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From Cape Henry… “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3 KJV) “If the foundations [of a godly society] are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalms 11:3 AMP) “What can the righteous accomplish when truth’s pillars are destroyed and law and order collapse?” ‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ TPT‬‬) “Foundations” in the above verse is an important word; The Passion Translation uses the phrase “truth’s pillars” to communicate its meaning. The Hebrew word is shathah,(1) and can mean a literal foundation, base or support. However, it is often used figuratively. Strong’s says it can describe moral support; it can also mean the basis or foundation for something politically. Another of the figurative uses is “purpose” (Isaiah 19:10) because the purpose of something is the foundation of its existence, the “why.” In this verse, it is obviously being used in a figurative sense. Applying these meanings to a nation - as this verse does - we could interpret it as a warning regarding a people losing purpose and abandoning the basis upon which its laws and government were built. If this purpose and its governmental roots are destroyed, the “building” will crumble. Now you know why Marxists and progressives are revisionists. History matters. Not only does it inform and teach us, it supports and sustains us. America was founded on a biblical, Judeo-Christian foundation, not on other religions or dogmas. Remove this foundation, and America will be destroyed from within, falling under its own weight. This is now happening. The only recovery for this type of structural problem is to repair and restore the foundation. This is why I teach on and ask God to reconnect America to our godly roots and purpose - our foundation. I sometimes visit places where the foundation was laid in order to repent and pray for America. I reconnect personally and by intercession - appealing to heaven for our nation. Today, I am at Cape Henry with my friends from Flashpoint on the anniversary of the Pilgrim’s landing here in 1607. They planted a cross on the beach, dedicated the land to God, and declared that the gospel would go from these shores to all the earth. Appeal To Heaven is 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 originated with God, not with government.(2) Locke made the case that when people have done everything humanly possible to experience those God-given rights and failed in doing 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…”(3) 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.”(4) George Washington and his contemporaries used the Appeal to Heaven phrase in America’s cause for freedom from Britain’s tyranny. Having exhausted all peaceful possibilities of experiencing their God-given liberty, 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; if they honored Him, He would help them. “We will appeal to heaven!” they declared. And the Pine Tree flag was born, the Appeal To Heaven flag. Our Founders, however, not only believed God would help them, they believed He, too, wanted this new nation formed. From the days of the pilgrims, godly men and women have believed Almighty God 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. They believed 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 Puritans’ 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.(5) The pilgrims believed America had a God-given destiny, and our Founding Fathers did, as well. They knew of the planting of the cross at Cape Henry in 1607 and of the ensuing prayer meeting dedicating the land to His glory. They had read the Mayflower Compact of 1620, stating the voyage was made “for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith….”(6) Would God honor these events and prayers? Even more importantly, was He inspiring these actions? Was America God’s dream, not just theirs? They believed the answer to these questions was “YES.” Throughout our history, America’s presidents and leaders have also reiterated this belief. John F. Kennedy referenced Matthew 5:14 and Winthrop’s famous speech, as did Ronald Reagan and numerous other U.S. Presidents.(7) Though modern-day revisionists try to rewrite and remove this from our history, the foundation, the truth will always trump their lies. 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.(8) The popularity of the flag spread, and was soon flying throughout the colonies, as well as being adopted as the flag of the Massachusetts State Navy. It became the symbol of these colonists’ unwavering spirit of liberty, as well as a clear statement of where they placed their faith. America was born under a banner of prayer. Two hundred and fifty years later, God brought this banner out of hiding to serve as a stark reminder that our strength alone did not birth this nation. We were birthed by the hand of God. And we were born not just for our personal blessing and freedom; we were created to represent Christ around the world. In our now spiritually weakened state, America must appeal again. Just as we were no match for the military power controlling us in that day, in our own strength we are no match for the spiritual powers controlling us now. Only that which birthed us then can rebirth us now: an appeal to heaven! Pray with me: Father, the way in which You raised up America as a voice in the earth is indeed remarkable. You did so to use her as a trumpet of the gospel to the ends of the earth. We are humbled and inspired by this. We are deeply impacted by the knowledge that we were born under a movement of prayer, that it truly was through appealing to You that our freedom was produced. You have brought this flag, the Appeal To Heaven flag, out of hiding and are asking us to appeal once again. We are doing so and believe You will once again free us from oppression, this time from within. Overthrow the evil trying to destroy our heritage and destiny, our foundation. Overthrow those who defile our children and promote perversion. We bind these efforts in the name of Jesus! Just as our Founders stated in the Declaration of Independence, we are “Appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions.” Today, we do so from Cape Henry. And so, Lord, we ask You to bring revival to America. We pray for Your church, the Ekklesia, to rise to the glorious level You speak of in Scripture: a worthy bride for You and an expression of Your authority on the earth. Make us an Ekklesia the gates of hell cannot prevail against, just as You said. We call this forth in the name of Jesus, and decree that America shall be saved! We ask and declare this in the name of the Lord Himself, Jesus Christ...Amen. Our decree: We decree that our appeal to heaven is being heard...and is rebirthing America! Portions of today’s post were taken from my book An Appeal to Heaven. 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. 8356. Laslett, Peter. “Right of Revolution: John Locke, Second Treatise, pp. 149, 155, 168, 207--10, 220--31, 240--43.” Electronic resources from the University of Chicago Press Books Division, https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch3s2.html. Accessed 2 February 2021. Ibid. “Declaration of Independence: A Transcription | National Archives.” National Archives, 8 June 2022, https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript. Accessed 2 August 2022. John, Winthrop. A Model of Christianity. Sermon. 1630. Bradford, William. "Of Plymouth Plantation." Manuscript: 1630-1650. Van Engen, Abram C. Van Engen. City on a Hill: A History of American Exceptionalism. Yale University Press, 2020. Report of the Proceedings of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee at the Thirtieth Meeting, Held at Toledo, Ohio, October 26-17, 1898. F. W. Freeman, 1899, p. 80.

