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What A God! “Another powerful move of the Holy Spirit erupted this week at Florida State University in Tallahassee as the spiritual awakening on America’s college campuses isn’t showing signs of slowing down. Tonya Prewett, founder of the UniteUS   Ministry,  reports, ‘What a night!! 4500 students gathered at FSU for a powerful night of worship! Hundreds made decisions to follow Jesus and were baptized! What a God!’ “This is the second time America’s Number 2 ‘party school’ has been hit by the power of God after thousands turned to Jesus and hundreds were baptized in an FSU fountain in 2024. “‘The hunger, the faith, the joy, the surrender, it's all been incredible to witness. Students who gave their lives to Jesus in 2024 stepped up to lead at Unite FSU 2026! God continues to move at FSU!’ Prewett added. “As CBN News has been reporting, the UniteUS outreaches are ongoing here in 2026. Last week, thousands turned out at the University of Pittsburgh for an evening of worship and preaching. More outreaches are planned for upcoming weeks, including Samford on April 8 and Oklahoma State on April 28.” (1) I have now heard firsthand reports regarding the UniteUS gathering at Samford from my friend Larry Sparks, who will be sharing with us about revival in an upcoming post. Larry was deeply moved and said the same thing happened there as occurred at Florida State. America’s Third Great Awakening has begun, and the revival will also take place in many other nations. The Lord first showed me in 1990 that another great revival was coming to America, and that it would begin with the youth. It has been a little over 35 years since Holy Spirit gave me this open vision, and it has been largely charting the course for my life ever since. I’ve shared it before on Give Him 15, but it will encourage you to hear it again, along with what occurred afterward. While teaching a class on prayer, suddenly, I began seeing – with eyes wide open! – not what was before me physically, but an open vision. I saw thousands of young people in a stadium or arena passionately worshiping and crying out to God. The scene changed, and they left the stadium. I then watched as they arrived back in their hometowns as flames of fire. Everywhere they went, the fire of revival sprang up. As I prayed about this, Holy Spirit said He was showing me what was coming: “There will be a Third Great Awakening in America, which will begin with the young generation.” I was deeply impacted.  A month later, Ceci and I went to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Day of Prayer. Upon arrival, I was told of a unique event taking place all that week called a Biblethon. A canopy tent and small PA system were set up on the Capitol lawn. Individuals signed up for 15-minute slots, and the entire Bible – Genesis through Revelation – was read over the Capitol and nation 24/7 for the entire week. Those participating didn’t choose the passages they read; each participant had to continue where the previous person had stopped. When the entire Bible had been read, they started again in Genesis.  When Ceci and I arrived in D.C., a friend told me of this Biblethon and said, “I knew you would want to participate, and the slots were almost gone, so I signed you up.” “Yes! That’s awesome,” I replied. “The only slots remaining were through the night, so I signed you up at 2:00 AM tomorrow night,” he said with a smile. Instantly, I heard Holy Spirit say, “Through the passage of Scripture you read in the Biblethon, I’m going to confirm what I told you after the vision – that another great awakening will occur, and will begin with the young people.” My quiet response to Holy Spirit was, “Sir, I trust YOU, but I don’t trust MYSELF in this situation. I could find the concept of revival in ANY 15-minute reading of Scripture. Any! Whether the passage is about holiness, righteousness, love, You judging evil, a miracle, or someone You used, I could get the concept of revival from it. I am not trying to manipulate or force You to conform to my demands, but because of the Scriptures You’ve been speaking to me from in my ‘quiet times,’ there is only one way I would know for certain that a passage was confirming that word: if I get to read either the book of Haggai or Habakkuk.”  Haggai is two chapters long, Habakkuk is three, totaling 5 of the 1189 chapters in the Bible. I knew the odds were almost impossible that the reading progression would have arrived at one of these books just when it was my time to read. But that’s what I told the Lord.  When I arrived at the Biblethon tent the next night, thirty minutes early as instructed, they were nowhere near Haggai or Habakkuk. Someone was reading from the gospels. I didn’t want the Lord to feel badly about being unable to have them at one of the passages I requested, so I assured Him it was okay, and that I still believed the vision and word from the previous month were from Him. I knew He was comforted! A couple of minutes before my time slot, the lady in charge approached and told me I was next. Then her expression changed; she looked at me and departed from protocol, saying, “Mr. Sheets, you have your choice; you can read either the book of Haggai or Habakkuk.” I was stunned! God was saying, “Not only can I arrange it so you can read one of those two books, I can do better than that. You said ‘Haggai OR Habakkuk.’ Okay, you have your choice, son: Haggai or Habakkuk.” That, my friend, is how much the Lord wanted me - and wants you - to know He is going to send a Third Great Awakening to America, beginning with young people.  I prayed and waited over 35 years to see the fulfillment of what I saw in this vision. I have now seen it. In April of last year, Ceci sent me a video clip, adding the words: “Your vision!” As I watched it, tears began to flow, and I said to myself, “This is it. It’s here.” The video is from a Passion Worship Gathering in 2024, just over 2 years ago. Since then, there have been over 18 million views. I have been blessed to have been in many amazing worship times, but this one is the scene I saw in 1990 . It is a gathering of tens of thousands of young people, caught up in worship, in awe of, and overwhelmed by Jesus. The lingering presence of Holy Spirit, the expressions of adoration on their faces, the depth of what was occurring is beyond words…and is what I saw in the vision from 1990. Now, gatherings with the same passion and presence of God are occurring on college campuses across the nation, with the added element of salvations and baptisms. The Third Great Awakening has begun. Find a quiet place where you won’t be distracted and, using the link below, WATCH  all 20 minutes of the  video . The longer it goes, the better it gets. Don’t just listen to it – watch it! If you’re older and don’t know how to use YouTube,  have someone assist you, but watch it. Pastors, show it to your congregations and encourage them with what has begun. Youth pastors, show your youth group and let the kids see who they were made to be. Pray with me: Father, in Habakkuk, You said to  “Write down the vision…So that one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hurries toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it delays, wait for it”  (Habakkuk 2:2-3). Like the shepherds at the time of Christ’s birth, who heard the promise, then waited many years for Jesus to burst onto the scene, we have waited over 30 years for this great awakening. It has begun. Now, we ask for the fire to break out all over this nation, and the nations. Shake the earth and send “the desire of all nations”  to us. Fill this nation and the nations of the earth with the greater glory (Haggai 2:6-9). And Lord, prepare the church for this revival. We pray that no traditions of men, preconceived ideas, or wrong expectations will hold us back. Blow the lid off. Rock the boat. Stretch our wineskins and challenge our paradigms. Give us new wine, fresh wind, and an abundance of rain. We ask for the greatest, biggest, and most far-reaching revival in history. Outdo Yourself, Holy Spirit. In Yeshua’s name! Amen. Our decree: We declare that Jesus, the desire of the nations, will be revealed in His glory throughout the world. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Here is the link to the video from  Passion Conference 2024 . https://cbn.com/news/us/americas-2-party-school-gets-hit-second-wave-awakening-hundreds-turn-christ

My Response Regarding the Ceasefire Tuesday evening, President Trump agreed to a two-week cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran. Talks are slated to continue during this two-week timeframe, with the intent being to iron out terms both nations can live with, as long as Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz open. Opinions differ on whether the cease-fire will survive, and the talks will lead to peace. Throughout the course of this war, opinions have also differed on whether or not we should have engaged militarily with Iran in the first place. Some Americans are isolationists and were adamantly opposed, some are interventionists and were strongly in favor, and others are somewhere between these two ideologies, believing that at times we must involve ourselves in military conflicts, but only when there is no other choice.  I have stated more than once in my Give Him 15 posts that I believe this war was necessary. I certainly don’t like war, but neither do I like murderous dictators and thugs. Does this mean I believe America should involve itself in every skirmish happening around the world, or run to the rescue of every group of people being persecuted by another? No, not unless: The bad guys are close to obtaining a nuclear weapon. They have promised to use this weapon against us and our allies. They have proven that they are conscienceless, murderous monsters capable of heinous actions. They control a great portion of the world‘s oil and intend to blackmail the rest of us with this control. There is only one way to deal with the Hitlers of the world, and that is to destroy them before they destroy others. Trump knows this and refused to “kick the can” down the road for the next president and/or generation to deal with. The world has tolerated the terrorist regime leading Iran far too long, and Trump knew it. And when it became clear that Iran was close to producing a nuclear weapon, he had the common sense and strength of will to say “No!” He also faced other facts that previous leaders have responded to by burying their heads in the sand and simply hoping for the best. Iran and Venezuela possess and/or control much of the world’s oil. And they are aligned with China and Russia (at least Venezuela was), two nations also ruled by murderous dictators intent on ruling the world. It doesn’t take much intelligence to see the plans behind these alliances: world domination.  But we finally have a leader – and military – that faced the facts and said this was NOT going to happen. Due to Trump’s actions and an incredible military, America now controls Venezuela’s oil. Iran’s military has been decimated, although they still possess some of their missiles and drones, which also need to be destroyed. And, of course, Iran’s nuclear capabilities must be terminated. Will the cease-fire and the discussions lead to these results? Time will tell. But if Iran does not hand over all of their enriched uranium supply, our military should find and destroy it, whatever it takes.  