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Introduction My brother, Tim Sheets, preached a powerful message recently from the lives of Mary and Joseph, the earthly parents of Jesus. Tim pointed out incredibly important principles to remember as we move from the conception of a miracle to completion. You can hear the entire message on his YouTube channel, but here are portions of it in nugget form. His title is: Miracles Are Growing I want to share an insight from Luke chapter one that I believe speaks to our times. In verses 26–38, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary with an astounding announcement: she had found favor with God and would supernaturally conceive His Son, who would be the Savior of the world. Though Mary did not fully understand how this could happen, her response became one of the greatest declarations of faith in Scripture: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38 KJV). And the miracle of our redemption began. It took 33 years, however, for the purpose of Christ’s miraculous birth to reach its miraculous conclusion. His journey reveals an often-overlooked truth: some miracles are conceived, but then must grow over time. Whether they be personal miracles or those involving churches, regions, or Kingdom assignments, the principle remains the same: some miracles must grow into their fullness, progressing from conception to completion. The greatest Biblical example of a miracle growing over time is Christ’s birth, His earthly life, and His redemption of the human race. His conception was unquestionably miraculous, but the miracle of our salvation was not complete at His birth. The One who would become the Savior of the world had to grow and mature for thirty years before completing the miracle at Calvary. From His birth to His resurrection, the incarnate Christ was a miracle that developed from seed to fullness. Growth is a process that requires time, something rarely associated with miracles. We want and expect miracles to occur instantly, not realizing that they often unfold over time. When an instant miracle doesn’t occur and time passes between the conception of God's promise and its fulfillment, doubt often creeps in. Unbelief whispers that nothing is happening, nothing will change, and the promise isn't working. Circumstances, emotions, and hope deferred begin to speak louder than God's promise. If those thoughts are not resisted, they can hinder what God is doing. We can abort the process! More miracles in the making are abandoned because of this waiting process than for any other reason. The key to preventing this tragedy is simple yet essential: keep your faith focused on what God has said. Believe until you receive. The miracle Mary and Joseph were entrusted with required thirty years before its ultimate purpose was accomplished. Joseph died somewhere along the way, but the promise of God rested in Mary's heart for three decades. In much the same way, many in the Church have carried the promise of a great move of God for decades. During this time, God has been preparing the Earth for unprecedented numbers of individual and corporate miracles. For over thirty years, I have declared that the greatest outpouring of God's Spirit is still ahead. I have proclaimed it repeatedly because I believe God is still growing that miracle. The seeds have been planted, and He has been nurturing them towards harvest. How challenging Mary’s wait must’ve been. At its beginning, Gabriel personally appeared to her and announced God's promise. Elizabeth confirmed the promise while Jesus was still in Mary's womb (Luke 1:40-45). Angels sang and celebrated His birth with a dramatic light show, and the wise men later affirmed His identity, as did Simeon and Anna at His dedication (Luke 2:25-38). But beyond those moments, Scripture records no additional angelic promises to Mary. No yearly reminders. No fresh prophetic visitations reinforcing the original word. Only silence…for 30 years! Mary waited and simply believed, holding tightly to the word God had spoken. And the miracle grew. The lessons from Mary’s and Joseph’s journeys can be applied to both personal and corporate miracles. Not only will we need to persevere to receive personal promises, but their story reminds us of another important truth: extraordinary moves of God often require extraordinary perseverance. The miraculous birth of Christ introduced a completely new era for humanity, but the miracle would include decades of preparation before its fullness could be revealed. Delays Some delays in receiving miracles are demonic, of course, and must be confronted with spiritual warfare. Others result from human activities, including a nation's sin and rebellion. Those obstacles must also be addressed. HOWEVER, some delays are simply the necessary passage of time while God grows the miracle to completion. Remember: Preparation is not the absence of a miracle; it is often part of the miracle itself! Promises from God often require time for people, circumstances, and other alignments to come into place. He must position individuals, open doors, develop character in people, or arrange events, much of which cannot happen overnight. This process does not mean God is inactive; it means He is preparing. The miracle that began in Mary’s womb was still growing when Jesus was 10, 20, 30 years old. The miracle never stopped growing. Most of the time, its progress was invisible, and Mary and Joseph couldn’t see what God was doing, but Heaven was continually preparing for the fulfillment of Christ’s miraculous purpose. Sometimes our personal growth is part of what is necessary for the miracle’s growth. As Jesus was prepared, He grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52), progressing toward the fulfillment of His earthly assignment. Likewise, there are times when we must grow before the miracle God has prepared for us can be completed. “Fight the good fight of faith” for your personal miracle (1 Timothy 6:12). Keep believing. Keep learning. Keep listening to Holy Spirit. Perhaps there is a key He still needs to reveal. Perhaps He is leading you to the right person, the right place, the right counselor, physician, advisor, or opportunity. Perhaps He is opening a way you cannot yet see. Wherever He leads, continue to follow. Continue declaring what God has said. Faith continues believing while the miracle is growing. Mary’s journey reminds us just how important this is. And we must do the same for national and regional miracles. We must believe and persevere from conception to completion. Holy Spirit is calling the Ekklesia to rise into greater faith as we stand at this prophetic moment of fulfillment. For decades, many have carried promises of revival and harvest. Now is not the time to become passive or allow unbelief to abort what God has been growing. Just as Jesus’ life seemed ordinary for thirty years before a sudden eruption of miracles changed history, God has been working behind the scenes today, preparing for His greatest era of signs, wonders, healings, and harvest. Our promise is still growing. Trust the God who cannot lie. Strengthen your faith, refuse doubt, and believe that God’s seeds of promise are coming to full term. Pray with me: Father, even when we cannot yet see the fulfillment of Your promises, You are working. Encourage the church to stand with unwavering confidence from conception to completion, guarding their hearts from doubt, discouragement, and hope deferred. Teach us to trust Your timing, follow Your leading, and remain faithful as You bring every promise to full term. By Your grace and empowerment, we refuse to grow weary, become passive, or abandon what You have spoken. Release Your glory to the church, causing signs, wonders, miracles, revival, and a great harvest to break forth. We also pray for those in Texas, who have been ravaged again this year by devastating floods, and those in various parts of the country who have experienced terrible wildfires. Comfort those who have lost family members, friends, and possessions. Give grace and wisdom in the recovery and rebuilding efforts. And as always, we pray for our government officials who are working to protect our election process, eradicate fraud, and steer our nation back to strength and stability. We also continue to pray for Your divine intervention with Iran and the Middle East. We continue to declare that the “Prince of Persia” operating in that area is losing his hold and influence. All of this we pray in Jesus' Name, amen. Our decree: The promise of a world-changing revival is coming to full term and will fill the earth with God’s glory, as the waters cover the seas. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about Tim here.

