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Introduction Periodically, I ask my friend, medically retired Major William Ostan, to share a post with our Give Him 15 family. He always accommodates when his health allows. I am indebted to Will– he not only paid a great physical price for me (and you), but he also introduced me to the Appeal To Heaven flag, the story of which impacted me greatly. Will bleeds red, white, and blue. His post will inspire you today. The title is: Inspiration from Billy Graham and Dwight Eisenhower As Americans celebrate Memorial Day Weekend with barbecues and baseball games, parades and parties, which are all appropriate, it is imperative that we also spend focused time remembering the purpose for this special day – namely, to honor the sacrifices of the military fallen and their families. Today is the 55th commemoration of Memorial Day in the 250th year of our beloved country’s exceptional history. As such, I thought it would be appropriate to glean wisdom about the meaning of this noteworthy day from the relationship between one of America’s greatest preachers and greatest presidents. Billy Graham and Dwight Eisenhower enjoyed a close friendship that spanned multiple decades.(1) On one occasion in 1955, President Eisenhower allowed Reverend Graham to join him on a tour of Gettysburg, the battlefield that turned the tide in the Civil War. This experience made an immediate and significant impact on Graham. Three weeks later, while in Boston, Graham delivered a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. While this address was delivered several years before Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971, Graham’s sentiments are spot-on. The following are excerpts I have compiled from his original message. “The famous battlefield (Gettysburg), and hundreds of others like it, have become hallowed soil, where thousands of Americans have died either to preserve freedom, prevent aggression, or keep intact the union of American states. “A while back, when President Eisenhower was touring the Battlefield at Valley Forge and was being shown from one historic spot to another, he made this statement at the conclusion of the tour: ‘This is where they got it for us.’ “Graham continues – What did [Eisenhower] mean? He meant that those men, and thousands of others in all the wars that America has fought, purchased by their blood the freedoms that we enjoy today in ‘the land of the free, and the home of the brave.’ That terse statement from the lips of our president has rung in my ears ever since. “…I stood by the bedside of a boy in Korea whose spine had been torn away by a shell blast the night before, but by some miracle, he was still living. He was unable to change his position, and if he lived, the doctor informed me, the rest of his days would be spent lying on his stomach. The army medics had patched him up the best they could. I gripped his cold, perspiring hand and said words of comfort to him. He made a statement I will never forget. He said: ‘It was worth it if it will keep America free!’ “That’s what you call ‘getting it for us’! As we think of the selflessness and heroism of such fellows, we are reminded of the words of Jesus Christ who said: ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ “The freedoms we enjoy, the freedoms we take so much for granted, the freedoms we so often trifle with were bought not by the gold of our millionaires, nor altogether [by] the genius of our scientists, nor the sacrifices of the people at home, but primarily by the blood, sweat and agony of those whose names on this day we honor – those who died that we might live! “They found, as have brave men of all ages, that there are principles well worth dying for. Their noble, unselfish sacrifice is a silent, eloquent rebuke to the self-centeredness of this generation. Let those who want ‘peace at any price’ remember this day that thousands have died for honor and freedom, and that what we have today has come at the price of shed blood…they (the fallen) have handed us a torch, and we have a responsibility to see that they have not died in vain…the sacred memory of their sacrifice will always live in our hearts, and we have a sacred and holy trust – and we cannot fail them!”(2) Rev. Graham’s eloquence and insights are timeless. His speech is just as relevant in 2026 as it was when delivered in 1955, precisely because it enlightens us to the cost of liberty paid for by the precious lives of the men and women in our Armed Forces, going all the way back to 1776. Today, we remember the ultimate sacrifice American warfighters have made from the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli, from the encampments at Valley Forge to the open fields and rocky hills at Gettysburg, from the Forest of Argonne to the beaches of Normandy, from North Korea’s Chosin Reservoir to the jungles of Vietnam, and from the alluvial plain of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan. We also pay homage to the service members recently lost in Operation Epic Fury. As President Lincoln charged us in the Gettysburg Address, may the memory of the fallen always inspire us: “to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”(3) Pray with me: Heavenly Father, You have seen the sacrifice of every one of the fallen. Every man. Every woman. You see the tears of every friend, every spouse, every parent, every child, and family member who has lost a loved one in service to our country. Not one moment in battle has escaped Your attention. You are intimately aware of each dying breath and as President Lincoln stated so eloquently, the last full measure of devotion that was given. Father, we take a solemn moment now to honor the men and women who selflessly gave their lives. We lift up the family members and loved ones who feel the loss most deeply. Please wrap Your arms of comfort around them. Make Yourself known to them. For our own hearts, Lord, we ask that You impart to us a deep gratitude for the great cloud of witnesses who’ve paid a price so we can live in a land of liberty. Fan aflame the fires of patriotic devotion within us to continue to advance the unfinished work of our ancestors. On this Memorial Day, we thank You, Lord, that the fallen American warfighters “got it (freedom) for us” and died so that we may live lives of purpose for Your glory, while recognizing the full worth of the blessings of liberty. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen. Click on the link below to watch the full video. BIO: William J. Ostan is a medically retired Army Major and the recipient of two bronze stars. He is the Founder and President of Arc of Justice, a nonprofit organization that advocates for active-duty wounded warriors. Will is currently spearheading the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights, which is bipartisan legislation being considered in Congress. You can find out more about his cause at www.arcofjusticeusa.org and www.willostan.com 1. https://billygrahamlibrary.org/blog-pastor-to-presidents-billygraham-dwight-d-eisenhower/ 2. https://billygraham.org/articles/a-timeless-billy-graham-message-for-memorial-day The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s website hosts the entire speech. It is worth reading as Rev. Graham relates more stories about his interactions with troops and includes a powerful Gospel message. Continuing the lifelong work of Billy Graham, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association exists to support and extend the evangelistic calling and ministry of Franklin Graham by proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all we can by every effective means available to us and by equipping the church and others to do the same. © 2026 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Used with general permission. All rights reserved. 3. https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.24404500/?st=text