To those criticizing President Trump for his actions, accusing him of war crimes and of killing innocent people: if you have not screamed as loudly over the murder of 65 million babies in the womb; if you have not protested the mutilation of thousands of confused children by ideologically driven adults; if you did not weep and cry out over the 45,000 innocent Iranians tortured and murdered in the past few months by the evil regime in control there…then spare us your hypocrisy. Your rants ring hollow; your clamoring is meaningless, and your complaints are beyond hypocritical. President Trump and our military are doing the world a favor by dealing with this wicked regime. And we, as Americans, can endure some high fuel prices and a lower stock market for a short season as they do so.  Pray for our leaders, especially our President. He is making difficult decisions that will impact the world for years. He has the guts and backbone to make tough calls, but only the wisdom of God can move us through these times successfully. Pray also for those advising him. Ask the Lord to block counsel that is not wise, allowing only His wisdom to get to the President. And pray for those in negotiations during this two-week period; ask the Lord to give them supernatural discernment and wisdom. Pray that any evil intentions and lies from Iran’s leaders be exposed, and pray against the powers of darkness involved in this situation. The Bible speaks of “principalities and powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). We are to stand against them! Ask the Lord for the continued overthrow of the prince of Persia/Iran mentioned in Daniel 10. This spirit seeks to interrupt God’s messages, wear down His people, and thereby disrupt His timing.  Don’t simply watch the news;  make  the news through your prayers! The greatest weapon we have is appealing to heaven. When we do not pray, the enemy can prevail in the earth’s situations. But the effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous still avail much (James 5:16)! Pray with me: Father, we trust You, Your heart, and Your wisdom. But You have entrusted much to us, as well. You actually said we sometimes have not because we ask not (James 4:2). We refuse to allow that to occur at this moment in time - we are making our appeals and know that You will answer. Please lead President Trump, his advisors, our military leaders, and those negotiating with Iran during this season. Keep them from making wrong decisions, from receiving bad information, and from being deceived by Iranian leaders. Give them great wisdom and supernatural discernment. Please do the same for Israel in their involvement. Give our leaders the understanding needed to end the control of this evil regime. And we also ask You to end all control and influence of the prince of Persia in the Middle East. End his reign in the region once and for all.  Cause all that takes place to produce relief and freedom for the people of Iran, and please protect innocent lives. Even more importantly, cause what occurs in the region to lead to success in the preaching of the gospel in the Middle East. Send a glorious revival! These things we ask in the name of Jesus and for His glory. Our decree: We declare that Jesus is Lord over the nations, and He will have His inheritance (Psalm 2:8).  Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Introduction Today’s post is from our friend, Will Ostan, a retired U.S. Army Major and seasoned patriot. You might recall that Will is the soldier who introduced me to the Appeal to Heaven flag. I believe that his message today, shared from a combat veteran’s perspective, will inform and encourage you. Christian Courage As world events continue to escalate due to America and Israel’s just war against Iran, Russia’s illegitimate long war in Ukraine, and an aggressive China making its intentions known for eventual world domination by the end of this decade, the church has a stark choice on how it responds to these volatile times. Will we retreat? Or will we stay engaged in the culture through prevailing prayer and a resolute determination marked by Christian courage?  In his book, Impossible People: Christian Courage and the Struggle for the Soul of Civilization, author Os Guinness (1)  writes,  “In the golden era of the Roman Empire, Pliny the Younger advised Emperor Trajan that Christians should be executed solely for their tenacity and intransigence. ‘Whatever the nature of their admission, I am convinced that their stubbornness and unshakable obstinacy ought not to go unpunished.’” (2) Christians in the early church confronted far more dire consequences than we do today in America - including instantaneous death or dismemberment for illegally proclaiming the gospel - yet they refused to stay silent and cower in fear! Instead, they became known as “impossible people” because of their courageous stand marked by what the world called “unshakable obstinacy.” We would be wise to draw inspiration from their strength for our current cultural moment! Guinness accurately describes the typical mindset in some segments of today’s American populace by stating,  “Christians throughout the West often appear to be on the back foot. They have been told repeatedly that their prospects are hopeless. In a thousand withering dismissals, we have heard that we are fighting a losing battle and the game is already over. Christians are ‘yesterday’s faith,’ our day is done, our disagreements with others are a matter of bigotry, and we are reactionaries and on the ‘wrong side of history.’” (3)  We are constantly fed these lies by the world and sadly, sometimes even by leaders in the church. For years, countless books, articles, and speeches have stated that a “post-Christian” America is a fait accompli, and her eventual doom is imminent.  How did some in the church come to believe these lies? In my opinion, one of the main reasons is that we’ve had far too many preachers who promote either hopeless, defeatist theologies or comfort-driven lives of ease and self-aggrandizement. But instead of being lulled into complacency by these false messages, we are in desperate need of hearing a roar from the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, reawakening us to our holy calling as courageous Christians – those who will gladly stand resolutely for the glorious cause of Christ in the face of cultural decay.  To put it more succinctly, Guinness teaches us that,  “As salt and light in today’s extraordinary world, our contribution is indispensable. We are not simply guardians of some of the best of the past, but pioneers whose task is to stand against the world for the future of the world – and for the very sake of humanity.” (4) This truth is echoed in eternity past by the Bible’s “Hall of Faith” heroes whose lives compel us to continued engagement by their incredible exploits. Allow these words from Hebrews 11:32-34 and 12:1-2 to permeate deep into your soul:  “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets – who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight…Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (5)   Overcoming evil by exhibiting Christian courage is not just in our historical spiritual DNA; it is our destiny and duty. Winston Churchill, a man whose leadership helped save what he called “Christian Civilization” from annihilation in the 20th century, may have put it best when he proclaimed the following to all freedom-loving people,  “When great causes are on the move in the world…we learn that we are spirits and not animals, and that something is going on in space and time, which, whether we like it or not, spells ‘duty.’” (6) Brothers and sisters in Christ, a worldwide crisis is actually the greatest time to be alive, as we follow in the footsteps of the mighty men and women of the past who did their duty as courageous Christians! John chapters 14-16 record Jesus’ exhortation to His disciples before He was betrayed and arrested. These were His final instructions to the men who were about to change the world in His name. He concludes by saying, “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (7) Today, I am calling upon my fellow Christians to respond courageously in the face of global uncertainty. In the midst of tribulation, we have a duty to set our hearts and minds on Christ, be continually filled with His peace, and then overcome the world through the quality of our lives and the fervency of our prayers. It is our great responsibility and calling to carry our nation and the nations of the world in intercession before the throne of heaven.   Pray with me: Father, we join with the prayers of Your people across the globe. Give us renewed strength to act courageously in the face of so much uncertainty in the world. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit so we will resist the temptation to shrink back as the nations rage around us. Remind us who we are in Christ, and of the lineage of faith-filled heroes in our family tree. Embolden Your church to be courageous, manifesting our spiritual DNA as courageous overcomers.  Father, we acknowledge that the course laid out before us hasn’t changed, though the conditions have become uncomfortable. Therefore, fill us with a spirit of boldness as we set our faces toward the mark and run our race with endurance for the sake of humanity. Empower us to make this the church's finest hour! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Our decree: We decree that the church is rising up in fervent prayer to stand for Christ in our troubled world, for the future of the world! Bio: William J. Ostan is a medically retired U.S. Army Major and combat veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the Founder and President of Arc of Justice , a nonprofit organization that advocates for wounded warriors still on active duty. Will is currently spearheading the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights  in Congress. I invite you to find out more about his story at WillOstan.com  and ArcofJusticeUSA.org . Click on the link below to watch the full video. End Notes: This post draws heavily from insights gleaned from Os Guinness’ books. In my opinion, he is one of the most important public intellectuals for the church today. He is extremely intelligent, humble, and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I’ve found this to be a rare trifecta. Os still has a paradigm for the possibility of nationwide reformation through another Great Awakening. I highly recommend all his books, but especially Renaissance, Last Call for Liberty, The Magna Carta of Humanity, and Impossible People. Os Guinness, Impossible People: Christian Courage and the Struggle for the Soul of Civilization (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2016), 30. Quoting Robert Louis Wilken, The Christians as the Romans Saw Them  (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1983), 23. Guinness, Impossible People , 26. Ibid., 27. ESV.  Guinness, Impossible People , Quote Section.  John 16:33, ESV.

