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The Importance of Faith and Action “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of mankind”  (Psalm 115:16; NASB). Moffatt translates the latter part of the verse, “The earth He has assigned to men.” His use of the word “assigned” communicates with greater accuracy the contextual meaning of the Hebrew word nathan (1)  in this verse. God didn’t give away ownership of the earth; He assigned the responsibility of managing or governing it to humans. The Passion Translation says He has “put us in charge” of the earth. God’s gifts are often also assignments, an example being our children. Holy Spirit uses this word nathan  no less than six times in the first chapter of Joshua to remind Israel that He had “given” them the land of Canaan (verses 2, 3, 6, 11, 13, 15). Canaan was the land He had promised (“given”) their forefather, Abraham (Genesis 12:7). They were now being assigned the task of conquering and taking possession of what God had given. Someone once asked, “Well, which was it; was God giving, or were they taking?” The answer is, “Yes.” Another word in this passage also aligns with this concept. Verse 11 uses the phrase, “The land the Lord your God is giving (nathan) you, to possess  ( yaresh ) (2)  it.” The word yaresh  has different shades of meaning. It means “legally an heir,” but also “military invasion in order to seize or possess.” In other words, God was telling Israel, “I have given it to you legally; now, I’m assigning you the task of militarily taking possession of it.” Joshua 1:3 also alludes to this. The Lord said to Joshua,  “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.” The word “tread” is darak , and means more than just stepping on something. It is a term of war used to describe “bending the bow” before shooting an arrow. It is still used today in Israel for the command, “Load your weapons.” God wasn’t telling Israel that everywhere they simply walked or stepped would be given to them. He had already marked off the perimeters of their inheritance. He was saying, “Every place that I have promised, and where you are willing to ‘load your weapons’ and possess, I’m going to give you.” So, one last time: Was God giving, or were they taking? YES! And to prove my point, I remind you that the previous generation in Israel was fearful and unwilling to darak (3)   - load their weapons - and fight. And they did NOT possess what God said was theirs.  These things happened to Israel as types, shadows, or examples for us (see 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11). Our inheritance must be possessed, also. That which our Joshua - Jesus - has given to us will not automatically come to us simply because we are now born again. We, too, must darak and yaresh! The truth that we must “seize” or “lay hold of” by faith what God has already “given” us is not understood by many Christians. They believe that what God wills for us to possess or experience - from that which Christ’s redemption provided - will sovereignly manifest for us. But this is not so. Most believers have never been taught what it means to “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life“  (1 Timothy 6:12).  “Lay hold”  could be translated as “seize.” Thayer says the word (epilambanomai ) means “to take what is one’s own, to take possession of, to take to one’s self, to make one’s own; to claim, procure for one’s self; that which when taken is not let go; to seize, to lay hold of, to apprehend.” (4 & 5) Obviously, this verse is NOT telling us to “take” or “wrestle” provision from God. But we ARE being told to use our faith to “take possession of” what God has given us through Christ; to “seize” it, and “don’t let go.” Sin’s curse operating on the earth, opposing circumstances, demonic opposition, and more, will attempt to steal or keep from us what God has “given.” Paul was telling Timothy, “I know it is a fight, Timothy, a fight of faith. But you must use your faith and lay hold of that which God has given you.” Jesus told us we would have to bind and loose (Matthew 16:18-19). He said we’d have to use the “weapons of your warfare” (2 Corinthians 10:4), and “wrestle” against spiritual powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). He put our enemies under our feet legally, but we would have to move in His authority in order to experience the manifestation of that victory. What He accomplished, we would have to enforce. This is why Romans 16:20 says, “And the God of peace will soon crush satan under YOUR feet”  (v. 20, emphasis added).  We have been doing so for America, and we will continue to do so.  Pray with me: Father, as we move toward revival and reformation, You are reminding us of the picture You gave through Israel. You told them to prepare their weapons; they were going to possess the land. They would have to “possess” militarily what You were “giving” legally. Their enemies were physical; ours are spiritual.  Jesus defeated these spiritual foes, and You have given us authority and spiritual weapons with which to overcome them. And yet, they have influenced our nation for decades and controlled other nations for centuries. This must end. The spoils we’re after are people’s salvation; we want millions to be freed from the curse of the Fall and their separation from You. We want them delivered from sin and freed from oppression. We want our children to know You and Your ways, and to be passionately pursuing a relationship with You. You want this, as well. We want our nation to once again embrace its calling and destiny. We desire to serve Christ and other nations by taking the gospel of Jesus to them. We want You to be honored - from the highest levels of authority in our land, to every home and person. We want to help You accomplish the great revival You’re planning, being Your voices, Your hands, Your feet, and especially representing Your heart. You have said You would restore America to this purpose if we humbled ourselves and prayed, turned from sin, and sought Your face. A remnant, a representational intercessory army has done so, and will continue to do so. We know You will honor what You have said. So we command for You once again, “Kingdom of God - rule of Yahweh, victory of Christ, life of God, breath of Holy Spirit - COME! Will and desires of King Jesus, BE!” We pray and decree these things through His authority, Father, and thank You in advance. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we WILL lay hold of that which God is giving. 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. 5414. Ibid., ref. no. 3423. Ibid., ref. no. 1869. Ibid., ref. no. 1949. Ibid., ref. no. 2983.

The Surprising Words of Three U.S. Presidents “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; from His dwelling place, He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth; He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works. The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm 33:12-22 NASB There was a time in America when many people in both political parties held Christian persuasions and beliefs, honored the Scriptures, and professed faith in Christ. Today, it seems that some Republicans and many Democrats have rejected God and the principles of the Bible. In 2012, the attendees of the Democratic National Convention actually booed God being mentioned in their party platform. We need a revival among members of both parties, awakening them to America’s true spiritual roots. In today’s post, I’m sharing quotes from three Democratic Presidents, in which they affirm their faith in God, honor for the Bible, and America’s Christian roots. Woodrow Wilson In 1911, the year before he was elected president, Woodrow Wilson assured the listeners that he was right with the Lord, and said: “America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify [the] devotion to the elements of righteousness, which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture. “Ladies and gentlemen, I have a very simple thing to ask of you. I ask of every man and woman in this audience that from this night on they will realize that part of the destiny of America lies in their daily perusal of this great book of revelations - that if they [wanted to] see America free and pure, they will make their own spirits free and pure by this baptism of the Holy Scripture.” (1) Liberals today seethe when someone says America began as a Christian nation. Wilson felt otherwise, asserting that we were indeed, adding that our purpose was to exemplify devotion to biblical righteousness. Wilson actually connected our destiny as Americans with the Scriptures, which he called a “great book of revelations!” He stated that the Bible would bring freedom and purity to both the individual and the nation, and suggested that people be immersed, or “baptized,” in it daily. Can you imagine?! What would happen if all Americans took his advice? Nothing short of revival and reformation. Franklin Delano Roosevelt  On one of his famous radio addresses, FDR said the following: “No greater thing could come to our land today than a revival of the spirit of religion - a revival that would sweep through the homes of the nation and stir the hearts of men and women of all faiths to a reassertion of their belief in God and their dedication to His will for themselves and for their world. I doubt if there is any problem - social, political, or economic - that would not melt away before the fire of such a spiritual awakening.” (2) Roosevelt wanted revival to “sweep through” America’s homes. He desired a rededication to God’s will for them and for the world. Incredible! And the grand finale: a revival such as this would solve all problems - “social, political, or economic.” Preach it, Mr. President!!! Harry Truman And finally, in a 1950 speech before a conference on law enforcement President Harry Truman said: “THE FUNDAMENTAL basis of this nation’s law was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings which we get from Exodus and St. Matthew, Isaiah, and St. Paul. I don’t think we emphasize that enough these days. “If we don’t have the proper fundamental moral background, we will finally wind up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in rights for anybody except the state.” (3) I just choked on my coffee! A United States President declaring that our laws were based on the Ten Commandments and other laws given to Moses on Sinai?! Then, asserting that the basis of our Bill of Rights was Exodus, Matthew, Isaiah, and Paul’s epistles? And his warning that without this moral foundation, we would lose our individual rights and wind up with a totalitarian government? Surely they impeached that man for violating the separation of church and state! How the Mighty Have Fallen David’s memorial lament for King Saul and his son, Jonathan, seems appropriate. Three times he repeated that “the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19, 25, 27). In verse 24, David encouraged Israel to weep over Saul’s death and remember the good about his life, even though he had become evil and sought to kill David. “Mourn his demise and death,” David told the nation. It is appropriate that we, too, mourn the loss of spiritual life among our leaders and pray for a renewal of faith in their ranks. We can and should pray for their salvation, even as we pray against many of their policies. The words of these three former presidents would make great prayers. Let’s use them today. Pray with me: Father, we ask for an awakening among America’s leaders and citizens to the fact that we were “born a Christian nation.” Bring a fresh love and reverence for Your Word, and a realization that it is indissolubly linked to America’s destiny. Bring a revival the likes of which President Roosevelt spoke of. Cause it to “sweep through the homes of the nation and stir the hearts of men and women of all faiths to a reassertion of their belief in [You] and their dedication to [Your] will for themselves and for their world.” Solve problems experienced throughout the world with a mighty revival! And may all Americans be reminded of and rejoice in the fact that our original laws and freedoms come from You. Bring such revival in our government that the majority humbly acknowledge Your place among us. YOU are the foundation of this nation. Restore our legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government to faith in You and to their original principles. We pray all these things in Jesus’ holy and powerful name. Our decree:  We decree that America is a nation “under God” and is returning to her righteous roots. Click on the link below to watch the full video. The Public Papers of Woodrow Wilson . College and State. https://archive.org/details/collegestate0002wood/page/302/mode/2up . p. 302. