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Finish the Assignment The Lord has been speaking to me about the need to finish this season well. We are all busy with many responsibilities and activities. It is easy to allow prayer and other spiritual actions to fall by the wayside, especially when we become weary. However, we cannot afford to do that at this time.  One of the passages in Scripture that effectively illustrates the dangers of not finishing well is Judges 1-2. After Joshua led Israel in conquering Canaan, each tribe was left with the responsibility of clean-up operations in the portion of land allotted to them as an inheritance, fully driving out the remaining enemies. Many of them became complacent and did not finish the job. Here are examples: Now the Lord was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not  drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had iron chariots. But the sons of Benjamin did not  drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem… But Manasseh did not  take possession of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages…they did not  drive them out completely. And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer. Zebulun  did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol… Asher  did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or of Rehob…for they did not  drive them out… Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Bethanath… Then the Amorites forced the sons of Dan into the hill country, for they  did not  allow them to come down to the valley… (All taken from Judges 1:19-34 NASB) The result of not finishing the jobs was tragic. Israel eventually assimilated with the Canaanites, intermarrying with them, and accepting their Baal worship.  Chapter 2 tells us the results: “Now the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, ‘I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, I will never break My covenant with you, and as for you, you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this thing that you have done?… “Then Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the Lord which He had done for Israel. And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and another generation rose up after them who did not know the Lord, nor even the work which He had done for Israel.  “Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed other gods from the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them; so they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.” (Excerpts from Judges 2:1-13 NASB) The angel of the Lord leaving Gilgal and going to Bochim is very significant (2:1). Gilgal was the first encampment of Israel after the dramatic crossing of the Jordan River. Much of their 7-year campaign to take the promised land was launched from there. The name “Gilgal” means “rolling,” (1)  for it was there the Lord said the reproach of Egypt had been “rolled off” them.  Bochim means “weepers.” (2)  The symbolism could not be clearer. Israel as a nation was about to go from victory to weeping, from reproach-free to shame, and from freedom back into slavery:  “Then the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He handed them over to plunderers, and they plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand against their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and just as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.” (Judges 2:14-15 NASB) The entire book of Judges is a history of this compromise, complacency, and resulting judgments.  We have come a long way in praying for the spiritual reviving and healing of America. This election cycle is part of the turnaround process. There are those who contend that God doesn’t really care who is in government. They say He can do what He desires regardless of who wins elections or governs a nation. Therefore, they tell us that the church should stay focused on preaching the gospel and not be “distracted” by politics. This is a dangerous deception.  Scripture is filled with accounts of negative reaping by nations because of their leaders. Unwise and unholy leaders have created untold suffering and death around the world. God removed Saul from being King of Israel, saying He needed a man who would obey Him (1 Samuel 15:19-23) and would pursue His heart (1 Samuel 13:14).  America’s rejection of God and its unholy laws, for which we are reaping great suffering and death, were passed by government leaders. To say it doesn’t really matter who we elect into office - God will just do what He wants anyway - would mean God is okay with abortion, sexually mutilating confused kids, and much more. Some theology is simply a shirking of our responsibility to stand for truth. We must vote, yes, but we must also pray that those who align the closest with God’s will and ways, found in His Word, are elected to office. We must pray that those who most oppose His will are not allowed to win.  DON’T STOP PRAYING! Let’s finish well. Pray with me: Father, we know that our war is spiritual, done with prayer, fasting, and decrees. Yet, it is no less real. Through these prayers and decrees, we enforce Christ’s victory, pulling down demonic strongholds and ideologies. Through prayer, we set free those held captive spiritually, and release the power of Your Word as a sharp sword (Ephesians 6:17).  We are agreeing in prayer now, asking You to motivate the church to pray. We know that some of this motivation would have to occur through awakened leaders sounding the alarm; other believers could hear Holy Spirit personally. Whatever it takes, we ask You to motivate the church to finish this season well. May it not be said of believers in our day that we “did not…” And Father, we remain steadfast in our prayers for the protection of those in government positions. Lord, many of us are receiving strong alerts to pray this for Trump. Surround him, his family, and those associated with him. We bind demonic plots. We ask that law enforcement be alert and enabled to provide adequate protection. Expose every plan of evil, both from here and abroad.  In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen Our decree: We decree that we will finish the assignment of praying for America’s healing, restoration, and recovery of purpose.  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. 1537. Ibid., ref. no. 1066.

Introduction Many times the Lord will give us an example in the natural of what He desires to happen in the spirit. Today, my brother Tim shares a recent dream he had where this is the case. He gives us a vivid “word picture” of what our prayers are doing. Don’t become discouraged by what you see in the natural. Holy Spirit is taking all of our prayers, gathering them in the bowls of heaven, and is about to pour them onto the Earth (Revelation 5:8). Tim’s title today is: ___________________________________________________________ Liar Liar 2 Chronicles 7:14 states, “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  We will not see righteousness exalt our nation without the divine intervention of Jehovah. The Ekklesia must continue to engage through prayer, faith decrees and believing the prophetic words of our God.  I want to give you a prophetic dream and word that Holy Spirit is emphasizing for this moment. I feel compelled by Him to have the Ekklesia declare it in faith and birth these words through prayer. “In the dream, I was walking towards the front entrance of the White House in Washington, D.C. As I grew closer, I could see that a big marquee had been built onto the front of the White House. It looked like the front of a movie theater. The marquee was lit up and read: ‘Now showing: Liar Liar.’ “A little lower than the big marquee were two smaller signs, one on the right and one on the left. Both signs read: ‘Coming soon: The Avalanche.’  I noticed a guy standing next to me also looking at the marquee. I didn’t recognize him, but somehow knew his name was Jerry.”  Tim shares: I found this so intriguing that when I awoke, I looked up the meaning of his name. Jerry means “tip or head of the spear.” In Hebrew it can mean “plain spear,” “exalted of the Lord,” or “who the Lord exalts.”(1) It was also the name for a German soldier in World War II. As I prayed into this Holy Spirit said, “There are soldiers, remnant warriors you do not even know, exalted by Me for this time. These spear carriers, the Lord’s sons and daughters, are also seeing this marquee and reading the signs.” Back to the dream: “ I turned to Jerry and said, ‘I didn't know they turned the White House into a movie theater.’ And Jerry replied, ‘Oh those aren’t movies, haven't you heard? They are live shows. It's a live performance called Liar Liar.’  “Then in the dream, everything changed and an angel of the Lord appeared to me. Because of the colors he wore, I knew he was one of the communication angels in Gabriel’s division. There are ‘messenger angels’ under Holy Spirit’s supervision and this was a messenger angel. “The angel said to me that I was to take the Ekklesia to Seven Mountain Mountain. I told the angel that I had heard of the Seven Mountains of Culture but not Seven Mountain Mountain. I asked where it was located and the angel said it was a spiritual mountain (2)  overlooking the White House. The angel also said there are barrier beams built into the mountain, like a lattice, to protect the White House from landslides. He went on to say the Ekklesia must remove the barriers. I told the angel we would take care of it.  “Then the scene in the dream shifted and I was driving up the mountain in a white work van. I somehow knew it was filled with a Holy Spirit empowered work team. The sign on the side of the work van read Ekklesia Response Team. Coming up the mountain behind me were six other vans filled with these Holy Spirit empowered work teams. In the dream, I recognized that there were seven vans; seven is the number of completion. I knew that under Holy Spirit’s anointing, we would be able to complete the job and remove the barriers.  “We continued winding up the mountain until we saw a sign that said, ‘Avalanche area, stay out.’ Because of the sign in front of the White House that read, ‘Coming Soon: The Avalanche,’ we knew this was the place we needed to be. “We exited the vans and began removing the barriers holding back the mountain. Some workers had blow torches and were working on breaking the welding of the beams, while others dragged away the beams. Everyone in the work teams was dirty and sweaty, but we finally got all the beams moved. “Then one of the workers asked me how we were supposed to start the avalanche; they wondered if we should use dynamite. I said I wasn’t sure and would make a call. I called the angel who had told us to do this, asking how we were supposed to start the avalanche. He said, ‘You’re not supposed to start the avalanche, just remove the barriers. When the time is right, the King will start the avalanche with a great shaking.’”  That was the end of the dream.  As I was praying into this, the Lord said, “Ekklesia, engage the barriers of hell and the barriers made by man. Dismantle them with weapons of warfare that I have divinely empowered. For My name and My words are filled with uprooting powers. Uproot ‘seven mountain’ strongholds with supernatural power and with My superior authority. In My name, uproot demon fortifications that have protected ‘seven mountain’ corruption of My ways. “Uproot lying spirits bunkered in the White House and also surrounding it. In this war season you will see the uprooting power of your king. Roots of deception, theories, reasonings and arguments that have promoted social dementia will now be pulled up and destroyed. “Ekklesia response teams, move forward and strike the strongholds of darkness with bold decrees of your faith. Ekklesia, hear the calling of your God: use the weapons I have divinely empowered and demolish positions of evil. Overthrow ideologies that have rooted into the culture and into your White House. Refute them with bold truth. I will empower you, for I am pouring forth irrefutable power, power to refute insane distortions of My ways. “I am pouring out power to uproot and refute the confusion caused by demons in education, media, government and the White House. The Lord says you will see the confusion of the confused demolish their own agendas as My Ekklesia stands in faith for My words. It's uprooting time. Rise up in hope, for the world will now see the emerging of My great Ekklesia and power displays of My mightiness. “My Ekklesia will move in power disciplining insubordinate disobedience, demolishing hell’s counsels in boardrooms, transforming demonic thoughts in deranged minds into aimless blather. Blather, blather and more blather. Their deranged minds will be conversations of blather.  “My Ekklesia will bring down the defenses hiding the wicked and their plans, exposing, refuting and demolishing them. They will do so with their war weapons of prayer, decrees and worship warfare. They will use their keys and unlock the cellar doors in the White House and Capitol, doors revealing the underground root systems of iniquity. Root cellars will open, says the Lord.  “For you will now enter a fullness of time that I have planned; the Liar Liar live performance in the White House will be shown to the world. The avalanche is coming soon and the Liar Liar show will come to an end. I will shake Seven Mountain Mountain and My landslide will begin. Liars will be swept away in it. The mud they have thrown will now become a mudflow that overthrows their power. Ekklesia, dismantle the protective barriers. Activate your response teams. Activate your divinely empowered weapons and I will trigger the avalanche.” I am confident that the Liar Liar show is about to be hit with the Lord’s avalanche.   He is hastening His Word to perform it.  Pray with me:  Heavenly Father, we thank You for what You have promised and are now bringing to pass. Holy Spirit, release Your explosive power on the earth. Send Your avalanche and expose the Liar Liar show. Expose the diabolical root systems in the White House and Capitol. Do it not only in D.C., but also at the state Capitols. Holy Spirit, use Your great and mighty angels, fueled by the decrees of Your Ekklesia, to open the cellar doors. Shake everything that can be shaken and uncover everything hidden. Remove strongholds and barriers with Your power. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Our decree:  Supernatural intervention is coming to expose and overthrow the deceptive agenda of our government. The Liar Liar show is about to be hit with the Lord’s avalanche and we will see righteousness exalt our nation. Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim. You can learn more about him at   TimSheets.org . Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.nameopia.com/name/Jeremy.html   The Seven Mountains of Culture are known as: Family, Religion Government, Business, Education, Arts & Entertainment, and Media.

Introduction As the flames of hell threaten to consume so much of what we hold dear in America, our good friend and author, Cheryl Sacks, offers sound wisdom. Take it to heart, and pass it on. Her title is: When The Flames Reach Our Doorstep: A Call to Wake Up and Act It’s alarming how the urgency of a situation doesn’t hit us until the flames are licking at our own doorstep. I learned this lesson the hard way when I was just four years old. When my family moved next door to the Johnsons, their daughter Alida, who was my age, quickly became my best friend. In our rural area, there was no trash pickup or nearby fire department. One day, I noticed Alida watching the trash burn at the edge of their property. Thinking her parents had given her this grown-up responsibility, I was envious and eagerly joined her. But what started as innocent curiosity quickly escalated. I saw the Johnsons’ Christmas tree in the burning pile, and wanting to add to the excitement, I dragged over our own tree from our backyard. As the flames engulfed it, a knot of fear formed in my stomach—I suddenly realized my parents might not be too thrilled with my “contribution.” Panicking, I tried to drag the now-blazing tree back to our yard. But with each step, the fire spread across the dry grass, following us like a relentless predator. Alida and I retreated to a nearby hill, watching the fire grow. Each time the flames crept closer, we moved a bit higher. Alida, sensing the impending disaster, turned to me and said, “Cheryl, I think we need to tell our parents.” My heart pounded as I imagined the punishment waiting for me. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I replied, my voice trembling more with fear than defiance. “But it’s going to burn down the clotheslines and the chicken coop!” she insisted.  “We need to tell our parents.” Again, I resisted. “No,” I said emphatically, without an ounce of logic. Then Alida said something that shook me to my core. “It’s going to burn down MY house,” she said, looking at the fire with growing concern. Still, I hesitated. But when she added, “Then the fire is going to jump across the driveway and burn down YOUR house,” something snapped inside me. Suddenly, I wasn’t thinking about the trouble I’d be in—I was thinking about my room, my bed, my toys, my entire world going up in flames. The urgency of the situation finally hit home. “Yes, we’d better do something quick,” I said, and we bolted to our mothers. Bursting into the kitchen, I found my mom washing dishes. “I’ll tell you something if you promise not to tell Dad,” I bargained, my voice trembling. “What is it, sweetheart?” she asked calmly, not yet aware of the looming disaster. “THE BACKYARD IS ON FIRE!” I screamed, the words tumbling out in a panic. What followed was a frantic scramble. Our mothers called the neighbors, who called their husbands home from work. With garden hoses and water buckets, they fought back the flames, stopping the fire just before it reached the houses. The Fire in Our Nation Like the blaze that nearly consumed our backyards that day, a raging spiritual inferno is sweeping across our nation. Just as I passively watched the wildfire spread closer and closer to our homes, many of us remain unmoved by today’s critical