Peace in the Turmoil As we come nearer to the projected end of the military campaign in Iran, it is imperative that we pray for wise decisions to be made by the President and his military leaders. The evil regime in Iran has been a cancer to the people of Iran, the Middle East, and other portions of the world. Allowing the leading sponsor of terrorism throughout the world - with stated objectives of annihilating the U.S. and Israel - to possess nuclear weapons would have been insane, if not suicidal.  Many of our previous Presidents have stated that this must not happen, but kicked the can down the road to the next commander-in-chief, while the evil regime kept inching ever closer. President Trump decided to take action and do so in a way that keeps them from rebuilding their nuclear and terrorist ambitions anytime soon. And if regime change occurs in the process, great.  Our military, along with Israel’s, has achieved great success in the endeavor, while trying to leave intact as much infrastructure as possible for future Iranians. Two considerations are now critical in the decision-making process:  The Strait of Hormuz is now a complicating factor. How far do we go to eliminate Iran’s control over it, choking off oil flow to many nations, since our annihilation of Iran’s military has been largely accomplished? Trump doesn’t want to get bogged down long term, and he wants other nations - especially those that need the oil - to step up and help deal with this evil regime. At this point, many of them are saying no, signaling that they want Americans to continue footing the bill to protect the world, as we have been doing since WWII.  Secondly, how far do we go to take out the evil regime, positioning the Iranian people to rise up and establish a sane government? The stated goals were to destroy Iran’s Air Force, Navy, missile, and nuclear capabilities, with the hope that this would also cause regime change. Most of this has been accomplished - Iran obviously still has some missiles and launchers - but how much more should we do beyond simply finishing off the military? How far should we go to destroy the evil, murderous regime itself?  In essence, these two questions - and others I may not be considering - essentially translate to: How do we finish this war? President Trump and his team will need to make very wise decisions in the coming days. These decisions will impact not only the lives of millions of people, but the spiritual harvest in the Middle East! We can help generate the right decisions through our prayers. We can! Resurrection Day On the heels of Resurrection Day and in a tumultuous world,  I thought I would share with you an encouraging event that occurred on the actual day Christ rose from the dead. Two of His followers had a revelatory encounter with Him. To say that their world had recently turned topsy-turvy would be a gross understatement. To have discovered, lived with, and traveled with Jesus for three years, only to lose Him to death on the Cross would be life’s cruelest injustice. These two men were informed earlier in the day that Christ had risen from the dead. But, really, who would believe two grief-stricken ladies claiming to have been visited by angels (Luke 24:1-12)? As these men walked the seven-mile journey to Emmaus, they discussed this too-good-to-be-true report and all that had transpired over the past few days.  That’s when He arrived . “And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus himself approached, and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him”  (Luke 24:15-16). “What are you discussing?” He wanted to know. They gave Jesus a brief summary, expressing their surprise that He would even have to ask. “What else would we be discussing?” was the inference. It seems everyone in Jerusalem could think of little else than what had transpired with Christ the last few days, since so many of them had thought He might be the long-awaited Messiah. They spoke to Him of their devastation and also of the rumor that He had risen from the dead. Jesus, His identity still hidden from them, “explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures”  (v. 27), including the fact that He had to suffer and die. Though they still didn’t know it was Jesus, His words began impacting their hearts.  “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us... explaining the Scriptures to us?”  they stated (v. 32). When they reached their destination, the men pleaded with Jesus to stay longer with them, perhaps spend the night. The Lord agreed to do so, and during dinner, “He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him”  (vv. 30-31). He disappeared from their sight at that moment, and they hurried back the seven miles to Jerusalem with the good news: Christ was risen, indeed. I find it more than a coincidence that Jesus chose to temporarily hide from these men who He was, waiting to release the revelation “in the breaking of the bread” (v. 35). Was the timing His way of saying to them, “Sup with Me and I will reveal to you hidden things?”  I believe so. Feed on Christ’s Word (Matthew 4:4). As you do, revelation will be given. He will reveal Himself to you along with other treasures from His Word, just as He did to these two men.  In a troubled and tumultuous world, stay focused on the Lord, the resurrected Lord of the harvest. He brings peace in the midst of it all. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for answering thousands of prayers regarding saving the two U.S. servicemen whose fighterjet was recently shot down in Iran. The serviceman who hid for two days was Your son, and our prayers were joining his. We are grateful for their lives being saved. Now, we pray for our President and military leaders, asking for Your all-knowing wisdom to flow through them at this time; their decisions impact the future of millions of people. Remind them of their need for Your guidance, and that it flows to humble hearts. Remind them also that trusting in “horses and chariots” (Psalm 20:7) - even though ours is the greatest military in history - is a recipe for failure. And remind them that “many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the counsel of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). Father, there is so much we need to hear from You. Jesus said Your words are spirit and life (John 6:63). Filled with revelation and wisdom, they give us the insights we need to succeed in life. Remind us, in these perilous times, to take the time and sup with You. As we walk with You, we know You will reveal Yourself to us. Help us all to remember that times with You are the most important in our lives. Open our eyes, just as You did the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. We pray for one another the words of Paul found in Ephesians 1:17-20 (TPT‬‬):  “I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know Him through your deepening intimacy with Him… I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted Him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm!” ‭‭ Our decree: We declare that our eyes are open to see You, our Savior and Lord. Portions of today’s post were taken from my book, The Pleasure of His Company , published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

History’s Divine Orchestrator We are in the Hebrew month of Nisan, “the first month of the year” on God’s calendar (Exodus 12:2). This is when the Genesis creation occurred, as well as the Cross–the “new creation.” Consequently, it is considered the month of creation, of redemption, and of miracles. It is also considered “the month of speech,” for it is when God said,  “Let there be…” (Genesis 1). In past posts, I have summarized many events that occurred throughout history during this month, and which symbolized redemption and new beginnings. [ Link 1  and Link 2 ] If you have not read these previous two posts, I highly recommend that you do so; they will give greater context for today’s post, which is about seven events that took place in history on the 17th day of Nisan, the day Christ rose from the dead, which we believers celebrated yesterday. In Scripture, the number 17 represents “complete victory, overcoming the enemy” (1)  and “the perfection of God’s divine order.” (2) Here are the seven events that occurred on Nisan 17, the seventh being the resurrection of Christ. The first six picture our redemption and Christ’s resurrection. Noah’s Ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. (Genesis 8:4) The Israelites entered Egypt to survive a severe famine and lived there for 430 years. (Genesis 46; Exodus 12:40-41) Israel crossed the Red Sea in the Exodus on Nisan 17, 430 years to the very day from when they entered Egypt. (Exodus 12:40-41) After crossing the Jordan River under Joshua’s leadership, Israel ate the fruit of the promised land for the first time on this day. God had told them they would spend 40 years in the wilderness because of their unbelief (Numbers 14:34). On the 40th anniversary of their crossing the Red Sea - “on that very day”  – they ate the first fruits of Canaan. (Joshua 5:10-11) King Hezekiah, in his reformation, rededicated and reopened the cleansed temple that had been defiled (2 Chronicles 29:1-28), which, of course, pictured our cleansing and becoming God’s “temple.” After Queen Esther led a three-day fast, the tables were turned on wicked Haman, (of Persia, present day Iran), and he was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. (Esther 7:10) Jesus rose from the dead. (Luke 22:1-8) We don’t have time in one post to look at each of these events in detail. But it is inconceivable, apart from divine causation, that these events all occurred on the same day in history, Nisan 17. One article said the odds against it are about 1 in 784 quadrillion (1 in 783,864,876,960,000,000, to be exact!). (3)  Think about the flood, followed by Noah’s Ark coming to rest ON THE SAME DAY Jesus rose from the dead. “Thousands of years before the Resurrection, God engineered history to point toward the pinnacle event of salvation. Just as the ancient judgment ended on the day the ark touched the ground, so the judgment of the restored world ended on the same day of the year, when the tomb could not hold [Jesus].” (4) What, other than the omniscient mind and omnipotent power of God, could produce such a feat? The exact amount of rain had to fall; the weather patterns had to cause enough water to evaporate, causing the Ark to touch ground  ON THAT DAY,  which would later become Resurrection Day! Causing Israel to leave the land of Egypt ON THE EXACT SAME DAY,  430 years after they entered, is just a bit mind-boggling also. As you think about just how incredible that is, remember that God had to orchestrate all the events leading up to it occurring at the exact right time. He orchestrated Moses’ birth and rescue. He had to encounter Moses at the burning bush well in advance to overcome his insecurities and get him back to Egypt. He had to calculate the timing of all the plagues, factoring in how long the Egyptians would take to give their answers. He had to time how long it would take the thousands of Israelites to pack and journey to the Red Sea. Then he had to roll back the Red Sea at exactly the right time for them to cross out of Egypt – ON THE EXACT DAY they had entered it 430 years earlier! Then there is that Nisan 17, just after Joshua had led Israel across the Jordan and into the promised land. They ate the first fruits of the land  ON THAT DAY , and began the seven-day conquest of Jericho (Joshua 5:13-6:5). That means that the day Joshua met Jesus, “the Captain of the host of the Lord” (Joshua 5:13), was THE EXACT SAME DAY hundreds of years later that “ The Captain ” stepped onto earth’s battlefield, conquerred death and emerged from the tomb. Did you get that?  ON THE VERY DAY!  This might be a good place to pause and remind yourself that God can do what He says. If He can take out Haman on the very day He would rise from the dead a few centuries later, He can deal with all that Haman’s bosses, satan and the Prince of Persia, sends your way. (Feel free to pause the video and run around the room for a few minutes, if necessary.) Nisan 17 – Resurrection Day – was yesterday. As you move forward, remember – in the face of all adversity and difficulty – that Pharaoh was destroyed, Jericho fell, Haman was hanged, satan is defeated, and the tomb is empty. Your “Captain” won the war, and He will take care of you. Pray with me: Father, You are Creator and Redeemer, well able to save and redeem. Christ our Savior, Healer, Deliverer, and conquering King, will not fail us; He will do all He has promised. In this “month of miracles,” we ask You to release another wave of Your mighty redemptive power, bringing victory and new beginnings throughout the earth. In this “month of speech,” we declare that we will experience breakthroughs, salvations, miracles, the return of prodigals, and the great awakening You have promised. Lives will be saved, and America shall be saved. And millions around the world will be saved. As we move forward, we will celebrate the victory of the Cross and Resurrection every day, doing so with a new and fresh revelation of our salvation and Your desire to save. You love to save and redeem, not destroy. You love to bless, not curse. You are the Giver, not the taker. And you are our Father. Our decree: We have crossed from spiritual death to abundant life, and with grateful hearts will eat the fruit of our salvation. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/17.html#google_vignette . Ethelbert W. Bullinger, D. D., Number in Scripture  (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications), p. 258. https://servantofmessiah.org/nissan-17th/   Ibid.