Principles to Guide Our Praying Matthew 6:9-10: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” These two verses, of course, are from what we typically call The Lord's Prayer. It is helpful to remember that when Jesus gave this “teaching”–for it was certainly a model prayer meant to teach us–He was responding to the disciples’ request: “teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Christ certainly wasn’t giving us a sweet religious prayer to recite in church services or before going to bed. He was giving us principles to guide our praying, and the above portion was related to how His family and ekklesia would represent His Kingdom on earth. Don’t just recite the prayer; use it as a launching pad. The Greek word for “kingdom” is basileia.(1) It refers to the dominion, reign, or rule of a king. Jesus was telling us to pray: "Father, let the rule of Heaven manifest in this earthly realm." God has chosen to partner with His family, bringing us into His plans and activities on earth; this was His desire from the very beginning. When we pray "Thy kingdom come," we are acting as His legal representatives on the earth—His Ekklesia (a ruling, legislative assembly) — releasing His rule into our circumstances. We’re declaring, “God, bring Your kingship into my neighborhood, my family, my city, my workplace, and my life!” Then Jesus says, "Thy will be done." The Greek word for “will” is thelema,(2) which means determination, choice, desire, wish, and even pleasure. Think about the fact that God’s “desires” do not automatically take place on the earth just because He wants them to. If they did, Jesus wouldn't have commanded us to ask for them! They are realized when we partner with Him in intercession to birth His thelema, pulling His desires out of the spiritual realm and anchoring them into our families, our cities, and our nations. God never asked us in Scripture to pray for what was predetermined to happen automatically. He never told us to pray that the sun would rise in the morning and set in the evening, for water to be wet, or for gravity to do its work. But He did ask us to pray for His Kingdom authority to be released and His will to be done in our lives and communities. He asked us to pray for laborers to be sent into His harvest fields (Matthew 9:38). He asked us to pray for others' health and safety, and against the works of satan’s kingdom (Ephesians 6). And He urged us to pray for government–those in positions of authority (1 Timothy 2:1-3). How amazing it is that God has so determined to work with and through His earthly family. We are indeed His co-laborers, bringing heaven’s will, heaven's atmosphere, heaven’s order, heaven’s righteousness, and heaven's peace to earth. And finally, the Greek word from which “be done” is translated is important: ginomai.(3) This New Testament word essentially means “cause to be or become.” It is used to describe God’s creation of all things (John 1:1-5; Hebrews 11:3). It is also used in reference to a person being “born” (John 8:58). Most English words beginning with “gen” come from this word and carry the concept of producing, reproducing, or becoming: genes, gender, generate, generation, etc. The New Testament word for “born again” (gennao)[4] actually comes from this word. And the tense of this verb Jesus used, ginoma (aorist imperative), indicates a command. Simply stated, Christ said we are to command or declare His will to be, to be generated, to be birthed in situations. Obviously, we aren’t commanding Him, but commanding FOR Him. I am going to such lengths in defining these Greek words and tenses to make sure we grasp the depth of Christ’s instruction to us. This model prayer and teaching Christ gave us is not to be a religious, perfunctory, memorized recital. It is an instructive exhortation to declare Christ’s rule and authority. It is instructing and authorizing us to call forth His will, opening a portal for heaven's government to override the chaos of earth! Obviously, the broader the scope of our prayers, the longer it can take to “generate” God’s will in situations. We have total authority (under God) in our personal lives and can accomplish things more quickly. When praying concerning nations, as we typically do in the GH15 posts, it usually takes much longer. God will not force His way into people's hearts, but He does work to change their thinking and desires. He will not simply overlook the sins of a nation, but as His people humble themselves and pray, seek His face, and turn from evil, He cleanses, heals, and redeems. This takes time. We are working this process, and the process is working. As we persevere in our efforts, continuously releasing the power of the Holy Spirit through our prayers and decrees, God’s Kingdom rule is manifesting. His power and light are flowing, and will increase exponentially as revival increases, multiplying the fruit. Stay the course. Pray with me: Father, You alerted us that it would require faith and patience to inherit our promises (Hebrews 6:12). You also told us we would need endurance and perseverance to receive these promises (Hebrews 10:35-36). Our faith gives substance to what we cannot yet see (Hebrews 11:1), and as we persevere, Your provision manifests. We ARE people of faith, and we have the fruit of patience; we will NOT grow weary in our hearts and give up. We WILL possess this land for You. We call forth Your Kingdom rule throughout America. As a mighty army, we command Your will and pleasure to manifest in our government, our churches, and our society as a whole. We release the power of the Holy Spirit into our cities and towns, our streets and homes. We ask for His light to convict of sin, and His delivering power to lift the veil of darkness. And we persevere in our intercession for a Third Great Awakening. We also pray for our government. Hover over the White House, enveloping President Trump and his staff in Your presence and power. We pray the same for Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of War Hegseth, and all of the cabinet members. On this Thursday, as I write and record this, I can sense an urgency in the Spirit; something significant is about to take place. We ask for Holy Spirit’s superintending will to oversee all that occurs. And we ask all of this in Jesus’ powerful name. Amen. Our decree: The rule and authority of God's Kingdom are manifesting on the earth, producing the will and pleasure of King Jesus. Click on the link below to watch the video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 932. Ibid., ref. no. 2307. Ibid., ref. no. 1096. Ibid., ref. no. 1080.

Unlocking Blessing Through the Biblical Law of Honor There is a fundamental principle established by God that the modern world has largely forgotten or discarded. It isn’t just a polite suggestion, a set of social manners, or a cultural trend of a bygone era. It is a spiritual law: the Law of Honor. In the economy of God, honor is not just an emotional or mental response; it is a spiritual currency. If you do not understand how it operates, you will constantly find your spiritual momentum stalled, your prayers unanswered, and your destiny locked up behind closed doors. God operates within relational alignments of covenant and authority. When we align ourselves with His plan through honor, we tap into a pipeline of divine favor, protection, and power. When we break that alignment through dishonor, we disconnect from the very flow we desire to experience. The scriptures do not present honor as optional. From Genesis to Revelation, it is one of the primary catalysts for inheriting covenant promises. To understand this let’s look at some of God’s demands regarding honor. 1. Honoring Parents: The Generational Taproot Honor begins in the home. Exodus 20:12 instructs us: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Notice what the Apostle Paul says about this specific instruction in Ephesians 6:2: it is the first commandment with a promise. This is incredibly profound. He says that if we honor our parents, it will “go well with us” and we will “live long on the earth” (verse 3). Why would God condition long life and prosperity on how we treat our parents? For one thing, they are our physical portal into the earth. Dishonoring our parents is an act of spiritual rebellion that cuts us off from the generational taproot. It doesn’t matter if our parents were flawed, broken, or completely missed it in their assignment—honor is not about validating their performance; it is about respecting the position God granted them in our timeline. When we extend honor to the source of our earthly life, we secure our right to generational inheritance, pulling forward the blessings of those who walked before us while shutting the door on inherited curses. 2. Honoring Leaders: Releasing the Miraculous The second dimension where the law of honor operates is in our relationship to authority figures, both spiritual and civil. In the body of Christ, we often talk about spiritual authority, but often struggle with the practical application. In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul writes, “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.” In Romans 13:1, we are reminded, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” When we honor leaders, we are not worshipping a man or a woman. We are recognizing and bowing our hearts to the divine delegation of authority behind them. If we cannot honor the leader God gave us, we cannot receive from the anointing on their life. This is precisely why Jesus could do “no mighty works” in His hometown of Nazareth (Mark 6:5). The people looked at Him and saw a common carpenter; they treated Him with familiar dishonor. And their familiarity cut them off from their miracles. If you treat a prophet like a regular person, you get a regular person’s reward. But if you honor the calling, you unlock the full weight of the supply attached to that calling. 3. Honoring Figures from the Past: Reopening Wells One of the greatest tragedies of our current cultural landscape is the presence of an arrogant, historical amnesia. We live in a generation that loves to dig up the flaws of historical figures while ignoring the wells they dug and altars they built with their blood, sweat, tears and prayers. Scripture takes historical honor very seriously. Look at Hebrews 11—the great “Hall of Faith.” God meticulously chronicles the victories, sacrifices, and steps of obedience taken by Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, and others. He honored their legacy. In the spirit realm, we do not build our destinies from scratch; we inherit and build on what has already been paid for. We are called to re-dig the spiritual wells of our spiritual forefathers (Genesis 26:18). When we honor historical figures - the reformers, the revivalists, the Founding Fathers of our nations - we build a bridge to the roads they built. John 4:38: “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” When we speak respectfully of the price paid by those before us, we form a synergistic alignment across time. We link our current assignment with their unfinished mandates, triggering an accumulation of anointing that causes momentum and breakthrough in our day. On the other hand, dishonoring the past blinds us to the map for our future. 4. Honoring Others: Corporate Synergy Finally, the law of honor must flow horizontally. It cannot just look upward to God or backward to history; it must also look outward to our peers. The Apostle Peter commands us to “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17). Paul takes it a step further in Romans 12:10, instructing us to “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” True Kingdom honor values individuals as image-bearers of the Most High God, not their social status, income, or benefit to our personal agendas. When we walk in horizontal honor to other believers, we are also honoring Christ in them. “The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you” (1 Corinthians 12:21). When we honor our brother or sister, we value their position in the body. This appreciation births a powerful corporate synergy that the enemy cannot fracture. And it creates an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit loves to dwell; where there is unity, He commands the blessing (Psalm 133). In Conclusion Ultimately, honor is a matter of the heart. It is the physical manifestation of our reverence for God Himself. When we build a lifestyle of honor—honoring parents, respecting leadership, valuing historical legacies, and preferring one another—we create a perfectly aligned conduit through which the glory of God can pour out unhindered. Let’s break off the spirit of dishonor, realign our mouths and hearts, and watch the doors of heaven swing open over our lives, our families, and our nations. Pray with me: Father, You place great importance on honor. You buried Moses Yourself, washed Your disciples’ feet, and stood to honor Stephen when he was martyred and entered Heaven. May we follow Your example and demonstrate the same appreciation for our forefathers, leaders, families and friends. We thank You for the pathfinders whose road we follow. We honor the teachers and instructors upon whose insights we have fed. And we salute the cloud of witnesses whose blood, sweat, and tears have pioneered Kingdom accomplishments upon which we build today. May they find us faithful…and grateful. May we always model the law of honor. Awaken in us hearts that prefer others above ourselves, and give us Kingdom mindsets that serve the greater good above our own. As we do, we believe supernatural blessings and power will be released, enabling us to accomplish Your purposes for our lives. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that our God is worthy of the highest praise and glory. We honor Him! Click on the link below to watch the video.

