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The Chess Game with Iran For the past two weeks, my schedule has been very intense. I was on the road for five of those days and therefore had to prepare a week’s worth of GH15 posts in advance. All that to say, this is why I haven’t commented on what is currently occurring regarding Iran–the previous week of posts were written and recorded over a week ago. There are mixed feelings among Americans on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Trump signed with the Iranians, which serves as a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the military conflict and establishing a roadmap for a permanent peace deal. The agreement: Reopens the critical Strait of Hormuz global shipping route, toll-free, for at least 60 days. (Trump wants a weakened Iran, but not a global recession.) It mandates the immediate termination of military operations between the U.S. and Iran, and an end to hostilities in southern Lebanon. It eases certain financial restrictions, unfreezes restricted Iranian assets, and establishes an external $300 billion reconstruction fund backed by regional partners. It triggers a 60-day window for the U.S. and Iran to hold talks to resolve core issues, such as the end of Iran's nuclear enrichment and the disposal of its stockpiles. President Trump emphasized that all aspects of the Memorandum are contingent on Iran “behaving,” and that he reserves the right to return to military action immediately if they don’t. Our military forces remain in place, ready to respond at a moment’s notice. He also asked Israel to suspend its operations in Lebanon during this time, something that they did not want to do. As stated above, there are mixed feelings by Americans regarding Trump’s actions. Some wanted America to fight as long as it took to finish off the evil Iranian regime. Others want peace and low gas prices, whatever this takes. Others believe it was necessary to make decisions based on lowering gas prices to help Trump and conservatives in the midterms; then, if necessary, we can finish the job, whatever it takes. Others are upset that he is telling Israel to stop fighting at this time. And I’m sure there are many other thoughts regarding what should or shouldn’t be done. My Thoughts I do not presume to know what President Trump should be doing at this point, nor do I pretend to know what he IS doing. He is a master strategist and negotiator, and like a good Chess player, is always several moves ahead in his thinking, “setting up” his opponent. Obviously, this being the case, he often feints, bluffs, hides his intentions, etc. Trump is no doubt doing so now. Also, the President obviously has much intel that we and other government officials don’t have. Wise decisions are based on good information, which he and his team have immeasurably more of than all other Americans regarding Iran. And some of what we, the public, do get is distorted by Iran, the media, and politicians who hate Trump more than they love America! We must keep this in mind as we process and pray. I am confident our President is intent on doing what will prove best for America and the world, and is willing to make difficult decisions to do so–decisions others have been unwilling to make. These decisions are sometimes unsettling to Americans, and to other nations, but are necessary. In doing so, he is taking on globalists, secularists, woke idealists, Marxists, and those with anti-American sentiments, both here and abroad. He needs great wisdom from above. Regarding Iran, many want regime change, myself included. Their government is a radical, Islamist regime that is incredibly evil. But with some extreme ideologies, radical Islam being one of them, individuals would rather die than give up their power. In fact, to many radical Islamists, dying for the cause comes with great eternal benefits from Allah. For this reason, attempting to displace them often means years of boots-on-the-ground military action with the loss of many lives, and frequently with failed political results. How did this work out in Iraq and Afghanistan? Not so well. I am absolutely for weakening the Iranian regime militarily, as we have. I am for weakening them financially, as we have. I am in favor of stopping them from their terrorism and neutralizing them from controlling the region, regardless of the short-term economic costs, which we have. And if there is any way to see the regime removed from power without a ground war, I am in favor of this. However, I agree with most Americans, including our President, and would not be in favor of a full-scale, boots-on-the-ground war with Iran. The Spiritual Implications I am also confident that the Lord is intent on a major harvest in the Muslim world, especially the Middle East, and that the war in Iran is linked to this. I feel strongly that Iran will continue to be a part of this fruit. Revival is coming to the descendants of Ishmael! Related to this, I am confident that the principalities controlling the Middle East region, one of whom is referred to in Scripture as “the prince of Persia,” are losing their hold and influence. This means we must continue to pray for the weakening and overthrow of these and other demonic strongholds in that part of the world, while calling forth revival and harvest. We must pray that our President and his team make wise, sound, Spirit-led decisions. Don’t listen to the deception of those who desire to separate God from governmental decisions; Holy Spirit wants to lead our government–their decisions will impact billions of people around the world! Pray that they will continually humble themselves and ask God for His help. Pray that only wise decisions are made in the negotiations that take place. Pray for the end of this evil regime in Iran. Pray for the people of Iran, that their suffering and oppression will end. Pray for a complete rearranging of the political and spiritual map of the Middle East. And on a different note, pray for the safety of President Trump and his team. Never has there been a time in our history when a leader has been as hated as Trump with the possible exception of Lincoln. He is opposing the Leftists, the Deep State, the Globalists, the Marxists, those who hate the church, and other evils. He has taken on all of them, for they all want America, as we have known it, destroyed. AND THEY HATE HIM FOR IT! I have no doubt that many people in our nation would love to see our President assassinated. Please pray for him, his family, and his team. Also pray for righteous leaders in other phases of our government, including House Speaker Johnson, Supreme Court Justices–anyone Holy Spirit brings to mind. Pray with me: Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy, and the changes we see in our nation and the world. You are working to bring forth an incredible harvest of souls into Your Kingdom, and our hearts are in sync with Yours–we want this desperately. We know You are all-wise–only You know what needs to take place in Iran and the Middle East to accomplish Your good purposes. You alone know how to remove the evil and bring good. We ask You for this, including the complete annihilation of strongholds of darkness. We ask also for a great outpouring of Holy Spirit in that region, bringing hundreds of millions of people to You. Please give President Trump, Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and others great wisdom as they work toward a peaceful solution in Iran. Do not allow them to be misled or taken advantage of. Give them supernatural discernment; bring them uneasiness when deception is being attempted. Expose all evil. And lead in these negotiations to ensure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon and that their terrorism ends…whatever this takes. Please protect our leaders, exposing every plot to harm them. We ask for supernatural protection against every plan to hurt them or their families. All of this we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen Our decree: We decree that the purposes of God will be established in the Middle East. Click on the link below to watch the video.