For those who would like to participate, will be taking communion together at the end of today’s post.  Passion Week: Good Friday Today is Good Friday, called this because of an ancient usage of the word “good” as a synonym for holy. (In the same way that the Holy Bible at times is called the “Good Book.”) Holy Friday, indeed. From Gethsemane, Messiah was led to a mock trial, after which He was beaten mercilessly with a cat-o’-nine-tails. This procedure was so brutal that some victims didn’t survive it. The leather cords, tipped with sharp metal, tore at the flesh of the victim, ripping off pieces of flesh. The whip, with its nine cords, delivered 39 times, made a total of 351 lashes. This was barbaric and brutal, not only lacerating the back, but the cords wrapped around to the front of the victim’s body, including the face. It is hard to describe this lashing without being too graphic for most readers. The depiction of the horrific damage in The Passion movie is no exaggeration. Suffice it to say that when finished, the victim was often unrecognizable. The soldiers also beat Christ with their fists and spat on His face. To mock Him as “the King of the Jews,” a crown made of thorns was placed on His head and pressed into His skin, causing great pain and more loss of blood. When the ordeal was finished, Jesus was so mangled and covered with spittle and blood that He literally was unrecognizable. Isaiah said, “Many people were shocked [astonished; appalled] when they saw Him. His appearance was so damaged [disfigured; marred] He did not look like a man; His form was so changed they could barely tell He was human ” (Isaiah 52:14 The Expanded Bible). The added punishments and torture, much more than the typical victim of crucifixion was afflicted with, can only be explained as the fury of hell. Yeshua endured this for you and me. Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 tell us it was this beating that purchased our healing. Place your faith for healing in this substitutionary sacrifice today. Christ was then led to His crucifixion. There are several prophetic references and/or occurrences in the Old Testament pointing to the Cross. One passage of extreme importance is Deuteronomy 21:22-23, which references one who experienced death by hanging on a tree as being “cursed.” It is abundantly clear from Galatians 3:13 that this verse refers to Jesus hanging on the “tree,” taking our curse. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’” Yeshua’s crucifixion took place at Golgotha, which means “the place of the skull.” God, millennia before, had ordained that this would be the place and, with the forces of nature, carved the international symbol of death onto the hillside. This was also the location of Isaac’s interrupted sacrifice (Genesis 22), which pictured the Cross. Like Isaac, we were spared, and God Himself provided the sacrifice.  “Then Abraham looked up [lifted his eyes] and saw a male sheep [ram] caught in a bush by its horns. So Abraham went and took the sheep, offering it as a whole burnt offering to God, and his son was saved [in the place of his son]. So Abraham named that place The Lord Provides [or Sees; Hebrew: Yahweh Yireh]. Even today, people say, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided [or seen]’” (Genesis 22:13-14; The Expanded Bible). In this chosen place, high on a hill so all could see the Passover Lamb bearing our sin, suffering, and shame, God provided the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus carried His own Cross, though He was able to carry it only part of the way. It was actually the crossbeam that He carried. When He arrived at the place of crucifixion, He was first tied and nailed with spikes to this crosspiece, which contained a hole in the center, enabling it to slide down onto the permanent upright post. After a victim was tied and nailed to this portion, it was lifted and placed onto the top of the vertical section, whereupon it would fall down and slam into place. This is often when dislocations would occur in the crucified person–as the crosspiece slammed down, and stopped. And indeed, we know this occurred with Christ, as was prophesied of Him in Psalm 22:14. The sliding down of the crosspiece is also why the spikes were placed at the bottom of the hands where they joined the wrist; this placement would sustain more weight. It’s also why the victim was tied to the crossbeam. If they were not secured in this way, they would often be torn loose. Yeshua hung on the Cross for six hours in this emaciated state. While there, He spoke seven times. Time does not permit me to comment on each, but they are all significant. Halfway through the ordeal, at noon, the sun disappeared, and the sky grew dark (Luke 23:44-45). This was a fulfillment of Amos 8:9-10: “‘It will come about in that day,’ declares the Lord God, ‘That I will make the sun go down at noon and make the earth dark in broad daylight. Then I will turn your festivals into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation, and I will bring sackcloth on everyone’s loins, and baldness on every head. And I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, And the end of it will be like a bitter day.’” Surely this is a prophetic picture of the Light of the World being snuffed out for us.  It was at the end of the three hours of darkness that Jesus cried out,  “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?”  (Matthew 27:46-47; Mark 15:34). He was quoting from Psalm 22, which is a detailed prophecy of the Cross. Christ was crying out in anguish because, for the first time in all of eternity, He was experiencing separation from His Father. It is also the only record we have of Him addressing God as anything other than Father. Christ took our sins upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:5). Most scholars agree that when this occurred, He bore our separation from the Father. Though Jesus no doubt knew this would occur, the actual experience was more than He could endure, and cried out in anguish. It is worth noting that Christ never cried out during the beatings, scourging, thorns, spikes, or dislocations - only when this separation occurred from His Father, as He bore our sin. Finally, it was enough. The price had been paid. Christ made His final two statements. The first,  “It is finished, ” I have written of before in the GH15 posts. This was not a quiet statement referencing His death, but a loud declaration by Christ, also a quote from Psalm 22:31. This decree was one word in Greek (tetelestai ) (1)  (John 19:30) and also in the Hebrew of Psalm 22 ( asah ). (2)  Using the literal meaning of these words, Christ was declaring that He had fully accomplished His assignment, paid our debt in full, and was bringing forth the new creation! Yeshua then released His spirit to the Father. Death did not take Him; He “yielded up His Spirit ”  (Matthew 27:50). It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The priests in the Temple were performing their customary duties when, at the very moment Jesus yielded up His Spirit , the veil in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). The purpose of this veil had been to separate humans from the Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of God on earth. With this symbolic act, God was declaring that the separation caused by our sin was removed, and we could now draw near to Him, entering His presence once again! Why don’t you spend some additional time with Him today? He would like that. Pray with me: Thank You, Father, for the Cross and the pain it caused You. Thank You for sending Christ to be our substitute. Thank You for placing our sins upon Him in order to bring us back into Your family. Thank You for allowing the lashes, the wounds, the crown of thorns, and the separation, for surely it was agonizing for You, as well as for Yeshua. And thank You, Jesus, for Your heart of humility and love. You are both Son of Man and Son of God. Through Your sacrifice and our faith in it, You have made us sons and daughters of the Most High. We are so grateful. Now, by faith, we appropriate all of the cleansing power of Your shed blood, and the healing virtue that flows from every wound You suffered. By Your stripes, we are healed! And in remembrance of You and what You did for us on Calvary, we partake of the Communion Meal. We take the bread, which represents Your body, broken for us - a price paid so we can be restored. [Pause; eat the bread]  We take the cup, a representation of Your blood, spilled for us, the price paid for our redemption from sin. We give You thanks today, Jesus. We give You thanks. [Drink the cup] 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. 5055. Ibid. Ref. no. 6213.