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1986/09/21/fdr-invoked-god-too/741f9d68-057c-4bf3-b0be-6faca4c8e2ef/ https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-before-the-attorney-generals-conference-law-enforcement-problems

Introduction Our good friend, Phillip Jauregui, president of Judicial Action Group, serves all of us in a very significant way. Though living in Alabama, he spends substantial time in Washington, D.C., reviewing, researching, and working to place only the best judges and justices in our federal courts. Phillip has worked on hundreds of judicial nominations over the past 20 years, including eight of the nine current United States Supreme Court justices. Not only is Phillip an attorney, but he is also a man of prayer. For years, God has motivated him to pray for the Supreme Court’s transformation. However, in 2017, the Lord began speaking to Phillip in a unique way regarding the Court, comparing it to the prodigal son in Scripture. That download from heaven has now become an incredible book - written in layman’s terms, not legalese - filled with insights regarding how we can pray for the Supreme Court. It was my great honor to write the foreword to this book,   The Parable of the Prodigal Court . I’m sharing that foreword with you today. The title of today’s post is: How to Pray for the Supreme Court Thirty years ago, I visited the Supreme Court for the first time. On the way, I heard Holy Spirit speak as clearly as I’ve ever heard Him: “Now I am going to show you where the strong man over America lives.” The words “strong man” were taken from the passage of Scripture in Mark 3:27:  “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.”  (NASB)  This statement did not mean that the Justices or the institution itself were evil. It meant that satan had established a stronghold there from which to implement his plans and control our nation. Since that day, part of my assignment has been to see this stronghold broken. Many others have been assigned this task, as well, and not just through prayer. Numerous people have worked tirelessly to liberate the Court from unrighteous control.  Most Americans are unaware that Thomas Jefferson, while not referencing the “strong man” of Scripture, warned of the potential for the judiciary to become a despotic branch of our government. A despot is a tyrant ruler with absolute, unlimited power. Despotism, then, is absolute power or control; tyranny. With these definitions in mind, consider the following statement from Jefferson on September 28, 1820: “You seem...to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions; a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy…Our judges are as honest as other men, and not more so...and their power [is] the more dangerous, as they are in office for life and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control…The Constitution has erected no such single tribunal, knowing that to whatever hands confided, with corruptions of time and party, its members would become despots.” (Stated in a letter to William Jarvis, Sept. 28, 1820) (1) Unfortunately, Jefferson’s warning proved to be all too accurate. Sixty-plus years ago, the progressive, liberal left in America decided the best way, possibly the only way, to impose their will on the American people was not at the ballot box or through the Legislative Branch of our government; it was through the Supreme Court. To do so, they would only need five of the nine members. The inappropriate belief that the Supreme Court had supreme power over all government decisions would allow only five unelected people to impose and enforce their will over 300,000,000 Americans! And their actions invited in the “strong man.” No entity or group has allowed more evil into America than the Supreme Court. As Phillip Jauregui points out so clearly in this critical book, only five individuals were needed to remove God and His principles from American schools, our government, and the public square. They trampled on constitutional rights, made the right to murder babies the law of the land, and overruled the will of the people in thirty states, who agreed with God that marriage was between one man and one woman.  On June 26, 2015, five Justices decided they had the right to redefine a 6,000-year-old definition of marriage–a definition clearly given by God, mind you–and redefine this covenant He instituted! Just let that sink in: five people (two of whom had participated in gay wedding ceremonies, yet refused to recuse themselves), arrogantly granted themselves the “authority” to overrule God…and the American people. The deception and arrogance of this was mind-numbing. Regarding this usurpation, Justice Alito said: “Today’s decision usurps the constitutional right of the people to decide whether to keep or alter the traditional understanding of marriage... “All Americans, whatever they’re thinking on that issue, should worry about what the majority’s claim of power portends.” (2) The late Justice Scalia stated, regarding this: “I write separately to call attention to this Court’s threat to American democracy... Today’s decree says that my Ruler, and the Ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court... “This practice of constitutional revision by an unelected committee of nine, always accompanied [as it is today] by extravagant praise of liberty, robs the People of the most important liberty they asserted in the Declaration of Independence and won in the Revolution of 1776–the freedom to govern themselves…To allow the policy question of same-sex marriage to be considered and resolved by a select, patrician, highly unrepresentative panel of nine is to violate a principle even more fundamental than no taxation without representation: no social transformation without representation.” (3) Despotism, indeed.  My journey of prayer for this out-of-control Court took a decidedly different turn in 2023 when speaking with Phillip. He shared with me regarding what he believed the Lord had told him a few years prior: “Begin seeing the Court not as your enemy, but as a prodigal that I love.” Then he said to me, “I believe it is time to consecrate the Court to God. What do you think about this?” I was somewhat taken aback, and my tongue-in-cheek response was, “I need to think about what I think about all of that!” I did think, and prayed…and agreed! To say that Phillip’s insights launched me into a new way of praying for the Supreme Court would be an understatement. Due to the work and prayers of many, I now believe the “strong man’s” control over the Supreme Court has been broken. This means we can now pray as Phillip urges us in this outstanding book, for the “prodigal” Court to return to the Father’s influence and blessing.  Pray with me:  Father, we in America have defiled many of the blessings You gave us. Like the prodigal son, we have squandered Your prosperity, using it to satisfy our lusts. We have used our liberties and freedoms to satisfy unrighteous desires. We have distorted and twisted the great Constitution You inspired, turning it into a meaningless piece of paper. And we have abandoned the purpose for which You created America: partnering with You to redeem the world. Many Americans have repented of these things, and we continue to humble ourselves before You in repentance. We turn our attention today to the Supreme Court of America. Through this institution, we have rejected You, the right to life, the covenant of marriage You established, and more. We have arrogantly made rulings that defied You, and we have paid for this arrogance and rebellion with the loss of tens of millions of Americans. Today, we repent and ask for Your mercy. The blood of Jesus was sprinkled on a “Mercy Seat,” and we ask for this mercy. YOU birthed America and our government. YOU instituted the principle of government. We call the Supreme Court back under YOUR plans, purposes, precepts, and laws, asking that You change all that needs changing in this branch of our government. Turn hearts that need turning, and bring Your presence into the Supreme Court building once again. We ask all of this in the holy and all-powerful name of Yeshua. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the Supreme Court of the United States is rejecting the rule and influence of darkness and is returning to God’s light of truth. You can find The Parable of the Prodigal Court  on Amazon and Kindle. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-16-02-0234   https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/justice-alitos-dissent-ssm-case-ed-whelan/    https://www.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/2016_0427_cohenstatement.pdf