issues until they threaten to engulf our own lives—our jobs, well-being, and children’s futures. But should we wait until the danger is at our doorstep before we act? The flames are already devouring our core values, destroying our families, threatening our security, and assaulting our freedoms. This surge has manifested in rising violence, addiction, persecution, moral degeneracy, and spiritual apathy. As Christian leaders and believers, we must now sound the alarm. It’s time to be on our faces like King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah, who, when faced with an insurmountable threat of destruction, cried out to the Lord in fervent and intentional prayer and fasting (2 Chronicles 20). Jehoshaphat called a solemn assembly, and all Judah stood before the Lord, acknowledging their helplessness and seeking God’s intervention. This is the kind of humble, desperate prayer we need today—before the flames consume us all. The Lord is asking MORE of His people in this pivotal hour. He is calling all of us to deeper consecration—convicting our hearts of the need for repentance, holiness, and the fear of the Lord. Now is the time for church services to turn into houses of prayer and routine meetings into solemn assemblies . The mandate is clear: God desires His people to be cleansed, activated,   ignited, and moving in the power of Holy Spirit to fulfill His purpose for the Church in this strategic time in history. If we are to witness the profound spiritual transformation needed in our homes, schools, churches, and nation, we must be willing to sacrifice our convenience, time, and routines, devoting ourselves fully to seeking the Lord and obeying His call on our lives. We each have a part to play. What is yours? The cost is high, but the price of neglect is far greater. Urgency of the Hour Here in Arizona, Christian leaders are calling for statewide prayer, fasting, and solemn assemblies beginning October 1 and ending with a united prayer gathering at the state capitol on Sunday, November 3. Leaders in other states are making similar calls. Many churches are opening their doors on Sunday afternoons, encouraging believers to gather and pray for the nation. Imagine the impact if every church in America did this! We urge everyone to take this message seriously. Whether you are a leader who can mobilize thousands or someone who can gather a few friends in your home, I urge you to act now. This is not the time to sit in front of the television watching the news, wringing our hands, and waiting to see what happens next. This is the time to act! Scripture is clear: if we humbly seek the Lord, He will answer. But if we sit idly by and let the fire burn unchecked, those very flames that are lapping at our doorstep will consume all that we love and cherish. Hope in Action God always responds to the sincere, repentant prayers of His people. We have seen Him move in powerful ways throughout history, and He is ready to do it again. To Jehoshaphat’s solemn assembly, the Lord said: “Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17, NASB). The following day, Jehoshaphat positioned the worshipers out in front, and the people rose up in praise, thanksgiving, and prayer. The power of the Lord was unleashed, and their enemies destroyed themselves (vss. 20–23)! Let this be the moment when we rise up in the same spirit of faith and urgency, knowing that as we humble ourselves, seek God’s face, and turn from our wandering ways, He will hear from heaven. Let us call our communities to gather in prayer and repentance, just as King Jehoshaphat did with all of Judah—then watch God arise, vanquish our enemies, and save our nation. Pray with me: Heavenly Father, we cry out to You to awaken, purify, and activate Your church. Strip away every form of complacency and ignite in each one of us a passion to pray and take action. Empower us with the courage and boldness of the early church, that we may arise in Your authority, break the chains of darkness, set captives free, and see our nation transformed in the power of Your Spirit. Our decree: Lord, we decree that Your church is a consecrated and mighty army, fully clothed with Your armor, ready to confront the spiritual darkness in our land. We declare that Your Ekklesia, empowered by Your dunamis power, partners with You to ignite a great awakening like in the Book of Acts. We proclaim that our families, communities, and nation will return to You and be saved! Cheryl Sacks  is the author of six books, including   Fire on the Family Altar , a guide to igniting revival in your home and nation ( Amazon ). You can learn more about Cheryl and Hal Sacks’ ministry at BridgeBuilders.net  and PrayerSaturated.School . Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Years of Prayer in a Day In a staggering expression of love, the equivalent of several thousand years of intercession and worship was lifted over America this past Sunday morning. (As always, I wrote and recorded this yesterday in order to post it early this morning.) On a Global Day of Prayer, hosted by International Prayer Connect, a 3-hour prayer meeting took place for America. The networks participating around the world comprise 110,000,000 intercessors.  If all participated, that equals 330,000,000 million hours of prayer (and worship). Let’s be very conservative - if only half of them participated (which I feel would be very low), and each one only joined for an hour, instead of 3 (which I also feel is low), that is still 55,000,000 hours of prayer and worship, which is the equivalent of 2,291,666 days, or 6,278 years.  Mind-numbing.  Other than Christ Himself, this is the greatest gift ever given to America. Could there be any greater sign that God is not finished with America?! I was honored to offer a short prayer, but I was barely able to speak. My emotions were overwhelmed as I tried to process the value of this gift. I was also overwhelmed with grief as I pondered how far America has fallen from her destiny. It was humbling and very moving as nations, many of whom have been sent the gospel from these shores, sent back prayers for America’s reviving and recovery. I am still processing this gift from God and the nations.  The prayers were strong, compassionate, and filled with faith. The intercessors prayed for: Jesus to be exalted in our nation the church to return to our first love our upcoming elections God to restrain lawlessness our families and campuses religious freedom a return to the fear of the Lord John 17 oneness among God’s people - only a united church can heal a divided nation revival and awakening in America We ended the prayer time by praying for the salvation of lost people around the world, led by PrayForAll.com , and by partaking in communion together. After the 3-hour prayer time, dozens of on-site prayer strikes occurred throughout the earth in demonic strongholds of darkness. What a time this must have been in heaven! I want to say thank you to the intercessors and their leaders around the world for their love and prayers. I also want to thank Jason Hubbard and Wesley Tullis of International Prayer Connect ( IPCPrayer.org ) for their hard work and outstanding leadership in the endeavor. And also, a big thanks to David’s Tent ( DavidsTentDC.org ) for hosting those of us in Washington, D.C., as well as contributing to the technical aspect of the event. All selfless, all excellent, and all Kingdom-hearted.  And to those of you here in America who joined us, thank you for doing so.  Twenty-one days of fasting and prayer now begin in America, ending on October 12 with the Million Women on the Mall  event conducted by Lou Engle.  America shall be saved! Pray with me: Father, thank You for Your love and grace, and thank You for this gift of love from our brothers and sisters around the world. We are very moved and deeply grateful. We humbly receive the gift, and are confident the prayers offered will be part of saving America. We were cleansed through their intercession, and strongholds were doubtlessly torn down.  We pray for THEM today. Send revival to the nations, the world Christ died to save. Most of the billion or more saved in the coming wave of harvest won’t be Americans; they will be from the Psalm 2 “nations” You promised Christ as His inheritance. We love them; we pray for them. Send the blazing fires of revival around the world.   We end by asking for the complete undoing of the strongholds maintained by principalities in the Middle East. Free the people of Iran, Lebanon, and elsewhere from the deception and hold of these spirits. May the revival in Iran continue to burn, increasing in its intensity and spreading throughout the entire region. We declare the release of great signs, wonders, and miracles in order to increase this harvest. Tear down evil structures, Yahweh; build Your church and expand Your Kingdom into the hearts of millions.  In Yeshua’s name. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that Jesus is King over all the nations! You can watch a replay of the Global Day of Prayer in its entirety here  on YouTube.  Click on the link below to watch the full video.