Celebrate the Greatest Victory in History This week is Passover, known in Hebrew as Pesach. It has its origins in the biblical account of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Moses led them to freedom after the series of plagues Yahweh visited on Egypt and their gods (Exodus 12:12). The final plague was the death of Egypt’s firstborn, while Israel’s households were “passed over” by the death angel. The Passover ritual commemorates this event and celebrates the Israelites' deliverance from bondage. When Jesus was partaking of the Passover meal with His disciples (Mark 14:12-25), He departed from the normal procedure and inaugurated what we now call Communion or the Lord’s Supper. When He did so, Christ was actually fulfilling an event that occurred before the Exodus in the life of Abraham. The passage, Genesis 14, is very significant, containing several pictures of the Cross and events surrounding it. The chapter contains the story of Abraham rescuing several relatives, other people, and all their possessions from an alliance of various kings. After this victory, Melchizedek, King of Salem, blessed Abraham. In this important passage, Melchizedek pictures Yeshua (Psalm 110; Hebrews 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:1-10); Abraham represents we believers (Galatians 3:13-14). Verses 17-20 of Genesis 14 tell us: “Then, after Abram’s return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh. And Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. And he blessed Abram and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has handed over your enemies to you.’ And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis 14:17-20 NASV) Several interesting aspects of the story paint pictures of Christ and the church: Many do not realize that Melchizedek was a Canaanite king, a race of people God declared was under a curse (“Cursed be Canaan” - Genesis 9:25). How can a cursed king picture a sinless Jesus? Because Christ “Became a curse for us” in order to give us “The blessing of Abraham” (Galatians 3:13-14). Melchizedek was both a king and a priest (Genesis 14:18). This was unheard of and certainly pictured Christ our King and High Priest (Hebrews 6:20; Revelation 17:14). This is the first mention of “bread and wine” spoken of together in Scripture, and Melchizedek giving Abraham the bread and wine is an obvious prophetic picture of Christ’s last supper with His disciples. During this meal, He departed from the traditional routine and served the disciples bread and wine, fulfilling this prophetic picture from Genesis 14. When doing so, Jesus declared that the bread pictured His body, and the wine His blood (Mark 14:22-24). It is significant that the bread and wine in Genesis 14 was a celebration of victory following Abraham’s recovery of his kidnapped family and their possessions. It was a victory meal! Could there be a more appropriate picture of the Cross?! And just to make sure we see the symbolism, Holy Spirit uses two more important phrases in this passage. For the first time in Scripture, God refers to Himself as the “Most High God,” doing so four times, and references Himself as “Possessor of heaven and earth” twice. This was unquestionably God’s declaration that satan, who had tried to overthrow Him in heaven and make himself the “Most High” (see Isaiah 14:14), had not only failed there but would also fail on earth. Yahweh was declaring, “Though satan thinks he has won, he has NOT. He couldn’t have heaven, and he won’t have earth! I AM - and will remain - the Most High God, possessor of heaven AND EARTH. I will take humankind’s curse upon Myself, redeeming both them and the Earth, and bless them once again.” Amazing. When Christ gave the disciples the bread and wine at the Last Supper, telling them these elements represented His body and blood, He was celebrating victory - in advance! Yeshua knew, of course, the price He was about to pay, but He also knew He would prevail, taking back His family and their stolen inheritance. Likewise, when we partake of communion, though we should remember and be grateful to Christ for the horrible curse He bore to redeem us, we should also remember that these elements represent the greatest victory in the history of creation! Satan was defeated, the curse was broken, and we were redeemed back into the family of God, and given once again the blessings of our lost inheritance. Pray with me: Father, as we take the bread together in a moment, we remember the broken body of Jesus, sacrificed for our healing and restoration. We thank You, Jesus, for becoming one of us, the Son of Man, to bring us back into Your family. You bore our curse! You are the Bread of Life, and as we partake of this bread today, it reminds us that we can partake continually of Your life. Eat the bread. (Feel free to pause the video for a moment or two if you would like, and spend time in personal prayer and Communion with Him.) And now, as we drink the wine, we honor and place our faith fully in the shed blood of Jesus for the remission of our sins. We also remember that His blood does more than cleanse us of sin; it also makes us new creations in Christ Jesus. We are born again. We celebrate this great victory over sin and the curse. We receive health, wholeness, and salvation as we do this today. And we decree that through the blood of Christ, satan and his forces are forever defeated. Drink the juice. (Again, feel free to pause and take any amount of time you would like to spend personal time with Him.) We thank You for this, in the name of Christ. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Yahweh is the Most High God, Possessor of heaven and earth, and He has redeemed us from the curse of sin! Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Generational Synergy In 2001, I was in a season of spiritual transition leading to what I do today: God was preparing me to be a voice of awakening to America. A short time before this I had received a powerful encounter with the Lord during which He showed me His broken heart for America. I wept uncontrollably for three and a half hours. In that visitation, He said, “I must have this nation.” This was said in the context of the worldwide harvest He has planned. Shortly after this encounter, I was leading a corporate prayer time for the reviving of passion and purpose to a ministry in Texas. God, as He sometimes does, began speaking things to me that I did not presently understand. New wine stretches and reshapes wineskins, and mine was about to be expanded. “I need you to agree in prayer with the ministry’s founder,” He spoke from my spirit to my mind. “He’s dead,” my mind replied to this voice, “I can’t agree in prayer with a dead person!” I wasn’t actually trying to correct the Holy Spirit; I was trying to analyze what was said in order to ascertain if it was truly Him speaking. The voice spoke again, “So? His prayers aren’t dead. And until this generation comes into agreement with what I promised him, I can’t do it. I need the synergy of the ages.” My wineskin almost burst. I had never consciously considered agreeing with the prayers of—and promises to—a previous generation, and I had never heard of “the synergy of the ages.” After stumbling through the remainder of the prayer time, I sought for understanding. Until You Agree, I Can’t I realized God hadn’t said, “I won’t.” He had clearly said that without this generation’s agreement with the founder, “I can’t answer his prayers, doing what I promised him.” I began to ponder Hebrews 11, remembering the heroes of faith listed there along with some of their amazing exploits. Interestingly, however, the passage is also clear that some of those faith-heroes did not see the fulfillment of their promises. This has always seemed somewhat contradictory to me. When God searched history to accent great lives of faith, He chose to list some that did NOT receive the fulfillment of their God-given promises. 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 amazing answer. They did not receive the fulfillment of their promises because God wouldn’t allow them to be “complete” without us. That is incredible! We, today, are a continuation of these individuals’ callings and assignments. The Greek word translated “complete” also means “to finish; to mature; to reach the intended goal.”