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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-31-2024 May 31, 2024 Stay Focused; God Will Have The Last Word (Response to Trump Verdict) Since the Give Him 15 devotionals are posted very early each weekday morning, I have to write and record them the day before. Today’s was completed before I heard the news that the jury in Trump’s trial had reached a verdict. Of course, I knew I would have to save that one and write another. For the past three hours, I have spoken with several friends and revisited what I have been hearing from Holy Spirit during the past several months. Before I share, I want to say that earlier today, I began feeling heavy sadness and grief for the nation. As I was praying and writing the earlier post, the one I’m now saving, a friend called to talk about an unrelated matter, but during the conversation, mentioned the sad condition of America. The floodgates opened, and I began to weep to the point of being unable to speak. I couldn’t finish our conversation. He, knowing this was travail from Holy Spirit, graciously ended the call. I walked and prayed for a while, then continued writing. I tell you this to point out that the sadness many are feeling over the depth of corruption in our nation was already coming on me - for the purpose of prayer. Like many, it wasn’t as much anger I felt, but a deep wave of sadness. I want to state clearly that my sadness is not from a feeling of defeat—I wasn’t surprised at the verdict—but instead, is intense grief over the shocking depths to which America has fallen. I am still confident that revival is coming—America shall be saved—but the cost of our sin has been great. And it is not yet over; the shaking will continue for a season. Tonight [Thursday], as I have been seeking the Lord, Holy Spirit reminded me of these things: 1) Chris Reed’s dream on March 9, 2024. He saw a 16-17 month period of time symbolizing the rebirth of America. It began around the time of the eclipse in April and ended in July 2025. The season was very chaotic, difficult, and alarming. At times, it looked like the “baby” (a reborn America) might not make it. But it did. At one point in the dream, July 11 stood out to him, though at the time, he didn’t know if it was in 2024 or 2025. We found out today that July 11 is Trump’s sentencing date. 2) A pastor friend of mine had a dream in June 2022. I don’t feel it is time to share all of it, but some I can. In the dream, he found himself standing next to Trump; it was now 2024. Trump said, “I’ll be a political martyr in the next few years. Not because of my goodness but because God has put the tools in me to tear down, root up, and confront the system. It’ll be an eight-year process and will take two men - me, then another - for the full sweep of power.” I’ve watched as the leftists, globalists, and Dems have tried to destroy Trump. Truly, he is a political “martyr.” And yet, in the dream, he prevailed and served his second term, beginning the tearing down of the evil system, which was finished by another. 3) Gina Gholston’s dream, “Work While You Celebrate,” the dream in which intercessors were instructed to paint the borders and anchor the nation, told us that a great shaking was coming. But the dream also said not to fear; America would survive if we obeyed the Lord. Revival came along with the shaking. (Links to these three GH15s sharing the dream: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) For the Lord to emphasize over and over not to fear, told me the shaking and difficulties would be severe. This is why I have said multiple times in the GH15 posts, that things will get worse before they get better. I don’t want you to be caught off guard and waver in your faith. We are not yet through the shaking, but what is coming will shake down evil, awaken the nation, and end in revival. Stay in the secret place of Psalm 91, don’t forget to pray over the waterways, water supplies, dams, and ports (terrorists are here), pray for Trump and other God-fearing leaders, and DO NOT FEAR. Stay in a place of faith. 4) This evening [Thursday], Pat McManus, a friend who pastors in Illinois, shared a word with me. A few nights ago, the Lord awakened him with a prophetic word. Holy Spirit said, “The fierceness of My throne is coming. Guard your heart, stay focused on Me. I am releasing a fire that will strengthen those that are willing to hear the sound. “I am going to purge the land with the fire of My glory. Stand, and stay focused on Me. You are entering My glory. Rest assured that I am strengthening your heart. “I am about to come in power. Don’t lose sight of that which I’m about to release on the land, an unquenchable fire. Stand strong, and don’t lose sight of what I am about to do. Again, stay focused, persistently pursuing and pressing into all that I am. “I’m igniting the fire; it will blaze with My glory, and nothing will stop the dismantling, re-ordering, and repositioning.” The fire and glory of God is coming to America. It will cleanse, and it will empower. We must stay focused on Him, not the shaking, and refuse to be shaken. It will tear down that which is evil, not us; we will emerge on the other side with renewed strength and purpose, and a renewed nation. Evil will not prevail. Yes, the kingdom of darkness believes it is winning, but God will have the last word. Pray with me: Father, though we grieve with You over this prodigal nation and the price of our rebellion, we are steadfast in our faith for revival and recovery. There will be a rebirth of America. We will wear the new robe and new ring, and we will eat the fatted calf (Luke 15:11-24). We ask once again for the dismantling of evil in America - from the top down. Free the nation from wicked leaders, evil systems, and deception. Expose the evil one and his partners. And save millions. Strengthen President Trump. He is being martyred politically, but You will raise him up again. Strengthen the God-honoring leaders in our nation, giving them boldness and backbones of steel. Protect them and their families, and protect our great land. We ask this in Yeshua’s name, Amen. Our decree: We decree that darkness will scatter in the light, evil will be shaken down, and truth will prevail in America. ******************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-30-2024 May 30, 2024 The Appeal to Heaven Flag As I stated yesterday, I was out of the office for a week, so am only now able to comment on the news of Justice Alito’s “egregious” behavior in flying the Appeal To Heaven flag. What was he thinking? Never mind that our first President, George Washington, commissioned the flag and flew it on our naval vessels. Doesn’t he know the flag is about prayer? The Justice should know that Judges must have nothing to do with prayer! And the most egregious of all, the flag was seen at the Capitol on January 6th! Every flag taken there should be banned from America! (Well, with the exception of Old Glory, which was also there.) If Justice Alito doesn’t resign, he should recuse himself from any future Supreme Court cases regarding prayer, patriotism, free speech, and evergreen trees! Forgive my sarcasm and attempt at humor, but this controversy is so ridiculous it begs for it. It is now considered treasonous to fly one of the flags under which America was born. “Trump Derangement Syndrome” has now been revealed as actually “Christians and Patriots Derangement Syndrome.” It turns out he was right when he said it’s us the left is coming after, he’s just standing in the way. Because of my promotion of the flag, Ceci and I began receiving phone calls and texts from reporters immediately after the news broke. They wanted to know if I knew the Justice, his wife, if I gave him the flag, and more. The answer to these questions was “No.” I have never met any of the Supreme Court Justices or any of their family members. And I have no idea where or how Justice Alito procured his flag. (In full disclosure, my office DOES sell them, as do Amazon and others.) I received my Appeal To Heaven flag from an America-loving wounded warrior who is actually fighting for his life from an illness he contracted while serving in Afghanistan. I’m told that Speaker Johnson has the flag outside his office and that Senator Cotton is now flying one outside his, as well. I have never met these leaders either, and don’t know how they got their flags. Although I did find out from a leftist reporter recently that I am Speaker Johnson’s mentor! It’s amazing what you can learn from the mainstream media. I recently learned from a Christian watchdog, who partners with the mainstream media, that I caused January 6! (No, I wasn’t even there.) Here is a brief summary of my introduction to the ATH flag and an explanation of its beginning, taken from my small book, An Appeal To Heaven: ******* "’Before I give you this gift,’ he said, ‘I need to explain the history behind it. It's a replica of the flag displayed by George Washington and America's founding fathers. This flag was actually used before the Stars and Stripes existed. In many ways, it is the banner under which America was born,’ he explained. "‘This banner has the phrase “An Appeal To Heaven” across the top,’ he continued, ‘a phrase our Founders took from the writings of John Locke, an influential English philosopher from the mid-1600s. Locke wrote a series of papers on “Natural Laws,” stating that human rights originate with God, not government.’ “Locke made the case that when people have done everything humanly possible to experience those God-given rights and have failed to do so, there remains but one option: ‘And where the body of the people or any single man, is deprived of their right, or is under the exercise of a power without right, and have no appeal on earth, then they have a liberty to appeal to heaven...’(1) “Major Ostan continued, ‘Locke's phrase, “appeal to heaven,” connotes that when all resources and the ability to attain justice on earth are exhausted, an appeal to earth's ultimate Judge is the final recourse. This concept would become a foundational philosophy in American society, used even in the Declaration of Independence.’ “Will went on to explain that George Washington and his contemporaries grabbed hold of this phrase in America's cause for freedom from Britain's tyranny. Having exhausted all peaceful possibilities of experiencing the liberty they so desired, the colonists realized their only hope for freedom was through war. Yet with Britain's great military, weaponry, and wealth - contrasted by the colonist's dire lack of these resources - any military attempt to break free from British rule was preposterous, even laughable. Laughable, that is, unless Almighty God intervened. “The stance of the colonists was simple. Their right to freedom came from God: He would help them. ‘We will appeal to heaven!’ they declared. “And a flag was born. “From the days of the pilgrims, godly men and women have believed the Almighty was involved in the birth of our nation. They also felt that if a nation chose to partner with and honor God, it would experience His favor and blessing in extraordinary ways. Washington and the colonial dreamers agreed. But they decided to take it a step further and find out if the Sovereign was, indeed, birthing ‘A city [nation] set on a hill that can't be hidden...a light to the world’ (Matthew 5:14). They no doubt knew of John Winthrop, a leader of the puritan's Massachusetts Bay Colony, using this verse in his 1630 speech on board the Arbella to describe what he believed God wanted to build in America.(2) “General George Washington, leader of the American Revolution, obviously believed in this divine plan. He commissioned several ships for the Revolutionary War efforts and, highlighting their dependence on providential help; each vessel was to fly under the Appeal to Heaven banner, also known as the Pine Tree Flag.(3) The popularity of the flag spread and was soon flying throughout the colonies, as well as being adopted as the flag for the Massachusetts State Navy.(4) It became the symbol of these colonists' unwavering spirit of liberty, as well as a clear statement of where they placed their faith.”(5) ******* Don’t be distracted by the accusations of the left. They want to intimidate us into silence. It’s a good thing to love America. My advice to all patriots, regardless of your religious affiliation or lack thereof: fly and salute your American flag EVERY DAY! Say the Pledge of Allegiance to Old Glory; stand for the anthem with your hand over your heart, and sing along LOUDLY. To believers, my advice is: Fly BOTH flags! Salute one and pray under the other. Love God unashamedly; believe and honor the Bible - all of it; attend a church that isn’t afraid to preach truth, including the truth regarding America’s birth by God, and the purpose for which He did so. And by all means, attend one which teaches and encourages its congregants to vote biblical values. Pray with me: Father, thank You for giving us praying leaders in Washington. Strengthen their resolve to seek You for wisdom, and to ask for Your blessing on our nation. Give us many more who unashamedly fly the ATH flag, both Democrats and Republicans. No leader in America - especially America - needs to be intimidated regarding mentioning You or embarrassed when doing so. Overrule the evil attacks against them, including President Trump. Encourage him, and may his heart be turned always to You. Restore justice to America’s defiled judicial system - from the DOJ down. We ask You to overturn every effort to destroy America’s Judeo-Christian roots. We boldly declare that we ARE a “city on a hill,” as our Founders and Presidents have called us. We also acknowledge that this does not make us loved by You more than other people throughout the world. It is a calling to SERVE the nations by delivering the gospel of the Kingdom to them. We boldly declare that we will see this calling reemerge from its root system, though the tree has been damaged and its fruit spoiled. Your discipline will bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness once again. We appeal to You for these things and do so through the risen King, Jesus. Our decree: We decree that appealing to heaven is the believer’s right and America’s heritage. ********************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ---------------------------------------------------------- John Locke, The Second Treatise of Civil Government. “Chapter XIV, Of Prerogative, Section 168.” 1690. John Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity,” 1630. American Memory. “Col. Joseph Reed to Col. John Glover and Stephen Moylan.” October 20, 1775. The Library of Congress. Memmory.loc.gov/mssp/mgw/mgw3b/001/08504.jpg Naval History and Heritage Command. “The U.S. Navy’s First Jack.” U.S. Navy. Published December 17, 2014. www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/banners/usnavy-first-jack.html Dutch Sheets, An Appeal To Heaven, (Dutch Sheets Ministries, 2015).
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/tuesday-may-28-2024 May 28, 2024 Introduction Some may wonder why I haven’t yet commented on the recent news regarding the Appeal to Heaven flag. The reason is that Ceci and I were out of the office last week (and I recorded the posts in advance). I will release a post regarding this iconic flag and the ridiculous controversy tomorrow. Today’s post is very important and time-sensitive. Had I not been out of town, I would have released it sooner. It is from my brother, Tim, and concerns the release of signs and wonders many prophets have spoken of. We believe this outpouring is beginning! Listen as Tim shares. The title of today’s post is: It Is Time For Miracles On Friday, May 3, 2024, The Oasis, the church I pastor, held a meeting with prophet Hank Kunneman. He released a powerful word that included an assignment of prayer and fasting. We have been asking Holy Spirit for the right time to fulfill this and believe tomorrow, May 29th through June 5th, is that time. Before reading part of the prophetic word, I want to share a health update. Some already know that I have been dealing with a stage four cancer diagnosis and attack on my health for over a year. I have completed radiation and am in the process of regaining strength while still in an ongoing treatment plan. I am doing well and receiving positive test results, for which we give God the glory. Hank did not know of this on May 3rd. As you hear this word, keep in mind that it applies not just to The Oasis or me, but also to the corporate body of Christ in our nation and world. The prophetic word concerns a healing movement Holy Spirit now wants to initiate, a new level of healings and miracles. Listen closely as I share a portion of this prophetic word. “There is something stirring over this house. I can see a whirlwind in the spirit over this church. It’s a stirring by the angelic. There’s an angel sent to this house. I can see it. God says to this house, you have been standing, decreeing, and believing for the healing of families, homes and prodigals. And this is what I am doing. However, I’m not just healing families; I’m also healing this nation, for this nation has been like a prodigal to Me. And I’m calling it back, so continue your decrees. Continue your prayers and you will begin to see something manifest over this house. You will see loved ones and family members come; they’ll return not only to Me, but to this house. They’ll be discipled, and you’ll see a wave of growth that will begin to increase like you saw during a former period in this house. There is a revisitation of that because you have aligned yourself with the kiss of the Father as He kissed the prodigal. I have kissed this house to bring family members back to this house. Household salvations. Return of prodigals. But also, God says, that anointing shall also be sent and released over this country to bring it back to Me, and bring it back into divine order. “There have been incantations and witchcraft spoken to bring infirmity to this house, to touch individuals of this house with infirmity. But God says there is something swirling now that is countering it, and it is an angel that has been sent, as it was in the days when the man was at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years. God says, listen to Me; there is an anointing that I’m going to revisit in this house of a healing movement from generations prior, those that operated in divine healing, and those that operated in signs, wonders, and miracles. And it was part of a bloodline, a legacy. It was part of that which I visited in past generations. This angel has now been sent to revisit the bloodline and the inheritance upon this pastor and those who are of his blood. And it has come now to this house to stir the waters of healing. “For there is a time that I will call this house to pray and fast specifically for this stirring. It will be a short fast, but will be powerful. It is a call to specifically ask for the angel and pray for the pastor I set over this house. God says, what can be done in seven days? What can happen in seven days when you will seek My face? Fast and pray. Watch what I do with this angel and this leader. Watch what this angel shall release over this house and even to you, Pastor Tim, and for this house. There will be a stirring of waters, of signs, wonders, and healing that will happen during this time, because part of that inheritance is through you (pointing to Rachel, Pastor Tim’s daughter), and it’s going to come stronger, and it’s going to come through the instruments.” (end) Hank did not know that a part of my history goes back to the Voice of Healing Movement of the 1950s and 60s. Great healing evangelists - Gordon Lindsay, A.A. Allen, T.L. Osborn, Oral Roberts, Kathryn Kuhlman, and so many others - were used to release great miracles. Though not well-known, my dad was one of those healing evangelists. Healing is part of my family legacy. We are now being asked to fast and pray for a restoration of the healing movement that I was raised in. Prophet Hank was also unaware that I had been talking and praying weekly with a group of apostles and prophets for the past several months, asking for the restoration of the healing movement… about which he was prophesying. Holy Spirit said through Hank that it’s time to fast and pray for the sending of an angel to assist in this breakout of healings and miracles. While part of this word was to pray for me, I know I represent the church in general. I am asking - and invite you to join me - that not only will I be totally healed, but that this fresh mantle of signs and wonders will now be released to many, resulting in thousands being healed around the world. It is time! We have our assignment. Please ask the Lord how you can participate and engage with us. Some will fast all food, drinking only water or juice. Others will do a Daniel fast, some will fast a meal a day, and still others will fast pleasures such as TV, sweets, etc. Use wisdom and fast only as He leads you. But please set these seven days aside to fast and pray Holy Spirit’s strategy. Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, May 29th, I [Tim] will provide a daily decree for you. You can go to our website or our social media pages to see the decree of that day and release it with thousands of others. I know that many of you will participate, and I thank you in advance. Let’s set our faith to begin the activation and release of this fresh healing movement. Pray with me: Father, move among us as we commit ourselves to this time of fasting and prayer. We will obey as best we can. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for the prophetic and for strategy. We pray, as You instructed us, that the angel of healing that You are sending will help us activate this movement. We pray that our decrees and prayers will align with heaven in such a way that angels are released to participate and help bring it to pass. We pray for entire families to be saved and come to houses of worship. We pray for millions of prodigals to come home. We ask for healings and miracles to accelerate under Holy Spirit's leadership, assisted by angel armies. Resurrect the healing movement. Re-mantle Your people with gifts of healing, the working of miracles, the gift of faith, and words of knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). Activate healings and miracles as we set ourselves to seek Your face, pray, and fast. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that a fresh healing movement will now begin throughout the world, bringing freedom to many, and great glory to Christ. *************************** Details and daily decrees for prayer and fasting: https://www.oasiswired.org/fasting-prayer Link to Hank Kunneman’s prophetic word: https://youtu.be/ndEqfeEXNRA?feature=shared Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim. You can learn more about him at TimSheets.org. **************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-27-2024 May 27, 2024 Total Sacrifice Though not accepted by the religious spirit, patriotism can be truly spiritual. Given the fact that God raised up America for His purposes, a love for our nation should not only be acceptable, but appropriate. My love for America transcends my natural roots; it is rooted also in my love for the gospel, America’s primary reason for existence. And as one who loves our nation, I love those who have fought for her freedom and destiny, especially those who have paid the ultimate price. Today, I honor them, their families, and the sacrifices they made. The cause of freedom, both naturally and spiritually, requires commitment and sacrifice. When choosing His disciples, Jesus told them, “Follow me.” “Follow you where?” would have been an obvious and fair question. Perhaps one of them asked it. But we know Jesus didn’t elaborate. Much like Yahweh’s dealings with our spiritual father, Abraham, who was told to leave home but not where that would lead him, Christ demanded the same of His disciples, “I don’t want you picking and choosing how and where you’re willing to follow Me. I want carte blanche access to your will. Total commitment. Follow Me...period.” In serving freedom’s cause and the cause of Christ, the rules haven’t changed. Ronald Reagan was a secular leader who modeled commitment. Though serving in government, he was also a spiritual man, combining spirituality, patriotism, passion, and commitment. Only a person with radical commitment would stand on the world stage and, against the advice of all his advisors, forcefully decree, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”(1) Although he made this audacious statement while President in 1987, the seeds of passion and commitment were growing in Mr. Reagan much earlier. On October 27, 1964, he issued the following poignant decree: “They say the world has become too complex for simple answers. They are wrong. There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is right.”(2) May God give America more Ronald Reagans! His words remind me of those in 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” Simple devotion. Simple answers. Doing the right thing isn’t usually complicated - sometimes costly, but not complicated. Winston Churchill led Great Britain and helped save the world from Hitler’s Third Reich. What a passionate, committed leader he was. Led by his passion, determination, and amazing communication skills, England fought the good fight against Hitler when it looked like the Nazis were unstoppable. One of Churchill’s many poignant quotes from that time was about duty: “The destiny of man is not measured by material computation. When great forces are on the move in the world, we learn we are spirits - not animals. There is something going on... which, whether we like it or not, spells duty” (italics mine).