Introduction The following is taken from my brother, Tim Sheets’ new book,   Healing Decrees that Activate Angel Armies . This book features 100 timely and prophetic devotionals, along with personalized prayers and decrees, that will bring you into agreement with God’s miracle-working power. Some are written for our personal lives, others for the nation. All are powerful. Here is one of the devotionals. A Simple Prayer that Opens Ancient Wells: “Bend Us” Hear what Holy Spirit is saying: “It’s time for old healing wells and revival wells to be uncapped. Awakening angels have been sent to bring you My strategies, connecting you with past anointings, past streams of revival, and NOW strategies.” New streams for our times are flowing, and fresh anointings are synergizing together. It is time to experience all of this; it’s time for our future to change. A move of God is beginning that cannot be stopped. Several years ago, Carol and I drove to Canada to minister. We arrived late in the afternoon and only had a short time to freshen up at the hotel before being transported to the meeting place. While waiting to be picked up, I asked the Lord, “Holy Spirit, why am I here? What are You saying?”  Immediately, the Lord spoke these words to me: “The revival in Canada will be like the Welsh Revival led by Evan Roberts.” I wrote those words, someone picked us up, and off we went to the meeting. When we arrived, we stepped through the back door of an old hockey arena that held around 500 people. We were led through the door, past the platform and pulpit, to seats in the front row. When we walked in, I saw that the leader of the meeting had placed an old wooden chair near the pulpit, which I thought was a little unusual, but I didn’t mention it. However, as I spoke with the leader prior to starting the meeting, she said to me, “Do you see that chair? That’s Evan Roberts’ chair from the Welsh Revival.” I nearly fell over because of what Holy Spirit had spoken to me back in the hotel. I reached for my Bible and handed her the paper that had the words I had written just an hour earlier: “The revival in Canada will be like the Welsh Revival led by Evan Roberts.” I had no idea they were going to have that chair there. But Holy Spirit did, and He used it to begin speaking to us. Holy Spirit is saying, “Remember the Welsh Revival. Pick up the mantle of the Welsh Revival.” This prophetic understanding applies not only to Canada but also to the United States. Holy Spirit has repeatedly spoken to me that the revival in America will be like the Welsh Revival. Evan Roberts was a young man who worked in the coal mines; he was also a blacksmith. Today, we would consider him a Gen Z’er or a millennial. Roberts spent hours praying and reading his Bible, often all night long. He was the youth pastor at his church and also taught Sunday school. At the age of 26, after praying and seeking the Lord for days, he felt led to go to a missions conference conducted by evangelist Seth Joshua. At the end of the meeting, the evangelist prayed, and one line was, “Lord, bend us.” [Bending someone’s will is an idiomatic phrase meaning to persuade or induce them to choose a particular course of action.] It was used during that time to express holiness. It’s not really used this way today. In other words, “Bend us to follow You, Lord. Make our hearts pliable. Soften us, Lord, and bend us into who we need to be. Bend our lives to make us usable. Shape us.” The Ekklesia needs to pray the same today. A Simple Prayer with a Powerful Impact As the Welsh Revival began, Seth Joshua prayed this simple prayer, and it had a cataclysmic effect: “Bend us, Lord.” Suddenly, people in the congregation began to spontaneously pray out loud. Evan Roberts writes of that moment: “When others prayed, I felt a living force come into my bosom. It held my breath, and my legs shivered. …The living force grew and grew, and I was almost bursting. …I cried, ‘Bend me! Bend me! Bend us!’ What bent me was God commending His Love…and I wept. Henceforth, the salvation of souls became the burden of my heart. From that time, I was on fire with a desire to go through all of Wales.” (1) And the young man did just that. Conservative estimates suggest that more than 150,000 people gave their hearts to Christ during this time. Bars closed, and crime was practically nonexistent. The police said they had little to do other than manage the crowds going to a revival or church meeting. The people were so joyful and sang so much that the revival simply became known as the “Singing Revival.” Thousands of coal miners were saved, many of whom were hardcore sinners. It was said that the mules that carted off the coal had to be retrained because they had been trained by these hard miners to follow the command of curse words; they didn’t understand kind words. These coal miners now loved to sing while they worked. The coal mines had large air shafts running hundreds of feet up to the surface of the earth across the Welsh hillsides. People would bring chairs and sit around those air shafts, listening for hours to the reverberating songs and hymns echoing up from the bowels of the earth, from men who were now saved. The songs would travel through the tunnels, and many men joined in; all around the hillside, you could hear worship rising up from the earth. No one sings quite like the Welsh; theirs is an accent that gets into your soul. It is hard to imagine this, but the countryside literally echoed with praise and worship wafting up from the ground. All of Wales was changed, then the nations around them began to change. Holy Spirit has released awakening angels now to connect us to the anointings of previous revivals, and to the great awakening planned for our time. They are connecting us to prophetic words, visions, and dreams. There are no angel graveyards. The angels used in Wales didn’t die. They have assisted outpouring after outpouring. We are told in the Scriptures that the angels gain knowledge and understanding. The angels that assisted Holy Spirit in Acts 2 are some of the same angels assisting us today, helping administer a fresh move of God upon this earth. They are activated and here to assist us, and they are more experienced now than ever before.  The Third Great Awakening has begun. Pray with me: Lord Jesus, as You did in Wales, do the same right here. Do it in my life, in my family, and in my nation. Bend us to follow You, Lord. Your Kingdom come–right here, right now! Holy Spirit, thank You for the angelic assistance You are giving us, connecting us to the anointings of past revivals. Lord, do greater works today than what You did then! Show us Your glory! May our lands be changed because of Your glorious presence. Pour out Your Spirit in governments, schools, homes, and churches. Rain on every element of our culture: the poor, the rich, the young, the old, all races, all political persuasions. Give us hunger for You! Give us repentance. Give us soft, pliable hearts. Give increased revelation and wisdom. Increase the level of our gifts and anointings, and of our ability to disciple people and nations. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen. Our decree: We decree: bend us, bend us, bend us, oh Lord. Today’s post was taken from my brother’s new book, Healing Decrees That Activate Angel Armies.  You can find out more about Tim and where you can purchase this book at Tim Sheets Ministries  and Amazon. Click on the link below to watch the full video. “O Lord, Bend Us,” Blaenannerch Calvinistic Methodist Chapek–1904-1905 Welsh Revival, Walesawakeningorg;   https://walesawakening.org/revivalhistory/The-Bending-at-Blaenannerch.pdf ; accessed July 17, 2025.

Honoring Presidents and Honoring God Several years ago, Holy Spirit gave me direction to agree with the prayers of an individual I knew to already be in heaven. My first thought was that this could not be the Lord, as we are instructed in Scripture not to try to conjure up the dead. As I questioned these instructions, Holy Spirit made it clear to me that He was referring to agreement with the prayers and decrees this person had prayed while on earth. “His prayers are not dead,” He reminded me, “and I need the synergy of the ages.” The Lord then led me to Hebrews 11, especially verses 39-40:  “Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.”  (MSG) I write about this experience in greater detail in my books,  An Appeal to Heaven , and Give Him 15, An Appeal to Heaven Devotional, Volume I . The generations are far more connected than most people understand. God even said the Levites paid tithes through their great-grandfather, Abraham (Hebrews 7:9)! God intends for us to honor, agree with, and build upon the righteous actions of our forefathers.  Today, on this Presidents’ Day, I am sharing several quotes from past U.S. presidents - from hundreds of possibilities - which state their faith in God, respect for His Word, and honor for Christ. Though not all of these presidents were Founding Fathers, their words carry great authority. They also serve to combat the lies of revisionists who try to diminish our Christian roots and heritage. And they provide us declarations we can agree with, creating the synergy of the ages: “The propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained.” George Washington “We recognize no sovereign but God, and no king but Jesus!” John Adams “I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.” John Adams “The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart.” Thomas Jefferson “The Bible is the first and almost the only book deserving of universal attention.” John Quincy Adams “My custom is to read four or five chapters of the Bible every morning immediately after rising. It seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day. It is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue.” John Quincy Adams “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.” John Quincy Adams “We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand, which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” Abraham Lincoln “I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man.” Abraham Lincoln “All must admit that the reception of the teachings of Christ results in the purest patriotism, in the most scrupulous fidelity to public trust, and in the best type of citizenship.” Grover Cleveland “And to the Divine Author of every good and perfect gift, we are indebted for all those privileges and advantages, religious as well as civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this favored land.” James Monroe “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” Theodore Roosevelt “The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.” Calvin Coolidge “The study of the Bible is a postgraduate course in the richest library of human experience.” Herbert Hoover “The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.” John F. Kennedy “Of the many influences that have shaped the United States into a distinctive nation and people, none may be said to be more fundamental and enduring than the Bible.” Ronald Reagan “If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” Ronald Reagan  As we offer up prayers and decrees, we can agree with these and other portions of America’s history, doing so with a conscious faith that God is hearing our appeals, and the sword we release is powerful. As many thousands of us do so, agreeing together in Christ’s name, we are releasing His Kingdom will into the earth. And His Kingdom wins - always. Our prayer and decree: Father, You have taught us the power of “the synergy of the ages.” We know that You will finish through future generations what You began in the past. It is our privilege to honor those in history and build on the foundations You established through them. We are reminded that the words “patriot” and “patriotism” come from the Greek word for father/s ( pater ). (1)  We desire to be true patriots, honoring and embracing the vision, work, and efforts of our Founders. Therefore, we make the following decrees today from the words they wrote:  We decree that we recognize no sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus. We decree that the highest glory of the American Revolution was that it connected in one insoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.  We decree that we will not forget God and His gracious hand, which has preserved us in peace, multiplied us, and enriched us bountifully.