As believers, we know that God desires to use us as His representatives, being conduits of His power and love. As we go about our daily lives, we should always be aware of this. Today, our friend Gina Gholston shares about this concept, challenging us to represent Christ each day. She mentions the Healing Summit at The Oasis in Middletown, Ohio, several weeks back.  We have decided to do another one in a few weeks, on October 25 . Many testimonies of healing have come in, both from individuals present there in Middletown, and as importantly, from churches that joined with us online that night. It must be emphasized that our purpose is not to build the ministries of those participating in these healing services. It is to come into agreement with heaven’s plan, unlocking a new wave of signs and wonders in the earth that will not only bless the hurting, but will point millions of people to Jesus.  Although we have received many wonderful testimonies of healing, we know the level of power and anointing must increase. We believe the previous meeting was a wonderful beginning, but we also believe a much deeper well of miracles is to be opened. And we are intent on seeing this. Churches will join in again, agreeing for this. You can register to attend starting today, and I’m sure it will fill up quickly. All details can be found at OasisWired.org . Here is what Gina says about the coming surge of God’s power. Her title is: How to Impact the World A few weeks ago, Oasis Church in Middletown, Ohio, hosted the Healing Summit. People from every state and even different nations came together in faith to experience the healing power of Jesus, and that’s exactly what transpired. Testimonies have been flowing in from thousands who experienced healing, deliverance, and salvation.   Recently, the Lord showed me that the Healing Summit was more than a healing service. The Healing Summit wasn’t just about Oasis Church. He said to me, “It was the launch of a movement.” I believe it is not a “new thing,” but the restoration of Christ’s desire for His church. He is restoring His Ekklesia, His governing body, to fully operate in His power and authority.    There is an awakening of our spiritual inheritance that has begun to stir in the hearts of God’s people. Many are recognizing the power deficit we have tolerated in past years, and are now determined to regain what has been lost. We will no longer be content to just hear stories and testimonies of what God did in past generations. We know He is not done and are pressing in to experience a touch from Him ourselves, and shine with His glory and power. There was a wave of healing power that was released at the Healing Summit, and what was launched that night will continue to grow with an even greater intensity. I believe God is launching another great move of His Spirit.   As members of Christ’s body, we must be aware of all God has made available to us. We must be diligent to know the Scriptures and remain steadfast in our focus and obedience to Him. We must represent Christ and exhibit a true reflection of His likeness to the world.  Some would argue that healing, miracles, and the gifts of Holy Spirit are not operational today. They say we no longer need a demonstration of the power of God, but nothing could be further from the truth. We need the Word of God being taught accompanied with the power and conviction of Holy Spirit if we are to see America saved and our world changed. God’s healing and miracle gifts spark an awakening and awareness of Jesus that can come no other way. By seeing, many will believe! Not one Christian would be a believer today if it were not for the power of Holy Spirit. Our very salvation stems from the power and ability God demonstrated in raising Jesus from the dead. The Holy Bible we preach from and use as the foundation of our beliefs is filled with the records of miracles, signs, and wonders  that occurred through people being used and anointed by Holy Spirit. Evidence of the reality of Jesus has provoked change and turned the hearts of great skeptics all throughout history.   Imagine the Bible with no demonstration of God’s glory—no record of the wonder-working power of God, no record of the Red Sea parted, of David killing the giant, or of Daniel being delivered in the lions’ den. Imagine having no record of Jesus opening blind eyes or Lazarus being raised from the dead. And most importantly, of Jesus Himself dying on the Cross and on the third day, being raised from the dead. Without the demonstrations of the glory of God, there is no awareness of God, and no hope! But the Bible IS filled with these examples because Jehovah is the God of power and might, and has given us His Spirit who enables us to release His power in and through our lives. Jesus gave that power to His Ekklesia with the promise that those who believe in Him would do the works He did, and even greater (John 14:12). This power and gifts of Holy Spirit weren’t given as a momentary gift or just for those in the early church. Read the book of Acts. There you will see many examples of God’s power which was for then, and for now. A lack of knowledge of that power and its availability to the church - the Ekklesia - has caused many to be lulled to sleep by the sounds of a godless culture. Be aware: a movement has begun . There is a company of enlightened heirs who desire to be conduits of Holy Spirit.  Awareness of our spiritual inheritance IS   being awakened, and there is a reigniting of an uncompromised pursuit of its full activation. We are tired of living in unnecessary spiritual poverty. We desire to deepen our resolve and avail ourselves completely to the Lord to see His power fully released, flowing with an even greater intensity. With honor and in the fear of the Lord, we are determined to receive all that Holy Spirit has made available, and we will  experience the fullness of God’s desires. We will see the billion-soul harvest come in. We will  see bodies healed, minds delivered, and lives transformed by the love and power of God. We will experience and operate in His supernatural wisdom and imparted authority. We will  see America saved! T his is our time to carry the mantle, and we will  allow the power and reality of Jesus to flow out from us, impacting the world.  Pray with me: Father, when we accept Jesus as Savior, we become Your heirs! We have an inheritance that is rich and powerful. Provoke within us a deeper revelation of who You are and who we are in You, so we may be conduits of Your power. Stretch forth Your hand through us, Jesus, with miracles, signs, and wonders, providing an undeniable evidence of Your love and power. We ask that Holy Spirit would come upon the unbeliever with fervency and clarity so they can see and encounter You. We cry out, “Show us Your glory, Lord!” Spearhead another sweeping move of Your Spirit throughout our nation and the nations of the world. Reap the harvest You desire, we pray. In the name of Jesus, Amen!   Our decree: We declare that God’s redemptive movement has begun. We will be conduits of His desires and plans. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

What America Desperately Needs In yesterday’s post, I spoke about John the Baptist and his road-building calling. He was a forerunner, called to “prepare the way,” to build a “highway”(Isaiah 40:3), upon which Messiah could enter the earth.  Road builders have to begin by clearing, leveling, and forming straight passageways (verse 4). This can be challenging and difficult. When building natural highways, the work begins with bulldozers, earthmovers, and sometimes even dynamite. Then the process moves to paving, painting, and dressing up the project, usually with a different crew, definitely with different equipment.  Difficult preparation such as that involved in road-building is true for many types of transitions and seasons of change. Constructing houses and other structures begins with digging and clearing; the process is muddy, messy, and ugly. Restructuring corporations can be chaotic, even painful for some involved. Progress, which often demands change, can be tough. Without doubt, when referencing the role of John, Holy Spirit chose His analogy very intentionally and carefully. “This’ll get ugly before it gets beautiful,” was the point.  But there WAS a glorious purpose and end result in mind. Isaiah 40 mentions glory, good tidings, rewards, loving and caring for flocks - all this and more would ride into Israel on this road (verses 5-11). Messiah, our Redeemer, would travel the highway. The change, though painful, would ultimately be good.  Restoring and restructuring nations can also be messy, even more so when deep levels of sin and darkness are involved. God told Jeremiah He would use him to “root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down,” before using him “to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). Dismantle, then rebuild; tear down, then build up.  America is now clearly in a sinful state that will require much bulldozing before the rebuilding begins. Enter Donald Trump. Yes, he has the personality and temperament of a bulldozer. Yes, sometimes he makes messes, creates piles of rubble, and tears down old structures. But let’s face it: there is an enormous amount of debris in America that needs to be removed. “Mr Nice Guy” could absolutely not do what needs to be done to save America. We need demolition first, then the building crew. Personally, I think that if Trump is reelected, it’ll take most of his second term just to bulldoze and clear. Someone else will likely need to follow this with years of restructuring and rebuilding.  Now, here is a concern I have which I believe is shared by many. As I alluded to yesterday, the personality of a forerunner can be crusty and harsh. And yes, sometimes it’s necessary. John called the Pharisees and Sadducees - to their faces - a “generation of vipers” (Matthew 3:7). That’s much worse than being called “fake news,” by the way. BUT, John wasn’t operating in a democratic republic; he wasn’t being voted on. God appointed him, anointed him, and that was that. Americans, on the other hand, elect their president. Currently, there is a dynamic involved in this that Trump must face. Many Americans are alarmed at the division in our nation. The left, including the media,  specializes in “identity politics” and “class warfare.” While claiming the opposite, their strategy is to divide us. And they have succeeded. Then, they blame their opponents for what they have done. They’re expert liars and manipulators.  Oblivious to its cause, many Americans have become alarmed at the level of hatred and division in our nation, and rightfully so. While they see the need for many of the changes Trump speaks of, they also recognize the need for healing. In a president - especially now - they want a unifier, not a divider.  Great wisdom is needed. With America’s need for change, a forerunner like Trump will HAVE TO rock the boat, just as Reagan did in the 1980s. He spoke truth and ruffled feathers, but in a wise way that wasn’t considered mean-spirited. In many respects, Reagan “fathered” America. He brought correction at times, even sternly, but did so with a father’s heart. He was not perceived as insulting or vindictive, not a “mud-slinger” or a “gun-slinger,” but a “truth-slinger.” And his truth came across as wisdom, not sarcasm.  