(3) Indeed! Likewise, whether we like it or not, there are challenges in America today that spell “duty.” Abortion spells duty. A spiritually lost generation spells duty. Sexual grooming of children, gender confusion, human trafficking, an open border, an anti-Christ spirit and attitude, an attack on traditional marriage, a compromising church - all of these, and many more problems in the world are issuing duty’s call. God is asking us to respond. A while back, I read the book Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell. It is the story of the greatest loss ever suffered, up to that point in time, by the US Navy SEALs. The warriors in all of our special forces model total commitment, courage, and duty. I spent much time quietly and solitarily thinking about what I was reading. Among other things, I analyzed my level of commitment to Christ’s cause. Do I demonstrate the same level of commitment to Him that our brave soldiers do to one another and their cause? Just like the king in Scripture, I felt I was “weighed in the balances and found wanting” (see Daniel 5:27). Most of us will never have to endure the physical pain and suffering the brave men and women of our special forces endure, nor could we. But at a heart level, we should possess the same degree of commitment to Christ and His cause. As I read portions of the SEALs’ creed, I couldn’t help but think parts of it should be the Christian’s creed. Here is their creed, appropriate for us to read on this important day. “In times of war or uncertainty, there is a special breed of warrior ready to answer our nation’s call. A common man with uncommon desire to succeed. Forged by adversity, he stands alongside America’s finest special operations forces to serve his country, the American people, and protect their way of life. I am that man. “My Trident is a symbol of honor and heritage. Bestowed upon me by the heroes that have gone before, it embodies the trust of those I have sworn to protect. By wearing the Trident, I accept the responsibility of my chosen profession and way of life. It is a privilege that I must earn every day. “My loyalty to Country and Team is beyond reproach. I humbly serve as a guardian to my fellow Americans, always ready to defend those who are unable to defend themselves. I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions. I voluntarily accept the inherent hazards of my profession, placing the welfare and security of others before my own. “I serve with Honor on and off the battlefield. The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of the circumstance, sets me apart from other men. Uncompromising integrity is my standard. My character and honor are steadfast. My word is my bond. “We expect to lead and be led. In the absence of orders, I will take charge, lead my teammates, and accomplish the mission. I lead by example in all situations. “I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Nation expects me to be physically harder, and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight. “We demand discipline. We expect innovation. The lives of my teammates and the success of our mission depend on me - my technical skill, tactical proficiency, and attention to detail. My training is never complete. “We train for war and fight to win. I stand ready to bring the full spectrum of combat power to bear in order to achieve my mission and the goals established by my country. The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required yet guided by the very principles that I serve to defend. “Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammate steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. “I will not fail.” (4) Committed hearts like this in the church would quickly change the world! Committed believers in America must rise up with their spiritual weapons at this time. America is in critical condition, on life-support. Having denied our Godly roots and the anchor they provided, America is now adrift in the mooring-less ideologies of humanism, relativism, and Marxism. The same idiocy that shuts down industries and food sources in order to save frogs, also fights to kill babies. Marriage between one man and one woman is mocked, while “marriage” between two men or two women is praised. The Constitution and its true intent are ignored. Americans now acknowledge dozens of gender options. We’ve lost our way. God is calling for committed followers to arise and lead us out of this maze of mindless ideas. If not, we will perish in the wilderness. I believe, however, that these warriors are being raised up. And like the SEALs and our other brave warriors, they will NEVER quit! They will NEVER be out of the fight! Their training is NEVER complete! They will NOT fail! Pray with me: Father, as You move us into this great worldwide awakening, we pledge a new commitment to Your cause, a total commitment to You, Your kingdom, and the commission You gave us. Raise up committed spiritual warriors in every realm of society. Just as natural soldiers must have discipline and a commitment to their cause, put hearts in us that will demonstrate these same qualities. We pledge to You that we will follow You without conditions. We will go where You send us, say what You tell us, and do as You command us. And we won’t be silenced. Unqualified commitment - that is what we will demonstrate. Lead us back to the old road of truth and duty. Lead America back to her righteous roots, her destiny. Thank You for those who have given all of us. Comfort their families. We pledge to not forget these sacrifices. Give us hearts to honor them, and the strength to follow their examples of sacrificial love. And as President Lincoln said at Gettysburg, we declare that “these dead shall not have died in vain.”(5) Our decree: We decree that we will never quit, we are never out of the fight, and we will not fail! ******************************* Portions of today’s post were taken from my book The Way Back. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ---------------------------------------------------- Reagan, Ronald. Address at the Brandenburg Gate. 12 June, 1987. Coffey, Major T., Jr. Patriot hearts: An Anthology of American patriotism. (Colorado Springs, CO: Purple Mountain Publishing, 2000). 68. Ibid., 68. Naval Special Warfare Command. “SEAL Ethos? Creed.” (November 15, 2010). http://www.public.navy.mil?nsw?Pages?EthosCreed.aspx https://libquotes.com/abraham-lincoln/quote/lbe6e3d
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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-23-2024 May 23, 2024 Do Not Fear the Lion! At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, General George Washington instructed his troops: “The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die” (italics mine).(1) A warrior’s spirit was essential in order to win America’s freedom. This kind of warrior’s heart is also necessary spiritually. The kingdom of God is full of paradoxes - seeming contradictions. This is one of them: though called to possess the quality of love more than any other, even to the point of laying down our lives (2 Corinthians 13), and to pursue peace with all men (Hebrews 12:14), we believers are also called to war spiritually (Ephesians 6:12-20). We must war against the kingdom and powers of darkness, false ideologies, and the strategies spawned by both. Also, though “We wrestle not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12 KJV), we must boldly oppose laws, ideologies, and spiritual forces that war against Christ’s cause. Old Testament Warriors In the Old Testament, God gives us examples of warrior hearts. They are our examples, NOT because we are called to force His will on people, but in order for their internal traits to be applied to our lives and spiritual battles. David was one such warrior. This brave fighter killed a lion and a bear to protect his father’s sheep, and was ever ready to fight the enemies of God when they attempted to destroy Israel. David possessed such a strong warrior’s heart that he actually ran to face Goliath! (see 1 Samuel 17:48) Then there was Benaiah, one of David’s “mighty men” (see 1 Chronicles 11:22-24). Like David, this heroic and bold warrior also killed a lion. It seems the marauding lion was threatening a village in Israel, which motivated the villagers to set a trap by digging a pit and then baiting the lion into it. OK, so now what? How would they deal with the lion? Cage it and move it to another region? Kill it using spears, arrows, even stones? Several options were possible - none of which included jumping into the pit! Then, there are the Benaiahs of the world. For some reason, inexplicable except to a warrior’s heart, Benaiah didn’t want to kill the lion from above. “Out of my way,” he shouted. Before anyone could stop him, Benaiah jumped into the pit—“On a snowy day,” Scripture adds for good measure—and killed the lion (see 2 Samuel 23:20). Warrior? I believe so. Benaiah once killed “A man of great stature five cubits tall [seven and one-half feet]. Now in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear” (1 Chronicles 11:23). Warrior times two! Warriors Reproduce Warriors Incidentally, from whom do you think Benaiah acquired his warrior nature? He was obviously inspired by the heart of his leader David, who also killed a lion and a giant. Warriors reproduce warriors. I’m praying God will raise up a generation of spiritual Davids and Benaiahs that will challenge satan, the roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), who is devouring many in our day. Eleazer was another David-inspired warrior. “He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the Lord brought about a great victory that day” (2 Samuel 23:10). What determination! In defending the nation of Israel, Eleazer fought through his weariness, and when he no longer possessed the necessary strength in his hand to hold the sword, he held on with his heart! When the battle was over, his comrades waded through the bodies and peeled Eleazer’s hand from his sword! Warrior! We Need Warriors Today How does this warrior spirit translate into action today against the spiritual giants of our land? Obviously, it begins with prayer - spiritual warfare. But there is more. Standing for truth through speaking up, voting out of office individuals with unbiblical and unwise ideals, giving to righteous causes, speaking out against all that oppose the rule of God - all are ways by which we war. To turn America back to the ancient path, we must tenaciously resist evil and tyranny, let our voices be heard, and pray until revival is seen in our land. Can we really see a reformation of America? Absolutely! If pioneer warriors with hearts like David, Benaiah, and Eleazer arise, with a determination to find and walk the old road, we can transform America. America is filled with spiritual pacifists. I am asking God to instead raise up spiritual warriors in our nation. We desperately need men and women with hearts strong enough to face whatever firepower satan and his allies can throw at them and, in spite of it all, turn this nation back to Christ. We need 21st-century burning-heart revivalists in the mold of John and Charles Wesley. We are desperate for Jonathan Edwards’s level anointings, causing such Holy Spirit unction that sinners cry out for forgiveness and salvation. We must have modern-day Finneys whose preaching births such conviction that men run to altars weeping and mourning. And Peter Cartwrights - Circuit Riders - who will brave wilderness paths and freezing winters on horseback to preach the gospel. We desperately need “praying Hydes,” Rees Howells and Jeremiah Lanphiers, who will shape history and birth awakenings in regions of the earth through prayer. Perhaps you were never taught about these heroes of the faith and are wondering who some of them are. That is part of the problem. America’s heroes today are athletes, movie stars, and singers. Many are good people, but heroes? I don’t think so. And frankly, some are not good. Many Americans emulate losers - perverts, adulterers, foul-mouthed rebels, irresponsible fathers, and lying politicians. May God give us holy, selfless warriors who will fight for truth and honor. May He raise up and mantle a generation that does not fear the lion! Pray with me: Father, in Your Word, You use warfare words like wrestle, warfare, fight, and soldier to describe our spiritual activities. Even though Christ defeated our enemy and took from him his authority, it is still our responsibility to enforce that victory on the earth. We must use Your name, power, and the sword of the Spirit to bind and loose, open and close. We ARE Your Ekklesia on the earth. We pray that warrior hearts will be found and awakened in Your church, and that people of faith and passion will be raised up who run to face Goliaths. Give us Davids, Benaiahs, Eleazars. May we fight until our hands cleave to the sword, holding on with impassioned hearts that refuse to yield to demonic forces on the earth. May the zeal of the Lord of Hosts consume us! We ask for this in faith, and in the name of Jesus, we believe it is done! Amen. Our decree: We decree that a fresh generation of spiritual warriors is arising on the earth and will enforce the victory of Calvary throughout the world. ******************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------- 1. Coffey. Patriot Hearts. 118.
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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-24-2024 May 24, 2024 Calebs At Heart “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring him into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.” (Numbers 14:24 NKJV) Caleb, one of the 12 spies Moses sent to spy out the land promised by God to Israel, was a bit different. He went against the grain and made it into God’s “Hall of Difference Makers.” In fact, God used this very word to describe him. “Caleb,” He said, “has a different spirit” (Numbers 14:24). Indeed..! By describing Caleb as different, the Lord was comparing him to 10 of the other spies who were conformists, weak in their faith, and sadly, preferred a life of slavery over fighting for freedom. These faithless cowards affirmed that the Promised Land truly was as wonderful as God had said. Unfortunately, they also pointed out, it was ruled by giants, protected by strong armies, and filled with fortified cities. God forgot to tell us about giants - 9 feet plus in height, they opined. And as cowards often do, these 10 spies infected Israel with their fear and unbelief. To fear-controlled believers, “giants” are bigger than God. Ironically, the 10 fearful spies were actually leaders in Israel (Numbers 13:2), yet they didn’t possess the faith needed to advance into the land of promise and challenge the evil, demonized giants controlling it. They were leaders who wouldn’t lead, fathers who wouldn’t fight. Though now free physically, they were still slaves mentally; they were cowards, not warriors; settlers, not pioneers. Settlers fear the dangers of pioneering. Fearful and faithless people build walls to keep giants out; pioneers and warriors dispossess them. Shockingly, these 10 spies actually preferred going back to slavery in Egypt, where their masters fed and clothed them - and they didn’t have to fight - than risking their lives for the cause of freedom. Their wills had been broken. And when the will has been broken by the cruel hammer of slavery or fear, freedom’s call is silenced. “Give me my mountain” is drowned out by “The giants are too big”; “Give me liberty or give me death” is shouted down by “The British are too powerful.” And when this occurs, we become conformists, safety-seekers. In a speech to the Second Continental Congress on August 1, 1776, American patriot and Founder Samuel Adams, said to the fearful, “If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; may your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!”(1) I wonder if Adams’ middle name was Caleb?! The cause of freedom has always needed bravehearted warriors like Adams and Caleb. Not only was Caleb willing to fight the evil giants in Canaan, but he offered to tackle the biggest. He requested the town of Kiriath-Arba as his battle assignment. Why is this significant? Kiriath-Arba means “the city of Arba,” and Arba was “The greatest of all the giants” (Joshua 14:15). The biggest and baddest of these anti-God behemoths ruling the region had chosen a city high on a mountain from which to rule - the highest city in all the territory - and renamed it after himself. This is even more infuriating when we realize it was formerly named Hebron, meaning “covenant friendship,” referring to friendship with God. (In keeping with this symbolism, Abraham, “the friend of God,” is actually buried there.) Caleb’s attitude toward the desecrating, evil giants and their fortified cities was simple: Let’s go kill these evil giants and possess the land. I’ll take the biggest! God required Israel to wait 40 more years to do so until the unbelieving generation died. He refuses to reward cowardice and unbelief. Years later when Caleb was finally allowed to conquer Kiriath-Arba, he changed the city’s name to Hebron once again. There, this warrior enjoyed his covenantal friendship with God, as did many others. Warriors like Caleb, who face fears and conquer giants, prepare the way for others to find and enjoy friendship with God. Spiritual warriors also pass on their overcoming nature to the next generation. After Caleb defeated Kiriath-Arba, his nephew Othniel also conquered a giant-controlled city, Kiriath-Sepher. Like his uncle, he renamed this city, calling it Debir, which means “the innermost sanctuary.” Israel’s actual innermost sanctuary was the Holy of Holies, found in the Tabernacle of Moses. This was where God’s presence and glory dwelled. Othniel, however, wanted to live in a city where God’s presence and glory dwelled, so he named it Debir. Calebs reproduce those like themselves: God-seekers, presence-lovers, hungry for Him. Many generations later, Hebron would take on even more significance. David was crowned King over Judah and established his first throne there; seven years later, he became king over all of Israel and moved it to Jerusalem. When Caleb conquered Hebron, little did he know he was preparing a place for David to reign over Judah. Pioneers - forerunners of change - don’t always see the fullness of that for which they prepare the way. Their pioneering nature, however, just keeps building roads and blazing trails. America was built on the backs of different-spirited warriors and pioneers. Somewhere on the Continental Divide are the bleached bones of a nameless, faceless pathfinder who died blazing a trail for you and me. Arlington Cemetery houses the graves of unknown soldiers who died, preparing the way for our freedom. America now needs another generation of selfless, no-compromising pioneer-patriots: prayer warriors, government leaders, businessmen and women, media people, educators, and certainly leaders in the church. The frontier these 21st-century pioneers must conquer is one of mindsets and beliefs, not a mountain range; the minefield we face is one of ideas and ideologies, not a beach at Normandy. But the need for different-spirited pioneers is every bit as great. The church, like America, was built by warrior pioneers. The soil under the Roman Coliseum is stained with the blood of pioneering martyrs - our brothers and sisters - who died to advance the cause of our pioneering Leader. They’re watching us from the balcony of heaven and their blood is crying out for a generation to emerge that hasn’t lowered the standard. This great “cloud of witnesses” is waiting for a generation of spiritual warriors to arise in America who will once again be willing to give their all for heaven’s holy cause. Buck the system and rock the proverbial boat. May your commitment to the cause make the complacent nervous! Pray with me: Father, we ask You to break off indifference, intimidation and fear from the American church and replace it with courage. Convict us of apathy and complacency, and for becoming conformists. Let the fire and commitment of the early church be found in us. Give us hearts like that of Caleb. Forgive us for allowing satan to take over so much of America. Forgive us for turning our government, education, and much of our nation over to those who oppose You. We have lost much ground - all by default. Please forgive us for this. Yet we know You are building a glorious Ekklesia the gates of hell will no longer prevail against. We will rise up in the authority You have given us and enforce Your victory over demonic forces. According to Matthew 16:19, we will bind and loose, forbid and allow; we will open and close. We will represent You, the glorious King, in all of Your majesty and authority. And we will release Your loving and serving heart, healing the hurting, releasing those bound, and taking hope to the hopeless. In Jesus’ name, we pray and decree this. Amen. Decree: We decree that the same heart possessed by Caleb, the anointing of our King Jesus, is rising up in the Ekklesia of America. ************************ Portions of today’s post were taken from my book The Way Back. Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------------------- 1. https://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/american-independence-speech-by-samuel-adams-august-1-1776.html
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-22-2024 May 22, 2024 Have You Been Found? When Christ was preparing His original 12 world-changing pioneers, He made the cost clear to them: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues.” (Matthew 10:16-17) “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’” (Matthew 16:24 -25) What price did these first disciples eventually pay to partner with Christ? Were Christ’s words simply symbolic, not to be taken literally? Surely, He wouldn’t actually ask His followers to lay down their lives, would He? History answers these questions: ● Andrew was crucified. ● Bartholomew was crucified. ● James, the son of Alphaeus, was stoned to death. ● James, the son of Zebedee, was beheaded. ● John, the son of Zebedee, was tortured and banished to the uninhabited island of Patmos. ● Peter was crucified upside down. ● Philip was crucified upside down. ● Thomas was martyred in India. ● The Apostle Paul and John the Baptist, not part of the original 12 disciples but two of Christ’s early leaders, were beheaded. To be a true disciple of Christ - and nation-changers - we must be willing to lay down our lives. This mindset should permeate and influence all we do and live for. And if we are to see America saved, it is one of the non-negotiables: no cost is too great. William Wilberforce, who led the efforts to eradicate slavery from Great Britain, understood and demonstrated this. In the great movie about his life, Amazing Grace, based on the great book by Eric Metaxas bearing the same name, Wilberforce’s butler surprised him in a moment of private prayer. When asked if he had found God, Wilberforce’s poignant reply was, “I think He found me.” Indeed, God “found” Wilberforce, who became so joined to His heart and desires that no price was too great for the cause. This reformer’s passion to see the ending of slavery caused him stomach ailments, nightmares, ridicule, and four decades of tireless work. Days before his death, however, the decisive vote came to eliminate slavery from England. Amazingly, when the law became formal three days after the vote, Wilberforce’s spirit left this world! Thomas Buxton, a personal friend and member of the House of Commons at the time, said of him, “The day which was the termination of his labors was the termination of his life.”(1) Have you been found? Does the cause of Christ possess you? When God led the early colonists to this land - He was obviously involved in the process - they came with hearts willing to pay whatever price the dream would cost them. A part of their stated cause was, “For the Glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith...”(2) The colonists arrived on a cramped and dirty ship in sloshing water filled with human waste and vomit. And ill-prepared for the trials of this new land, including a brutal winter, more than half would perish before the end of their first summer. These colonists weren’t failures, however. Planting a cross on the beach at Cape Henry and dedicating this land to the gospel and the glory of God, they created a holy and enduring legacy. Heaven still honors the trail they blazed and the prayers they prayed. Buried in the soil of freedom, they became a vital part of the heritage we now enjoy. Pioneers all, their legacies live. The price they paid to create an outpost for the gospel created a debt for those who followed, including us today. The debt we Americans owe is not only to preserve freedom, but also to preserve this land as a light of truth - a beacon, a city on a hill - to all other nations. If we pay our debt today, the difficult trail we blaze back to our destiny will become the glorious path our children walk tomorrow. America was formed with the blood, sweat, and tears of many price-paying pioneers. When John Adams was elected as a Boston delegate in 1770, he knew it was considered treason to the King of England; Adams believed the decision would cost him everything. He informed his wife Abigail, “I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin...”(3) How many today would accept a seat in Congress if they knew it could cost them everything? Adams wasn’t finished with his declaration, however. After informing Abigail that he had consented to his own ruin, this patriot pioneer continued, “...to your ruin, and the ruin of our children. I give you this warning, that you may prepare your mind for your fate.”(4) Incredible. But Adams had been found! His love of liberty and belief that God was raising up the United States of America meant that, to him, no price was too great to pay. How did Abigail feel about this? Betrayed? Horrified? Did she threaten to leave him? Not even close. She too, like Wilberforce, had been found. According to Adams, Abigail burst into tears and cried out, “Well, I am willing in this cause to run all risks with you, and be ruined with you, if you are ruined.”(5) At the signing of the Declaration of Independence a few years later, Adams, along with his fellow signers, again accepted the potential and probable cost of freedom: “For the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”(6) Adams would later state to Abigail, “I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means.”(7) Some accuse me of inappropriately marrying the love of God and country, but it is my love for God and His cause on the earth that fuels my passion for seeing America restored. Like Adams and our other founding fathers, I realize God chose to raise up this nation as part of His plan to redeem the human race. America wasn’t established solely for Americans. And it certainly wasn’t born for the enjoyment of the narcissistic “American Dream” we’ve allowed our desires to devolve into. Partnering with God in His great dream was to be our privilege and destiny. For this, no cost is too great. Let’s cry out for another generation that will lose their lives to find His; believers who will accept their debt to the cross and pay any price necessary to lead America back to the old road. “Go stand at the crossroads and look around. Ask for directions to the old road, the tried-and-true road. Then take it” (Jeremiah 6:16, The Message). Pray with me: Father, we are grateful for those in the great cloud of witnesses who have paid such high prices for our freedom and Your cause. We are humbled by the sacrifices so many of them have made. We ask You to forgive us in the American church for watering down, even abandoning our commitment to You and Your cause. Forgive us for preaching watered-down messages, a human-centered gospel, and an absent-from-the-culture theology. We agree in intercession today that hearts in the church will be awakened. Passion for You and Your kingdom will outweigh our devotion to self. Revival has begun, and millions will give their hearts to You; millions more will have their first love restored, and the church will rediscover her voice. You are worth our full devotion. Heal our broken nation. Lead us back to the old road of truth, integrity, righteousness, and common sense. Lead us back to servanthood, loving our neighbors, and the golden rule. Give us leaders who love and honor You and Your ways. Deliver us from evil rulers. We ask You for this in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the purpose of God for America will not be lost - the recovery has begun! *************************** Portions of today’s post were taken from my book The Way Back. Click on the link below to watch the full. ------------------------------------------------------- 1. Dyer, Steven G., Transforming a Nation: How England turned back to God in the eighteenth century. Can it happen in America? (Oklahoma, OK: Steven J. Dyer, 2010). 54. 2. Mayflower Compact 1620. 3. Bennett, William J. Our sacred honor: Words of advice from the Founders in stories, letters, poems, and speeches. (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1997), p. 40. 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. 6. Ibid., p. 64. 7. Ibid.