 We decree that the reception of the teachings of Christ results in the purest patriotism, the most scrupulous fidelity to public trust, and the best type of citizenship.
 We decree that knowledge of the Bible is worth more than all other education and training.
 We decree that we will never forget we are one nation UNDER GOD.
 And we decree that life is in the power of these words and that we will eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21). America shall be saved!
 A note from Dutch:  Three of the best books for quotes from America’s early leaders and Founders, as well as information regarding America’s beginning, are: America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations  by William J. Federer  Faith of Our Founding Fathers  by Leo Godzich The Light and the Glory  by Peter Marshall and David Manuel (out of print, but copies can be found in libraries and some bookstores) Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible . Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. ref. no. 3962.

The Emerging Youth Revival  This week, CBN News reported that revival is continuing on college campuses, stating that: “The ongoing spiritual awakening unfolding on college campuses across the U.S. reached the University of Central Florida on Tuesday night, leading to hundreds of new salvations and baptisms. “Tonya Prewett, the founder and visionary of the UniteUS campus outreach ministry, reports 1,600 students made decisions to ‘go all in with Jesus... revival is not slowing down!’ “Over 5,000 students gathered at the University of Central Florida to lift the name of Jesus. Hundreds of students were baptized, and many who identified as atheists now identify as Christians. What a night! What a God! “UniteUS has held two dozen Christian revival events on college campuses since the movement started three years ago. It all kicked off after the Asbury Awakening of February 2023 signaled a fresh move of the Spirit of God among American students.” (1) An outpouring of Holy Spirit also began on Wednesday of this week at Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL. It continued throughout the night and into yesterday. Because I record these posts the day before, I don’t know at this time (Thursday afternoon) if the worship and prayer have continued into today. Here is their YouTube link .  The revival ministry, UniteUS , has had outreaches on campuses such as Auburn University, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, Cincinnati, Grand Canyon, Tennessee, Oklahoma, NC State, Purdue University, and the University of South Florida. More than 120,000 students have participated, with thousands making decisions to follow Christ. This past December, UniteUS branched out to reach high school students with 1,000 surrendering their hearts in Nashville. You can find out more about them at UniteUsMovement.com . The website lists upcoming events, including Pittsburg, FSU, and Samford. God is moving among the youth around the world. Throughout history, God has often chosen to begin outpourings of His Spirit among the next generation - young hearts hungry for truth, freedom, and purpose. Today, we are witnessing this again, a divine awakening sweeping across college campuses. A fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit is stirring the hearts of thousands of students, igniting a fire of faith that is transforming lives and reshaping our nation's future. This is not just revival. It is also a sign that God’s Spirit is once again moving in power to reawaken the church, awaken nations, and fulfill His divine purposes for this generation. It is a kairos  moment (2)  - a divine opportunity for the body of Christ to rise up in faith and partner with heaven for the greatest awakening in history. As I stated above, God has often chosen young people in past generations to be the catalysts of spiritual renewal. From the student revivals of the 18th and 19th centuries to the powerful moves of the 20th century, the youth have often been at the forefront of God’s plans. Today, we are seeing this pattern repeat itself—God is awakening a generation on the campuses.  Young people are standing boldly, professing their faith in Christ, being baptized, and declaring that Jesus is their Lord. These conversions are not just moments of individual salvation; they are prophetic declarations that the kingdom of God is breaking into the heart of education systems, challenging the darkness and establishing His light. Reports from campuses throughout the nations tell of thousands of students encountering Jesus through dreams, visions, and powerful testimonies of salvation. Baptisms are happening in dormitories, campus chapels, and even in lakes and rivers near college towns. These are not isolated incidents but a widespread movement—a wave of revival sweeping through nations. This revival is characterized by genuine repentance, hunger for the Word, and a desire to see God move throughout the earth. Students are not just interested in superficial religion; they are hungry for authentic encounters with the living God. They’re rising up with a newfound zeal to share the Good News of Christ, to pray for their campuses, and to see the Holy Spirit come in power. Prayer and Worship Are Fueling the Fire At the heart of this movement is a renewed passion for prayer and worship. Students are gathering in prayer meetings that are overflowing with the presence of God. Worship is erupting on campuses as young voices cry out with passion and abandonment. These moments of prayer and worship are becoming portals for divine revelation and transformation. They’re breaking down barriers, tearing down strongholds, and ushering in God’s glory. This awakening is marked by a tangible desire to see others come to Christ. Students are stepping out boldly—sharing their faith on social media, engaging in street evangelism, and forming discipleship groups. They understand that revival is not just about personal salvation but about reaching others for Christ. Many campuses are witnessing the birth of student-led prayer groups and outreach ministries.  A Prophetic Sign This movement on college campuses is a prophetic sign—a divine forecast of what God has begun on the earth. Holy Spirit is being poured out on all flesh, and young men and women are receiving visions and dreams, prophetic words, and divine assignments (Acts 2:16-21). God will use this generation to carry the torch of revival. These students are not just the future of the church; they are the church now, armed with power and purpose. Our prayers are crucial at this time. They are the engine that will propel the revival forward, creating a spiritual atmosphere that sustains it. Persevere in declaring God’s promises over campuses and cities. This is a season of divine breakthrough. Our prayers are breaking strongholds, releasing the Spirit’s power, and opening the heavens for an unprecedented move of God. In Conclusion  This is just the beginning. The revival on campuses is gaining momentum, and the Spirit of God is inviting the church to join in. Now is the time for believers everywhere to pray more fervently, believe more boldly, and partner with heaven in seeing this move multiply. We must continue to cry out, to declare His promises, and to believe that earth’s greatest harvest of souls is on the horizon. Partner with heaven! Be part of this historic awakening, one that will sweep across America and the world.  “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you”  (Isaiah 60:1).  Pray with me: Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, longing for a mighty outpouring of Your Spirit upon our campuses across America. Lord, You see the hunger, brokenness, and confusion that grip the hearts of students and faculty alike. We cry out for revival—an awakening that will shake the very foundations of our institutions and ignite a passion for Your truth and righteousness. We ask You to pour out Your Spirit in power, to break every chain of sin and ignite a fire of holiness within every student and leader. Send a fresh wave of conviction, repentance, and renewal. Raise up mighty warriors for Your Kingdom—students, professors, administrators—who will stand for Christ and proclaim Your Gospel with boldness and love. We know that revival has begun. Now, in the name of Jesus, release Your Spirit to sweep across every campus, transforming minds, hearts, and lives. We believe You are able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Let Your Kingdom come - NOW - on campuses everywhere, bringing Heaven to earth. Amen. Our decree: We decree that revival has begun and will continue on campuses in America and throughout the world. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://cbn.com/news/us/1600-decisions-jesus-u-central-florida-revival-not-slowing-down   James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 2540.