Introduction Today’s post is from our friend Gina Gholston. Gina draws strong prophetic insight from the life of the great warrior Caleb, applying it to our nation today. I know you will be encouraged by this teaching. The title is: We’ve Come Too Far to Stop Now In Joshua 14, having journeyed hard and long, holding to a promise from God, the people of Israel finally stood in the land for which they had been striving. Their long journey had been marked by many experiences that proved God was with them and fighting for them. Every step they took had been necessary to position them in that place at that moment; past obedience had contributed to their present reality. Their courageous leap of faith in following the priests as they carried the Ark of the Covenant across the Jordan River, followed by victories at Jericho and elsewhere, had placed them at a momentous juncture. And Caleb recognized it. The land that had once been just a dream was now tangible soil under their feet. Though it was connected to a promise that had long eluded them, they were there now, and this shifted everything. It was a moment worthy of celebration, but also one that demanded a shift in focus. They now needed a deeper resolve to carry on with God’s will and intentions. They had come a long way, but were not finished. God had made them a promise, and that promise was not just that they would take a portion of the land. It was that they would possess the entire land and leave it as an inheritance for the next generation. Caleb had followed God faithfully. Even when others failed to believe, he stood firm in his faith. Regardless of how impossible things appeared, he knew God’s hand was upon them, and He would enable them to possess what He said they could have. Now, the time had come to take his portion of the land, to go forward and do what was necessary to fully occupy his inheritance. So, Caleb adjusted his focus and declared, “I was forty years old when God and Moses made me that promise. Now it’s forty-five years later, and I’m still here! Give me my mountain!” (Joshua 14:6-15). Caleb knew that possessing his mountain meant he would have to face giants, but he wasn’t concerned; he was convinced of the promise! He understood the significance of that moment. Possession of that land was of utmost importance. He had come too far to stop now. This was a make-or-break moment. And what was about to unfold wasn’t just about an old man receiving a reward for his past obedience; his actions in that moment would determine what was passed on to the next generation. Failure to move forward would not only result in the forfeiture of his full inheritance, but also deny the next generation the future and inheritance God intended for them. If this is not a picture of where we are now as a nation–including the church, I don’t know what is. We’re at a pivotal moment. We have come a long way, experiencing God’s faithfulness as we’ve obediently followed His leading and contended for His promise that “America shall be saved.” Though the journey has been long and at times, the promise has seemed far away, we are now seeing breakthrough! Much is happening; prayers are being answered, and change is occurring. It’s undeniable, and we stand in awe of God! It is truly a moment worthy of celebration! But God’s promise was not just that we see a breakthrough; the promise is that America shall be saved. The promise is that we will experience another great awakening that will transform our nation and the world. Some of us, like Caleb, have committed to this journey. We have taken our place and followed the Lord as faithfully as we’ve known how. We have believed and held fast to His Word, and now we’re witnessing the undeniable fulfillment of God’s promises. We’ve accomplished and seen a lot, but we’re not finished. There are still mountains to possess and battles to be won. We must move forward with deepened resolve, overcoming any remaining obstacles, so that we leave the next generation a spiritual inheritance laced with God’s power and faithfulness. We must focus on the future, hear Yahweh’s new instructions, and continue to partner with Him as He works through us to finish what He started. I heard the Lord recently say, “You have entered a set moment in which a convergence of times, words, dreams, and assignments is creating an updraft of My wind, causing a release, a deluge of the rain of My Spirit! As you have worked with Me in prayer, I have worked through your prayers and decrees, which have been prompted by My Spirit. The rivers are now being widened to receive the rain and make way for an increased, unstoppable flow of My power and glory…for such a time as this!” The necessary actions have been taken and are now coming into alignment. Like tumblers in a locking mechanism, once the key is inserted and turned, everything falls into place. This opens the door, revealing the purpose and opportunities waiting on the other side. Now, the door is open, and we stand on the threshold of this nation’s redemption. We didn’t retreat; we’re still here, and have come too far to stop now. Empowered by Holy Spirit, we must fix our eyes on Jesus, go through the door, and boldly advance with God’s direction and purposes. Pray with me: Father, the undeniable evidence of Your powerful workings surrounds us, and we stand in awe of You. We are in a history-making moment. We have called to You, and You have answered. We have followed You as You have led us. We’ve seen You do too much to doubt You now! Your promise is that America shall be saved, and as we move toward that reality, we choose to focus forward, partnering with You as You work through us to heal and redeem our land. We refuse to leave the next generation an inheritance of unfulfilled promises! We step into the flow of Your power and glory that is being poured out. We rejoice in Your faithfulness to us, and are determined to do our part, working with You to see revival in our land. Amen! Our decree: We will not stop now! Empowered by Holy Spirit, we will seize this moment and boldly advance into the fullness of God’s purposes. Click on the link below to watch the full video. You can find out more about Gina at GinaGholston.com.

Revisiting the Situation in Iran Since I must write these posts the day before, I’m writing this on Wednesday. The situation in Iran keeps coming to mind today. I feel a strong need to pray for President Trump and his team that they make wise, sound decisions. As the President weighs his options, I am praying that God’s wisdom and will are clearly discerned. I am very confident that the situation in Iran is significant regarding the coming spiritual harvest, as well as having obvious international implications and affecting the mood of the American people. It is a challenging situation, and there is only one person with enough wisdom and knowledge to navigate the situation perfectly: God. The Iranians who have been leading that nation are beyond corrupt; they are evil and controlled by evil spirits. It is doubtful that any decent leaders there have enough authority to bring about the changes needed, or the authority to negotiate in good faith. Trump and his team know this, and are weighing options. Meanwhile, it seems that those on the Left in our government are more interested in politicizing the war than winning it. Shockingly, their hatred of Trump is greater than their love of America. The Left’s motives in this situation are as obvious as in their fight against appropriate voter IDs, the deportation of illegal criminals, and stopping fraud. They live for power. As many Americans now know, Trump is fighting more than evil throughout the world; he is fighting it at home. Also, many of our leaders don’t have the backbone to do what is necessary regarding Iran; our government has foolishly tried to buy peace with them for decades, thereby funding their terrorism and nuclear ambitions! We must pray that righteous leaders, including our President, consistently outmaneuver the Leftists and Marxists now entrenched in our nation. Humility and dependence on God are paramount in order for this to occur. Presumption can be deadly, as can be seen in the book of Joshua. In Joshua 7, Israel had just returned from Jericho, one of their most remarkable victories. This impregnable city was defeated, not with weapons, skill, or a great battle plan. It was defeated by obeying God’s instructions: marching around the city with priests carrying the ark of the covenant, blowing shofars, and shouting. After Jericho, confidence was high - the taking of Canaan was going to be a piece of cake. The next city they faced was small and insignificant Ai (yes, this was the actual name of the city). No need to seek God’s guidance for this one, just send a few spies to check it out and tell them what to do. But not checking in with the “Captain” meant not receiving His alert about a problem–there was sin in Israel. Some of the spoils of Jericho, which were all supposed to go into God’s treasury, had been stolen. The result? God’s favor