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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-20-2024 May 20, 2024 Intimidation Is A Trap Proverbs 29:25 warns us regarding “the fear of man,” referring to it as a snare. The Passion Translation says, “Intimidation is a trap that holds you back”; The Message Bible reads, “The fear of human opinion disables.” Indeed, the fear of human opinion leads to people-pleasing, compromised values, yielding to peer pressure, and bowing to political correctness, all of which “disables” the church. A desire in the church to be viewed by the world as progressive and tolerant is a snare satan has used to conform people to his way of thinking. The need to be liked and/or accepted outweighs the Word of God to many believers, causing compromise, lukewarmness, and a lack of fruit. The damage has been catastrophic to our nation, causing the spiritual decay of three generations. Today, I’m going to share three references that give us pictures and insights into this trap called: “the fear of man.” AARON The first is in Exodus 32. In Moses’ day, many of the Israelites had bought into polytheism. They believed in Yahweh, but also in the existence of other gods. After their deliverance from Egypt, Moses had been on Mount Sinai for several weeks, receiving God’s laws and ordinances for Israel. He was gone longer than expected, and many of the people began to think he might never return (verse 1). Perhaps we need another god to help us, since Moses, who represented Yahweh, is evidently not coming back, they reasoned. Pathetic! Aaron, whom Moses had left in charge, was then persuaded to fashion a golden calf for the people to worship (verses 2-6). Pathetic times two! God was understandably angry and sent Moses back down the mountain to deal with it. Upon arrival, Moses’ choice of words to Aaron made it clear that God was holding Aaron responsible for this sin: “Moses said to Aaron, ‘What on Earth did these people ever do to you that you involved them in this huge sin?’ Aaron said, ‘Master, don’t be angry. You know this people and how set on evil they are. They said to me, “Make us gods who will lead us. This Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt, we don’t know what’s happened to him.”’” (Verses 21-23 The Message) God’s summary statement in verse 25 is VERY telling: “…Aaron had let them run wild disgracing themselves before their enemies” (The Message Bible). Another translation says, “…Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies” (NASB). Aaron was intimidated by the uprising of the people, which caused him to compromise. The language of verse 25 - “Aaron let them get out of control” - makes clear that had he stood his ground, God would’ve backed him up. Leaders in the church must refuse to be intimidated by the whims or unbiblical desires of people; giving them what they want will never be an acceptable excuse to God. KING SAUL Another example of an Israelite leader yielding to the fear of man is in First Samuel 13. King Saul had been instructed to wait seven days for Samuel, a prophet and priest of Yahweh, to arrive and offer the necessary sacrifices for securing a military victory (1 Samuel 10:8). God permitted only priests to offer these sacrifices in Israel, not kings. But Israel’s enemies, the Philistines, had made their move, amassing a great army with which to attack them (1 Samuel 13:5). Without God’s help, things weren’t looking good, and without the sacrifices, they wouldn’t have this help. Saul waited almost the entire seven days for Samuel to arrive, but toward the end of the 7th day, with his army “scattering from him,” disobeyed God and “offered the burnt offering” himself (verses 8-9). Who showed up just as he was finishing the sacrifice? The prophet and priest, Samuel. The delay had been a test from God, and Saul, snared by fear of the Philistines and the scattering of his people, had failed it. God's response to him through the prophet was essentially, “I need someone to rule as king who will obey Me, regardless of what circumstances, enemies, and the people dictate. I need a man after My heart” (Verses 13-14). A couple of chapters later, God said to Saul through Samuel: “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of Rams… Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being King.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23 NASB) How many leaders in the church have compromised, “rejected” God’s Word in attempts to prevent people from scattering? THE JEWISH LEADERS There is one final passage which gives a dire warning regarding the fear of man. At the end of Christ’s ministry, He had been teaching and performing miracles; many people - including Jewish leaders - now believed He was the Messiah. Yet, because of their fear of man, they would not acknowledge their belief in Him: “These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke about Him. Nevertheless, many, even of the rulers, believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees, they were not confessing Him, so that they would not be excommunicated from the synagogue; for they loved the approval of people rather than the approval of God.” (John 12:41-43 NASB) What an indictment - loving the approval of men more than the approval of God! Interestingly, the Greek word translated “approval” (doxa)(1) is also the New Testament word for “glory” and is translated as such in this very passage (verse 41): “Isaiah…saw His glory.” Therefore, the indictment against these leaders should be translated as the Passion Translation words it: “For they loved the glory that men could give them rather than the glory that came from God.” What a striking contrast! John tells us Isaiah saw God’s glory and prophesied of His greatness. But to these leaders, he tells us the glory they were receiving from man outweighed the glory of God. Sadly, this could be said of many leaders in the church today: popularity, approval from people, large crowds - these mean more to them than the glory of God. And because of this, Holy Spirit has had to declare “Ichabod” (“the glory has departed”) over many churches in our land. I believe God is about to change this. Many leaders are discovering that the praise of men no longer satisfies. They’re also realizing that “powerless Christianity” is a contradiction of the Bible. They are awakening to the fact that we have lowered the standard and watered down the wine. We traded the glory of God for men’s applause, sound doctrine for storytelling, the power of Holy Spirit for personal comfort, and prayer for innovative ideas. Three lost generations and an apostate nation later, they have realized this isn’t working. And God is calling them back to the pattern found in the book of Acts. Our prayer comes from there today. Pray with me: “And now, Lord, look at their threats, and enable Your bond-servants to speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great [megas/mega](2) power, the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant [megas/mega](3) grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:29-33 NASB) Our decree: We decree that Jesus is building a bold church the gates of hell cannot overcome. ************************ 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. 1391. Ibid., ref no. 3173. Ibid.
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-17-2024 May 17, 2024 Releasing God’s Nature This week we have been agreeing with and decreeing statements made by many of America’s past leaders. Their prayers and declarations are not dead, and as we agree with them, power from our past is released into our “now.” Today, I want to give an overview of God’s plan regarding government, one of the most important topics in the Bible. Government’s Origin The concept of government is first introduced to us in Genesis 1:26-28, when Yahweh assigned the responsibility of managing, ruling, or governing (Hebrew: radah(1-7287) and mashal(2-4910) the earth and all it contains to Adam and his offspring. However, the concept of government did not originate when God created the earth; He didn’t just imagine or dream up the notion for this new endeavor. God is, and always has been, Lord or Ruler over all - HE IS GOVERNMENT. The concept flows from who He is. Obviously then, this makes Him earth’s “Judge, Lawgiver, and King” (Isaiah 33:22), and all government on earth was to flow from Him. The fact that God is government and rules from who He is, is why “righteousness and justice are the foundations of His throne” (Psalm 89:14). God is also truth and love (John 14:6; 1 John 4:16). His laws, precepts, guidelines, etc., are based on love and truth, righteousness and justice, and flow from His nature. Again, God governs from who He is! God Releases His Government Through Family The Bible is the story of God and his family. He wanted a family, so He began by creating their home, then He created them. God then delegated His governmental rule of this small portion of His Kingdom, earth, to His family (Genesis 1:26-28). This dominion or authority was to be exercised over all the earth and in all elements of society: personal, home and family, cities, and nations. It was intended to release and function according to His nature. God’s intent was that ALL earthly government be a conduit of Him; He would release His will, ways, truth, righteousness, and love on earth through government - at every level - delegated to humans. That God would delegate this governing authority to Adam shouldn’t be surprising; He had created His family! Every aspect of Adam’s nature was to reflect God’s image and likeness: procreating more eternal beings bearing God’s image; dreaming, imagining, and through this mining earth’s treasure and potential; loving; leading and managing this portion of God’s creation. We know this plan was temporarily interrupted at the Fall. Satan stole God’s family, and along with it came the dominion/government of their home. The story of Scripture then became how God would redeem and restore these two things: His family and their dominion. The war on earth is over family and government: Who will own the people? Who will rule the earth? God’s Solution Jesus, of course, was God’s solution. He made it possible for all people to become part of God’s family again, and He recovered Adam’s lost authority. Matthew 28:18 tells us all authority on earth is now His, and Colossians 1:13 says He delivered us from the authority of darkness and aligned us once again with Christ and His Kingdom. Matthew 16.18-19 and other passages tell us Christ delegates His authority to us once again. As Christ’s family, and having been delegated His authority, we are also called and privileged to extend His redemption and freedom to others. We do so not by demanding or dictating, but by proclaiming His gospel, declaring His truth, and binding satanic/demonic schemes, plans, and actions. This opens people’s eyes to the gospel and God’s truth, causing them to believe in Christ. This allows even their land, possessions, livelihoods, cities, and nations to also be freed from satan’s government/authority/rule (see Deuteronomy 28). The Scriptures Are All About Government With government being one of the two primary issues on earth, it seems logical that it would be one of Scripture’s dominant themes. It is mentioned extensively throughout the Bible. Earthly “kingdoms” are spoken of 36 times, earthly “kings” are spoken of 108 times, and the words “rule” or “ruler” are mentioned 155 times. God is mentioned by the governmental term “Lord” 1000s of times, and His “kingdom” is referenced more than 80 times. We could give numbers for other governmental terms, such as dominion, authority, govern, leader, etc., which are used dozens of times. Suffice it to say, the issue of government is paramount in Scripture. AND YET…through the deception of conflating politics and government, many in the church think government should be ignored. “Get people saved,” they say, “but issues of government don’t belong in the church. Well, we should pray for it [which most don’t], but don’t talk about it, make a stand regarding it, or try to influence it.” Persuading a church to take time in a service for more than a perfunctory prayer or mention of government, elections, laws, etc., is like trying to raise the dead. Getting pastors to make a public stand on BIBLICAL issues being ruled on by the government, such as the termination of life, marriage, gender issues, and more, is even harder. The church doesn’t acknowledge the overwhelming amount of Scripture involving government, preferring to ignore it. And it conveniently hides behind manmade laws designed to silence us. Rather than honoring God, many leaders are ruled by the fear of man. Combine that with the fact that many pastors actually disagree with portions of God’s Word, and the result is that most believers are ignorant of God’s Word. The church need not be mean-spirited or condemning to preach and teach truth from Scripture. It can and should be done with grace, mercy, and love. But truth must be taught; it is God’s Word. America In Crisis As a result of the church not doing so, America hangs in the balance of life or death. In a March 2023 Fox News interview, Newt Gingrich issued a wake-up call. Referencing meetings between Putin and Xi - while the Biden administration, which he compared to a “situation comedy,” ignored them and downplayed any significance - Gingrich said that, in his opinion, “This is the most dangerous time in our history since Washington crossed the Delaware Christmas night in 1776…This is not a game. The threat to our civilization is so great that we really need a dramatic change.”(1) In the same interview, Mr. Gingrich also said, “Xi gave four different speeches to his people [the previous] week on preparing for war. People should take him seriously and understand how determined, how aggressive, and how competent Xi is.” He compared Xi and Putin to “The Axis powers of Italy, Germany, and Japan in the 1930s that wanted to take on Democracies. Unlike in the 30s, we have a President who is dedicated to weakness, dedicated to confusion…America is in an enormous crisis, with a news media that doesn’t want to cover the truth. This is the moment when America truly is what Mao called America ‘a paper tiger.’ It’s a very sobering and very frightening moment in American history.”(2) The church might want to rediscover government and find its voice. I’ve said before that regardless of the overall church’s abdication, God will save America through a remnant. I still believe this. But I also believe our salvation and turnaround could have occurred much more quickly - and without the coming shaking - had a larger percentage of the church been speaking out, praying, and taking action. The pain we are experiencing and which will increase could have been avoided. To those of you who are praying - thank you, and please persevere. Your prayers WILL save America. Pray with me: Father, in Christ’s name, on behalf of the church of America, we ask You to forgive us for not representing You and Your ways as we should. We have been deceived, complacent, willfully ignorant, and fearful of speaking out against the promotion of sin and evil. Thankfully, an awakening is occurring; please breathe on this and cause it to increase. Awaken the church to the fact that we are Your voice, the speakers of Your Word and truth, on the earth. Revive this truth in us. Send Your fire to the pulpits of America again. Send repentance to preachers in America for watering down Your truth, for ignoring portions of Your Word and for operating under the fear of man. We should have fearless hearts like Joshua, Caleb, Paul, Finney, Wesley, Whitefield, and other warriors from the past. Again, we pray, send Your fire! And Father, as the dragon and bear [China and Russia] align, led by principalities and world rulers of darkness, thwart their evil plans to rule the world. We must and will reap a great harvest for You. You once told me You HAD to have America in order to reap this harvest. You said in Your Word that we could close the doors to demonic forces, not with human effort, but with the authority of our words. So, in the name of Jesus, we call America back to You. We release Your Kingdom authority and bind demonic, evil plans, releasing the power of Holy Spirit to oppose them. We release Your will for revival and awakening. We call forth Your fire. All that You have promised, we will see and experience. In Jesus’ name, amen. Our decree: We decree that lethargy and complacency in the church are being broken and replaced with revival fire! ****************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ---------------------------------------------------------------- As seen on Fox News’ Hannity Show, March 20, 2023. Ibid.