(1) Think about the ramifications of this: without us, God can’t finish what He began through those saints; 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 mind-blowing! God makes promises to people, knowing full well He will deliver on those promises through their children, grandchildren, or spiritual descendants. I wonder what I may be finishing for a pastor or teacher from a few decades ago? Or perhaps even for some flag-waving patriot warrior? The generations are far more interconnected than most of us realize. In God’s mind, accomplishing something through our descendants is the same as doing it through us. Our comparatively shortsighted approach assumes every promise He makes will take place momentarily, or at the very least before we die! Meanwhile, God feels no pressure and understands that if He fulfills His promises through our offspring (natural or spiritual), the accomplishments were by us, as well as by them. The Synergy of the Ages Synergy is a fascinating concept. Basically, it is the multiplication of power through a combined effort. In almost all cases in the physical world, one plus one equals two. But not when people work together. When two or more people combine their efforts and strengths, power is multiplied—not just added to. God so prioritizes unity and agreement that He created a phenomenon through which power multiplies when people work together! Synergy, however, not only operates in the physical realm; it also exists in the spiritual realm. Prayer is one obvious example. Spiritual synergy takes place when two or more people agree in prayer. The result is that through this multiplied power much more is accomplished than would have been had they prayed alone. Leviticus 26:8 teaches us about this power of multiplication, “Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before your sword.” Spiritually, that’s powerful; mathematically, however, it makes no sense. But something unusual and supernatural takes place through agreement: synergy. When we agree in prayer, power increases exponentially. Synergy also occurs through generational connections. When the ways and spiritual strengths of one generation are walked in by the next, power and fruit multiply. Spiritual mantles, another word for callings and giftings, multiply in effectiveness through generational synergy (2 Kings 2:9). God’s plan is always for the present generation to build on and multiply the strengths of the previous. This is the synergy of the ages—multiplied power and fruitfulness through generational agreement and honor. In Al Sander’s book Crisis in Morality!, he compares descendants of an atheist, Max Jukes, to the offspring of the well-known revivalist of that same era, Jonathan Edwards: “Max Jukes...married an ungodly girl and among their descendants were 310 who died as paupers, 150 as criminals, 7 as murderers, 100 as drunkards and more than half of the women were prostitutes. “Jonathan Edwards...lived at the same time and married a godly girl [Sarah Pierpont]. An investigation was made of 1,394 known descendants of theirs. Of these descendants, 13 became college presidents, 65 college professors, 3 United States senators, 30 judges, 100 lawyers, 60 physicians, 75 army and navy officers, 100 preachers and missionaries, 60 authors of prominence, one a vice-president of the United States, 80 became public officials...and 295 college graduates, among whom were governors of states and ministers to foreign countries.”(2) Could any testimony more powerfully make my point? Success, favor, and blessing can multiply down through the generations. But due to our ignorance in this area, we sometimes unknowingly break the generational storyline God is writing. When Holy Spirit spoke to me that day, I was already aware of synergistic prayer. I knew I could agree in prayer with the person next to me, and power would be multiplied. I just didn’t know I could agree with the generation behind me! Generational synergy - the synergy of the ages - was nowhere on my radar. Once God had awakened me to the principle, however, He wasn’t about to stop with one ministry. Before He was finished, Holy Spirit would challenge me to reach back to our nation’s Founders, agreeing with what He had birthed through them. Pray with me: Father, as we contemplate the importance of generational connection and agreement, we marvel at Your ways. The synergy of the ages involves understanding how much You honor those who have gone before us, and how much You require us to honor and continue their legacy. We thank You for fathers and mothers in the faith, as well as in the natural. We thank You for the price paid by those who came before us. As we now look forward, we ask for revelation of this incredible concept You call “the synergy of the ages.” We embrace and honor those who have gone before us, and ask for a multiplying of Your power today. Your purpose for America is that it be a powerful voice of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We boldly declare that America will fully turn back to this purpose, and You will accomplish through her all You intended in this hour. A great harvest will be part of the synergistic fruit. We pray and declare these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the synergy of the ages is producing powerful breakthrough and wonderful fruit in America today. Tomorrow we will be taking Communion together. Portions of today’s devotional were taken from my book An Appeal to Heaven.(3) 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. 5048. Quoted in Ravenhill, Leonard, “Jonathan Edwards: Portrait of a Revival Preacher,” Dayspring, 1963. Sheets, Dutch. An Appeal to Heaven. Dutch Sheets Ministries, 2015, pp. 1-9.

Introduction Although we have already honored the Cross and celebrated the Resurrection, in actuality, it occurred during Passover week, which we are now in. Today’s post is taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company and shares an event that actually took place during Passover. It is entitled: The Look One of the things I like about the Bible is that God allows its heroes of faith to be real, choosing not to hide their humanness from the rest of us all-too-human earthlings. Pedestals are great for non-human displays, but they are far too unstable to support the average human. There are no worries concerning this when it comes to the Scriptures. The Bible puts the average reality TV show to shame. Affairs, murders, betrayals, failures - all the zits are there. Simon Peter is one of those real-life characters. I love his realness. A down-to-earth fisherman grinding out a living in the small town of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee, Peter was probably a tough, calloused, hard-nosed individual. This outspoken disciple sometimes wore his emotions on his sleeve - he once rebuked Jesus (Matthew 16:22) and later, at the Lord's arrest, cut off the ear of the high priest's servant (John 18:10). And, like many good fishermen, Peter was known to string out a few expletives, when necessary (Matthew 26:74). Like any good carpenter with a raw piece of wood, Jesus could see past the knots and blemishes in Peter, to the potential within. I like this guy, He must have thought. A little rough around the edges, but great potential. He may have even mused, somewhat pensively, as His prophetic gift kicked in, He is so loyal, in fact, that one day he'll be willing to die for me (see John 13:36; 21:18). "Follow me!" He shouted to Peter and his brother Andrew one fateful day. The rest, as they say, is history. One of Peter's all-too-human moments came at the Last Supper, the night before Christ's crucifixion. Like many of us, he was a bit overconfident concerning his commitment to the Master. When Jesus spoke of his arrest and the disciples' scattering, Peter spoke up and bragged, "I'll never run. I'm ready to go to prison and die for you" (Luke 22:33, paraphrased). I'm sure Peter believed his level of commitment was this great. Christ, however, knew otherwise and gave Peter the now famous "before the cock crows, you'll deny me three times" prophecy (v. 34). Evidently, the Lord wasn't the only one seeing the potential in Peter. Satan wanted him out of the picture. "Simon, Simon," Jesus told Peter. “Behold, satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (vv. 31-32). Rather than being offended or "put out" with Peter due to his impending betrayal, Christ was compassionate toward him. "I have prayed for you," the Lord said, "and because of that, you'll make it through this ordeal." The Lord knows that in the course of life, all of us will fail Him. If He demanded perfection, where would any of us be? Jesus was aware of Peter's weaknesses, but He also knew that deep in him was a faithful heart, and He was determined to mine the gold. He is committed to your development and success, as well. He won't give up on you. The Lord's prediction concerning Peter came true later that night. He did, indeed, deny Christ three times. I've always believed Peter's denial was born more of confusion than fear. Confusion disorients and leads to fear, which in turn produces a loss of courage and paralysis. Peter was experiencing all of the above. Initially, he was ready to fight for Jesus; a few hours earlier when the Lord was arrested, he had drawn a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest's slave. He was not a coward. But Jesus had chosen not to resist arrest, and now things were spiraling out of control. Having followed Christ to His trial, Peter was watching the proceedings from a distance when three times he was accused of being one of His disciples. By the time the third accusation came, things were in chaos - Christ was being slapped around, beaten, and spat upon, and a dangerous mob-like atmosphere was forming. In