Where the Harvest Is You know, the Church isn’t supposed to do all its work inside its walls. It’s supposed to get out there in the world and get to work expanding His Kingdom. He wants to use us to represent Him. There are people out there who won’t go to churches. Periodically, over the last 40 to 50 years, the Lord has raised up groups of Christians that minister to those in the marketplace. Full Gospel Businessmen was one of those. Aglow was another, which was raised up by women. Both of those groups held meetings in hotels or community centers or country clubs, places the unsaved might feel more comfortable. However, they didn’t hold back on sharing the message of the Gospel or in allowing the Holy Spirit to move. Real people, not professional ministers, would give their testimonies. They might be accountants, firemen, government leaders or educators, for example. So many people would respond to the invitations to get born again. They would get them filled with the Holy Spirit and they’d get slain in the Spirit. They would just explain what happened to them when they would get up off the floor! Thousands were saved through those movements. Then, they would funnel the new Believers into the churches to be discipled. It is a very effective plan. I’m not saying God will do things that way in this generation, but He always has a plan to get His people out into the marketplace where the harvest is. “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35; NKJV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Do you believe the words in John 4:35? They can be challenging. Thank the Lord for His moves of grace to harvest in the past. Maybe you were part of one of them. Thank Him for that move. Intercede now for Divine strategies to spring forth from members of the Body. Pray that ordinary people would not wait for their pastors to lead them outside the walls. Pray that each would believe they can go do this! Cry out for the fire and grace of God to accompany us. We must have His Presence and His Glory and the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Name! A prayer you can pray: God, we believe Your Word. We know John 4:35 and pray it often. Some of us remember that move of God where business people, housewives, and other non-clergy members went into the world with a Divine strategy. They shared their testimonies and preached the Gospel in hotels and country clubs, instead of inside churches. We have grown so comfortable inside our church walls. We have convinced ourselves that our gifts and talents are only for inside them. We are afraid to display the power of the Holy Spirit in the marketplace. But, Jesus did that. John the Baptist did it. The disciples did so, as well. Most revivalists throughout history preached in the open air. The Wesley brothers preached out where the people were, because the Anglican Church rejected them and wouldn’t let them inside their buildings. John Wesley started clinics for the poor and ministered to the sick that came there. Jesus, you have moved on campuses repeatedly throughout the centuries, drawing teens and twenty-somethings into the Kingdom. Put a fire in Your Church again to go to the highways and byways and draw in the lost! Grace us with the power of the Holy Spirit and Your Presence. We can’t do this for you. We must do this with You! Amen. Today’s decree: America’s harvest fields are ready for God’s people to reap!

The Power of Our Tears “The Lord woke me up this morning with the word ‘tears’. “I sat up in bed and He showed me a very vivid picture of a woman that was on her knees weeping and seemed to be in travail over the church in America. She was crying out much like we hear about when we read the prophet Jeremiah. When I walked around to the front of this woman, I noticed that her tears where beautiful and pure and I could almost feel the Lord’s delight in them. She was frantically digging in the soil in front of her. I was in shock when I noticed that as her tears fell to the ground they literally turned into seeds that begin to take root immediately. The Lord reminded me of Psalms 126:5-6 where it says, ‘Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.’ “As I’m having this vision, I sat back and said, ‘Lord what does this mean,’ because my mind began to race with excitement and ideas. I heard the Holy Spirit with a soft voice say ‘I still believe in my bride. I still believe in her beauty.’ I sat there and began to weep, myself, as I thought about all the intercessors that I have known that spend hours a day in prayer over the church in America. The Father still believes in His church. The seeds of the tears of the saints are beginning to take root. “When you study tears, you find there are three main scientific discoveries about them: When a person cries, toxins that are in the body begin to be pushed out. The body releases its own immune boost and cells that are sick begin to receive healing and not just in the eyes (one part of the body), but as a whole. Last but not least, there have been recorded accounts of dead cells becoming alive again. “What does this mean for the church? As we weep again, toxins (sin) is being pushed out. Healing begins to happen in the entire body. Dead cells become alive again. (Harvest.) Sound familiar? “‘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.’ (2 Chronicles 7:14; NASB) “I believe that we are about to see a release of what I can only refer to as the ministry of tears in the body again. That will lead us into one of the greatest harvests we have ever seen. Beloved, not just a harvest of the lost, but an awakening in the church again. This is not just an encouraging vision, but a call to action. A call to once again pray, fast, and weep. A call to walk in a lifestyle of holiness, mission, and identity.” (Russell Wood) “Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children,even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, ‘Spare your people, O Lord.’” (Joel 2:15-17a; ESV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Very slowly and carefully, pray the well-known verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14, “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.’” Ask the Lord for a move of holiness, mission, and identity to sweep over the Body of Christ. Call for the Bride of Christ to come to the altar of the Lord and weep for the nation. Call for the wailing women. Call for everyone to come – the old, the children, the newlyweds, the parents, the middle-aged, every color, every language, every denomination. We need them all! Bless the beautiful tears. Bless the beautiful ones led to cry them. Close your eyes and see the tears fall to the ground as seeds, then burst forth from the ground as harvest! Praise God for the Harvest! It is coming! A prayer you can pray: Father, we intercede as Your people who are called by Your name. We choose to humble ourselves, and pray and seek Your face. Lord, we choose to turn from our wicked ways. Forgive us our sin.  You promise to then hear us from Your vantage point in heaven, to forgive our sin and heal our land. We call for the beautiful Bride of Christ to come to Your altar and weep for America. You love Your Bride, Jesus. Who are we to ever criticize her or attempt to hold her back from her intercession and work of Kingdom expansion? Yet, we do it all the time. So, we repent and call for every Believer to come and pray. We call for the old, the children, the newlyweds, the parents, the middle-aged; every color, every language, every denomination. May we now put our faces to the ground and cry out together for our future; together for the harvest; together for Your Kingdom to come and Will to be done in this nation. Bless the Bride’s beautiful tears. Let them fall as seeds into the ground of this country. Cause them to grow quickly into a great harvest of Awakening – so great we cannot even comprehend it. Let it break our baskets and nets, Holy Spirit. Let Holiness and Harvest overtake us! May our tearful intercession have great reward in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Today’s decree: Let the Bride of Christ gather and weep and cry out together over this land, “Spare Your people, Lord!” Learn more about Russell Wood here.

400th Anniversary of the First American Legislature “On this day in 1619, statesmen from the Colony of Virginia gathered in Jamestown as the first deliberative body in what would become the United States of America. Four hundred years later, the same sense of representative democracy that motivated these statesmen continues to drive our Nation forward and ensures that America is a beacon of hope and opportunity for all. “Known as ‘the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World,’ the House of Burgesses, now known as the Virginia General Assembly, was formed as a unicameral body of individuals elected by settlements throughout the colony who served alongside people appointed by the Virginia Company of London. The Burgesses came from a variety of backgrounds—soldiers, clergymen, farmers, and planters. They were united in their cause for a better future for the brave settlers who had crossed the Atlantic for God and Country and for their descendants. From modest beginnings, the first legislative assembly in America would usher in a new era of government that derives its power from the consent of the people. “Four centuries later, the great American Experiment of democratic principles that began in Jamestown continues to thrive. From local city councils and State capitols to the halls of Congress, legislative bodies across our country continue to deliberate and represent the will of the people. Today, we recognize the pioneering and unrelenting spirit of Jamestown, which has shaped the character of our Nation, and we celebrate the abundant blessings of freedom we continue to protect and cherish. “May God bless the United States of America.” (President Donald J. Trump) “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1; ESV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Thank the Lord that He has given us a President that honors Him. Bless President Trump for acknowledging God in so much of what he does and in the speeches he presents. Thank the Father that our nation’s governmental structure was founded on biblical principles and that clergy participated, even led the way, in the formation of our government. Intercede for the continued freedom that our representative form of government affords this nation. It has formed the character of the nation and, while imperfect, it is a blessing to the whole earth. Ask the Lord to preserve our government, which includes the consent of the people. It is under serious threat in this generation. Upcoming generations lack even more understanding of government structures, and socialism looks good to them. A prayer you can pray: Father, thank You for giving us a President that openly honors You. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He surrounds himself with Your people to advise him. We bless him for honoring Your Name. Thank you for this amazing nation President Trump is currently leading. It really is the greatest nation on earth. Lord, we long for it to remain as a nation that makes You famous in the earth. Forgive us our sin and give us many more years for the Gospel to go forth from these shores. Preserve our representative form of government, which helps to give us the freedom to spread the Gospel message and expand Your Kingdom. Please never let other forms of government, such as socialism, infiltrate our populace and remove the consent of the people. Forgive us when we even entertain such thoughts, for the limitations of the will of the people ultimately mean limitations on Believers. Thank you, Jesus, for this day to remember the blessed and wise governing structure you have given America. Amen. Today’s decree: May the government of freedom God has given the United States of America be sustained by Him!