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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-16-2024 May 16, 2024 The Highest Glory of the American Revolution Today, I want to share with you several more powerful quotes from America’s history; these statements were made by U.S. presidents. Though they are not all from the Founding Fathers, having been stated by those in positions of great authority, they are words we can agree with and declare. They also serve to combat the lies of revisionists who try to diminish our Christian roots and heritage. Truth is a powerful weapon. Here are a few statements - from hundreds of possibilities - stating faith in God, respect for His Word, and honor for Christ: “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” George Washington “The propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained.” George Washington “We recognize no sovereign but God, and no king but Jesus!” John Adams “I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.” John Adams “The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart.” Thomas Jefferson “The Bible is the first and almost the only book deserving of universal attention.” John Quincy Adams “My custom is to read four or five chapters of the Bible every morning immediately after rising. It seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day. It is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue.” John Quincy Adams “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.” John Quincy Adams “We have staked the whole future of American civilization not on the power of government, far from it. We have staked the whole of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the commandments of God. The future and success of America are not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded.” James Madison “Finally, it is my most fervent prayer to that Almighty Being before whom I now stand, and who has kept us in His hands from the infancy of our Republic unto the present day, that He will so overrule all of my intentions and actions and inspire the hearts of my fellow-citizens that we may be preserved from dangers of all kinds and continue forever a united and happy people.” Andrew Jackson “We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand, which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” Abraham Lincoln “I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man.” Abraham Lincoln “All must admit that the reception of the teachings of Christ results in the purest patriotism, in the most scrupulous fidelity to public trust, and in the best type of citizenship.” Grover Cleveland “Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe. And to the same Divine Author of every good and perfect gift, we are indebted for all those privileges and advantages, religious as well as civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this favored land.” James Monroe “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” Theodore Roosevelt “The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.” Calvin Coolidge “The study of the Bible is a post-graduate course in the richest library of human experience.” Herbert Hoover “The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.” John F. Kennedy “Of the many influences that have shaped the United States into a distinctive nation and people, none may be said to be more fundamental and enduring than the Bible.” Ronald Reagan “If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” Ronald Reagan As we offer up priestly prayers and release kingly decrees, using these and other portions of America’s history, we do so with a conscious faith that God is hearing our appeals, and the sword we release is powerful. As many thousands of us obey Him, agreeing together in Christ’s name, we are releasing His Kingdom will into the earth. And His Kingdom wins - always. Our Prayer and Decree: Father, You have taught us the power of “the synergy of the ages.” We know that You finish through future generations that which You began in the past. It is our privilege to honor those in history and build on the foundations You established through them. We are reminded that the words “patriot” and “patriotism” come from the Greek word for father/s (pater)(1). We desire to be true patriots, honoring and embracing the vision, work, and efforts of our founding fathers and mothers. Therefore, we make the following decrees today, commanding the “Foreword” they wrote: We decree that it is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible. We decree that we recognize no sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus. We decree that the future of American civilization is not in the power of government, and that God established the capacity in people for self-government, according to His commandments. We decree that the future and success of America are not found in our laws or Constitution, but in the laws of God, upon which the Constitution was founded. We decree that God keeps the Republic of America in His hands, to overrule human intentions and actions and to preserve us from destruction. We decree that we will not forget God and His gracious hand, which has preserved us in peace, multiplied us, and enriched us bountifully. We decree that the reception of the teachings of Christ results in the purest patriotism, the most scrupulous fidelity to public trust, and the best type of citizenship. We decree that knowledge of the Bible is worth more than all other education and training. We decree that we will never forget we are one nation UNDER GOD. And we decree that life is in the power of these words and that we will eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21). America shall be saved! ******************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------------------------- A note from Dutch: Three of the best books for quotes from America’s early leaders and Founders, as well as information regarding America’s beginning, are: Faith of Our Founding Fathers by Leo Godzich America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations by William J. Federer The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel (out of print, but copies can be found in libraries and some bookstores) --------------------------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3962.
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-14-2024 May 14, 2024 Unfulfilled Promises Periodically, I like to mention quotes from America’s Founders and Framers. Declaring statements made in the past by God—and those made by others at His inspiration—does more than just honor Him and our predecessors. It releases God’s power from yesterday’s words and promises into today. This is why Holy Spirit told us in Gina Gholston’s Work While You Celebrate dream to “command” what He spoke over America at her beginning. When God searched history to accent great lives of faith, surprisingly, He chose to list some that did NOT receive the fulfillment of their God-given promises (Hebrews 11). These people went to the grave with unrealized promises from God, yet they had truly believed, even making it into the great Hall of Faith. Clearly, they weren’t deficient in their walk of faith; why then did they die without seeing the promises fulfilled? The last two verses of Hebrews 11 give us the simple yet profoundly important answer: “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made complete” (Hebrews 11:39-40 NASV). Some promises made by God to people are multi-generational and not intended to be fully accomplished in their lifetimes. Those to whom the promise was made are sometimes only the “womb” in which the “seed” is planted. The following generation/s furthers the growth, brings it to birth, and stewards that which is born. Jesus said, “For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have come into their labor” (John 4:37-38, NASV). The Greek word translated as “complete” (teleioo)(1) in the above verse, Hebrews 11:40, also means “to finish; to mature; to reach the intended goal.” Think about the ramifications of this: there are many promises God has made to individuals now in heaven that He cannot “finish” or fulfill without us. What He started through them cannot “mature” or “reach its intended goal” until we grab the baton and run our leg of the race. That is profound in its significance. Why wouldn’t the Lord want us to know and declare America’s destiny - that which was written and declared at the beginning?! He can’t finish it without us. Here are just a few statements and facts from America’s past: GOVERNMENT In 1643, John Winthrop, who stated that “we shall be as a city on a hill…” organized the New England Confederation, consisting of New Plymouth, New Haven, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Their Constitution, the first document in America where colonies united themselves, read, “Whereas we all came to these parts of America with the same end and aim, namely, to advance the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel thereof with purities and peace, and for preserving and propagating the truth and liberties of the Gospel.”(2) William Penn, author of the book No Cross, No Crown, which he wrote while imprisoned in the Tower of London, was the founder of Pennsylvania. His first legislative act, “The Great Law of Penn,” stated, “Whereas the glory of Almighty God and the good of mankind is the reason and the end of government, and government itself is a venerable ordinance of God...let there be established laws as shall best preserve true Christian and Civil liberty, in opposition to all unchristian, licentious, and unjust practices, whereby God can have His due…”(3) Penn asked God to make Pennsylvania “the seed of a nation,”(4) and God answered his prayer. Our Declaration of Independence was decreed there in 1776. Four times, it references God - as our Lawmaker, Creator, Judge, and Protector. The Liberty Bell that rang there that day had inscribed on it: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10). Our Constitution was written in Pennsylvania in 1787, born through prayer, which was requested by Ben Franklin. In it, our government’s three branches were formed according to Isaiah 33:22. “The Lord is our Judge…Lawgiver…King; He will save us.” The righteous seeds Penn and others planted produced a righteous nation and government. We must command these truths embedded in America’s fabric to come alive once more. EDUCATION “One hundred six of America’s first 108 colleges and universities were founded on the Christian faith. Students at Harvard and Yale were required to read the Scriptures twice daily. Harvard’s founders stated: ‘All knowledge without Christ is vain.’ Its motto was ‘For Christ and The Church.’ Yale’s founders stated that ‘Every student shall consider the main end of his study is to know God in Jesus Christ…’ Princeton’s motto was ‘Under God’s Power She Flourishes.’ The first president of Princeton, Jonathan Dickenson, said, ‘Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the Cross of Christ.’ The great pastor and revivalist, Jonathan Edwards, was the 3rd president of Princeton.”(5) Noah Webster, who published the first American Dictionary of the English language in 1828 said, “Education is useless without the Bible.”(6) “The Moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws…All the miseries and evils which men suffer…proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.”(7) Webster also said, “The principles of genuine liberty, and of wise laws and administrations, are to be drawn from the Bible and sustained by its authority. The man, therefore, who weakens or destroys the divine authority of that book may be accessory to all the public disorders which society is doomed to suffer.” Profound..!(8) What God began in America is not “finished”; it hasn’t “reached its intended goal.” He needs our agreement and commands in order to complete it. Use these and other facts regarding her founding, find more through research and study, and declare them. When you do, it will generate power. Pray with me: Father, You are the great Olam El, the Everlasting God, who declares the end from the beginning. When our forefathers were stating their faith in You, declaring Your plans and heart for America, and covenanting to partner with You in fulfilling them, You looked ahead and saw us. You knew You would have a people in 2024 who would arise in faith and agree with what was declared back then. We are that people. As we do so, our faith today is not in our ability to declare and command perfectly. It is not in our wisdom, understanding, or abilities. Our faith is in YOU, YOUR mercy offered through Christ, and YOUR ability to work all things after the counsel of Your will. With this faith, we command Your purposes into our government, established under You and Your Word. We declare that You are our Lawgiver, Judge, and King. We declare that the seeds of righteousness planted in our land are not dead, they will bring forth righteous fruit. And we declare that the weeds and thorns will be uprooted and destroyed. We declare over our education system that evil and perversion will be uprooted. We declare that Christ and His Word will once again be honored. We declare that all knowledge not rooted in Him is vain, and cursed be all learning that contradicts the Cross of Christ. We declare that to know Him is the highest goal of all learning. We command a return to truth and a rejection of deception. We pray and command all these things in Yeshua’s holy name. Our decree: We decree that we embrace our God-given roots and destiny, thereby allowing God to finish through us what He started in America. ****************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 5046. Leo Godzich, Faith of Our Founding Fathers, (Phoenix, AR: The National Association of Marriage Enhancement Publishers, 1982), p. 40. William J. Federer, America’s God and Country [Encyclopedia Of Quotations], (Coppell TX: FAME Publishing, Inc., 1994), p. 503. Leo Godzich, Faith of Our Founding Fathers, (Phoenix, AR: The National Association of Marriage Enhancement Publishers, 1982), p. 78. Ibid, pp 105-111. William J. Federer, America’s God and Country [Encyclopedia Of Quotations], (Coppell TX: FAME Publishing, Inc., 1994), p. 676. Ibid, p. 678. Ibid, p. 679.
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-15-2024 May 15, 2024 “A People In Covenant With God” Listen carefully! According to Psalm 110:1-3, Christ has given the Ekklesia His scepter of authority. Isaiah 22:22 references this authority as a key; Matthew 16:19 does, as well. One of the ways we release this authority is through verbal commands. As we do so, Psalm 110 says we are making Christ’s enemies His footstool. The passage also states that we do this as part of Christ’s “Melchizedek (King-Priest) Order,” of which we are all members. As kings, we decree; as priests, we petition and appeal. When we decree God’s plans for America, we are releasing His purposes and cutting off satan’s plans; we are wielding the sword of the Spirit. We are also participating in the synergy of the ages, tapping into “history past” and writing “history future.” Here are some great quotes from America’s history you may not have seen: Peter Bulkeley “Peter Bulkeley was the Puritan leader who established the city of Concord, Massachusetts, in 1636. In his only publication, The Gospel Covenant, also known as the Covenant of Grace Opened, Peter Bulkeley stated: “‘We are as a city set upon a hill, in the open view of all the earth... We profess ourselves to be a people in covenant with God, and therefore... the Lord our God…..will cry shame upon us if we walk contrary to the covenant which we have promised to walk in…’”(1) Using Deuteronomy 28:10 and Isaiah 61:9 as his sources, he continued: “‘Let us study so to walk that this may be our excellency and dignity among the nations of the world among which we live; that they may be constrained to say of us, only this people is wise, and a holy and blessed people; that all that see us may see and know that the name of the Lord is called upon by us; and that we are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.’”(2) Laws Our original laws and constitutions were based on the Scriptures. Here are a few examples: “The Massachusetts General Court, in 1636, resolved to establish a code of laws that would be: ‘agreeable to the Word of God.’(3) “The Connecticut General Court, in 1639, established under the Constitution of Connecticut, issued the order: ‘That God’s Word should be the only rule for ordering the affairs of government in this commonwealth.’(4) “The Fundamental Orders (Constitution) of Connecticut (January 14, 1639) was the first constitution written in America, establishing a pattern which all others followed, including the United States Constitution.(5) It was penned by Roger Ludlow, in 1638, after hearing a sermon by Thomas Hooker, the Puritan minister who founded Hartford, Connecticut. So important was this work that Connecticut became known as "The Constitution State."(6) The committee responsible to frame the orders was charged to make the laws: ‘As near the law of God as they can be.’”(7) Cotton Mather “Cotton Mather was an American colonial clergyman and educator. He graduated from Harvard in 1678 and joined his father, Increase Mather, in the pastorate of the Second Church in Boston in 1680. “The House of Representatives attempted to appoint him President of Harvard in 1703. He helped found Yale University and in 1721, became President of the Connecticut College. He authored 450 books and was the first person born in America to be elected to the Royal Society of London. “Cotton Mather was regarded as the most brilliant man of New England in his time. Among his many accomplishments was the introduction of the smallpox inoculation during an epidemic in 1721. “In 1702, he published Magnalia Christi Americana (The Great Achievement of Christ in America), which is the most detailed history written of the first 50 years of New England. In it, he stated: “‘The sum of the matter is that from the beginning of the Reformation in the English nation, there had always been a generation of godly men, desirous to pursue the reformation of religion, according to the Word of God...[The Puritans were] driven to seek a place for the exercise of the Protestant religion, according to the light of conscience, in the deserts of America.’”(8) Jonathon Trumbull “Just one year and a couple of months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, on April 19, 1775, in a Proclamation of a Day of Fasting and Prayer for the Connecticut Colony, Governor Jonathan Trumbull beseeched that: “‘God would graciously pour out His Holy Spirit on us to bring us to a thorough repentance and effectual reformation, that our iniquities may not be our ruin; that He would restore, preserve and secure the liberties of this and all the other British American colonies, and make the land a mountain of Holiness, and habitation of righteousness forever.’”(9) Declaration of Independence And last but not least, the Declaration of Independence. The very last line leaves no doubt as to where the Founding Fathers placed their faith and gained their resolve: "And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."(10) Pray with me: Father, as we declare from our past regarding America, we do so to see her restored and reset to Your divine purposes. As a great symphony of declarations and appeals rises to You, merge them with the early voices that declared Your plans and purposes. Use the decrees to shake down evil and reestablish righteousness in our land. From these quotes: We declare America “to be a people in covenant with God.” We declare that America is “a city on a hill” and that the light of truth will once again shine from our shores…in order that “all who see us may see and know that the name of the Lord is called upon by us; and that we are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.” We declare that America will have laws “agreeable to the Word of God…that His Word will be the only rule for ordering the affairs of our government.” We declare that “God will graciously pour out His Holy Spirit on America again to bring us to a thorough repentance and effectual reformation, in order that our iniquities may not be our ruin; that He will restore, preserve and secure the liberties of this nation, and make the land a mountain of Holiness, and habitation of righteousness forever.” We declare that “our support of the Declaration of Independence is with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.” Now, Lord, we ask You to strengthen, bless, and lead intercessors throughout America. Remind them of their authority in Christ, the power of their words, and how incredibly noble their cause is. Remind them of the millions of souls coming into Your Kingdom because of their prayers. Encourage each intercessor regarding their worth and importance to You. We pray these things in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Christ’s enemies are becoming His footstool. ************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Montesquieu, Baron Charles Louis Joseph de Secondat. 1748. Baron Charles Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws, 1748, Anne Cohler, trans. (reprinted Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989), p. 157. Ibid. Massachusetts, General Court of. 1636. Massachusetts Colonial Records, 1:174. Benjamin Fletcher Wright, Jr., American Interpretations of Natural Law New York: Russell & Russell, 1962), p. 33. John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution - The Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, A Mott Media Book, 1987, 6th printing 1993), p. 32. Connecticut, Fundamental Orders (Constitution) of. January 14, 1639. Old South Leaflets, No. 8. John Fiske, The Beginning of New England (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1889, 1898), p. 127-128. Ibid. Connecticut, Fundamentals Orders (Constitution) of. January 14, 1639. Old South Leaflets, No. 8. The World Book Encyclopedia, 18 vols. (Chicago, IL: Field Enterprises, Inc., 1957; W.F. Quarrie and Company, 8 vols., 1917; World Book, Inc., 22 vols., 1989), Vol. 3, p. 1675. Connecticut, Fundamental Orders (Constitution) of. January 14, 1639. John Wingate Thornton, The Pulpit of the American Revolution, 1860 (reprinted NY: Burt Franklin, 1970), p. XIX. Mather, Cotton. 1702. Cotton Mather, Magnalia Christi Americana, (The Great Achievement of Christ in America), 2 vols. (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1702, 1979), 1:26. Gary DeMar, America's Christian History: The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision Publishers, Inc., 1993), p. 47. Trumbull, Jonathan. April 19, 1775, as Governor of the Connecticut Colony proclaiming a day of fasting and prayer. Verna M. Hall, The Christian History of the American Revolution (San Francisco: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1976), p. 407. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloomington, MIN: Garborg's Heart°N Home, Inc., 1991), 3.22. Marshall Foster and Mary-Elaine Swanson, The American Covenant - The Untold Story (Roseburg, OR: Foundation for Christian Self-Government, 1981; Thousand Oaks, CA: The Mayflower Institute, 1983, 1992), p. 120. https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-10-2024 May 10, 2024 “You Have Your Choice” “In the same region, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”’ (Luke 2:8-14 NASB) What a night. What a glorious visitation. What an amazing promise. What a choir. What a cute baby. What a long wait. I can’t help but wonder how these shepherds felt while waiting 3 decades - 30 years! - before seeing any fulfillment of what they heard that night. No healings, no miracles, no demons cast out, no sermons on the Mount, no walks across water…nada, nothing. If they had further visitations along the way for encouragement, we’re not told of them. It was bright lights, an angelic choir (“at least we thought we heard angels”), a baby in a feeding trough, and then back to the normal, mundane life of tending sheep on a cold, lonely hillside…wondering about that night. It almost seems cruel that God tells folks of what He’s going to do, and conveniently “forgets” to tell them it won’t take place for several years - 15 (for Joseph), 20 (David), 25 (Abraham), 45 (Caleb). He doesn’t actually forget, of course. He is using the wait as His refining furnace. It was said of Joseph that he was put in chains and shackles, and “Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord refined him” (Psalm 105:19 NASB). The Hebrew word for “refine” is tsâraph,(1) a word meaning to fuse metal, to smelt in order to refine or purge metal (goldsmith), to test. God uses our wait for the promise to prepare us for the promise. I certainly don’t believe God made Joseph’s chains and shackles - He didn’t put in the hearts of his brothers to sin by selling Joseph into slavery or motivate Potiphar’s wife to lust after him. But He wasn’t about to waste Joseph’s pain; as He always is willing to do, God made it serve him. Nevertheless, God DID tell Joseph of His great plans for him years in advance of them occurring. One of the “metals” that waiting refines in us is the gold of perseverance. It brings the dross of impatience, personal ambition, presumption, pride, fear, lack of trust, and probably a few more impurities to the surface for removal. God’s plan is 24 karats. It has been a little over 30 years since Holy Spirit gave me my first open vision; it was regarding the coming great awakening. While teaching a class on prayer, I suddenly began seeing not what was before me physically, but a spiritual vision. I saw thousands of young people in a stadium passionately worshiping and praying. As they left the stadium, I saw another scene: they arrived back in their hometowns as balls of fire, and the fire of revival sprang up. As I prayed into this, the Holy Spirit said He was showing me what was coming, that He would send another great awakening, and it would begin with the young generation. A month later, Ceci and I attended our first National Day of Prayer in Washington, D.C. Upon arrival, I was told of a unique event taking place all that week called a Biblethon. A canopy tent and a small PA system were set up on the Capitol lawn. Individuals signed up for 15-minute slots, and the entire Bible - Genesis through Revelation - was broadcast/read over the Capitol and nation 24/7 for the entire week. Those participating didn’t choose the passages they read; each one had to start where the last person stopped. When the entire Bible was finished, they started again in Genesis. When I arrived in DC, a friend told me of this Biblethon and said, “I knew you would want to do this and the slots were almost gone, so I signed you up.” “Yes! That’s awesome,” I replied. “All they had left was through the night, so I signed you up at 2:00 AM tomorrow night,” he said with a smile. Instantly, I heard Holy Spirit say, “I’m going to confirm what I said to you after the vision - that another great awakening will occur, and that it will begin with the young people - through the passage of Scripture you read in the Biblethon.” I told no one. And my response to Holy Spirit was, “Sir, I could hear/see the concept of ‘revival’ in ANY 15-minute reading of Scripture, ANY: holiness, righteousness, love, You judging evil, a healing, a person You used, etc. - I could find it everywhere. I trust You, but I don’t trust myself with this. I’m not trying to manipulate You or force You to conform to my thinking, but the ONLY way I would know for sure that a passage was confirming this word - because of what You’ve been speaking to me in my “quiet times” - would be if I got to read either the book of Haggai or Habakkuk.” Now, Haggai is 2 chapters long, Habakkuk is 3. There are 1189 chapters in the Bible. I knew the odds were extremely minimal that the readers would have arrived at one of these books just when it was my turn to read. But that’s what I told the Lord. When I arrived at the Biblethon tent the next night, a few minutes early as instructed, they were nowhere near Haggai or Habakkuk. Someone was reading from the gospels. I didn’t want the Lord to feel badly about not having them at the place I requested, so I assured Him it was okay, and that I still believed the word. A couple of minutes before my slotted time, the lady in charge walked up to me, telling me I was next. Then her expression changed; she looked at me strangely and departed from protocol, saying, “Mr. Sheets, you have your choice; you can read either the book of Haggai or Habakkuk.” I was stunned! God was saying, “Not only can I arrange it so you can read one of those 2 books, I can do better than that. You said ‘Haggai or Habakkuk.’ Okay, take your choice, son: Haggai or Habakkuk.” That, my friend, is how much He wanted me—and wants you—to know He is going to send this great awakening beginning with the young ones. It has begun; it will intensify. Yes, it’s been a long wait. And just as with Joseph, David, and many others, He has used the wait to refine. But it will be worth the wait - like the shepherds, I’ll see the fulfillment of the word. Let’s pray, then I think I’ll go read Habakkuk. Pray with me: Father, in Habakkuk, You said to “Write down the vision…So that one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hurries toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it delays, wait for it” (Habakkuk 2:2-3). Like the shepherds who waited 30 years for Jesus to explode on the scene, we have waited 30 years for this great awakening. We believe it has begun. Now we ask for the fire to explode all over this nation. Cause Your fire to consume the strongholds and plans of the enemy. As wax melts before the fire, consume Your enemies (Psalm 68:2). Come as You spoke of in Malachi, “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches” (Malachi 4:1 NASB). And Lord, help us to be ready for the fire of revival. We pray that no traditions of men, preconceived ideas, or wrong expectations will hold us back. Blow the lid off. Rock the boat. Stretch our wineskins and challenge our paradigms. Give us new wine, fresh wind, and an abundance of rain. We ask for the greatest, biggest, most far-reaching revival in history. Outdo Yourself, Holy Spirit. In Yeshua’s name! Amen. Our decree: We declare that the wait has refined us, and we are ready for the revival! ***************************** 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. 6884.