Introduction Today’s post is from my friend Dale Mast’s new book, Secrets to Hearing God’s Voice, something we all long to do more effectively. I had the honor of writing the foreword. Today’s title is: The Best Thing Within Fifty Feet There is no relationship without communication. That’s why the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. They saw Jesus return from His early-morning times of prayer and understood that spending time alone with God was a key component of His powerful life and ministry. The God Who Hears If Father God doesn’t hear us, it isn’t really prayer. That would simply be us speaking. Prayer, however, is communication with a God who hears. And the God who hears speaks. He responds to our prayers with verbal answers; they don’t always align with our requests, but He talks to us. He also loves to start conversations with us. He loves to talk with His children. Open the door of your heart to receive His voice. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20 NKJV) He also likes to speak through us. The time Moses spent in the presence of Father God transformed him from a reluctant prophet to a friend of God. When we yield our lives to be available as a voice for Him, no matter our occupation, it is a high form of honor to Him that creates a deep friendship with Him. This attracts His anointing, the miraculous, and angelic activity. Moses told God at the burning bush that he couldn’t speak well and asked Him to send someone else. Father God met him where he was. But He meets us where we are, to take us where He is. And our decision to be available brings Him joy, even if we struggle in the journey. He Doesn’t Just Tell, He Teaches I love what God said to Moses: “I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” He is with our mouth (Exodus 4:12 NKJV). He is not just telling us what to say; He is teaching us what to say. There is a world of difference. Remember, He is not searching for the perfect, but for the available. The Best Option Within Fifty Feet… Let me give you a real-world example of discerning God’s thoughts and giving voice to His words. I was in an airport waiting for my flight, and I was not having a good day. The Lord pointed out a woman and asked me to minister a prophetic word to her. I repented of my ungodly attitude as I started walking toward her. I felt no anointing, but a simple short word came to me as I started walking, and His peace flooded me. To this day, I cannot remember the exact prophetic word I gave her — but I will tell you what I cannot forget: she started gently weeping while lifting both hands and whispered, “Thank you. Thank you.” As I walked away, I started a conversation with Father God. “Why would You ask me to minister to her? You saw the attitude in my heart.” He responded, “Dale, I knew you would do it for Me.” I felt His love and His delight in me. Then the smile on my face was interrupted by His voice again. And “Dale, you were simply the best thing I had within fifty feet.” My smile turned into internal laughter. Sometimes He uses us because we are His best option within fifty feet! We must be available at His call, even when we need to repent before we minister. He desires to use those who are after His heart and who will do whatever He asks, even if they feel less holy in the moment. Remember, He works with the willing and the available, not the perfect. The Voice of God Doesn’t Wait for Perfect Conditions Another story. I will never forget this experience as long as I live. The hostess had seated us in a packed restaurant during a busy lunch hour. About three or four tables away was a young server with a stack of dirty plates. As I glanced at her, I heard the Lord say one word: “Prostitute.” It was not judgmental or condescending — yet it was the only word I heard. When she came to our table, I stepped into the anointing. “I’m a Christian, and when I look at people, God shows me things,” I told her. What the Holy Spirit gave me next was stunning: “I see that your relationship with men has been like a mystery to you, and you feel bought and sold.” The tears began to flow from her eyes, and the stack of plates began to shake in her hands. Then the Lord showed me a picture of her heart, with a crack running from top to bottom. While I described to her what I saw, I was also asking God internally, “What are You doing for her cracked heart?” As soon as I asked, He showed me His finger moving gently over that crack, healing it. While motioning with my index finger, I told her, “And the finger of God is healing it.” “Are you a Christian?” I inquired. She shook her head: no. “Would you like to be?” She nodded yes — tears still flowing — and in moments, she whispered: “Jesus, come into my heart.” All of this took less than thirty seconds. One word from God — received in prayer, released in love — and a life was changed forever. This is the lifestyle that prayer produces. Not just personal peace or spiritual maintenance. Prayer positions us to be carriers of His voice into the world He loves. A prophetic word in church will edify someone. A prophetic word outside the church can turn a heart toward God and bring a whole town to Jesus — remember the woman at the well in John 4. There are people near you right now — in a restaurant, an airport, a grocery store aisle — who are carrying questions they have never been able to ask out loud. They are within fifty feet of someone who hears God's voice. You don’t have to be the most trained or the most anointed. You simply have to be available, and willing to do it for Him. You might just be the answer He is sending. Pray with me: Father, enable us to be vessels for Your voice. What an honor, joy, and privilege to be entrusted with Your very words: words that release life, salvation, and transformation. When we’re tired and our attitudes are poor, may we surrender to You afresh and obey anyway. Speak anyway. Be Your ambassadors… anyway. We are grateful You don’t need us to be perfect; You use the available and the willing. Lord, may we be that “best option within fifty feet” to those around us. Father, as this revival intensifies, You desire us to be available for supernatural releases of Your heart, love, and power. Give us the boldness to do so. Use us to give hope to the hopeless, strength to the weary, and health to the sick. In Jesus’ name we pray this. Amen. Our decree: We are available, willing vessels — and because the God who hears also speaks, His voice flows through us to a desperate and hungry world. Click on the link below to watch the video. Today’s post was taken from Dale Mast’s new book Secrets to Hearing God’s Voice. This book can be purchased on Amazon. You can find out more about Dale Mast at DaleMast.org.

Learning from Yesterday In yesterday’s post, I shared some of the weaknesses that came into the American church during the revival of the 1960s and 70s; I’ll discuss more of them today. I’m doing so to enable us to learn from those mistakes, pray with understanding for these deficiencies to change, and also to pray that they are not repeated in the coming revival. (Today’s post is a follow-up to yesterday’s. If you did not see or hear yesterday’s post, today’s may not make much as much sense. Consider reading/listening to yesterday’s first.) Continuing the List 5) Once the church redefined success to speed and size, redefining our mission was inevitable. The mission became to attract more believers to our church, which of course demanded that we focus on what the sheep want - not what they need or what God wants. Nicer buildings and facilities, shorter services, entertaining messages, fun and fellowship - these and more became the goals, as we sought to please sheep and grow the flock. What the King of the Kingdom wanted and needed - as well as the culture around us - barely entered the equation. “Don’t rock the boat by talking about sound doctrine, government, morality, abortion, etc. Don’t make the sheep uneasy; they may find another shepherd. Just make them happy.” 6) This led to a consumer-based approach in our congregations - models were driven by the needs, preferences, and behaviors of individuals, rather than the Scriptures and Holy Spirit. People became customers and consumers, rather than disciples and stewards of God’s Kingdom. This eventually spawned a welfare mentality in the church: “Someone else take care of me. Someone else do the giving, praying, sacrificing. The mindset of many church goers became: “Who will give me the most for the least?” Rather than producing disciples and responsible citizens of the Kingdom, we generated “takers” with a “what’s in it for me” mindset. 7) After the first six problematic changes occurred in the church, it was inevitable that our messages and worship services had to be altered. Shorter messages were needed, more innovative and entertaining - ten, fifteen, twenty minutes at the most. Forty-five minutes to an hour for the services - “a couple of songs to wake us up, a cup of coffee and some handshakes, a short message, and we’re outta here!” Doctrine and theology were ignored - who wants to hear that boring stuff?! This resulted in untold damage to the body of Christ. Deception seeped into churches. Sin was not discussed, foundations were ignored leaving no moral compass. Soon, humanism crept in, and truth was lost. Many evangelical “Christians” no longer believe in the inerrancy of the Bible or that it is God’s Word. They don’t believe in a literal Holy Spirit, heaven, hell, or the virgin birth of Christ. Biblical standards of morality became outdated, compromise became common, the church had to change with the times.” Sadly, with a weak church, the nation lost its salt and light, allowing depravity and godlessness to prevail in our land. 8) Obviously, many leaders conformed to these new ideals in order to grow. The pressure on pastors to perform and compete became almost overwhelming. The contest to transfer the most sheep and have the biggest sheep pen became great. Holy Spirit’s desire to restore all the five-fold ministry gifts of Christ to the church was hindered. (Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher - Ephesians 4:11-12) The only gift needed or wanted was that which cared for believers - the pastor gift. As churches grew, we added worship pastors, singles pastors, youth pastors, children’s pastors, etc. The attitude was: “We don’t need the other four gifts. Well, maybe a few times a year we’ll bring in a guest teacher–you know, to help us grow. But we don’t need the others.” All staff positions were to feed, bless, take care of the sheep, not reach our communities and train believers to become members of Christ’s ekklesia. Make the sheep happy in order to keep them here, and transfer more of them to our flock. 9) This, of course, produced flocks but not armies. Families, but not ekklesias. Fellowships, but not nation-discipling training centers. This watering down of God’s Word and altering of our calling also resulted in less authority from heaven. But no problem - sheep don’t need authority; soldiers and ekklesias do, but not sheep. These tendencies shifted the church from dominion to survival, from occupation to existence, and from countering sinful culture to conformity. Romans 12 warns us against being conformed to the world (verses 1-2), but we were. And every step we made in these wrong directions not only weakened the church, they allowed the antichrist spirit to become stronger in our nation. The city on a hill lost its light. Laws were changed, standards lowered, and our nation crumbled from within. We now have depraved leaders, open borders, and kids who can’t read, write, or do arithmetic. Violence is rampant, and laws are ignored; criminals are freed while parents who don’t want boys in their daughters’ locker rooms are arrested. Fraud is allowed, and those who oppose it are called racists. The American boat has been sinking fast, so riddled with holes that only God can save it. This is why so many of us talk not only of revival, but of reformation. Revival will change hearts, allowing reformation to change laws and culture. A reaping body of Christ is being prepared, and a transforming ekklesia/church is being built. As this continues, the great commissions of both Mark 16:15-20 and Matthew 28:18-20 will be fulfilled simultaneously–winning the lost and discipling nations. Let’s pray. Pray with me: Father, much of the American church has gotten off track; we slid off the rails, ending up in the muck and mire of compromise and ineffectiveness. Now we need a mighty revival and a great reformation. Restore our biblical focus and foundation to the church, and the power of the true gospel. Bring back to us the truth of Scripture and the success seen by the church in Acts. Break the spirit of the world off Your body, and make us a light to our nation once again. Raise up messengers of fire, and believers with eternal purpose. Grow our churches through the passion and fire of Holy Spirit, not innovation and good ideas. Give us a revival of unprecedented proportions, as You have said You would do, until Your glory covers the earth like the waters cover the seas. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the church Jesus spoke of in Matthew IS being built, and WILL emerge in our day. Click on the link below to watch the video.