The Chaplain of the U. S. House of Representatives Addresses the Darkness “This (past week) has been a difficult and contentious week in which darker spirits seem to have been at play in the people’s house. In Your most holy name, I now cast out all spirits of darkness from this chamber, spirits not from You. I cast out the spirit of discouragement which deadens the hope of those who are of goodwill. I cast out the spirit of petty divisiveness, which clouds the sense and desires to be of fruitful productivity in addressing the issues more appropriately before this House. “I cast out any sadness brought on by the frustration of dealing with matters detrimental to the honorable work each member has been called to engage in. Pour out, O Lord, Your sacred oil as You did upon Aaron of old. Anoint Your servants here in the House with a healing balm to comfort and renew the souls of all in this assembly. “May Your Spirit of wisdom and patience be sent upon all, so that any spirit of darkness might have no place in our midst. Rather, let Your Spirit of comity, of brother and sisterhood, and love of our nation, and of all colleagues in this chamber, empower our better angels to be at play in the common work to be done for the benefit of all of Your people. May all that is done within the People’s House be for Your greater honor and glory. Amen.” (Chaplain Pat Conroy) “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” (John 17:21; NLT) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Following the example of the Chaplain of the House of Representatives, cast the darkness out of the following areas. Use Chaplain Conroy’s words above. From you and your family. From your place of business. From your children’s schools. From the church you attend. From your local government offices. From your state government. From the halls of national government: White House and Executive Branch, Congress, and Supreme Court. A prayer you can pray: (Today, walk through the prayer points above.) Today’s decree: Let the Holy Spirit’s Presence drive the darkness out of the places we have authority! Watch the video here.

Let the Jehu’s Rise Up! “In the Old Testament we see how God destroyed Jezebel. Jehu, the newly crowned king of Israel, was sent by the word of the Lord through Elijah’s successor, Elisha, to fulfill God’s promise. As Jehu and his men furiously drove their chariots toward Jezreel, the kings of Israel and Judah came out to meet him. They asked, ‘Is it peace, Jehu?’ And he answered, ‘What peace, so long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?’ (2 Kings 9:22). He rode into Jezreel to confront Jezebel. “The Word tells us that when she saw him, ‘she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head…’ and looking out an upper window, she called to him, ‘“…Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?” And he looked up at the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot’” (2 Kings 9:30-33 NKJV). “There was something in Jehu’s spirit that we must possess today. While we must be compassionate toward those captured by her wiles (see Rev. 2:21), we must show no mercy to the Jezebel spirit itself. Jehu offered Jezebel no compromise whatsoever. So we must offer this demon no opportunity to probe our soul and unlock vulnerabilities to her ‘many witchcrafts.’ She must be cast down from her high place of influence in our minds, that we may truly follow Christ (see Luke 10:19; Rom. 16:20). “There can be no peace, no relaxing under our ‘fig tree’ until the spirit of Jezebel is overcome and as long as her harlotries and witchcrafts are so many in our land. We must refuse to settle for a false peace based on compromise and fear!” (Francis Frangipane) “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19; KJV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Read 2 Kings 9. Boldly ask God to lay on you the mantle of Jehu, so you may defeat Jezebel in your realm of influence. Declare, “I will not compromise with sin. I will not be complacent with what I watch or listen to. I will resist sin and it must flee from me. I will not choose false peace, but will stand firm in God’s mercy and grace and route sin from my life, my marriage, my home, my family, my job, and anywhere else I have authority. I welcome God into every area of my life!” Systematically intercede for family members, church members and leaders, government leaders, and anyone else that the Lord leads you to intercede for. Take this assignment very seriously. Pray off of them any influence of Jezebel flowing through them. Intercede against any influence of Jezebel coming against them. Ask the Lord