what must have been a confused state of panic, Peter buckled under the pressure. "I don't know Him!" He shouted, peppering his denial with bad language. Scripture says, "He began to curse and swear" (Matthew 26:74). Obviously, it was more than one expletive. I find what happened next very moving. Jesus was close enough to hear him, and upon doing so, "turned and looked at Peter" (Luke 22:61). We're left to guess what kind of look He gave Peter, but it certainly wasn't one of shock or surprise; after all, He predicted the denial. Another possibility would be an angry, condemning, I-can't-believe-you-just-did-that look. Knowing Christ as I do, I can't believe this was the look He gave Peter, either. Though obviously it cannot be proven, I'm reasonably confident the look Jesus gave his troubled, confused, and dedicated fishermen - who had left everything to follow Him - was one of deep compassion and reassurance: "Don't worry, Peter, I understand. And I still believe in you. Remember, I saw this coming and prayed for you. Everything is going to be all right." If I'm correct, to think that Christ had the presence of mind at this point to be concerned about someone else's well-being is amazing. One would think His response, if not surprise or anger, would have at least been something like, "I'm a little busy right now redeeming the world, Peter, and things are getting a little intense. Sorry, but you are on your own." But Jesus was no ordinary man. Even while on the cross, one moment, He was comforting a thief; the next making sure His mother was going to be taken care of. In keeping with His character and the nature of His earlier comments, I believe Christ gave Peter a loving and reassuring look. I also believe that with one glance, He saved Peter's destiny. Seeing Christ's look, Peter was undone. One can only imagine the flood of emotion he was experiencing. In Gethsemane, he had just seen Christ literally bleed through the pores of His skin, a condition called hematidrosis. Then came the arrest and beatings - Christ's face and clothing must have been covered in blood and spittle. And now this. Overcome with emotion, Peter fled the trial and "wept bitterly" (Luke 22:62). The emotional roller coaster continued with the cross, three days of mourning, followed by the resurrection. As thrilled as the disciples were to see Jesus alive, however, things were still not the same. He kept vanishing and reappearing, only to leave again. He was gone most of the time. Finally, Peter had had enough. All of this was way above his pay grade. We are not sure of his exact train of thought, but I'm guessing it was similar to this: I'm no Rabbi or theologian; and I'm not a prophet, with the ability to understand mysteries and see into the future. I don't understand all of this theology, and certainly not the events of the last few days. Nothing has worked out the way I expected; I have no idea where Jesus is. I'm going back to the only thing I really understand right now. I'm returning to my previous job. "I am going fishing," he said to several of the other disciples (John 21:3). Also confused and unable to connect the dots, they simply said, "We're going with you." I suppose it's possible these guys were just needing some rest and rehabilitation, but I don't think so. I believe they were finished. Having gone home to Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee, it doesn't take much imagination to think they were likely sitting around asking one another, "What do we do now? How do we make a living and pay the bills?" Finally, one of them stated the obvious, "Well, we still have the boat." "Yep," answered Peter, "and I'm goin' fishin'." I imagine the Lord was sympathetic to their plight. He caused it, after all, and He loved them. He knew if they could just hang on until Pentecost, they would make it. So He told Dad, Holy Spirit, and Gabriel that He was going to make another earthly appearance. "The guys could use another encouraging word, especially Peter. I'm going to go cook them breakfast, visit with them awhile, and help them pay some bills." And that's exactly what He did. After they had finished a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus was waiting on the beach at daybreak. When they were about a hundred yards from shore, He shouted, "Did you catch any fish?" The Lord knew they hadn't caught any; He probably caused their fruitless night so He could get their attention with what He was about to do! "No," they responded, still unable to recognize Him. "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find a catch" (John 21:6). Bells must have started ringing, reminding them of an earlier encounter with Him, when He helped them reap a great catch and subsequently invited them to follow Him (Luke 5:1-11). With the similarities, they must have wondered, but... No way. It couldn't be Him. They decided to give His plan a try and, sure enough, caught more fish than they could drag into the boat. John, now certain, said, "It is the Lord" (v. 7). And Peter - you just have to love this guy - was so excited he decided to jump in and swim ashore. Why not wait until the boat could be rowed the hundred yards to shore? Not Peter! Surely, you can see his great love for Jesus. He was so flustered that rather than take some of his clothing off to make the swim easier, he put his coat on and dove into the water. Impetuous? Perhaps. But also passionate. Jesus might have smiled. He already had a fire going and food cooking. "Come and have breakfast," He invited them. It must have brought back great memories to all of them. We don't know everything they talked about, but the pleasure of His company must have been wonderfully reassuring. Eventually, knowing Peter was probably still grieving over his earlier denial of Him, Jesus began addressing the situation. Three times, He asked Peter if he loved Him, and each time Peter responded affirmatively. Some theologians believe Jesus asked the question three times in order to offset Peter's three denials. Perhaps, but the first time He asked it, Jesus added the question, "Do you love Me MORE THAN THESE" (v. 15, emphasis mine). Was He referring to the other disciples, or was He referencing the fish? I believe Jesus was referring to the fish, which represented Peter's former livelihood and career. Could this be why He chose to meet them at the same location where their original calling had occurred and why He worked the exact same miracle? If that wasn't enough, He then gave Peter the same command - twice - as He had on that first occasion. "Follow me!" He said to him (v. 19). When Peter tried to deflect the attention from himself to John, Jesus would have none of it. "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!" (v. 22). Notice the exclamation points. These are, indeed, commands in the Greek tense they were written in. Jesus was saying to this uncertain fisherman: "Your calling hasn't changed, Peter. I still need you, and it will be to catch men, not fish. Your failure didn't disqualify you; and the fact that I'm not around at the present time hasn't changed the plan. Hang in there - everything will make sense in a few more days." And it did. On the day of Pentecost, Peter was born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. The Christ who used to walk beside him now lived in him. Peter preached that day, and three thousand people were born again! A few days later, he healed a lame man known by the entire city of Jerusalem, and five thousand more people were saved! He had made it. The crusty, foul-mouthed, impetuous, confused denier had survived his trauma and made it through the most confusing and consequential season in world history. He came into the new era of redeemed humankind with strength and purpose. You'll make it, too. If and when you fail Him - and most of us will - look for the look. It'll be there. Understand the temporariness of setbacks. When you're grieving and confused, He wants to take you to breakfast, not expel you from the family. Follow Him! Pray with me: Father, we are so grateful You look past our external deficiencies and search deep within, mining for the gold that's within our hearts. You were fully aware of Peter's weaknesses. Yet, You focused on the faithfulness Your love and compassion were able to see in him. Thank You, Lord, for Your commitment to our development and success. You never give up on us! Even when we are full of confusion, fear, and failure-induced shame, You lovingly whisper, "Look up, child," and with one glance of Your eyes, comfort, confidence, and new strength arise within us. Today, we choose to sit face-to-face and stare back into Your intense gaze. Identity, destiny, and everything we need is found in those fiery eyes burning with passion for us. We will follow You, Jesus, and look for the look that is everything. Amen. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

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.

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.

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.