The Path to America’s Recovery The concept of debate was an important part of the founding and shaping of America, and was intended to play a significant role in the function of our government. Though debate can be challenging and does not always achieve the desired goal, hearing others' opinions and insights, then sharing our own, enables us to arrive at the highest level of wisdom. This is healthy and wise. No single person has all the needed wisdom for complex and uncharted situations. Church leaders in the book of Acts, like America’s Founders, modeled this spiritually in Acts 11 and 15, asking for Holy Spirit’s help and guidance as they did so. “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us…” was the outcome in Acts 15:28. Wholesome and productive debate, however, works only when both sides share the same core convictions, ideals, and goals. When this is not the case, the process becomes contentious, divisive, and non-productive. America has now reached a point where the process fails most of the time. It has almost become a cliché to say that “This is not your father’s Democratic Party.” And the leftward movement has not stopped. There is now even a significant foothold of socialism and Marxism in the party; to them, capitalism is abhorred. Some would actually say they are taking over the party. Also, many on the Left no longer want God’s guidance or biblical influence in our country. It is abundantly clear that many in the party hate the America we have been for 250 years and want us to be a fundamentally different nation. The process of debate for the Left of our day is not about finding wisdom or reaching a consensus, but about reaching a compromise that moves our society another step leftward. They are now growing bolder and more determined, willing to do whatever it takes to reach their goals: add states to the nation, seats on the Supreme Court, illegals to the election process–anything to gain greater control and accomplish their goals. One might be tempted to ask, “Why don’t they just go someplace else if they don’t like America?” Or for some who have arrived in our nation in just the past few years, such as Mandami or Omar, “Why did you come here if you don’t like it?” Obviously, moving to another country is impractical for most of them, but there is another reason, especially for the leaders of the efforts to transform us. Their motivation goes beyond merely disliking America as it is. The U.S. stands in the way of the world order they prefer, and therefore, must be destroyed–or at least weakened and fundamentally changed–in order for them to attain their goals. The lower-level “echo-ers” of the philosophies–those holding their signs, blocking traffic, chanting mantras, singing silly songs–are simply ignorant and naive pawns in the game. Other pawns of the kings and queens are simply the lazy and entitled people who want to “level the playing field,” which, when translated, means they want everything given to them. (One of the goals of the Democratic Socialist Party is actually a 32-hour workweek! Some of us surpass that by Wednesday!!! Many in America today are unaware that the American Dream requires hard work.) Regardless of how we got here, or the various motives of those who now despise America, satan has conducted a successful campaign to weaken, divide, and conquer America. So much so that our nation can no longer be restored and healed only by well-meaning and competent government officials in Washington, D.C. Nor can it be done by our educational system. Wise, competent, and honorable leaders are absolutely necessary, and many of them are doing admirable work. But God alone can heal a society that has become as sinful, weak, ignorant, ill-informed, and divided as America. Our condition can only be healed from the inside out. When I contend, as I have for 30 years, that America’s only hope for survival is a Third Great Awakening, I am in good company. Ronald Reagan said, during an interview with journalist John Bass while he was preparing his run for the presidency against Jimmy Carter, “The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America–our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal."(1) When asserting that this great awakening is our only hope, I am not naïvely stating that Bible studies and church services will fix all of America’s problems. I am reminding us that America’s connection with God is her lifeline. I’m saying that a return to Him will bring a return to truth, morality, common sense, love, wisdom, and stability. Jesus said that building structures on the foundation of His words was the equivalent of building on a rock; not doing so was like building on sand - the structure will not survive (Matthew 7:24-27). The Psalmist told us, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1). Benjamin Franklin quoted this verse as a warning when calling for prayer during the Continental Congress in 1787.(2) We would do well to remember it today. As the praying church, the Ekklesia, continues to do her part to pray in this great awakening, God will do what only He can do. And as this heaven-sent great awakening unfolds, millions of people will receive transformed hearts and minds, and will want God's will and ways to be restored in America. Righteous government leaders will then be able to lead in ways that reconstitute strength and healing. This is the path to America’s recovery; it will lead us home. There is no other. Pray with me: Father, we humans have been thinking we know more than You since Adam ate the forbidden fruit. And we Americans are prone to forgetting that it has only been with Your help and support that this nation has been so blessed. As Abraham Lincoln, one of our greatest presidents, stated many years ago: “…we have forgotten [You]. 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."(2) These words are as true today as they were then, perhaps more so. We repent of this pride and arrogance, and humbly come before You today, acknowledging our desperate need of You. Please pour out Your Spirit on this nation once again. Rain down righteousness and cleansing fire. Save millions, fill them with Your breath, write Your words and laws in their hearts, and restore truth in our land. Cleanse our government, revive our churches, and heal our land. All this we pray in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We are firmly anchored and sustained by the knowledge that grace and mercy triumph over judgment, and God’s life is stronger than death. America shall be saved! Click on the link below to watch the video. Ronald Reagan at 110 https://christianheritagefellowship.com/benjamin-franklin-calls-for-prayer-at-constitutional-convention/ https://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/fast.htm

All Because You Prayed “And [pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:19-20 “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 “Brethren, pray for us.” 1 Thessalonians 5:25 Paul, an apostle, often requested prayer for his ministry, asking for effectiveness, courage, the advance of the gospel, and more. He knew the prayers of the churches would provide him with boldness, courage, clarity, and deliverance from spiritual adversity. His desire was that God would open doors for his message and make his ministry fruitful. Paul understood that preaching, teaching, writing, and church-building were not merely the result of his personal skill or strategy; they depended on divine anointing and provision. So he asked others to pray for him to this end. He also knew prayer would enable people to hear clearly, understand the truth he was proclaiming, and respond appropriately. He wasn’t so much interested in ease and personal convenience through the prayers as in serving his mission and calling. Paul wanted God to protect him and remove barriers so he could continue his work and fulfill the ministry entrusted to him. This apostle also asked for prayer regarding opposition. He was aware that satan and his demonic forces would foster hostility, misunderstandings, opposition from religious leaders or civic authorities, and resistance from those who disagreed. He recognized that the battle for success in his ministry was not fought only on a human level (arguments, politics, other religions), but on the level where spiritual forces opposed the gospel. So, to Paul, prayer involved resistance to spiritual forces and opposition–spiritual warfare. And finally, Paul’s requests reflected humility and partnership. Although he was an incredibly strong apostle, Paul knew he needed support, and he also understood God’s intentions regarding the body of Christ partnering together. Therefore, he invited the church to share in his labors and participate in God’s mission by praying for him. It has always amazed me that Almighty God limited Himself in many ways to His family, partnering with Him in prayer. The great E. M. Bounds said of prayer: “The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil everywhere…God shapes the world by prayer…The prayers of God’s saints are the capital stock in heaven by which Christ carries on His great work upon earth…Earth is changed, revolutionized; angels move on with more powerful, more rapid wing, and God’s policy is shaped as the prayers are more numerous, more efficient…When God’s house on earth is a house of prayer, then God’s house in heaven is busy and all-potent in its plans and movements; then His earthly armies are clothed with the triumphs and spoils of victory and His enemies defeated on every hand…God conditions the very life and prosperity of His cause on prayer.”(1) Feast on those words for a while! I remind you today that your pastor will be a better leader and communicator because you pray for them. Missionaries will be more effective in their efforts to evangelize and plant churches–and be more protected as they do so–because of your prayers. And not only will leaders be blessed, but family members will be saved, the gospel will advance, soldiers will be protected, businesses will prosper, bodies will be healed…all because you prayed. And let’s remember that God placed great emphasis on praying for those in government: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Timothy 2:1-2). The word “exhort” in verse one could be translated “urge” or even “beg”!