was not on them, and the small group of soldiers Israel sent to take Ai was routed. Thirty-six men were killed. After great victories or accomplishments, it is easy for self-confidence to replace an awareness of our need for divine help. This can be incredibly subtle, happening at the subconscious level. Satan is always waiting for such a kairos time to attack. We need God’s help as much at our Ai’s as we do our Jericho’s. Pray that our godly leaders in D.C. always remember this and “Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8). And pray that they and President Trump have ears to hear when they ask for the Lord’s wisdom–whether directly, through a dream, or from another individual. Pray also that weariness and distractions will not hinder this process. I cannot even imagine the workload of the President, nor the weight of his responsibilities. Ask that God will bring confusion and failure to the evil leaders of Iran, and that they would be overthrown. Pray that the demonic input given to them fails in its goals. Ask that wise strategies to overcome evil are given to those who would lead with wisdom and grace, and who care for the people of Iran. And pray for the people who are suffering greatly. Pray with me: Father, we pray for President Trump and his team today as they make decisions regarding Iran. Give them Your thoughts and wisdom as they make weighty, far-reaching decisions. Let no trap of the enemy succeed in leading them into wrong actions, or an inappropriate self-confidence. Keep them aware that they always need Your guidance and help. When we abide in You, Your Word says that if we walk into a trap, angels will be there to keep us from stumbling ‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭12‬ ‭TPT‬‬). We pray this for President Trump. And we pray that the rebellious, wicked leaders in Iran would be dealt with appropriately. Your Word says in Psalm 68:6 that “For the rebels there is heartache and despair.” We ask that You remove the rebels and end their reign of terror. Cause them to make errors in their planning, strategic mistakes that lead to their downfall. We bind the powers of darkness that are leading them and controlling the nation, in Jesus’ name. And we pray for the people of Iran. Free them from tyranny and send an earth-shaking revival. Do this for the entire Middle East. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare over President Trump that no weapon formed against him will prosper, and that God’s wisdom will be given to him. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Our Powerful Friend In yesterday’s GH15, I stated that “We must not underestimate the significance of those in positions of governmental authority honoring God on behalf of a nation. Like it or not, the actions of those in authority affect all of us. ‘When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn’ (Proverbs 29:2). Untold numbers of curses and judgments have been visited on entire nations through the decisions of government leaders. Roe vs Wade is but one example. “But don’t forget the first half of the verse: ‘When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice!!!!’ God-honoring decisions by government leaders release the blessings of heaven on a nation. President Trump reading God’s Word over our nation released great power; his rededication and welcoming of God into our land Sunday were profoundly important. The heavens shifted over our nation on that day.” The famous “If my people…” verse (2 Chronicles 7:14), read by our President recently and replayed at Sunday’s Rededication event, was first stated by God in response to a government leader, King Solomon’s prayer of dedication. His authority as the leader of the nation gave him the right to interact with God on behalf of the nation. Again, the prayers of our leaders are very significant. All of us present could sense a great weight on the prayer of Speaker Johnson this past Sunday. America’s Constitution The creation of the greatest constitution in world history was possible only because the delegates to the Continental Convention asked for God’s help in shaping it. The Americans had prevailed against the British, but were nearly defeated from within by very sharply divided opinions on how the new nation should be governed. State’s rights versus Federal power, fair representation for all states - especially those less populated, and other issues were creating great impasses. For days, they struggled with no breakthrough. Would the new nation survive? There had been concern over these differences before the gathering even began, including by George Washington, president of the Convention. He was gravely concerned but indicated that he had placed his trust in God, stating to a friend at the beginning of the meeting, “…the event is in the hands of God.”(1) Yet during the convention itself, the delegates neglected to corporately humble themselves and ask for God’s help. When the struggle reached a desperate point, Benjamin Franklin stood and referenced God’s “superintending providence” in bringing the nation to liberty: “To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?” he asked. “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? “We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building, no better than the builders of Babel… “I, therefore, beg leave to move - that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.”(2) The request was approved, prayers were offered daily, breakthrough occurred, and our Constitution was born. God not only wants government leaders to be prayed for, but He also wants government leaders to pray! The Lord desired to oversee the fashioning of our government, but He couldn’t do so until they prayed and asked. This past Sunday, leaders from both our Executive and Legislative branches asked for His help. And I’m very sure there were people from the Judicial branch praying throughout the nation. This was and will be honored. People misinterpret - and some twist - the intent of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment to the Constitution. It states in part, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” This is interpreted by many as meaning: Keep God out of our government. It is more than just ironic that the document they refer to was successfully written only by asking for His help; it is insane. Our Founders referenced God 4 times in the Declaration of Independence and sought His help daily as they wrote our Constitution. It is wise and right that we are asking for His aid in our government once again. One final word about involving God in our nation. Looking at Israel in the Old Testament for examples shows us that their national days of rededication were not religious rituals, but rather days of relational connection. Our great God is our Father, Abba (Romans 8:14; Galatians 4:6). Our gracious Savior is our Friend (John 5:13-15). Father God wants His kids to partner with Him, not serve Him out of fear or cut deals to get His help. Our Redeemer wants His ekklesia to represent Him, sharing His authority. As Ben Franklin stated in the above appeal, He is our “powerful Friend”. Selah - pause and consider that. Pray with me: Father, as we learn Your ways, our ability to work with You increases. Last Sunday, Heaven and earth met in a harmonious agreement, not only in Washington, D.C., but all across our land. I’m confident that it was a pleasure for You. You may have even done as Zephaniah declared: “Don’t let your heart be discouraged. Yahweh, your God, is inside you. He is the Warrior-Savior who takes such delight in you that it will make Him leap for joy and shout with great gladness. Yes, He will soothe you with His love. He will sing over you His song of praise” ‭‭(Zephaniah‬ ‭3:16-17). The Message translation says: “Dear Zion, don’t despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, He’ll calm you with His love and delight you with His songs.” We sensed Your delight Sunday, “powerful Friend”; we felt Your embrace, Abba. Your prodigal nation is returning to You. Now, please expedite the restoration with a Third Great Awakening. Send the powerful wind of Holy Spirit to our land, and of course, to the nations of the earth. In Yeshua’s name, amen. Our decree: Our powerful Friend is helping us again, providing His “superintending providence.” Click on the link below to watch the full video. William Federer, America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations, p. 654. Ibid., pp. 248-249.