My Thoughts Regarding Israel When I travel on weekends, I have to prepare one, sometimes two, or even three Give Him 15 posts in advance. Such was the case this past weekend. That is why I am just now commenting on the situation regarding Israel and Iran. Firstly, I want to say that I am praying for Israel’s protection and shalom, as we are instructed to do. I know Iran and its proxies are motivated by a principality the Bible calls “the Prince of Persia” (Daniel 10:13, 20). This spirit, of course, hates Israel because of its partnership with God in giving Messiah to the world, and it hates America, as well, because of our calling and partnership with God. Those under his influence refer to Israel as “the great satan,” and America as “the little satan;” they chant “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.” I am praying for his hold to end. I am also praying for salvation to the people of Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, and throughout the Middle East. And I’m praying for mercy and protection for the innocent people in that region, many of whom are our brothers and sisters. A couple of years back, I was informed that the church in Iran was one of the fastest-growing in the world—perhaps THE fastest-growing. Many are coming to Christ there and throughout the Middle East. This evil principality is losing its hold. Many are asking if this recent attack by Iran against Israel marks the end of the age and the Second Coming of Christ. Some Christian leaders are saying it is, especially with it coming on the heels of the eclipse, which many said was also a sign of the end. Like EVERYONE, regardless of their predictions, I don’t know when the Lord’s return will take place. But I do NOT believe this is the end, that it is Ezekiel 38. There is a great harvest coming, and that should be our focus. Preaching the gospel of the Kingdom (Mark 16) and discipling nations (Matthew 28) is our assignment. Stay focused on saving and discipling, not leaving. During the Charismatic and Jesus People Movements of the 60s and 70s, some opportunities were lost because people were so focused on Christ’s return…why plan for the future? We will not make the same mistake with this outpouring. Since I have deviated from the theme I began yesterday to comment on current events, I will take the remainder of the post to strengthen and encourage you. The state of affairs in America and the world are troubling. Also, life itself sends problems and challenges our way. Maintaining peace and faith is sometimes difficult. Jesus knew this would be the case. He told us, “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful” (John 14:27 NASB). Notice that He used two words to describe the unsettledness that tries to overtake us: troubled and fearful. Troubled (tarasso)(1) is a word meaning “stirred up or agitated” like roiling water; it is, therefore, a word describing inward commotion, disquietness, or restlessness. Picture the agitator in a washing machine; this is what can occur in our minds and emotions. Jesus said not to allow this. Instead, we are to receive His shalom - peace and wholeness. Christ then said not to be fearful. This is the Greek word I referred to a few days back, deiliao.(2) He did not use the word phobos,(3) from which we get phobia, terror, etc. This would certainly be included in His admonition, but His choice of words is important. Deilia/deiliao is timidity, intimidation, or insecurity. Don’t let the turmoil and unrest intimidate you, He was saying. My peace is stronger. Be bold and refuse to allow what occurs around you to intimidate you. This is also the word Jesus used when speaking to the disciples on the storm-tossed boat (Mark 4:39). It is the word Paul used when challenging his spiritual son, Timothy (2 Timothy 1:7). The Lord wants us to face the storm; resisting all intimidation; stir up His power within, remember His love, operate with the discipline of a sound mind, and receive His peace. And finally, I want to exhort us to pray for one another. “Therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3 NASV). The word “diligent” is spoudazo,(4)  from a root word meaning “speed.” This form of the word means to “speedily and earnestly perform a task.” Thayer’s Lexicon uses the phrase “to exert one’s self” to describe this word. My amplification would be to “with great exertion and without delay work toward love and unity.” “Bearing with one another” is the Greek word, anechomai,(5) which doesn’t only mean to be patient or forbearing toward others. It also means “to hold oneself up against; to hold up or sustain,” much like a stake bears up a tomato plant. The point is to provide strength to one another, to “stake ourselves” to others, transferring our strength to them, thereby sustaining them. This is similar to the point being made in Psalm 133, which tells us the dew of Hermon rains on Zion (verse 3). As the day warms, the dew on Mt Hermon evaporates and forms clouds. The afternoon winds blow them to Mt Zion, where they produce rain. Mt Hermon literally waters Zion. God uses this as a beautiful picture of what we must do as His body: sow into, bless, strengthen, and encourage one another. And one way we do this is by staking ourselves to them in prayer. I ask you: who will remain standing today because of your prayers? Who will keep from falling because your prayer arms were wrapped around their heart or mind, or your literal arms around their shoulders? Speak rest today to someone’s “troubled” heart; break “intimidation” off of them; release God’s shalom. Be their strength. Let’s do so now. Pray with me: Father, we come alongside those who are struggling to stand under the weight of their circumstances or grief. We stake ourselves to brothers and sisters who may be struggling to believe, or to walk in Your peace. We wrap our arms of love around them, whether literally or figuratively, and declare over them, “You will not fall; you will stand. You will not give up; you will persevere. You will not die; you will live and declare the works of the Lord. You will accomplish your destiny.” We declare over prodigals, “You will come home to Father’s house. Your disillusionment with life and God will become disillusionment toward satan and his kingdom. Your confusion will become clarity of heart in mind. Your identity crisis will become security in who you are, in who God made you to be. You will come to your senses and return to your Father and your inheritance. You will know the Lord and be taught of Him. You will be radical lovers and worshipers of Jesus. You will feel at home and comfortable in Father’s house. You will change the world.” We decree over America, “You shall be saved. You will be delivered from the spirit of Baal and his control. Your dry bones will live. Your government will be purged and transformed. Your education system will be healed. Your justice system will be restored. Your churches will be on fire. The coming shaking will heal you, not destroy you.” We declare over people in the Middle East, “You will be delivered from the control of the prince of Persia. You will have the veil lifted from your eyes and be able to see Jesus for who He really is. Israel, you will receive your awakening and visitation; the veil will lift from you, as well. Messiah will be seen and glorified in the Middle East. Revival is coming to your part of the world.” And we declare over all the earth: “The glory of the Lord will cover you as the waters cover the sea. You will be touched by God’s power, transformed by His love, and filled with His life. You are owned by Jesus, your Creator and King. He loves you and is coming to rescue you from the control of darkness.” All of this, we declare in His mighty name, the name of Yeshua. Our decree: We decree that Christ is building the church He said He would build: glorious, without spot or wrinkle, and one over which the government of hell cannot prevail. 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.  5015. Ibid., ref. no. 1168. Ibid., ref. no. 5401. Ibid., ref. no. 4704. Ibid., ref. no. 430.

