasures of wisdom. We pray for our leaders in government and in the church, asking that You give them wisdom and revelation to lead with Your understanding and enlightenment. Give them supernatural strategies to overcome challenging problems. Provide solutions to heal our nation and govern with righteousness and justice. And we pray for everyone listening to and reading this today. Give them the answers they need in order to overcome, break through, and succeed. Give them heaven’s understanding and wisdom for every situation they face. All of this we ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that as we call upon the Lord, He will answer us, revealing great and hidden things we did not know. ***************************** 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. 1219. Ibid., ref. no. 1220, 1221. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books), p. 143. Strong’s Concordance, ref. 8085. -
https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-15-2026 June 15, 2026 The Pillar of Fire I’ve said quite a bit lately about our Helper, the Holy Spirit. He aids us in many ways, not the least of which is guidance. He led the Israelites in a very unique way in the Exodus from Egypt, through a literal “pillar of a cloud” by day, and a “pillar of fire” by night (Exodus 13:21-22): “And the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from the presence of the people.” (NASB) Interestingly, in a passionate speech to Patriot leaders in America’s War of Independence, Founding Father Sam Adams referenced these two pillars. In September 1777, the war was not going well. The British were in control of New York, and Washington’s troops were suffering from deprivation and fatigue. “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.”(1) Firebrand Adams, known by Bostonians as the Father of the American Revolution, rose to speak–actually “preach” would be a better description of his exhortation–comparing the American revolutionaries to the Israelites who had left the slavery of Egypt. He first referenced appealing to heaven, along with God’s providence and faithfulness - leaving no doubt where his faith lay - then mentioned these two pillars: “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.”(2) Preach it, Adams! I have always been fascinated by these pillars of cloud and fire in Israel’s Exodus, finding God’s choice to manifest His presence in this way intriguing. The cloud and fire were no doubt manifestations of Holy Spirit. But did they picture something more? I believe they did. Psalm 29 speaks of the power of God’s voice releasing clouds and fire. Verses 3-6 speak of His voice releasing storms - clouds, thunder, lightning, etc., and verse 7 tells us it releases fire. According to TPT, this psalm was read on the first day of the Feast of Pentecost, which pointed ahead to Holy Spirit being poured out on the church in Acts 2. They state in their footnote that “The Christian church was born on Pentecost two thousand years ago when the mighty ‘storm’ of the Spirit came into the upper room.” Acts 2 tells us: “Suddenly they heard the sound of a violent blast of wind rushing into the house from out of the heavenly realm. The roar of the wind was so overpowering it was all anyone could bear! Then all at once a pillar of fire appeared before their eyes. It separated into tongues of fire that engulfed each one of them.” (Acts 2:2-3 TPT) In a footnote regarding these verses, the Passion translators state: “This was the pillar of fire that led Israel from bondage into the promised land. The same pillar of fire manifested here to initiate a new beginning from dead religious structures into the powerful life of the Spirit. Each believer received an overpowering flame of fire, signified by the shaft of light that engulfed them. It was as though each one received his own personal pillar of fire that would empower him and lead him throughout his life. This was the promise Jesus gave to His disciples of ‘the one like me’ (John 14:26), who would be sent by the Father and never leave them. Today every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of Christ.” If that doesn’t make you wanna shout some hallelujahs, I don’t know what would. Israel’s supernatural “guidance pillars” now indwell us in the person of the Holy Spirit. Patriot Adams knew Holy Spirit was assisting America in her quest for freedom, and He is helping us today regain our true freedom and purpose. Keep praying, church; we have Scripture - and history - on our side. “Heaven shall never abandon us.” Pray with me: Father, sin and rebellion often lead to depravity and insanity. Some of America’s leaders want to ban Your influence in our government. We also have depraved leaders who don’t know the difference between men and women, want to see babies killed, children mutilated, Your Word mocked, Your marriage covenant defiled, and common sense outlawed. Many “became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:21-22). Our nation has sown the wind and is reaping the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). And yet, You are rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), and love to redeem. We approach You now based on the redemptive power of the blood of Jesus. In the greatest story ever told, our Creator has become our Redeemer. We ask that His blood continue to cleanse our nation from sin, its resulting depravity, and the curse of insanity. Cleanse our hearts and heal our minds. Restore us to You, and thereby to truth and life. And as Founding Father Samuel Adams referenced, we ask You for the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). We need Holy Spirit’s guidance in our personal lives, and our nation needs them. Bring His glory and fire to our government, releasing these guiding forces into the White House, the halls of Congress, and the Supreme Court. Flow down from these “heads” of our government to every facet of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. “We have appealed to heaven for the justice of our cause, and in heaven we have placed our trust.”(3) We will not doubt, and we will not stop doing so until our nation is ablaze with revival and being reformed by truth. And in Jesus’ name we seal this. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the appeals to heaven will not stop, and they will not fail. *********************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sample text for Samuel Adams : a life / Ira Stoll. Ibid. Ibid.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/june-8-2026 June 8, 2026 “Consecrate the Court” In 1988, I heard Holy Spirit say, “Study the watchman concept of prayer.” I had studied the subject prior to this, taught on it, and was pretty familiar with the concept. Yet I had a strong, immediate impression that I was missing something. I obeyed Holy Spirit’s prompting and, indeed, there was more to the subject than I had previously seen. I discovered that the watchman concept of prayer is not just defensive and protective; it also has an offensive or aggressive aspect. I found that the Hebrew words for watchmen are also translated “to lay siege, blockade,”(1) “spy,”(2) and “ambush,”(3) in order to conquer cities or people (see Judges 1:24; 2 Samuel 11:16; Isaiah 1:8; Jeremiah 4:17; Psalm 56:6; 71:10). The reason these words are used in this manner is because all of the actions involve “watching.” When I saw this and began praying for greater insight, I heard Holy Spirit say the following: “I am about to release revelation to the praying church that will enable them to deliver individuals, cities, regions, and nations for Me. New strategies, concepts, and movements will emerge; discernment of satan’s strongholds will be given, and prayer sieges will begin that eventually end his hold over nations, regions, and people. “This will be broad in scope, with strategies and actions disseminated through many different ministries/organizations. I will give an assignment to one person or ministry, while simultaneously assigning another part to others. At times, they will not even realize they’re part of a larger strategy. I will orchestrate all of the efforts in order to lay sieges in the spirit realm, cutting off satan’s ‘supply lines’ - sins and iniquities that have given him access. I’ll close these entry points, cleansing from sins that have enabled him to hold places in captivity. Through the anointing of Holy Spirit, My intercessors will discern strategies and conduct prayer sieges of cities and nations.” In 1988, very little was known or spoken of regarding solemn assemblies, prayer walking, prayer journeys, spiritual mapping, identificational repentance, reconciliation ceremonies between races and people groups, etc. I am sure understanding of them existed in a few people’s thinking, but most of the body of Christ had never heard of them. I am relatively certain that some of these concepts weren’t spoken of at all. At the time, I knew of only a couple of ministries that existed primarily for prayer purposes, and there weren’t many books on the subject of intercession. Since then, however, literally millions of believers around the world have come to understand these aspects of prayer, and have learned to pray more effectively. The learning curve in the prayer movement shot up exponentially: Dozens of prayer ministries have been launched, thousands of prayer groups have formed, and millions of believers are interceding effectively. Dr. C. Peter Wagner, one of the leaders and fathers of this movement in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, once happily stated, “The prayer movement around the world is out of control.” Certainly, we have not yet “arrived” in our understanding of prayer, but we’ve moved forward at a rapid pace. This understanding and related activities are due to the revelation God began releasing to the church at the end of the 1980s. While much has been accomplished, we must always remember that prayer sieges for cities and nations can take years, even decades, to accomplish their purposes. Perseverance is non-negotiable. The prayers we release are part of dismantling centuries-old, sometimes millennia-old, strongholds of darkness. Also, millions of hearts and minds - traditions, cultural paradigms, even religious beliefs - must be changed. Spiritual transformation doesn’t occur simply because God “finally decides” to create it; it occurs when people’s actions and the conditions in a region make it possible. And those conditions are created, in part, through prayer sieges. Our prayers are accomplishing much; they’re absolutely shaping history. Blockades have been placed in the spiritual realm against satan’s activities; sieges are occurring and accomplishing their purposes. The Courts One of the places where this has occurred, and continues to take place, is the Supreme Court of America. Millions of believers in America have been part of this prayer siege; I began praying for a transformation and turnaround of our Supreme Court in the 1990s. We have made progress. Another individual the Lord has called to focus on the Court is my good friend, Phillip Jauregui, president of Judicial Action Group. Though living in Alabama, he spends a substantial amount of time in Washington, D.C., reviewing, researching, and working to place only the best judges and justices in our federal courts. Phillip has worked on hundreds of judicial nominations over the past 20 years, including several United States Supreme Court justices. Not only is Phillip an attorney, but he is also a man of prayer. For years, God has motivated him to pray for the Supreme Court’s transformation. In 2017, the Lord began speaking to Phillip in a unique way regarding the Court, comparing it to the prodigal son in Scripture. That download from heaven has now become an incredible book - written in layman’s terms, not legalese - filled with insights regarding how we can pray for the Supreme Court. It was my great honor to write the foreword to this book, The Parable of the Prodigal Court. Phillip also hosts a prayer gathering in D.C. for the High Court each year, on the first day of its new session. The Lord gave him the phrase “Consecrate the Court.” I join him each year for this very strategic gathering, which will take place this year on October 5-6 at The Museum of the Bible. It is my honor to be the keynote speaker at the dinner on Monday night. I encourage you to join us this year as we continue the prayer siege and consecrate America’s Supreme Court to the Lord. (Go to JAGF.org and click on EVENTS for tickets and more information. Tickets are required, and seating is limited, so get your tickets today.) Pray with me: Father, we turn our attention today to the Supreme Court of America. Through this institution, our nation has rejected You, life, the covenant of marriage You established, and more. We have arrogantly rebelled against You, and have paid for this rebellion with the loss of tens of millions of Americans. Today, we repent and ask for Your mercy. The blood of Jesus was sprinkled on a “Mercy Seat,” and we ask for this mercy. We also join our prayers today with the prayers that have been offered to consecrate this Court to You. YOU birthed America and our government. YOU instituted all government. Bring the Court back under YOUR plans, purposes, precepts, and laws. We dedicate the Supreme Court to YOU and ask that You change all that needs changing. Fill this branch of government and its building with Your presence once again. We ask all of this in the holy and all-powerful name of Yeshua. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the Supreme Court of the United States is being re-consecrated and rededicated to Almighty God, Creator and Owner of all the earth. ************************** Portions of today’s post were adapted from my book Watchman Prayer, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------------- Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard, rev. ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1990), p. 1752. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990) ref. no. 6822. Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, p. 1787.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-28-2026 May 28, 2026 Don’t Go to Sleep on the Job With the astonishing number of attempts to assassinate President Trump, the body of Christ MUST be faithful in our prayers for him, his family, and staff. This post is a teaching on prayer for protection, not only for leaders, but for anyone. PAGA Interestingly, one of the meanings of the Hebrew word for “intercession,” paga, is “boundary” or “border,” the point at which two territories meet or connect.(1) Paga is used repeatedly this way in Joshua 19. For example, Joshua 19:11 states that Zebulon’s “border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to (paga) Dabbasheth, and reached to (paga) the river that is before Jokneam.” This use of paga continues throughout the chapter. When used in the context of intercessory prayer, paga refers to establishing boundaries, perimeters, or walls of protection. Through prayer, we can build shields, boundaries, and walls of protection around people and places. Isaiah 26:1 and 60:18 speak of God’s protection as “walls”: “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: ‘We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security.” “Violence will not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.” Zechariah 2:5 speaks of protective walls of fire: “For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” Supernatural protection occurs daily through consistent prayer, but also at strategic times as intercessors are sensitive to the promptings of Holy Spirit. He alerts us to pray for others in critical times of need. These alerts from the Holy Spirit can come in various ways: a sense of foreboding, an uneasiness concerning someone, a dream or vision, or simply by hearing Him alert us to pray for someone. The Holy Spirit speaks of these alerts in Ephesians 6:18, a passage regarding spiritual warfare: “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” Most readers assume this verse is telling us to pray all the time. However, it is not, nor would that be possible. The word “times” is the Greek word kairos, which means “strategic or opportune time.”(2) God is saying that, in light of the spiritual warfare always occurring on earth, we must be alert for satan’s attacks - both for ourselves and for others. When warned of these kairos, strategically timed attacks, we must pray! When we pray, God will intervene. Hebrews 4:16 also uses this word for strategic timing, kairos, in the context of prayer: “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time [kairos] of need.” Without question, we are welcome at God’s throne of grace at all times, but this verse refers to strategic times of need. The Amplified Translation makes this clear, stating that if we pray at these times, we will “Find His amazing grace to help in time of need, an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment.” The Hebrew counterpart to the Greek word kairos is eth, which also means “strategic time.” Used in Psalm 9:9, God tells us He is “a stronghold in times [eths] of trouble.”(3) This and the above verses tell us to pray at strategic times of trouble or spiritual attacks, and receive the help we need. The late Evangelist, Oral Roberts, told of experiencing this type of the Holy Spirit’s intervention during a kairos-timed attack against his family: “After ministering at a conference over a thousand miles away from home, Oral had gone to bed in his hotel when he was suddenly awakened and heard these words, ‘Your wife and children in Tulsa are in serious danger. Pray.’ He spent time in deep intercession for his family until he finally felt the burden lift. When he returned home to Tulsa, his wife, Evelyn, told him that one night, after she and the children had gone to bed, she heard someone trying to break into their home. Paralyzed with fright, she had been unable to do anything other than to pray for God's help and for Oral to be alerted to pray for them. “Thankfully, the intruder left without ever entering the house. As they compared their experiences, the Robertses realized that Oral had been awakened and alerted to pray at the exact time that Evelyn had heard the intruder.”(4) That is a kairos attack - and a kairos answer - to paga prayer! Walls or boundaries of protection were established through intercession, and God's promise of protection was fulfilled. Never assume that a warning such as this is just your imagination. Engage your faith in God’s protection and pray! Ephesians 6:18, the verse mentioned above that tells us to pray at all kairos times, also urges us to be “watching” for one another. This word (agrupneo) means literally to “stay awake.”(5) Just as “praying always” does not mean we have to pray 24/7, this word doesn’t mean we should never sleep! It is a parabolic way of saying we must remain alert, just as an awake sentry or night watchman would do. We have all heard the phrase “don’t go to sleep on the job,” which means the same thing. This passage in Ephesians is telling us we must be alert, watching for one another. As we do so, Holy Spirit will faithfully do as He said: alert us to the kairos attacks of the enemy. Pray with me: Father, Your Word tells us that if we are alert, Holy Spirit will warn us of spiritual attacks and strategic times when urgent prayers of protection are needed. Of course, we can and should dwell in the secret place of protection daily (Psalm 91), but we can also be alerted to imminent danger to ourselves or others. We ask You for high levels of discernment and sensitivity to these alerts, for our families, friends, leaders, and others. We will be faithful to pray during these times, building walls, boundaries, and perimeters of protection around ourselves and others. We declare that as we do so, no weapon formed against them or us will prosper. This is our heritage as family members of the Most High God (Isaiah 54:17). We pray today for our President, his family, and team. We ask for spiritual walls/boundaries of protection to be placed around them, shielding them from every attack waged against them. Give all the supernatural help needed to those assigned to protect them, and also to those charged with uncovering evil plots. And give us intercessors keen ears to hear when strategic prayer is needed. All this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we will be alert to Holy Spirit’s promptings, allowing Him to use us as sources of divine protection. ****************************** Today’s post was adapted from my book, The Essential Guide to Prayer, 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. 6293. Ibid, ref. no. 2540. Ibid, ref. no. 853. Oral Roberts, A Prayer Cover Over Your Life (Tulsa, OK: Oral Roberts, 1990), pp. 10-11. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 69.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-27-2026 May 27, 2026 Satan’s Plans Will Backfire While praying for President Trump and his team regarding the situation in Iran, including the issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a passage of Scripture in Exodus. We will go there momentarily. But first, some context regarding the Iranian situation. Some feel that the financial hardships created throughout the world by the Iranians’ shutdown of the Strait, followed by Trump’s decision to blockade it entirely, created a trap for the President. While this is greatly damaging Iran’s economy, it is also temporarily hurting America’s, as well. And though we have all but destroyed the Iranian military and its former leaders, those now in control are in hiding and don’t seem to care how much the economic woes hurt the Iranian people. They believe Trump is trapped in a difficult, no-win situation, and the longer they wait, the more leverage they have. With the midterms approaching, the Dems and liberal media are using these economic woes and the seeming stalemate to hurt Trump and the Republicans as much as possible. Sadly, they hate Trump more than they love America. Now, to the passage I believe the Lord led me to. In the Bible, Baal-Zephon was one of the gods in the Baal “family,” and was also a geographical location that served as the backdrop for one of the most famous events in the Old Testament: the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14). Beneath the surface of the story lies a fascinating layer of revelations. Here is a breakdown of what Baal-Zephon means, where it was, and why it matters. The Meaning of the Name Baal means “Lord” or “Master.”(1) Baal-Zephon literally translates as “Lord of the North.”(2) It originates from a word meaning “hidden,” and from this meaning carries a symbolic meaning of “dark.”(3) Baal-Zephon was considered the “master of the sea and storms,” among other things. The geographic place named after him was considered the sacred mountain and home of this Canaanite storm god. Because Baal-Zephon was revered as a protector of maritime trade and a master of the sea and storms, Canaanite and Phoenician sailors established sanctuaries dedicated to him along the Mediterranean coast—even at the borders of Egypt. The Biblical Context - The Ultimate Trap Baal-Zephon is mentioned three times in the Bible (Exodus 14:2, Exodus 14:9, and Numbers 33:7). During the Exodus, in what seemed like a very unwise move, God commanded Moses to have the Israelites turn back and camp by this high place of Baal-Zephon, putting them in a very strategic bottleneck: “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal-Zephon,” (Exodus 14:2). By placing the Israelites here, God deliberately made them look trapped. To Pharaoh, it appeared that the wilderness and sea had hemmed them in, and his army cornered them right in front of Baal-Zephon. The Showdown In ancient Canaanite theology, the Canaanites believed Baal’s crowning achievement was defeating “Yam,” whose name means “the sea.” Yam had been known as the former strong god of the sea.”(4) The Canaanites believed Baal-Zephon had conquered him and asserted his lordship over the waters from his seat on Mount Zephon. By staging the climax of Israel’s exodus directly in front of Baal-Zephon's sanctuary, Yahweh was issuing a direct challenge on Baal’s home court. Pharaoh assumed that because the Israelites were cornered by the sea at Baal-Zephon’s doorstep, the “Lord of the Sea” would hand Egypt the victory. Instead, Yahweh split the sea, led Israel through on dry land, and swallowed Pharaoh’s army in the waves. The Lord used this narrative to show that the Canaanite storm god was entirely powerless on his own turf. It demonstrated to both the Israelites and the Egyptians that Yahweh—not Baal—was the true master of the wind, the storm, and the sea. The Lord showed me a parallel between this showdown and what is occurring today with Iran. It appears that circumstances have perhaps allowed the evil powers behind Iran’s leaders to trap Trump and his advisors: end the conflict quickly–even if it means compromise–or lose the midterms. I believe God has other plans, and our prayers for the President can release the Lord’s turnaround, just as He did with Zephon. Psalm 7:14-16, in the NLT says, “The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves. The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads.” What a great promise! The Passion Translation explains these three verses: “Look how the wicked conceive their evil schemes. They go into labor with their lies and give birth to trouble. They dig a pit for others to fall into, not knowing that they will be the very ones who will fall into it. Every pit-digger who works to trap and harm others will be trapped by his own treachery.” I believe the Lord wants us to pray these particular verses over the situation in Iran. Civic leaders are not supposed to have to govern in their own strength and wisdom. God helps the righteous. Let’s ask that the trap the enemy has planned for President Trump backfires, that satan’s allies fall into the pit they have dug, and are trapped by their own treachery. Pray that evil powers are exposed in Iran–and the Strait of Hormuz–just as they were at the Red Sea. And ask the Lord to give our President, his negotiators, and all his advisors supernatural insight and wisdom. Let’s do so now. Pray with me: Father, satan and his cohorts are no match for You. You are the Lord of the seas, winds, and storms. Baal is a counterfeit god, an idol. The “prince of Persia” (Daniel 10) is under Your feet. Today, we pray that Psalm 7:14-16 is fulfilled before the world. As this Psalm says, cause evil leaders and the powers of darkness to fall into the pit they have dug. Cause their plans to backfire, and the violence they plan falls on their own heads. Cause them to be trapped by their own treachery. We declare that no weapon formed against righteous decisions regarding Iran will prosper! We continue to believe that You have plans for an epochal revival in the Middle East, and that Iran is to play a significant role. We call for this–and the above turnaround–to come forth in the name of Jesus! Our decree: We decree that every trap of the enemy in the Iranian showdown will backfire, and God will show Himself as the Almighty. *************************** 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. 1168. Ibid, ref. no. 1189. Ibid, ref. no. 6845. Ibid, ref. no. 3220.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-26-2026 May 26, 2026 We All Need a Barnabas In asking for the Lord’s guidance regarding today’s post, my mind kept being drawn to Barnabas, Paul’s traveling companion for a few years. His given name was Joseph, but he was nicknamed by the church, Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement.” It is telling that perhaps the greatest of the early church apostles needed an encourager by his side. Here is a brief summary of Barnabas’ ministry life: He was a Levite from Cyprus, nicknamed “son of encouragement” by the apostles (Acts 4:36). Radical Generosity (Acts 4:37): He was the man who sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles to support the church in Jerusalem. He was an advocate for Paul (Acts 9): When Paul (formerly Saul) first came to Jerusalem after his conversion, the disciples were afraid of him. Barnabas risked his reputation to vouch for Paul, introducing him to the apostles and recounting Paul’s conversion experience. Leader in Antioch (Acts 11): Sent by the Jerusalem church to investigate the growing church in Antioch, Barnabas recognized God’s grace on them and encouraged the new believers. He was described in Acts 11 as a “good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith,” which resulted in many people being added to the Lord. Mentored Paul (Acts 11-13): Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Paul, bringing him to Antioch, where they taught for a full year. The two were sent out by the church in Antioch on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:2-3). Missionary Journey (Acts 14-15): On their mission to Cyprus and Asia Minor, together they faced intense persecution. The Split (Acts 15): A “sharp disagreement” arose between Paul and Barnabas regarding taking John Mark, Barnabas’ young cousin, on a second missionary journey, as Mark had abandoned them previously. They separated, with Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus while Paul took Silas and went elsewhere. The book of Acts continues to focus on Paul, but acknowledges Barnabas’ continued, faithful work. Barnabas, true to his nickname, took John Mark and spent time discipling him. This process was so effective that, years later, Paul specifically asked for John Mark to come and help him, as Mark had matured to the point of being needed by Paul in his ministry once again (2 Timothy 4:11). The Lord chose not to tell us the details of Paul’s and Barnabas’ disagreement. It would seem, however, that it was likely the strength of each one’s gift that prompted the opposing viewpoints. Paul’s intense, pioneer spirit lent itself to a more “no nonsense and less patience with immaturity” attitude. Barnabas’s heart of mercy and willingness to come alongside others motivated him. God blessed them both, however. Each was successful in his subsequent ministry, even after separating for a season. And Mark certainly matured into a very needed person in the church. Perhaps both giftings were necessary to mature Mark: Paul’s stern, no-compromise approach, and Barnabas’ ability to see the potential in others and cultivate it. As we know, all strengths come with antithetical weaknesses, and two different perspectives can both have elements of truth. No one’s gift or perspective is always 100% right. “He who is without sin (or weakness) among you, cast the first stone” (John 8:7) is applicable, not just for the Pharisees in Christ’s day, but for all of us. Ouch..! My purpose today is to remind all of us to be grateful for the Barnabases in our lives, and to take advantage of every opportunity to encourage someone. It could be a person who showed you patience when you were not in a place of strength or purity, someone who took the time to nurture or mentor you, or perhaps a parent who faithfully loved and stood by you. I suppose the list could be endless. But God placed such a high priority on encouragement that He highlighted “the son of encouragement” several times in Scripture. We should prioritize it, also. If the Lord brings someone to mind, pray for them today. Perhaps send them a text or card, maybe make a phone call. Remember, no one achieves success without help. It is also worth remembering that one of the meanings of “appreciate” is “to increase in value,” [Webster’s Dictionary] as a house or precious gem might do. Allow the value of others to appreciate, to increase, in your heart. And tell them. Pray with me: Lord, You take note when we demonstrate gratitude and appreciation for those who have encouraged us on our journey; You also do so when we encourage others. Thank You for the example of Barnabas and his desire to lift up others. We thank You today for those who have done so in our lives. The compassionate message, the phone call when we needed it, the “you’re gonna make it” when it seemed there was no way, the smile from a stranger–thank You for them all. Remind us to appreciate–give value to–others. Also, remind us to give grace to those with whom we disagree whenever possible. Help us to look through the lens of compassion and see their perspective. While we are told in Your Word not to tolerate evil, we can still love and pray for those with whom we don’t agree, including our enemies. And we ask You to give us more Barnabases, those who specialize in this wonderful gift of encouragement. The world needs more of them. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We will be an encouragement to others, give honor where honor is due (Romans 13:7), and choose to live a life of gratitude. *************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-25-2026 May 25, 2026 Introduction Periodically, I ask my friend, medically retired Major William Ostan, to share a post with our Give Him 15 family. He always accommodates when his health allows. I am indebted to Will– he not only paid a great physical price for me (and you), but he also introduced me to the Appeal To Heaven flag, the story of which impacted me greatly. Will bleeds red, white, and blue. His post will inspire you today. The title is: Inspiration from Billy Graham and Dwight Eisenhower As Americans celebrate Memorial Day Weekend with barbecues and baseball games, parades and parties, which are all appropriate, it is imperative that we also spend focused time remembering the purpose for this special day – namely, to honor the sacrifices of the military fallen and their families. Today is the 55th commemoration of Memorial Day in the 250th year of our beloved country’s exceptional history. As such, I thought it would be appropriate to glean wisdom about the meaning of this noteworthy day from the relationship between one of America’s greatest preachers and greatest presidents. Billy Graham and Dwight Eisenhower enjoyed a close friendship that spanned multiple decades.(1) On one occasion in 1955, President Eisenhower allowed Reverend Graham to join him on a tour of Gettysburg, the battlefield that turned the tide in the Civil War. This experience made an immediate and significant impact on Graham. Three weeks later, while in Boston, Graham delivered a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. While this address was delivered several years before Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971, Graham’s sentiments are spot-on. The following are excerpts I have compiled from his original message. Rev. Graham’s eloquence and insights are timeless. His speech is just as relevant in 2026 as it was when delivered in 1955, precisely because it enlightens us to the cost of liberty paid for by the precious lives of the men and women in our Armed Forces, going all the way back to 1776. Today, we remember the ultimate sacrifice American warfighters have made from the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli, from the encampments at Valley Forge to the open fields and rocky hills at Gettysburg, from the Forest of Argonne to the beaches of Normandy, from North Korea’s Chosin Reservoir to the jungles of Vietnam, and from the alluvial plain of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan. We also pay homage to the service members recently lost in Operation Epic Fury. As President Lincoln charged us in the Gettysburg Address, may the memory of the fallen always inspire us: Pray with me: Heavenly Father, You have seen the sacrifice of every one of the fallen. Every man. Every woman. You see the tears of every friend, every spouse, every parent, every child, and family member who has lost a loved one in service to our country. Not one moment in battle has escaped Your attention. You are intimately aware of each dying breath and as President Lincoln stated so eloquently, the last full measure of devotion that was given. Father, we take a solemn moment now to honor the men and women who selflessly gave their lives. We lift up the family members and loved ones who feel the loss most deeply. Please wrap Your arms of comfort around them. Make Yourself known to them. For our own hearts, Lord, we ask that You impart to us a deep gratitude for the great cloud of witnesses who’ve paid a price so we can live in a land of liberty. Fan aflame the fires of patriotic devotion within us to continue to advance the unfinished work of our ancestors. On this Memorial Day, we thank You, Lord, that the fallen American warfighters “got it (freedom) for us” and died so that we may live lives of purpose for Your glory, while recognizing the full worth of the blessings of liberty. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen. ******************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- BIO: William J. Ostan is a medically retired Army Major and the recipient of two bronze stars. He is the Founder and President of Arc of Justice, a nonprofit organization that advocates for active-duty wounded warriors. Will is currently spearheading the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights, which is bipartisan legislation being considered in Congress. You can find out more about his cause at www.arcofjusticeusa.org and www.willostan.com ****************************************** 1. https://billygrahamlibrary.org/blog-pastor-to-presidents-billygraham-dwight-d-eisenhower/ 2. https://billygraham.org/articles/a-timeless-billy-graham-message-for-memorial-day The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s website hosts the entire speech. It is worth reading as Rev. Graham relates more stories about his interactions with troops and includes a powerful Gospel message. Continuing the lifelong work of Billy Graham, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association exists to support and extend the evangelistic calling and ministry of Franklin Graham by proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all we can by every effective means available to us and by equipping the church and others to do the same. © 2026 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Used with general permission. All rights reserved. 3. https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.24404500/?st=text
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-22-2026 May 22, 2022 Introduction Today’s post is from our friend Gina Gholston. Gina draws strong prophetic insight from the life of the great warrior Caleb, applying it to our nation today. I know you will be encouraged by this teaching. The title is: We’ve Come Too Far to Stop Now In Joshua 14, having journeyed hard and long, holding to a promise from God, the people of Israel finally stood in the land for which they had been striving. Their long journey had been marked by many experiences that proved God was with them and fighting for them. Every step they took had been necessary to position them in that place at that moment; past obedience had contributed to their present reality. Their courageous leap of faith in following the priests as they carried the Ark of the Covenant across the Jordan River, followed by victories at Jericho and elsewhere, had placed them at a momentous juncture. And Caleb recognized it. The land that had once been just a dream was now tangible soil under their feet. Though it was connected to a promise that had long eluded them, they were there now, and this shifted everything. It was a moment worthy of celebration, but also one that demanded a shift in focus. They now needed a deeper resolve to carry on with God’s will and intentions. They had come a long way, but were not finished. God had made them a promise, and that promise was not just that they would take a portion of the land. It was that they would possess the entire land and leave it as an inheritance for the next generation. Caleb had followed God faithfully. Even when others failed to believe, he stood firm in his faith. Regardless of how impossible things appeared, he knew God’s hand was upon them, and He would enable them to possess what He said they could have. Now, the time had come to take his portion of the land, to go forward and do what was necessary to fully occupy his inheritance. So, Caleb adjusted his focus and declared, “I was forty years old when God and Moses made me that promise. Now it’s forty-five years later, and I’m still here! Give me my mountain!” (Joshua 14:6-15). Caleb knew that possessing his mountain meant he would have to face giants, but he wasn’t concerned; he was convinced of the promise! He understood the significance of that moment. Possession of that land was of utmost importance. He had come too far to stop now. This was a make-or-break moment. And what was about to unfold wasn’t just about an old man receiving a reward for his past obedience; his actions in that moment would determine what was passed on to the next generation. Failure to move forward would not only result in the forfeiture of his full inheritance, but also deny the next generation the future and inheritance God intended for them. If this is not a picture of where we are now as a nation–including the church, I don’t know what is. We’re at a pivotal moment. We have come a long way, experiencing God’s faithfulness as we’ve obediently followed His leading and contended for His promise that “America shall be saved.” Though the journey has been long and at times, the promise has seemed far away, we are now seeing breakthrough! Much is happening; prayers are being answered, and change is occurring. It’s undeniable, and we stand in awe of God! It is truly a moment worthy of celebration! But God’s promise was not just that we see a breakthrough; the promise is that America shall be saved. The promise is that we will experience another great awakening that will transform our nation and the world. Some of us, like Caleb, have committed to this journey. We have taken our place and followed the Lord as faithfully as we’ve known how. We have believed and held fast to His Word, and now we’re witnessing the undeniable fulfillment of God’s promises. We’ve accomplished and seen a lot, but we’re not finished. There are still mountains to possess and battles to be won. We must move forward with deepened resolve, overcoming any remaining obstacles, so that we leave the next generation a spiritual inheritance laced with God’s power and faithfulness. We must focus on the future, hear Yahweh’s new instructions, and continue to partner with Him as He works through us to finish what He started. I heard the Lord recently say, “You have entered a set moment in which a convergence of times, words, dreams, and assignments is creating an updraft of My wind, causing a release, a deluge of the rain of My Spirit! As you have worked with Me in prayer, I have worked through your prayers and decrees, which have been prompted by My Spirit. The rivers are now being widened to receive the rain and make way for an increased, unstoppable flow of My power and glory…for such a time as this!” The necessary actions have been taken and are now coming into alignment. Like tumblers in a locking mechanism, once the key is inserted and turned, everything falls into place. This opens the door, revealing the purpose and opportunities waiting on the other side. Now, the door is open, and we stand on the threshold of this nation’s redemption. We didn’t retreat; we’re still here, and have come too far to stop now. Empowered by Holy Spirit, we must fix our eyes on Jesus, go through the door, and boldly advance with God’s direction and purposes. Pray with me: Father, the undeniable evidence of Your powerful workings surrounds us, and we stand in awe of You. We are in a history-making moment. We have called to You, and You have answered. We have followed You as You have led us. We’ve seen You do too much to doubt You now! Your promise is that America shall be saved, and as we move toward that reality, we choose to focus forward, partnering with You as You work through us to heal and redeem our land. We refuse to leave the next generation an inheritance of unfulfilled promises! We step into the flow of Your power and glory that is being poured out. We rejoice in Your faithfulness to us, and are determined to do our part, working with You to see revival in our land. Amen! Our decree: We will not stop now! Empowered by Holy Spirit, we will seize this moment and boldly advance into the fullness of God’s purposes. *********************** You can find out more about Gina at GinaGholston.com.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-21-2026 May 21, 2026 Revisiting the Situation in Iran Since I must write these posts the day before, I’m writing this on Wednesday. The situation in Iran keeps coming to mind today. I feel a strong need to pray for President Trump and his team that they make wise, sound decisions. As the President weighs his options, I am praying that God’s wisdom and will are clearly discerned. I am very confident that the situation in Iran is significant regarding the coming spiritual harvest, as well as having obvious international implications and affecting the mood of the American people. It is a challenging situation, and there is only one person with enough wisdom and knowledge to navigate the situation perfectly: God. The Iranians who have been leading that nation are beyond corrupt; they are evil and controlled by evil spirits. It is doubtful that any decent leaders there have enough authority to bring about the changes needed, or the authority to negotiate in good faith. Trump and his team know this, and are weighing options. Meanwhile, it seems that those on the Left in our government are more interested in politicizing the war than winning it. Shockingly, their hatred of Trump is greater than their love of America. The Left’s motives in this situation are as obvious as in their fight against appropriate voter IDs, the deportation of illegal criminals, and stopping fraud. They live for power. As many Americans now know, Trump is fighting more than evil throughout the world; he is fighting it at home. Also, many of our leaders don’t have the backbone to do what is necessary regarding Iran; our government has foolishly tried to buy peace with them for decades, thereby funding their terrorism and nuclear ambitions! We must pray that righteous leaders, including our President, consistently outmaneuver the Leftists and Marxists now entrenched in our nation. Humility and dependence on God are paramount in order for this to occur. Presumption can be deadly, as can be seen in the book of Joshua. In Joshua 7, Israel had just returned from Jericho, one of their most remarkable victories. This impregnable city was defeated, not with weapons, skill, or a great battle plan. It was defeated by obeying God’s instructions: marching around the city with priests carrying the ark of the covenant, blowing shofars, and shouting. After Jericho, confidence was high - the taking of Canaan was going to be a piece of cake. The next city they faced was small and insignificant Ai (yes, this was the actual name of the city). No need to seek God’s guidance for this one, just send a few spies to check it out and tell them what to do. But not checking in with the “Captain” meant not receiving His alert about a problem–there was sin in Israel. Some of the spoils of Jericho, which were all supposed to go into God’s treasury, had been stolen. The result? God’s favor was not on them, and the small group of soldiers Israel sent to take Ai was routed. Thirty-six men were killed. After great victories or accomplishments, it is easy for self-confidence to replace an awareness of our need for divine help. This can be incredibly subtle, happening at the subconscious level. Satan is always waiting for such a kairos time to attack. We need God’s help as much at our Ai’s as we do our Jericho’s. Pray that our godly leaders in D.C. always remember this and “Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8). And pray that they and President Trump have ears to hear when they ask for the Lord’s wisdom–whether directly, through a dream, or from another individual. Pray also that weariness and distractions will not hinder this process. I cannot even imagine the workload of the President, nor the weight of his responsibilities. Ask that God will bring confusion and failure to the evil leaders of Iran, and that they would be overthrown. Pray that the demonic input given to them fails in its goals. Ask that wise strategies to overcome evil are given to those who would lead with wisdom and grace, and who care for the people of Iran. And pray for the people who are suffering greatly. Pray with me: Father, we pray for President Trump and his team today as they make decisions regarding Iran. Give them Your thoughts and wisdom as they make weighty, far-reaching decisions. Let no trap of the enemy succeed in leading them into wrong actions, or an inappropriate self-confidence. Keep them aware that they always need Your guidance and help. When we abide in You, Your Word says that if we walk into a trap, angels will be there to keep us from stumbling (Psalms 91:12 TPT). We pray this for President Trump. And we pray that the rebellious, wicked leaders in Iran would be dealt with appropriately. Your Word says in Psalm 68:6 that “For the rebels there is heartache and despair.” We ask that You remove the rebels and end their reign of terror. Cause them to make errors in their planning, strategic mistakes that lead to their downfall. We bind the powers of darkness that are leading them and controlling the nation, in Jesus’ name. And we pray for the people of Iran. Free them from tyranny and send an earth-shaking revival. Do this for the entire Middle East. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare over President Trump that no weapon formed against him will prosper, and that God’s wisdom will be given to him. *************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-20-2026 May 20, 2026 Our Powerful Friend In yesterday’s GH15, I stated that “We must not underestimate the significance of those in positions of governmental authority honoring God on behalf of a nation. Like it or not, the actions of those in authority affect all of us. ‘When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn’ (Proverbs 29:2). Untold numbers of curses and judgments have been visited on entire nations through the decisions of government leaders. Roe vs Wade is but one example. “But don’t forget the first half of the verse: ‘When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice!!!!’ God-honoring decisions by government leaders release the blessings of heaven on a nation. President Trump reading God’s Word over our nation released great power; his rededication and welcoming of God into our land Sunday were profoundly important. The heavens shifted over our nation on that day.” The famous “If my people…” verse (2 Chronicles 7:14), read by our President recently and replayed at Sunday’s Rededication event, was first stated by God in response to a government leader, King Solomon’s prayer of dedication. His authority as the leader of the nation gave him the right to interact with God on behalf of the nation. Again, the prayers of our leaders are very significant. All of us present could sense a great weight on the prayer of Speaker Johnson this past Sunday. America’s Constitution The creation of the greatest constitution in world history was possible only because the delegates to the Continental Convention asked for God’s help in shaping it. The Americans had prevailed against the British, but were nearly defeated from within by very sharply divided opinions on how the new nation should be governed. State’s rights versus Federal power, fair representation for all states - especially those less populated, and other issues were creating great impasses. For days, they struggled with no breakthrough. Would the new nation survive? There had been concern over these differences before the gathering even began, including by George Washington, president of the Convention. He was gravely concerned but indicated that he had placed his trust in God, stating to a friend at the beginning of the meeting, “…the event is in the hands of God.”(1) Yet during the convention itself, the delegates neglected to corporately humble themselves and ask for God’s help. When the struggle reached a desperate point, Benjamin Franklin stood and referenced God’s “superintending providence” in bringing the nation to liberty: “To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?” he asked. “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? “We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building, no better than the builders of Babel… “I, therefore, beg leave to move - that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.”