Sunday Was the Capstone God does not require perfect prayers. In Joshua 10, the army of Israel was defending the Gibeonites, a people under attack and with whom they were in covenant. To finish this task and fully defeat the enemy, Israel needed to act before darkness set in, which was approaching quickly. So Joshua took audacious action: “Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, ‘Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.”’ (Joshua 10:12 KJV) And God answered this inaccurate prayer! We know it wasn’t actually the sun that needed to stand still, but rather the earth, in order for this incredible miracle to occur. The Earth’s rotation causes day and night, not the sun’s. When Joshua asked for the sun to stand still, one can almost hear an angel or two respond, “Well, we can’t answer that prayer.” To which the Lord evidently responded, “Give him a break! You know what he wants - give him more daylight!” Joshua received what he needed, not what he asked for. I’m glad that we don’t have to ask perfectly in order for God to answer. To pray against satan’s lies from succeeding, we don’t need to know the exact lie. To pray against assassination attempts of leaders, we don’t have to know which leader or when it might occur. To pray against the influence of demons over individuals, we aren’t required to know all the details. And to rededicate a nation to God, we don’t need perfect prayers from perfect people. Don’t misunderstand me - wonderful prayers were prayed all day long at the Rededication 250 event this past Sunday. I wasn’t able to hear all of them, but those I did hear were heartfelt and sincere. Granted, I don’t pray like Catholics, Jewish Rabbis, or even many in the evangelical world; for some reason, God seems to hear them! Cornelius wasn’t even born again as yet, when an angel said his prayers had created a memorial before God! And the Lord chose his house in which to begin pouring out His Spirit on the gentile world (Acts 10)!!! Unquestionably, Sunday was momentous and historic. Even more so because those from different spiritual traditions gathered to do the same thing: honor God, worship Him, and rededicate our nation to Him. And we must not underestimate the significance of those in positions of governmental authority honoring God on behalf of a nation. Like it or not, the actions of those in authority affect all of us. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2). Untold numbers of curses and judgments have been visited on entire nations through the decisions of government leaders. Roe vs Wade is but one example. But don’t forget the first half of the verse: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice!!!!” God-honoring decisions by government leaders release the blessings of heaven on a nation. President Trump’s reading of God’s Word over our nation released great power; his rededication and welcoming of God into our land were profoundly important. The heavens shifted over our nation on Sunday. For those of us who have been praying for America’s spiritual recovery for decades, Sunday was a deeply moving day. It confirmed that our prayers have been heard–and continue to be heard. Sunday alone didn’t build a monument to God; it was the capstone. Lou (Engle) and I agreed that this was one of those rare times when what was needed was accomplished just by God’s people showing up. After 30 years of prayer and fasting, then the President of our nation calling for the Rededication - simply showing up sealed the deal - the event itself was simply the capstone on what was built through many years of prayer. Thank you for your part. Thank you to so many of you who participated on Sunday, and who have prayed for our nation for many years. The prayer movement in our nation has epitomized a grassroots movement. There are no “bigshots” in the prayer closets of America; just big hearts. You matter. Keep it up - our appeals are restoring a nation. Pray with me: Father, thank You for looking past our stumbling words and answering our prayers. Thank You for creating a cleansing agent capable of removing all of our sinful stains, whether they be personal or national - the blood of Jesus. Thank You for a President with a heart to honor Your Word OVER our nation, and ask for Your presence IN our nation. And thank You for a President bold enough to do so publicly. Thank You for Sunday - You placed the desire in our President’s heart to convene the gathering, in the hearts of thousands to attend, and millions more to participate online. We know what occurred blessed Your heart, and we are confident You will respond with grace, mercy, and blessing. In the book of Joel, You said that if Israel would conduct a day of rededication to You, that You would respond by lifting the curses they were experiencing, releasing blessing instead, and pour out Your Spirit. We believe You will do no less for us…and we are expectant. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name, amen. Our decree: God is being honored in America once again. Click on the link below to watch the full video. If you would like to watch the Rededicate 250 gathering, click this link.

From Ceci Today’s post is a little different than usual. On Sunday, Dutch attended the Rededication 250 gathering in Washington, D.C. He and Lou Engle participated in the celebration and had a short segment toward the end. For today’s post, we are sharing that segment along with an introduction from Dutch. We hope you’ll enjoy this recap. The written portion of the post will be the transcript of the videos. The title of today’s post is: Our Nation’s Rededication: Breakthrough Day! Hello, thanks for joining me today for Give him 15. As you can see, I’m here at the rededication ceremony in Washington, D.C. What a day it has been. I know the Lord is pleased. His pleasure was on what we did, and I know this will go down in history as a day that helped shape and shift our nation. I had the honor of being on stage with my friend Lou Engle. He and I were there together. He took most of the time; I just finished it up, and that’s the way it should’ve been. I love that man. We’re in covenant together. God is using him in marvelous ways, and you’re gonna hear from him and me together in just a few minutes. Thank you for praying because I know all you were praying with us. I know you were watching, and I appreciate it with all of my heart. God is moving in America. Bless you. Lou Engle: Let us just stand all over this place on the sides, those who are watching on televisions and on media. What we just heard is a clarion call from our President. For a covenant renewal and outpouring, but if we don’t humble ourselves, and pray… he actually read the curses of this covenant. Brothers and sisters, this is a hinge-of-history moment, and what we do right here could shift America. For twenty-six years, we’ve been holding solemn assemblies in stadiums and arenas, and in fields. But this solemn assembly is different than any other solemn assembly - for the president of the United States has called this day! Biblically speaking, it was when the kings of Israel called solemn assemblies, and the people responded, God shifted to the nation, and poured out His Spirit. I believe we’re in that moment right now, and what you do echoes in eternity. But that Scripture is fearful. I believe when President Trump read this at the Museum of the Bible, he opened a door for the greatest awakening America has ever seen. That our president would say, “If My people will humble themselves and pray, seek My face and turn from the wicked ways. I will heal their land.” Brothers and sisters, it’s not just a scripture. It’s not an exercise of pageantry that we’re at today. We must, this moment, before God who has set a court in heaven, we need a verdict of mercy. And so, let us do what the scriptures say. All across this nation, people watching, would you get on your knees, soil your nice dresses, and say, “God, we humble ourselves before You.” Lift your voices and just say, “I humble myself.” Lift your voices all across this place! Lord, we humble ourselves. We need mercy. We need a verdict of mercy. Forgive us Lord, for our trespasses. All across this place, as we’re kneeling before the ruler of nations, Jesus Christ, it says this, “If My people will seek My face.” Make a lifestyle change today! Determined: I am going to set my affections on loving God, not money, not power, but God. Right now, by the grace of God, release and inward fire across America that people would seek You and hunger for You in Jesus’ name. Lord, I pray, there are hidden sins. There are sins we’ve held onto. Today, in one decision, something can break. Lord, release repentance all across this nation! And now, stand with me, for this is the Jubilee of America! Don’t clap your hands unless you’re willing to do what the Jubilee was all about. For at Jubilee, they all released their slaves. The church has held people in slavery, with bitterness and unforgiveness, and on the day of Jubilee, you release all your slaves. Lift your hands, and I want you to say, “God, I forgive those. I forgive those who betrayed.” God, I ask You, what You said on the Cross, “Father, forgive them.” Loose that annointing right now. Release a wave of mercy. A wave of forgiveness that’s stronger than the accuser of the brethren. We stand in covenant with the people of God, the chosen people of God, the Jewish people. We stand in covenant with You. Show us mercy. Lift your hands, and I want you to declare a dream that I had. That the president was elected and on this mall, there was a great gathering as far as you could see, and the people began chanting, “Revival, revival!” Would you begin to chant? “Revival, revival, revival revival!” Dutch Sheets: “Lord, we conclude this session by saying You are extending Your hand of mercy to this nation. Millions of prayers have been prayed today and for the past 30-40 years. You have accepted those prayers, and we say today is breakthrough day. Today is reconnection day. Today is re-covenant day. Today is the day that the outpouring of Your Spirit begins in our nation. We declare a new beginning for America in the mighty name of Jesus.” Click on the link below to watch the full video.