(2) How strong is that! I wish I could convince every pastor in America that God “begged” His people to faithfully pray for government. What would happen if every church in America took 5, 10, 15 minutes every time they gathered to pray for nations and their governmental leaders? I dare say that very quickly wars would end, revivals would break out, lives would be saved, suffering would end, and God's purposes would be accomplished. But–and please forgive my sarcasm–I suppose there just isn’t enough time. In many respects, God's people remain sheep all of their lives, rather than growing up into lions (Proverbs 28:1), eagles (Isaiah 40:31), oaks of righteousness (Isaiah 61:3), and ambassadors for King Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:20). Church services are all about the “sheep”: their needs, their comfort, teaching them to be healthy and prosperous, etc. They should also be training centers for the Ekklesia, God's governmental, nation-discipling representatives of His Kingdom on earth. And they should be houses of prayer! Pray with me: Father, we pray for Your church today. In some ways, we have been deceived by our adversary into majoring on the minors, while neglecting that which matters most. When we gather, we often focus more on our needs than Yours. The average church spends more time on its “meet and greet” than it does praying for the great worldwide harvest Jesus died for. Happy, healthy sheep are typically the primary goal, not partnering with You as sons and daughters. This has changed somewhat over the last few decades through the worship and prayer movements You generated. Thank You for this, and for connecting the prayer warriors that are engaged on a daily basis, not only through this ministry, but also through many others around the world. These warriors are accomplishing so much. However, the army must grow. We ask that You multiply it, and mature the church into the Ekklesia Jesus spoke of, one the gates of hell cannot prevail against (Matthew 16). Develop millions more into the mature sons and daughters who are led by Your Spirit, and that creation is groaning and waiting for (Romans 8). Today, we do as You instructed us and pray for nations and leaders. We ask You to continue dismantling the evil regime in Iran, free the people there, and send one of earth’s greatest revivals. Give President Trump and his team incredible wisdom and insight as they navigate this situation. Mantle some of his team with the gifting Issachar possessed in 1 Chronicles 12:32: the ability to discern the times and know what to do. Give him Josephs and Daniels, and remind him to listen to them. Make them a strong team. Cause revival to spread throughout the Middle East, bringing millions of Jews and Muslims to Jesus. Deliver them from the powers of darkness, open the eyes of their understanding, and save them. Do this also in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America, Australia, and the islands of the sea. Cause the wind of Your Spirit to blow throughout the entire earth. Breathe on the dry bones! You said in Matthew 9:38 to ask the Lord of the harvest for laborers. Therefore, we ask for thousands of prophetic evangelists to be raised up in this hour to flood the nations of the Earth. Fill them with Your Spirit and anoint them to release great power, signs, wonders, and miracles. Fill their words with such power and clarity that the veil of deception is ripped off the minds of those who hear them. And lastly, we ask you to continue Your restoration of America. Let the exposing of sin, darkness, deception, and foolishness in our government continue. Destroy the agendas of evil that oppose You and send revival and reformation. Revive the church with holy, Pentecostal fire. We declare on the authority of Your Word that this is coming and will not be stopped. All of this we pray in Jesus' name. Our decree: We decree that Holy Spirit is blowing on the dry bones, answering our prayers, bringing revival and reformation! Click on the link below to watch the video. https://ccel.org/ccel/bounds/purpose/purpose.I_1.html James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3870.

God’s Overcoming Army! As is now well known, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died unexpectedly on Saturday evening, July 11, 2026, at the age of 71. According to preliminary findings from the Washington, D.C., medical examiner, Graham passed away from an aortic dissection (a life-threatening tear in the inner wall of the body’s main artery) brought on by cardiovascular disease. His sudden death came shortly after he returned from his 10th trip to Ukraine, where he met with Zelenskyy, and just hours after speaking with President Trump. Senator Graham served the people of South Carolina for over three decades and was a towering figure in American politics. He began his congressional career in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995 before winning his Senate seat in 2002. Over the years, he cemented his legacy as an influential dealmaker and one of the United States’ most visible defense-minded politicians. During his time in Congress, he also maintained a 33-year tenure in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve, ultimately retiring as a colonel. Graham consistently advocated for a robust U.S. military, strong support for global allies like Israel, and continuous backing for Ukraine in its defense against Russia. During the presidency of Trump, Lindsey transformed from a political rival into a true friend and one of Trump’s staunchest allies on Capitol Hill. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he played a pivotal role in the reshaping of the federal judiciary, helping push through the Supreme Court nominations of Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, including his epic defense of Kavanaugh and thrashing of the disgraceful Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee. His fiery words were credited with turning the tide for Kavanaugh. As a now-departed ally of Trump, Graham’s death further complicates the situation in the Senate. Several Republican Senators, including Majority Leader Thune, obviously oppose Trump and the changes voters mandated in the 2024 elections–most notably the Save America Act. Thune and his allies are also slow-walking many of Trump’s appointments. It is revealed almost daily that the “Washington establishment” is layers deep and decades long.(1) Then there is the fact that Republican Senator Mitch McConnell (also one of Trump’s Republican opponents) has finally “disappeared” due to health issues; the silence surrounding his vanishing act is deafening. If McConnell passes or resigns, a special election would be required to replace him, which could take months. During that span, the Republican majority would be only 52-47 (after Graham’s replacement is appointed by South Carolina Governor McMaster, which will no doubt happen quickly). Whether McConnell stays or goes, passing conservative legislation in the Senate could be even more challenging due to the loss of Lindsey’s tremendous influence in BOTH branches of Congress. I share this information to remind us that we must remain very diligent in our prayers for America. Added to the above are: the renewed conflict with Iran and its wicked leaders, their renewed plots to assassinate President Trump, the mainstream media’s relentless misrepresentation of the truth, the rise of socialism and Islam, continued attempts to rewrite our history and promote wokeness (you’ve probably seen the shameful propaganda now being promoted by the Smithsonian Museum of History), and more. America has absolutely begun a huge recovery and turnaround. And if we stay the course in our prayers, it will continue. But I would describe our situation as similar to Paul’s when writing to the Corinthian church: “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9). Our calling to pray, including spiritual warfare, is not always easy. Many believers refuse to pay the price, allowing others to do the spiritual work of prayer, just as they do in giving, evangelism, voting for and supporting responsible government, and more. But God has a remnant who ARE willing, and as one who reads or listens to Give Him 15, you are probably one of them. And though Scripture gives us no way of assessing when a remnant is adequate, trusted prophetic voices have assured us that today’s praying remnant IS. God has rendered His verdict: America shall be saved! AND SHE SHALL! So stand firm, pray daily, even if only for a few minutes, and refuse to quit. You are shaping history! Pray for the protection of President Trump and his team, and for great wisdom. Pray that our Congress undergoes a radical transformation, and appeal for the same with regard to the Supreme Court. Pray that revival intensifies and completely alters the moral and cultural landscape of America…that “justice roll out like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24), and a billion people “in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:14) choose Christ. Like our brother Samuel Adams declared, “We have appealed to Heaven for the justice of our cause, and in Heaven we have placed our trust.”(2) And we will not waver! Pray with me: Father, when I started my journey in prayer decades ago, intercessors were few and far between. You have now raised up a praying army of hundreds of thousands–perhaps millions–here in America, and certainly millions around the world. These believers don’t pray religious or perfunctory prayers, but offer heartfelt and faith-filled petitions and decrees, calling forth Your purposes in the earth. They are not weak; they are strong; they’re not ignorant and uninformed, but well taught. They are not fearful; they are warriors. Bless Your intercessors today with strength, endurance, and tenacity. Bless them with health and vigor, favor and prosperity, wisdom and revelation. Keep them focused, undistracted, and at peace. Remind them of Your unfailing promises, our purpose as a nation, and its connection to the world. May they be alert like Gideon’s army, faithful like Deborah’s, and mighty like David’s. We pray today for the safety and protection of President Trump and his team. We ask that every plot of Iran, Russia, China, and terrorists in America and around the world would fail. Give extraordinary skill and supernatural assistance to those assigned to protect them, including our military. We pray this protection also for our legislators and judges. We also ask You to give godly leaders wisdom, founded on humility. Give them the insights and strategies needed to always outmaneuver those who stand for unrighteousness and evil. Cause the plans of evil doers to fail in government, media, education, and throughout our society. Give success and favor to the righteous. End the wicked regime in Iran and multiply the harvest there–cause waves of revival to roll through the entire Middle East, bringing hundreds of millions of souls into Your Kingdom. Cut off the plans of Russia and China, and do not allow them to prosper in their evil plans to dominate the world. We ask all of this in Yeshua’s name. Amen Our decree: We declare today that we WILL go through God’s open doors, and WILL overcome all adversity. Click on the link below to watch the video. Adapted from public information including: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn75083d472o https://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0901/2008015005-s.html