Being Like Jesus “…whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  (Mark 10:43-45: NASB, 1995) God asks all believers to have servant-hearts. There are several New Testament words for “servant” or “minister,” each with different nuances of meaning. I will mention five of them today, giving the greatest focus to number four.  A doulos was a bond-slave. (1)  Paul often referred to himself as a bond-slave or bond-servant of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1, etc.). Yes, God owns us. This is true by the right of creation, but also because He purchased us with the blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). As our Lord, He can require of us anything He wants. One of the most popular songs in the Charismatic Movement of the 70s was simple but powerful, “He is Lord.” And He is. Latris  is from the verb latreuo,  and means to serve, not out of compulsion, but by choice. (2)  A parent serves his or her family by providing for and caring for them – not as a slave, but from the motivation of love. This is latreuo.  Romans 12:1 in the King James Translation tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, as it is our “reasonable service.” Other versions of Scripture translate the phrase differently, and appropriately so, saying this is our “reasonable service of worship.” They do this because the word used here is latreuo, not doulos . We are not being told to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice because we are His slaves, but rather because we love Him and want to please Him. We do it as worshippers.  Though Paul referred to himself as the Lord’s bond-slave, he also said the love of God constrained him as his primary motivation (2 Corinthians 5:14). We certainly must establish that we will obey God fully, but we must also fully realize that we are His partners, friends, and kids. As the Head of the church and King of the Kingdom, He gives commands; He also delights in partnering with us as His family and friends.  The third word is diakonos,  which simply means “to serve, minister, attend or wait on,” as in a “waiter” serving tables. We get the English word “deacon” from this Greek word. (3)  In Acts chapter 6, it is used for both the apostles’ “ministries” (Acts 6:4) and the deacons’ “ministries” (Acts 6:2). One group served natural food to the widows; the other served spiritual food to the entire church. Same word–both were servants. Diakonia/diakonos  simply means to serve another, regardless of the purpose. We are ALL called to ministry or service for Christ, whether on a platform, in an office building, or at home. We have all been given gifts from God; serving that gift to benefit others is diakonia . (4)   The fourth word is huperetes , and though it does mean “a servant or an attendant,” (5)  its original and literal meaning is “bottom rower” or “under-rower.” The word refers to an oarsman positioned on the lower deck of a trireme-type ship. This was a lightweight, oar-powered warship with three decks of oars on each side, used by Mediterranean civilizations from the 7th to 4th centuries BC. It was propelled by 170 oarsmen, 85 per side, and could reach speeds of 10 mph. A “bottom rower” was an oarsman serving on the lowest deck; some were paid, others were slaves. Later, the word came to be used simply as a subordinate. Several rather obvious symbolic meanings can be seen in the use of this word for believers. A bottom rower was a lowly position, requiring great humility. Significantly, both the apostle Paul and King David were called under-rowers (Acts 26:16; 13:36). Think of that! One of the greatest apostolic leaders of the church, Paul, and perhaps Israel’s greatest king, David, both called bottom rowers. How revealing! We’re all called to be humble servants in God’s Kingdom, under-rowers for Him, not superstars.  A bottom rower, being on the bottom deck, couldn’t see where the ship was going. He had to completely trust the leader, just as we must trust the Lord as He directs our lives. Not only was being an under-rower hard work, but this bottom level was uncomfortable, cold, and damp. When storms came, the rowers would be swamped with seawater, yet they had to row onward. It was very challenging. We, too, are told to endure hardship as good soldiers of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3) And the rowers had to be unified. The key to their success was the synergy produced when they rowed in unison. If the 170 rowers on triremes had rowed sequentially, taking turns, they would have generated only the strength of one, 170 different times. But when the 170 rowed simultaneously, they created a synergistic force that could propel a small ship. This is why a leader would call a cadence, enabling them to row in unison. We, too, must be team players, not doing our own thing or quarreling over who calls the cadence. We must be Kingdom-minded, wanting only to move the boat forward: “Give me an oar and let me row.” When this is happening, we can accomplish number five.  The last word for a servant is therapon . While this word does mean a “servant, attendant, or minister,” it originates from the concept of doing so to cure or heal! (6) (Matthew 4:23-24). We actually get our English words “therapy” and “therapist” from this Greek word. Notice the progression: when we are submitted to Christ’s Lordship ( doulos ); loving Him and desiring to partner with His goals ( latris ); doing so by ministering to others through the gift He gave us ( diakonos ); operating in humility, harmony, and agreement with others ( huperetes ); we become His healing force in the earth ( therapon )! This is what occurs as we intercede together for the accomplishment of God’s purposes on earth: we move forward powerfully, becoming a force of God’s life and power. Let’s do so now. Pray with me: Father, we know Jesus demonstrated true ministry/servanthood, selflessly traveling about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by satan (Acts 10:38). He came not to be served but to serve and give His life for many (Matthew 20:28). David, a king, was called a servant. Your apostles were called servants. We ask for great understanding and conviction to invade the church regarding our call to servanthood. We also ask that our hearts be moved upon by Holy Spirit, bringing genuine desires to work with others. We ask that denominations, movements, leaders, and all believers be motivated to operate in high levels of agreement. Convict the church of being judgmental and of promoting disunity and division. Show us the religiosity and pride that motivate this divisive spirit. Replace it with a spirit of love and cooperation. We ask for many new connections to occur in Your Kingdom. Give us hearts willing to row together. Build prayer connections that enable us to fulfill the assignments You give. We ask that EVERY nation have a STRONG prayer covering by the Ekklesia. Turn our nations to You and send the greatest awakening the earth has ever experienced. In Christ’s name, amen. Our decree: We declare that we are Christ’s bottom rowers, joyfully rowing to the cadence of Holy Spirit, causing great strength and power to be released for His Kingdom. 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. 1401. Ibid., ref. no. 3000. Ibid., ref. no. 1249. Ibid., ref. no. 1248. Ibid., ref. no. 5257. Ibid., ref. no. 2324.

Introduction I always pray for the Lord’s guidance when preparing the Give Him 15 posts. Yesterday, I felt strongly impressed to release a word of encouragement. After doing so, Gina Gholston sent me a word, which is also regarding encouragement from the Lord. It seems He wants to encourage and strengthen us! I’m titling today’s post: Re-energize to Mobilize. Gina shares: Re-energized to Mobilize Recently, while scrolling through one of my social media pages, I saw a picture someone had posted. The photographer had captured the sun rising directly behind a weeping willow tree by a river. When I saw the picture, I immediately and very clearly heard the Lord say, “Weeping has endured for the night, but morning is breaking, and joy is coming! I Am drawing you up and to Myself! I Am making you inaccessible to the enemy who has sought to overtake you. I have not, nor will I allow your foes to rejoice over you. You have cried out to Me for help, and I have heard your cry! Your Help is on the way! I Am your Helper! I Am extending mercy to you. My glory is breaking through. I Am loosing you from the cloak of sorrow and clothing you with gladness! I Am turning your weeping into joy, your sorrow into dancing, and your test into a testimony that will further ignite the flames of awakening and true revival! My manifested glory is coming in!” What an encouraging and timely word from the Lord! With all that is happening in our world today, it seems our call to the wall of intercession has become increasingly fervent and relentless. Holy Spirit is intensifying our assignments to stand in the gap and appeal to Heaven on behalf of our nation. We know that our labor is not in vain. Still, in the throes of the constant warfare, weariness and exhaustion threaten to weave a veil over our focus and get us off course. But Yahweh is extending help and mercy to us. He is turning things for us and in us. He is giving us a second wind, enabling us to catch our breath and refocus on Him and His promises.  He is with us, and this battle belongs to Him. He will not allow our foes to rejoice over us! In 2021, I received an encouraging vision and word from the Lord. I have shared this before, but feel it necessary to release it again today. In the vision, I saw people whom I knew were intercessors spinning around swiftly like a top when released from its string. Off to the side, I could see the enemy watching them, laughing and mocking. Suddenly, I saw the finger of God placed on the heads of these intercessors, and the spinning stopped. And in that moment, they began to glow with a brilliant light! Immediately, I heard the Lord say, “The nauseating dizziness and all of the confusion from the unexpected attacks launched against you have come to an end! The attacks have not made you weak! In spite of what the enemy tried to do, I have strengthened your spirit man; what I have developed in you will now begin to radiate through you with a fervency that cannot be extinguished or avoided! Healing and strength are your portion! You are stepping out of a dark, spinning season into the light of My ‘now’ moment. And as you walk with Me, I will shine through you with power and the manifestation of My might! The spinning is now becoming a ‘turning of events’...a turning in your favor!” On another occasion, the Spirit of the Lord said to me, “I have built in you a resistance that hell cannot penetrate! You are fortified. The barrier that is formed around you will not hem you in; it will keep hell out! I Am surrounding you as a wall of fire. My glory is in you, both to flow for you and out from you in magnificent ways!” Yes, we have all felt the undeniable increase of spiritual resistance, but Yahweh is reminding us of this powerful, unchangeable truth: Greater is He that is in us than any force of hell that comes against us! (1 John 4:4) We are surrounded by an impenetrable force of the power of God. Though the battle has been intense, our assurance is that we are fortified, and hell cannot defeat us. No amount of resistance can stop us, as He works through us, to fulfill His intentions for this nation! The spinning is ending, and things are turning as the Ancient of Days rises on our behalf. I feel the Lord is saying: This is a divine moment. Stay the course. Don’t get entrapped by your emotions. Don’t relax your stand on what I have said! My Word stands! Do not allow weariness to rob you of your due season! Don’t lose