Narcissism in the Church When a storm and its strong winds bring large waves ashore, they often leave a lot of debris, requiring considerable cleanup. Unfortunately, the same is true of spiritual waves of revival; along with the good outpouring of rain they produce, debris also washes ashore. Along with the tremendous good from the great outpouring of Holy Spirit in the 1960s and 70s, negative fallout also occurred. Babies make “messes,” and a lot of babies were born in that era. Another great revival has begun. My prayer is that we learn from the mistakes made in the last one, and that correction comes to eradicate the bad fruit. Today’s and tomorrow’s posts deal with this. My goal is to light a candle, as they say, not curse the darkness–to pray for positive change, not complain or criticize. Problems In the 60s and 70s, tremendous growth occurred in the church, many new churches sprang up, and others grew quickly. Unfortunately, the spiritual growth of the new converts did not keep pace with the numerical growth. The discipleship process was weak. Also, many leaders of existing churches did not want to adapt and change. They didn’t like the music the young people were bringing with them, the casual attire they wore, or the informal style of worship services they preferred. Quite honestly, many of the existing churches also didn’t want the messes baby Christians would create. Consequently, thousands of new believers, especially the young ones, couldn’t find suitable churches. Therefore, they started their own, although their theology and knowledge of the Bible were weak. These weaknesses didn’t concern them because the prevailing belief was that Jesus was coming soon to rapture the church and, after a short stint of antichrist rule, deal with all the evil on earth. Therefore, church services focused primarily on loving God and one another, and most evangelism was intended simply to prepare people for heaven. Discipling nations (Matthew 28:18-20) was nowhere in the picture. Most teaching was to benefit the believer himself or herself, not equip them to become part of Christ’s ekklesia (Matthew 16:18-19), which exists to release His will and authority on earth. As many of you know, when Jesus said He would build His “church,” He used the Greek word ekklesia. In the Greek language, an ekklesia is a governing or overseeing assembly, not a building, not an organization, and not a religious gathering. He was describing our function. The body of Christ was to be more than a family of worshipers; we were to be spiritual legislators - binding and loosing, forbidding and allowing, opening and closing spiritual doors, and discipling nations (Matthew 16:18-19; 28:18-20). The internal focus of the revival without discipling new believers and prioritizing our assignment led to some very significant problems: 1) It eventually produced a spiritual narcissism, with believers focusing primarily on their own needs and wants. The word “narcissism” originated from Greek mythology. Narcissus was a mythical person who became so enamored with himself that he stared at his image in a pool until he died. The Greek gods turned him into the flower that bears his name: Narcissus.(1) When believers focus primarily on themselves - their own wants, needs, well-being - as opposed to what God wants and others need, the church stagnates. We don’t aspire to serve, give, and become the ministers Christ desires us to be, but to receive, be served, and blessed. It is easy to see how this mindset stifles personal growth and hinders the body of Christ’s effectiveness in releasing the kingdom of God in the Earth. When we should be releasing the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15), we become like Narcissus, releasing only the fragrance of ourselves. Rather than laying our lives down for Christ daily (Luke 9:23), we live for ourselves. 2) The corporate focus of many churches mirrored this narcissistic mindset. Most congregations didn’t truly see themselves as part of the church of a city or region, called to work together to release God’s Kingdom life into their communities. Instead, the focus was on their own needs, well-being, vision, and growth. Individual self-love became a corporate self-love. Truth be known, most churches now have very little concern for other congregations in their city. They feel no grief over church-splits, financial struggles, or other shake-ups, as long as these things aren’t occurring in their congregation. In fact, they are actually excited that some of those “sheep” might end up in their congregation. How sad this must make Christ. 3) This spiritual narcissism inevitably produced independent and competitive mindsets in the body of Christ. Believers tend to think only of “our” or “my” church/congregation, not the entire body of Christ. And rather than working together, churches became competitive. Our goals aren’t primarily to extend Kingdom influence, but OUR influence, to grow OUR church. And we are happy to do it through transfer growth– relocating sheep; the new key to church growth is to have the best “sheep relocation plan.” This mindset has made the church incredibly weak and sick, feeding on itself. If the body of Christ thought as we should, pastors of a city would be gathering and strategizing together, like an army, hearing from God as a team regarding how to win their city for Christ and release His Kingdom life there. This, however, is almost nonexistent. 4) This competitive mindset led to redefining success. The competition had to be justified, so the definition of success for many churches in America changed, and has become the size of the congregation and how quickly it grows. When referring to local churches, phrases such as “fastest growing” and “one of the largest” are proofs of our competitive hearts and our wrong definitions of success. The sad truth is that the vast majority of church growth in America over the past 50 years has been due to people relocating to a different congregation, not to people being won to Christ. And this transfer growth now defines success. This is appalling and a very great deception. Because of their geography, some congregations will always be small in number. Others will remain small because of their assignment: some churches are called to intense prayer ministries, others to primarily caring for the poor or hurting, and other valid assignments. Are they less successful in God’s Kingdom or less important? If they are fulfilling their assignment well, even though they will probably never be the biggest or fastest-growing, are they not significant? Absolutely! The “well dones” in heaven will be based on faithfulness, not size or speed (Matthew 25:21). I’ll share more consequences in tomorrow’s post. But let’s pray today regarding these weaknesses, asking Holy Spirit for correction to come in these areas, and for them to be avoided in the coming revival. Pray with me: Father, You are persistent in Your love and mercy. We mess things up, You help us repair them. In the last great national revivals in America, human tendencies to exalt “self” prevailed, and we turned our churches into self-help centers. Forgive us for the self-promoting, the spiritual narcissism, and the competitive spirit that gained control in much of the church. We redefined success and actually justified working against one another. Forgive us, and deliver us. In the coming revival, transform the church and give us selfless, committed believers willing to lay down their lives for Your cause. Give us New Testament churches and leaders. In Jesus’ name. Amen Our decree: We declare that God is raising up a new generation of believers who are Christ-centered and filled with Holy Spirit. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.etymonline.com/word/narcissism

Audacious Faith Today’s teaching is from Psalm 27. I’ve included the entire Psalm here for your reference, though I won’t read all of it aloud: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. “And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, and be gracious to me and answer me. When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.’ “Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up. “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a level path because of my foes. Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.” I have always loved Psalm 27. The Holy Spirit, through David, shows us how to navigate between intense spiritual warfare and uninterrupted intimacy with the Lord. David declares his faith in God, speaking of the source of this faith as his intimacy with Him, yet follows this with acknowledging the real-life challenges of believing when the circumstances shout otherwise. Then, He crowns this great psalm by declaring a great promise. David’s Decree This was a very challenging time in David’s life–he was being pursued by King Saul and his army–but he didn't open this psalm by complaining to God about how big his problems were. Nor did he lead with his feelings, as impactful as they were. He led with a declaration of faith. Verse 1 says: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” This was more than the religiosity some believers fall into when trying to maintain a “good confession,” nor was it mere wishful thinking. David knew the significance of stating what he believed in his heart. By doing so, he was allowing God’s words to define his reality rather than the adversity he was facing. David was personalizing God’s promises, declaring who God was to HIM. Notice his language: “my” light, “my” salvation, the strength of “my” life. David was laying claim to the covenantal protection promised him by Almighty God. When David declared that the Lord was his light, he was stating that not only would God lead him, but He would also expose the enemy’s hidden traps. When he declared the Lord as his stronghold, he was announcing that those attacking him would not be able to break through and overcome the Lord’s defenses. We should do the same, declaring our faith in God’s protection over our lives, health, homes, family, businesses, and yes, our nation. In verses 2 and 3, David got pretty graphic and spoke of evildoers advancing to “eat up my flesh” – describing an enemy intending total annihilation. He looked at Saul’s army encamped against him, yet his response is one of strong faith: “In this I will be confident.” Where did this audacious faith come from? It came from an understanding of covenant with God, and an unshakable confidence in His faithfulness. The Intimacy Factor Right after describing this intense opposition, David recorded a verse that seems completely out of place: “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (verse 4). Naturally speaking, if a person is under siege, he or she should be watching his enemy vigilantly. If a nation is under siege, the leader should be in the war room looking at maps, conferring with military advisers, etc. But David’s strategy was different. He went into the Lord’s presence. He traded the war room for the tent of meeting, the holy of holies! This wasn’t a retreat into denial; it was an anchoring of himself to the reality that his help came from God. This was strategic! The Hebrew word “dwell” in this verse is significant; yashab implies permanent residency, living in God’s presence.