to grant them a holy boldness, even as you have found that place of boldness against this spirit. We must be relentless against Jezebel! A prayer you can pray: Father, please grant me the mantle of Jehu. Jezebel needs to be defeated in many areas where I have influence. I want to be effective in battle against that spirit. Show me the boundaries of authority that You have set for me. Let the revelation in 2 Kings 9 change the way I conduct myself in spiritual warfare. Jehu was bold, wise, and ruthless with Jezebel. He did not allow her to influence him. He did not stop. He made sure she was routed. I need the same boldness and determination. Father, keep me from deciding to compromise at any point in this battle. Peace that is based in compromise is temporary. Only when sin is removed can peace be permanent. Therefore, I come boldly to Your throne of grace to find grace to help in this time of need. Free myself, my family, the people I go to church with, and my pastors and leaders from Jezebel’s influence. Free government leaders You have placed in office from Jezebel’s tactics against them. Raise up more intercessors for them. Grant me grace, grace, grace, for this battle, Jesus. Amen. Today’s decree: The spirit of Jehu is rising to defeat the spirit of Jezebel in the land! Learn more about Francis Frangipane here.

Elijah and Jezebel’s Struggle for the Soul of the Nation “Elijah, as the last of the prophets, challenged the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the Asherah to a demonstration of power: their gods against the power of the Lord. The nation came to witness the battle between the God of Elijah and the demons of Jezebel. “The terms of the challenge were simple: each was to place an ox upon an altar. Elijah then said, ‘You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God’ (v. 24). Six hours later the cult priests still could produce no fire. Then, just before evening, Elijah prayed over his sacrifice and ‘the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering’ (v. 38). “We would suppose that, at this point, Elijah would have asked God to finish off Jezebel, but he did not. In fact – and this may surprise you – Elijah came under spiritual warfare. When Jezebel heard what had happened to her servants, she released a flood of demonic power against Elijah, and he fled in fear. “You may ask, ‘How could such a mighty prophet turn and run?’ The answer is not simple. What pressure overwhelmed this great man of God that he would fall prey to fear and discouragement? He succumbed to the witchcraft of Jezebel. “And now, let the reader understand: when you stand against the spirit of Jezebel, even though you resist her lusts and witchcrafts, you must guard against the power-demons of fear and discouragement, for these she will send against you to keep you from your victory!” (Francis Frangipane) “But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.” (Revelation 2:20; ESV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: In the spiritual war for our nation, we cannot tolerate Jezebel’s influence of sexual immorality, idolatry, manipulation and witchcraft. Humble yourself before the Lord and make sure you have not compromised in any of these ways. Now is not the time to entertain any of these things. Pray and walk in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.” Jezebel’s activity is very high in the nation right now. Have you felt strong spiritual warfare against you? Have you felt pursued or displaced, especially by religious ones recently? Run to God’s fortress of protection to find grace to help. (Hebrews 4:16.) Command spirits of lust, fear, manipulation and control to go, in Jesus’ name! If Jezebel is pursuing, expect miracles soon! Stand up and give a loud shout over your enemies or your the challenge you are facing! A prayer you can pray: “Heavenly Father, I submit my heart to You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I resist the spirit of Jezebel. As a servant of Jesus Christ, I release those who have been Jezebel’s captives, even those who have become open to immorality through the internet or illicit relationships. I speak to Jezebel’s slaves: If you are truly on the Lord’s side, then cast down your sympathetic thoughts toward this cruel master! Renounce her evil imaginations from your mind! In the power of Jesus’ name, I release you from her psychic grip upon your soul. In the authority of the living Christ! Amen.” (Francis Frangipane) Today’s decree: We renounce the evil influence of Jezebel and will live in the authority of Jesus Christ for the future of America! Learn more about Francis Frangipane here.