hope, and don’t discard your courage! I Am re-adjusting your vision and stabilizing your resolve. You will run and not grow weary! Shake off the dizziness. Reorganize for renewed activity. Be re-energized to mobilize! Onward is your command! I once heard Dutch say, “It’s time for the Ekklesia to step up. This is our time. Do not grow weary now! Grab hold of that surge, that second wind that comes to an athlete, giving him the ability to say, ‘I see the finish line. I feel adrenaline flowing inside me! I’m ready to do this!’” We are in a time when the Lord is drawing us to Himself intensely . He is making us aware of His presence, and a spiritual hunger is being stirred that many haven't felt in years. In renewed awareness of His power and presence, weariness is breaking, allowing us to refocus and hold fast to our faith in God. The Body of Christ is being revitalized to carry on with the purposes for which we have been called. For some, weeping has endured for a night season. But the new day has dawned, the Lord is removing the cloak of weariness, and is clothing us with gladness. He is turning our weeping into joy, our sorrow into dancing, and our test into a testimony, one that will further ignite the flames of awakening and true revival! He has put His finger on us, and we will now rise with a greater radiance of His glory! Pray with me: Lord, thank You for hearing our prayers and for fighting on our behalf. Weeping may have endured for a time, but You have not allowed our foes to rejoice over us. You have us surrounded. We are anchored on the foundation of Your promises, and You have secured our victory! We cast off the cloak of weariness, and don Your robes of gladness. We rise with renewed hope and restored strength. The spinning has come to an end. Your power and purposes will now radiate through us with a fervency that cannot be extinguished or avoided . We draw near to You, Lord. And in Your presence, we will find strength and wisdom to go forward, accomplishing the purposes for which You have called us. Father, thank You for this history-making time. We hear You, and we will follow You forward. We refuse to allow our enemy to talk us into surrendering our posts. We receive and believe Your Word. Like a hammer, it is breaking off all emotional entanglements of the last season. Thank You for healing many - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually - so that with renewed focus and strength, they can rise to finish what You have started in and through them! We trust You, and we will not be afraid. You are our strength and defense, and our salvation. Your favor is upon us, and You will work through us to fully establish all of Your intentions for our time. We breathe in Your awakening breath, and we shout with steadfast resolve, “Weariness will not rob us of our due season!” We are free, we will run, and we will BE all You have called us to be!  We do not fear, we believe Your promise, and we will partner with You in all You have planned for our future, including revival and reformation. We thank You for Your faithfulness and mercy. And we pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that God is turning weeping into joy, sorrow into dancing, and tests into testimonies, in order to further ignite the flames of awakening and true revival! Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was contributed by Gina Gholston. You can find out more about her, including how to purchase her books at GinaGholston.com .

A Thank-You to the Faithful I spoke this past weekend at the 20th anniversary of Hope Fellowship in Brandon, Mississippi, a wonderful church led by David and Jo Hertel. In preparation for this, the Lord led me to Acts 10 and the account of Cornelius. Holy Spirit actually awakened me early Sunday morning with this passage in my heart. It tells us that the home of Cornelius was chosen by God as the launch point of the gospel to the Gentile world. Think about that: world history was forever changed in Cornelius’ living room! What did Cornelius do to attain such an honor? The answer is given in Acts 10:2-4: “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God continually…And [an angel] said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” Cornelius was a generous man who gave “many” financial gifts to the poor. And though he was not yet born again, his love and respect for God caused him to live a life of prayer. These two offerings had “ascended as a memorial before God.” The Greek word “memorial” used in this passage means a record, a remembrance, and can even be a literal monument. (1)  Cornelius was on record in heaven! And when God was choosing who would receive this immeasurable honor, He did so based on a man’s giving and his intercession. The Lord is moved by our generosity and, of course, our faithfulness. In a parable regarding faithfulness, the Lord stated that this virtue would be part of our welcome into Heaven :​​ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” (Matthew 25:21 NLT) In today’s post, I want to encourage the faithful intercessors, the front-liners who are praying diligently to see the purposes of Christ accomplished in America and the world. Most of them are never paid a penny for their labors, never receive glowing introductions, and will never stand on a stage. They’re the nameless, faceless heroes on record in heaven. Thank God for their labors.  The great leader, orator, and statesman Winston Churchill was known for his ability to bolster the spirits and determination of the British people during the harsh days of World War II. On October 31, 1942, he was addressing a conference of coal mine operators and miners in Westminster’s Central Hall. Compared to some of Churchill’s speeches, this one seemed like nothing extraordinary, not until his ending, that is. When I read it, I always think of those who faithfully pray for our nation and the nations. Churchill said: “We shall not fail, and then someday, when children ask, ‘What did you do to win this inheritance for us, and to make our name so respected among men?’ One will say: ‘I was a fighter pilot’; another will say: ‘I was in the Submarine Service’; another: ‘I marched with the Eighth Army’; a fourth will say: ‘None of you could have lived without the convoys and the Merchant Seamen’; and you in your turn will say, with equal pride and with equal right: ‘We cut the coal.’” (2) With absolutely no fear of being sensationalistic or exaggerating the truth, I say to the intercessors, the active “coal-cutters”: Thank you for furthering the cause of Christ and helping save the world from evil and tyranny.  I recently heard a quote implying that our yieldedness to God is more important than our actions or efforts. May I respectfully say that this is a half-truth? Our yieldedness is but one side of the coin. The converse side of the coin is the “hard work” side - the “bended knee” side, the “go ye” side, the “coal-cutting” side. Without this half of the coin, it’s a counterfeit. When I think of faithful and determined intercessors, I think of warriors like Eleazar in Scripture, one of David’s mighty men, who fought the enemies of Israel until his hand clung to the sword (2 Samuel 23: 9-10). They had to peel Eleazar’s fingers from the sword after the battle. When he could no longer hold on with his physical strength, he held on with his heart. I have watched intercessors weep over America until their eyes were bloodshot, pray through the night, fast for days on end, and spend thousands of their hard-earned dollars on prayer journeys to see God's purposes established in our nation.  I have watched them stand in the rain and snow for hours with pieces of red LIFE tape covering their mouths. Others have not only prayed for the unborn, but have adopted unwanted babies or children, preserving their destinies and giving them families. Still others have supported these actions financially.  These selfless warriors are today’s “Eleazars and Corneliuses,” and their efforts do not go unnoticed in heaven. Like David’s “mighty men,” they are today’s “mighty men and women.” And they are my heroes - I am humbled by their sacrifices and commitment. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their coal-stained faces. There are important reasons we are the “post-Roe generation.” Had there been more of them, perhaps some of the other cataclysmic issues of our day would have been overcome by now. My prayer is that their ranks grow.  Pray with me: Father, You are not impressed with our gifts and talents. They came from You, after all. What You appreciate and need are servant hearts, our prayers, and our faithfulness. You equated greatness with servanthood, not with eloquence, large followings, money, notoriety, or fame. We thank You for the faithful, hidden ones of the Kingdom You’re using to change the world.  May the coming season in the church be known as “the servant movement.” Deliver us from showbiz Christianity, platform-driven movements, and spiritual entertainment centers. Give us real Christianity, the book of Acts kind. That’s the only model You gave us. Multiply the numbers of Eleazars and Corneliuses in the body of Christ.  Light a fire in we, Your people. Release a call to action. Give us spiritual “coal-cutters,” doers. Deliver the church from selfishness, laziness, and “prayerlessness.” Make us givers, lovers, and warriors. We pray all of this in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that God is multiplying the number of faithful intercessors in the church, and consequently, the church will not fail in our assignment to change the world. 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. 3422. https://www.preaching.com/articles/preacher-get-it-right/

A Day to Rededicate America to God On Thursday, February 5th, President Trump told those gathered that his administration would hold an event on May 17, 2026, on the Washington Mall/Lincoln Memorial to rededicate America as “one nation, under God.” I certainly would not have to convince GH15 listeners/readers of this event’s significance. It is monumental. I (and others) have been interceding and decreeing for more than 40 years that this would occur - not the gathering itself, as important as that will be, but what it represents.  America began turning from and rebelling against God and His Son, Jesus Christ, decades ago, at least as early as the 1960’s. In 1962, the Supreme Court struck down school prayer; Time magazine published an article in 1965 reporting on the “God Is Dead” theology and movement. In 1973, the infamous Supreme Court decision making the right to an abortion the law of the land was delivered. That season began not merely a decline in morality, decency, and greatness in America; it marked the beginning of a cataclysmic collapse.  For the last few years, America has been inching its way to healing. Like the prodigal in Scripture crawling through the mud and slop of pigs back to “his senses” (Luke 15:17), America is returning to our Heavenly Father - to our roots. A rededication of our nation to God by our President and other leaders is astronomical toward this process. Christian leaders have done this; I have participated in it. But it will take on added significance when our government does so. The heavens will shake in the spiritual realm.   What Does This Dedication Mean? The concept of dedicating people, places, buildings, and other resources to God is very biblical and significant. There are four words in Scripture  translated “dedicate” or “dedication.” Examining them alongside references in which they’re used will provide insight into the principle.  