(1) When we do so, our minds become insulated from the panic our problems can bring. There in the secret place, David said he could “behold” God. When we behold Him, the enemy loses his ability to intimidate us. Giants look like grasshoppers up against the majesty of God. And notice the word “inquire.” David went there, not just to behold the Lord, but to inquire of Him. The temple was a place of divine counsel. David went into the presence of God to receive wisdom and revelation–the heavenly blueprint for battle, the intelligence report, the exact battle plan needed to defeat the adversary. Seeking intimacy with God is not running from spiritual warfare; intimacy is essential during our warfare. In verse 5, David reveals that not only would he find guidance in the Lord’s presence, but protection: “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” In ancient culture, if a leader or king welcomed you into his tent or dwelling, you were protected by the strength of his military power. An enemy couldn’t touch you without first going through the king. By dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, David was in a place of protection and strength. The Good Fight of Faith In verses 7, 9, 12, and 13, the tone of the psalm shifted once again. Holy Spirit motivated David to share with us not just his faith-filled decrees but also the emotional struggle he was facing. Some commentators believe this represented a breakdown in David’s faith. I completely disagree. This pictured the reality of the fight of faith. This is what it looks like to share our frustration and feelings with the Lord, while also standing firm in faith. When doing so, David affirmed his connection with the Lord: “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek’” (verse 8). David wrapped up this great psalm by once again referencing the tension every believer faces: the time between the promise and its fulfillment. In verse 13, he stated: “I would have fainted (lost heart), unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” David was stretched, but maintained a stubborn, unyielding faith that God was going to give him the breakthrough…here…now…not just in heaven one day. Then David issued a final command to himself and to all of us: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” Many misunderstand this word “wait.” In our language, waiting means sitting around doing nothing. But the Hebrew word here is qavah. It is a word meaning to braid, to bind together by twisting.(2) It is used to braid hair or make a rope from multiple threads of cord. When we qavah on the Lord, we are braiding ourselves to Him. His strength becomes ours. We are infusing His infinite power into our finite strength, enabling us to make an expectant, aggressive stance. We can stand our ground, refusing to waver, holding fast to our faith until the promise manifests. In summary, Psalm 27 encourages us to declare our faith, enter the secret place of God’s presence, receive His strategy, be strengthened with His power, and then stand our ground with tenacity until we see His goodness manifest. Pray with me: Father, it is impossible to live life without experiencing great challenges. Help us, by the power of Your Spirit to maintain the right perspective. Help us to keep our faith anchored in You and Your promises, even in dark times. And remind us that a strong heart connection with You is the key to overcoming. We pray for those struggling, whether it be over personal issues or struggling to believe for Your turnaround in our nation. Give them strength to believe that they will see Your goodness in their lives and in our nation. And we pray for our governmental leaders, as You commanded us. Give them strength when they face adversity. Remind them that victory is guaranteed in Your presence. Give us leaders like David who seek Your face and trust in You. Teach them Your ways, and how to hear Your voice. Keep them from deception and from harm. We pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the Lord is our light and salvation; we will not fear! Click on the link below to watch the video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3427. Ibid. Ref. no. 6960.

The Amazing Power of God’s Words We are living in a world filled with chaos and confusion. Whether for personal situations, interceding for others, or praying for a nation, God wants to use us to dispel the darkness. We are told that when God began creating in Genesis, the earth was formless (tohuw),(1) empty (bohuw),(2) and darkness covered the earth (Genesis 1:2). As well as formless and empty, these two words have a broad range of meanings, including “desolation, desert, barren, confusion, and even chaos.”(3) How did God transform the chaos, confusion, barrenness, etc? With His words: “Then God said…” (verse 3). The word “said” (amar(4) in Hebrew), however, can mean more than just “saying”; it can also mean the thinking that precedes the saying. Zodhiates used the phrase “internal speech”(5) as one of its meanings. God began by seeing or imagining what He wanted – internal speech, then created this with His words – external speech. As simple as it sounds, the first step for us in dealing with spiritual darkness and chaos is to determine or discern what God is thinking. What is His will in this situation? What does He intend to do? The laws of sowing and reaping, the free will of man, and God’s wisdom regarding timing can all play a part in determining His actions. The answers to these questions always begin with Scripture – biblical principles – but also must include being led by Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14). His revelation is essential. Once God’s thoughts or will are known, His strategy can be received and implemented. As I have said before, the tribe of Issachar demonstrated this. They “understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). The word “understood” is biyn,(6) which includes both wisdom and revelation – that which Holy Spirit reveals in the present. Because of this unique blend, these Issachar leaders could discern the general times and seasons, God’s strategic timing, and what to do in light of that time. Wisdom and revelation combine to give us God’s “what, when, and how.” This is why the Scriptures say in Ephesians 1:17 that we need a spirit of wisdom AND revelation. One of the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28 includes this revelation from Holy Spirit. The word “helps” comes from a Greek word (antilambanomai,(7)) meaning “to lay hold of.” We “help” another by “taking hold” of an object or situation along with them. The Passion Translation, however, offers additional insight into the word, translating it as “gifts of revelation knowledge.” This leapt off the page at me! In their margin note, they give us the reason: the word means not only to lay hold of in a physical sense, but also to apprehend, perceive, and lay hold of revelation! God “helps” us by giving us His thoughts – revelation. We assist one another by sharing this revelation, “helping” them hear what God is saying. Once we know His thoughts, His will, we can receive His strategy. Part of that strategy will almost always involve declaring what He has said, which is the second step in overcoming chaos and darkness. Saying What He Says When we know what God’s will is, from His Word and by His Spirit, we can then say what He says. Remember, that’s how God dealt with the chaos in Genesis: He thought, then He spoke. When He speaks, His words have creative power. Why? Because HE AND HIS WORD ARE ONE! “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). His words are filled with unlimited power because they flow from the very essence of who He is, releasing His breath, life, nature, and power (also see John 6:63). Which brings us back to Genesis. A footnote in the Passion Translation regarding Genesis 1:3 states, “God created light but did not create the sun until the fourth day. God Himself filled the universe with the light of His presence and glory.”(8) Incredible! The footnote continues, saying that “The Hebrew verbs used with the phrases ‘Let there be’ and ‘and there was’ are both related to the holy name Yahweh: yehi (“let there be”) and wayhi (“and there was”).” As Yahweh spoke, His creative power flowed FROM HIM into the universe. The I AM, who is light, released His nature with the words “Light BE!” and light BECAME! Truly, there is no one like our God! And here is the staggering application for us. The New Testament word used to describe God’s creation of all things is ginomai (John 1:1-5; Hebrews 11:3). The word essentially means, “cause to be or become.”(9) Amazingly, this same word is also used in Christ’s teaching on how we should pray (Matthew 6:10). In the phrase, “Thy will be done,” the two words “be done” are translated from this single Greek word, ginomai. The tense of the verb (aorist imperative) indicates a command. Simply stated, Christ said we are to command or declare His will to be, to become, to be created in situations. He intends for us to represent Him, releasing His words, in order to transform chaos into order, darkness into light. Let’s do so now. Pray with me: Lord, we live in chaotic and dark times, as Genesis 1 describes the earth at creation. Just as You conceived and declared Your will then, we know You have plans for the world today. From Your Word, we are confident what some of those plans include: we know Your will is that no one dies in a spiritually lost condition; we know You have a great harvest planned throughout all the earth; we know the Father has promised You the nations of Earth – they all belong to You; we know You’re building an Ekklesia that the plans of hell cannot overcome; and we know we can declare the release of Your Kingdom authority, and the manifestation of Your will. We align with Your will and declare a worldwide harvest. We call forth a revival of such proportions that a billion or more people will come to Yeshua. We decree the salvation and restoration of America, including a transformed government. We call forth a youth revival in America and around the world that will result in millions of young people coming to Christ. We decree the breaking of the “prince of Persia’s” hold in the Middle East. We call forth the fire of Holy Spirit and renewed passion into America’s churches. Father, we declare these things in Christ’s name and authority alone, acknowledging that our authority is only through Him, and that His will is what You honor. Of Him, to Him, and through Him are all things. We want Him to be honored in all we do. Amen. Our decree: We decree that God is bringing order into the chaos, and light into the darkness of our day. Click on the link below to watch the video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 8414. Ibid., ref. no. 922. Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard, rev. ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1990), p. 2063. Strong's Concordance, ref. no. 559. Zodhiates Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, p. 1804. Strong's Concordance, ref. no. 998. Ibid., ref. no. 482. YouVersion Bible App, The Passion Translation. Strong's Concordance, ref. no. 1096.