Who is Your Source? – Offense, Part 12 When I was ripped off in a ministry trip, long ago, I was ready to go after the guy. I wanted to hurt him back. He seemed comfortably well-off, but he left me needing to borrow on a credit card to get by. I heard the Lord say, “Let it go.” So, I got mad at the Lord. I said, “I’m borrowing on my credit card and you’re telling me to let it go.” The Lord, however, doesn’t play fair. He took me back to that trust issue we had been working on. He said, “Is your trust in these meetings? Is it in what you can sell? Or, am I your source?” I was really struggling to let it go. Then, I found out that he was having financial difficulties and his ministry was really over-extended. They were facing foreclosure. If he had only said to me when I left, “We have had some financial trouble since I booked this meeting with you. Here’s your material money, but I can’t give you an honorarium.” I know I would have said, “Hey, don’t worry about it.” I would have even said, “Let me sow into you and help you.” I might have even given him the material money. It didn’t happen that way, though, so I was stewing. The Lord, said, “He’s your brother and he’s in trouble. You ought to be praying for him.” As I did, I realized he was probably embarrassed and didn’t know what to say. Several months later, he actually did send me the money. God didn’t let him send the money, though, until I got my heart right. I had forgiven him, released him, and looked to God as my source. I have lived that way ever since. It didn’t matter if he had done the right thing. I had to do the right thing. I had to wrestle for days over it, until I had it solidly in my heart Who my Source really was. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14; NIV) “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26; NIV) “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33; NIV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Is your trust in what you can do or what you can generate? Is your trust in others and what they can provide you with? Do you have credit card bills that have come from others not keeping their promises to you? Do you believe He knows your need and is taking care of you, regardless of how big your need is? Do you know He can move on someone’s heart and have a check in the mail to you in a heartbeat? He won’t do it, though, until He deals with your heart first. Welcome Him to do so. Wrestle it out with Him. Let it hurt. A prayer you can pray: Father, check my heart. Where do I really believe that my source of abundance and blessing lies? Lay my heart bare and show me if I am trusting in You to meet my needs or if I am still looking to others. Help me to release other people from my expectations of them to provide for me. It’s not fair of me to put that pressure on them. I release the one that may not have met their promises to me, causing me to even go into debt to cover my basic needs. Why am I seething at them, when you can provide that in a moment. You can speak to someone entirely different to meet that need. You can cause a great blessing to come my way. You can open a new door of provision. You can give me a testimony of Your goodness to me and my family. Forgive my limited view of You. Wow, Lord! How short-sighted I have been. I will shout in advance, “To God be the glory! Great things He has done!” I pray for that one that has withheld from me or harmed me financially in some way. Lord, meet their needs. Give them a testimony of Your goodness to them. Let us rejoice together in the love of Jesus! Amen. Today’s decree: God alone is our source. He will bless His people as we trust fully in Him!

When Someone Hurts You Financially – Offense, Part 11 There was a time in my life where things were very tight financially. Basically, Ceci and I were living paycheck to paycheck. I had a friend who asked me to come and speak. Then, he additionally asked me to stay over and speak on Sunday, because the initial class he’d invited me to speak to was about 10% of what he had projected it would be. So, I went and taught the class, then he told me I would not be speaking at his church on Sunday. He had gotten me a couple of other churches to speak at. That seemed strange. Then, when I got to those other churches, they were just tiny, little places. I had to drive an hour and a half one way to get to one of them! They each gave me about $40 for the service. That barely covered my gas. I later found out that this happened because the original church was having financial constraints and they wouldn’t have been able to give me an honorarium. I thought, “This is all really strange.” Anyway, the original guy owed me for three days of teaching, my material sales, and a flight reimbursement. He hadn’t paid me yet when he took me to the airport, and I wondered how he was going to handle that. Sure enough, when we got to the airport, he said, “Ah! I forgot to get you a check! I’ll have the staff get it in the mail today.” I remember it didn’t feel right at the time. Well, nothing ever came. He didn’t even give me the money for the material sales or the flight reimbursement. Forget the honorarium. I went in the hole for about $600-700. It was really tough. I thought, “Man, I want to teach him a few things about ethics. I’m going to call him! I’m going to tell all my friends what he did!” However, the Lord started teaching me a few things. “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat as well.” (Matthew 5:40; ISV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Declare, “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all it contains, You have founded them.” (Psalm 89:11; NASB) Say, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (Proverbs 11:24-25; ESV) Speak forth, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38; AMP) State, “Love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel.” (Luke 6:35; CEV) Forgive anyone who has hurt you financially. Release them from any offense you hold against them. That offense could be tying up the Lord’s blessing to you. This could be a promotion you expected that went to another. It could be identity theft. It could be property stolen from you or damaged, where you had to foot the repair bill. Maybe you are upset with a ministry leader for the way they used a donation you gave. Don’t let offense steal your blessing! A prayer you can pray: (Say the above scriptures out loud. Say them more than once, if you don’t mean it yet. Deal with any financial offense as you do so. Then, forgive as the last prayer point invites you to.) Today’s decree: God’s people radically giving and expecting nothing in return will be a sign and a wonder to our communities and nation.