Chanak (1)  is one of the words. It is used to describe Solomon and all of Israel “dedicating” the Temple in 1 Kings 8:63. Interestingly, it is also translated “train up” a child in the way he should go in Proverbs 22:6. It is easy to see that the word conveys more than a simple token prayer or statement of dedication. It implies a serious, ongoing commitment to a process, person, or cause. And it ushered the glory of God into the temple! Another word translated “dedicate” in Scripture is qadash,  and its derivative qodesh. (2)  These two highly significant words mean to be holy or to be set apart to God. People were, of course, qadash ’ed or separated to Him, but items (such as utensils in the Temple), and even days on the calendar were, as well. Items in the Temple were never to be used for anything else after being dedicated to the Lord. Days on the calendar that were qadash ’ed to God were treated as holy days. Joshua told the entire nation of Israel to  qadash themselves to the Lord in Joshua 3:5, in preparation for crossing into the promised land. Joel was told to sanctify or consecrate ( qadash ) the nation of Israel in Joel 2:15-16 in order to allow God’s restoration to occur.  It is clear that the concept presented by these words is incredibly powerful. It tells us how seriously Yahweh takes our dedication to Him, declaring us holy and as belonging to Him when we do so.  A third word translated as dedicate is cherem  or charam. (3)  This word carries such a strong meaning of being dedicated or devoted to someone that it became the word for a king’s harem. The word implies being set apart to a person or purpose in a very strict way. The spoils of Jericho, for example, were set apart ( charem ) for God’s use only (Joshua 6:18). When Achan stole some of those spoils, it brought a curse on the entire nation until his sin was dealt with (Joshua 7:11-13)! America was “dedicated” to God from her beginning, set apart for His purposes. We abandoned the Lord and His purposes for us, rebelling from His ways and our dedication to Him. The cost has been immeasurable.  The New Testament Greek word for dedicate is egkainizo. (4)   Egkainizo  means to “inaugurate, dedicate, and/or consecrate something new;” it can also mean to rededicate it. The word is used in Hebrews 9:18 to describe the inauguration, dedication, and consecration of the Old Covenant through the blood of animals. In the next chapter, 10:20, it describes the inauguration and dedication of the new and better covenant through the blood of Jesus.  This word is also used in the phrase “Feast of Dedication” in John 10:22. Today, this festival is called Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. “The history of the Feast of Dedication goes back to the intertestamental period and the Maccabean Revolt. After a Syrian king profaned the Jewish temple and forced the Jews to abandon their sacrifices and adopt pagan rituals, a group of Jewish freedom fighters rose up, defied the oppressive pagan regime, and overthrew the Syrians. The temple in Jerusalem was “re-dedicated” to God; ever since then, the Feast of Dedication has been celebrated to commemorate this meaningful event in Jewish history.” (5) America should take the rededication of our nation to God as seriously as the Jews did the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees. I can assure you God will take it seriously. We should celebrate the overthrow of defilement and the return of our nation to alignment with the Lord. This won’t mean the work of restoration is finished, but it will certainly mean it can be finished. Pray with me: Father, thank You for raising up this nation to be a light, a city on a hill, trumpeting the gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth. Though we have strayed from our purpose and destiny, You have not altered it. You intend to resurrect this destiny and allow us to participate in the great billion-soul harvest. As we pray for America today, we ask You to more fully reveal to us our great need for You. We repent over our sin and rebellion, the aborted babies, sex trafficking, and the mutilation of children, confused about their identities. Cleanse our hearts of our self-sufficiency, pride, arrogance, and rebellion toward You. Break and cleanse the hearts of the church over our lukewarm condition and compromise. Father, we thank You for the great turning that has begun; turning from  our way to Your way; turning from  sin to righteousness; turning from  death to life; turning from  selfishness to selflessness and love.  As we approach this rededication, we pray for our government leaders. Give us legislators and judges who truly acknowledge a reliance upon You and Your statutes. Only through You will we see America’s destiny fulfilled.  Heal America’s breaches. Repair our political, generational, and racial wounds. Deliver us from wicked leaders who use them to divide us. Remove them from positions of authority. Expose their hypocrisy and evil agendas.  We boldly ask You to bless our nation and bring a sweeping revival - an awakening that will touch every soul and set us apart to You once again. Come, Holy Spirit, sweep across our states and cities. We ask for these things in Christ’s name, Amen. Our decree: We decree that we, the people of America, place our trust in Almighty God and honor His will and ways. We rededicate this nation to You! Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 2596. Ibid., ref. no. 6944. Ibid., ref. no. 2764. Ibid., ref. no. 1457. https://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Dedication.html

Air Superiority, Part 4 As we discuss our “air superiority” as the Ekklesia, I want to touch on the question of why it often takes time for our prayers to be answered. If we have the authority of Christ’s name in order to represent Him, why does it sometimes take so long to expel satan and his activities?  The reality is that when exercising our authority over satan and his kingdom - binding and loosing, taking back what he has stolen, etc. - this often occurs incrementally. This is especially true when doing so regarding corporate entities, such as a nation. It is much easier to expel evil spirits from, and break their control over, an individual versus a nation.  Satan gains access to humans in multiple ways. At times, he infiltrates the lives of people and nations simply through his subtlety, working without them being aware of his actions. Second Corinthians 2:11 tells us he takes advantage of those who are unaware of his schemes and tactics. Satan’s craftiness is his greatest strength. Hosea 4:6 affirms this, telling us that people can be destroyed by ignorance or a lack of knowledge.  Scripture also tells us, unsurprisingly, that satan sometimes gains access to humans because of sin. Doors can be opened to him legally, providing a legal right to control a person or nation. Ephesians 4:27 warns us not to “give place to the devil.” “Place” is from the Greek word topos , (1)  from which we get the English word topography. Topos  is used not only to speak of literal land or places, but also figuratively, as it is here, in reference to giving or providing a “place of opportunity” or a “place of power.” In this same sense, topos  is the word for a scabbard, a place in which to carry a sword or gun. “Don’t give satan ground or territory upon which he has a legal right, spiritually speaking, to implement his weapons or his control.” Paul used the word “topos”  in Acts 25:16, referencing his “license” (KJV) or legal right in Roman law to defend himself against the charges brought against him. The point of these references is that sin can provide a legal right to satan, giving him a “place” from which to conduct his stealing, killing, and destructive activities (John 10:10). These sins can actually defile and bring curses to the very land upon which we live, according to Numbers 35:33 and other verses.  America’s sins, especially abortion, have given satan access to our nation. We are told very clearly in Scripture that the shedding of innocent blood releases a curse on the land (Numbers 35:33; see also Proverbs 6:17). Another sin that has opened the door to satan’s activities is simply our nation’s rebellion against God and His Word. Rebellion, we are told in Scripture, is the equivalent of witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23), opening the door to demonic activity and control. It cost Saul his position as king of Israel. Idolatry could also be listed as a sin that defiles the land and brings curses upon people and nations. We could certainly list others, but it is not my purpose to offer a list of America’s sins. I am simply pointing out that as a nation, we are reaping the results of giving “place” to satan.  When corporate sins such as these are ongoing, a one-time repentance from a few people is not adequate to remove satan’s legal right to control the group. A consistent  repentance and usually from an increasing  number of individuals, is needed in order to bring sufficient cleansing. There is no verse of Scripture that explicitly states this, but it is certainly implied. The Bible says, “If My people  humble themselves and pray…”,  not “If an individual” does so. Christ’s Ekklesia on earth, given authority to overcome the government of hell, is not one person but a  body of people. Agreement in prayer requires plurality.  It is clear that, in many ways, God deals with humanity corporately, not just individually.  Because of this principle, “binding” demonic powers and “loosing” nations from their influence, as we spoke of in yesterday‘s post, is a process. The fruit occurs incrementally. In summary, as our prayers increase, they release more of God’s power…which causes more hearts to turn toward the Lord…which lessens the “place” or territory from which Satan can control. Gordon Lindsay, a great teacher on prayer in the 1960s, used to say in reference to incremental victory over satan’s actions, “I push the devil back a little farther every day.”  That’s what we’re doing in America.  Pray with me: Father, we begin today by asking You to forgive our nation for taking the lives of over 60 million innocent children through abortion. We could never atone for this gross evil. America deserves nothing but judgment and curses. But we thank You that through the blood of Jesus, we can receive – not what we deserve – but Your mercy. We thank You that Jesus took the punishment we deserve, and through His blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat of heaven, provided mercy for us.  Through this, we ask You to cleanse America, washing away all of our sins and their resulting curses. We ask that the “place” that has been given to the spirit of murder in America be removed. Break the hold of violence and bring peace to our nation.  We ask for a continuation and increase of the revival that has begun; it will further cleanse and remove the deception that allows our great national sins. And we ask You to raise up more and more righteous leaders in our government who understand principles of repentance and spiritual cleansing, and who desire to follow Your ways. Give them the faith and boldness to repent on behalf of our nation and to make biblical, life-giving decrees. We ask for greater revelation and enlightenment to the Ekklesia regarding our authority in Christ. And give us wisdom to apply this authority in more productive ways. Teach us how to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), uproot evil systems (Jeremiah 1:10), and manifest Your wisdom even to principalities and powers in heavenly places (Ephesians 3:10) All of these things we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Christ’s governmental influence on earth is ever-increasing (Isaiah 9:6-7), and He has made the church ambassadors of that Kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:20). We will represent Him! 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. 5117.