The Pillar of Fire I’ve said quite a bit lately about our Helper, the Holy Spirit. He aids us in many ways, not the least of which is guidance. He led the Israelites in a very unique way in the Exodus from Egypt, through a literal “pillar of a cloud” by day, and a “pillar of fire” by night (Exodus 13:21-22): “And the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from the presence of the people.” (NASB) Interestingly, in a passionate speech to Patriot leaders in America’s War of Independence, Founding Father Sam Adams referenced these two pillars. In September 1777, the war was not going well. The British were in control of New York, and Washington’s troops were suffering from deprivation and fatigue. “The number of delegates present at Congress had dwindled to a mere twenty from the fifty-six members who had signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Those remaining gathered for a private meeting in York to question whether there was any hope of success.”(1) Firebrand Adams, known by Bostonians as the Father of the American Revolution, rose to speak–actually “preach” would be a better description of his exhortation–comparing the American revolutionaries to the Israelites who had left the slavery of Egypt. He first referenced appealing to heaven, along with God’s providence and faithfulness - leaving no doubt where his faith lay - then mentioned these two pillars: “Let us awaken then, and evince a different spirit, a spirit that shall inspire the people with confidence in themselves and in us, a spirit that will encourage them to persevere in this glorious struggle, until their rights and liberties shall be established on a rock. We have proclaimed to the world our determination ‘to die freemen, rather than to live slaves.’ We have appealed to heaven for the justice of our cause, and in heaven we have placed our trust. Numerous have been the manifestations of God’s providence in sustaining us. In the gloomy period of adversity, we have had ‘our cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.’ We have been reduced to distress, and the arm of Omnipotence has raised us up. Let us still rely in humble confidence on Him who is mighty to save. Good tidings will soon arrive. Heaven shall never abandon us while we act worthy of its aid and protection.”(2) Preach it, Adams! I have always been fascinated by these pillars of cloud and fire in Israel’s Exodus, finding God’s choice to manifest His presence in this way intriguing. The cloud and fire were no doubt manifestations of Holy Spirit. But did they picture something more? I believe they did. Psalm 29 speaks of the power of God’s voice releasing clouds and fire. Verses 3-6 speak of His voice releasing storms - clouds, thunder, lightning, etc., and verse 7 tells us it releases fire. According to TPT, this psalm was read on the first day of the Feast of Pentecost, which pointed ahead to Holy Spirit being poured out on the church in Acts 2. They state in their footnote that “The Christian church was born on Pentecost two thousand years ago when the mighty ‘storm’ of the Spirit came into the upper room.” Acts 2 tells us: “Suddenly they heard the sound of a violent blast of wind rushing into the house from out of the heavenly realm. The roar of the wind was so overpowering it was all anyone could bear! Then all at once a pillar of fire appeared before their eyes. It separated into tongues of fire that engulfed each one of them.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭2-3‬ ‭TPT‬‬) In a footnote regarding these verses, the Passion translators state: “This was the pillar of fire that led Israel from bondage into the promised land. The same pillar of fire manifested here to initiate a new beginning from dead religious structures into the powerful life of the Spirit. Each believer received an overpowering flame of fire, signified by the shaft of light that engulfed them. It was as though each one received his own personal pillar of fire that would empower him and lead him throughout his life. This was the promise Jesus gave to His disciples of ‘the one like me’ (John 14:26), who would be sent by the Father and never leave them. Today every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of Christ.” If that doesn’t make you wanna shout some hallelujahs, I don’t know what would. Israel’s supernatural “guidance pillars” now indwell us in the person of the Holy Spirit. Patriot Adams knew Holy Spirit was assisting America in her quest for freedom, and He is helping us today regain our true freedom and purpose. Keep praying, church; we have Scripture - and history - on our side. “Heaven shall never abandon us.” Pray with me: Father, sin and rebellion often lead to depravity and insanity. Some of America’s leaders want to ban Your influence in our government. We also have depraved leaders who don’t know the difference between men and women, want to see babies killed, children mutilated, Your Word mocked, Your marriage covenant defiled, and common sense outlawed. Many “became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:21-22). Our nation has sown the wind and is reaping the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). And yet, You are rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), and love to redeem. We approach You now based on the redemptive power of the blood of Jesus. In the greatest story ever told, our Creator has become our Redeemer. We ask that His blood continue to cleanse our nation from sin, its resulting depravity, and the curse of insanity. Cleanse our hearts and heal our minds. Restore us to You, and thereby to truth and life. And as Founding Father Samuel Adams referenced, we ask You for the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). We need Holy Spirit’s guidance in our personal lives, and our nation needs them. Bring His glory and fire to our government, releasing these guiding forces into the White House, the halls of Congress, and the Supreme Court. Flow down from these “heads” of our government to every facet of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. “We have appealed to heaven for the justice of our cause, and in heaven we have placed our trust.”(3) We will not doubt, and we will not stop doing so until our nation is ablaze with revival and being reformed by truth. And in Jesus’ name we seal this. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the appeals to heaven will not stop, and they will not fail. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Sample text for Samuel Adams : a life / Ira Stoll. Ibid. Ibid.