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4 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-9-2024 May 9, 2024 Revival On Our Campuses! In yesterday’s post, I re-shared a prophecy Holy Spirit gave my brother, Tim, at the end of 2023. Among other subjects, it highlighted the coming youth revival. Here is a brief excerpt: “With the drawing power, the conviction of My presence and Kingdom that will invade campuses, I will reach into the hearts of those who are bound, lost, and drifting with aimless mindsets. I will draw them to their purpose. “For I say to you deep will call to deep within them. I will call to the deepest parts of their inner nature. I will call to the dreams and purpose I have put into them, which have been buried by lies and deception. Now, says the Lord, the anointing that breaks those yokes is being released. Revival will roll throughout college campuses.” While it is true that this outpouring had already begun to a degree when the word was given to Tim, it is now escalating. I have also shared with you the vision I received in 2001 about the coming youth revival. In this vision, campuses were also highlighted. ASBURY UNIVERSITY In February of 2023, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit lasting 16 days occurred at Asbury University. An estimated 50,000 visitors from around the world flocked to Wilmore, Kentucky. Students from at least 285 colleges or universities attended the revival, and there have been an estimated 250 million social media posts related to the outpouring. Similar moves of God occurred at Samford University, Lee University, Baylor University, Texas A&M, Auburn University, and more.(1) UNITE US On September 12, 2023, a powerful event took place at Auburn University. Tonya Prewett, the founder of Unite US, received a vision from the Lord where she saw thousands of students gathered in an arena worshiping. After sharing the vision with local ministry leaders, they got on board, and the event took place 6 weeks later. Approximately 5000 students showed up, with many coming to Christ and 200 baptized. Since then, Unite US events have also occurred at Florida State University, the University of Alabama, University of Georgia, and the University of Tennessee.(2) Prewett says it’s “all a move of God. We’ve seen thousands of students give their hearts to Christ…over 800 baptized…we’re just walking in obedience and God’s gone before us and He’s moving in incredible ways.”(3) "We have been waiting for a move like this all school year," one student recently told FOX & Friends. "At the finale of the event, we were singing 'Speak the Name of Jesus' and students just rushed to the front. I brought my buddy, and it brought us to our knees. There are just no words for the experience.’ “Another student shared her favorite part of last night’s experience: “‘Just seeing the presence of the Lord fill the room and how people from all different backgrounds came together for one reason and to worship Jesus is just so awesome,’ she shared. “‘There has been so much brokenness and weight on our campus, and we have been praying for a move [of God], and I just pray that it continues,’ another female student added. "’I think we need love in our country, and I believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life,’ a University of Tennessee student declared.”(4) This is all consistent with the vision God gave me in 2001, but it will intensify. In the vision, the power and fire of Holy Spirit were so strong on the campuses of America that He essentially took them over for a season. It was VERY disruptive - a holy rescue that could not be stopped. Some school administrations tried to shut it down, but couldn’t stop what was occurring. There were thousands of salvations, deliverances, healings, and baptisms. Worship was strong; kids were encountering God in profound, life-changing ways, and falling deeply in love with Him. It birthed America’s Third Great Awakening. What I saw was not “religious,” it was not yet in churches, and it was student-led. The students eventually made it to churches, but not typical churches. The wineskins of congregations and organizations had to change in order to receive them; “order” had to be redefined. My advice to those who can hear it: get ready to be stretched! Prewett told CBN News, "I am no prophet, but what I feel like God has shown me is this will be called the greater awakening, and this will be something our nation has never witnessed. It'll be stronger and greater, and is being led by college students; typically in history, that's how it happens, but this one is different."(5) Pray with me: Father, You are coming to rescue a generation. Your plans are settled, Your strategies and tactics are in place, and the movement has begun. As this continues and intensifies, move upon the Ekklesia to support it with prayers and decrees, and to prepare for the discipling of many new believers. We pray for Unite US - give them thousands and thousands of salvations in their gatherings. We ask for many pure leaders and ministries to be raised up as voices into this revival - strong, anointed, gifted evangelists and teachers. Many in this GenZ generation will not want to plug into typical churches. They will prefer different methods, formats, and atmospheres. Give leaders the wisdom to create atmospheres that make them feel comfortable and able to relate, and release teaching gifts perfectly equipped to disciple this generation, all while in no way compromising truth. And cause this movement to be marked with incredible worship of You and great intimacy with You. The prophetic word You gave Tim spoke of dreams being given to many of the young people here and around the world. We ask for the release of this. You also spoke of signs, wonders, and miracles coming to the campuses - we also ask for this. We pray for deliverance from identity crises, gender confusion, addictions, and every other stronghold that satan has afflicted upon this young generation. We pray especially for those among them who are disillusioned, hurt, and angry. We pray that they will find Jesus before other movements find them. Regarding those already part of other movements, we ask You to ****** them from the fire. We ask for Your protection over them until this occurs. All of these things we pray in the name of Yeshua. Amen. Our decree: We decree a release of power and anointing to the campuses and youth here in America and around the world. *************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------------------- https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2024/march/asbury-revival-taught-me-about-gen-z-casual-christianity.html https://www.christianpost.com/news/a-move-of-god-students-attending-revival-events-100s-baptized.html https://www2.cbn.com/news/us/hundreds-gen-zers-make-decisions-jesus-university-tennessee-god-moving Ibid. Ibid.
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-8-2024 May 8, 2024 It is good to rehearse what the Lord has told us in the past, not just to remember, but to agree with it through prayers and declarations. Over the years, Mary treasured and pondered the various words spoken over Jesus (Luke 2:51). The psalmist David told his soul to “forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). Then he proceeded to rehearse them. At the beginning of this year, I shared a prophetic word the Lord gave my brother, Tim, on December 3, 2023. I feel we need to be reminded of it. The word is encouraging and very timely, as it speaks of revival coming to our campuses, which has begun. I will share some regarding this tomorrow. Here is the prophecy: THE RESET SEASON by Tim Sheets “Holy Spirit says to the church of the King, look into the spirit realm, and you will now see the bringing forth of the reset you have asked for. For as the world declares and celebrates the birth of the King, I tell you this day, the birth of His Kingdom will rise in waves of glory. History was changed in Bethlehem during the time of the King’s birth. Those were desperate times, but heaven moved. Lucifer, though he tried, could not stop it. Governments also tried, but they could not stop it. The coming of the Deliverer could not be stopped. “The reset you have called for is being birthed in this season. You will hear the shout of the King rising from the land. It is the cry of the mighty Deliverer as He births the greatest move of His Kingdom. For as He came in infancy to birth a Kingdom, He now comes as the resurrected King of glory to activate another release of His Kingdom throughout the earth. “At the time of His birth, years of silence were broken by a prophetic unction that came forth, and joy came into the world, announced by angels. The Lord says, in this day also, the angels are announcing a new joy into the earth. Glory will begin to roll as billowing clouds, one after the other, to bring the reset you have called for. DREAMS “And even as dreams came and instructed in the ancient times of the King’s birth, the atmosphere of the Kingdom will again spawn dreams throughout the land. Strategy dreams will now be downloaded as the reset begins to roll. Strategies from dreams will be activated and begin to reset, to change things supernaturally, and break the oppression of governments. “Holy Spirit says, just as the shepherds, Joseph, and those in the narrative of the King’s birth were anointed to dream, I will do so again. I will begin to release millions of dreams to prodigals. They will dream of destiny and purpose, dreaming the King’s dream. Your prodigals are going to dream dreams, and in those dreams, they will rise up and say, ‘This is what I must do, and this is where I must go.’ Dreams that unlock destinies and change lives. Dreams that end addictions and cancel demonic assignments on their lives, for I will activate within them dreams of their God. And as prodigals rise to take their place, you will see the birthing of that wave of the reset begin to roll through the land. REVIVAL ON CAMPUSES “Evangelists are arising on college campuses. They will preach and declare the Word of Almighty God. The passionate ones will be powerfully anointed. I will confirm My Word with signs, wonders, and miracles. For I have a harvest that I will reach. I will put the ‘breaker anointing’ upon young men and women, and they will walk the campuses declaring, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ With the drawing power, the conviction of My presence and Kingdom, that will invade campuses, I will reach into the hearts of those who are bound, lost, and drifting with aimless mindsets. I will draw them to their purpose. “For I say to you deep will call to deep within them. I will call to the deepest parts of their inner nature. I will call to the dreams and purpose I have put into them, which have been buried by lies and deception. Now, says the Lord, the anointing that breaks those yokes is being released. Revival will roll throughout college campuses. Great prophets will arise. You will begin to hear prophetic words coming from college campuses. You will understand that this is a day like no other. I said My young men would see visions, and I meant it. I said My handmaids will receive the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit to declare what I say, and I meant it. I said your old men would dream dreams and that I would fill all flesh with My Spirit. I meant it. PROPHESIES FULFILLED “I am moving, says the Lord, in ways I have declared to you by prophetic utterance. My Word will not return to Me empty; the assignments in those words will activate. Even at this moment and throughout this season, beginning now and into 2024, says the Lord, those prophetic words and assignments will activate, creating their fullness. “I will supernaturally shift things in the earthly realm. Shifts I create in governments will cause the world to wonder and say, ‘I never saw this coming.’ You will see a great revival in Muslim communities. They too, will begin to dream from My Spirit. Sauls will become Pauls. You are moving into a new time, says the Lord, that I have ordained. “I call to My Ekklesia to rise in faith and begin to walk with Me at a new level, declaring what I say and moving into the new. For the shaking I promised has come. The fierce war season I promised has come. And now, the birthing of the reset will roll throughout your nation and the nations, for I am working to change and reset. “You will begin to see visible signs and workings of this as I release a strategy within the Ekklesia. For the church will shift from declarations of ‘this will be,’ to declarations of ‘this is that.’ You will declare, ‘This is that which was spoken by Holy Spirit. This is that which was spoken by the King. This is that which was spoken by the Father.’ You WILL move into the ‘this is that’ moment, says the Lord. I am the God of eternity, and I am the God of now. My Word will not return void.” The Lord will be seen as the God of NOW! This is the time when the King rises in His rule, in His Kingdom’s jurisdiction, in all the world. His Kingdom has no end, and it will not be limited. The reset has begun. PRAY WITH ME: Lord, we align our faith with what You have said, with the shift You have announced. We ask You to move as You desire and in the ways You have ordained. Move at levels that amaze us. We will walk and work with You in faith and confidence, and You will do exactly as You have said. We declare: “No limitations to this move of the King! Neither nations, governments, rulers, false religions, nor demonic principalities will stop it. The ideologies propagated on college campuses will not stop this move. Miracles, healings, and deliverances will occur throughout the land; the hand of God will be seen. Prodigals will receive dreams, hear Holy Spirit, return to God, and be transformed. They will be passionate lovers of God and His Word, filled with Holy Spirit, powerful evangelists, and prophetic voices. Deception, confusion, addictions, perversions, and disillusion will be broken off of them through powerful God-encounters. The glory of the Lord will roll in wave after wave. Revival, reset, freedom, signs, wonders, and great harvest will now come!” We pray and declare these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen. OUR DECREE: We decree that the reset of Kingdom authority in our land has begun, and we have moved into a season of great harvest. ********************** Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim. You can learn more about him at TimSheets.org. Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-7-2024 May 7, 2024 Just Like Caleb! The great Old Testament warrior, Caleb, was the partner of Joshua. Of the 12 spies Moses sent on a reconnaissance mission into Canaan, they were the only two that brought back faith-filled reports. Not only were they men of great faith, they were men of great patience. We will get to that momentarily. The Scriptures tell us a remarkable five times that Caleb followed the Lord fully: Numbers 14:24; 32:12; Deuteronomy 1:36; Joshua 14:8; 14:14. The first reference, Numbers 14:24, says: “But my servant, Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.” The context of this verse is Yahweh telling Moses that the unbelieving Israelites would not be allowed to enter the promised land. Of the generation that was delivered from Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb would be allowed to do so. Not only would Caleb’s faithfulness be rewarded personally, but his descendants would also be rewarded and “take possession” of the land. This is a beautiful picture of how our faithfulness blesses the coming generation. Caleb had to wait 45 more years before beginning the campaign to take his inheritance (Joshua 14:7, 10). The war to conquer the land took several years, and some believe Caleb waited five years of that time before he actually was able to possess his mountain, Hebron making his total wait time 50 years! That is a lot of time to hang out with the “lack of faith” folks, waiting for them to die off so you can possess your inheritance. It must have been very challenging for Joshua and Caleb to do so with good attitudes. Other great leaders in Scripture had to wait for their promises to materialize. Moses waited 40 years in the desert before God resurrected his calling. Joseph waited a good while, possibly 16 years, before God delivered him and fulfilled his promise. After being anointed by Samuel, David waited 14-15 years before becoming king over Judah, and another seven before becoming king over all of Israel, a total of over 20 years. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for Isaac. God, who does not live in time as we do, is not affected by waiting. Scripture tells us that 1000 years is like a day to Him and a day like 1000 years (2 Peter 3:8). In other words, He is not in time. He lives in eternity. Don’t try figuring that out—you never will! Waiting is a little more challenging for us time-bound humans. Paul listed patience as one of the nine fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22. I think I prefer the King James word “long-suffering;” it just seems to capture the concept, if you know what I mean. My point is: waiting can be very difficult, but being able to do so is very important. I began seriously pursuing the Lord in 1973. I knew relatively soon thereafter that I would give my life to full-time ministry. I began by doing youth ministry, leading worship, and going on several foreign missions journeys. I then went to Bible school, followed by 13 more years of doing various aspects of ministry, which took me to 1991. This adds up to 18 years. By this time, I was able to teach Scripture fairly well and was starting to receive many invitations to do so. At that point in time, I was invited to a gathering of prophetic leaders for the purpose of discussing what God was saying to the church in America. Several national leaders comprised the 25 or so people in attendance. I “humbly” accepted the invitation. When the discussions began, Holy Spirit spoke to me very clearly and said, “Just listen; don’t say anything. It is not yet your time.” I knew Holy Spirit was using a play on words from references in John, where Jesus said - or it was said about him - “My time has not yet come” (John 2:4; 7:6, 8, & 30; 8:20). For me, I knew the words meant it was not yet time for the next phase of my ministry to be launched. He did not want me saying or doing anything that would cause someone there to promote me in any way. Nor did He want me in their fraternity or inner circle. I informed the Lord that if I sat there for three days and said nothing, these leaders would all think I was ignorant; it would be very humiliating. “Why would You send me to a meeting just to have this happen?” I asked him. “I didn’t send you,” He said, “you sent yourself. Now, be quiet and be humbled.” I did, and I was. A year or so later I was offered the pastorate of a large church in Florida. The Lord said, “No.” Five years later, I wrote the book Intercessory Prayer (1996) and became a leader in the emerging, worldwide prayer movement. Four more years (2000) and the Lord released me into my calling to America. From 1973 to 2000 God was faithfully preparing me for my true purpose. The waiting wasn’t always easy, but it was very necessary. Why am I saying all of this today? Because I want you to persevere in your prayers for revival in America and around the world. I want you to persevere in your laying hold of the promises God has made to you. I want you to be like Caleb and follow the Lord fully, even during the waiting. I want you to BE a Caleb, receiving your inheritance, the great mountain-top blessing God has promised you, and the reward He wants to give your descendants. You and I, as a generation, are coming into “our time.” Do not lose heart, do not give up, do not waver. We are going to persevere through this “hinge year,” during which the Lord will shake down the systems and strongholds in America that have opposed Him, then move us into our crossing over. Giants will fall, and millions will come to Christ. Your destiny is to be part of this! Do not waver in the waiting! Pray with me: Father, when our lives are finished here on earth we want You to be able to say of us, as You did Caleb, that we followed You fully. We want to be those who wait for “our time,” for You said, “Our times are in your hand” (Psalm 31:15). You always know when to plow, sow, and reap. You know when to pluck up and tear down, and when to build. We choose to stay in step with You, trusting You fully. You told us recently in a prophetic word to “stay focused.” You have told us to continue making biblical, Spirit-led decrees and that these decrees would empower angels. You said You were opening portals in this nation through which the winds of Your Spirit would blow. You said cleansing fire was coming, and also revival fire. We declare Your words, seeding the heavens with them. These things are so! Bring the cleansing. Bring the awakening. Bring revival to this young generation, saving millions. Bring worldwide revival. Bring a tidal wave of conversions into the Middle East and Asia. We declare the Earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord as the water covers the seas. You said it, that settles it, and we believe it. In Jesus' name we declare this. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we, like our brother Caleb, will follow the Lord fully. ********************* Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-6-2024 May 6, 2024 A Poignant History Lesson Our friend Larry Tomczak, noted teacher, and long-time board member of Intercessors for America, gives a needed history lesson, equipping us to think and act appropriately regarding what is happening here and around the world. He also gives us a poignant reminder of Biden’s duplicity and spin nature. Larry shares: Amazing Story: Reagan Gifted Israel’s Iron Dome that Biden Blocked “Iran, the world’s leading terrorist nation (which previously held Americans hostage for 444 days until Reagan secured their release), recently rained down 120 ballistic missiles, 170 drones, and 30 cruise missiles on Israel. It was an unprecedented direct attack following their previous Hamas proxy attack on October 7, 2023, that killed 1163 people (including Americans). [The equivalent for America would have been 50,000 killed on 9/11.] “Joe Biden applauded the stunning success of the Jewish leaders employing their ‘Iron Dome’ technology, obliterating 99% of the weapons of destruction. He attempted to bask in the glow of the monumental achievement. Yet in a moment, I’ll share the backdrop story of Biden’s opposition to this advanced system when President Ronald Reagan presented the concept to America in the 80s. Heed History “British statesman Winston Churchill is honored as the primary leader who saved Western Civilization. When Britain’s Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, returned from a 1938 meeting with Hitler, foolishly declaring, ‘There is peace for our time!’(1) Churchill knew better, refusing to project weakness and gamble with appeasement to avoid conflict. He told the English citizens, ‘Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it!’