If Trump were to allow God to put this heart in him - and Yahweh will if allowed - he would win the election in an absolute landslide, just as Reagan did his second term. Americans know we need some “fixing,” but they also know we need some unifying. I feel we must pray for this “father-heart” to emerge in Trump, enabling him to speak with wisdom. Proverbs 3:11-18, The Passion Translation, mentions this wisdom and fathering heart: “My child, when the Lord God speaks to you, never take His words lightly, and never be upset when He corrects you. For the Father’s discipline comes only from His passionate love and pleasure for you. Even when it seems like His correction is harsh, it’s still better than any father on earth gives to his child. Blessings pour over the ones who find wisdom, for they have obtained living-understanding [an understanding of how to live]...  “As wisdom increases, a great treasure is imparted, greater than many bars of refined gold. It is a more valuable commodity than gold and gemstones, for there is nothing you desire that could compare to her. Wisdom extends to you long life in one hand and wealth and promotion in the other. Out of her mouth flows righteousness, and her words release both law and mercy. ‭‭ “The ways of wisdom are sweet, always drawing you into the place of wholeness. Seeking for her brings the discovery of untold blessings, for she is the healing tree of life to those who taste her fruits.” Pray with me:  Father, America desperately needs change, and we need this communicated with a wisdom that will enable us to accept the change. If this is to come through Donald Trump, we pray that You would give him YOUR heart for America. Give him strength laced with humility, truth clothed in lovingkindness, and wisdom flowing from a father’s heart.  Temper his zeal and strength. We need his zeal, just as zeal for Father’s house consumed Jesus. But Christ was always led by Holy Spirit, even when cleansing the Temple and denouncing hypocrisy. We love the strength Trump demonstrated when shot; we love his passion for America. Now, Father, temper these assets with Your heart.  Give Trump a significant and life-altering encounter with You. Fill him with Your Spirit, teach him to hear Your voice, and give him a love for Your Word. May he exemplify the fruit of Holy Spirit and may he be one who meets with You regularly. Mature him spiritually, we pray. And please continue to protect him. In Yeshua’s name, we pray this. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that Donald Trump will have a strong, life-altering encounter with Holy Spirit. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Dismantling and Rebuilding Matthew 11:10-19 in The Passion Translation, Jesus offers some great insights about the diversity of gifts: “See, I am sending my prophetic messenger who will go ahead of Me and prepare hearts to receive Me. “For I tell you the truth, throughout history, there has never been a man who surpasses John the Baptizer. Yet the least of those who now experience heaven’s kingdom will become even greater than he. From the moment John stepped onto the scene until now, the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power. For all the prophets and the Torah prophesied until John appeared. If you can receive this truth, John is the Elijah who was destined to come. So listen and understand what I’m telling you.  “How could I describe the people of this generation? You’re like children playing games on the playground, yelling at their playmates, ‘You don’t like it when we want to play Wedding! And you don’t like it when we want to play Funeral! You will neither dance nor mourn.’ Why is it that when John came to you, neither feasting nor drinking wine, you said, ‘He has a demon in him!’? Yet when the Son of Man came and went to feasts and drank wine, you said, ‘Look at this man! He is nothing but a glutton and a drunkard! He spends all His time with tax collectors and other sinners.’ But God’s wisdom will become visible by those who embrace it.” (Matthew 11:10-19 TPT) Prophetic forerunners like John usually precede revivals. By “prophetic,” I’m not referring to predicting the future, but rather the unpleasant aspect of this gifting some are called to that creates change by uprooting and tearing down (Jeremiah 1:12). I am referring to spiritual callings like that of John, prophets who level mountains of adversity, straighten crooked places in societies, and smooth the rough ground of deception, preparing the way for spiritual highways to be built (Isaiah 40:3-4). These forerunners don’t paint the stripes on highways or plant the greenery that enhances them, and they certainly don’t build the Rest Areas! No, when it comes to building roads, their expertise is operating bulldozers.  This unique calling is difficult, often misunderstood as being mean-spirited; it sometimes even results in beheadings - just ask John (Matthew 14:1-12)! Everybody loves a nice highway; nobody likes the process: mud, delays, detours…  Those blessed with mercy temperaments and pastoral gifts frequently reject those with forerunner callings. They often think “love” and “nice words” alone will transform the mountains, thorns, weeds, rocks, and crooked places into highways. “Don’t rock the boat” and “Don’t be harsh” is often their position. Many of them don’t have enough discernment to see that the only solution for some obstacles is an earthmover…or dynamite! To be fair, there is also the problem of forerunners using too much dynamite, or not recognizing when it is time for the pavers and painters. If Herod hadn’t ended John’s career, who knows how long he would have kept going? After all, there was undoubtedly more repentance necessary in Israel! There is never a shortage of weeds and rough terrain.  We should know by now that Jesus was and remains the ONLY perfect person that has ever existed. The sooner we admit this, the better. Forerunners don’t forerun perfectly, and the mercy folks don’t extend mercy perfectly. Taking this a step further, apostles don’t lead perfectly, prophets don’t prophesy perfectly, evangelists don’t evangelize perfectly, pastors don’t pastor perfectly, and teachers don’t teach perfectly. And sheep, by the way, don’t “sheep” perfectly. We should all remember this the next time we feel someone isn’t doing things as well as we think they should. And we must remember that the different callings and motivations - given to us by God - cause us to think differently…and all are needed! In our opening passage, Jesus said, “You didn’t like John’s approach, and you don’t like Mine. You didn’t want to mourn, and you don’t want to dance. You didn’t want the forerunner, and you don’t want the Messiah.” Then the Master gave some insight: “Wisdom is justified by her children” (verse 19). What does that mean? The Message Translation makes it pretty clear: “Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”  Ah, the simple eloquence of The Message Translation. “Wait for the fruit,” Jesus was saying. Sometimes, that’s the only way to discern who was right and who was wrong. And occasionally we’ll discover, to our surprise, that they were both right, part of the same team, building the same road.  THE RARE MIX Occasionally, God puts a unique blend of the “tearing down” and “building up” callings in one individual. As a spiritual leader, Paul certainly possessed this. He was instrumental in dismantling  an old system and building  the church. As a secular leader, Ronald Reagan demonstrated this also. “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall” (1) was the precursor to rebuilding a continent. His efforts to  tear down Marxism here and abroad, allowed  healing and restoration.  Tomorrow, we will talk about Donald Trump and his role in America.   Pray with me:  Father, we realize America has a lot of spiritual mountains, rough terrain, and strongholds standing in the way of our return to You. We thank You for voices that have been calling us to repentance and cleansing. We believe we will dance with Messiah again, but we also know that deep repentance is part of that process.  We also thank You for gifts in leaders that enable us to build and rebuild, both in the church and in nations. We will certainly need them in the coming days. Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, will provide these gifts. We ask for hearts that honor our different callings and distinctions, along with the humility to realize none of us have all that is needed to accomplish Your desires. We continue to ask for Your protection over Trump, Biden, Harris, and our other government leaders. We also ask this for their families and those associated with them. Deliver our nation from the spirit of murder we have allowed in through the shedding of innocent blood. And restore our love for the innocent. We ask all of this in Yeshua’s name. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that a highway is being built in America for the glory of God to return to us.  Click on the link below to watch the full video. _____________________________________________ https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2007/summer/berlin.html

A Day to Change America - Please Join Us The United States has certainly prospered over the years. We have been blessed beyond measure, and in some ways, we have generously shared those blessings. The U.S. gives more money in foreign aid than any other country in the world, distributing more than $640 billion globally from 2012 through 2022. We now give between 65 and 70 billion dollars annually to other nations. Since WWII, the U.S. has given over 3.8 trillion dollars in foreign aid. (1)   These figures would not include the funds given by the church to fund missions work. And, of course, the most important gift Americans have given is the gospel of Jesus Christ, delivered by thousands of missionaries. Hebrews 6:10 (KJV) tells us,  “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which you have showed toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”  This is a comforting verse. And I know it’s true - God will not forget our labor of love.  Along with the good America has done, we have also sown our share of evil. As success often does when experienced by human hearts not controlled by Christ, America’s wealth and power have also been abused. Lincoln’s warning to our nation in 1863, sadly, is very appropriate today: “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But 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. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness…All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope, authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition…of unity and peace. ” (2) America has lost her way once again. Not only have we done so in a secular sense, but America’s current version of Christianity is confused and powerless. Filled with complacent Christians, the church has become a sub-culture, not the counter-culture intended by Christ. We’re now conformists, not the nation-discipling people He commanded us to be (see Matthew 28:19). As tragic as this is for America, it is even more devastating given our critical assignment for Christ among the nations. Revival is desperately needed to lead America back to our roots and destiny!  