(2) The request was approved, prayers were offered daily, breakthrough occurred, and our Constitution was born. God not only wants government leaders to be prayed for, but He also wants government leaders to pray! The Lord desired to oversee the fashioning of our government, but He couldn’t do so until they prayed and asked. This past Sunday, leaders from both our Executive and Legislative branches asked for His help. And I’m very sure there were people from the Judicial branch praying throughout the nation. This was and will be honored. People misinterpret - and some twist - the intent of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment to the Constitution. It states in part, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” This is interpreted by many as meaning: Keep God out of our government. It is more than just ironic that the document they refer to was successfully written only by asking for His help; it is insane. Our Founders referenced God 4 times in the Declaration of Independence and sought His help daily as they wrote our Constitution. It is wise and right that we are asking for His aid in our government once again. One final word about involving God in our nation. Looking at Israel in the Old Testament for examples shows us that their national days of rededication were not religious rituals, but rather days of relational connection. Our great God is our Father, Abba (Romans 8:14; Galatians 4:6). Our gracious Savior is our Friend (John 5:13-15). Father God wants His kids to partner with Him, not serve Him out of fear or cut deals to get His help. Our Redeemer wants His ekklesia to represent Him, sharing His authority. As Ben Franklin stated in the above appeal, He is our “powerful Friend”. Selah - pause and consider that. Pray with me: Father, as we learn Your ways, our ability to work with You increases. Last Sunday, Heaven and earth met in a harmonious agreement, not only in Washington, D.C., but all across our land. I’m confident that it was a pleasure for You. You may have even done as Zephaniah declared: “Don’t let your heart be discouraged. Yahweh, your God, is inside you. He is the Warrior-Savior who takes such delight in you that it will make Him leap for joy and shout with great gladness. Yes, He will soothe you with His love. He will sing over you His song of praise” (Zephaniah 3:16-17). The Message translation says: “Dear Zion, don’t despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, He’ll calm you with His love and delight you with His songs.” We sensed Your delight Sunday, “powerful Friend”; we felt Your embrace, Abba. Your prodigal nation is returning to You. Now, please expedite the restoration with a Third Great Awakening. Send the powerful wind of Holy Spirit to our land, and of course, to the nations of the earth. In Yeshua’s name, amen. Our decree: Our powerful Friend is helping us again, providing His “superintending providence.” ****************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- William Federer, America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations, p. 654. Ibid., pp. 248-249
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-19-2026 May 19, 2026 Sunday Was the Capstone God does not require perfect prayers. In Joshua 10, the army of Israel was defending the Gibeonites, a people under attack and with whom they were in covenant. To finish this task and fully defeat the enemy, Israel needed to act before darkness set in, which was approaching quickly. So Joshua took audacious action: “Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, ‘Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.”’ (Joshua 10:12 KJV) And God answered this inaccurate prayer! We know it wasn’t actually the sun that needed to stand still, but rather the earth, in order for this incredible miracle to occur. The Earth’s rotation causes day and night, not the sun’s. When Joshua asked for the sun to stand still, one can almost hear an angel or two respond, “Well, we can’t answer that prayer.” To which the Lord evidently responded, “Give him a break! You know what he wants - give him more daylight!” Joshua received what he needed, not what he asked for. I’m glad that we don’t have to ask perfectly in order for God to answer. To pray against satan’s lies from succeeding, we don’t need to know the exact lie. To pray against assassination attempts of leaders, we don’t have to know which leader or when it might occur. To pray against the influence of demons over individuals, we aren’t required to know all the details. And to rededicate a nation to God, we don’t need perfect prayers from perfect people. Don’t misunderstand me - wonderful prayers were prayed all day long at the Rededication 250 event this past Sunday. I wasn’t able to hear all of them, but those I did hear were heartfelt and sincere. Granted, I don’t pray like Catholics, Jewish Rabbis, or even many in the evangelical world; for some reason, God seems to hear them! Cornelius wasn’t even born again as yet, when an angel said his prayers had created a memorial before God! And the Lord chose his house in which to begin pouring out His Spirit on the gentile world (Acts 10)!!! Unquestionably, Sunday was momentous and historic. Even more so because those from different spiritual traditions gathered to do the same thing: honor God, worship Him, and rededicate our nation to Him. And we must not underestimate the significance of those in positions of governmental authority honoring God on behalf of a nation. Like it or not, the actions of those in authority affect all of us. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2). Untold numbers of curses and judgments have been visited on entire nations through the decisions of government leaders. Roe vs Wade is but one example. But don’t forget the first half of the verse: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice!!!!” God-honoring decisions by government leaders release the blessings of heaven on a nation. President Trump’s reading of God’s Word over our nation released great power; his rededication and welcoming of God into our land were profoundly important. The heavens shifted over our nation on Sunday. For those of us who have been praying for America’s spiritual recovery for decades, Sunday was a deeply moving day. It confirmed that our prayers have been heard–and continue to be heard. Sunday alone didn’t build a monument to God; it was the capstone. Lou (Engle) and I agreed that this was one of those rare times when what was needed was accomplished just by God’s people showing up. After 30 years of prayer and fasting, then the President of our nation calling for the Rededication - simply showing up sealed the deal - the event itself was simply the capstone on what was built through many years of prayer. Thank you for your part. Thank you to so many of you who participated on Sunday, and who have prayed for our nation for many years. The prayer movement in our nation has epitomized a grassroots movement. There are no “bigshots” in the prayer closets of America; just big hearts. You matter. Keep it up - our appeals are restoring a nation. Pray with me: Father, thank You for looking past our stumbling words and answering our prayers. Thank You for creating a cleansing agent capable of removing all of our sinful stains, whether they be personal or national - the blood of Jesus. Thank You for a President with a heart to honor Your Word OVER our nation, and ask for Your presence IN our nation. And thank You for a President bold enough to do so publicly. Thank You for Sunday - You placed the desire in our President’s heart to convene the gathering, in the hearts of thousands to attend, and millions more to participate online. We know what occurred blessed Your heart, and we are confident You will respond with grace, mercy, and blessing. In the book of Joel, You said that if Israel would conduct a day of rededication to You, that You would respond by lifting the curses they were experiencing, releasing blessing instead, and pour out Your Spirit. We believe You will do no less for us…and we are expectant. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name, amen. Our decree: God is being honored in America once again. **************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------------------- If you would like to watch the Rededicate 250 gathering, click this link.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-18-2026 May 18, 2026 From Ceci Today’s post is a little different than usual. On Sunday, Dutch attended the Rededication 250 gathering in Washington, D.C. He and Lou Engle participated in the celebration and had a short segment toward the end. For today’s post, we are sharing that segment along with an introduction from Dutch. We hope you’ll enjoy this recap. The written portion of the post will be the transcript of the videos. The title of today’s post is: Our Nation’s Rededication: Breakthrough Day! Hello, thanks for joining me today for Give him 15. As you can see, I’m here at the rededication ceremony in Washington, D.C. What a day it has been. I know the Lord is pleased. His pleasure was on what we did, and I know this will go down in history as a day that helped shape and shift our nation. I had the honor of being on stage with my friend Lou Engle. He and I were there together. He took most of the time; I just finished it up, and that’s the way it should’ve been. I love that man. We’re in covenant together. God is using him in marvelous ways, and you’re gonna hear from him and me together in just a few minutes. Thank you for praying because I know all you were praying with us. I know you were watching, and I appreciate it with all of my heart. God is moving in America. Bless you. Lou Engle: Let us just stand all over this place on the sides, those who are watching on televisions and on media. What we just heard is a clarion call from our President. For a covenant renewal and outpouring, but if we don’t humble ourselves, and pray… he actually read the curses of this covenant. Brothers and sisters, this is a hinge-of-history moment, and what we do right here could shift America. For twenty-six years, we’ve been holding solemn assemblies in stadiums and arenas, and in fields. But this solemn assembly is different than any other solemn assembly - for the president of the United States has called this day! Biblically speaking, it was when the kings of Israel called solemn assemblies, and the people responded, God shifted to the nation, and poured out His Spirit. I believe we’re in that moment right now, and what you do echoes in eternity. But that Scripture is fearful. I believe when President Trump read this at the Museum of the Bible, he opened a door for the greatest awakening America has ever seen. That our president would say, “If My people will humble themselves and pray, seek My face and turn from the wicked ways. I will heal their land.” Brothers and sisters, it’s not just a scripture. It’s not an exercise of pageantry that we’re at today. We must, this moment, before God who has set a court in heaven, we need a verdict of mercy. And so, let us do what the scriptures say. All across this nation, people watching, would you get on your knees, soil your nice dresses, and say, “God, we humble ourselves before You.” Lift your voices and just say, “I humble myself.” Lift your voices all across this place! Lord, we humble ourselves. We need mercy. We need a verdict of mercy. Forgive us Lord, for our trespasses. All across this place, as we’re kneeling before the ruler of nations, Jesus Christ, it says this, “If My people will seek My face.” Make a lifestyle change today! Determined: I am going to set my affections on loving God, not money, not power, but God. Right now, by the grace of God, release and inward fire across America that people would seek You and hunger for You in Jesus’ name. Lord, I pray, there are hidden sins. There are sins we’ve held onto. Today, in one decision, something can break. Lord, release repentance all across this nation! And now, stand with me, for this is the Jubilee of America! Don’t clap your hands unless you’re willing to do what the Jubilee was all about. For at Jubilee, they all released their slaves. The church has held people in slavery, with bitterness and unforgiveness, and on the day of Jubilee, you release all your slaves. Lift your hands, and I want you to say, “God, I forgive those. I forgive those who betrayed.” God, I ask You, what You said on the Cross, “Father, forgive them.” Loose that annointing right now. Release a wave of mercy. A wave of forgiveness that’s stronger than the accuser of the brethren. We stand in covenant with the people of God, the chosen people of God, the Jewish people. We stand in covenant with You. Show us mercy. Lift your hands, and I want you to declare a dream that I had. That the president was elected and on this mall, there was a great gathering as far as you could see, and the people began chanting, “Revival, revival!” Would you begin to chant? “Revival, revival, revival revival!” Dutch Sheets: “Lord, we conclude this session by saying You are extending Your hand of mercy to this nation. Millions of prayers have been prayed today and for the past 30-40 years. You have accepted those prayers, and we say today is breakthrough day. Today is reconnection day. Today is re-covenant day. Today is the day that the outpouring of Your Spirit begins in our nation. We declare a new beginning for America in the mighty name of Jesus.” **************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-15-2026 May 15, 2026 On Sunday, We Rewrite Our Epitaph Rededication 250: A Day of Prayer, Praise, and Worship will take place this upcoming Sunday, May 17th. Please pray that it accomplishes everything the Lord desires…and requires. I have written previously about the Hebrew words for dedication/rededication. They also mean “consecration” or “set apart unto.” One of those words, qadash,(1) is used on four very important occasions when the people of Israel were told to dedicate themselves to God as a nation. Looking at these occasions will help us understand how to pray for Sunday. SINAI The first is in Exodus 19:10. Moses was told to qadash (dedicate) Israel for two days at the foot of Mount Sinai, before he went up the mountain to meet with God. Yahweh was preparing to supernaturally give Moses the government for Israel, formalizing them as a nation: laws, policies, procedures, important dates, etc. Four verses before these instructions, the Lord had told them: “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (verse 6). Sinai was, among other things, “government mountain.” And before Israel was formally born there, they were prepared by these two days of dedication. This upcoming Sunday, we will meet at America’s “government mountain” to rededicate ourselves as “one nation under God.” We’ll declare allegiance to His will and ways, and worship Him there. Pray that His presence, power, and glory come spiritually over our nation, just as they did tangibly at Sinai. THE PRIESTHOOD In Exodus 28:41, Moses was told to qadash (dedicate) Aaron and his sons to the Lord before anointing them as the beginning of Israel’s priesthood. Qadash precedes anointing. God wanted more than a religious nation; He wanted a relationship, a connection, with people. And ultimately, not just with Israel, but with all people. Israel was to play a significant role in this, helping Him save the world and recover His family: the Messiah would come through them! This partnership, obviously, would require that the connection remain strong. To aid in this, the priesthood was essential. And for this significant role, they had to be dedicated to Him. America was also created by God to partner with Him in saving the world. Pray that our spiritual leaders rededicate themselves to this cause, and receive a fresh anointing to lead. ENTERING CANAAN In Joshua 3:5, Joshua told the people to qadash (dedicate) themselves to the Lord before crossing the Jordan into the promised land of Canaan. They were about to receive the fulfillment of a 430-year-old promise to Abraham: the gift of a homeland. But first, the Lord told them to spend a day connecting with Him. This shows us that the condition of our hearts affects our land and possessions. Pray that this Sunday makes possible the healing of our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). The blood of multiplied millions of babies, as well as violence, broken covenants, immorality, and idolatry, have defiled our land. Ask that the blood of Jesus cleanses our homeland from ALL sin and unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). RESTORATION Joel 2 is a desperate, urgent call to national repentance amidst a catastrophic insect plague and severe drought in Israel. This plague - a judgment from Israel’s sin - threatened total economic destruction, just as their sin threatened spiritual destruction. The solution, Joel prophesied, was a national return to God. In Joel 2:15-16, the prophet declared that the people of Israel should qadash (dedicate) themselves to Him once again, to allow for the incredible restoration God wanted to perform. “Connect with Me, so I can heal you.” God told Israel He wanted their hearts, not religious ceremonies (verses 12-13). And He wanted to bless them abundantly (verses 18-27), including the pouring out of His Spirit (verses 28-29). Pray with us that on Sunday, our nation responds in such a way that God can restore us, remove the curses we have brought on ourselves, and pour out His Spirit. There has already been much repentance for America by millions of believers; we have stood in the gap, repenting for the whole. Throughout history, God has accepted the repentance and intercession of a remnant for the sins of a nation. I believe He has for America, as well, and that restoration and revival are coming to our land. Ask that what happens on Sunday be the capstone for this. In the book Is It Real When It Doesn't Work? Doug Murren and Barb Shurin recount: “Toward the end of the nineteenth century, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel awoke one morning to read his own obituary in the local newspaper: ‘Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who died yesterday, devised a way for more people to be killed in a war than ever before, and he died a very rich man.’ “Actually, it was Alfred’s older brother who had died; a newspaper reporter had bungled the epitaph. But the account had a profound effect on Nobel. He decided he wanted to be known for something other than developing the means to kill people efficiently and for amassing a fortune in the process. So he initiated the Nobel Prize, the award for scientists and writers who foster peace. Nobel said, ‘Every man ought to have the chance to correct his epitaph in midstream and write a new one.’”(2) God is giving America a chance to rewrite our epitaph. If written now, it would read, “Weighed in the balances and found wanting.” On Sunday, we can change it. Pray with me: Lord, thousands will gather at America’s “government mountain” this weekend, and millions will join online, to rededicate our nation to You. We believe You led our President to ask for this. In response, we ask You to come to this mountain with Your presence, power, and glory, just as You did at Sinai. Re-consecrate America. Purify and recommission our spiritual leaders, symbolized by Aaron, his sons, and Israel’s priesthood. Bring revival to the church, and start with the leaders. And heal our land. As we dedicate ourselves to You on Sunday, let healing flow to our “Canaan,” our inheritance. Our land is defiled and groaning. From sea to shining sea, please cleanse our nation from innocent bloodshed and all other defilements. Finally, restore us to You, and to our destiny. The plagues of Joel have become the plagues of America (Joel 1:4 KJV). “Worms” and “locusts” are eating us from the inside out; devastation is everywhere, and our land is ravaged. In wrath, please remember mercy. As we gather with You on Sunday, let us rewrite our epitaph. We pray this in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: Say it with me: America shall be saved/America is being saved. ************************** 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. 6242. Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993), p. 123. Adapted.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-14-2026 May 14, 2026 Declaring God’s Word “You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.” (Job 22:28, NKJV) It was 1980, and I was fresh out of Bible College. I was radical enough spiritually to pray for anything that moved – or grew. That’s why I was standing in the middle of a field, reading the Bible to the crops. Now that I have your attention . . .No, I’m not kidding. I was taking my cue from Jesus, who once spoke to a tree, releasing a death sentence against it. The following day, it was dead (see Mark 11:13-14, 20). On another occasion, He also spoke to a storm, commanding it to stop (see Mark 4:39), and even addressed a corpse, giving it life (see John 11:43). One of His disciples did the latter, as well. (see Acts 9:36-41). Jesus knew that nature and dead people weren’t “hearing” Him, but that His words were releasing the power of Holy Spirit to impact those realms. Likewise, our words, when they are God’s words and Holy Spirit leads us to speak them, also release divine power. That’s why I was declaring the Bible over a field. Actually, I was reading it to the field and the flies that were invading it. I read the blessings of Deuteronomy 28 concerning the crop: I read Psalm 91:3 concerning the flies: “For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence.” The flies died, and the crop lived. The situation was as follows: A Guatemalan farmer, already in financial trouble from previous losses, was in danger of losing thousands of acres of maize to these flies. He was about to spend approximately $25,000 to have them crop-dusted and wasn’t even sure this would stop the plague. We reminded this new Christian about the biblical principle of tithing and the promise that God would “rebuke the devourer” (see Malachi 3:10-11) for those who would obey Him in this regard. We then read him the verses mentioned above and asked if he would like us to join him in reading and declaring these words of God over his crops. He did, we did, and God did. The crops lived, and the flies and their larvae died. The crop-dusting wasn’t even necessary. Not only was the crop saved, but the $25,000 for the costly treatment was, as well. When scriptural principles are followed, the spoken Word is a powerful aspect of intercession. Decrees and declarations need not lead to imbalance or weirdness. However, being biblically balanced does not mean our actions won’t, at times, strain human understanding or reason. It means we stay in the parameters of biblical teaching and the leading of Holy Spirit. Much so-called balance in Christianity is simply a desire to remain within the realm of our human understanding and natural laws. This eliminates the spiritual laws of faith and speaking the Word of God as a spiritual weapon. God honors His Word above His very name (see Psalm 138:2; KJV). A person’s name means nothing if his word can’t be trusted. When we consider the Word of God as unfailing and all-powerful, we are giving Him the greatest honor we can give. We’re stating that we know He cannot lie (see Hebrews 6:18), that His Word is eternal (see Isaiah 40:8), and that He can be trusted implicitly. A Roman centurion came to Christ on one occasion, asking Him to heal his servant. Christ said He was willing and offered to go with the man to minister to his servant. The centurion gave a startling response, however: This man understood the authority of God-inspired words and declarations. Jesus did give the command, and the servant was healed. I recall a challenging situation I faced several years ago in which demonic spirits were obviously involved. Great anger and strife had arisen in a family, and a strong possibility existed that the next day, this family would be torn apart for years, if not forever. I prayed late into the night about this very volatile situation, asking God to intervene. After a couple of hours of prayer, I clearly heard Holy Spirit say, “Use your authority and speak the Word!” I began to aggressively declare the Scriptures Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance, making decrees based upon them. It went something like this: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you” (Luke 10:19). “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). I declare that God has given me authority over the spirits involved in this situation. Holy Spirit in me is greater than any power they can muster. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exaltheth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV). I declare that my weapons are fully able to disarm this situation. In Jesus’ name, I tear down the strongholds of the powers of darkness in this family situation. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). I am fully submitted to God and know that as I speak His Word, the evil forces at work must flee. I command you, demonic powers, to leave this situation in Jesus’ name. I free these individuals from your influence, in Jesus’ name! I probably used a few other verses, as well – this happened 40 years ago – but I’m sure you can understand what I was doing. After 20-30 minutes of this, I felt great peace and went to bed. The following morning, every person involved had experienced a change of heart, and total peace prevailed. The power of God’s Word had been released, overcoming the evil spirits and positively influencing the minds and hearts of the individuals. It just needed to be released. Pray with me: Father, we know that the power which created the universe was released through Your words. Few believers, however, understand the power that can be released when WE speak YOUR words. Increase revelation of this to the body of Christ; arm us with truth. As You do, we pledge to go to a new level of using Your words as the sword of the Spirit. We will speak Your words regarding our personal lives, the lives of others, and our nation. Doing so now, we decree that the wicked will not prosper in our land (Psalm 92:7; 125:3). No weapon formed against Your purposes in America will prosper (Isaiah 54:17), but that which You have spoken – giving the nations to Your Son (Psalm 2) – will manifest in America. We release this in the mighty name of Jesus. Our decree: We decree God’s Word from Psalm 119:89: “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” ***************************** Today’s post was taken from our Give Him 15 Devotional, Volume 1. Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-13-2026 May 13, 2026 The Power of Our Words “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him. Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you.” Mark 11:23-24 Today, I would like to discuss the number one way we impact the unseen realm of the spirit. The answer may surprise you: it is with our words. Whether releasing our faith, ministering the power and/or life of Holy Spirit, or warring against satan’s kingdom, the number one way we influence the spiritual realm is with our words. Why is this the case? I don’t pretend to know all of the complexities and ways of God. This much I do know, however: one of the primary ways He releases His power and authority is by speaking. He commands, declares, and decrees. When He does, His words release power, life, blessings, judgments, and of course, they create. With His words, God created all that exists (Genesis 1; John 1), and with the power of His words, He holds the universe together - keeps it working as intended (Hebrews 1:3). Obviously, spiritual power is released and carried by words. It isn’t the words themselves that are powerful; it is the source of the words. Jesus said on one occasion, “The words I speak are spirit and life” (John 6:63). When God made us as spirit beings like Himself, in His image and likeness, He created us with the ability to also release power and authority from our spirits, through our words. Amazing, isn’t it? We believe, we speak - we’re born again (Romans 10:9)! We believe, we speak - mountains of adversity gone (Mark 11:23)! Yes, the words spoken must be consistent with God’s Word and will. But when they are and we speak them, they are infused with His power and life. How forcible are right words! (Job 6:25 KJV). Job’s word for “forcible,” (morat) means “to press.”(1) One of its biblical uses describes a king pressing his seal of authority onto a decree or legal document with his signet ring, making it legally binding, the law of the land. Words seal deals and decree laws. They are powerful, even unto life and death (see Proverbs 18:20-21). The New Testament says we are justified or condemned by them (see Matthew 12:37). Wars are started with words. Love is communicated through words. Instruction and education are shared by words. Deception and confusion are propagated with words. Kingdoms are built with words. People are controlled by words. Lives are shattered and healed through words. The world was created by words…and so is our personal world. Words may very well be the greatest conduit of authority and power in the world. God’s “Let there be” created the world and everything in it. Ecclesiastes 12:11 says, “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies” (KJV). Nails help us build, construct, assemble, and hold things together. So do words. The Master Craftsman used words to build the earth, the seas, the mountains, and all the other amazing elements and dimensions of creation. And, as we said, His words hold it all together. Luke’s gospel says that even the incarnation - God becoming human - was caused by a combination of God’s words and Spirit. When Mary asked how she, a virgin, could have a child, the angel informed her that the power of Holy Spirit would overshadow her and impregnate her with Jesus (1:35). Then he said, “Nothing will be impossible with God” (1:37). This translation of Luke 1:37 doesn’t do justice to the strength of what the angel actually said. The most literal and accurate rendering is: “No word spoken by God is without power.”(2) What a statement this is, and what ramifications it carries for us. Our all-powerful God infuses transcendent power into His words. They become the carriers of His awesome strength. God also calls His Word a sword with which He rules and judges. His declarations not only create and build, they also judge and destroy; they’re both constructive and destructive. Consider the following: “Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:16); “Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war...with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:16; see also 19:15, 21). Some of God’s decrees are to create or perform in the present; others are declarations regarding the future. In Isaiah 46:9-10, God says of Himself: Our amazing God stands outside of time, looks ahead, declares the future, and eventually, time catches up to His decree. How preposterous the fools who think they will outwit or overpower Him! When time catches up to a decree God makes concerning the future, He often involves us in its fulfillment. We become the voice of God on earth, decreeing His decrees for Him! Job 22:28 says, “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.” The first part of the verse could be more literally rendered, “You will decree a decree.”(3) We discern God’s will and/or His decree - what He has determined about a given situation - and we decree His decree. Incredible! The verse then states that when we decree His decree, it will be “established.” This is the Hebrew word quwm, which means “to rise.”(4) God’s Word is called a seed (1 Peter 1:23), and when we sow it into a situation, we are sprinkling the seeds through which He causes His will to spring up. Quwm also describes a variety of other activities, including God’s “creative, saving, and judging action” rising up.(5) Our decreeing of the Lord’s Word releases His creativity, His salvation, and yes, even His judgments! I once stood and watched as a minister prayed, then commanded a young boy’s crooked legs to be healed. His lame legs were supported by metal and leather braces. As the minister prayed, the air was filled with the sound of joints popping; muscles and tendons formed, bones became new. The young man, who had never before run, took off his braces and ran around the church. We watched with amazement and awe. The entire congregation celebrated with this young man over his creative miracle...which was released through words! I also watched another miraculous healing take place as the same man ministered to a lady who had stomach cancer. He spoke to the cancer, commanding it to leave her in Jesus’ name. The woman immediately vomited up the cancer, completely healed...again, through the release of Spirit-led words! I know these stories sound like fiction, but in the 1960s, it was not strange to see miracles like these take place in services across America. Thousands were healed supernaturally. I personally witnessed dozens of healings. Both of the above miracles were substantiated by doctors. I know, because the minister was my dad. Pray with me: Father, we release the power of Your words into America. (If you live elsewhere, do this for your nation.) We declare that the earth is the Lord’s - Yours - and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1). All of it is owned by You. You are the King of all the earth (Psalm 47:7). All authority on earth belongs to You (Matthew 28:18-19). Yours is the Kingdom and power and glory forever (Matthew 6:10). We declare that Your authority is now being released over the government of America, and that You are dismantling the arrogant systems and political forces that oppose You. All who have opposed You, along with the strongholds they have built, will be pulled down. Unrighteous laws they have written will be reversed in the coming season of revival and reformation. Their evil ways and activities will be exposed. Your angels are on the move now to expose and dismantle. We declare Your words that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness and that Your mercy endures forever and triumphs over judgment. Through Christ’s cleansing blood, appropriated through our confession of sin, repentance, and faith we declare that America shall be saved! And we declare that the Ruler over and Lover of the nations will have His great worldwide harvest. Man can’t stop it, and demons can’t stop it. It shall be…in Jesus’ name! Our decree: We obey Christ and command over America: Kingdom of God, come! Will of God, be done in this land! *************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------ Strong, James. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 7th ed., Abingdon Press, 1980. Bible Hub, “For no word from God shall be void of power.” https://biblehub.com/multi/luke/1-37.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. “Strong's Hebrew: 1504. גָּזַר (gazar) -- to cut, divide, decree.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1504.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. “Strong's Hebrew: 6965. קוּם (qum) -- to arise, stand up, stand.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6965.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Workbook of the Old Testament. Moody, 1980, p. 793. Sheets, Dutch. Authority in Prayer: Praying With Power and Purpose. Baker Publishing Group, 2015, pp. 102-106.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-12-2026 May 12, 2026 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! **************************** 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. 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.