Passion Week: Redemption Began In Gethsemane “Leaving there, He went, as He so often did, to Mount Olives. The disciples followed Him. When they arrived at the place, He said, ‘Pray that you don’t give in to temptation.’”   (Luke 22:39 MSG) “The place” spoken of by Luke was Gethsemane. It had become Christ’s favorite place of prayer in Jerusalem; notice the phrase, “as He so often did.” This is how Judas, who had left the last supper early to betray Christ, knew where to take the soldiers to find Him. Christ would spend three hours there that night agonizing over the ordeal He was facing. During this time, He would wrestle with His natural, human desire for this cup of suffering to pass from Him:  “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Christ’s request was genuine; He knew what He was facing that night and the next day. The agony of these three hours was horrific, much worse than most people realize. Luke tells us Christ started this time of prayer on His knees. Matthew adds that He eventually fell on His face in agony. Mark added that He fell repeatedly.  In other words, Christ would kneel, then fall on His face. He would rise to His feet again, only to fall once more - first to His knees, then onto His face. At one point, the agony of what He was experiencing, as well as the knowledge of what was coming, became so great that the capillaries in His face burst, and blood mixed with sweat oozed through the pores of His skin (Luke 22:44). This is a painful medical condition known as hematidrosis. “Doctors don’t know exactly what triggers hematidrosis, in part because it's so rare. They think it could be related to the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response… Sometimes it seems to be caused by extreme distress or fear, such as facing death, torture, or severe ongoing abuse. It’s probably where the phrase  ‘sweating blood,’ meaning fear and trepidation, comes from.” (1) “While the extent of blood loss generally is minimal, hematidrosis also results in the skin becoming extremely tender and fragile.” (2)  Many scholars believe our redemption was actually beginning here when Christ’s blood began to be shed, even before His beatings and crucifixion began. Through a blending of the gospel accounts, and with more in-depth definitions of the words chosen by Holy Spirit to describe this ordeal in the garden, we can gain a more complete picture of what Jesus truly experienced. When He “withdrew” from the disciples to pray by Himself (Luke 22:41), Luke uses a stronger word than the other Gospel writers, apospao,   which means “to tear away.” (3)  Wuest translates it accordingly, “He tore himself away from them.” Probably more than any time in His life, Christ wanted the comfort of being with friends, yet He knew He would have to face this ordeal alone. We are told by Matthew and Mark that Yeshua became “sore amazed, exceedingly sorrowful and very heavy” in His mind and emotions (Matthew 26:37-38; Mark 14:33-34 KJV). Literal definitions of the Greek words used give us poignant descriptions of what He was feeling:  Ademonein: “to be troubled and in anguish, to be in a state of great anxiety; used of one who is rendered helpless, disoriented, agitated, and anguished by the threat of an approaching event.” (4)  Perilupus: “to be very sad, environed or surrounded with deep grief.” (5)  Ekthambeisthai: “to be exceedingly astonished, either with wonder or fear; to be in the grip of a shuddering horror.” (6) Wuest says Christ was “thoroughly alarmed.” Though He knew in advance this trauma was coming, the intensity of it was even greater than what He had expected. Based on these definitions, it was alarming to Him! Astonishing.   Disorienting.   Horrifying.  Matthew tells us Jesus was agonizing “to the point of death” (Matthew 26:38). The word used demands that this be taken literally. Though death could never have taken Christ before the time came for Him to yield up His spirit, in a strictly physical sense, here in the garden, His body was close to death. Again, I believe our redemption began here in the garden of Gethsemane. It was here that Christ began taking our wounds, rejections, and sorrows on Himself, as Isaiah prophesied of the Savior: “He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging, we are healed.”  (Isaiah 53:3-5 NASB) Don’t waste a moment of Christ’s suffering for you. Everything He did was redemptive. Every second of suffering and abuse was for you and me, taking our place. Let it bring healing to every part of your soul that may be hurting. Jesus wants you healed from every form of abuse, rejection, betrayal, and loss. He paid for this! Receive it. After three hours of agony, Christ prevailed. He broke through into peace, and His spirit was now in complete control of every emotion. At this point, Judas came with soldiers and betrayed Christ with a kiss, kataphileo (7) . The word reveals that this was more than just a friendly kiss on the cheek (phileo) (8) ,  a common greeting in many countries. The prefix kata (9)  strengthens it, implying a stronger affection, perhaps with a hug or a lingering kiss on the cheek. That is why Jesus questioned him, “Are you betraying me with [this type of affection], Judas?”  (Luke 22:48) Christ then asks the soldiers,  “Who are you seeking?” When they told Him, He simply said, “I AM”  (John 18:4-5). Jesus did NOT say “I am He,” as most translations state. He spoke His God-name from throughout eternity: “I AM.” And the power of His words, of His name, knocked the soldiers backward onto the ground (verse 6). Christ is, indeed, Almighty God. At this point, Peter, perhaps emboldened by what happened to the soldiers, pulled out a sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the High Priest. Jesus promptly touched Malchus and healed his ear! (Luke 22:51) The great I AM, indeed! The Healer! The Great Physician! The Creator! And in this time of His suffering, the Savior is seen ministering to His enemies. At this point, Jesus was led away to be tried, beaten, and crucified. We will look at this tomorrow. Pray with me: FATHER, the agony You must have felt during Christ’s sufferings had to have been immeasurable. The temptation to answer His prayer,  “Let this cup pass from Me,” must have been overwhelming. But You knew there was no other way to save us - our sins required a perfect, sinless substitute. “ You who spared not Your own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall You not also with Him, freely give us all things!” (Romans 8:32). Thank You! And JESUS, words fail us. You, the Prince of Peace, suffered overwhelming mental anguish and emotional trauma for us. You allowed Yourself to feel the pressure until Your capillaries burst and Your skin oozed blood. Through this, You now give us unexplainable peace and unspeakable joy. We worship You today, exalting You above all others. We love You from the depths of our hearts. May our incense of worship rise before You, bringing the pleasure You so deserve. As incredible as it sounds, we are the reward of Your suffering. Let this “reward” satisfy Your heart even more in this hour - send revival to the earth! Bring a billion souls into Your family in this coming revival. Your Father, who cannot lie, gave You the nations as Your inheritance. No one can take them from You. HOLY SPIRIT, show the world just how wonderful this God-Man is. Open their eyes to His glory, His selfless love, His humility. Give them dreams about Him that awaken desire - a longing to know Him. Surely, there is no one like Him - give them a taste! Let not the wicked stop this. Ruin their plans, judge their strategies, thwart their efforts…and reveal this glorious Man.  And in His name, we pray, Amen. Tomorrow we will have communion together as we remember Good Friday, the day of Christ’s death. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hematidrosis-hematohidrosis .  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematidrosis .  This is a combined definition from these sources:  Strong, James. The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. Thayer, Joseph Henry. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.  Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1977. Vine, W.E. The Expanded Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words . Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1984. Zodhiates, Spiros, The Complete Word Study Dictionary . Iowa Falls, IA: Word Bible Publishers, 1992. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid

Introduction Thank you for your prayers during the past couple of days. Ceci and her family are doing well, and her precious mother was honored well in her Memorial and Celebration Service.  Passion Week: The Alabaster Box During the week of Christ’s Passion, we are told the story of a woman anointing Christ’s head and feet with very expensive ointment. (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8) “Now Jesus was in Bethany, in the home of Simon, a man Jesus had healed of leprosy. And as He was reclining at the table, a woman came into the house, with an alabaster flask filled with the highest quality of fragrant and expensive oil. She came to Jesus, and with a gesture of extreme devotion, she broke the flask and poured out the precious oil over His head. But some were highly indignant when they saw this, and they complained to one another, saying, ‘What a total waste! It could have been sold for a great sum, and the money could have benefited the poor.’ So they scolded her harshly. Jesus said to them, ‘Leave her alone! Why are you so critical of this woman? She has honored me with this beautiful act of kindness. You will always have the poor, whom you can help whenever you want, but you will not always have Me. When she poured the fragrant oil over Me, she was preparing My body in advance of My burial. She has done all that she could to honor Me. I promise you that as this wonderful gospel spreads all over the world, the story of her lavish devotion to Me will be mentioned in memory of her.’” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:3-9‬ ‭TPT‬‬) This oil was very expensive, worth a year’s wages based on the average income of the day. We know from John’s account (John 12:1-8) that this was done by the same Mary who sat at Christ’s feet, mesmerized by His words, in Luke 10:38-42. She was the sister of Martha and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. The timing of Mary’s offering was just days before His death, and Jesus said she was anointing Him for His burial. Whether Mary had grasped the reality of His words about His imminent death and resurrection, or whether Jesus was simply applying the offering in that light, is unclear. Two things we do know: It was a very costly offering from Mary, and it was precious to the Lord. “Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her,”  He stated (Matthew 26:13). Some speculate that the scent of this powerful perfume would have lingered in Christ’s hair for several days. Did the fragrance help sustain Him as He agonized in Gethsemane? Perhaps the sweet aroma comforted Him even through the torturous six hours on the Cross. Never underestimate the fragrance of your worship. Others in the room thought Mary’s offering to be a waste. Some actually scolded her (Mark 14:5). I know the feeling. When I canceled all other activities for three months in the church I pastored in Colorado Springs, lavishing ninety days of 24/7 worship on the Lord, I, too, was criticized. One influential Christian leader in our city rebuked me, calling the ninety days of worship “a complete waste of time.” It’s interesting just how much perspectives can differ. For me, those three months remain among the most meaningful days of my life. They were my alabaster box of costly perfume, the most lavish offering I’ve had the honor of giving Christ. For the person who rebuked me, they were a complete waste of time. Never allow others’ lack of revelation to cheapen your offering. Like Mary, give Christ your best. Others may mock your sacrifice of time, money, or possessions, but go ahead and “waste” it on Him. Some will rebuke/scold you, as they did Mary, calling your passionate praise too radical, but pour out your offering in spite of their ridicule. Still others will label your extravagant worship as excessive religious zeal. Don’t let their misguided criticism deter you - pour out your costly perfume! The list of Christ’s followers in the room as Mary anointed Jesus was quite the “who’s who.” The twelve disciples were present. You’d think they would have understood that Jesus was more than worth this offering, but they were too practical: “It should have been given to the poor,” was their protest. Christ’s thoughts? “Go ahead and anoint Me; there will be ample time to care for the poor after I’m gone.” Simon, the former leper whom Christ had healed, was present. This was actually his home. One might think his new skin, replaced appendages, and restored life would, in his mind, merit the “wasting” of some costly perfume on Jesus. Evidently not - he didn’t come to Mary’s defense. And then there was Lazarus, Mary’s brother, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. He had been dead so long that he stank. Surely he would see the validity of his sister’s costly perfume sacrifice. But no, Lazarus didn’t come to her defense, either. Could it be that the others’ familiarity with Christ had lessened their wonder of Him, their awe? We don’t know. They certainly didn’t come to Mary’s defense. We do know that only one worshiper that day had the love and revelation necessary to anoint the Savior. How sadly typical. So many miss opportunities to lavish affection on Him. It is not uncommon for me to see church attendees waste opportunities to break their alabaster box of love and pour it on the Master. They’ve been in His presence so often, sang so many songs, and prayed so many prayers that the experience just isn’t quite worth what it used to be. So, they give Him token praise and watered-down worship. Cheap perfume. I doubt if the fragrance of their praise makes it past Sunday lunch. But while the others that day wasted an opportunity to comfort God–what an amazing thought–Mary poured out her costly perfume. And its fragrance sustained Him through Gethsemane, the beatings, mocking, lashing, spittle, spikes, dislocations, and thorns. Don’t allow another day to go by without becoming one of the “fragrance creators.” Let nothing deter you. Your alabaster box is your heart; your love and worship are the perfume. Break it open and pour it out. At the scent of your offering, He’ll meet with you. And He’ll cherish your worship, just as He did Mary’s. Pray with me: Father, thank You for including Mary’s story in Your Holy Book. We are impressed and motivated by her example, yes. But just as importantly, we are awed by Christ’s moving acceptance and appreciation of it. May we always give Him our best today. May the fragrance of worship ascend to Him daily from our hearts and lives. And may You, Abba, always find the sweet fragrance of worship ascending to Your throne. We love You very much. Jesus, thank You for Your amazing, unfathomable humility. We will never know just how much You humbled Yourself to serve us as You did. You became human, touchable, breakable. Your love is unmatched. We worship You today with our hearts, hands, offerings, and words. We are so grateful to be partakers of Your life, righteousness, strength, healing, and wholeness. We continue to pray for the turning of our nation and for our government to be transformed. Change those who can be changed; replace the others. You are the God of salvation; bring it to this land. And we wholeheartedly include other nations in this prayer - send revival throughout the earth. Work Your divine purposes in the Middle East. End the efforts of terrorists and bring a great harvest in the region.  We pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We are passionate worshipers of our great God, a nd we will break our alabaster box, giving Him all our love and honor. Click here to watch/hear Cece Winans perform the song,  The Alabaster Box . This is one of our favorites. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Pre-post statement: Ceci’s 96 year old mom went to heaven this past Thursday. Today she is celebrating in heaven and we are joining her here on earth. Because of out of town funeral arrangements and being with family, there will not be new Give Him 15 posts on Monday and Tuesday. We have selected a few popular posts from the past to share with you. We appreciate your prayers during this time. Have You Been Found? When Christ was preparing His original twelve world-changing pioneers, He made the cost clear to them:  “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues.”  (Matthew 10:16-17)  “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’”  (Matthew 16:24-25)  What price did these first disciples eventually pay to partner with Christ? Were Christ's words simply symbolic, not to be taken literally? Surely, He wouldn't actually ask His followers to lay down their lives, would He? History answers these questions: Andrew was crucified.  Bartholomew was crucified.  James was stoned to death.  James, the son of Zebedee, was beheaded.  John was tortured and banished to the uninhabited island of Patmos.  Peter was crucified upside down.  Philip was crucified upside down.  Thomas was martyred in India.  The Apostle Paul and John the Baptist, not part of the original twelve disciples but two of Christ's early leaders, were beheaded.  To be a true disciple of Christ – and nation-changers – we must be willing to lay down our lives. This mindset should permeate and influence all we do and live for. And if we are to see America saved, it is one of the non-negotiables: no cost is too great. William Wilberforce, who led the efforts to eradicate slavery from Great Britain, understood and demonstrated this. In the great movie about his life, Amazing Grace , based on the outstanding book by Eric Metaxas bearing the same name, Wilberforce’s butler surprised him in a moment of private prayer. When asked if he had found God, Wilberforce's poignant reply was, “I think He found me.” (1) Indeed, God “found” Wilberforce, who became so joined to His heart and desires that no price was too great for the cause. This reformer’s passion to see the ending of slavery caused him stomach ailments, nightmares, ridicule, and four decades  of tireless work. Days before Wilberforce’s death, however, the decisive vote came to eliminate slavery from England. Amazingly, when the law became formal three days after the vote, Wilberforce's spirit left this world! Thomas Buxton, a personal friend and member of the House of Commons at the time, said of him, “The day which was the termination of his labors was the termination of his life.” (2) Have you been found? Does the cause of Christ possess you? When God led the early settlers to this land – He was obviously involved in the process – they came with hearts willing to pay whatever price the dream would cost. A part of their stated cause was, “For the Glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” (3)  These pioneers arrived on a cramped and dirty ship in sloshing water filled with human waste and vomit. Ill-prepared for the trials of this new land, including a brutal winter, more than half would perish before the end of their first summer. These settlers weren't failures, however. Planting a cross on the beach at Cape Henry and dedicating this land to the gospel and the glory of God, they created a holy and enduring legacy. Heaven still honors the trail they blazed and the prayers they prayed. Buried in the soil of freedom, they became a vital part of the heritage we now enjoy. Pioneers all, their legacies live. The price they paid to create an international outpost for the gospel created a debt for those who followed, including us today. The debt we Americans owe is not only to preserve freedom, but also to preserve this land as a light of truth – a beacon, a city on a hill – to all other nations. If we pay our debt today, the difficult trail we blaze back to our destiny will become the glorious path our children walk tomorrow. America was formed with the blood, sweat, and tears of many price-paying pioneers. When John Adams was elected as a Boston delegate in 1770, he knew it was considered treason to the King of England; Adams believed the decision would cost him everything. He informed his wife Abigail, “I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin…” (4) How many today would accept a seat in Congress if they knew it could cost them everything? Adams wasn't finished with his declaration, however. After informing Abigail that he had consented to his own ruin, this patriot pioneer continued, “...to your ruin, and the ruin of our children. I give you this warning, that you may prepare your mind for your fate.” (5) Incredible. But Adams, like Wilberforce, had been found! His love of liberty and belief that God was raising up the United States of America meant that, to him, no price was too great to pay. How did Abigail feel about this? Betrayed? Horrified? Did she threaten to leave him? Not even close. She, too, had been found. According