A Lesson from King David Reading from 1 Chronicles 21:1-5 (NASB): “Then satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, ‘Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number.’ Joab said, ‘May the Lord add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?’ Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem. Joab gave David the number of the census of all…who drew the sword.” The story of King David numbering the people Israel is a sad and sobering passage of Scripture. His actions brought severe judgment on Israel. At first glance, a census seems normal and harmless. However, Israel was instructed when and how they were allowed to do so in Exodus 30. Restricting them in this practice was because God did not want their trust to EVER be in their own strength and numbers, rather than Him. David’s action was a severe sin, first of all, because of his gross and willful disobedience. But his actions also revealed something else very troubling: pride had crept into David’s heart. Counting his army was a way of David saying, "Look at what I have built; look at my power.” By ordering a census without God’s explicit command, this once humble shepherd, was acting as if he were the ultimate owner and master of Israel, rather than God’s appointed steward. It was an act of pride and a usurpation of God’s ownership and authority. And lastly, numbering the army shows us that David was shifting his reliance from God’s supernatural protection to the size of his military. He wanted to look at a number on paper to feel secure. The irony of this is that when David fought Goliath, he had famously said, “The Lord saves not with sword and spear” (1 Samuel 17:45). He knew that the strength of the enemy didn’t determine victory or defeat, but whether or not the Lord was fighting for them. David later wrote Psalm 20: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Comparing this with the census narrative above reveals a change in David’s heart. His faith and commitment to God had suffered significantly. How did this happen? Psalm 20 was likely written when David was younger, at the height of his military campaigns. In those days, his army was small and had to win its battles through sheer faith and trust in God…just as the Lord wanted. In Deuteronomy 17:16, God gave a specific command for any future king of Israel: “He must not acquire many horses for himself.” God wanted Israel’s kings to remain dependent on Him, not the size of their military. When David wrote Psalm 20, I’m sure he truly believed what he was writing. He knew that earthly military might was nothing compared to the power of God’s name and His blessings. When he was an underdog facing a giant with nothing but a sling, it was trust God or die. But time and success can take their toll. Fast forward a few decades. The census took place during David’s twilight years. He was no longer a poor young shepherd fighting giants; he was an established, wealthy monarch. Decades of success, political security, absolute power, and, much learning had subtly eroded his reliance on God. David didn’t just wake up one day and suddenly decide to abandon his faith and trust; it was a gradual fade! By the time of the census, the temptation to count his “horses and chariots” (his military might) had finally won. But the census became inevitable the moment David stopped looking to God for security and began relying on his own abilities and numbers. Now that he had a powerful army, the underlying mindset was, “We can handle things ourselves.” David’s loss of faith in God serves as a powerful warning to all of us: Yesterday’s experiences, lessons, and spiritual victories can breed pride and self-sufficiency if we are not vigilant to guard against them. Humility is our responsibility, we must choose, not ask God for. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up” (James 4:10). Verse six of this chapter tells us He gives grace to the humble. This brings me to the primary purpose of today’s post. I feel a strong urge to pray for President Trump and his entire team. It would be quite easy for the most powerful person in the world to fall into the same trap that snared David. I quoted the beatitude from Matthew 5:3 in a recent post: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The New Living Translation states, “God blesses those who…realize their need for him.” We must pray that President Trump and all those in his administration are continuously reminded of just how much they need God’s guidance and help. America is great because of the great God she aligned herself with. And yes, we have begun our journey back to Him. But this journey could be sidetracked very quickly through pride, disobedience, and complacency. It is worth repeating what Ben Franklin said during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, after the delegates had neglected to corporately humble themselves and ask for God’s help. When failure seemed likely, and the struggle reached a desperate point, he stood and referenced God’s “superintending providence” in bringing the nation to liberty. Franklin then stated: “And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth–that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? “We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building, no better than the builders of Babel…”(1) The same is true regarding America’s rebuilding in our day. Let’s pray. Pray with me: Father, America is without question the most powerful nation that has ever existed militarily. We are also the richest. Our blessings are beyond comparison. But we are blessed and prosperous because of You. Your Word says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12), and we are inarguable proof of this promise. Remind us that we can be patriotic and love our nation without succumbing to arrogance and pride. We can, and must, choose humility. In the past, we Americans, like David, have exalted ourselves and failed to remember that You made us great. Remind us of Christ’s words that You bless those who realize their need for You. And we pray especially that You remind President Trump and his team EVERY DAY of their need for Your guidance and wisdom. Only You can turn around our nation. Only You can heal our land and restore it to greatness. Only You know the exact path to ending Iran’s evil rule. And as our leaders humble themselves before You, give them the grace You promised. Think through their minds, download Your thoughts, release Your strategies. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. Our decree: We choose to humble ourselves before our great and holy God, asking for and receiving His abundant grace. Click on the link below to watch the video. https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/historic-document-library/detail/benjamin-franklin-closing-speech-at-the-constitutional-convention

Heaven’s Announcement Over America Yesterday I shared a post from Larry and Mercedes Sparks’ new book, The Fire that Forged America. This powerful book will help us prepare and pray for the emerging revival. Today, I am sharing from their book again. In Ezekiel 37, God both asks the prophet a question and gives him clear instructions: “…Can these bones live? …Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:3-4 ESV) There is a lie that has lingered too long in the imagination of American Christianity — and I want to confront it head-on today. The lie goes something like this: America is too far gone. The culture has drifted past the point of no return. The moral foundations are too crumbled, the institutions too corrupted, the next generation too lost. And so, if we believe America as a nation is too lost and too broken, we narrow the lie down to our zip code: this city is too secular, this campus is too hostile, this region is too dark. Either way — national or local — the verdict is the same. Written off. Can these bones live? Yes… If there are voices that agree with and announce what Heaven says about them. When the Word is preached with clarity and the Spirit is welcomed with hunger, we see Book of Acts results such as those in Ephesus: “the Word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily” (Acts 19:20 ESV). It was true in Ephesus, it was true in colonial America, and it is true right now. God Places His People in the Valley There are territories throughout the earth that are written off as too hard and dark. And tragically, this can influence believers in those very regions, causing them to live under the deception that the forces of darkness are somehow stronger than the Spirit of the risen Christ living inside them. Notice that God placed Ezekiel right in the middle of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1). I am convinced that if God has sovereignly placed you in a spiritually challenging territory—whether that be a neighborhood, a city, or a nation bearing the weight of cultural collapse—He has an assignment for you there. And it is not simply to announce how dry or dead the bones are. Like Ezekiel, your assignment is to prophesy life, breath, and wind over exceedingly dry bones. God often positions His people in dark, “written-off” places so He can move through their voices, prayers, lives, and influence. Let’s walk through what Ezekiel’s encounter reveals about our assignment in America. Three Things Dry Valleys Teach Us First: dark places do not take God by surprise. Whether you live in a spiritually resistant city, serve in a post-modernized institution, or simply feel the weight of a nation that seems to be losing its way—your location is not random. He placed Ezekiel in the valley, and He has placed you where you are. Second: God is not intimidated by dry places. I remember when a pastor told my friend and revivalist Miriam Evans that a certain city was a “graveyard for churches.” Instead of agreeing with that pronouncement, she went to prayer. The Lord gave Miriam a dream of an Angel of Awakening so massive she couldn't see beyond his feet into the Heavens. This mighty angel stepped onto the Southeast coast of the US, into the very city marked as a cemetery for churches. What had been spiritually dead was now pregnant with awakening. I believe the same angel of awakening is advancing across America right now. Third: our responsibility is not to agree with the bleakness of the valley, nor to abandon it for greener pastures, nor to retreat into silence. We are called to release God’s Word into what seems irreversibly dead. Joel 2 and Acts 2 make it clear: in the last days, God’s sons and daughters will prophesy. That is not limited to preachers behind pulpits — it is the assignment of every Spirit-filled believer. When God places you in a hard place, He is not punishing you. He is trusting you to be His voice to dry bones. The Gospel and the Glory Always Prevail Surprisingly, I am more hopeful about America than most headlines would justify. Not because I'm naive about the darkness, but because I’ve studied what God has done in America before, and I know that America's history is not a story of spiritual decline without recovery. It is a decline followed by divine interruption. Every time America has drifted toward moral collapse, God has answered—not with abandonment, but with awakening. Jesus never told us to avoid the gates of hell—He told us those gates would not prevail against His Church. The enemy doesn’t get to write the final headline of cities, states, or nations. God does. He is not intimidated by graveyards; He simply deposits prophetic voices into these places to declare His life and awakening over them. The key is prioritizing