On Sunday, We Rewrite Our Epitaph Rededication 250: A Day of Prayer, Praise, and Worship will take place this upcoming Sunday, May 17th. Please pray that it accomplishes everything the Lord desires…and requires. I have written previously about the Hebrew words for dedication/rededication. They also mean “consecration” or “set apart unto.” One of those words, qadash,(1) is used on four very important occasions when the people of Israel were told to dedicate themselves to God as a nation. Looking at these occasions will help us understand how to pray for Sunday. SINAI The first is in Exodus 19:10. Moses was told to qadash (dedicate) Israel for two days at the foot of Mount Sinai, before he went up the mountain to meet with God. Yahweh was preparing to supernaturally give Moses the government for Israel, formalizing them as a nation: laws, policies, procedures, important dates, etc. Four verses before these instructions, the Lord had told them: “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (verse 6). Sinai was, among other things, “government mountain.” And before Israel was formally born there, they were prepared by these two days of dedication. This upcoming Sunday, we will meet at America’s “government mountain” to rededicate ourselves as “one nation under God.” We’ll declare allegiance to His will and ways, and worship Him there. Pray that His presence, power, and glory come spiritually over our nation, just as they did tangibly at Sinai. THE PRIESTHOOD In Exodus 28:41, Moses was told to qadash (dedicate) Aaron and his sons to the Lord before anointing them as the beginning of Israel’s priesthood. Qadash precedes anointing. God wanted more than a religious nation; He wanted a relationship, a connection, with people. And ultimately, not just with Israel, but with all people. Israel was to play a significant role in this, helping Him save the world and recover His family: the Messiah would come through them! This partnership, obviously, would require that the connection remain strong. To aid in this, the priesthood was essential. And for this significant role, they had to be dedicated to Him. America was also created by God to partner with Him in saving the world. Pray that our spiritual leaders rededicate themselves to this cause, and receive a fresh anointing to lead. ENTERING CANAAN In Joshua 3:5, Joshua told the people to qadash (dedicate) themselves to the Lord before crossing the Jordan into the promised land of Canaan. They were about to receive the fulfillment of a 430-year-old promise to Abraham: the gift of a homeland. But first, the Lord told them to spend a day connecting with Him. This shows us that the condition of our hearts affects our land and possessions. Pray that this Sunday makes possible the healing of our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). The blood of multiplied millions of babies, as well as violence, broken covenants, immorality, and idolatry, have defiled our land. Ask that the blood of Jesus cleanses our homeland from ALL sin and unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). RESTORATION Joel 2 is a desperate, urgent call to national repentance amidst a catastrophic insect plague and severe drought in Israel. This plague - a judgment from Israel’s sin - threatened total economic destruction, just as their sin threatened spiritual destruction. The solution, Joel prophesied, was a national return to God. In Joel 2:15-16, the prophet declared that the people of Israel should qadash (dedicate) themselves to Him once again, to allow for the incredible restoration God wanted to perform. “Connect with Me, so I can heal you.” God told Israel He wanted their hearts, not religious ceremonies (verses 12-13). And He wanted to bless them abundantly (verses 18-27), including the pouring out of His Spirit (verses 28-29). Pray with us that on Sunday, our nation responds in such a way that God can restore us, remove the curses we have brought on ourselves, and pour out His Spirit. There has already been much repentance for America by millions of believers; we have stood in the gap, repenting for the whole. Throughout history, God has accepted the repentance and intercession of a remnant for the sins of a nation. I believe He has for America, as well, and that restoration and revival are coming to our land. Ask that what happens on Sunday be the capstone for this. In the book Is It Real When It Doesn't Work? Doug Murren and Barb Shurin recount: “Toward the end of the nineteenth century, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel awoke one morning to read his own obituary in the local newspaper: ‘Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who died yesterday, devised a way for more people to be killed in a war than ever before, and he died a very rich man.’ “Actually, it was Alfred’s older brother who had died; a newspaper reporter had bungled the epitaph. But the account had a profound effect on Nobel. He decided he wanted to be known for something other than developing the means to kill people efficiently and for amassing a fortune in the process. So he initiated the Nobel Prize, the award for scientists and writers who foster peace. Nobel said, ‘Every man ought to have the chance to correct his epitaph in midstream and write a new one.’”(2) God is giving America a chance to rewrite our epitaph. If written now, it would read, “Weighed in the balances and found wanting.” On Sunday, we can change it. Pray with me: Lord, thousands will gather at America’s “government mountain” this weekend, and millions will join online, to rededicate our nation to You. We believe You led our President to ask for this. In response, we ask You to come to this mountain with Your presence, power, and glory, just as You did at Sinai. Re-consecrate America. Purify and recommission our spiritual leaders, symbolized by Aaron, his sons, and Israel’s priesthood. Bring revival to the church, and start with the leaders. And heal our land. As we dedicate ourselves to You on Sunday, let healing flow to our “Canaan,” our inheritance. Our land is defiled and groaning. From sea to shining sea, please cleanse our nation from innocent bloodshed and all other defilements. Finally, restore us to You, and to our destiny. The plagues of Joel have become the plagues of America (Joel 1:4 KJV). “Worms” and “locusts” are eating us from the inside out; devastation is everywhere, and our land is ravaged. In wrath, please remember mercy. As we gather with You on Sunday, let us rewrite our epitaph. We pray this in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: Say it with me: America shall be saved/America is being saved. 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. 6242. Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993), p. 123. Adapted.

Declaring God’s Word “You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.” (Job 22:28, NKJV) It was 1980, and I was fresh out of Bible College. I was radical enough spiritually to pray for anything that moved – or grew. That’s why I was standing in the middle of a field, reading the Bible to the crops. Now that I have your attention . . .No, I’m not kidding. I was taking my cue from Jesus, who once spoke to a tree, releasing a death sentence against it. The following day, it was dead (see Mark 11:13-14, 20). On another occasion, He also spoke to a storm, commanding it to stop (see Mark 4:39), and even addressed a corpse, giving it life (see John 11:43). One of His disciples did the latter, as well. (see Acts 9:36-41). Jesus knew that nature and dead people weren’t “hearing” Him, but that His words were releasing the power of Holy Spirit to impact those realms. Likewise, our words, when they are God’s words and Holy Spirit leads us to speak them, also release divine power. That’s why I was declaring the Bible over a field. Actually, I was reading it to the field and the flies that were invading it. I read the blessings of Deuteronomy 28 concerning the crop: “Blessed shall be . . . the produce of your ground . . . The Lord will command the blessing . . . in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you . . . And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity . . . in the produce of your ground” (vv 4, 8, 11). I read Psalm 91:3 concerning the flies: “For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence.” The flies died, and the crop lived. The situation was as follows: A Guatemalan farmer, already in financial trouble from previous losses, was in danger of losing thousands of acres of maize to these flies. He was about to spend approximately $25,000 to have them crop-dusted and wasn’t even sure this would stop the plague. We reminded this new Christian about the biblical principle of tithing and the promise that God would “rebuke the devourer” (see Malachi 3:10-11) for those who would obey Him in this regard. We then read him the verses mentioned above and asked if he would like us to join him in reading and declaring these words of God over his crops. He did, we did, and God did. The crops lived, and the flies and their larvae died. The crop-dusting wasn’t even necessary. Not only was the crop saved, but the $25,000 for the costly treatment was, as well. When scriptural principles are followed, the spoken Word is a powerful aspect of intercession. Decrees and declarations need not lead to imbalance or weirdness. However, being biblically balanced does not mean our actions won’t, at times, strain human understanding or reason. It means we stay in the parameters of biblical teaching and the leading of Holy Spirit. Much so-called balance in Christianity is simply a desire to remain within the realm of our human understanding and natural laws. This eliminates the spiritual laws of faith and speaking the Word of God as a spiritual weapon. God honors His Word above His very name (see Psalm 138:2; KJV). A person’s name means nothing if his word can’t be trusted. When we consider the Word of God as unfailing and all-powerful, we are giving Him the greatest honor we can give. We’re stating that we know He cannot lie (see Hebrews 6:18), that His Word is eternal (see Isaiah 40:8), and that He can be trusted implicitly. A Roman centurion came to Christ on one occasion, asking Him to heal his servant. Christ said He was willing and offered to go with the man to minister to his servant. The centurion gave a startling response, however: “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it” (Matthew 8:8-9). This man understood the authority of God-inspired words and declarations. Jesus did give the command, and the servant was healed. I recall a challenging situation I faced several years ago in which demonic spirits were obviously involved. Great anger and strife had arisen in a family, and a strong possibility existed that the next day, this family would be torn apart for years, if not forever. I prayed late into the night about this very volatile situation, asking God to intervene. After a couple of hours of prayer, I clearly heard Holy Spirit say, “Use your authority and speak the Word!” I began to aggressively declare the Scriptures Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance, making decrees based upon them. It went something like this: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you” (Luke 10:19). “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). I declare that God has given me authority over the spirits involved in this situation. Holy Spirit in me is greater than any power they can muster. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exaltheth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV). I declare that my weapons are fully able to disarm this situation. In Jesus’ name, I tear down the strongholds of the powers of darkness in this family situation. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). I am fully submitted to God and know that as I speak His Word, the evil forces at work must flee. I command you, demonic powers, to leave this situation in Jesus’ name. I free these individuals from your influence, in Jesus’ name! I probably used a few other verses, as well – this happened 40 years ago – but I’m sure you can understand what I was doing. After 20-30 minutes of this, I felt great peace and went to bed. The following morning, every person involved had experienced a change of heart, and total peace prevailed. The power of God’s Word had been released, overcoming the evil spirits and positively influencing the minds and hearts of the individuals. It just needed to be released. Pray with me: Father, we know that the power which created the universe was released through Your words. Few believers, however, understand the power that can be released when WE speak YOUR words. Increase revelation of this to the body of Christ; arm us with truth. As You do, we pledge to go to a new level of using Your words as the sword of the Spirit. We will speak Your words regarding our personal lives, the lives of others, and our nation. Doing so now, we decree that the wicked will not prosper in our land (Psalm 92:7; 125:3). No weapon formed against Your purposes in America will prosper (Isaiah 54:17), but that which You have spoken – giving the nations to Your Son (Psalm 2) – will manifest in America. We release this in the mighty name of Jesus. Our decree: We decree God’s Word from Psalm 119:89: “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” Today’s post was taken from our Give Him 15 Devotional, Volume 1. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

The Power of Our Words “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him. Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you.” Mark 11:23-24 Today, I would like to discuss the number one way we impact the unseen realm of the spirit. The answer may surprise you: it is with our words. Whether releasing our faith, ministering the power and/or life of Holy Spirit, or warring against satan’s kingdom, the number one way we influence the spiritual realm is with our words. Why is this the case? I don’t pretend to know all of the complexities and ways of God. This much I do know, however: one of the primary ways He releases His power and authority is by speaking. He commands, declares, and decrees. When He does, His words release power, life, blessings, judgments, and of course, they create. With His words, God created all that exists (Genesis 1; John 1), and with the power of His words, He holds the universe together - keeps it working as intended (Hebrews 1:3). Obviously, spiritual power is released and carried by words. It isn’t the words themselves that are powerful; it is the source of the words. Jesus said on one occasion, “The words I speak are spirit and life” (John 6:63). When God made us as spirit beings like Himself, in His image and likeness, He created us with the ability to also release power and authority from our spirits, through our words. Amazing, isn’t it? We believe, we speak - we’re born again (Romans 10:9)! We believe, we speak - mountains of adversity gone (Mark 11:23)! Yes, the words spoken must be consistent with God’s Word and will. But when they are and we speak them, they are infused with His power and life. How forcible are right words! (Job 6:25 KJV). Job’s word for “forcible,” (morat) means “to press.”(1) One of its biblical uses describes a king pressing his seal of authority onto a decree or legal document with his signet ring, making it legally binding, the law of the land. Words seal deals and decree laws. They are powerful, even unto life and death (see Proverbs 18:20-21). The New Testament says we are justified or condemned by them (see Matthew 12:37). Wars are started with words. Love is communicated through words. Instruction and education are shared by words. Deception and confusion are propagated with words. Kingdoms are built with words. People are controlled by words. Lives are shattered and healed through words. The world was created by words…and so is our personal world. Words may very well be the greatest conduit of authority and power in the world. God’s “Let there be” created the world and everything in it. Ecclesiastes 12:11 says, “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies” (KJV). Nails help us build, construct, assemble, and hold things together. So do words. The Master Craftsman used words to build the earth, the seas, the mountains, and all the other amazing elements and dimensions of creation. And, as we said, His words hold it all together. Luke’s gospel says that even the incarnation - God becoming human - was caused by a combination of God’s words and Spirit. When Mary asked how she, a virgin, could have a child, the angel informed her that the power of Holy Spirit would overshadow her and impregnate her with Jesus (1:35). Then he said, “Nothing will be impossible with God” (1:37). This translation of Luke 1:37 doesn’t do justice to the strength of what the angel actually said. The most literal and accurate rendering is: “No word spoken by God is without power.”(2) What a statement this is, and what ramifications it carries for us. Our all-powerful God infuses transcendent power into His words. They become the carriers of His awesome strength. God also calls His Word a sword with which He rules and judges. His declarations not only create and build, they also judge and destroy; they’re both constructive and destructive. Consider the following: “Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:16); “Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war...with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:16; see also 19:15, 21). Some of God’s decrees are to create or perform in the present; others are declarations regarding the future. In Isaiah 46:9-10, God says of Himself: “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Our amazing God stands outside of time, looks ahead, declares the future, and eventually, time catches up to His decree. How preposterous the fools who think they will outwit or overpower Him! When time catches up to a decree God makes concerning the future, He often involves us in its fulfillment. We become the voice of God on earth, decreeing His decrees for Him! Job 22:28 says, “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.” The first part of the verse could be more literally rendered, “You will decree a decree.”(3) We discern God’s will and/or His decree - what He has determined about a given situation - and we decree His decree. Incredible! The verse then states that when we decree His decree, it will be “established.” This is the Hebrew word quwm, which means “to rise.”(4) God’s Word is called a seed (1 Peter 1:23), and when we sow it into a situation, we are sprinkling the seeds through which He causes His will to spring up. Quwm also describes a variety of other activities, including God’s “creative, saving, and judging action” rising up.