(2) “Churchill looked at the big picture, as did Kennedy in the Cuban missile crisis and Reagan in standing up to Marxism and Islamic terrorism. Today we face a similar situation where peaceniks, Jew-hating activists, and understandably cautious people don’t want to risk escalating Middle East tensions. They say we should tolerate the unfair demonizing of Israel; keep giving Iran billions (being used to develop a nuclear weapon and fund proxy terrorism attacks); avoid justified retaliation; try again for the failed two-state solution; call for a cease-fire; give Iran $6 billion in ransom for five hostages, and don’t be concerned about Iran’s growing alliance with China, Russia, and North Korea. “Iran’s leaders laugh all the way to the bank with the $100 billion (given them directly or indirectly) while we hope they’ll not continue developing a nuclear weapon that would dangerously change the entire Middle East region, bringing the world to the brink of an apocalyptic holocaust. “Iran’s fanatical leaders declare ‘Death to Israel and America - the Great Satan!’ They are the number one state sponsor of terrorism; they’re developing long-range ballistic missiles capable of hitting America; and can cut off oil passing through the Red Sea to bring about another disastrous energy crisis like 1979 (which I remember painfully well!). Facing Reality “Richard Goldberg, Senior Advisor at the Foundation of the Defense of Democracies, feels that Iran is at the one-yard line of their nuclear weapon capability and in April demonstrated their delivery capability with the multi-missile assault on Israel.(3) Former CIA Director David Petraeus states: ‘The U.S. and Israel will never let Iran have a nuclear weapon.’(4) But will this Administration do so? “America’s future, including that of our children and grandchildren, is at stake. We must return to Reagan’s ‘peace through strength!’(5) “The acceleration of Iran’s nuclear program was ignited when Biden took office. We’re inching towards a defining moment in dealing with this powder keg. Prudent or Patsies? “‘The prudent see danger and take refuge but the simple keep going and pay the penalty’ (Proverbs 27:12). 1983 “President Reagan unveiled in the Oval Office his vision for replacing Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) with a Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) to protect America. Democrats mocked it, calling it a ‘Star Wars’ fantasy. “It is a matter of historical record that then-Senator Joe Biden and ‘all Democrats opposed it.’ For years, they worked to defund and kill it through amendments.(6) “‘Among the most vocal critics of the Reagan doctrine and a strong voice for removing it from the bargaining table was then-Senator Joe Biden who said, “The president’s adherence to SDI constitutes one of the most reckless and irresponsible acts in the history of modern statecraft. Reagan stood fast in the face of that pressure and refused to back off his missile defense initiative.’(7) 1986 “Reagan met with Soviet leader Gorbachev in Iceland for a summit on nuclear disarmament. Biden, the Democrats, and Gorbachev wanted Reagan to bargain away the SDI system, but he refused. He knew that in the Cold War, the Soviets did not have the technology nor the resources for such a system. He refused to be intimidated. “Reagan said Communism was an ‘evil empire’ that belonged ‘on the trash heap of history.’ He went to the Berlin Wall and called on Gorbachev in no uncertain terms to ‘tear down this wall!’(8) Then in 1990, the 30-year Berlin Wall came down, and in 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed! “In the face of ongoing opposition from Biden and the Democrat Party, Reagan met with Israeli leaders to share SDI technology and partner in developing it. Since 1986, the United States and Israel developed the ‘Star Wars’ technology that was used to stop and humiliate Iran in this recent Iranian attack. “Today, they continue working on an advanced system that will use lasers with pinpoint accuracy to literally shoot missiles and planes out of the sky. “The historic ‘Abraham Accords’ engineered by the Trump Administration to work with Israel and moderate Arab nations (who distrust and dislike the radical Iranian regime) has tragically been sabotaged, and its diplomatic success was blunted by the current administration. But the 2024 election brings renewed hope. Here’s the Deal “Reagan once gave a speech citing ‘Twilight’s Last Gleaming.’ He pointed out that our National Anthem concludes not with a declaration but a question, ‘Is our flag still there?’(9) “In this time of growing campus protests (organized and funded, not spontaneous) basically, ignorant students celebrate Hamas (who tortured, beheaded, raped, and killed 1163 adults, children, and babies and featured it in videos). We must learn the lessons of history, act courageous, and pray fervently while communicating the gospel and truth so our flag will still be there. “‘Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and passed on for them to do the same, or one day, we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our grandchildren what it was once like in the United States, where men were free.’” (“The Gipper” Ronald Reagan)(10) Pray with me: Father, we live in days of great evil and great grace. We know that Iran is the leading supporter of terrorism and that its leaders hate America and Israel. Yet we also know it is the nation where earth’s greatest spiritual harvest is occurring. Remind us to always in our hearts separate evil people from hungry people. You loved both Ishmael and Isaac, as did Abraham, and You love their offspring. We hate evil and despise the demonic powers at work in that part of the world, yet we, too, love the people. We boldly ask You for MILLIONS of salvations in that part of the world. The prince of Persia hates Israel, the giver of Messiah, and America, raised up to trumpet Messiah’s message of redemption throughout the world. But You defeated him at Calvary and You will manifest his defeat again as You have before in history. We ask for this. Rescue his victims! We bind his influence in that region and his attacks against America and Israel. Hang him on his gallows! And we ask for clarity to those in America who have been brainwashed regarding Hamas. Reverse the influence this spirit has gained in our nation by lifting the veil of deception and sending another Jesus People Movement, one much greater than that of the 60s and 70s. We see this beginning and declare that it will increase exponentially. Give our leaders wisdom as they deal with the unrest. Show them how to stop the evil actions taking place, doing so with wisdom. Raise up voices of wisdom to counteract the lies. We ask for this in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that truth will prevail in our day, and the power of the gospel will explode throughout the Earth. ************************** Today’s post was contributed by our friend Larry Tomczak. You can find out more about Larry at LarryTomczak.com. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------------------- https://www.history.com/news/chamberlain-declares-peace-for-our-time-75-years-ago https://www.thenarratologist.com/best-winston-churchill-quotes-history-doomed-to-repeat-it/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9-Fe-Y1Qsk https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/david-petraeus-iran-nuclear-weapon/2024/04/26/id/1162621/ https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/permanent-exhibits/peace-through-strength https://www.csmonitor.com/1986/0609/estar.html https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/12/20/president-biden-dont-trade-away-missile-defense-with-the-russians/ https://www.reaganfoundation.org/ronald-reagan/reagan-quotes-speeches/remarks-on-east-west-relations-at-the-brandenburg-gate-in-west-berlin/ https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/farewell-address-nation https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/13915-freedom-is-never-more-than-one-generation-away-from-extinction
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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-3-2024 May 3, 2024 Try Tears I believe it is abundantly clear where I stand on lawlessness and racism. The antisemitism occurring on American campuses (and elsewhere) is appalling. Before we are taken in by the leftist and globalist propagandists, however, there are a few points that also need to be considered. First, keep in mind that upwards of half the protesters are non-students.(1) Outside forces, backed and funded by billionaire globalists, Marxists, and leftist organizations, are fomenting strife and division in America. During a NewsNation interview on May 1, 2024, because so much of the protests are orchestrated, including paid professional agitators, House Speaker Mike Johnson speculated that billionaire philanthropist George Soros was behind the unrest at universities like Columbia in New York.(2) One flyer being distributed at the protests has as its title, “Organize the Intifada: A Communist Program For Escalating the Gaza Solidarity Movement.” It was produced by the Revolutionary Communists of America (RCA).(3) The leftists in our government are helping them. They want and need unrest in America. Don’t be taken in by their lies. The left wants a divided America. Race-baiting and identity politics are two of their basic tactics. Secondly, remember that most kids in America are not participating in violent protests. Though many are spiritually and ideologically confused, and only 2 percent of them now have biblical worldviews, at their core, most of them are caring human beings.(4) Thirdly, and I realize this might draw some ire, but please don’t despise the students who are involved in these protests. I am not saying we should excuse their actions or that there should be no consequences for those who break the law. There should be. But remember, these kids have been fed liberal and leftist propaganda by parents, teachers and administrators, the media, and lying politicians - many of them all of their lives. They are simply parroting what they have been taught. Can we, who turned our nation over to these leftists, exonerate ourselves from some of the blame? Many Christians don’t even vote; some who do vote support liberals; most pastors won’t speak up against evil or teach their congregants what the Scriptures state regarding moral issues, etc.; and many parents have abdicated their parental responsibilities to train their children according to biblical principles. We Baby Boomers and Gen X’ers turned America over to antichrist, unpatriotic, leftist leaders and educators. Do we then think we can blame our children for believing what they’ve been taught? Perhaps it’s time for a look in the mirror. Maybe we should begin by repenting and asking Holy Spirit to give us His heart for this brainwashed generation. We could then follow that with some intense intercession for their salvation. In his biography of Leonard Ravenhill, In Light of Eternity, Mack Tomlinson relates the following statement from Ravenhill: “In my twenties, during a period of pastoring, I loved to go past the Salvation Army building, which was the largest one outside of London. There’s a huge block of stone at the front. Chiseled in one stone it says, ‘William Booth of the Salvation Army opened this corps,’ and then it gives the date of 1910. In a second stone it says, ‘Kate and Mary Jackson, officers in this corp.’ “It was in this poor city, where they spin and weave cotton into cloth and the whole town was on the poverty level, that Kate and Mary Jackson labored for a couple of years and nothing happened. Those girls worked diligently and went to bed exhausted at night. “So they wrote William Booth: ‘Would you kindly move us to another station? We’re so tired and disheartened. We’ve tried everything that we’ve been taught to do. Please move us to another location.’ “Booth sent a telegram back with two words: ‘Try tears.’ They did, and they saw real revival come. Those girls went to travailing prayer, not just prayer, but travailing prayer, prayer with anguish in it. “The road to revival is often paved with tears and brokenness.”(5) It is possible to love and pray for these kids who are protesting on the campuses without excusing their actions. We can love them while shutting down unlawful protests and speaking out against all forms of racism. The same types of unrest and protests - by a misguided, young generation wanting to make a difference in a world gone haywire - occurred in the 1960s and 70s. Their efforts, too, were fueled by Marxists and leftists, and yes, many of their actions were wrong, unwise, ill-informed, and destructive. Buildings were burned and destroyed; people were hurt, some even killed. We don’t want to see this repeated. I can assure you that some of those fomenting the violence and hatred do not care about the lives of these young people. In fact, sacrificing a few of them as “martyrs” would help their cause. Those behind the activity are EVIL! Pray for their exposure and failure. God’s answer in the 1960s and 70s was a Jesus Revolution. Millions of those kids were saved; thousands are today’s pastors and leaders. Had we added a true reforming and nation-discipling movement to the revival, as instructed by Jesus in Matthew 28, today’s young generation would not be so deceived and lost. (See yesterday’s post for more on this.) I don’t like what I’m seeing any more than you do. It angers me. But my heart breaks for this young generation—the fruit of our generation’s actions. This may be a good time for some self-reflection, repentance, and intense intercession. Maybe it’s possible to curse the darkness—not the people, but the darkness—AND light a candle. Selah. Pray with me: Father, forgive us for being so quick to point the finger of accusation at others. All too often, we blame others for the fruit of our actions. Remind us today of the words of Jesus, who said He did not come for the healthy, but for those who are sick and in need of a physician (Luke 5:31). Give us Your heart for the confused, disillusioned, misinformed, immoral, and even the violent. Remind us that we were once lost and in need of a Savior, of why we love the song Amazing Grace. We repent for not discipling our nation according to Matthew 28:18-20, as You so clearly instructed us. Forgive us for wasting the spiritual momentum we had during the Charismatic Movement and Jesus People Revolution. Forgive us for our short-term theology, neglecting Earth while singing our songs about heaven. Forgive us for giving our government, education, media, and the rest of our culture to those who hate You and Your Son. In so doing, we ultimately gave America to demons. We are grateful beyond words that Your mercy is greater than our failures. We thank You that this mercy never ends and that it triumphs over judgment. We ask You to now “show it off.” Invade this young generation with Your passionate love and powerful salvation. Rip them from the hold of darkness. Be their answer! Come with an ocean of love, rivers of Holy Spirit activity, and the unstoppable power of the Cross. Save them! We believe this is Your agenda for our day. And we partner with You by declaring it in the name of this young generation’s Savior, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will give tears a try. *************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------------- https://abc7ny.com/columbia-ccny-protesters-arrested-quarter-of-them-not-affiliated-with-schools/14754563/ https://www.thedailybeast.com/now-republicans-are-blaming-george-soros-for-campus-protests https://www.marxist.com/organize-the-mass-struggle-a-communist-program-to-escalate-the-gaza-solidarity-encampments.htm George Barna, American Worldview Inventory 2020-21 (Glendale, AZ: Arizona Christian University Press, 2021), p. 15. https://makethevisionplain.com/try-tears/
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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-2-2024 May 2, 2024 The National Day of Prayer Today is the National Day of Prayer in America. This year’s theme is “Lift Up the Word - Light Up the World.” Please take some time today to join with others in praying for America. You can visit the National Day of Prayer website for information on how and what to pray. Also, Intercessors For America is hosting a live prayer time at 12:15 ET; I strongly encourage joining them. Their website is IFAPray.org. Many cities and states will also be conducting gatherings for prayer, as will local churches. Join with others today and spend some quality time agreeing in prayer for America! I always encourage praying the suggested prayer points and subjects highlighted by the National Day of Prayer Committee and others on this day. Agreement is invaluable (Matthew 18:19). Therefore, in today’s post, I simply want to talk about praying for revival/awakening, in general. I am pleased to see the stirring among Americans to stand against evil; millions of people are now working to make a difference. We need involvement from godly people in every area and at all levels of American life, and this is occurring. People are engaging in local and national government, education, media, entertainment, as well as many other areas - and this must continue. However, as I regularly observe what is taking place in America, I am consistently reminded that without a true revival, a great awakening - call it what you will - these efforts won’t be enough. Evil and deception are now entrenched in America at such a thorough and deep level that human effort alone, regardless of how well it is done, won’t be enough to save and reform our nation. WE MUST HAVE REVIVAL. Why do I say this? When people are truly born again - not a perfunctory prayer to stay out of hell, but genuinely saved - several things occur: God writes His laws in their hearts; they have the mind of Christ (Romans 2:15; 1 Corinthians 2:16) Their spirit comes alive (Romans 6:13; 2 Corinthians 4:16) Holy Spirit takes up residence and speaks to them in their heart (1 Corinthians 3:16) Their conscience is activated and influenced by Holy Spirit (Romans 1:15, 9:1) They become children of light (versus walking in darkness) (Ephesians 5:8) These and other changes awaken intuition and common sense (Hebrews 5:14) Obviously, this is a simplified list; books could be written on all of these subjects. But I am pointing out that people begin to think differently when they are born again. They perceive things they could not previously see or understand, and their desires are transformed. These transformative changes will need to occur in millions of Americans in order to see the nation effectively transformed. A return of morality and other necessary changes cannot be forced; they must be desired. When speaking of America being saved, I am always quick to point out the difference between revival and reformation. Don’t become confused by differing terminology. By revival or awakening, I am referring to Mark 16:15-20 on steroids: millions being delivered and born again. By reformation, I am referring to Matthew 28:18-20 on a grand scale, resulting in the discipling of a nation. Revival changes the heart; reformation changes the mind. In the 60s and 70s America simultaneously experienced the Charismatic and Jesus People movements - true revivals. Millions came to Christ. Yet, we had no paradigm for discipling nations, according to Matthew 28. Frankly, the eschatology of most who were part of these movements would have prevented it even had the paradigm existed. There was such a preoccupation with Christ’s imminent return that most evangelicals didn’t see the need for impacting the cultural mountains of government, education, etc. The result? The church did Mark 16 - worked to get people saved; unbelievers did Matthew 28 - worked to disciple and reform the nation. Both succeeded. We experienced revival…and lost our nation. We prepared people for heaven; they took over Earth. We planned to leave; they planned to stay. We taught our kids for an hour in Sunday School; they took over our schools and indoctrinated them 5 days a week, all day long. In short, we gave them America. From their positions of leadership, the progressives, liberals, Marxists, secularists, and humanists have had 50-60 years to embed their ideals, morals, and philosophies into our nation. And they have been successful. God has been rejected, and with Him went morality, self-control, the family unit, patriotism, and soundness of mind. We are led by fools, taught by Marxists and globalists, and controlled by evil. In our day, as we become active in speaking out and becoming involved in attempting to reform America, let’s not make the opposite mistake of prioritizing that above revival. We must experience both. Revival precedes and empowers reformation; it is reformation’s forerunner, preparing the way for its fruit. Reformation codifies revival, multiplying and preserving its fruit. Americans now need radical heart transformation to make possible radical brain transformation! Our actions won’t change until our minds change; our minds won’t change until our beliefs change; and our beliefs won’t change until our hearts change. In Conclusion God’s promises are conditional offers. I believe America will be saved - not just because God has promised this - but because He is receiving what is required of us. A remnant of believers is praying, which allows Him to deliver what He promised. As you pray today, continue declaring that America will repent, awaken, and experience revival, a great Holy Spirit outpouring. Through this, she will be saved…and reformed. Pray with me: (Prayer released by the National Day of Prayer committee) “Jesus, we profess our faith in You. You are the Light of the world, and in You, there is no darkness. For You are our lamp, O LORD, and our God who lights our darkness. Forgive us for fearing and focusing on the darkness around us instead of being filled with faith and shining like the city on a hill You have called us to be. Forgive us for the times when we have been the absence of light, allowing darkness to dwell in America. Lead us forward to dispel the darkness and bring light throughout the Church, Family, Education, Business, Military, Government, and Arts, Entertainment, and Media. “We are saved by grace through faith, released from the darkness that once held us captive, and now free to walk in the newness of life in You. Light dispels darkness and exposes what is hidden and wicked, so we commit to rise and shine! For by You, Lord, we can take courage to run against the enemy, and by our God, we can fight the good fight and keep the faith as living lampstands in our communities and country. We fear no evil, for You are with us. “Lord, Your way is perfect; You lead us on paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Your Word is Truth, instructing and inspiring us to live the abundant life You gave when You saved us from the death and destruction of the enemy. Fill us with Truth as we read, study, and live Your Word. “God, You are a shield for all those who take refuge in You. As we abide in You and Your Word abides in us, we take up our shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and run boldly into the darkness to Lift Up the Word and Light Up the World! “In the Mighty name of Jesus, we pray, amen!”(1) ********************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------- Written by NDP Task Force President Kathy Branzell, https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/equipping/2024-national-prayer