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The Divine Mentor * Dutch Sheets * GiveHIM15 * 5/11/2026
ronscarpa posted a topic in Off Topic posts
https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-11-2026 May 11, 2026 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 Sheets. 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.-
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-8-2026 May 8, 2026 A Day to Rededicate America to God On Thursday, February 5th, President Trump told those gathered that his administration would hold an event on May 17, 2026, on the Washington Mall/Lincoln Memorial to rededicate America as “one nation, under God.” I certainly would not have to convince GH15 listeners/readers of this event’s significance. It is monumental. I (and others) have been interceding and decreeing for more than 40 years that this would occur - not the gathering itself, as important as that will be, but what it represents. America began turning from and rebelling against God and His Son, Jesus Christ, decades ago, at least as early as the 1960’s. In 1962, the Supreme Court struck down school prayer; Time magazine published an article in 1965 reporting on the “God Is Dead” theology and movement. In 1973, the infamous Supreme Court decision making the right to an abortion the law of the land was delivered. That season began not merely a decline in morality, decency, and greatness in America; it marked the beginning of a cataclysmic collapse. For the last few years, America has been inching its way to healing. Like the prodigal in Scripture crawling through the mud and slop of pigs back to “his senses” (Luke 15:17), America is returning to our Heavenly Father - to our roots. A rededication of our nation to God by our President and other leaders is astronomical toward this process. Christian leaders have done this; I have participated in it. But it will take on added significance when our government does so. The heavens will shake in the spiritual realm. What Does This Dedication Mean? The concept of dedicating people, places, buildings, and other resources to God is very biblical and significant. There are four words in Scripture translated “dedicate” or “dedication.” Examining them alongside references in which they’re used will provide insight into the principle. Chanak(1) is one of the words. It is used to describe Solomon and all of Israel “dedicating” the Temple in 1 Kings 8:63. Interestingly, it is also translated “train up” a child in the way he should go in Proverbs 22:6. It is easy to see that the word conveys more than a simple token prayer or statement of dedication. It implies a serious, ongoing commitment to a process, person, or cause. And it ushered the glory of God into the temple! Another word translated “dedicate” in Scripture is qadash, and its derivative qodesh.(2) These two highly significant words mean to be holy or to be set apart to God. People were, of course, qadash’ed or separated to Him, but items (such as utensils in the Temple), and even days on the calendar were, as well. Items in the Temple were never to be used for anything else after being dedicated to the Lord. Days on the calendar that were qadash’ed to God were treated as holy days. Joshua told the entire nation of Israel to qadash themselves to the Lord in Joshua 3:5, in preparation for crossing into the promised land. Joel was told to sanctify or consecrate (qadash) the nation of Israel in Joel 2:15-16 in order to allow God’s restoration to occur. It is clear that the concept presented by these words is incredibly powerful. It tells us how seriously Yahweh takes our dedication to Him, declaring us holy and as belonging to Him when we do so. A third word translated as dedicate is cherem or charam.(3) This word carries such a strong meaning of being dedicated or devoted to someone that it became the word for a king’s harem. The word implies being set apart to a person or purpose in a very strict way. The spoils of Jericho, for example, were set apart (charem) for God’s use only (Joshua 6:18). When Achan stole some of those spoils, it brought a curse on the entire nation until his sin was dealt with (Joshua 7:11-13)! America was “dedicated” to God from her beginning, set apart for His purposes. We abandoned the Lord and His purposes for us, rebelling from His ways and our dedication to Him. The cost has been immeasurable. The New Testament Greek word for dedicate is egkainizo.(4) Egkainizo means to “inaugurate, dedicate, and/or consecrate something new;” it can also mean to rededicate it. The word is used in Hebrews 9:18 to describe the inauguration, dedication, and consecration of the Old Covenant through the blood of animals. In the next chapter, 10:20, it describes the inauguration and dedication of the new and better covenant through the blood of Jesus. This word is also used in the phrase “Feast of Dedication” in John 10:22. Today, this festival is called Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. “The history of the Feast of Dedication goes back to the intertestamental period and the Maccabean Revolt. After a Syrian king profaned the Jewish temple and forced the Jews to abandon their sacrifices and adopt pagan rituals, a group of Jewish freedom fighters rose up, defied the oppressive pagan regime, and overthrew the Syrians. The temple in Jerusalem was “re-dedicated” to God; ever since then, the Feast of Dedication has been celebrated to commemorate this meaningful event in Jewish history.”(5) America should take the rededication of our nation to God as seriously as the Jews did the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees. I can assure you God will take it seriously. We should celebrate the overthrow of defilement and the return of our nation to alignment with the Lord. This won’t mean the work of restoration is finished, but it will certainly mean it can be finished. Pray with me: Father, thank You for raising up this nation to be a light, a city on a hill, trumpeting the gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth. Though we have strayed from our purpose and destiny, You have not altered it. You intend to resurrect this destiny and allow us to participate in the great billion-soul harvest. As we pray for America today, we ask You to more fully reveal to us our great need for You. We repent over our sin and rebellion, the aborted babies, sex trafficking, and the mutilation of children, confused about their identities. Cleanse our hearts of our self-sufficiency, pride, arrogance, and rebellion toward You. Break and cleanse the hearts of the church over our lukewarm condition and compromise. Father, we thank You for the great turning that has begun; turning from our way to Your way; turning from sin to righteousness; turning from death to life; turning from selfishness to selflessness and love. As we approach this rededication, we pray for our government leaders. Give us legislators and judges who truly acknowledge a reliance upon You and Your statutes. Only through You will we see America’s destiny fulfilled. Heal America’s breaches. Repair our political, generational, and racial wounds. Deliver us from wicked leaders who use them to divide us. Remove them from positions of authority. Expose their hypocrisy and evil agendas. We boldly ask You to bless our nation and bring a sweeping revival - an awakening that will touch every soul and set us apart to You once again. Come, Holy Spirit, sweep across our states and cities. We ask for these things in Christ’s name, Amen. Our decree: We decree that we, the people of America, place our trust in Almighty God and honor His will and ways. We rededicate this nation to You! ********************************* 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. 2596. Ibid., ref. no. 6944. Ibid., ref. no. 2764. Ibid., ref. no. 1457. https://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Dedication.html
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-7-2026 May 7, 2026 Celebrating the National Day of Prayer 2026 America’s National Day of Prayer is a national treasure. Our nation has known from its foundations that we must call on the Name of the Lord to remain secure in His protection and blessing. “When George Washington was leaving home to begin what would become a lifelong service for his country, he recorded the parting words of his mother, Mrs. Mary Washington: ‘Remember that God is our only sure trust. To Him, I commend you…My son, neglect not the duty of secret prayer.’”(1) When challenged as to the Christian roots of America, many believers like to quote President John Adams, who boldly stated, “We recognize no sovereign but God, and no king but Jesus!”(2) America’s history reveals that this presidential acknowledgment of God did not end as we entered the modern age. President John F. Kennedy sought the Lord’s blessing for our nation at the National Day of Prayer in 1962. He asked the Lord to bless “our homes, that this integral unit of society may nurture our youth and give to them the needed faith in God, in our Nation, and in their future; our citizens, that they may increase in the desire to promote mercy and justice, peace and freedom, good will and brotherhood; our Nation, that each new achievement may add to our heritage of faith.”(3) In 1983, at the National Day of Prayer in Washington, D.C., President Ronald Reagan reminded the nation of its need for and reliance on God. He proclaimed, “From General Washington’s struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our Nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future.”(4) In 2020, while the nation struggled with covid, President Donald J. Trump reminded our country of God’s faithfulness and commitment to us. He declared, “In every part of our country, we’ve seen the grace of God through the love and devotion of our fellow citizens. As scripture assures us, ‘The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.’”(5) (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV). On April 21 of this year, during “America Reads Through the Bible,” Trump read aloud 2 Chronicles 7-11-22 over our nation, which includes the great “If My People” verse. So today, we celebrate another National Day of Prayer. We turn to the Lord, humble ourselves, repent of our personal and national sin, and pray together in unity, asking Him to heal our land, just as we have since America’s beginning (see 2 Chronicles 7:14). “The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of ‘humiliation, fasting, and prayer’ in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Typically, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories, along with thousands of mayors, city councils, and other local government leaders!”(6) The National Day of Prayer Task Force President Kathy Branzell comments on this year’s theme: “Every year we pray and seek the Lord for the National Day of Prayer theme that will guide our year and unite the tens of thousands of prayer gatherings we host from coast to coast. This year, on May 7, 2026, we will unite and pray as our new 2026 theme calls us to, ‘Glorify God Among the Nations, Seeking Him in All Generations.’” “Last year, our theme was inspired by a prayer that the apostle Paul prayed over the believers in Rome. “In 2026, our theme is inspired by a passionate prayer of Thanksgiving, prayed by King David in 1 Chronicles 16 after bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.”(7) This chapter records David and Israel celebrating the return of the Ark after it had been separated from them for 20 years. It had been captured from Shiloh by the Philistines in 1 Samuel 4:11. The Philistines returned it after seven months due to judgments from God (1 Samuel 5-6). It remained in the house of Abinadab in Kiriath-jearim for 20 years before David returned it to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 16). The Ark was more than a box for carrying holy items; it represented the presence and glory of God. I can’t help but feel that the choosing of this year’s NDP theme is prophetic. The glory of the Lord is returning to America. Take the time to pray for America today. You may still have time to find a prayer gathering in your area where you can gather with other believers to intercede for the nation. Click here to see what’s near you. If you prefer, there are many prayer calls you can participate in. You can find the official National Day of Prayer call-in information here. Let’s make this year’s National Day of Prayer a defining moment in America. Pray with me: Lord, we are humbled and blessed at the grace and love You have shown the United States of America. Though our sins have been great, there has been much repentance for this nation. We have repented for abortion, for slavery, and for breaking covenant with the Native Americans many times. There have been other national sins, but as we repent, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. Forgive us and restore us completely to Your plan and purpose. We are thankful that You are awakening Your church in America. The Ekklesia will be everything You said we would be. We will function in power, might, glory, love, great faith, and uncompromising boldness. Today, we honor our covenant with You; On May 17, we will do so in a formal rededication time to You. We recommit to making You known in America and the nations - let the full manifestation of Your Kingdom be seen. We worship You over our nation. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. Our decree: America is a nation whose God is the Lord, and His glory is returning to our land. ********************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- William J. Federer, America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations (William Federer, America’s God and Country, FAME Publishing Inc., 1994), p. 635-636. https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/christian-presidential-quotes-22-awesome-sayings/ https://www.christianpost.com/news/12-national-day-of-prayer-quotes-american-presidents.html Ibid. https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donald-trump-mike-pence-melania-trump-national-prayer-day-speech-transcript https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/about https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2026_theme
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-5-2026 May 5, 2026 The Power of Forgiveness Yesterday, I spoke with you about offenses and forgiveness. The New Testament word translated as “offense” actually came from animal traps. This word was the stick upon which a piece of raw meat was placed. When an animal reached for the meat, the trap was sprung, and they were captured. It is very revealing that the word for “offense” basically means to “take the bait.” This is also why it is called “picking up” an offense. Regarding forgiveness, in yesterday’s post, we mentioned that the New Testament word means “to release.” A good translation of Luke 6:37 would be “Release, and you will be released.” When we release the person who has offended or wounded us, we can then be released from the bruises and pain they caused us. Releasing them releases us. We also said yesterday that forgiveness is a choice - a decision - not a feeling. My Testimony When I was 17 years old, my family went through a very difficult time. The Board of Directors of the church my father had planted removed him and took the home where we were living. The house had been given to our family, but for tax purposes, it was put in the church’s name. We were left penniless and homeless. I didn’t know at the time that they had removed my father because of immorality. Shortly thereafter, he divorced my mother and married the other woman. Our family was devastated once again. Circumstances had gone from bad to catastrophic. I became bitter at Dad for his role in this, and at the church that abandoned my family, especially the chairman of the church board. I focused much of my anger upon him, an anger that soon became a bitter hatred. After all, he kicked us to the street. I said on several occasions that I could not kill this man, but I would rejoice if someone else did. Though it was irrational, I also became bitter at the church, in general. I associated my pain and my family’s disintegration with religion, and swore I would never darken the door of another church. Becoming very rebellious, I ran from God and turned to drugs and alcohol. God was incredibly patient. He protected me and, for two years, waited patiently for me to come to a point where I could respond to Him again. I returned to Him and have enjoyed a wonderful walk with God since that time. Around six months into my renewed walk with the Lord, He began dealing with me about my hatred for the man I had blamed for many of our problems. I heard Holy Spirit very clearly telling me I needed to forgive him. I did not angrily resist the Lord, but I did not believe I could ever truly do so. The bitterness I had against this man was so strong, I had no confidence whatsoever that I would be able to forgive him; I told the Lord this. Holy