the Book of Acts strategy to spiritually transform territories: the gospel, demonstrated by God’s power and glory. A clear proclamation of Christ crucified and risen, then confirmed by the manifest power of the Holy Spirit: supernatural gifts in operation, demons cast out, bodies healed, atmospheres transformed. Unchurched people are not offended by the raw demonstration of God's power—if anything, those curiously visiting our Sunday morning sanctuaries are crying out for the authentic display of the supernatural. Hard Places That Became Harvest Fields Consider two “hard places” that became harvest fields throughout Scripture. Samaria (Acts 8) was defined by centuries of paganism and idolatry, yet when Philip preached Christ, demons shrieked, the sick were healed, and there was great joy in that city. God wants to fill broken cities with joy. Ephesus (Acts 19) was a headquarters of idolatry, immorality, and occult power—home of the temple of Artemis, which set the spiritual atmosphere for the entire territory. One could rightly call it a hard and dark place. Yet, the word of the Lord prevailed mightily, and revival came to the city. If Ephesus can experience this, any modern city can—and so can America. These examples don’t just confirm that revival is possible in hard and dark places—they should provoke us to agree with Heaven’s announcement and objective. According to Joel 2 and Acts 2, God wants all flesh to experience the outpouring of the Spirit. Is America part of “all flesh?” Yes. So we boldly announce: “America, it’s time for another great outpouring!” Pray with me: Father, forgive us for believing lies concerning “hard and dark” territories. Our standard is not to be how sinful a nation appears; our standard is Your Scripture. And Your Word invites us to believe that violent and oppressed cities will be filled with joy, entire territories will be transformed by the Gospel, and nations will be born again in a day. We commit to come into agreement with Your Word regarding America. Not the news. Not the naysayers. Not the negativity. We pray as the church in Acts prayed: “And now, O Lord, give us great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30). Your Word says dry, dead bones can live, and so we declare: America, come alive in the name of Jesus! All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. You can find out more about Larry and Mercedes Sparks at LarrySparksMinistries.com. Their book, The Fire that Forged America, is available on Amazon. Click on the link below to watch the video.

The Fire that Forged America I love sharing posts that prepare and help us pray for the emerging revival. Today is one such post. It is adapted from Larry and Mercedes Sparks’ new book, The Fire that Forged America. Larry and Mercedes tell us: History has a way of humbling our cynicism. Every generation that has declared a city or a nation too far gone for God to rescue it has eventually been proven wrong by the transformational move of the Holy Spirit. America is no exception. From the colonial era to the present, the places most often written off as spiritual graveyards have become the very epicenters of revival. Let me take you on a brief journey through American history—not as a nostalgia trip, but as a prophetic provocation. These are blueprints, not footnotes. They tell the truth about God and expose the lie about those so-called “hard places.” When Hard Ground Became Holy Ground The First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s). By this point in America’s history, strict religious devotion had given way to the compromise of the half-way covenant, producing generations who attended church as a cultural obligation rather than a heart encounter with God. Religious form remained, but spiritual fire had waned. Into that dryness, God thundered. Through the preaching of Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, the Holy Spirit pierced complacent hearts, producing weeping, repentance, and radical conversions. God can rewrite the story of a people, even in an age of compromise. The Second Great Awakening (early 1800s). Following the Revolutionary War, moral decline, drunkenness, and lawlessness swept the new nation. Many predicted Christianity’s influence would fade entirely. Instead, God raised up revivalists like Charles Finney and Barton Stone. Camp meetings like Cane Ridge drew tens of thousands. What began as rural stirrings spread into cities, producing mass conversions, societal reforms, and the seeds of abolition. A nation once thought adrift was redirected by the Spirit. The Noonday Prayer Revival (1857–1858). On the edge of Civil War, Jeremiah Lanphier’s noonday prayer meeting in Manhattan seemed almost insignificant. But within months, prayer meetings multiplied across America, and thousands were being converted weekly. What started as a small group praying in New York became a nationwide prayer movement. Even commercial and cultural capitals can become houses of intercession. Azusa Street, Los Angeles (1906). In a segregated, suspicious, and spiritually parched environment, under the humble leadership of William J. Seymour, the Holy Spirit birthed a multi-ethnic, missions-sending revival whose fire has circled the globe, ultimately producing over half a billion on-fire believers celebrating the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit. If Los Angeles could become an altar, which city today would be beyond the Spirit’s reach? The Jesus People Movement (late 1960s–1970s). In the countercultural hotbeds of Southern California hippies, addicts, and spiritual seekers were baptized by the thousands. The generation many assumed was too far gone became burning ones for Jesus. The Brownsville Revival, Pensacola (1995–2000). On Father’s Day 1995, what began as an ordinary Sunday service ignited into one of the most significant outpourings of the last 30 years. Under Pastor John Kilpatrick and evangelist Steve Hill, the Holy Spirit fell with convicting power. Millions visited over five years, with altars filled night after night as people wept, repented, and encountered the fire of God. In an age of growing cynicism, Pensacola became proof that revival was not a relic of the past but a living reality. The River Is Breaking Banks Right Now These snapshots from history bring us to the present moment — because the pattern has not stopped. In February 2023, the Asbury Outpouring reminded us that revival is not exclusive to the history books. Students filled a chapel in Wilmore, Kentucky, and what began as a simple time of prayer and worship stretched into days, then weeks. Thousands came from around the globe—not because there were big-name preachers or cutting-edge production, but because God's presence was tangible, the worship was pure, and the altar was open for people to have holy encounters. What Asbury signaled was not an isolated visitation. It was a signpost of what God is doing across America in our day. Since 2020, the ground has shifted. In the aftermath of crisis, confusion, and cultural upheaval, hunger has begun to rise again. Secularism has not delivered the utopia it promised. Atheism has not satisfied the ache for meaning. Postmodernism has only deepened the swirl of confusion. And in the middle of this disillusionment, a remnant is rising. Across university campuses, thousands are gathering—some in arenas, some in open fields, others in lecture halls. They are not satisfied with watered-down religion. They are desperate for bold answers, unapologetic truth, and encounters with the real Jesus. Multitudes of students are filling spaces to worship, repent, and be baptized—not because of slick campaigns, but because they have tasted the emptiness of the world and are desperate for the River of Life, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit Is Stirring in Unlikely Places But this stirring is not limited to campuses. It is showing up in the places that once seemed least likely—among Hollywood creatives and cultural influencers. Top podcasters are asking questions about God, Scripture, and the meaning of life. Some of the most listened-to voices in the digital public square are giving airtime to conversations about Christianity—not as an irrelevant icon of the past, but as an urgent question for the present. Could it be that God is seeding the next great awakening not only in church buildings but also in podcast studios, university stadiums, and on cultural stages? The places we are tempted to write off as too dark or too hostile are being invaded by light. Revival is erupting in a podcast. It is breaking out in a dorm room. It is whispering in the conscience of top influencers. It is stirring in the places most people thought were sealed to the Gospel. The River is not trickling quietly just within the four walls of the church. It is breaking banks—flooding campuses, flooding culture, flooding influencers with questions and convictions they cannot shake. You Carry the River Into Dry Lands Here is what I want you to carry with you: you are not a spectator to this story. You are part of it. Jesus' invitation still rings: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. …out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38 NKJV). People are thirsty—and the Spirit-filled Church carries the solution. You are filled with the River of Life that dry and thirsty people are desperate for. The River of God’s Spirit flows from within you into the world around you. The dryness of your environment does not threaten your fire. It is fuel for it. The very headlines that trouble your city, state, or nation may point to the specifics of your calling. You may be assigned to bring the River of God into those places. Don't curse the ground God called you to water. Speak life. The River of God is rising. Spiritual graveyards are turning into gardens. History prophesies to us about the future: what God did in times past through historic revival and awakening, He can and will do it again. And you—right where you are—are part of how revival history is written. Pray with me: Father, let Your river continue to rise. Renew the face of America by pouring out Your Spirit in a mighty way. No sphere or sector of society is beyond Your reach. And Lord, we say with the prophet Isaiah, Here I am, send me. Pour out Your Spirit through me. Use me wherever You have called and assigned me to be a voice and vessel of awakening. And we pray that Your fire would burn once again in believers across our nation. Continue building the glorious church You spoke of until it isn’t only a remnant that is on fire, but millions of believers are ablaze with Holy Spirit’s burning passion. Return leaders to their first love; baptize them afresh and anew with the power and passion of Holy Spirit. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name, amen. Our decree: We decree that the present outpouring of the Holy Spirit is turning spiritual graveyards into gardens of life! Click on the link below to watch the video. You can find out more about Larry and Mercedes Sparks at LarrySparksMinistries.com. Their book, The Fire that Forged America, is available on Amazon.