(5) Our decreeing of the Lord’s Word releases His creativity, His salvation, and yes, even His judgments! I once stood and watched as a minister prayed, then commanded a young boy’s crooked legs to be healed. His lame legs were supported by metal and leather braces. As the minister prayed, the air was filled with the sound of joints popping; muscles and tendons formed, bones became new. The young man, who had never before run, took off his braces and ran around the church. We watched with amazement and awe. The entire congregation celebrated with this young man over his creative miracle...which was released through words! I also watched another miraculous healing take place as the same man ministered to a lady who had stomach cancer. He spoke to the cancer, commanding it to leave her in Jesus’ name. The woman immediately vomited up the cancer, completely healed...again, through the release of Spirit-led words! I know these stories sound like fiction, but in the 1960s, it was not strange to see miracles like these take place in services across America. Thousands were healed supernaturally. I personally witnessed dozens of healings. Both of the above miracles were substantiated by doctors. I know, because the minister was my dad. Pray with me: Father, we release the power of Your words into America. (If you live elsewhere, do this for your nation.) We declare that the earth is the Lord’s - Yours - and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1). All of it is owned by You. You are the King of all the earth (Psalm 47:7). All authority on earth belongs to You (Matthew 28:18-19). Yours is the Kingdom and power and glory forever (Matthew 6:10). We declare that Your authority is now being released over the government of America, and that You are dismantling the arrogant systems and political forces that oppose You. All who have opposed You, along with the strongholds they have built, will be pulled down. Unrighteous laws they have written will be reversed in the coming season of revival and reformation. Their evil ways and activities will be exposed. Your angels are on the move now to expose and dismantle. We declare Your words that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness and that Your mercy endures forever and triumphs over judgment. Through Christ’s cleansing blood, appropriated through our confession of sin, repentance, and faith we declare that America shall be saved! And we declare that the Ruler over and Lover of the nations will have His great worldwide harvest. Man can’t stop it, and demons can’t stop it. It shall be…in Jesus’ name! Our decree: We obey Christ and command over America: Kingdom of God, come! Will of God, be done in this land! Click on the link below to watch the full video. Portions of today’s devotional were taken from my book Authority in Prayer.(6) Strong, James. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 7th ed., Abingdon Press, 1980. Bible Hub, “For no word from God shall be void of power.” https://biblehub.com/multi/luke/1-37.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. “Strong's Hebrew: 1504. גָּזַר (gazar) -- to cut, divide, decree.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1504.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. “Strong's Hebrew: 6965. קוּם (qum) -- to arise, stand up, stand.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6965.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Workbook of the Old Testament. Moody, 1980, p. 793. Sheets, Dutch. Authority in Prayer: Praying With Power and Purpose. Baker Publishing Group, 2015, pp. 102-106.

The Advantage “It is to your advantage that I leave,” Jesus told His disciples (John 16:7). Can you imagine a more ridiculous-sounding statement? They had traveled with Him for three years, listening to Him expound on life, the ways of God, and the kingdom of heaven. His words carried such wisdom and authority that even His enemies said of Him, “Never has a man spoken in the way this man speaks” (John 7:46). The disciples had watched Him cure blind eyes, open deaf ears, heal paralytics, cleanse lepers, and raise the dead. Once, when He needed money, He procured it from the mouth of a fish. On another occasion, when He needed to cross a lake and didn’t have a boat handy, He simply walked on the water. And when storms tried to mess with Him, He knocked the wind out of them with the power of His words. Then, He has the audacity to tell these men, “I’m going to leave you, and it’s for your own good.” One can only imagine the shock and disbelief of the disciples. “He is leaving us?! This is good?! We don’t think so!!!” Two understandings will help us embrace why Christ said, “It is to your advantage that I go away.” The first has to do with His use of the word advantage, or as the King James Version says, “expedient.” The Greek word is sumphero, which means literally “to bring together.”(1) And since bringing the right things or people together produces benefits or advantages, this Greek word was used for the concept of “expediency” or “gaining an advantage.” Christ was telling His disciples, “My departure will cause a new connection (sumphero) to take place for you. This ‘bringing together’ will be of great benefit to you, more so than even My physical presence.” The second piece of information that brings enlightenment to Christ’s words is an awareness of who He was going to connect the disciples with: Holy Spirit. Why would this relationship be so advantageous? Because Holy Spirit would be with them in spirit form, not in a flesh-and-blood body as Christ had been, and could therefore be everywhere at once. AND, He could actually be “in” them, not just “with” them (John 14:17). I don’t believe many of us come anywhere close to grasping this revelation in its fullness. Almighty God is in us. What might we be like if we received the full revelation of this? Perhaps we would become “little Christs”, which is the meaning of the word Christian. Perhaps Christ’s words concerning us doing the same works He did - and even greater works - would be fulfilled? We would no doubt be miracle workers, life transformers, fearless, completely unselfish, always led by Holy Spirit, and walk in perfect love. The late Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, states this regarding Holy Spirit: “He guides us (John 1:13), empowers us (Micah 3:8), and makes us holy (Romans 15:16). He bears witness in our lives (Romans 8:16), comforts us (John 14:16-26), gives us joy (Romans 14:17)... “As our teacher of spiritual truths, the Holy Spirit illuminates our minds with insight into the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) and reveals to us the hidden things of God (Isaiah 40:13-14)... “As you are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Bible becomes alive, prayer becomes vital, your witness becomes effective, and obedience becomes a joy. Then, as a result of your obedience in these areas, your faith grows and you become more mature in your spiritual life.”(2) Holy Spirit is all of this and more. Though it isn’t often considered, He was Christ’s “Helper.” As a human, Jesus was filled with, led by, empowered by, and anointed by the Holy Spirit (see Luke 4). Acts 10:38 also tells us Christ derived His power and anointing from Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit resides in us and wants to be our source of power and strength. However, we often fail to make the connection, thereby preventing His power from flowing. A missionary, Herbert Jackson, told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push - popping the clutch, we sometimes call it. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. Jackson went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car to start it. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave his car running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly explained his method for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years, needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting the power to work.(3) Ouch! J.B. Phillips’ translation tells us in Ephesians 1:19, “How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God.” When we make firm our connection with Holy Spirit, His life and power can flow through us. Don’t waste this amazing help. Second Corinthians 13:14 says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” The term “fellowship” is from koinonia and is rich with meaning, revealing some of what the Holy Spirit wants to be in our lives. The following English words are all translations of koinonia: Fellowship - Holy Spirit wants to visit with us. Communion - Holy Spirit wants to commune with us. Sharing together - Holy Spirit wants to share His insights and power with us. Participation in or with - Holy Spirit wants to participate in our efforts and activities. Distribution - Holy Spirit wants to distribute revelation, gifts, anointings, and blessings to us. Impart - Holy Spirit wants to impart God’s nature and benefits to us. Partaking - Holy Spirit wants us to partake of His anointing and life. Partnership - Holy Spirit wants to partner with us. Companionship - Holy Spirit wants the pleasure of your company. “May the koinonia of the Holy Spirit be with you.” What a loaded statement. Get better acquainted with Holy Spirit! Pray with me: Thank You, Father, that after Your Son Jesus’ time on earth, You sent us another Helper, Holy Spirit, to dwell not just among us, but within us. His indwelling is given to guide and empower us as we steward the great victory that Jesus won. We want to experience all of who He is and what He does. We don’t simply want to know about Him; we desire to have Him active in every part of our speech, actions, and thoughts. We want to manifest the empowerment for Christ-likeness and kingdom advancement that He brings. Holy Spirit, You’re our connection to communion with the Father, to further glimpses of His depths, and to doing greater works than Jesus. Give us a full revelation of how we can be led by You in every way. Open the scriptures and position our hearts to understand koinonia with You. And Father, as revival unfolds in our land, this will be a pouring out of Holy Spirit. Pour Him into the young people of our nation until His presence floods every campus in America. Fill millions of youth with Holy Spirit. And flood Washington, D.C., with Holy Spirit, also. Give wisdom and revelation to righteous leaders, leading them as they lead our nation. Make them aware of Your desire to help them, and then share Your insights and strategies for reforming our nation. Think through them! All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that another great outpouring of Holy Spirit has begun in our land and around the world. We will not miss the time of our visitation! 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. 4851. Bill Bright, The Holy Spirit (San Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers, 1980), pp. 116, 121, quoted in Robert Heidler, Experiencing the Spirit (Ventura, CA: Renew Books, 1993), p. 182. Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993), p. 182.