That is why this Sunday, September 22, 110 MILLION PEOPLE around the world will be praying for revival in America!! (And no, that is not a misprint.) Wesley Tullis of International Prayer Connect (IPC) says of this upcoming day: “I want to pass on this HOPE-FILLED announcement, which reveals the great mercies of the Father for America. Since February of this year, He has stirred up our global leaders of prayer in IPC with a strong burden for America. As goes America, so goes the world.  “I believe that the fruit of missionaries, who have gone out from America over the decades and centuries with the saving knowledge of Jesus, is now returning to us. Out of gratitude and compassion, intercessors now want to ‘save us’ through their effective and earnest prayer. The 110 million intercessors connected to IPC have agreed to have a Global Day of Prayer for America. This is miraculous mercy!! “And beyond this, September 22nd launches a 21-Day Fast, ending on October 12; the National Prayer Assembly in DC on October 10-11, and One Million Women on the Mall on October 12. “An awakening unto transformation is coming to this land!!!” This is beyond amazing. In my 40-plus years of praying for America, I have never seen anything like this. Actually, not even close. As Wesley said, this is the Father’s mercy. And I believe it will be a turning point.  Please join the millions around the world as they pray for us. From 7:00-10:00 A.M. ET, several U.S. prayer leaders will be in Washington, D.C., joining leaders from around the world by Zoom/video, interceding for America.  This is a day of prayer added to other days, just for America. That’s why it lands on a Sunday, and I realize many of you attend church services that morning, perhaps making this a little complicated, especially for those in the Eastern Time zone. Make it work as much as possible, and help us spread the word. This is critically important.  Here’s how to join us:  Go to the Global Day of Prayer for America website  at gdop-America.org . There you will see all of the information, including the link where you can join online. Mark your calendars for September 22, 2024, 7:00-10:00 A.M. ET. Pray with me:  Father, it seems America is as divided now as it was in Lincoln’s day. The animosity runs deep. Our sin runs deeper.  When a people turns to its own ways, abandoning Yours, human depravity soon takes over. America has done so and is sick - horribly so, deplorably so. Taking the downward path of sin, we began serving Baal and his pleasures; eventually, he required payment, now demanding even the blood of our children.  Like a “totaled” vehicle, we are a nation past the point of human repair. Only Your supernatural ability, motivated by Your extravagant mercy, can save us. But we believe You are doing so. You will move us from the trash heap of has-been nations, to the showroom of Your amazing grace. And as You do so, our nation will fall in love with You anew, pledging our undying allegiance to You, Your glorious Son, and His eternal cause.   Let this day, September 22, be part of this miracle. Let it be the day that the Repairer of “damaged goods” puts finishing touches on His masterful restoration. Then, let this continue through October 12, the Day of Atonement, when an Esther generation finishes off Haman’s evil decree.  We ask this in the name of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ.  Our decree: We decree that on September 22, 2024, lovingkindness and truth will meet, righteousness and peace will kiss each other (see Psalm 85:10). Click on the link below to watch the full video. ________________________________ https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/countries-that-receive-the-most-foreign-aid-from-the-u-s   Abraham Lincoln, “Proclamation 97 - appointing a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer.” 30 March, 1863. [ https://www.loc.gov/resource/lprbscsm.scsm0265/?st=text ]

Unwavering Trust The story is told in the book Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul , “It was a chilly fall day when the farmer spied a little sparrow lying on its back in the middle of his field. The farmer stopped his plowing, looked down at the frail, feathered creature, and inquired, ‘Why are you lying upside down like that?’ “I heard the sky is going to fall today,” replied the bird. “The old farmer chuckled, ‘And I suppose your spindly little legs can hold up the sky?’ “One does what one can,’ replied the courageous sparrow.” (1) I’m always amazed at how God uses spindly little humans to accomplish things for Him.  In Judges 6-8, we find the story of Gideon, who led an army of 300 in defeating an army of 135,000. I’d call that a spindly little army.  To make matters worse, Gideon had contracted a pretty severe case of hope deferred. In his day, Israel, because of their idolatry, was being severely oppressed by the Midianites. Sometimes, we’re responsible for the hope deferred in our lives; sometimes, we’re a victim. This situation had clearly been created by the Israelites themselves. God, however, is a God of great mercy, and He was about to forgive their sin and bring deliverance, with just a shout: “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” As He often does, God chose as His instrument a person who appeared to be very unqualified for the task. At this point in his life, Gideon certainly wasn’t a man of great faith. In fact, when the Lord spoke by faith and called him a “valiant warrior” (Judges 6:12), Gideon’s unbelief became very obvious; his response was filled with cynicism. “Then Gideon said to him,   ‘O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, “Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?” But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.’” Judges 6:13 Gideon and Israel’s heartsick, hope-deferred condition had progressed to the point where, for the most part, they did not expect God to come through for them. All of their faith and devotion had been transferred to the false gods of Baal and Asherah. Gideon’s father actually had a shrine to Baal in his backyard (Judges 5:24). We often transfer our trust, as well, though often in more subtle ways. Without setting up literal idols, we sometimes waver in our devotion to God and place our trust in other people, money, government, drugs, alcohol, pleasures, success, etc. Notice, however, the kind and forgiving response of the Lord to Gideon and the Israelites. He was about to reveal Himself as the God who forgives and heals. Gideon had decided to offer a sacrifice to the Lord, and when he did, fire sprang up from the rock on which he had laid the sacrifice and consumed the offering. Gideon, of course, was terrified by this awesome display of power. The angelic messenger then said something very significant and important to him, “Peace [shalom] to you” (Judges 6:23). Most of us have a very limited understanding of the word shalom , often translated as “peace.” While it does indeed mean tranquility or calmness, the word carries a far deeper meaning than that. The basic concept of this word is to be whole . As Zodhiates says, “It is a sense of well-being... to be unharmed or unhurt... it expressed completeness, harmony, and fulfillment.” (2) This makes what the angel said to Gideon much more meaningful: “Wholeness to you, Gideon.” While the Lord may indeed have been attempting to alleviate Gideon’s temporary fear, I believe he was also speaking healing to him in an overall sense. And Gideon was so moved by the experience that he built an altar and called it Jehovah Shalom (Judges 6:24), which became a significant redemptive name of the Lord. It means, “The Lord is our wholeness.” Gideon did not build an altar to commemorate a simple word of brief comfort.  The Lord had broken hope-deferred off Gideon. His name and powerful presence had healed him. God always desires to visit us in our troubled times and do the same. He wants to invade our insecurity, despair, and disillusionment, speaking words of wholeness to us. The words may come through a sermon, a friend, Scripture, or the quiet voice of the Lord in our hearts. But of this we can be certain: God always has a healing word for us. For Sherry, in the following story, Jehovah Shalom came in a most unusual way. “While visiting another city, she noticed a gloriously beautiful sunset. Wanting to share it with someone, she asked a clerk in the nearby store to come outside. Obviously puzzled, the woman followed her outside. “Just look at that sunset!” Sherry said. ‘God's in His heaven, and all’s right with the world.’ After briefly enjoying the beauty, the clerk went back inside, and Sherry left. “Four years later, Sherry had hit hard times. She was recently divorced, on her own for the first time, living in reduced circumstances, and feeling very discouraged. Then she came across a magazine article about a woman who had once been in similar circumstances. This woman also had come to the end of a marriage, after which she had moved to a strange community, working at a job she didn’t like, and was struggling. Then, something profound had happened. A lady came into her store and asked her to step outside. Then the unknown woman pointed to the sunset and said, ‘God’s in His heaven, and all’s right with the world.’ The truth in that statement had turned the clerk’s life around.  “Imagine Sherry’s shock when she read her own words! Her words of encouragement had come full circle, and were used by God to change her perspective and lift her from despair.” (3)   Amazing. God knows what we need to hear and when we need to hear it. Keep listening.  Pray with me: Father, we sometimes feel ganged up on by life. Circumstances pile on, the odds are stacked against us and we feel like Gideon. In those times, we need to be reminded that You have power over ANY number of enemy soldiers. “The sword of the Lord,” Your powerful words in our mouths are the key to victory.  Remind the praying remnant today that their “spindly” prayer legs, when infused with Holy Spirit’s power, can accomplish much. Remind them to look at Your strength and listen to Your promises, NOT at the actions and words of the enemy. Satan lies. He bluffs. He distorts.  Like Israel, America has turned from You and placed her trust elsewhere. We, like Gideon and his fellow countrymen, have worshipped Baal. We are now paying a horrible price for this, and at times the odds against escaping his hold seem overwhelming. But we look to You, Jehovah Shalom. We turn our gaze to the sky and say, “All is well.” We believe You are coming to save and make us whole, Yahweh, just as You did in Israel’s day. We believe You are coming to deliver and liberate, here and around the world. And we ask for this in the great name we love and worship, Jesus. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that the sword of the Lord in our mouths routs the powers of darkness. Click on the link below to watch the full video. __________________________ Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Heather McNamara, Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul  (Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 1999), p. 58. Spiros Zodhiates, ed., Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible–New American Standard , ref. ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1990), 1785. Canfield, Hansen, and McNamara, Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul,  pp. 142-143.