Getting Ahead of the Enemy – Offense, Part 10 If you’re offendable, God wants you to know that. He doesn’t deal with everything in our hearts all at once. He waits for a certain time. We also know that He deals with baby Christians one way and mature Believers another way. He raises the standard as we grow up in Him. Regardless, I can tell you that He knows how to push our buttons. If there’s something offendable in you, He wants you to know. It is His mercy to show you. He gets ahead of what the enemy will mean to kill or destroy your life or character at an inopportune time. I’ll be frank with you, I have failed the Lord’s setups. I’ve failed, because I hate to be falsely accused. The Lord will keep faithfully coming to deal with this area of my heart until I finally overcome and, finally, do not pick up that offense. When He allows these tests, He is causing us to learn Hs principles of turning the other cheek, and blessing those who hurt us and despitefully use us. You know, people living at the time Jesus came thought that He was going to come and overthrow Roman rule and set up a Kingdom. That’s what John the Baptist, thought. Then, Jesus left him in prison with the rats. John finally had enough. If you read between the lines, you’ll see that John was getting offended at Jesus. He sent his disciples to say, “Are you the One or should we look for another? Basically, John was saying, “I thought I knew who you were. Now, I’m not so sure.” Remember, John was filled with the Spirit in his mother’s womb. He was the forerunner of the Christ and he knew he was the forerunner. He saw the dove descend on Jesus. He knew He was the One. Yet, even he could pick up an offense. “But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well.” (Matthew 5:39; GWT) “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Luke 6:28; KJV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Thank the Lord that He sets up situations where your heart is tested to see if you are offendable. Praise Him that He does this before the devil can! Are you struggling with some situation in your life where you are wondering why God isn’t “being God” in your life? Are you wondering, like John, “Are You God or not?” Or are you quietly asking, “Where are You God?” Realize that this is a test. He will help you pass it. Bless those who are persecuting and using you. Intercede with all your heart for those who are offending you. Are you offended at anyone on the national stage? Is there a government leader or media personality who offends you to the point that you can’t stand to even see their name or hear their voice? Pray for them. The enemy may be trying to destroy their life and keep them from Jesus. A prayer you can pray: Lord, thank You! Thank You for offending me on purpose! I never thought I would be grateful for this, but today I have the revelation that You are getting ahead of the devil’s plan. He wants to cause us to stumble, become offended, and ultimately become bitter. Satan is working overtime to sow offense everywhere he can, dividing families, the Church, end even the nation. Offense is so wicked. It come sin a tiny seed form that sprouts into division and hate. It is so hard to undo its fruit! (Intercede here for those offending you, even national figures. Intercede for those personally persecuting you or unfairly treating you.) Holy Spirit, forgive them. They really don’t know what they’re doing. I release them from my judgement and I ask You to bring unity into this nation. Amen. Today’s decree: God is allowing lessons of offense in our lives, so the enemy cannot use offense to further divide our nation!