Because He Said So (Genesis 15:1-4 NASB) “After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.’ Abram said, ‘O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ And Abram said, ‘Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.’ Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.’” (Genesis 18:11-14 NASB) “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.’” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV) “Behold, I am the Lord the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Luke 1:37 KJV) “For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” In the GH15 posts, I have written and spoken much about the importance of saying what God says, of speaking His words. Speaking is how God creates and how He releases His power (Genesis 1; John 1). As those made in His image and likeness, we are to operate in this way, also. There is power IN us that must be released FROM us, and the primary way we do so is with our words. I am speaking, of course, of speaking God’s words. The word for confession in the New Testament is homologia, which literally means “say the same;” in other words, “say the same thing God says.”(1) Saying what God says is how we, like Him, release the faith, the life, and the power that is in our spirits. Jesus told us to say to mountains, “Be removed,” using “mountains” figuratively to represent adversity (Mark 11.23-24). This is also how we are born again - believing in our hearts regarding Christ’s redeeming work and saying so with our mouths (Romans 10:9). This is what we are doing when decreeing or declaring in the context of prayer and/or spiritual warfare (Job 22:28; Matthew 16:18-19). And it is what is meant by using “The sword of the spirit, which is the word of God”  (Ephesians 6:17) against satan’s kingdom. “Word” in this verse from Ephesians is rhema, which means spoken words.(2) Speaking God’s words is a powerful weapon. In this post’s opening verses of Scripture, an important Hebrew word dabar is used four times. Twice it is translated as “word” (as in “word of the Lord”); twice it is translated as “thing” (“Is any thing too hard for Me?”). Interestingly, dabar does mean both: a word, declaration, even a promise, and a thing. In Hebrew, the word or decree and the thing or matter it speaks of are the same word!(3) Skip Moen quotes Frederick Buechner as saying, “In Hebrew, the word dabar means both word and also deed. A dabar doesn’t merely say something; it does something. It brings something into being. It makes something happen.”(4) Wow! Joanne Panettieri says of this important word, “The Dabar of the Lord carries with it the ability to accomplish what it is sent out to do.(5) This is what took place at creation. God’s words - dabar - accomplished. Isaiah 55:11 says: “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Here’s what I want you to understand: God is not just saying He keeps His word. Obviously, He does so. But He wants us to know that His words DO! They accomplish, perform, and create that which He says. The archangel Gabriel was asked by Mary how she, a virgin, could have a child. He replied that: 1) Holy Spirit would overshadow her, placing within Mary a reproductive seed containing God himself! (Luke 1:35) Then he said, as translated by most versions of Scripture, 2) “For with God, nothing shall be impossible” (Verse 37). The word “nothing” is actually rhema, which, once again, means a spoken word. “Impossible” is the Greek word adunateo(6) (from the Greek prefix a, meaning without, and dunamis,(7) meaning power or ability), which literally means “without power.” A more literal translation of Gabriel’s explanation would be, “For no word spoken by God is without power.” Gabriel was essentially saying, “Mary, this will happen through the power of God’s words. It will occur because He said it!” Tomorrow, I will talk about the need for us to agree with God, including, of course, doing so with our words. He has chosen to work with and through us, giving us the choice to accept or reject His offer. Certainly, much of what God has said - regarding the future of the earth, the events in the Book of Revelation, etc. - will occur, whether you and I agree with it or not. However, what He says is available to us personally must be received and entered into by obedience and faith. We were saved at Calvary, but that salvation was not experienced until we believed in Christ’s work and confessed Him as our Savior. The same is true with promises to groups of people, including nations; the destiny and blessing God offers must be received by faith and by operating in obedience to His Word. Pray with me: Father, we come before You in humility and faith. In humility, we acknowledge that it is not our strength, goodness, or power that enables us to move mountains. And yet, in faith, we declare that we have been given the power of Holy Spirit and the authority of Christ with which to do so. In humility, we acknowledge that the blessing, mercy, provision and salvation we experience and release to others comes from the covenant we have with You through Christ, not any merits of our own. And yet, in faith we declare that we do indeed have these blessings, rights and privileges. Thank You for welcoming us into Your family and allowing us to partner with You. And we exalt You today as the great and awesome God, the Almighty, whose very words have within them the power and ability to accomplish what they say. No word spoken by You is without power! It always accomplishes what You assigned it to do. No promise You have made is too hard for You to fulfill. This week, open to us a greater revelation of Your ways. Teach us regarding both our need and our ability to operate as You do, releasing power through words. You told us death and life were in the power of the tongue. You said we could move mountains with our words. We join with Mary in saying, be it done to us according to Your Word. And we conclude by agreeing with You today regarding Your promise of salvation. We declare that America shall be saved. Our prodigals will come home to You. And the greatest harvest of souls in earth’s history shall take place in our generation. So be it. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we are coming into greater alignment with the Word and ways of God. 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. 3671. Ibid., ref. no. 4487. Ibid., ref. no. 1697. https://skipmoen.com/2019/08/an-audible-universe/ http://iconoclast.weebly.com/the-dabar-of-the-lord.html Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, ref. no.101. Ibid., ref. no. 1410.

Don’t Fear The Storm I like studying biblical words because of the added insight I receive from the different nuances of meaning. The Hebrew language, with its pictorial style, paints many rich pictures. With a technical approach, the Greeks used to say they could say more in one word than other languages could in an entire sentence. Humorous, but possibly true. Without a doubt, God determined that these two languages would give us the Scriptures. There is another reason I like to look up the original words used in Scripture, however. Some translations often use the same English word to translate different Hebrew or Greek words, which can sometimes be misleading. For example, the King James Version uses the word “time” to translate both chronos(1) and kairos(2). However, one refers to general or chronological time (chronos). The other word, kairos, means strategic or opportune time. The importance of knowing which word is used is immeasurable. From planting until harvest is chronos time; the harvest window is kairos. If you’re a farmer, you better know the difference! Another subject with which the KJV does this is fear. There are actually three Greek words in the New Testament which, at times, are all translated with the one English word, “fear.” One of them means “reverential fear or awe” (eulabeia)(3). This is the word used when speaking of “the fear of the Lord.” Another means “terror, dread, or phobia” (phobos)(4). This, of course, is a fear of harm, pain, or loss. It’s easy to see that knowing which word is used matters greatly. I have a “Fear of the Lord,” but I am not “afraid” of Him. Then there is a third Greek word that means “timidity or insecurity” (deilia)(5) which is the subject of this post. Paul told his spiritual son, Timothy, “God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). This Greek word translated as fear is deilia: timidity, insecurity, bashful, or shy. Timothy was a young man. His youthfulness and inexperience, compounded by the magnitude of his task in leading the church at Ephesus, was causing him to be insecure. Timothy was also facing criticism, persecution, and attacks from people. Paul was not telling him he did not have to be “afraid.” That wasn’t the type of fear attacking Timothy. Paul was telling him not to be timid or insecure. In other words, “be bold, and believe in what God has put in you. He has equipped you to do this!” At times, the two fears of harm (phobos) and timidity (deilia) work together to paralyze or torment us. In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus and the disciples were crossing the lake when a vicious storm arose. It looked like they would not make it through this storm, so the disciples awakened Jesus, who addressed the storm with, “Peace, be still.” The storm ended immediately. Then Jesus asked the disciples an interesting and strange question, “Why are you afraid?” Then, He addressed their lack of faith. I know why they were afraid, don’t you? These were experienced fishermen who had made a living on this lake. When they concluded that this storm was so bad, that they weren’t going to survive it, you can believe it was true. It makes more sense, however, when you realize Jesus did not ask them why they were afraid (phobos). He asked them why they were timid or insecure (deilia). Christ was telling the disciples they could have - and should have - done what He did: rebuke the storm! Boldness was needed at this moment, not timidity. This storm was a demonic strategy to harm them. Jesus had already told the disciples, “We are going to the other side.” They should have acted on His words and did what He had done. I am certainly not boasting that I would have acted differently than the disciples. I am simply pointing out the lesson Jesus was giving them: “When you have My promise or direction, believe it and act boldly on it!” A friend of ours, on the front lines of warfare for America, one who greatly loves our nation and whose life was severely affected by the 2020 elections, was given a dream that pictures this lesson. You’ll be encouraged by it! “I can honestly say I had one of the best dreams I have ever had last night. In the dream, I was in my house, lounging comfortably in bed, when I heard a voice say, ‘Run and hide! There is a hurricane coming!’ “I looked out the window and saw a terrible hurricane barreling towards my house. I knew I would likely drown. The storm was fierce, destroying everything in its path. I stood up out of bed, and the water was already at my ankles, and I knew the storm was just starting. The wind was blowing and debris was flying around my house. Again, the voice said, ‘Run! Hide! You have to save yourself!’ “I thought about it and decided to remain standing. Grabbing the side of the bed, I closed my eyes, tucked my chin to brace for impact, and responded calmly to the voice, ‘I will not run. I will stand my ground in this storm.’ “Everything got quiet. I opened my eyes, and my house was in order. No damage, and it was completely dry. I looked out the window and saw the storm in the distance...fleeing from me.” End of dream. My comments to this person were that not only was God revealing the storm wouldn’t destroy her, but He also revealed what was in her spirit. He has not given her a spirit of timidity or fear. He has given her a spirit of faith and boldness. We need not fear the storms. We must stand our ground and face them with faith in God’s Word. If we do, we will win. The storm will subside…or run from us! “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Pray with me: Father, the past season has been difficult for many people. The coming season of shaking will also be challenging. I’m sure some have been tempted to retreat or, worse yet, abandon their faith. Some want out of the boat. Others, like the fearful spies Moses sent to Canaan, have decided they would rather be back in Egypt. We pray that You would show them, as You did our friend, that deep within them, they have the strength to overcome; that satan is an intimidator who wants us to think we are grasshoppers when facing giants and storms. But You have given us hearts like Caleb. You said we are more than conquerors - we have more than enough strength in us to overcome (Romans 8:37). So we speak to our storms and say, “Be still! Stop! We will not listen to you, we will not run from you, and you will not destroy us. We are well able to possess the land, and we will do so. We are on God’s timetable, and any delays will be used for our benefit. (Romans 8:28) Our times are in His hand. (Psalm 31:15). Everything He has promised, He will do. Our future is secure.” Our decree: We decree that as we resist the devil, he WILL flee from us! 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. 5550. Ibid., ref. no. 2540. Ibid., ref. no. 2124. Ibid., ref. no. 5401. Ibid., ref. no. 1167.