God’s Hidden Plans In yesterday’s post, we looked at Jeremiah 33:3, where God said if we would call on Him, He would show us great and mighty things we have never seen. We saw that the word “mighty” does not refer to physical power or might but carries the connotation of something hidden and therefore fortified or protected. The verse is saying God will reveal to us things previously hidden and protected. Isaiah 48:6-7 is another passage speaking of God revealing previously hidden things. “Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even HIDDEN things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.” (emphasis mine) The word used here for “hidden” is natsar,(1) which is similar in meaning to the word used for “guarded secrets” in Jeremiah 33:3 (The Passion Translation). In fact, TPT uses the same phrase, “guarded secrets,” to translate this word. Natsar means to watch over, keep, guard, protect, maintain, etc. As such, it is one of the Hebrew words for a watchman. Isaiah 48:6 says that God watches over and protects His plans by keeping them “hidden” until He knows the right time to reveal them, whether they pertain to a person or a nation. Even when He does reveal plans, the Lord doesn’t always reveal the exact timing or how He will accomplish them. He protects them, not only from His enemies, but from us! If He didn’t, we would want to see them fulfilled NOW, and would try to make them happen OUR WAY, not God’s. Therefore, He “hides” His plans and waits for the right time to reveal them. Jesus was born at a “fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4). Holy Spirit was poured out only after Jesus was crucified, and the Day of Pentecost had “fully come” (Acts 2:1). Until these events, the plans and timing of God regarding redemption were still “hidden.” The apostle Paul was born again, then waited 14 years until God’s fullness of time, before being separated into his apostolic calling and destiny (Galatians 2:1; Acts 13). In 2020, God hid some of His plans regarding America. He clearly revealed that America would be saved, and He informed us that revival was coming to America. He also told several prophets that President Trump would serve two terms as President. What He chose not to reveal at the time was that there would be a four-year delay before Trump’s second term, during which time Holy Spirit would 1) expose corruption in America; and 2) change Donald Trump, which would allow him to accomplish much more than he could have previously. Preparation was needed, both in our government and in Trump, personally. Eventually, God’s hidden plans were revealed. God has plans for you that He has not yet revealed. He is still hiding them in order to protect them. In the meantime, pray and declare what you do know. Be obedient to what He has shown you. When the time is right, Holy Spirit will show you more. Don’t get ahead of Him. God began speaking to me about writing 10-12 years before it was time to do so. He needed to plant the seed in me, but it was not yet time for the fruit. This was somewhat confusing initially. When He first began speaking to me regarding this calling and confirmed it through others, I assumed it was time to start. Some of those who had prophetically discerned this gifting also began urging me to begin. I tried to do so, but it was obvious that I was not yet ready. Holy Spirit had simply begun preparing my heart and mind for His future plans. A few years later, He made it clear that it was time to begin writing. I wrote my first book, Intercessory Prayer, and have been writing ever since. God has plans for you as well. Good plans. You are familiar with some of them; others are hidden. Regarding those you do know, He has likely chosen to hide the timing. Trust and obey. Your trust in Him and perseverance during the wait are parts of your preparation. Remember, you are on a journey. And when God chooses to reveal His hidden plans to you, you’ll be glad you waited. Pray with me: Father, You have good plans for us, to give us a hope-filled future (Jeremiah 29:11). Thank You for this verse, assuring each one of us that You are not trying to “come up with” a plan for our life, but that You already “have” one. And thank You for hiding portions of this destiny, keeping it safe from the enemy of our souls, and even from ourselves, until Your fullness of time arrives. You are the Master Craftsman and the Perfect Timekeeper. You always know when the right time has come. Give assurance to those struggling with their timeline. Give them confidence that they can trust You with their future, declaring with the Psalmist that their times are in Your hand (Psalm 31:15). Awaken within them an assurance that You have a plan for their life and that, regardless of what has happened up to this point, they can trust You with their future. And we agree in prayer now for America and the destiny You gave her. [Place the name of your nation in the prayer.] We declare our faith that Your purposes for our nation will be accomplished; that You have plans and events hidden in Your heart that You will bring forth at just the right time. These plans revolve around the gospel of the Kingdom spreading from these shores to the entire world. They involve a third great awakening that will reset and reform our nation. These plans involve a youth revival, not only here but around the world, that will shake the nations of the earth. We declare that these purposes are safe in You, and will not be destroyed. All of this we pray in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that new things–great, hidden, and safely guarded by God–will be revealed at the right time. 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. 5341.

Seek the Treasure In yesterday’s Give Him 15 post, I spoke of our great Helper, Holy Spirit. He gives us discernment for life’s journey, including for our spiritual battles. Today, I want to continue this discussion. Holy Spirit doesn’t always share His plans and insights when we want or think He should. There are times when He must wait until the time is right. “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah 33:3) This famous verse of Scripture has been heard by almost every believer. On one occasion several years ago, I woke up at 3:33 AM and heard the Lord say to me, “Jeremiah 33:3.” At least, I thought I had awakened at 3:33 AM, until I woke up again at 3:33 AM and heard the same words! When I finally did wake up, I realized I had dreamed that I woke up at 3:33 AM - twice! - and heard the Lord say “Jeremiah 33:3.” The Lord wanted to “awaken” me to this verse and do so with extra emphasis, so He gave me the same dream twice. I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but upon waking, I knew immediately that God wanted me to look at Jeremiah 33:3. We all find comfort in the promise that if we call upon the Lord, He will answer us and show us great and mighty things. But I decided to dig a little deeper and began by reading the verse in several biblical translations. I was immediately intrigued by the Amplified Classic Bible: “Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).” The phrase “fenced in and hidden” surprised and fascinated me. “Mighty” is the word that motivated the Amplified translators to add this additional phrase. My first thought was, Well, which is right? “Mighty?” or “fenced in and hidden?” Out came the lexicons. The Hebrew word is batsar.(1) It is a very fascinating word. Follow me closely: the root concept is “to cut off,” including the aspect of separating or isolating something. It was often used in the context of doing so in order to protect it. This is why the Amplified translators used it to describe something “fenced in and hidden,” like a garden or vineyard; the word was even used to describe gold, which is “cut off” from view and “hidden” by the ground. Batsar also took on the meaning of a city that was cut off, inaccessible, and therefore, “fortified.” The concept of mighty, therefore, is not referring to physical strength or military might, but to something hidden and inaccessible, thus, protected and “mighty.” The Amplified Bible got it right. This amazing verse says that God at times reveals information or revelation that has previously been hidden, and not yet made known. He will “unhide” it, if you will. This can be seen also in the fact that a different form of the word, betser,(2) is used to describe gold that was once “hidden” but has now been discovered and mined. Using this analogy of gold, we could say that God is going to reveal the treasure of His Word, or the prophetic revelation necessary for us to succeed or prosper (Joshua 1:8). We actually sometimes use the phrase “a wealth of information.” The “treasure” of information Holy Spirit gives could be prophetic insight regarding the times and seasons, how to break through in a given situation, or direction for the future. Any new insight revealed by Holy Spirit would fit the description of batsar/betser. God is willing to reveal the understanding we need to break through and prosper. Our Counselor and Teacher, Holy Spirit, wants to release the spirit of wisdom and revelation to you (Ephesians 1:17). He wants to “uncover” truth, information, and insight for you. Uncover is actually the literal meaning of revelation. Let Him help you mine the gold. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Thy words were FOUND, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (emphasis mine). Too often, we fail to “find” the gold, the revelation we need, because we are not diligently looking and listening. Psalm 107:9 tells us God satisfies the thirsty and the hungry, filling them with what is good. “The problem isn’t God’s refusal to speak but our refusal or inability to get quiet enough to hear. Silencing the soul is a learned art. The psalmist David spoke of this. ‘Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother’ (Psalm 131:2). When we quieten the soul, we can hear His voice in our hearts.”(3) However, one more point must be made. Holy Spirit doesn’t always share His information, plans, and insights with us exactly when we want them or believe that He should. There are times when He must wait until just the right time. He protects certain information to keep us from moving ahead of His timing and from hindering His plans. Isaac comes at God’s time, not ours (Genesis 17:21), and His plans are shared in His timing, as well. He guards them until the right time. The Passion Translation translates this verse: “Cry out to Me and I will answer you. I will reveal to you great things, guarded secrets that you never could have known.” How about that - guarded secrets! The awesome promise of this verse, however, is that if we call upon God, at just the right time He will answer and reveal great, guarded secrets to assist us in life. As King Solomon was about to begin his reign over Israel, he prayed a prayer God couldn’t resist. “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9). The phrase “an understanding heart” could actually be translated “a hearing heart.” The translators struggle with the concept of a “hearing” heart, so they don’t translate it this way. But the Hebrew word is shama,(4) and it means “to hear.” Solomon asked for a hearing heart, in order to lead God’s people appropriately. God answered Solomon’s prayer, revealing to him treasures of wisdom; we can read them in the book of Proverbs. Why don’t you take a little time today and ask God to reveal some treasure to you? Pray with me: Father, we echo the words of the Psalmist, who asked You to “open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Your law/word” (Psalm 119:18). There is no problem we have, no situation we face, for which the answer cannot be found in Your Word, revealed to us by Holy Spirit. Give us the hunger and tenacity to dig for the treasure, for You have said that if we call upon You, You would answer and show us the hidden pearls of revelation we need. No, these priceless gems are not lying out in the open for the casual seeker to come across them “accidentally.” You do not cast Your pearls before swine. They must be sought, treated as the priceless treasure they are. But for the hungry, You have promised to help us mine the gold and find the treasure. Give us hungry, seeking hearts, just as Solomon possessed. And we know You will respond to that hunger by opening our eyes to find hidden treasures of wisdom. We pray for our leaders in government and in the church, asking that You give them wisdom and revelation to lead with Your understanding and enlightenment. Give them supernatural strategies to overcome challenging problems. Provide solutions to heal our nation and govern with righteousness and justice. And we pray for everyone listening to and reading this today. Give them the answers they need in order to overcome, break through, and succeed. Give them heaven’s understanding and wisdom for every situation they face. All of this we ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that as we call upon the Lord, He will answer us, revealing great and hidden things we did not know. 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. 1219. Ibid., ref. no. 1220, 1221. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books), p. 143. Strong’s Concordance, ref. 8085.