You Just Need to Trust Him – Offense, Part 9 In John, Chapter 6, Jesus said some pretty confusing things to the masses. He said that to be His disciple, you had to eat His flesh and drink His blood. They didn’t know what He was talking about. They hadn’t had His beloved communion meal. Hey didn’t know about the cross and how it symbolizes the blood and the broken body. As far as they were concerned, He was preaching cannibalism. They began to leave Him. They loved Him up to this point. They now said, “This guy’s weird. We’re out of here!” The disciples came to Him and they said, “You know, that was a difficult saying. It was strange. It was hard.” Jesus replied, “Does it offend you that I say things and don’t explain it all? Does it offend you?” The people kept leaving Him and the disciples kept pressing HIm. The Bible says they were murmuring and they were bothered by this. So, He looked at them and asked, “Are you guys going to leave, too?” He was saying, in essence, “You guys need to get over this. I’m not going to change the message, and this time, I’m not going to explain it either.” There were times when He would teach things they did not understand and He would say to the disciples, “I’m not going to explain it to the masses, but I’ll explain it to you. Let me give you the interpretation of this parable.” This time, I think He thought, “I think I see some attitudes here and I’m going to call them on it. Once in a while they need to know that I’m Lord. I am going to do things they will not always understand, and they should not question me when I do. They need to trust me.” “Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.’ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:61-66; NIV) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Does it offend you when Jesus doesn’t always explain things to you? If you are feeling the sting of conviction, spend some time talking with Him about why this is the case. Be healed. Let’s go further. Have you become offended with the Lord in any regard? You will know this, if you feel distant from Him, when you were once very passionate toward Him. I know you want that place of intimacy back. Let the Lord show you where the offense occurred. Be restored to the joy of your salvation! And, a little further. Do you trust Him with the circumstances of your life, your family, this nation? Explore this with Him. Say, “You are Lord, and You get to decide what You do with my life.” If you are able to take communion, do so. A prayer you can pray: Lord, I don’t always understand You or the things You do. Just like the disciples, I don’t like the fact that You don’t explain Yourself. When things happen in my life or in the nation, I want to know what You are doing. I want to know why things don’t always turn out the way I feel led to intercede. I want to know why You seem to delay. Your silence can be disconcerting. I only share this with You, because You already know I am feeling and thinking these things. (If you have become offended at Him, talk with Him about this. He already knows how you feel.) Thank You for restoring passion and fire to my relationship with You! Don’t let me ever hold You at arms-length. Let me experience the joy of my salvation every day that I live! Holy Spirit, cause a fresh wind of grace to blow over Your Church, removing any distance between us and You. Renew our trust in You. Remove any questions, doubt and unbelief. I made You Lord of my life, Jesus. You get to be Lord in every regard. Just point me in the right direction and put a guard on my heart to keep me from questioning your wisdom and Your ways. Thank You for the shed blood of Jesus that keeps my door to You forever open. Amen. Today’s decree: Jesus Christ is Lord! He does not owe us an explanation. He can do with our lives whatever He chooses to do!

God is the Deliverer – Offense, Part 8 I think that offense is Satan’s most subtle snare. When offenses come, especially when we know we are right. So did you know the Lord will offend you on purpose sometimes? I am not unconvinced that the Lord didn’t purposely have that policeman look over at me just at the right moment to misinterpret what had occurred. There were some things in me having to do with pride, authority, even justice, that God wanted to put His finger on. He’ll do that, you know. In Matthew 15, Jesus offended the Pharisees. You might say He was rather blunt. He called them hypocrites. The disciples came to Jesus and said, “Do you know you offended those people?” The Lord’s response never ceases to amaze me. He said, “Leave them alone. They are the blind leading the blind. They have hardened their hearts. Just leave them alone.” He doesn’t mind offending any of us some of the time. He doesn’t mind offending me at times. Does it offend you when Jesus speaks to you plainly? If He confronts you and speaks to you about something that you don’t want to feel convicted about, are you okay with that? Maybe, He does that through another person. I can usually receive things directly from the Lord, but I hate it when He does that through others. It’s one thing when I’m going about my day and He begins to shower down on me His conviction. He tells me I am so wonderful, then says, “But, change this.” Be honest. You hate it too when He uses someone else to bring the message to you. “Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14; BSB) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Do you ever misinterpret what you see? Are you sure you know the full situation behind the words or actions you observed? Repent. Have you been on the receiving end of someone jumping to conclusions about you? Forgive. Welcome the correction of the Lord into your life. Pray that you will not be blind to your sin, so He will not have to use others to clean you up. Intercede for our nation’s media members. They are often found jumping to conclusions lately, especially about what President Trump says or does. Call by name the ones you know are doing this. Stand in the gap for government leaders who publicly brawl with one another. Do not pick up their offense or choose sides! Keep your heart pure, so you maintain your ability to judge rightly and intercede purely. A prayer you can pray: Father, I don’t know what it is about human nature that causes us to jump to conclusions. Sometimes it really does seem like we are seeing something unholy, unrighteous or unjust, but things are not as they appear. If it’s not our concern, we need to learn to keep our mouths shut. If it does concern us, we need to remain non-judgemental until we can sit down and hear the other side of the matter. We need greater discernment, as well. I strongly dislike others jumping to conclusions about me and I repent where I have done that to others. Forgive me, Lord. I forgive those who have misjudged my words or actions. I give You full reign to correct me. Let me hear Your gentle rebuke before You have to expose me to others for Your righteousness’ sake. Please check our media in this. They are running rampant and seemingly purposefully causing offense every day, especially against President Trump. Cause our government leaders to stop before they open their mouths in judgement of other government leaders. Let them think of how they would feel about untruthful things said about them. Let them feel the sting of others misinterpreting their actions, then shouting it out on social media! Prompt me to intercede more intensely for Your grace and peace and intervention. Thank you, Jesus, for working with us to defuse all this offense we are living in day to day in America. Amen. Today’s decree: May our hearts remain pure, so our intercession is righteous and just!