What Do They All Have In Common? NOAH’S FLOOD In Genesis chapter 6, the story of Noah and the great flood begins. After Adam’s fall, people became so wicked that God knew He would have to destroy humankind and begin again (verse 5). He instructed Noah to build an ark for the preservation of his family, a project which probably took 50-75 years.(1) Then, when it was completed, He sent the flood. It rained for 40 days and nights (Genesis 7:17), flooded the earth, and Noah’s Ark floated for 150 days before coming to rest on Mt. Ararat. Genesis 8:1-4 tells us: “But God remembered Noah and all the animals and all the livestock that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided. Also, the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained; and the water receded steadily from the earth, and at the end of 150 days, the water decreased. Then in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.” (NASB) THE RED SEA CROSSING After Israel’s incredible exodus from Egypt, during which God also demonstrated that the gods of Egypt were not truly gods but simply idols, Israel found themselves still in danger at the Red Sea. There was as yet one Egyptian god He had not exposed, Baal-zephon, their god of the seas. The first two verses of Exodus 14 inform us, “Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea’” (Exodus 14:1-2). Why the geography lesson? God wants us to know that HE chose the place for this encounter. To many of the Israelites, as well as to Pharaoh and his army, it looked as though Israel was confused, disoriented, and wandering aimlessly in the desert. And they were, in fact, now trapped by mountains, the sea, and Pharaoh’s army. God sometimes enjoys allowing satan to believe he has won; at times, He even orchestrates circumstances to accomplish this. Such was the case here. Scott Lancer, in an article for Associates for Biblical Research (Confronting Baal Zephon: The Spiritual Message of the Meeting of Israel and the Armies of Egypt) says, “Let us remember that God had been triumphing over not only Pharaoh and the Egyptians, but also the supposed power of their gods. The plagues were a drumbeat of victory as the gods of Egypt were, one by one, displayed to be impotent and powerless. And even more importantly, Yahweh wanted the Egyptians to know that He is the Lord” (14:4).(2) Pharaoh no doubt believed that this god was more powerful than Yahweh. He supposed that Baal-zephon had led Israel into a trap and was now going to cause them to be destroyed in front of the place named for him. Yahweh had other plans. His plan was to demonstrate that HE was the Lord of the sea. His authority, released through the extension of the rod He had given Moses, controlled the sea, not Zephon. Yahweh would lead his people THROUGH, not around, the sea that the Egyptians believed was under the control of Zephon. And instead of the Israelites being destroyed, it would be Pharaoh and the Egyptian army - in front of their supposed god! ISRAEL CROSSING INTO CANAAN In Genesis 12, God spoke to Abraham, promising him a family, a nation, ownership of the land of Canaan, and that He would use Abraham to bless the entire world. In Joshua 3, four and a half centuries later, this family now existed, had indeed become a nation, and under Joshua’s leadership, crossed into Canaan. Chapter 5 tells us: “While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho. Then, on the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and roasted grain. And the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.” (Joshua 5:10-12 NASB) ISRAEL’S DELIVERANCE FROM HAMAN In the book of Esther, we find the great story of Israel’s deliverance from Haman’s plot to destroy them. This wicked man had convinced the king to sign a decree to destroy the Jews (Esther 3:1-12). God used Esther and Mordecai to reverse Haman’s seemingly fail-proof plan. Esther called for a 3-day fast to pray for God’s protection, then approached the king asking for mercy for her people. God intervened, and Haman was hung on the gallows he had built for Mordecai (Esther 7:10). The feast of Purim celebrates this great victory over Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews (Esther 9:26-32). THE COMMON DENOMINATOR Now, what do these events have in common? The date: Nisan 17. Noah’s Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat; Pharaoh and his army were destroyed, and Baal-zephon was exposed; after Joshua and Israel crossed into Canaan and ate the fruit of the land, the manna ceased; and Haman was hung on his own gallows - all on the 17th day of the Hebrew month Nisan. That is miraculous and amazing! One can only imagine the angels’ thoughts as they carried out their assignments. Take the Flood, for example: He’s going to start the rain, flood the earth, and cause enough of the water to dissipate so the ark touches Earth ON THAT VERY DAY? That’s impossible - but then again, we are talking about Yahweh! How about the crossing into Canaan, eating the fruit of the land, and the manna ceasing? He said what?! Over the next four and a half centuries, He’s going to enable an old, barren couple to have a kid, multiply him into a NATION, preserve them through centuries of slavery, deliver them on this special day He has chosen, navigate around a rebellious generation waiting for all of them to die, the next generation will begin eating the fruit of this promised land - and He is going to land all of this on this same special day of the flood receding and the deliverance of this nation from slavery? Four hundred-plus years in the future, on Nisan 17? Well, if He said it, He’ll do it! I suppose the angels were used to this stuff! But why this date? God hadn’t told anyone, not even the angels, why He was doing these things on this date because He couldn’t disclose the mystery of how He would redeem humankind. And part of the plan included Jesus being resurrected on Nisan 17! The new earth and humanity’s restart after the flood; the judging of the powers of darkness and Israel’s deliverance from slavery; the manna ceasing (a picture of Christ’s earthly body) and eating the fruit of Canaan; and Haman, a symbolizing satan, having the tables turned on him while God’s people are exalted, were all pictures of Christ’s resurrection and occurred… ON THE VERY SAME DAY! Get yourself a Hebrew calendar, and the next time satan tempts you to doubt God’s ability to fulfill one of His promises or His willingness to do so, pull it out and point to Nisan 17. He won’t hang around–he hates that day. Pray with me: Father, we are reminded today of Your words: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) You planned the day and time of the Resurrection from the foundation of the world. Sin and death don’t stand a chance against Your omnipotence and omniscience. You always know what to do and how to do it, and You possess the power to accomplish it. You decided Yeshua would be resurrected on Nisan 17, and He was. You said satan was defeated, and he is. You said we are delivered from his authority, and we are. You said we would be welcomed back into Your family through Christ, and we have been. You said He would delegate His authority to us, and He has. You said we can do all things through Him, and we can. You said we are more than conquerors through Him, and we are. You said we always triumph in Him, and we do. You said we are healed by His stripes, and we are. You said Your perfect love casts out all fear, and it does. You said You would send Your Spirit to indwell us, and You have. You said Christ would build an Ekklesia the forces of hell could not overcome, and He has. You told us to heal the sick in Christ’s name, and we can. You told us to disciple nations in His name, and we can. You said Christ is King over all the nations, and He is. You said America will be saved, and it will! You said our prodigals were coming home, and they are. You said You would reap Earth’s greatest spiritual harvest in our day, and You will. You said the church Christ returns to would be glorious, and she will be. Our decree: We decree that God’s word is forever settled in Heaven! Click on the link below to watch the full video. ___________________________ https://youtu.be/wIxWAZ6r8oc?si=Q6Z_JOeu0YF_l64u https://biblearchaeology.org/research/devotionals/3794-confronting-baalzephon-the-spiritual-message-of-the-meeting-of-israel-and-the-armies-of-egypt