We have released two Give Him 15 devotionals, and in November, we will release the final devotional in our trilogy. Today, I’m giving you a sneak peek and sharing one of the unique devotionals that will be in the upcoming Volume 3. Today’s title is: A Heart of Courage Encouragement  is an important subject. Paul frequently spoke of encouraging others and of receiving encouragement. A believer in the early church named Joseph, was actually nicknamed Barnabas by his fellow believers - which means “son of encouragement” - because of his encouraging heart and nature (Acts 4:36). Moses was twice told by God to encourage Joshua regarding his future ministry (Deuteronomy 1:38 and 3:28). The thought we normally have when hearing the word “encouragement” is picking up the spirit of someone who may be hurting or struggling, bringing motivation to press on, or perhaps giving a compliment to a person that might cause him or her to feel good about themselves or their performance. These aspects of encouragement are good and significant. The deeper meaning of this word, however, is even more significant. In its etymology, the word [encouragement] literally means “to put in courage.” (1)  The “courage” portion actually comes from the Latin word for heart. (2) Think about that: Courage is a force that originates in the heart. Emotions will fail you in times of crisis or trouble; the mind, invaded by numerous scenarios and “what ifs,” will often flounder in times of uncertainty, fear, and indecision. “Heart courage” is the only safe source of strength in times of trouble. David said, “My heart is fixed,”  meaning that it was immovable . (Psalms 57:7 and 108:1). In Psalm 112:7, he stated about one who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments: “He will not fear bad news; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is firm, he will not fear, But will look with satisfaction on his enemies”  (NASB). Courage emanating from the heart will never fail you. And to think we can actually put this courage into the heart of another with our words - incredible! The Greek word translated as “encourage” (also translated “comfort”), is parakaleo . (3) Interestingly, in one of its different forms (Paraclete), it is used as a name of Holy Spirit, usually translated as “Comforter” or “Helper.” Holy Spirit doesn’t simply want to give us pep talks to lift our emotions, He wants to put an immovable force of strength into our hearts, our “courage center!” And He often wants to use us to do so. Holy Spirit  “...comforts (parakaleo) us in all our affliction, so that we will be able to comfort (parakaleo) those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”  (2 Corinthians 1:4 NASB). Amazing! Holy Spirit wants to strengthen the hearts of others through us! Our freedom today may, in part, be due to a 20th-century “Barnabas.” Winston Churchill didn’t look like much of a fighter, but he was one of the Allied Forces’ greatest warriors during WW2. He fought with his words, giving heart to Britain when the odds against them seemed impossible to overcome. At times, it seemed all they had left was heart. Here are a couple of examples: “THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN was raging. Every resource of Fighter Command was engaged in defense against the attacking Luftwaffe. On August 20, Winston Churchill reassured his countrymen. In the speech, he coined the phrase ‘the few’ to refer to the fighter pilots of the RAF (Royal Air Force), a phrase that would stick: ‘The great air battle which has been in progress over this Island for the last few weeks has recently attained a high intensity. It is too soon to attempt to assign limits either to its scale or to its duration. We must certainly expect that greater efforts will be made by the enemy than any he has so far put forth. ‘The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’” (4) Another example of Churchill putting courage into the hearts of his people was through the following: “DURING THE DARKEST days of the war, there was trouble in England’s coal mines. Workers were leaving the mines to enlist in the army. Many young men wanted to be fighting in the front lines, not digging coal out of the ground, and coal production was in jeopardy when the nation needed it most. Winston Churchill went to the mines to deliver a speech and to give the miners a vision of the future. “His words pictured for them what would take place when the Nazis were beaten, and the war was over. He said there would be a great parade honoring all who sacrificed for victory. First, there would be the Royal Navy sailors who had battled Hitler at sea. Then would come the Royal Air Force pilots who had fought the Luftwaffe in the skies. Then would come the Royal Army soldiers who had fought at Dunkirk. Last of all would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner’s caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, ‘Where were you during the dark days of our struggle?’ And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, ‘We were deep in the earth, with our faces to the coal. ’ (5)  “Churchill’s words penetrated their hearts. With tear-streaked faces, the miners went back to work with the firm belief that every piece of coal they brought out of the earth was vital to the survival of their nation. They knew that their work might be mundane and seem unglamorous, but it was necessary to the larger cause.” (6) Put courage in someone you know today. “Lay hands on” their heart with your words and impart to them strength and fortitude. Tell them they are strong in Christ! Tell them they have great value and are needed! Tell them they are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves them, and that the greatest power in the universe dwells in them through Holy Spirit! Tell them their feet are on a solid rock, which will never crumble! “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. Refrain:  On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.” (7) Pray with me: Father, thank You for sending the great heart doctor, Holy Spirit. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for infusing strength into us, making us steadfast and immovable. Through You, we have “heart courage!” And thank You, Jesus, for transforming our hearts, and being our Rock. As we “put our faces to the coal,” motivate your Ekklesia to walk in “Barnabas anointings.” Remind us that we can put courage into the hearts of our brothers and sisters as we war for the soul of our nation. Encourage them to encourage others. We declare today that with Your strength, we will not yield to the forces of darkness in the world. We will not grow weary in our well-doing, our prayers, and decrees. We mount up with wings like eagles - running without getting tired, walking without fainting. Your strength empowers us, Your wind lifts us. We are like trees planted by water; our roots are deep and strong. With hearts like David, we run to the battle. With vision like Caleb, we ask for our mountain. With faith like Abraham, we hope when it seems there is none, and believe in the face of the impossible. With determination like Paul, we press toward the mark. We are “of God” and will overcome the forces of darkness. In Christ’s name and authority, Amen. Our decree: We decree that we have heart, and will persevere in every situation.  Click on the link below to watch the full video. _____________________________ https://www.etymonline.com/word/encourage Ibid. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3870. Larkin Spivey, Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II , (AMG Publishers: Chattanooga, TN), p. 38 and The Churchill Centre, www.winstonchurchill.org . From sermons by Bill Hayes ( http://RevBill.Wordpress.com ) and Norman Lao ( http://JLRCM2008.Wordpress.com ).  Larkin Spivey, Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II , (AMG Publishers: Chattanooga, TN), p. 259. https://hymnary.org/text/my_hope_is_built_on_nothing_less

Turbulent Times  Like many of you, I read many articles and listened to numerous reports yesterday (Monday) regarding the second assassination attempt against Trump. There is no need for me to regurgitate any of the news and information coming out about the alleged perpetrator and his actions - I’m sure you’ve heard the reports.  Sadly, I was not surprised by this attempt. Several times in posts over the past 3 months I have shared my concerns and requested consistent prayer for Trump. In last Wednesday’s post I stated, “I continue to feel urgent and regular prayer is needed for Trump and those around him.” Thank you for praying! We live in very turbulent and alarming times. Within the span of two months we’ve had two attempts on a former president’s life by Americans, and a plot by Iran to do the same! This is unprecedented. Massive failures and coverups by the Secret Service and Justice Department continue to alarm the American people, who no longer trust their government, media, or even their educational system, as many within these groups have proven to be dishonest and unpatriotic.   The good news? Americans are waking up. Certainly, the revelation of evil in our land is not complete, but it has at least been sufficient to rouse millions from their naivety and slumber. I’m sure that over the next few months we will see even more exposure of evil in our government, as fears of experiencing justice motivate some. Those at risk of this will stop at nothing to remain in power, and thereby protect themselves. This has already been demonstrated over and over: They lie, persecute, slander, charge falsely, flood our nation with drugs and unvetted illegals, ignore laws, fix elections, the list goes on.  And you should know by now that the perpetrators of these evils have one person they fear above all others: Donald Trump. The corrupt in government know they simply CANNOT let him back in power. Trump now knows too much, and is intent on dealing out justice. The corrupt are confident that if reelected, he would be ruthless in his efforts to do so.  