Continuing the 250 Year Celebration I just can’t resist taking one more day to share a report regarding America’s great 250th birthday celebration. Like hundreds of thousands of patriotic Americans, Ceci and I braved the triple-digit temperatures for a few hours Saturday to visit the Washington, D.C., National Mall. Patriot Ceci is still on the mend from some physical issues, including a hip replacement and an injured foot, but still walked over 3 miles in the intense heat to do so. Patriots will be patriots. At one point, I stood next to a perspiring, obviously exhausted, elderly lady who sat down in one of the state booths’ rocking chairs for a few minutes of shade and rest. Ceci was doing the same on my other side. Then I noticed the cane in the other lady’s lap. I’m standing between a couple of warriors! I thought. “It’s pretty impressive to be out here today in this heat when walking with a cane,” I said to my fellow unknown patriot. She downplayed it, of course. Some proud Americans were being pushed in wheelchairs, and still others were PUSHING wheelchairs!!! (And strollers, by the way.) Watching thousands of them carrying their small flags, wearing their patriotic outfits, taking pictures, and celebrating the founding of our great nation was, indeed, inspiring. Several hundred thousand people stood in long, unshaded lines just to get onto the Mall. After having to leave around 7 PM because of the storms, 150,000-plus came back, many in their soaked outfits, to hear the President’s speech - at 11 PM! - and watch the fireworks live. And for those who may have missed it, in his speech, President Trump honored 100-plus-year-old veterans and displayed several U.S. flags that were present at significant events in America’s history. These included one that covered President Abraham Lincoln’s casket, and one from the USS Arizona that sank in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, at the start of World War II. What an inspiring night. The President concluded his speech by saying: “That show tonight, you heard it was over. [referencing the rumor that his speech and the remainder of the festivities had been canceled due to the weather] And what happened? You came back. And this American flag still waves. Proud and free and beautiful. We have thrived and flourished because our Founders were great. Our cause was just. Our people are brave. Our culture is exceptional. And our destiny is written by God. And as we can see here tonight, after 250 years, the spirit of 1776 still lives within us all. It still roars in the hearts of our nation’s capital. It still burns in the heart of every patriot and thunders through every city and town. It still lights the entire world with the glow of American liberty. And there is nothing like that at 250 years old. We may be the oldest constitutional republic on earth, but our country is just getting started, because the best is yet to come. This is only the dawn of the Golden Age of America. “On this 250th 4th of July, we declare, just as they did two and a half centuries ago, that for our country and for our children and for the cause of liberty, we are going to take our country to new levels, to levels not reached. We’re going to make it bigger, better, stronger, and we’re going to love it even more… And I want to thank everybody, and we love you all. And it’s an honor to be your President. Thank you. God bless you all. God bless you all.”(1) And the fireworks display that began just before midnight, well, it was a fitting end to our 250th birthday, and an ushering in of the next 250 years. Thank you to Intercessors For America for inviting Ceci and me to join you and many of your conference attendees on the riverboat, where we dined, hung out, and watched the fireworks from the Potomac! (The IFA conference was amazing, by the way, and a true honor to be part of.) We enjoyed meeting so many IFA “faithfuls,” along with many faithful Give Him 15 followers–thanks for your kind remarks and encouragement. What a great night! Now, the work of restoring America to her God-given destiny continues. We will finish the mission we have begun: doing our part to produce a Third Great Awakening here in America, and watching it blaze elsewhere in the world where, for many, it will be their first awakening. Can you imagine–hundreds of millions of people born again, receiving new life through Christ, and finding their eternal purpose in the heart of their Creator. Jesus said heaven throws a party when just one of them comes to Him (Luke 15:7)! We will continue to pray for our government’s turnaround and recovery, asking heaven for honest, humble, noble, and God-honoring leaders. We believe that since Jesus told us to disciple nations (Matthew 28:18-20), nations can be discipled! We will not stop, we will not waver, and by His anointing and empowerment, we will not fail. Pray with me: Father, as Americans, we are eternally grateful and very humbled by the privilege, along with the fellow believers in other nations, of partnering with You to save the world. We are also humbled by the incredible prosperity You have bestowed on us in order to do so. Like Abraham of old, You have blessed us greatly, in order to bless nations of the Earth through us. We are in the process of adding Your dream back into “the American Dream.” As we move forward in this process, we ask for another season of great grace. Grace us with wise and righteous leaders, who lead with honor and humility. Grace us with fire in our pulpits and burning ones in our pews. Grace us with revival on our campuses, peace on our streets, and unity in our nation. Remove from our land the influence of race-baiting dividers and hate-filled antagonists. And throughout the nations, lift the veil of deception that blinds the spiritual eyes of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Cause the glory of Christ to be seen, Your amazing love to be recognized, and the power of the gospel to be experienced. Release wave after wave of glory and power, producing wave after wave of spiritual harvest. We pray all of this in Christ’s glorious name, amen. Our decree: “We declare, just as they did two and a half centuries ago, that for our country and for our children and for the cause of liberty, we are going to take our country to new levels, to levels not reached.” (President Donald J. Trump) Click on the link below to watch the video. https://www.c-span.org/clip/america-250/president-trump-gives-250th-anniversary-speech-at-salute-to-america/5202246

Bucket List Item Fulfilled: July 4th Fireworks in DC I fulfilled one of the goals on my bucket list this past weekend: Ceci and I watched the Fourth of July celebration live in Washington, D.C. The goal hadn’t been to do so on America’s 250th birthday, but Providence determined that we would. And what a year to choose. More than 850,000 fireworks were used in Washington, D.C., during the Independence Day celebrations!(1) Organizers launched the explosives from 10 different locations, including barges in the Potomac River. The 40-minute display was ten times larger than typical D.C. Independence Day shows and was designed to break the Guinness World Record for the largest single fireworks display. I’m thinking even the cloud of witnesses in heaven enjoyed this one! We were in DC to speak at Intercessors For America’s gathering at the Museum of the Bible. How fitting that this amazing organization, which for 50 years has led the way in intercession for America, would host this conference. What an honor to join them. After the gathering ended, we joined about 160 attendees on a riverboat cruise and watched the fireworks while perched on the Potomac. Bucket list: check. While there in DC for the weekend, I couldn’t help but have a time of reflection. I went back in my mind to some of the encounters I’ve had with the Lord, during which He gave me His heart for America and mantled me for what I now do. Regarding this great but prodigal nation, I have dreamed with Him, wept with Him, and rejoiced with Him. I have traveled millions of miles with Him, praying in every state–most of them multiple times. There are plenty of memories. I also reflected much further back: my journey has been but one of millions and reflects only a short span of the timeline. I thought about Robert Hunt and company planting the cross at Cape Henry after leaving family and friends behind to face difficult weeks at sea and a new world. Then, about half of the original group died within the first few months, due to a combination of disease and malnutrition. Hunt himself died in the spring of 1608 at roughly 39 years of age. But their legacy lives. I thanked them. I thought of Jefferson pondering, carefully weighing his words while asking for Divine Providence, as he penned the Declaration. I pictured Hancock signing his name in extra-large letters so old King George could read it without his glasses, and I signed my name next to his. I listened in my heart as Patriot Sam Adams said, “We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and… from the rising to the setting sun, may His kingdom come.”