The Sound That Draws Him Matthew 18:19 says, “Again, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.” Today, I feel Holy Spirit’s prompting to remind you of the power of agreement. The above verse is given to us in the context of the church, the Ekklesia, addressing issues from the place of unity. The subsequent verse (Matthew 18:20) is the well-known promise that when 2 or more members of the church gather, Christ joins us. Though God’s presence is always with a believer, He is saying His presence comes in a stronger way when we gather together. “We” are better than “me.” I don’t want to poke holes in anyone’s theological balloon, but as a sidebar, I must point out that there is no verse in the Bible stating the prayers of one can chase or put to flight a thousand, and two can chase ten thousand. (I can see the scowls on many faces.) This assertion comes from a misunderstanding of Deuteronomy 32:30, which says, “How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had given them up?” This is actually part of a passage describing Israel’s enemies overwhelming them, and an explanation of why. Due to their sin, the Lord was no longer protecting them, and their enemies prevailed over them to this overwhelming degree. Don’t get too alarmed, however; though the numbers are somewhat different, there is a passage stating that Israel’s power multiplied when they fought as one: “Instead, you will chase your enemies, and they will fall before you by the sword; five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword.” (Leviticus 26:7-8 NASB) The context of this is physical warfare, not prayer, but it is fair to say God’s power was multiplied for Israel when they fought as a unified company. And my point in addressing this is not to become legalistic, but simply to help us become more accurate in our approach to prayer. We must base our prayers on biblical principles and truth, not tradition. And yes, I wholeheartedly believe God‘s power is multiplied when we pray and operate in agreement with one another. Greek scholar and teacher Rick Renner says, “The word ‘agree’ [in Matthew 18:19] is the Greek word sumphoneo, and it is a compound of sum and phoneo. The word sum means with, and the word phoneo means to make a sound. As you can imagine by simply looking at its two parts, this Greek word is where we get the word symphony. Thus, when we describe agreement in prayer, it is good to first think of a symphony, which is a musical piece made of different movements, instruments, and parts. The use of this word sumphoneo in the context of prayer is revealing, for it shows that when two or more believers get into agreement — each of them praying and adding their parts — it creates a supernatural movement that deeply touches the heart of the Father. This action is so powerful, in fact, that Jesus said it would result in the Father fulfilling any issue they addressed through prayer.”(1) Strongs Concordance says sumphoneo means to “be harmonious, in accord, or concur.”(2) The opposite of accord is discord, another term associated with music. Accord or harmony is pleasant; discord is unpleasant. A sour note played by one instrument in an orchestra can often be heard above all the others. God, who created music with all of its pleasantness and power, loves harmony and uses it to illustrate the pleasantness of agreement in the church, including prayer. It attracts Him: “I am there in their midst” (Matthew 18:20). It moves Him to action: “It shall be done for them by My Father, who is in heaven” (verse 19). Too often, the church sounds like a recital of 8-year-olds torturing parents and grandparents with their screeching strings and discordant horns. I question whether God actually shows up for some of it. His patience has its limits. “I’d like to hear some harmony” is probably what He thinks. But when we gather with like-minded people, harmonizing with God’s heart and desires (not necessarily theology), His ears prick up, and He is drawn to the sound. It is pleasant to Him. “How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). At this place of unity, He commands a blessing! (Verse 3) My goal today is to point out that God appreciates it when millions of people agree together in prayer for His purposes to be established on Earth. It attracts His presence, moves His heart, and multiplies His power flowing from us. Do not forget this when you agree with the person in your circle of relationships, your prayer group, your congregation, and yes, with millions of people on this platform. The number one reason I do the daily Give Him 15 posts is not to provide you with your daily devotional, though I’m thrilled that it accomplishes this for many. It is primarily to generate agreement in prayer for the establishment of God‘s purposes on the Earth. And I know our prayers are effectual. Please do not just listen as I end the posts with prayer. Activate your faith, pick up your instrument, and release a sound into the heavens that moves God's heart. We are playing salvation songs, revival and reformation medleys, and Kingdom of Heaven overtures. As we do, He joins us, then carries the sound of our “music” throughout the atmosphere of Earth, creating change and releasing life. Let’s harmonize now. Pray with me: Father, the orchestra of Your kingdom does more than sing praises; it agrees in prayer. And when it does, You said it attracts You and multiplies Your power. We harmonize together this day, recalling various themes You have asked us to pray for: We break the power of darkness and deception over prodigals and call them home. We ask You for a billion soul harvest throughout the nations of the Earth: to Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists, and every other group of people. We bind the Prince of Persia in the Middle East and all of its allies. We ask You for a great harvest of young people here in America and around the world - the largest ever. We ask for signs, wonders, and miracles to take place. We ask for great deliverance to come to those bound by demons, false ideologies, wounds, and any other tool of darkness. We ask You to heal the brokenhearted and set free those held captive. We ask for evil to be exposed in our nation, and a purifying of our government. We ask that life would be cherished and that death, including to the unborn, would be abhorred. We ask that the church be awakened from passivity and complacency and that Your fire would bring revival to believers throughout this nation and the world. We ask for the complete restoration of America to Your purpose and destiny. We ask for human trafficking to be exposed and ended. We ask that racial division be healed and that love and compassion sweep throughout our land. We pray that those who divide us for selfish reasons be exposed. We ask all of this in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Our decree: We declare that heaven’s orchestra is becoming a more finely tuned and skillful body, releasing a sound that pleases the heart of God. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ____________________________ https://renner.org/article/a-supernatural-answer-to-prayer/ James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 4856.