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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-1-2024 May 1, 2024 We Are Anchored This is not a time to fear. Instead, it is a time to anchor yourself to God and His Word - who He is, what He says, and what He is doing. On Monday, I read a word Holy Spirit gave my brother, Tim, in which He said multiple times, “Stay focused.” The obvious meaning is to stay focused on Holy Spirit and what He says. As you do so with intentionality and regularity, adding to it consistent declarations of what He says, not only will you remain focused, but your faith will grow. I talked about this in yesterday’s post. The shaking and unrest that was predicted in America has begun and will get worse before it gets better. Radicals on our campuses, fueled and schooled by professional anarchists, are causing great damage and disruption. And the real terrorists now in our nation haven’t even started. The road ahead is rocky; before it is over, all of America will be impacted. God has given many opportunities for our nation to turn back to Him and experience His blessing, which has been rejected. Many of our leaders, like Pharoah, have hardened their hearts. They are like the Pharisees, of whom Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father; he…does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). In His mercy, God is going to allow some things that will create the necessary motivation for America to turn from wickedness and back to Him. Revival IS coming, the harvest WILL be reaped, and America WILL be saved. Unfortunately, strong discipline is now needed to turn us toward Him and His mercy. As things become more turbulent, God does not want us to fear. He wants us to be assured that He will provide for and protect us and that through the shaking, America will be restored. Hebrews 12 is an important passage for us in this process; it is the principal chapter in the New Testament that discusses discipline and shaking. Verses 11 and 13 tell us: “Now all discipline seems to be painful at the time, yet later it will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who yield to it…for as you keep walking forward on God’s paths all your stumbling ways will be divinely healed!” (Hebrews 12: 11, 13; TPT) America is about to have “a transformation of character” and “a harvest of righteousness” (verse 11); her “stumbling ways” are about to be “divinely healed” (verse13). Holy Spirit wants us to look past the pain and see the gain. In verse 12, sandwiched between these two promises, Holy Spirit tells us to “Strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble” (NASB). This is a picture of fear. “Feeble” is actually a Greek word that can mean paralysis (paraluo).(1) Fear torments, yes, but it also paralyzes. We’ve all heard the phrase “frozen with fear.” This emotion robs of initiative and produces inaction. But God wants us to walk through this season filled with faith, listening to Holy Spirit, growing in our intimacy with Him, and maintaining peace. Peace, the opposite of fear, comes from the Hebrew word shalom/shalem,(2) meaning whole or complete. God doesn’t want our minds and emotions to be fractured, torn, divided between opinions. He wants us to experience wholeness - peace. Colossians 3:15 tells us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. Rule is brabeuo,(3) and means arbitrate, govern, rule, umpire, decide, direct, determine, and control. Let God’s peace be the umpire, arbiter, or judge in your mind and emotions. These positions have the authority to decide issues, execute laws, and make rulings. In sports, an umpire can even eject a player. God is saying, “Allow my peace to eject fear, to overrule its torment and paralysis. Let my peace decide what you do and don’t do.” This is a fruit we have in our spirit (Galatians 5:22), and we can allow it to rule our minds and emotions. This begins with a choice. It is then empowered and carried out by anchoring to and staying focused on what God says in His Word. Philippians 4:7 states this another way, telling us God’s peace is so great it is “incomprehensible” to the human mind. Yet, this supernatural peace is available to us and will “guard” our hearts and minds as we allow it to reign. Guard is the Greek word phroureo,(4) meaning a sentinel or watchman; protect with a military guard to prevent hostile invasion. Set a guard around your heart and mind with God’s peace. The preceding verse says not to be anxious about anything, and the following verse tells us what we should think about: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9 NASB) Finally, James 1:7 warns against double-mindedness. This Greek word (dipsuchos)(5) literally means “double-souled” or “two-souled.” It means to be undecided or to waffle back and forth in our minds. First, we lean in one direction, then another. James said this erodes faith and keeps us from receiving heaven’s provision. Don’t allow this! Stay focused on one perspective - God’s! “In Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of a storm, he described a ship caught off a rocky coast, threatening death to all on board. One of the terrified passengers made his way to the pilothouse, where the pilot was lashed to his post with his hands on the wheel, turning the ship little by little into the open sea. The pilot smiled at the man, who then rushed back to the deck below, shouting, ‘I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well.’”(6) Our pilot is not nervous or anxious. Do not fear. He will guide us through the troubled waters. Anchor yourself to Him and to His unfailing Word! Pray with me: Father, we are thankful for Your love and for disciplining those whom You love, rather than rejecting them. You are disciplining this nation in order to transform its character and produce a harvest of righteousness. You are turning America back to You and to her destiny. According to the prophecy from Robert Hunt at Cape Henry in 1607, America’s purpose is to be an “evangelist” to the world. We are reclaiming that purpose and privilege. We can endure any shaking that tears down evil systems opposing You and Your desires. You said that everything built on the rock of Your Word will survive any storm. In fact, according to Your Word, You will cause the shaking to work for our good. We will emerge on the other side in revival and ready to reform this nation. We are not afraid; we have seen the Pilot. Our decree: We declare that our hearts and minds are garrisoned with the peace of God! ******************** I have a gift I would like to give you. Some time ago, I shared a complete message on victory over fear. I believe this teaching will help equip you to walk through any challenges that may come your way. And not only will it help you, but it will also arm you to help others. You can click HERE for this free message (The Snare of Fear). 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. 3886. Ibid., ref. no. 7999. Ibid., ref. no. 1018. Ibid., ref. no. 5432. Ibid., ref. no. 1374. Spiros Zodhiates, Illustrations of Bible Truths (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1995), p. 267
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/april-30-2024 April 30, 2024 Our Faith is Growing Some people take offense when I mention that Abraham and Sarah wavered in their faith off and on during their twenty-five-year wait for Isaac. Perhaps they assume I am contradicting Romans 4:17-21 and Hebrews 11:8-12. However, I am not contradicting these verses, and I will explain why. Here are the 2 passages. “As it is written, (‘A Father of many nations, have I made you’) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. In hope against hope, he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” Without becoming weak in faith, he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:17-21 NASB) “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise, for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith, even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful, who had promised. Therefore, there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:8-12 NASB) It is obvious from these two passages that both Abraham and Sarah WERE walking in unwavering faith when Isaac was conceived. And we are not speaking of a temporary “gift of faith,” either; Abraham “grew strong” (Romans 4:20) in faith, which means this wasn’t the “gift of faith” operating. And yet, up until three months before Isaac’s conception, they were NOT walking in this unwavering faith, which is easily seen in the Old Testament. In Genesis 17 and 18, when they were 99 and 90 years old, the Lord appeared again, telling them that Isaac would be born. Here are their responses: “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said in his heart, ‘Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?’ And Abraham said to God, ‘Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!’” (Genesis 17:17-18 NASB) “He said, ‘I will surely return to you at this time next year, and behold, Sarah, your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’ And the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, saying, “Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?” Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.’ Sarah denied it, however, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, ‘No, but you did laugh.’” (Genesis 18:10-15 NASB) It is clear from these passages that Abraham and Sarah were NOT fully convinced and unwavering in their faith when the Lord spoke to them on these two occasions, twelve months before Isaac’s birth. Yet, according to the New Testament, they WERE walking in unwavering faith three months later when he was conceived. This means they were transformed from unbelief to an amazing, unwavering faith in a short, three-month period of time. That should encourage you. I want you to know that it doesn’t take years to develop a strong enough faith to receive a miracle from God. Yes, we do have to believe and not doubt (Mark 9:23; 11:23). But your faith can grow into an unwavering faith, just as Abraham and Sarah’s faith did, in a relatively short amount of time. Jesus compared faith to a mustard seed, a tiny seed that grows into a tree (Matthew 17:20). He did NOT say we only needed faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains, as some translations wrongly word the verse. He said “like” or “as” a mustard seed, which starts small but grows, just as the parable of the sower describes (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8). In this parable, Jesus said God’s words are seeds that grow in us until they reach full fruition, or in other words, bring forth fruit. This is what Romans 10:17 means when it says, “Faith comes by hearing the word of God.” This does not happen simply by hearing or reading a Scripture once, just as a seed does not grow to fruitfulness simply from being planted. The point of Christ's parable was that the seed must be tended to: watered, weeds pulled, harmful bugs kept away, etc. He was teaching us that if we take care of the seed of His Word, it will grow into fullness and bring forth its intended harvest. One of the Old Testament words for this process of tending the seed is “meditate.” Joshua was told to meditate in/on God‘s Word (Joshua 1:8). The word means to think about, ponder, mutter, and speak to one’s self. Tending the seed of God’s word is more than simply planting it; it is thinking about it, pondering it, saying it - OVER AND OVER. Did Abraham and Sarah do this? Yes. God, in a manner of speaking, forced them to. When this three-month faith-growing process in them started, He introduced Himself to them by a new name: Almighty God (Genesis 17:1). He then gave them new names: Abram’s was changed to Abraham, Sarai’s to Sarah. What did these names mean? In Genesis 17:4, Abram was told by Almighty God - the God who is all-powerful, who can do anything - that he would be the “Father of a multitude of nations,” and his name was changed accordingly to Abraham. Sarai was told, “She shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her” (Verse 16, NASB). Her new name, Sarah, means “princess,” a title referring to her being a “mother of nations.” These words were “mediated” on - spoken, thought about, etc. - dozens and dozens of times as they spoke these two names. “Almighty God said You are a mother of nations, Sarah; I, Abraham, am a father of nations.” As they declared God’s power and their destiny - over and over - their faith grew, and their bodies changed. Finally, they were walking in complete faith, and God could release the miracle of Isaac. You can do this. What has God promised in His Word that you are currently in need of? What has He spoken in your heart and confirmed through His word and others? Healing? The saving of a prodigal? How about the saving of a nation? Whatever it is, become radical in thinking about and declaring God’s Word. Say what He says, the literal meaning of confession. Give His words the opportunity to do what they were meant to do - reproduce in you! Pray With Me: Father, Your words are timeless seeds. They have within them the ability to produce/reproduce what they say. Your words create, cleanse, deliver, heal, raise the dead, transform, instruct, mature us, and even generate new creations in Christ Jesus - we are born again of the incorruptible seed of your word. We must “eat” them; Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and they were the joy and rejoicing of my heart” Jeremiah 15:16. Your words are embodied by Christ, the Living Word, the Bread of Life. I pray that You open the eyes of many with a revelation of how faith grows. Connect the dots. Show them how Your words produce powerful, mountain-moving faith. And show them that their faith can grow in a relatively short period of time for any area in which they have need. Our nature is that of invisible spirits, with the ability to operate in the realm of invisible faith, believing in what we cannot see. We can do what You said we can do: produce mountain-moving faith through “farming” Your Word. Bring this revelation. I pray this for them in Jesus' name. Our decree: We declare that our faith is growing and will bring forth 100-fold fruit. ************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/april-29-2024 April 29, 2024 As he so often does, my brother, Tim, has released a powerful word of encouragement. He titled it: Arise and Preside Recently, I asked the Lord what His current word was to the church and nation. His answer was simple yet impactful: “Stay very focused.” The saying, “It’s darkest just before dawn,” certainly applies to our present times.(1) Darkness is presenting itself in ways that are very challenging and the body of Christ must live our lives persevering and staying focused. We cannot allow this present darkness to blind our thinking; rather, we must position ourselves to win one of the greatest battles our nation has ever been presented with. When I was a student at Christ for the Nations, a guest speaker said something I wrote on the inside cover of my Bible. That Bible is on the shelf behind my desk to this day. The statement was, “Never doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve practiced that statement. In moments when I couldn’t see my way forward, my faith would rise up, and I would trust the promise of what God had shown me in the light. In dark times, remembering what God has said will keep the darkness from causing disillusionment. I have found myself so grieved concerning the darkness rising in our nation. Wickedness and lies are being arrogantly promoted. I have awakened often in the night overcome with a burden of intercession. On one of those nights, I began remembering all the words and promises God had given us, and began encouraging my faith by rehearsing them one after the other. The very next morning, the importance of one of those words was amplified to me. As I was watching the news, the commentator said, “This is a very dark time in America’s history. Injustice is being championed in our courts.” As I watched and agreed with his statement regarding injustice, Holy Spirit reminded me of a prophetic word He had given me: “As My Ekklesia prays and declares its faith, I will prepare a moment, and I will lance the boil of injustice in America. For I am a God of justice; injustice will not hinder the reaping of My harvest. Their threats will not silence My words.” Could this be that moment? We are living in unprecedented times in America. The words of God have actually been labeled hate speech. I don’t pretend to know all God is doing right now, but I do know He will not allow injustice to stop His greatest harvest. I know He is still in charge and watching over His Word to perform it. He knows how to overwhelm darkness with His glorious light. Isaiah 60:1-2 (NKJV) says, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen on you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people, but the Lord shall arise on you, and His glory shall be seen on you.” “Darkness” is the Hebrew word choshek.(2) It means misery, destruction, or wickedness. It also means to be abundant with ignorance or falsehood. This certainly describes our present days. Our economy, laws, education, justice system, rights, and values are being destroyed. These are days of celebrated wickedness and extreme ignorance. Indeed, gross darkness is covering the people. “Gross darkness” is the Hebrew word araphel.(3) It means gloom, gloominess, thick dark clouds, thunder clouds (the kind that spin, producing tornados and twisters). Araphel metaphorically refers to people who frown, referencing days of foreboding clouds putting a frown on people. Who can deny that we are now living in such times? But…never doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light. The promise of light is coming. The glory of the Lord will come upon you in times of gross darkness. Stay focused and remember what God has said. He knows how to bring supernatural, transformational reformation. We’re being called to stand in these challenging times with a confident faith that rests upon the brilliance and power of God. We are also being called to proclaim God’s Word, which brings hammering destruction to evil. Jeremiah 23:29 (AMP) says, “Is not my word like a fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock [of most stubborn resistance]?” We are in a time when the true church, the Ekklesia, must stand in the face of darkness and stubborn resistance, declaring the fire-filled words of Almighty God. We are in times when we must swing the sledgehammer of God’s Word against evil and trust that His Word is going to bust evil to pieces. Just as Jeremiah was, we are to be a prophetic voice to the nation. Jeremiah 1:9-10 (NLT) says, “I have put my words in your mouth. And I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.” God has appointed and given us powerful authority. The wording gives the picture of one presiding over. Preside means to occupy the place of authority or control. We are called to preside in the name of our King and influence the nations. We are to preside over evil and evil kingdoms by declaring the words of God. The Lord of Hosts decrees: “I have commissioned Michael to release sufficient warriors from his army to assist my Ekklesia and unlock America. Stay focused. They will swing the battering rams of heaven, which are energized by your decrees of My Word. Stay focused. I will release explosive power against entrenched evil. No longer will its wicked conspiracy be swept under the rug. I am pulling the corrupt rug off of it. I will expose diabolical plans. They will be seen clearly. I say to evil, ‘Your rug will become your burial shroud. I will bury your plans. Your tombstone reads, “Vanquished.” My Ekklesia and My angel armies will explode on your strongholds and destroy them, sending shock waves around the earth.’ “I will release sweeping change across the nation. I will break the back of demon princes, and they will not stand. I will unravel hell’s plans, their cover-up, coup, conspiracy, diabolical dynasty, and fraud. For the Lord of Hosts decrees to His uncompromising Ekklesia, arise with confidence, for I have portals throughout the land, and what I open, no one can close. I am opening windows over the earth, and from these portals of glory, you will now experience power flows of My might that overwhelm satanic plans. “I am releasing spiritual hurricanes. A rushing mighty wind is blowing through the land propelled by Holy Spirit and His angel armies; it will blow away the plan of the forever loser. The plans of darkness will be overthrown. My wind will uproot iniquity and doctrines of demons, and it will blow the lid off deception. It will expose demonic dictators and blow the lid off Jezebel’s government. “Stay focused. My angels are riding the winds, pulling the ropes of change. I am turning the tide for My people: turning the battles, turning the war, turning the fortunes, and overturning injustice. I am overruling leviathan and the media giants. I am many moves ahead of hell’s kingdom. Again, I say, ‘Stay focused.’” ******* Arise and preside in the name of our King! Pray with me: Lord, we are determined to stay focused. We declare our confidence in You and we stand strong upon Your promises. We believe You are breaking the hold of evil and darkness in our nation as we release the hammer of Your Word. We believe Your light is rising on Earth, and Your glory on Your people. Darkness cannot defeat this light. We refuse to doubt in the dark time what You have shown us in the light. Your victory is certain. Release great revelation to Your Ekklesia of Your established victory and our authority to enforce it. Bring revelation of the dominion You have given us to preside over the darkness, ruling for You. Open the portals You spoke of, portals of glory and might. Release the winds! Blow the lid off deception, and off Jezebel’s government. Release the battering rams, pull the cover off evil plans. We ask all of this in the Almighty name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that the Ekklesia will rise and preside in the Name of King Jesus. We decree that gross darkness is being broken over our nation, God’s glorious light is rising, and we will stay focused! ************************** Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim. You can learn more about him at TimSheets.org. Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Fuller, Pisgah Sight (1650), Book II, ch. 2 James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 6205. Ibid., ref. no. 2822.