Spirit was gentle with me, not condemning. His promptings always came as a gentle nudge deep in my heart. He was, however, insistent and persistent: “You will have to do this if you want My best for you and to truly be free from all of the pain this caused.” When my heart softened to the point that I was willing to try, Holy Spirit began teaching me how to do it. Some of what He taught me I shared in yesterday’s post. He revealed to me that I could have emotional feelings of anger, hurt, etc., and still choose to forgive from my heart, overruling my emotions. As an example, He said, “You don’t like to get up early some days and go to work, but you do it anyway because it’s the right thing to do; it’s your responsibility. You don’t like to exercise, but you do it anyway because you know that you need to.” Then came the final blow, “Jesus did not want to go to the Cross, but He did so anyway, for the joy He knew it would produce later” (Hebrews 12:2). “Choose to do this because it’s right, even though you don’t want to. Don’t allow your feelings to rule you. If you will make this choice and maintain the decision daily, I’ll be able to release you from all the pain, resentment, and hatred. Your responsibility is to let go; it’s My responsibility to heal your emotions and release you from every effect of this. Choose life!” Somehow, the dots connected in my thinking. I realized I could overrule my “feelings.” I didn’t have to “feel” like it, and I didn’t need any positive feelings toward this man. I simply needed to “release” him to God, trusting Him to do what was right. I did so daily, saying something along these lines (it’s important to say it), “I choose to release David [not his real name] from all he did to hurt my family.” Every time he came to mind, and unpleasant feelings began rising up inside of me, I would say it again, “I choose to release David from all he did to hurt my family.” Some days I had to do this multiple times. After a couple of weeks, he was rarely coming to my mind, and when he did, I felt less emotion. I continued this process. A week or two after that, he came to mind again, and I realized that I felt no pain or anger whatsoever. I was shocked! I knew God had released me from all the effects of what had occurred two years earlier. The Proof However, Holy Spirit wanted to show me that I was truly healed. One Sunday night, my mom and I were returning home from a church service and stopped at a local restaurant to grab a bite to eat. There were no tables available, and we were waiting for one when I noticed this particular man and his wife seated across the room. He noticed us at the same time. I also saw that he and his wife were seated at a table for four people, and two of the chairs were empty. He jumped to his feet and headed in our direction. Well, I thought to myself, he wants to say hello. I’m about to find out if this is real. He wanted to do more than just say hello. “Would the two of you like to join us at our table?” he asked. “Sure,” said my mother, “that’s very kind of you.” I kept waiting for that angry, bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach that used to surface when I thought of him. I expected at least a few negative emotions. But there were none. I was not having to feign being nice to him while burying my anger and hatred. It was actually easy - it felt normal to treat him with kindness. I felt no pain whatsoever. I thanked the Lord for delivering me from my chains of bitterness. No, this man did not become my friend, but he was no longer my enemy. Friends, regardless of the level of your pain, who hurt you, or when it occurred, God can and will do this for you. Let’s pray. Pray with me: Father, it is impossible to go through life and not have many opportunities to forgive. You said offenses will come. You did not tell us to forgive only if we felt like it; You simply said to do so. You never ask us to do anything You will not enable us to do. So we choose this day to honor Your word and obey it from our hearts, our spirits, regardless of how our emotions feel. As we obey what You have said, our emotions and feelings must come into alignment with the Word-based decision we make. They must…and they will. As we release, we will be released. Father, we ask for tremendous grace to everyone praying this prayer with us now. Give them the grace to forgive and release. Let a process of healing begin for those who have been abandoned, abused, rejected, betrayed, and wronged in any way. Release a strong revelation that forgiveness is a choice we can all make. May today mark a new beginning for them, and all the negative results of what they have suffered be reversed. Let this begin today. We ask that You heal bodies through this. Mend hurting hearts and minds. Tear down the walls we’ve built to protect our emotions. Cause victims to be victimized no longer. Let the abused go free. Release captives, mend broken hearts, and restore hope. We ask that today truly be a new beginning. And we ask it all in the name of the great healer, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will walk in forgiveness to all. *********************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-6-2026 May 6, 2026 Make It Serve You I have shared posts on the subject of forgiveness for the past two days [May 4 and May 5]. Today’s post reveals, to some extent, God’s sense of humor. A couple of years after insisting that I forgive a man I blamed for so much pain in my family, and giving me the grace to do so (read about it here), the Lord led me to Christ For the Nations Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas. Shortly after arriving, to my complete surprise, I ran into this man’s son, who was also there as a student. Tom (not his real name) happened to be among the 15 or 20 students who became my inner circle. He was a few years younger than me and had no idea of the hatred I once held for his dad. I’m sure he was completely unaware of what had even taken place a few years prior to this. Tom had gotten into drugs and alcohol while in high school and became horribly addicted. He had come to Christ and was attending the Bible institute to help firm up his walk with the Lord. I found it very encouraging that I could relate to him with no feelings of awkwardness or resentment. About six months into my time there, Tom had a bit of a relapse and used some recreational drugs, which was obviously against the strict policy of the Bible College. The school was not a rehabilitation center equipped to deal with drug addiction and rehabilitation, so they were very firm in their stance. Violating the policy meant dismissal, along with suggestions for finding a place better suited to helping them. Of course, if Holy Spirit led otherwise, they made exceptions. The Dean of Men, who would be making this decision and doling out the consequences, called me to his office. I knew him somewhat from some on-campus prayer meetings I had attended. He was quite strict regarding the school’s policies. He was also very prophetic. He prayed regarding situations of this nature, asking Holy Spirit to give him wisdom and guidance. I had no idea why he was summoning me to his office. He explained what happened with Tom and spelled out the normal consequences for the offense. “I feel I am to give him another chance, however,” he stated. “I believe his heart is pure and repentant. He is a friend of yours, isn’t he?” he asked. “Yes,” I said, “he is a friend.” I felt truly spiritual being able to say that. Not that I was proud, you understand. My assumption was that the Dean was about to ask me if I thought it was a good idea to give Tom another chance. NOT! “I’ve seen you spending time in the prayer room,” he began. I was, indeed, attempting to become an intercessor. I certainly wasn’t an expert, but I was passionate. “I am willing to give Tom a second chance,” he said, “if you are willing to take him on as a personal assignment. You must accompany him to the prayer room every day and pray with him, teaching him to pray, and helping him get free from his addictions.” Did I mention that this Dean was very prophetic?! He knew nothing about my past with this young man’s father. Nothing! But had he ever heard from God! I said yes, and left the room dumbfounded. I’m not sure what my exact words to the Lord were when I left the dean’s office, but they were something like this: “Well, God, You sure do have a sense of humor.” “I do,” He answered. “But I’m doing more than being humorous. I’m finishing the job. Drive the nail into the coffin of your past. Make satan pay. Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). You are free in your heart; now seal it with your actions.” I was able to do this assignment. I led this young man to the prayer room every day - actually, he had no choice - and prayed over him, as well as making him pray, for an hour or so. Surprise, surprise! It worked…for both of us. We chased off his demons and buried my past pain. Only God. Tom became free and, as far as I know, was able to remain free. The word “overcome” in the verse above (Romans 12:21) is the Greek word nikao.(1) It means “to conquer, prevail, overcome; even legally - to win in a court of law.” It’s a wonderful word describing our God-infused ability to be overcomers in life. There is one place, however, where Holy Spirit evidently decided this word was not strong enough to describe the overcoming nature He has given us. Romans 8:37 tells us: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us,” (NASB). The KJV says we are more than conquerors. As this revelation was breathed into Paul by Holy Spirit, so he could pass it on to us, Paul was overcome by the strength of what he was seeing. As he searched his mind for the correct word, he came up empty and finally had to combine two words into one: hupernikao, translated above as “overwhelmingly conquer.” This Greek word is used nowhere else in the New Testament. The prefix huper means “overwhelmingly, over, beyond, exceedingly, excessively, more than.” Our English word, hyper, comes from this Greek word. Paul, overwhelmed with emotion and excitement, shouts with his pen, “We are hyperconquerors! We overwhelmingly conquer! Our ability to conquer is excessive, over the top!” Holy Spirit wants us to overwhelmingly conquer our past and anything else satan throws our way. “Through Him who loved us,” Paul goes on to say (Romans 8:37b). Everything God does is motivated by His heart of love. He’s a Giver, a Blesser, a Healer, a Destiny-provider. When He asks us to release, let go of past offenses, He is actually saying, “Here’s how I can get rid of your pain. Let me have it.” Forgiveness, releasing the person who hurt you, is one of the ways God erases the negative side of the ledger. He moves your pain into the asset column, working it for your good, making it serve you! You can do this. Let it go! Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Your determination to heal, equip, and strengthen us for success. You have a plan for each of us, and You are determined to accomplish it. We pray the prayer of the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24). (“Hurtful way” could be translated as “way of pain.”) Reveal any pain in us that could hinder our destiny. We want clean hands and pure hearts. We pray now for our brothers and sisters who struggle with the pain of past experiences. Help them let go. Pour Your grace into them, enabling them to release it all to You. You are such a good Father, and You will release and heal them completely. And we pray that in the coming revival, we will be healing agents. We ask You that through our wholeness, we will produce wholeness. We can be the generation that heals our land of racism, division, and strife. Start in us, Your people, then anoint us to release Your healing. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will walk in the wholeness of Christ and minister His wholeness to those in need. ****************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ---------------------------------------------- “Strong’s Hebrew: 3528. (nikaó) -- To conquer, to overcome, to prevail, to gain victory.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/3528.htm. May 12, 2025.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-4-2026 May 4, 2026 It’s a Trap In Luke 17:1, Jesus tells us that offenses are inevitable; they WILL come. The Greek word for “offense” is skandalon. It is also translated as a “stumbling block,” a word or event that causes an individual to stumble or fall, figuratively speaking. This word is very fascinating. Skandalon literally means “a trap-stick.”(1) It was the trigger of a trap (usually made of wood) on which bait was placed; when the bait was taken by an animal, the trap was sprung. Skandalon is also the Greek word from which we get our English word, scandal. When we, like an unsuspecting animal, take certain types of bait, we are trapped and often find ourselves in a scandalous situation. It also became the word for an “offense” since an offense results from “taking the bait” when wronged. Thus, the phrase, “pick up an offense.” When we have been wronged or mistreated, the key to remaining free from bitterness and lasting pain is to not pick up the offense - don’t take the bait. Jesus told us very clearly that we WILL be baited - offenses WILL come. We must not pick them up - they are traps! The bait used in an animal trap is food the creature finds appealing, something it desires to eat. How else could the trap actually be successful? Likewise, we pick up offenses because it is desirable; it feels good to pick it up. When treated poorly or unfairly, stolen from, spoken to harshly, abused, or mistreated, it is appealing to take the bait. We “deserve” to be angry, to feel resentful, to take up an offense. After all, they wronged us. But it’s a trap! Years ago, in a certain part of Africa, monkeys were trapped by placing a banana in a jar that was tied to a tree or stake. The opening of the jar was just large enough for the monkey’s hand to fit through when open. However, when the hand was closed into a fist, it was too big to remove it. The monkey wanted the banana so badly that it would not let go of it, and consequently could not remove its hand. It was now trapped by its desire. If you have picked up an offense, if you have taken the bait, let go of it. It’s the only way to be free. If you hold on to it, you will become a captive to the effects of the wound, and to satan. Forgiveness - The Key to Freedom This brings us to the subject of forgiveness. Jesus told us in Luke 6:37 to forgive, and we would be forgiven. In the prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus again instructed us to forgive our debtors, or “those who trespass against us.” The word forgive also means to release. “Release and you will be released,” Luke 6:37 says. The key to being freed from the effects of being wronged - pain, fear, emotional walls, and more - is to release the person who hurt us. Let go of the banana. It may feel good to resent or hate the offending party, but it’s a trap. Here are three truths that will help you “let go.” Firstly, one of the biggest hindrances for those needing to forgive is a misconception of forgiveness itself. Most people tie it to their feelings. But forgiveness doesn’t come from our feelings or emotions. It is a decision we make based on truth, not how we feel. God did not intend for our feelings to lead or control us. They should not define us. Being angry at someone we love doesn’t mean we no longer love them. We may not “feel” the love at the moment - in our emotions we feel anger - but we still love the person. In the same way, forgiveness isn’t a feeling. We can make a genuine decision to forgive/release, while still feeling anger, hurt, pain, etc. We do so as an action of our will, based on truth - God said to do it. And if we maintain our decision, it allows God to work the process of releasing and healing us from the pain and hurt. Another hindrance to forgiveness is failing to realize that when doing so, we are not saying that the offending person did nothing wrong, or that they deserve to be forgiven. We are simply releasing them to God - He reserves the right to judge individuals. We are trusting Him to do what is right. Still another hindrance to forgiving is the belief that if we have truly done so, we will have only positive thoughts or feelings toward the offender. This is simply not true. There are people I have forgiven who I still do not trust or like as a person. Some are mean, unkind, and unrighteous. But I have chosen to forgive them, releasing them to God, though they will never be my friends. Roots of Bitterness When we pick up an offense, it will become a root of bitterness if not released. The fruit this bitter root produces is destructive: sickness, emotional disorders, anger, loss of joy, and a breach between us and God. It also spreads to others. Hebrews tells us that a root of bitterness in us defiles many. “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15; KJV). The Greek word for “defiled” is also the word for a stain on clothing. When we become bitter, we stain others with our bitterness. We’ve all seen entire families separated through bitterness. How tragic. In tomorrow’s post, I will share the story of my hatred toward an individual, and God’s healing of my hardened heart. I truly hated this man and would have loved to see him destroyed. God, however, showed me I could release him, and would have to, to be released from my own chains. He will grace you to do the same. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for modeling love and forgiveness. While we were still sinners, You sent Your Son to die for us. Jesus, You forgave those who crucified You. We want Your forgiving nature to control us. We want to walk in love. We ask for grace now to do so. As You taught us to do, we choose to forgive those who have hurt us. We release them. As we do so, we believe it will release a healing process in us. Wounds will heal, sickness will leave, and emotions will no longer control us. We desire to forgive and release so You can forgive us (Mark 11:25). And Lord, we know healed people heal people. Make us healers. Help us to spread healing love, not stain-causing bitterness. Heal our land of racial wounds, political division, and cultural divides. We want to see the accuser cast down in our nation. We bind spirits of division and strife, declaring their hold broken. We desire to be ambassadors and examples of Your love and forgiveness toward others. Help us represent You well. We pray these things in Christ’s powerful name. Our decree: We decree that we will love and forgive as we have been loved and forgiven by God. ******************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------- 1. Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1984; revised edition, 1990) p. 2274.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-1-2026 May 1, 2026 Christians and Government, Part 2 Today I am continuing my discussion of the church’s relationship with government. When God said to me, “I am going to teach you about government, because I AM government,” it was quite a shock. Like many people, I had a great distaste for politics and government. He then quoted Isaiah 33:22 to me, “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us.” Notice, the verse Holy Spirit quoted to me - Isaiah 33:22 - does not say God “endorses” the concept of legislators, judges, and kings (i.e., government); it says He IS these things. Since God is our Lawgiver, Judge, and King, these things, in and of themselves, cannot be bad. And most people are surprised to find that America’s three branches of government are based on this verse in Isaiah: The Legislative Branch (Congress), the Judicial Branch (Supreme Court), and the Executive Branch (Presidency). Our government is patterned after heaven’s! When truly thought through, it isn’t the concept of government that many of us dislike. We have “government” in our homes, businesses, churches - almost everywhere. The noun, government, is defined as “direction; control; management; rule.” The verb form govern means “to rule over by right of authority; to exercise a directing or restraining influence over; to guide; to have predominating influence.” As these definitions show, the concept of government is essential and created by God. To be without it is to have anarchy and, ultimately, untethered rebellion. What most of us dislike about government is actually the defilement and perversion of the function by people and systems. This dislike is certainly understandable. They also dislike a political spirit. Although God is governmental, He is NOT political. It was a political spirit that led the efforts to crucify Jesus! A political spirit seeks to gain control of people and promote its own agenda through fear, manipulation, deception, corruption, violence, craftiness, and unscrupulous activities. God opposes these things, and so should we. If we could get all Christians to differentiate between government (the function), politics (the process of attaining governmental power), and a political spirit (the perversion of the process for gain and control), it would change their perspective. The body of Christ would have no qualms about becoming involved in government and no hesitation in discussing it in our gatherings and circles. We would understand that we can promote righteous government without promoting political parties. God certainly is not a Republican or Democrat, and we should never blindly support a candidate or cause just because of party affiliation. He does, however, care greatly about who rules. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn,” (Proverbs 29:2, KJV). The Passion Translation of this verse says, “Everyone rejoices when the lovers of God flourish, but the people groan when the wicked rise to power.” To avoid government simply because some in it are bad, is as foolish as not governing our homes simply because some parents abuse their children. Since God does care who rules, as His Word clearly states, how can it possibly be wrong for believers to influence the process? How can it possibly be inappropriate for the body of Christ to try to promote righteous individuals for positions of authority? How could it possibly be wrong to encourage church members to support righteous leaders and causes? How can we truly be salt and light without doing this? And how could it possibly be inappropriate to pray about these things when we gather as the church? To neglect doing so is to fall prey to one of the greatest deceptions satan has ever visited on the church. Kermit Bridges of Southwestern A.G. University says: “In commanding us to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in the world, Jesus is encouraging us to influence our culture rather than isolate ourselves from our culture. Some well-intentioned believers feel that any efforts to exert pressure on the behavior of non-Christians are wrong. “Anything beyond evangelism is off-limits. As a result, Christians should definitely not engage in politics. This thinking is characterized by the false assumption: ‘I personally believe in such and such, but I can’t impose my morality on others.’ “Every time a legislature enacts legislation, it is an imposition of morality. “Laws against thievery impose the morality of the honest over the dishonest. Laws against prostitution impose a sexual morality. Declaring anything legal or illegal is a statement of morality. Legislation is built upon morality, and morality is built upon religion. “Founding Father, John Adams, our second president, declared: “‘[Our government is not] ‘capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion…Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’ “Even our most irreligious Founding Fathers, Franklin and Jefferson, championed the need for a virtuous and moral people influenced by faith.”(1) Listen to the counsel of the late Chuck Colson: “The popular notion that 'you can’t legislate morality’ is a myth. Morality is legislated every day from the vantage point of one value system being chosen over another. The question is not whether we will legislate morality, but whose morality gets legislated.”(2) It doesn’t require a degree in political science to see that the withdrawal from and/or silence of the church regarding government gives control of America to unbelievers. When that occurs, our only hope for righteous and morally sound laws is for God to sovereignly overrule those who disagree with Him. How’s that been workin’ out? He works on earth through His people, not independently of them. Yahweh gave Adam and Eve two mandates in the VERY FIRST chapter of the Bible: “Be fruitful and multiply,” or in other words, Give me more kids, and manage/govern the earth. If we, the church, are to become the ambassadorial representatives God intends us to be, we must shift our paradigms regarding government. We must see it as a God-created function–good, not evil–and accept our God-given calling to extend His influence through it. Pray with me: Father, Your Word tells us that when we are ignorant of the way satan thinks and operates, it enables him to take advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2:11). He is a master deceiver. Enlighten and awaken us to our responsibilities from You, and as citizens of a free nation. Break off the church, the hesitancy to involve herself in government activities and influence. We ask You to remove ungodly and anti-Christian leaders from positions of government in our nation. Give us honest legislators who will honor You and Your Word. Give us judges who honor our Constitution, and who fear and honor You more than all else. We ask You to continue shaking unrighteous strongholds in our nation until the strongholds of humanism, secularism, and socialism are broken off of us. We ask You for revival to increase and multiply in our schools, with millions of young people coming to You. America needs reformation; please give us this transformative aspect of revival, and please do so quickly. We ask You for all of these things in the mighty name of Jesus, our great and merciful Savior. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the church, the Ekklesia, will arise and become the preserving salt and guiding light we are called to be. ******************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------------------------ https://www.sagu.edu/thoughthub/should-christians-participate-in-politics/ Ibid.
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https://www.givehim15.com/post/april-30-2026 April 30, 2026 Christians and Government Years ago, I was disheartened when I heard Holy Spirit say He was going to teach me about government. This was a time in my life when I had a distaste for government and knew very little about it. I could not have cared less about its function and processes. My first thought when hearing Him was, “How boring! What have I done to deserve this?” Of course, He was referring to His plan for government; I was envisioning my high school Civics course! God’s next sentence set me on my heels, “Because I AM government.” He then quoted Isaiah 33:22 to me, “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us.” I was so glad I hadn’t told God what I was thinking - in my mind I had just called Him boring!!! God IS government, He DELEGATES a portion of His government, and satan wants to USURP His government! Let’s unpack this statement. Notice that the verse Holy Spirit quoted to me (Isaiah 33:22) does not simply say God endorses the concept of laws, judges, and kings (i.e., government); it says He embodies them. The Bible uses the word “Lord” 7946 times, most of them referring to Yahweh. My dictionary said “Lord” means “a person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler.” In other words, government. This means that the Bible refers to God as our governmental Head almost 8,000 times! The entirety of Scripture is about government! Think about it: one of the primary themes of the Bible is, “Who will rule the earth?” In the first chapter, God gets right to the point: “I want family, and My family will ‘rule’ the earth (their home) for Me (Genesis 1:26-28). They will be the extension and expression of My Kingdom’s government there. This is how I will release My influence, My righteous Kingdom ideals and ways, into the earth.” That is true, inarguable, and profound. The Hebrew words for “dominion” and “rule” in this Genesis passage make clear that the Creator was delegating this responsibility to Adam and Eve. But satan wanted this dominion. He had attempted a coup in Heaven and failed. Banished to earth, his thinking now was, If I can’t rule over God’s entire Kingdom, I’ll at least govern the earth and His family there. And by chapter 3, he had succeeded in deceiving Adam and Eve, who rebelled from God’s authority and government. Satan took their authority. Yahweh lost His family, and they lost their governmental authority over the earth. Satan now had it. Christ was sent to earth as the second Adam to reclaim both the family AND their governing authority. The story of the Bible is the clash of two kingdoms! From cover to cover, God’s Word is about family…and government! If I were satan, one of my most important strategies would be to alienate God’s family–His representatives and ambassadors–from government. I’d tell them it’s bad, evil, unspiritual. Let ‘em love God, be His “sheep,” even His family. But 1) don’t let them know they’re His representatives here on earth (Christ’s Ekklesia); 2) keep them from involving themselves in any and all government. If I could succeed in this, God’s conduit for releasing His authority on the earth would be rendered ineffective. Throughout the Scriptures, we can see God’s plan of ruling the earth through people. Consider Abraham, of whom it was said: “Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him. For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Genesis 18:18-19). God determined to bless the entire earth through Abraham. To do so, however, He needed Abraham to command and teach His ways, releasing His justice and judgments into the earth. God also released His authority, His government, through Moses, Joshua, then through prophets, judges, and kings. Yahweh’s determined plan to release His authority on earth through humans was so literal and consequential that many times, entire nations have been cursed or blessed based on the actions of their government leaders. Think about that: entire populations were cursed or blessed based on the actions of a government leader! More suffering on earth has taken place because of the actions of government leaders than from any other cause. Millions of people have been killed and persecuted because of government leaders. Poverty has overtaken nations because of government leaders. Cultures and people groups have actually been eradicated because of the actions of government leaders. Sixty-seven million babies in America have been murdered since 1973 because of the actions of government leaders. Children are allowed to be mutilated and neutered through government decisions. And yet…many in the church embrace a belief that we who represent God’s will and plans on earth should stay out of this arena! When we gather as the church, we shouldn’t talk about it. Many believe that, as a corporate entity, the church should say and do nothing to place those who know and honor God in positions of authority. This is insane, and the ramifications are horrific. The thief, who came to steal, kill, and destroy, is given control. We in America have been blessed with one of the greatest privileges in the history of nations: choosing our own government. Yet, with this comes incredible responsibility. To forfeit this blessing is more than a waste; it is shirking our God-given responsibility of governing the earth for Him. When the right people are leading our nation, America becomes the greatest force for justice, peace, safety, and provision in all the world! We were instrumental in saving the earth during two world wars. We have preserved the world from the control of communism. We have become the leading force in health and medicine. God and the world need a strong America. In order for there to be a strong America, however, there must be a strong and righteous government. The church must be freed from the deception that causes her to withdraw from this process and become involved at every level of government. We must. This is not theocracy or Christian Nationalism; it is common sense, it is biblical, and it is LOVE. In tomorrow’s post, we will talk about politics and the political spirit, part of what satan uses to keep many in the church aloof from government. We will see that God is governmental, but He is not political. Pray with me: Father, our prayer today is that You teach us Your ways. We must understand Your plans and intentions for us, and for the earth. Ignorance causes us to forfeit so much. May the spirit of wisdom and revelation be taken to a higher level in the church. Teach us how to truly function as Christ’s Ekklesia. Teach us how to better steward the incredible privilege of choosing our own government. Forgive us for relinquishing this right and thereby allowing evil to rule over us. Continue to help us see our government transformed into a God-honoring, life-honoring, Bible-honoring government once again. Though we have allowed evil into our government, in Your mercy, give us a rapid turnaround. Thank You for the godly leaders we have in our government; please increase this. Please use the Rededication of Our Nation to You on May 17th as an entry point for Your glory into our land. Forgive, cleanse, and heal us on that day. And thank You for the revival that has begun in our nation. Cause it to increase in scope and strength. We ask these things in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We declare the words of Isaiah 33:22: “God is our Judge, our Lawgiver, and our King; He will save us!” ********************* Click on the link below to watch the full video.