Air Superiority, Part 3 Air Superiority in World War II “Arthur Travers Harris, known as “Bomber” Harris, became commander of RAF (Royal Air Force) Bomber Command in early 1942. Until then, Bomber Command hadn’t done much, but the energetic and controversial Harris soon changed all that. He became the architect and chief proponent of nighttime ‘area bombing’ of major German cities. In March of 1942, he struck Lübeck. In April, he bombed Rostock. Then, on the night of May 30-31, 1942, he launched a devastating, 1,000-bomber attack on Cologne.  “A few days later, Harris went before RAF film cameras and delivered a chilling, two-minute message, saying, ‘The Nazis entered this war under the rather childish delusion that they were going to bomb everybody else and nobody was going to bomb them. At Rotterdam, London, Warsaw, and half a hundred other places, they put that rather naive theory into operation. “‘They sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind. Cologne, Lubeck, Rostock—those are only just the beginning. We cannot send a thousand bombers at a time over Germany every time, as yet. But the time will come when we can do so.  “‘Let the Nazis take good note of the western horizon. There they will see a cloud as yet no bigger than a man’s hand. But behind that cloud lies the whole massive power of the United States of America. When the storm bursts over Germany, they will look back to the days of Lubeck and Rostock and Cologne as a man caught in the blasts of a hurricane looks back at the gentle [breezes] of last summer. “‘It may take a year. It may take two. But for the Nazis, the writing is on the wall…’” (1) And Harris was right. The bombings he spoke of came and decimated the Nazis. Likewise, the prayers and decrees of the church today are beginning to decimate the powers of darkness and will increase. We are winning the battle in the heavens!  When we, the church, work together in projects like America’s Big Ben Moment - A Minute to Win It,   Clay Nash and his Josiah Company praying for the mid-term elections , Intercessors For America and their prayer alerts, and others, we are dropping millions of spiritual “bombs” on the powers of darkness. We’re the spiritual “Allied Forces,” raining down destruction on satan’s demonic forces with our air superiority.  Jesus made a profound announcement in Matthew 16:18-19: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The Passion Translation adds the phrase “my legislative assembly” after the word “church” in verse 18. Their very accurate explanation is that “The Greek word for ‘church’ is ekklesia  and means ‘legislative assembly’ or ‘selected ones.’ This is not a religious term at all, but a political and governmental term used many times in classical Greek for a group of people who have been summoned and gathered together to govern the affairs of a city. For Jesus to use this term means He is giving the keys of governmental authority in His Kingdom to the church.” (2) When Christ said He would build His Ekklesia, He wasn’t speaking of religious services, an organization, congregations, and certainly not of buildings. Not that those things aren’t good or useful. It’s just that to think of them as “the church” completely misses His point. Jesus was saying that His body, His bride, would also be His Kingdom’s legislative body on earth, operating in His authority to release His will and ways. Pause and ask yourself how many Christians have been taught this. Satan has done a great job of hiding this truth from the body of Christ, which more often than not, doesn’t function as His Ekklesia, His church, only as fellowships or congregations. The attendees are worshippers, not warriors; lovers, but not legislators. Jesus went on to say this Ekklesia would have His keys, His authority, to deal with the gates or government of hell operating in the invisible realm of the spirit (“heavenly places”). They would bind ( deo ) and loose ( luo ) satan’s forces, words which were not only used with physical connotations, but are also legal terms meaning to forbid and allow.  Deo  is used for “legally binding,” (3)  and luo  is used for “dissolving” or “voiding” (4)  something that is legally or contractually binding.  The church, the Ekklesia, is Christ’s “air force,” authorized to rain down spiritual bombs “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”  (Ephesians 6:12). God actually said He would manifest His wisdom to principalities and powers in heavenly places through His Ekklesia (Ephesians 3:10).  This is now taking place. Many in the church have been made aware of what Jesus actually said in Matthew 16:18-19, and are now functioning as His Ekklesia. I once heard the late, great pastor/teacher Jack Hayford say an aspect of prayer was “enforcing the victory of Calvary.” His point was that what Jesus accomplished on the Cross is not automatically released on earth, but occurs through the actions of the church, including His defeat of satan. Dr. Hayford was quick to point out that we don’t have to re-defeat satan, but we do have to enforce his defeat in Jesus’ name.  This is confirmed by the use of  luo  in 1 John 3:8. Remember, this is the Greek word for “loose,” in Matthew 16:19, but is also a legal term meaning to void or dissolve something legally binding. In 1 John 3:8, it is used to say “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy (luo) the works of the devil.”  But Jesus didn’t  literally  destroy satan or his works. He legally voided his hold on humanity and the earth, breaking satan’s headship over us, which is the meaning of Genesis 3:15. Jesus didn’t literally crush satan’s head at the Cross; He broke his “headship,” voiding his legal hold over us.  This must be received through faith in Christ and enforced in His name. The Scriptures state that Jesus luo ’ed the works of the devil, but also that His Ekklesia would luo  the works of the devil. We don’t re-defeat satan, but we do enforce his defeat. I’ll say more about this tomorrow.  Pray with me: Father, the glorious Ekklesia/church You spoke of is arising. We are working together, allies in Your Kingdom, releasing truth bombs and declaration bombs as we enforce Christ’s victory of Calvary. Christ luo’ ed satan’s hold over us, and we are enforcing that victory. You gave us air superiority, and we are using it to accomplish Your will.  Bless every prayer group and ministry with fresh revelation, insight regarding Your assignments for them, and renewed strength. Turn every 9pm prayer and decree into a fiery missile of destruction to satan’s plans for America. Guide every prayer and decree offered by the Josiah Company, regarding the midterms, straight to Your desired target. Continue to bless, encourage, and lead intercessors who partner with Intercessors For America, and every other prayer network in America.  We release decrees now over our government, declaring that evil, lawlessness, leftist ideals, and antichrist systems are being demolished. Leaders who oppose You and Your ways will continue to be exposed and defeated. We decree that human traffickers will be exposed and judged, murderers and rapists removed from our streets, and the mutilation of children will end.  We ask You now for a great revival here and around the world. Release wind from Heaven to fan the flames of revival. Dethrone evil leaders who oppose it. Show Yourself very strong in this hour, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree:   We decree that the Ekklesia is gaining momentum and becoming the spiritual “air force” God intended it to be. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0911keeperfile/   R. Scott and H.G. Liddell, A Greek-English Lexicon,  p. 206; J.H. Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament,  p. 196; and Oskar Seyffert, A Dictionary of Classical Antiquities,  pp. 202-203. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 1210. Ibid. ref. no. 3089.