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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/april-22-2024 April 22, 2024 Introduction In this hinge year, we are moving ever closer to the greatest Kingdom advancement Earth has ever experienced. Yes, darkness is covering much of the earth. But God said that would be the time when His glory would rise upon us, drawing many people to the BRIGHTNESS of the light (Isaiah 60:1-3). Our friend Gina Gholston speaks of this in today’s post. The Heavyweight At the beginning of this year, the Lord told me that 2024 would be a year of His “revealed glory.” Revealed glory indicates that undeniable evidence of His nearness will be seen and experienced. It is more than just intellectual knowledge regarding the existence of God. Revealed glory is indicative of experiential knowledge that comes by way of demonstration of His undeniable power and manifested presence. Habakkuk 2:14 declares that the time is coming when “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” This scripture prophesies a time when the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will be so widespread that it will be unavoidable and undeniable. The incomparable magnificence of God will flood the atmosphere to such a degree that no one and nowhere will be devoid of the knowledge of His nearness and power. I believe we have entered that era. This prophetic promise is cause for rejoicing among the people of God, but it is also a call to attention. The Church is being called to operate in the highest level of her purpose, shining with the light of Christ’s glory and revealing Him (see Colossians 1:27). It is through us that God will show Himself strong and make Christ known. God is not in a panic, trying to come up with a response to the evil operating in our world. His plan has already been set into motion. From the book of Esther, we learn that God works ahead of time to position and set into motion things that must align for a set time. When the set time comes, regardless of how things may appear, God’s plan and intentions will push forward and prevail. Long before Haman plotted his evil scheme against God’s people, God already had Mordecai and Esther in position for His redemptive plan to be fulfilled. When the plot was announced, Haman rejoiced in only a short-lived victory because the revealed workings of God’s plan overturned his plan and changed everything. Long before the chaos in our nation began, God was already positioning and equipping His Ekklesia. Because of His work ahead of time, His redemptive plan for America will be set into motion and fulfilled in this set time! Though the wicked may rejoice for a moment, we can be confident that God’s plan will overturn the enemy’s schemes. He will work, and no one will reverse what He has done and will do. God’s Ekklesia will move with great triumph as the knowledge of His glory is revealed in undeniable ways. I recently heard the Lord say, “I am pulling out all the stops.” Hidden things used in past seasons to block God’s people are now being dislodged and dealt with. It doesn’t mean that all will be easy or that hell is just going to retreat. It means God has empowered us with Holy Spirit’s supernatural ability to work with Him, releasing His Kingdom and will. It is by Holy Spirit’s enabling power and leading that we can participate in the callings and purposes of God for our lives. Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 2, that Holy Spirit reveals to us the deep thoughts and wisdom of God. As He imparts that wisdom to us, we are enabled to know, perceive, and do things that we otherwise would not be able to achieve on our own. As we cooperate with Holy Spirit, the evidence of God’s power and presence are then made known to those around us. Daniel 11:32 says, “The people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits.” One definition of the word exploits is “to make full use of and derive benefit from a resource.” It indicates a supernatural ability to excel and perform mighty things as Holy Spirit operates in and through us. He is the resource from which we derive wisdom and ability from God, enabling us to advance supernaturally and see His prophesied intentions for our times come to pass. God’s glory will be revealed. He will save America and “make things right again!” Awakening is happening! As Dutch says, “It’s here, but it’s coming.” We are experiencing it now, but the reality of its fullness will intensify to even greater degrees as His glory continues to be revealed through His triumphant Church. And His glory changes everything! Earlier this year I had a dream that is very fitting for this post. May it enlighten and encourage us all! In the dream, I saw children playing on a playground, and a little girl was on the teeter-totter. A huge man came and sat on the other end making her side go up in the air. The man was laughing and said, “I bet you can’t get back down!” There were others standing around looking at her, also laughing. The little girl wasn’t even phased by the bullying. Suddenly, a massive rock came out of nowhere and was lowered into the space behind the little girl, making the balance shift suddenly and dramatically! The large man was flung completely off the teeter-totter, leaving him and the others in shock! The little girl then stepped off, dusted her dress a little, and was smiling as she walked away. Someone asked her, “What happened? How did it shift so suddenly?” The little girl said, “It was the rock. The rock made me heavier!” The enemy does not hold the advantage in influencing the future of our nation. The advantage is on the side of the Church. We are in a time when God’s glory will be revealed. The Hebrew word for glory is kabod; one of its meanings is “weighty or heavy.”(1) It’s indicative of the weighty presence of God. His glory is in us and will be revealed through us. We are NOT the underdogs! We are the “dwelling place in which God lives by His Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). The “Heavyweight” is on our side! He is showing up, things will be tilted to advance His righteous intentions, and hell’s agenda will be toppled by the weight of His presence! ******* Pray with me: Father, Your great plan of the ages is advancing. It cannot be stopped. The prophetic promises You have spoken concerning our times have not failed, nor have they been forgotten by You. You have called and appointed Your Ekklesia to advance with Your purposes, and through us, Your glory will be revealed in this set time. We yield to You. We’re becoming more and more aware of and sensitive to the work of Holy Spirit. He is imparting divine wisdom and the ability to work with You to see Your Kingdom come and Your will established. Regardless of how things may appear in this moment, we do not surrender to despair or the taunting of hope deferred. We know You are on our side, and we are fully confident in You. You will save America. You will come and make things right again. Our decree: We decree that God is with us. Things are being shifted to advance His righteous intentions, and hell’s agenda is being toppled by the weight of His presence. *********************** Today’s post was shared by Gina Gholston and was taken from her book Awakening the Church to Awaken a Nation. You can find out more about Gina at GinaGholstonMinistries.org. 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. 3519.
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5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/april-19-2024 April 19, 2024 Spirit-Wind People On Tuesday of this week, I shared a post on the power of speaking God’s words. I taught on the word dabar,(1) the most common word for “the word of the Lord,” stating that God’s words do more than inform us; they have power in them to perform or accomplish what they say. We can release God’s power by speaking His Word. Yesterday, I addressed one of the reasons many people struggle with making declarations and decrees, binding and loosing, etc. The entire human race experienced spiritual death at the Fall. Our spirits, the part of us created to relate to the spirit realm, house and connect with God - and which was dominant - lost this ability. The soul - the mind, emotions, and will - that part of us created to relate to the natural world around us, was exalted and became dominant. At that point, humans were no longer spirit-led, but soul-led. And 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us a natural (psuchikos-soulish)(2) person cannot discern spiritual things, going so far as to say they are “foolish” (moria-moron-ish)(3) to him. When we are born again, God immediately begins working to transform us from being led by our souls to again being spirit-led people. As this transition occurs, we become more able to hear God’s voice, and BE His voice. SPIRITUAL PEOPLE Today, I want to address further what it means to operate by and from the spirit. Pneuma(4) is the Greek word for spirit. It also means wind or breath. The Holy Spirit could be called the “Holy Breath” or “Holy Wind” of God. The “breath” administered to humankind at creation was the Holy Spirit, as was the wind at Pentecost when He brought forth the “new creation” or “new birth.” Since pneuma is the Greek word for spirit, it isn’t surprising that a slight variation of it gives us the word for spiritual: pneumatikos.(5) It basically means relating or pertaining to the spirit. To be spiritual, by Biblical standards, simply means operating or functioning from our spirit. Since this is where the Holy Spirit of God resides in us, being spiritual also equates to functioning with Holy Spirit’s ability or influence. Perhaps you’ve heard of pneumatic tools, which are powered by air, not electricity. The dictionary says the word means “powered by wind or air.” It also uses this same definition for pneumatikos, the word for spiritual. So, to be spiritual is to be wind-powered, wind-driven. The Holy Spirit, in our spirit, empowering us. Let me break this down further: When we are born again, we are born of the Spirit, Wind, or Breath of God (John 3:6). Holy Spirit fills our spirit (Acts 2:4), and our spirits become one with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). Let that sink in: your spirit and Holy Spirit become one spirit! When we’re born again, we are empowered by the Spirit, Breath, and Wind of God (Acts 1:8). This is why Peter could say to the lame man in Acts 3:6, just after being filled with the Spirit, “such as I have give I thee.” It is why Acts 4:33 says, “And with great power, the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all” (NASB). This was Holy Spirit power. Peter and the apostles were Wind-driven, Wind-powered. After we’re born again, we mature from being soul-led to spirit-led (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18). The Galatians reference is the passage listing the fruit of the spirit. When we are led by the Holy Spirit in our spirit, the fruit of our spirit becomes the character of Holy Spirit. Being led by the Spirit also refers to directional and activity leadings (Acts 10:19; 16:9). Believers are to be Wind-filled, Wind-driven, Wind-powered, Wind-motivated, and Wind-led. Lastly, when we are born again, we speak by/from Holy Spirit in our spirit. That’s what it means to prophesy: hear the Spirit and say what He says (Ezekiel 37:4, 9; Acts 11:28; 21:11). Jesus said the words He spoke were “spirit” (pneuma) and “life” (John 6:63). My interpretation: Christ was saying what He heard Holy Spirit saying, and because of this, the words were releasing life. Wind-words release Wind-life. Jesus is building a Wind-driven church, a church that is filled with and powered by the Wind of heaven, the Spirit of God. He is building a church that knows the Spirit’s voice and releases the Spirit’s voice. “For the Spirit-Wind blows as it chooses. You can hear its sound, but you don’t know where it came from or where it’s going. So it is the same with those who are Spirit-born!”” (John 3:8 TPT). We are these Spirit-born people Jesus spoke of. We will be blown by the Spirit-Wind throughout the earth. Satan and his demons won’t know where we’re coming from but they will hear what is to them a terrifying sound: prison doors opening and prisoners going free. They won’t know where we’re going next until we are blown there by Spirit-Wind. Throughout the earth, we will leave a path of signs, wonders, miracles, deliverances and salvations. Get ready for the Wind-driven church! Pray with me: Father, as Spirit filled people we are pneumatic - powered by the breath of Holy Spirit. We are also to be led and borne by the wind, following the dictates of our great Helper, Holy Spirit. How little we understand and take advantage of this. We should be causing dead, dry, and scattered bones to come together, then commanding Your breath into them. We should be healing lame men at city gates, and setting captives free throughout the land. Teach us! We ask forgiveness of You for failing to cultivate a stronger relationship with Your Spirit, and for not learning to walk according to our spirits, rather than our souls. So often we are intellect driven, emotion driven, rather than Wind-driven. We so frequently let other voices drown out Yours, keeping us from being Spirit-led people. We ask for fresh wind and fresh fire. We ask for a refilling. We want to be those Jesus spoke of: Spirit-born people, blown throughout the earth by Spirit-Wind. Release this. Come from the four winds and blow through us on dry bones everywhere. Blow across this nation, saving America. Blow into our government, our schools, our inner cities and country sides. Blow into the Middle East and save millions. Blow into Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia and all of the Americas. Blow a scorching wind into the camp of the enemy, a saving wind to the people. We ask for these things in Jesus name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we are the Spirit-born people Jesus spoke of, blown throughout the Earth by Spirit-Wind. ***************************** 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. 1697. Ibid., ref. no. 5591. Ibid., ref. no. 3472. Ibid., ref. no. 4151. Ibid., ref. no. 4152.
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6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/april-18-2024 April 18, 2024 Releasing Holy Spirit’s Power In Tuesday’s post, I spoke about the power of God’s words and the power we can release by speaking them. I want to continue that theme today. It is difficult to convince many believers that we can and must release God’s power by speaking. They struggle with making spiritual decrees and declarations, and with releasing spiritual commands such as binding and loosing. Today, we will look at why people struggle with this. It is a fairly in-depth teaching from my book Becoming Who You Are and might be more easily processed when undistracted. “Study to show yourself approved…” (2 Timothy 2:15) is a good verse for us today! I’m going to address the subjects of soul and spirit. Though many people use these two words interchangeably, they are completely different. SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY God created humans as tri-part beings: spirit (pneuma),(1) soul (psuche),(2) and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Our soul (psuche)—the mind, will, and emotions—is the part of us God created to relate to the natural realm/world around us through our intellect, knowledge, wisdom, logic, feelings, our five senses, etc. Our psuche is our psyche. Our spirit (pneuma) was made to house God’s Spirit and life, and relate to the invisible, spiritual realm. This is where we discern, hear God‘s voice, and where faith resides. Before the Fall, this part of Adam and Eve was dominant; they were led and influenced first by their spirits, not the soul. THE REVERSAL When Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, spiritual death came to their spirits (pneuma), and dominance was transferred to their souls, their psuches. At that point, rather than being led and guided in life spiritually – by the influence of God in their spirits, they would now be led by their souls – by what they could see, hear, learn, and discover naturally. They would be led by themselves, not by the Spirit of God. When we are saved and our spirits come alive, once again receiving God’s Spirit and life, He begins teaching us how to again be led by and manifest the fruit of the spirit (pneuma). This is what it means to be “spiritual” (a pneumatikos)(3). And when we are saved or born again, our spirits are given life and transformed instantly (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our souls, however, are transformed progressively; they must be renewed and transformed (Romans 12:1-2; James 1:21). This means that after the new birth, we have the potential to become pneumatikos’s, spiritual people, led and motivated by our spirits; but for the most part we are still psuchikos’s, soulish people, motivated from our souls. An internal power struggle begins. The soul, again, created to connect with the natural realm and operate based on what it can see, understand, prove, etc., - not with the spiritual, invisible world - will continue to struggle with accepting what it cannot see or explain, such as faith, miracles, hearing God speak, the power of speaking God’s words, sowing and reaping, heaven, hell, needing to be born again, etc. This natural, soulish weakness must be overcome if we are to operate in the supernatural, spiritual realm and according to spiritual principles. There is a force of life in us we cannot see or explain. There is a power in us we cannot see or explain. There is a power in God‘s Word we cannot see or explain. There is an authority we have that we cannot see or explain. There are demons and angels operating in the world around us that we cannot see or explain. Do not allow your propensity to operate from your soul keep you from being led by your spirit. If you do allow it, you will always be limited to natural solutions - a natural life (being led by your soul) - and be excluded from the supernatural realm you were also intended to operate in (being led by the spirit). THE LAWS OF THE SPIRIT We must also learn the principles and laws governing various aspects of this spiritual realm, including authority, power, faith, and God’s Word. In Matthew 21 Jesus used a fig tree to teach his disciples. He cursed the tree, and it died immediately. When His amazed disciples asked Him about this, He said, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all” (Matthew 21: 21-22 NASB). Jesus wasn’t teaching his disciples how to kill trees; He was using this act as an example of how to deal with mountains of adversity. They would need to have faith in their hearts, based on God’s Word, and they would have to release that faith by speaking. Most Christians’ psuches keep their faith locked up in their pneumas. Romans 10:8 says God’s “word of faith” is in our hearts AND our mouths. The passage then says that’s how we were born again, by believing God’s Word in our hearts and declaring it with our mouths. Second Corinthians 4:13 mentions “the spirit of faith” and describes it as “we believe, therefore we speak.” This is how faith operates. Jesus spoke not only to the fig tree, but also to a storm (Mark 4:39) and a dead body (John 11:43). After rebuking the storm in Mark 4, He challenged the disciples regarding their lack of faith and asked why they were timid/intimidated (deilia)(4) by the storm. In other words, they could have rebuked the storm. Like Him, they could have and should have released faith and authority by rebuking the storm themselves. On another occasion, Jesus was amazed at the faith of a Roman centurion. His servant was paralyzed and in great torment, and the soldier asked Jesus to heal him. Jesus said yes, He would go to the man’s house and heal his servant. The centurion responded by saying, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it” (Matthew 8:8-9 NASB). Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s “great faith” (Verse 10). This man’s military training had enabled him to understand how the unseen spiritual principles of authority and faith were released: by verbal commands. “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” We must also understand this. The authority we’ve been given and the faith in our hearts are released in the spiritual realm from our mouths. Don’t allow your logic-focused psuche to shut down the faith in your pneuma. Release it! Pray with me: Father, if the Ekklesia is to become the full extension of Your Kingdom rule, we must understand the spiritual realm and how to operate in it. We must understand spiritual power, authority, faith, and how to release them. If we are going to successfully bind and loose demonic activity, open and close spiritual doors with Your keys of authority, we will do so from that which is in our spirits, not our souls; from our hearts, not our minds. Give us eyes to see what cannot be seen and ears to hear what cannot be heard. Jesus said the words He spoke were spirit and life (John 6:63). Teach us to release “spirit words,” words originating from our spirits and therefore carrying Your life. He prefaced this by saying the Spirit quickens or gives life, “the natural realm is of no help” (TPT). We want to walk in the life-giving realm, the spirit realm. We want to be spiritual! We want to move mountains, calm storms, and release life. Move us into this higher realm of revelation, we ask in Jesus’ name. Our decree: We declare that we will be spirit-led, not soul-led, and will therefore be Spirit-led. ******************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------------- Once again, this teaching can be found in my book Becoming Who You Are. It is available in our bookstore at DutchSheets.org. --------------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 4151. Ibid., ref. no. 5590. Ibid., ref. no. 4152. Ibid., ref. no. 1167.
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