(2) And I worshipped with him. I thought of George Washington and his troops at Valley Forge, freezing and starving, yet somehow persevering. I pictured this great American Founder kneeling in the snow, appealing to heaven for help and miraculous intervention. I thanked him, and the soldiers as well, then appealed to heaven for America’s full recovery. I pictured Whitefield, the Wesleys, and Edwards preaching. I envisioned Circuit Riders spending lonely hours riding through rain, snow, freezing cold, and scorching sun to take the gospel to new frontiers. I thought of thousands gathered on the hills of Cane Ridge, KY, listening to powerful messages and being visited by the glory of God. And I imagined William Seymour as he led a history-shaping revival at Azusa Street. And then I dreamed a little. I imagined a future where the fruit of all these labors experienced another wave of multiplication. Cape Henry’s dedication of this land to the gospel received new life, and the First and Second Great Awakenings multiplied into a Third. The fire of earth-changing evangelists was relit, and a fresh wave of torch-bearers was unleashed throughout America and the world. I dreamed of a new generation of righteous, God-honoring patriots in our government, seeking His wisdom and direction, just as our Founders did when writing our Constitution. I rang the bell of liberty in my mind and dreamed of another generation of Americans proclaiming Liberty throughout the land, to all the inhabitants thereof. Then I rededicated myself to the cause, and returned home to continue my journey. Pray with me: Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to redeem us wayward humans. What an incredible plan. Thank You for involving us in this plan; You save us, then use us to save others! We go from being the problem to becoming part of the solution. You’re amazing. And thank You for America, a nation raised up to partner with You in this plan. What an honor! And of course, why wouldn’t that nation become the greatest nation in the world?! You blessed us overwhelmingly, and in every way. NO nation has ever been so blessed. All because we honored and partnered with You. And yet, shockingly, like the prodigal in Scripture, we abandoned You and squandered our inheritance. It’s hard to fathom this rebellion and fall. Yet, in Your great love and mercy, You have said You would restore us, and are doing so! Thank You! Now, take it all to the next level. Next-level revival, next-level restoration, next-level partnership with You. We ask this in Yeshua’s wonderful name, amen. Our decree: America’s rededication has occurred; the fruit now begins. Click on the link below to watch the video. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/06/30/trumps-july-4-fireworks-start-much-later-last-much-longer/ https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/2001/11/03/samuel-adams-advocates-american-independence-1776/

“The Highest Glory of the American Revolution” One can only imagine the range of emotions present in Independence Hall when the Declaration of Independence was signed. In the classic book, The Light and the Glory, Peter Marshall and David Manuel offer the following account: “The magnitude of what they had done began to weigh upon them, and they realized that they and their countrymen were no longer Englishmen, but citizens of a fledgling nation barely a few minutes old. Many stared out the window. Some wept openly. Some, like Witherspoon, bowed their heads and closed their eyes in prayer. John Hancock broke the silence: ‘Gentlemen, the price on my head has just been doubled!’ “A wry chuckle followed, and then Samuel Adams rose: ‘We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and … from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come.’”(1) It is ridiculous to suggest that these Founders did not believe God was involved in this endeavor. John Quincy Adams, son of John and Abigail Adams and sixth president of the United States, made the profound statement on the 45th anniversary of the signing, “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” (July 4, 1821).(2) Adams’ belief in this indissoluble bond never waned. On America’s 61st birthday, July 4, 1837, he made the following staggering declaration, connecting the birth of our nation to the birth of Jesus Christ: “Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day? [July 4th]. Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth?” (7/4/1837).(3) Adams wasn’t equating America’s birth with Christ’s birth; he was saying that America’s birth was linked to His Birth. Our destiny involved announcing Christ’s birth as the Redeemer of humankind. This patriot knew why God raised up America! The Price of Freedom The signers of the Declaration of Independence understood the potential cost of their actions. This is why they ended the document with the words: “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.”(4) John Quincy’s dad, John Adams, one of the signers and our second President, spoke of the probable cost to his wife, 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.”(5) Signer Lewis Morris’ half-brother tried to dissuade him from signing the Declaration, warning him of the potential cost. Morris’s eloquent response? “Damn the consequences. Give me the pen!”(6) I’ve often wondered if General George Patton was one of his descendants! Signer Sam Adams, mentioned above, was a second cousin of John Adams, a distant uncle of John Quincy, and a key voice for liberty. Thomas Jefferson referred to him as “the patriarch of liberty.” Boston newspapers eulogized him as “the Father of the American Revolution.” (The Adams clan was certainly a bunch of freedom-loving warriors!) Speaking of the possible cost of freedom and declaring where he had placed his trust, Sam Adams said: “We have proclaimed to the world our determination ‘to die freemen, rather than to live slaves.’ We have appealed to heaven for the justice of our cause, and in Heaven, we have placed our trust.”(7) Cousin John was such a passionate pioneer of liberty that Jefferson referred to him as a “colossus of independence.” On July 1, 1776, just before the signing of the Declaration, he spoke to the delegates at the Continental Congress: “Before God, I believe the hour has come. My judgment approves this measure, and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it. And I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God, it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, and Independence forever!”(8) Though John Adams and Jefferson didn’t always see eye-to-eye, their passion for America enabled them to set aside their differences, and they died as close friends—on the same day!(9) Most people are unaware that Adams and Jefferson, in an incredible phenomenon that could have only been caused by Providence, both died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826. Incredibly, God honored their love for America by allowing them to live until that landmark day. Their passion to see the survival of this “holy experiment,” as many described America at that time, and God’s divine favor kept them alive until this milestone was reached. Adams, too weak to attend the national Fourth of July celebration, asked to be seated in a chair by his window in order to watch the festivities. While watching the celebration, he drifted into unconsciousness and died later that night. Two of his last words before he graduated to Heaven were “Independence forever,”(10) restating his words from 50 years earlier. This was, indeed, his dying sentiment. Passionate in life; passionate in death. When the Declaration of Independence was signed, Adams said it “will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever.”(11) And so it is. As we celebrate this monumental day, the 250th birthday of America, I leave you with the words of Founding Father Joseph Warren, quoted by Ronald Reagan in his First Inaugural Address. Reagan shared: “On the eve of our struggle for independence, a man who might have been one of the greatest among the Founding Fathers, Dr. Joseph Warren, President of the Massachusetts Congress, said to his fellow Americans, ‘Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of.... On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important questions upon which rest the happiness and the liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves.’”(12) Reagan continued, “Well, I believe we, the Americans of today, are ready to act worthy of ourselves, ready to do what must be done to ensure happiness and liberty for ourselves, our children, and our children’s children.”(13) Happy Independence Day! Pray with me: Father, we give thanks for our freedom. Americans are an immeasurably blessed people. We make our heavenward appeals today, asking for the courage to “act worthy of” this blessing and of our holy calling (Ephesians 4:1). Give us hearts of iron, nerves of steel, holy zeal, and supernatural endurance. Fill us with fresh resolve to answer destiny’s call. Give us hearts that bow low, but dream high. Make us the Joshuas and Calebs, the Adams, Warrens, and Reagans of our time, fearless in the face of spiritual giants and of those who war against Your planned harvest. May this be Your Ekklesia’s finest hour, Your Kingdom’s greatest advance on planet earth. We will represent our great Redeemer until we can say with our brother, Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NASB). And in our great Redeemer’s name, Jesus, we pray, amen. Our decree: We WILL “act worthy” of our calling, and the purposes of God for America WILL be accomplished! Click on the link below to watch the video. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and the Glory (Tarrytown, NY: Fleming H. Revell Company), p. 309. William Federer, America’s God and Country, FAME Publishing Inc., 1994, p. 18. Ibid. https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO00/20220929/115171/HHRG-117-GO00-20220929-SD010.pdf 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. https://yalealumnimagazine.org/blog_posts/1831-damn-the-consequences-give-me-the-pen http://www.samuel-adams-heritage.com/documents/speech-about-declaration-of-independence.html July 1, 1776. Dan Amoot. America's Promise (Dallas, TX: The Dan Smoot Report, 1960), p. 6. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and the Glory (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1997), pp. 307-308. William Federer, America’s God and Country, p. 14. Ibid., pp. 8-9. Ibid., p. 9. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/reagan1.asp Ibid.