God is the Deliverer – Offense, Part 8 I think that offense is Satan’s most subtle snare. When offenses come, especially when we know we are right. So did you know the Lord will offend you on purpose sometimes? I am not unconvinced that the Lord didn’t purposely have that policeman look over at me just at the right moment to misinterpret what had occurred. There were some things in me having to do with pride, authority, even justice, that God wanted to put His finger on. He’ll do that, you know. In Matthew 15, Jesus offended the Pharisees. You might say He was rather blunt. He called them hypocrites. The disciples came to Jesus and said, “Do you know you offended those people?” The Lord’s response never ceases to amaze me. He said, “Leave them alone. They are the blind leading the blind. They have hardened their hearts. Just leave them alone.” He doesn’t mind offending any of us some of the time. He doesn’t mind offending me at times. Does it offend you when Jesus speaks to you plainly? If He confronts you and speaks to you about something that you don’t want to feel convicted about, are you okay with that? Maybe, He does that through another person. I can usually receive things directly from the Lord, but I hate it when He does that through others. It’s one thing when I’m going about my day and He begins to shower down on me His conviction. He tells me I am so wonderful, then says, “But, change this.” Be honest. You hate it too when He uses someone else to bring the message to you. “Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14; BSB) Give Him 15 minutes in prayer: Do you ever misinterpret what you see? Are you sure you know the full situation behind the words or actions you observed? Repent. Have you been on the receiving end of someone jumping to conclusions about you? Forgive. Welcome the correction of the Lord into your life. Pray that you will not be blind to your sin, so He will not have to use others to clean you up. Intercede for our nation’s media members. They are often found jumping to conclusions lately, especially about what President Trump says or does. Call by name the ones you know are doing this. Stand in the gap for government leaders who publicly brawl with one another. Do not pick up their offense or choose sides! Keep your heart pure, so you maintain your ability to judge rightly and intercede purely. A prayer you can pray: Father, I don’t know what it is about human nature that causes us to jump to conclusions. Sometimes it really does seem like we are seeing something unholy, unrighteous or unjust, but things are not as they appear. If it’s not our concern, we need to learn to keep our mouths shut. If it does concern us, we need to remain non-judgemental until we can sit down and hear the other side of the matter. We need greater discernment, as well. I strongly dislike others jumping to conclusions about me and I repent where I have done that to others. Forgive me, Lord. I forgive those who have misjudged my words or actions. I give You full reign to correct me. Let me hear Your gentle rebuke before You have to expose me to others for Your righteousness’ sake. Please check our media in this. They are running rampant and seemingly purposefully causing offense every day, especially against President Trump. Cause our government leaders to stop before they open their mouths in judgement of other government leaders. Let them think of how they would feel about untruthful things said about them. Let them feel the sting of others misinterpreting their actions, then shouting it out on social media! Prompt me to intercede more intensely for Your grace and peace and intervention. Thank you, Jesus, for working with us to defuse all this offense we are living in day to day in America. Amen. Today’s decree: May our hearts remain pure, so our intercession is righteous and just!