Holy Spirit, Our Battle Partner 1 Chronicles 12:32: “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.” First Chronicles 12 is the account describing King David’s great army of soldiers. Verse one tells us “These are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war.” Verse 38, at the end of the chapter, repeats the fact that these were David’s “men of war.” These “mighty men” have been considered by some historians to be among the greatest fighting forces to ever exist. Some of their feats, as recorded in 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11, seem almost impossible. These soldiers were no doubt assisted by Holy Spirit, just as Samson was. The Holy Spirit is the most neglected source of help in the world. He is actually called our Helper (parakletos)(1) in Scripture (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) and is our source of power on the spiritual battlefield (Acts 1:8). The Amplified Bible actually uses seven words to translate parakletos: Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, and Standby! The Greeks provide a great picture for us of Holy Spirit’s help in spiritual warfare. In history, “Greek soldiers went into battle in pairs so that when an enemy attacked, they could draw together, back-to-back, covering each other’s blind side. One’s battle partner was his paraclete.”(2) Holy Spirit is your battle partner - that should bring some comfort! Back to 1 Chronicles 12 and the children of Issachar. An interesting thing happens three-fourths of the way through this chapter. In verse 32, God shifts temporarily from describing battlefield prowess to intel. It turns out that those from the tribe of Issachar weren’t known for fighting with swords and spears, but with their spiritual ears! They were David’s prophetic corps. The phrase “understanding of the times” doesn’t mean they were historians or observers of present-day trends. The word used for “understanding” is biynah,(3) and means discernment and wisdom. It is what God gave Daniel, enabling him to understand dreams and visions (Daniel 1:20, 9:22, 10:1). Solomon was also given this gift (1 Kings 3:1-15). Biynah would be the equivalent of “the spirit of wisdom and revelation” mentioned in Ephesians 1:17. “Time” is the word eth(4), meaning an appointed or strategic time, much like the Greek word kairos.(5) Issachar likely had an anointing to discern general times and seasons as well, but the context here is specifically for times of war. David’s “mighty men” included “discerning men!” Imagine that! David was able to go to one of his military units and ask, “What is Holy Spirit saying about this battle? What are you discerning?” And Issachar was able to respond: “Here’s what God is showing us, and the strategy He has given.” Now there’s some intel!!! Based on 1 Corinthians 10:6, we should assume from David’s example that prophetic insight - as well as spiritual power - is critical in order for us to win spiritual battles. The questions: “What is Holy Spirit saying about this situation? What is His strategy?” are nonnegotiable if we are to be “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). Ignoring Holy Spirit’s help occurs when we make Christianity a religion instead of a relationship. Our walk with God is not supposed to be based on religious rituals and doctrines, and Holy Spirit didn’t lose His voice when the Bible was written. He wants to communicate with us! When God created Adam and Eve in Eden, He created His family, not a religion. Family is what was lost at the Fall and what Yeshua restored at the Cross. And Jesus said to call God “Father” (Matthew 6:9). Get to know your Friend, Holy Spirit. He was sent to teach us (John 14:26), guide us into truth, and show us things to come (John 16:13). He was also sent to make us overcomers, those who reign in this life (Romans 5:17), not just the world to come. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for sending Holy Spirit to be our Helper. Just as Jesus was filled with, led, empowered, and anointed by Holy Spirit, we have been promised the same help. We ask You to bring a fresh infilling of Your Spirit to the Ekklesia; sharpen our discernment and mature us to be led more accurately by our Helper, and more effective in revealing Christ on the earth. We trust You, Holy Spirit, as our great Paraclete. We know You are our protector and strength in battles. You make us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) and cause us to always triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14). We ask for greater levels of this, not just for ourselves but for our leaders. Give the spirit of wisdom and revelation to our government leaders who have placed their faith in You. Defend them in their battles, and lead them in their decisions. Awaken in them the same awareness of their need for Your help that our Founders had when writing our Constitution. They called on You for help at the start of EVERY day, and You answered. You will do the same today. We ask especially that wisdom and revelation be given to them at this time regarding Iran. Satan’s subtlety is his greatest weapon, and he endeavors to infuse this ability into those aligned with him. We bind his ability to deceive our leaders and ask that Holy Spirit’s discernment be given to them. All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will not neglect the support of our great Helper, the Holy Spirit. 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. 3875. Gordon Dalbey, Healing the Masculine Soul (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003), p. 124-125. James Strong Concordance, ref. no 998. Ibid., ref. no. 6256. Ibid. ref. no. 2540.