Please continue to pray for Trump, his family, and those connected to him. Also, we MUST continue to pray that America be transformed spiritually. Dr Ben Carson just posted the following on X regarding this: “This is a dark day in American history and I fear we are not grasping the gravity of the situation. Two assassination attempts in two months. It's unacceptable. “Your ideals and beliefs should never present a threat to your life in the United States of America. “We are in the midst of a severe moral and spiritual crisis in this nation. This cannot be the society our children and grandchildren inherit. “I am praying that God will grant us the fortitude and wisdom to navigate ourselves out of it. I’d ask that all of you join me in those prayers today.” I feel to include the same Psalm today that I shared in last Wednesday’s post, this time making it a prayerful decree over ourselves, our families, and our leaders. It is Psalm 91, from The Passion Translation. Let’s declare it together: “When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High.  “He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence.  “He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and He will protect you from false accusations and any deadly curse.  “His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under His covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.  “You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you.  “Don’t fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you, nor will the powers of evil be launched against you.  “Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed.  “You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done!  “When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then, could evil prevail against us or disease infect us?  “God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm.  “If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling.  “You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath your feet!  “For here is what the Lord has spoken to me: “Because you loved Me, delighted in Me, and have been loyal to My name, I will greatly protect you.  “I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will feel My presence in your time of trouble. I will deliver you and bring you honor.  “I will satisfy you with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of My salvation!” (Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1‬-‭16‬ ‭TPT‬‬) Click on the link below to watch the full video.

The Secret Place Every believer loves the Psalms. Even many non-believers love these treasure troves of praise to Yahweh and hope for the future. Psalm 23 has guided millions through  “the valley of the shadow of death,” and the 51st Psalm has led many out of guilt and into recovery. Another favorite is Psalm 91, the great psalm of protection. I led 150 Bible school students on an outreach to Mardi Gras in New Orleans many years ago. Among the tens of thousands that descend on Bourbon Street every night to party and revel, there are some who are miserable, desperate, and ripe for something genuine to replace their despair and misery. We engaged them and shared Christ’s love, prayed for those who wanted it, and led several to Jesus.  Violence also occurred at Mardi Gras, and it hosted more demons per square inch than you can imagine. So, I required every student to meditate on and memorize Psalm 91. By the time we went, it was planted in their heart and firmly embedded in their memory.  Though I always include Scripture references in the posts, I don’t typically quote many of them. And even more seldom do I quote lengthy passages, simply for reasons of space. I feel that those who want to read them will do so later. Today, however, I feel led to read Psalm 91 in its entirety. In this season, all believers should know and memorize this amazing passage, and also declare it regularly over themselves and their families.  I am quoting it from The Passion Translation, which brings this psalm alive in wonderful ways. The footnotes in this translation - explaining why they’ve translated words as they have - are invaluable. If you don’t have this excellent Bible translation, do yourself a favor and pick one up. (They haven’t yet completed the entire Bible, but have completed all of the New Testament and several of the Old Testament books - I believe twelve of them.) Here is Psalm 91 from The Passion Translation: “When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High.  “He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence.  “He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and He will protect you from false accusations and any deadly curse.  “His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under His covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.  “You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you.  “Don’t fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you, nor will the powers of evil be launched against you.  “Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed.  “You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done!  “When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then, could evil prevail against us or disease infect us?  “God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm.  “If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling.  “You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath your feet!  “For here is what the Lord has spoken to me: “Because you loved Me, delighted in Me, and have been loyal to My name, I will greatly protect you.  “I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will feel My presence in your time of trouble. I will deliver you and bring you honor.  “I will satisfy you with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of My salvation!” (Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1‬-‭16‬ ‭TPT‬‬) In one of their footnotes, the translators of TPT say that “Shaddai” in verse one could be translated as: “God of the Mountain,” “God the Destroyer of Enemies,” “God the Self-Sufficient One,” “God the Nurturer of Babies,” or “God the Almighty.” Incredible. Our amazing God is all we need for any and every situation. His awesome power destroys His enemies and nurtures babies! He is self-sufficient and is our sufficiency. We need no other! The translators also point out that verses 5-6 speak of protection from both natural and supernatural dangers. Plagues, diseases, accidents, demonic plots, and plans - God will protect us from them all. His angels assist Him in doing so.  And how about verse 15: He’ll answer our cry for help every time we pray, and we’ll feel His presence in our times of trouble. This psalm is beyond wonderful; it is magnificent! I feel that the season we are entering could be challenging. God’s Word is our foundation, anchoring us to Him. Say of God daily:  “He is my refuge and fortress, no evil will befall me! He and His angels keep me and mine in ALL of our ways!” (verses 2, 10, 11). Make this powerful psalm yours today!  Pray with me:   Father, You are our strength and protection in times of trouble. We can say with the psalmist, David, that because we walk with You, we fear no evil. We are not afraid of any shaking that comes to America and/or other nations. We are not afraid of terrorism. We are not afraid of evil leaders here or elsewhere. We are not afraid of disease or of having accidents. We fear no evil.   We thank You for the angels assigned to us. They are many, and they are powerful. Not only do they have much experience, they are led by our great Helper, the Holy Spirit. We thank You, Most High God: "God of the Mountain," "God the Destroyer of Enemies," "God the Self-Sufficient One," "God the Nurturer of Babies," and "God the Almighty," for being our Father. We are secure with You.    We also ask for Your protection over our leaders. We ask this for those in Congress, on the Supreme Court, the President, and those running for President. We continue to feel urgent and regular prayer is needed for Trump and those around him. Please protect them all, Father.    And we ask for Your protection from another 9/11. We know terrorists are in our nation; expose and thwart their plans. Protect us, we pray, in Jesus name. Amen.   Our decree:   We decree that we dwell in the secret place of the Most High God, and are protected from all evil.   After writing today’s post I was made aware by Intercessors for America  of something important I felt we should add to the prayer.    Safeguard Our Elections from Non-Citizens Voting   "Fifty-one and a half-a-million people in this country are non-citizens — the highest percentage in the history of our nation,”  Representative Chip Roy (TX) warns.  Even if a small percentage of those non-citizens and illegals vote in our elections, the process is tainted, and our elections are no longer a privilege for citizens as part of the process of self-governance, but subject to the potential influence of foreign governments, illegal invaders, and outside interests. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act can help.   The House votes on the SAVE Act today! (It is attached to the fall spending bill to help with its passage.) As election integrity is of the utmost importance, the SAVE Act would make it harder for non-citizens to vote.  Let's pray for the integrity of the election cycle and systems that make it hard to cheat yet easy for eligible citizen voters to turn out in large numbers!   Lord, we ask you to move on the hearts of enough House members to pass the SAVE act. We are grateful for the privilege of voting, and we ask You to help us restore integrity to this awesome right in every way possible. In Christ’s name, amen. Click on the link below to watch the full video.