Introduction Today and tomorrow, I’m going to share on the subject of our great Helper, Holy Spirit, and the incredible source of power that He brings us. Today’s teaching is actually from my brother, Tim. As always, his insights are outstanding. Tim’s title is: The Divine Mentor There was a time when I was trying to pray about something, but just couldn’t seem to find the right words. I wrestled with it for a while, until finally, I heard Holy Spirit whisper so clearly, “Let Me do it.” When I yielded and allowed Him to speak through me, there came an immediate release, and the burden I’d been carrying lifted as He began to plead to God on my behalf. Romans 8:26 (TPT) says, “At times we don’t even know how to pray or know the best thing to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.” This is a powerful picture of supernatural intercession. When we pray in our “spirit language,” Holy Spirit rises within us to intercede far beyond what our natural words can express, aligning our hearts and our prayers with the perfect will of God. Verse 27 continues, “God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet He also understands the desires of the Spirit.” This is not referring to our human spirit, but to Holy Spirit Himself. Holy Spirit passionately pleads through us, His holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny. What divine assistance this is! God’s Word shows us that being filled with Holy Spirit is what enables this supernatural partnership. Just as we see in the book of Acts, believers were filled and then refilled with Holy Spirit. It wasn’t a one-time event, but was a continual experience. Staying filled with Holy Spirit connects and synergizes us with God’s divine plan, both individually and corporately as the Ekklesia. To walk with Holy Spirit is to live in continual partnership with Him. As Romans 8:1 reminds us, we are to walk according to the Spirit’s guidance, from our spirit, not according to the flesh. This means living daily in a relationship with Him, walking and listening, and praying as He inspires us. He breathes on our prayers, our words, and our decrees inspired by Him and God’s Word. What a gift, what a Helper, what a partnership. Accomplishing Our Destiny Every person carries a God-given purpose. The Lord told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had plans for you” (Jeremiah 1:5, MSG). What a profound truth. Before you took your first breath, God already knew you. He had written your story and prepared divine plans for your life. Holy Spirit empowers us in the unfolding of this destiny. That reality should fill every heart with hope. King David echoed this truth in Psalm 139:13-18 (TPT): “You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank You, God, for making me so mysteriously complex. Everything You do is marvelously breathtaking… You saw who You created me to be before I became me.” Before you were ever born, God gave you purpose. The Greek word for purpose is prothesis.(1) Pro means “before,” and thesis means “a written plan.” In other words, God wrote your life’s thesis before you were formed. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB), “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” Yes, this speaks of redemption, but salvation is not just about what we are saved from. It’s also about what we are saved to. We are redeemed to live out our God-given purpose and potential. Salvation is the doorway into a life of divine destiny. A life filled with possibilities, assignments, and Holy Spirit-empowered impact. Many believers understand what God has delivered them from, but they haven’t yet discovered what He has called them into. They stop at forgiveness, without stepping into fullness. But Holy Spirit has come to empower us to live as sons and daughters of God now, not merely in Heaven someday. He empowers us to live as heirs of His Kingdom, walking in the inheritance and purpose He wrote for us before time began. Even when we miss it–once, twice, or ten times–Holy Spirit never stops working, guiding, aligning, and reconnecting us with the destiny God purposed. Before you were born, God wrote your name, your potential, your callings, your giftings, and even your divine connections, into a plan that would unfold across your lifetime. And then, in love, He gave you the freedom to pursue it. Holy Spirit understands that plan fully. He knows the path that leads into your destiny, even when circumstances seem to block the way, and He never stops working. Through every season, whether it feels like progress or delay, the Spirit continues weaving your life into alignment with God’s purpose. He is always leading you forward, always connecting you to destiny. Jesus described Holy Spirit in John 14:26 as the One who comes alongside us to help, to aid, and to support. Part of His role is to draw forth this destiny and purpose. What an incredible benefit this is. There are dimensions of our destiny that we simply cannot reach in our own strength. Certain elements of who we are destined to be require the assistance and empowerment of Holy Spirit. That doesn’t mean we can’t experience success on our own; we can, but not the fullness of all God designed us to be. This comes only through partnership with the Spirit. He is the empowerer of greater purpose. When you come to crossroads and destiny decisions, invite Holy Spirit to guide you, to speak to you, to instruct you. The Greek word Jesus used in John 14:26 describes Him as our parakletos, our Divine Mentor, Counselor, and Advocate.(2) What a truth: you have a Divine Mentor living within you! No one can lead you like He can. The Spirit’s guidance and intercession are always in alignment with the Father’s will and in perfect harmony with His plan for our lives. Each day is an invitation to yield, listen, and follow His leading, so that our lives collectively become a living testimony of His glory and power. Pray with me: Holy Spirit, lead us into the fullness of our destinies, deeper into God’s will and the plans You have written for us. Empower us to walk fully in our God-given potential. Fill us afresh and help us become all God saw for us before we were even formed. You are our Helper, our Teacher, and our Divine Mentor. We trust You to lead, guide, and direct us today, helping us advance the Kingdom of God. As Your Ekklesia, we pray and decree heaven’s purposes on earth. We ask for the fullness of America’s God-ordained destiny. Cause our nation to align with Heaven’s plan and fulfill every purpose You have planned. Deliver us from the socialism, Marxism, humanism, and globalism attempting to invade our land. Give our leaders the wisdom needed to cope with issues associated with the invasion of millions of illegal aliens, an out-of-control welfare system, the corruption of the Deep State, food and health crises, and so much more. We ask for the healing of our land, knowing this will occur only as revival transforms the heart of our nation. Righteousness exalts a nation. In Yeshua’s name, we ask these things. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Holy Spirit is flowing through the Ekklesia, equipping us to fulfill our assignments and impact the earth with God’s Kingdom power. Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about Tim here. 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. 4286. Ibid. ref. no. 3875.

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