“Escape from Freedom” From Exodus 14:8-12: “And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with a high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. “And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.” And from Exodus 16:2-3: “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. “ It has always baffled me how these Israelites could still doubt God and His leader, Moses, after the many miracles performed to lead them out of Egyptian slavery. And it has certainly amazed me how they could prefer slavery - because of the regular provisions they received - to freedom. It turns out there’s a name for this, actually more than one. When I asked the experts hiding in my web browser if there was a term for it, the internet gave me three and actually began its response by referencing Scripture! Here is a summary of the explanation: When people prefer the “predictable security” of oppression over the “terrifying risks” of freedom, it is most commonly referred to by the following concepts: 1. The "Fleshpots of Egypt" Syndrome Deriving directly from the Exodus narrative itself (specifically Exodus 16:3, where they pine for the literal pots of meat they had in captivity), “Fleshpot Syndrome” describes the tendency of an oppressed group to look back at their period of bondage with romanticized nostalgia because their basic physical needs (food, shelter, etc.) were guaranteed by their masters. 2. The Comfort of the Known Cage Psychology uses the phrase “loss aversion,” saying that humans feel the pain of losing essentials like security or predictable food twice as intensely as they value the potential gain of something abstract like freedom. They also speak of it as a “System Justification Theory”: A psychological phenomenon where people will defend and prefer a broken, oppressive status quo simply because it provides a predictable framework for survival. To these people, freedom requires greater mental stress and frightening uncertainty; slavery, while it can be brutal, eliminates all decision-making. 3. Escape from Freedom (How’s that for an oxymoron!) In 1941, the psychoanalyst and philosopher Erich Fromm published the famous book Escape from Freedom(1) that addresses this exact human crisis. Fromm argued that true freedom brings to some intense anxiety, isolation, and the terrifying burden of personal responsibility. When people cannot handle that anxiety, they often seek out authoritarianism or submission to a ruling power to feel safe again. The Israelites were experiencing the sudden shock of de-institutionalization. When you have been conditioned for generations to have your survival managed by an external power, the immediate instinct upon facing a crisis in the wild is to flee back to the predictable, even if the predictable is a whip. Interesting. But as real as these feelings may be, God didn’t consider them as justification for the murmuring and unbelief of the Israelites. In 1 Corinthians 10:9-11, Paul warned the early church to avoid the rebellious attitudes of the Israelites in the wilderness, specifically mentioning their grumbling and the resulting consequences. Hebrews 3:7-11 quotes Psalm 95, reminding us of the rebellion in the desert when the Israelites angered God by their constant complaining. The passage goes on to say this rebellion kept them from receiving their inheritance. And Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin, recounts how their ancestors rejected Moses and turned their hearts back to Egypt during the time in the wilderness (Acts 7:39-41). God held the Israelites responsible for their attitudes, showing us that these weaknesses can be overcome. Our Founding Fathers Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams spoke to the “loss aversion” crowd of their day - the “even if it IS broken don’t fix it” cowards, and “fleshpots of Britain” lovers - stating their disdain for these mindsets. In his famous defense of the Revolution, Patrick Henry said: “There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable - and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come…Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”(2) And, of course, there was the inimitable Father of the American Revolution, Sam Adams: “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”(3) Sounds like Sam, like God with the cowardly Israelites, had heard enough! Choose life. Choose freedom. Choose to pay the price. Pray with me: Father, encourage believers today who refuse to crouch down and lick the hands of government officials who contend that our rights come from them. Give us brave hearts to resist those who tell us we must accept immoral and unrighteous laws, and the courage to speak out against those desiring to muzzle us. We don’t want the fleshpots of Egypt, and we certainly don’t want to “escape from freedom.” Awaken Americans to the realization that liberty can be lost, that great nations can become entangled, trapped, and destroyed by the webs of fear and complacency. Restore passion and love of freedom in America, and awaken in us once again the DNA of our roots. And we ask You to mix these traits with passion for Your holy destiny on this nation; that our love of freedom be mixed with a love for You and the cause of Christ. Remind believers that it is okay to love America, that it is acceptable and appropriate to be Christian patriots. And now that our nation has been rededicated to You, fan the flames of revival in - and from - our land. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that we cast our vote with Patrick Henry: we will never accept peace at the price of chains and slavery. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://archive.org/details/escapefromfreedo0000from_t4o5/page/n5/mode/2up https://www.whitehouse.gov/patrick-henry-speech-give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death/ https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/2001/11/03/samuel-adams-advocates-american-independence-1776/

“Consecrate the Court” In 1988, I heard Holy Spirit say, “Study the watchman concept of prayer.” I had studied the subject prior to this, taught on it, and was pretty familiar with the concept. Yet I had a strong, immediate impression that I was missing something. I obeyed Holy Spirit’s prompting and, indeed, there was more to the subject than I had previously seen. I discovered that the watchman concept of prayer is not just defensive and protective; it also has an offensive or aggressive aspect. I found that the Hebrew words for watchmen are also translated “to lay siege, blockade,”(1) “spy,”(2) and “ambush,”(3) in order to conquer cities or people (see Judges 1:24; 2 Samuel 11:16; Isaiah 1:8; Jeremiah 4:17; Psalm 56:6; 71:10). The reason these words are used in this manner is because all of the actions involve “watching.” When I saw this and began praying for greater insight, I heard Holy Spirit say the following: “I am about to release revelation to the praying church that will enable them to deliver individuals, cities, regions, and nations for Me. New strategies, concepts, and movements will emerge; discernment of satan’s strongholds will be given, and prayer sieges will begin that eventually end his hold over nations, regions, and people. “This will be broad in scope, with strategies and actions disseminated through many different ministries/organizations. I will give an assignment to one person or ministry, while simultaneously assigning another part to others. At times, they will not even realize they’re part of a larger strategy. I will orchestrate all of the efforts in order to lay sieges in the spirit realm, cutting off satan’s ‘supply lines’ - sins and iniquities that have given him access. I’ll close these entry points, cleansing from sins that have enabled him to hold places in captivity. Through the anointing of Holy Spirit, My intercessors will discern strategies and conduct prayer sieges of cities and nations.” In 1988, very little was known or spoken of regarding solemn assemblies, prayer walking, prayer journeys, spiritual mapping, identificational repentance, reconciliation ceremonies between races and people groups, etc. I am sure understanding of them existed in a few people’s thinking, but most of the body of Christ had never heard of them. I am relatively certain that some of these concepts weren’t spoken of at all. At the time, I knew of only a couple of ministries that existed primarily for prayer purposes, and there weren’t many books on the subject of intercession. Since then, however, literally millions of believers around the world have come to understand these aspects of prayer, and have learned to pray more effectively. The learning curve in the prayer movement shot up exponentially: Dozens of prayer ministries have been launched, thousands of prayer groups have formed, and millions of believers are interceding effectively. Dr. C. Peter Wagner, one of the leaders and fathers of this movement in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, once happily stated, “The prayer movement around the world is out of control.” Certainly, we have not yet “arrived” in our understanding of prayer, but we’ve moved forward at a rapid pace. This understanding and related activities are due to the revelation God began releasing to the church at the end of the 1980s. While much has been accomplished, we must always remember that prayer sieges for cities and nations can take years, even decades, to accomplish their purposes. Perseverance is non-negotiable. The prayers we release are part of dismantling centuries-old, sometimes millennia-old, strongholds of darkness. Also, millions of hearts and minds - traditions, cultural paradigms, even religious beliefs - must be changed. Spiritual transformation doesn’t occur simply because God “finally decides” to create it; it occurs when people’s actions and the conditions in a region make it possible. And those conditions are created, in part, through prayer sieges. Our prayers are accomplishing much; they’re absolutely shaping history. Blockades have been placed in the spiritual realm against satan’s activities; sieges are occurring and accomplishing their purposes. The Courts One of the places where this has occurred, and continues to take place, is the Supreme Court of America. Millions of believers in America have been part of this prayer siege; I began praying for a transformation and turnaround of our Supreme Court in the 1990s. We have made progress. Another individual the Lord has called to focus on the Court is my good friend, Phillip Jauregui, president of Judicial Action Group. Though living in Alabama, he spends a substantial amount of time in Washington, D.C., reviewing, researching, and working to place only the best judges and justices in our federal courts. Phillip has worked on hundreds of judicial nominations over the past 20 years, including several United States Supreme Court justices. Not only is Phillip an attorney, but he is also a man of prayer. For years, God has motivated him to pray for the Supreme Court’s transformation. In 2017, the Lord began speaking to Phillip in a unique way regarding the Court, comparing it to the prodigal son in Scripture. That download from heaven has now become an incredible book - written in layman’s terms, not legalese - filled with insights regarding how we can pray for the Supreme Court. It was my great honor to write the foreword to this book, The Parable of the Prodigal Court. Phillip also hosts a prayer gathering in D.C. for the High Court each year, on the first day of its new session. The Lord gave him the phrase “Consecrate the Court.” I join him each year for this very strategic gathering, which will take place this year on October 5-6 at The Museum of the Bible. It is my honor to be the keynote speaker at the dinner on Monday night. I encourage you to join us this year as we continue the prayer siege and consecrate America’s Supreme Court to the Lord. (Go to JAGF.org and click on EVENTS for tickets and more information. Tickets are required, and seating is limited, so get your tickets today.) Pray with me: Father, we turn our attention today to the Supreme Court of America. Through this institution, our nation has rejected You, life, the covenant of marriage You established, and more. We have arrogantly rebelled against You, and have paid for this rebellion with the loss of tens of millions of Americans. Today, we repent and ask for Your mercy. The blood of Jesus was sprinkled on a “Mercy Seat,” and we ask for this mercy. We also join our prayers today with the prayers that have been offered to consecrate this Court to You. YOU birthed America and our government. YOU instituted all government. Bring the Court back under YOUR plans, purposes, precepts, and laws. We dedicate the Supreme Court to YOU and ask that You change all that needs changing. Fill this branch of government and its building with Your presence once again. We ask all of this in the holy and all-powerful name of Yeshua. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the Supreme Court of the United States is being reconsecrated and rededicated to Almighty God, Creator and Owner of all the earth. Portions of today’s post were adapted from my book Watchman Prayer, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard, rev. ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1990), p. 1752. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990) ref. no. 6822. Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, p. 1787.