to Adams, Abigail burst into tears and cried out, “Well, I am willing in this cause to run all risks with you, and be ruined with you, if you are ruined.” (6) At the signing of the Declaration of Independence a few years later, Adams, along with his fellow signers, again accepted the potential and probable cost of freedom: “For the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” (7) Adams would later state to Abigail, “I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means.” (8) Some accuse me of inappropriately marrying the love of God and country, but I too, have been found; it is my love for God and His cause on the earth that fuels my passion for seeing America restored . Like Adams and our other Founding Fathers, I realize God chose to raise up this nation as part of His plan to redeem the human race. America wasn’t established solely for Americans. Partnering with God in His great dream is our privilege and destiny. For this, no cost is too great. Let’s cry out for another generation who will lose their lives to find His; believers who will accept their debt to the cross and pay any price necessary to lead America back to the old road. “Go stand at the crossroads and look around. Ask for directions to the old road, The tried-and-true road. Then take it.” (Jeremiah 6:16, MSG) Pray with me: Father, we are grateful for those in the great cloud of witnesses who have paid such high prices for our freedom and Your cause. We are humbled by the sacrifices so many of them have made. We ask You to forgive us in the American church for watering down, even abandoning, our commitment to You and Your cause. Forgive us for preaching watered-down messages, a human-centered gospel, and an absent-from-the-culture theology. We agree in intercession today that hearts in the church will be awakened. Passion for You and Your Kingdom will outweigh our devotion to self. Revival has begun, and millions will give their hearts to You; millions more will have their first love restored, and the church will rediscover her voice. You are worth our full devotion. Heal our broken nation. Lead us back to the old road of truth, integrity, righteousness, and common sense. Lead us back to servanthood, loving our neighbors, and the golden rule. Give us leaders who love and honor You and Your ways. Deliver us from evil rulers. We ask You for this in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the purpose of God for America will not be lost - the recovery has begun! Portions of today’s devotional were taken from my book The Way Back . (9) Click on the link below to watch the full video. Apted, Michael, director. Amazing Grace . Roadside Attractions, 2006. Dyer, Steven G., Transforming a Nation: How England Turned Back to God in the Eighteenth Century. Can it Happen in America?  Steven J. Dyer, 2010. p. 54.  “Mayflower Compact: 1620.” Avalon Project ,     https://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/mayflower.asp . Accessed 16 July 2024. Bennett, William J. Our sacred honor: Words of advice from the Founders in stories, letters, poems, and speeches . Simon & Schuster, 1997. p. 40.  Ibid.  Ibid.  Ibid., p.64.  Ibid. Sheets, Dutch. The Way Back: Break Out of the Status Quo and Find the Wild in You . Dutch Sheets Ministries, 2016. pp. 33-37.

Pre-post statement: Ceci’s 96 year old mom went to heaven this past Thursday. Today she is celebrating in heaven and we are joining her here on earth. Because of out of town funeral arrangements and being with family, there will not be new Give Him 15 posts on Monday and Tuesday. We have selected a few popular posts from the past to share with you. We appreciate your prayers during this time. Passion Week: The Man, Christ Jesus We are entering the week leading up to Resurrection Sunday, often referred to as The Passion Week. Christ actually began experiencing the emotional pressure of what was coming several weeks before the Cross occurred. Most people fail to consider that Jesus was truly human, with real emotions and the ability to feel pain. He experienced grief, sorrow, anger, and disappointment, enjoyed friendships, knew joy and laughter, felt hunger and thirst, grew tired and sleepy. Though fully God, Jesus was also human, but without the Adamic fallen nature. He had to be in order to represent us as a legal substitute. As one who was truly human, Christ didn’t simply flip over into God mode when things got tough in order to not experience the pain or trauma. Philippians 2:6-7 tell us that  “although He existed in the form of God, [He] did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”  Let Christ be human. As I stated above, weeks before the Cross Christ began feeling the pressure. When He said, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”  (Luke 9:62), Jesus was thinking of Himself. The passage begins by saying,  “Jesus let nothing distract him from departing for Jerusalem because the time for him to be lifted up drew near, and he was full of passion to complete his mission there.”  ‭‭(Luke‬ ‭9:51‬ ‭TPT‬‬) Jesus knew that in Jerusalem He would face arrest, torture, and agonizing death. But He set off firmly and unflinchingly, committed to finishing His mission. There would be no backing out, and nothing would deter Him from accomplishing His purpose. Isaiah prophesied this determination:  “The Lord God has opened My ear; and I was not disobedient, nor did I turn back. I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed”  (Isaiah 50:5-7 NASB). Christ knew this passage was speaking of Him and realized He was entering the season of its fulfillment. So He set His face like flint, put His hand to the plow, and turned toward Jerusalem, beginning what would become His final trek to this city. Traveling by foot and stopping along the way to minister and rest, the journey would take several weeks. Luke, in his gospel, reveals the humanness of Christ more than the other Gospel writers. Under Holy Spirit’s guidance, each Gospel writer had a different goal in his writing. This is why each man shared different (not contradictory) accounts of Christ’s works and teachings. Matthew, for example, wrote his Gospel primarily to the Jews; he was, therefore, revealing Christ as the King of God’s Kingdom. Mark wrote to Romans; hence, he wrote of Jesus as a man of action, filled with power and under authority. John wrote to all humankind, presenting Him as truly God. Luke was writing primarily to Gentiles and Greeks; he presented the humanness of Christ - He was truly a man and, therefore, qualified to be our substitute at the Cross. In revealing Christ’s humanness, Luke wants us to know that from this point onward, the pressure began building in the Son of Man. Jesus was having to remain very focused in order to deal with this pressure. Eleven times after the above verse (9:51), Luke mentions that Christ was journeying toward Jerusalem and, therefore, the Cross. He was focused on the mission and would not waver. In Chapter 12, Luke quotes Him as saying,  “I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished”  (verse 50). “Distressed” is the Greek word sunecho (Strongs 4912) , a very strong word meaning “to be held fast, like a prisoner.” It also means “to be confined, constrained, pressed together so as to not be able to move (like a city under siege);” figuratively, sunecho  meant “to be in a mental state of anguish.” Kenneth Wuest’s expanded and very literal translation of the New Testament renders this verse:  “I have an immersion by which I will be overwhelmed, and I am being hard pressed from every side until it be consummated.” In other words, though weeks out from the Cross, the strain in Christ was already very intense! Jesus knew what was about to occur and was dreading it. The focus required in order to press on toward Jerusalem was so intense that it could be seen on His countenance. In Luke 9:53, Christ was rejected by a Samaritan village “Because His face was as though He would go to Jerusalem.” Although there was great friction between Jews and Samaritans, Christ had earlier been accepted by a village in Samaria after ministering to “the woman at the well” (see John 4). On this occasion, however, they would not receive Him. Why? They were offended because He couldn’t seem to take His focus off Jerusalem. What did this look like? There must have been many pensive gazes, perhaps even some grimaces, as Christ kept turning His face toward Jerusalem and the Cross. This became so obvious that the Samaritans, who were rejected and looked down upon by the Jews, had finally had enough. Of course, they didn’t understand. Noone did. This was something Christ was having to endure alone. And with His face set like flint, He journeyed on - moving toward His destiny.  “And He was passing through from one village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem”  (Luke 13:22). For several weeks, the journey continued, and the pressure built until Jesus rounded the last curve and crested the last hill. When the city came into view, He burst into tears. Christ’s emotions were now raw, sensitive, and bottled up. Like a pent-up dam that could take no more pressure, He released His emotions. Jesus loved this city; He loved the people. Yet He knew Jerusalem would reject Him and, in the future, experience great devastation. As this mix of emotions erupted to the surface, Yeshua let it all out. And He did more than cry. Again, quoting from Wuest’s New Testament,  “...having caught sight of the city, He burst into tears, weeping audibly over it”  (Luke 19:41). What a picture. And what must the disciples and those following Christ have thought as He “burst into tears” and sobbed? How often this man surprised and amazed them. Power, authority, humility, wisdom, intellect, love and yes, passion were all exhibited by the Son of Man. And they would soon see His anger. After composing Himself, Christ went directly to the Temple and drove out those who were selling their wares, making His “house of prayer...a robber’s den,”  (Luke 19:45-46). This was indeed anger, but it wasn’t a temporary loss of self-control. The Temple was intended by God to picture us humans, created to be the dwelling place/temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). The defilement Jesus was seeing reminded Him of the defilement in us, which He was about to cleanse at the Cross, just days from then. He was demonstrating what He had come to do: cleanse His temple - US! And Christ was intense about it. Spend some time this week reflecting on the passion of Christ. Journey through the week with Him. Thank Him for the price He paid. Worship Him not only as God, the Creator, but also as Son of Man, the Redeemer. And let Him be human. Pray with me: Father, thank You for Your incredible love and commitment to us. Thank You for the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. You are amazing. We are deeply moved by being able to call You Abba, Papa. And Jesus, thank You for the incarnation - being willing to become one of us. Isaiah called You Immanuel, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). Daniel called You “son of man” (Daniel 7:13). Thank You for the tears. Thank You for the love. Thank You for the suffering and pain. Thank You for the Cross - thank You for dying. And thank You for winning, for conquering death and the grave, for overcoming sin and its evil hold on us. Thank You for sharing Abba with us. Thank You for sharing Your throne with us. Manifest Yourself through us in this era, we pray. May the world see who You are, Yeshua, and Your glory as the church You are building matures into the Ekklesia You envisioned. Continue to mature us into people worthy of bearing Your name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that the sufferings of Christ were not in vain, and His blood will never lose its power. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Palm Sunday: The Sound of the King We are living in a “kairos”  moment - a window of time where heaven is intersecting with earth in a profound way. To help us understand where we are going, we can look back at one of the most strategic and prophetic demonstrations in world history: the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Matthew 21; Mark 11; John 12). This wasn’t just a parade. It wasn’t a “PR” campaign for a new rabbi. It was a prophetic act of war and a legal claim to a throne. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that donkey, He wasn’t just fulfilling a nice sentiment; He was carrying out a blueprint written in heaven before the foundations of the world. A King, but Not as They Expected In the ancient world, symbolism was very important to rulers, just as it is today. When Jesus approached Jerusalem, He chose His “ride” carefully. He didn’t come on a warhorse. In the culture of His day, a king returning from a conquest would ride a stallion, signaling “I have subdued my enemy.” But a king coming in peace, or coming to offer a covenant, rode a young donkey. By choosing the colt, Jesus was making a dual declaration: I am your King. I am coming as the Prince of Peace to serve and to save, not to slaughter. The people were shouting “Hosanna!” which literally means, “Save us now!” They were looking for a political insurgent to break the back of Roman tyranny. But Jesus was looking at a much older, much darker tyranny - the spirit of death and the legal claim of sin over humanity. He wasn’t just entering a city; He was entering the “courtroom of heaven” to finalize the greatest legal victory in history. Old Testament Pictures There is an old rhyme regarding the Scriptures: the New  is in the  Old  contained, and the Old  is in the  New explained. This moment was the “Amen” to centuries of prophetic promises. The most direct Old Testament “picture” we have of it is found in Zechariah 9:9:  “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” God had given Israel an unmistakable sign to look for, telling them exactly what the arrival of the Messiah would look like. When Jesus crested the Mount of Olives on that donkey, it was a physical manifestation of a 500-year-old word. It was God saying, “I keep My promises.” The Selection of the Lamb There is another striking prophetic layer here. The Triumphant Entry occurred on the 10th of the month of Nisan. According to the Law of Moses in Exodus 12, this was the exact day on which each Israelite household was commanded to choose its Passover lamb. They would take the lamb into their home for four days to inspect it for blemishes before it was sacrificed. As the people were bringing their literal lambs into their homes in Jerusalem, the Lamb of God was walking into His “home” - the Temple. For four days, the Pharisees and Sadducees “inspected” Him with questions and traps, only to find no blemish in Him. He was the perfect sacrifice, entering the city at the exact moment the clock of destiny struck twelve. Why We Celebrate Today So, why does this matter for us in the 21st century? Why should we wave palm branches and talk about this on Palm Sunday? 1. It is a Celebration of Christ’s Governmental Authority Palm Sunday is a reminder that Jesus is the rightful King of the nations. The palm branches weren’t just pretty decorations; they were symbols of victory and national identity. When we celebrate today, we are declaring that Jesus has the right to rule our families, our cities, and our nation. We are joining our voices with those of old, saying, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Mark 11:19)! 2. It Reminds Us to Discern the Times One of the saddest verses in the Bible is when Jesus weeps over Jerusalem shortly after this entry, saying they  “did not recognize the time of [their] visitation” (Luke 19:44). Celebrating Palm Sunday and other biblical occurrences reminds us to keep our spiritual senses sharp. We don’t want to be like the religious elite who were so stuck in their traditions that they missed God standing right in front of them! We celebrate what Christ did then, to stay in alignment with what Holy Spirit is doing now. 3. It Prepares Us for Christ’s Second Entry Finally, we celebrate because this first “humble” entry was the precursor to a second “glorious” entry. The first time, He came on a donkey. The next time, the Bible says He’s coming on a white horse (Revelation 19). His eyes will be like flames of fire, and on His thigh will be written: “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”  (verses 12-19). Palm Sunday is our “rehearsal.” We are practicing the atmosphere of heaven, and we are seeding the earth with the praise that will one day rise from all creation to greet our King when He returns to take His place over all the earth. A Call to Alignment Don’t let this Palm Sunday just be another “religious holiday” where you grab a piece of greenery and go to lunch. Use this day to reset your “watchman” stance. Ask yourself: Is Jesus truly my King inwardly? Have I laid down my “garments” - my reputation, my agenda, my will - at His feet so He can ride on them? When we shout “Hosanna,” we aren’t just asking for salvation; we are acknowledging His Lordship. We are saying, “Lord, rule in our day! Bring your Kingdom alignment to the earth!” Let’s be people who know the sound of our King. Let’s be people who don’t just watch the parade, but who clear the way for His glory to enter our generation. Pray with me: Father, we come before You today in the mighty Name of Jesus, the King of Glory. We thank You that You are the Architect of Time and that nothing in our lives - and nothing in our nation - is a surprise to You. Just as You instructed the disciples to go and untie the colt because “The Lord has need of it,”  we ask that You would untie and loose prophetic destinies in our lives today. We repent for the instances when we have been like the religious leaders - blind to the times of our visitations from You. We ask for “eyes to see” and “ears to hear” what the Spirit is saying to the Ekklesia in this hour. Lord, we lay down our “garments” - our own reputations, our own agendas, and our own comfort - at Your feet. We make a highway for You to ride into our families, our cities, and our government. Let the “Hosanna” roar rise up in us again. Not just as a song, but as a legal demand for Your Kingdom to be established on the earth. We welcome You, Lion of Judah, to take Your seat of authority over every mountain of influence in our nation. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. Our decree: Based on the authority of the Word of God and the finished work of Jesus, our King, make the following declarations over your life: I decree that Jesus Christ is the rightful Lord and Governor over my life, my household, and my nation. I decree that every “closed gate” in my life must now lift up its head, for the King of Glory is coming in (Psalm 24). I decree that the “religious spirit” that seeks to silence the praise of the church is broken; my voice will not be silenced, and my worship will clear the way for His presence. I decree that just as Jesus entered Jerusalem to fulfill the Law, His Kingdom is now entering my situation to bring divine order and justice. I decree that I am in alignment with the “Kairos”  time of God, and I will not miss the day of my visitation. I decree that the “Peace” of the King - the Shalom that destroys the authority of chaos - is now ruling in my heart and my home. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

The Hinge that Turns the Door of History Several years back, I was visiting with a pastor in his office after speaking for him at a conference. I’m sure I spoke on some aspect of prayer, applying it prophetically to the nation and encouraging the people to intercede. I probably also led in some passionate prayer. He said to me, “You are called to the remnant, aren’t you?” I really didn’t know what he was implying, but He didn’t seem critical when he said it, although I’ve never been invited back! I strive never to adopt an elitist mindset, but I do believe God has raised up a praying element of the church in America, of which I am part. It is true that God sometimes uses a smaller segment of the body of Christ to accomplish things for the majority. If you look throughout the Word, you’ll see that when darkness seems to be at its peak, God often doesn’t look for a massive, polished army to turn the tide. He looks for a “remnant”—a small, consecrated group of people who have refused to bow their knee to the spirit of the age. The Power of the Few In the economy of the Kingdom, God is never intimidated by numbers. In fact, He sometimes prefers the smaller number. Think about Gideon. He started with 32,000 men, but God whittled that number down to 300. Why? Because the heart of the remnant was more valuable to God than the size of the army (Judges 6-8). The Remnant Strategy Historically, the remnant has, at times, been God’s “Plan A.” Noah and his family were a remnant that preserved the human race. Elijah felt alone, but God reminded him that there was a remnant of 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal. The early church began as a small upper-room remnant that eventually turned the world upside down. The remnant often functions as a spiritual seed. You don’t need a whole forest to start a new season; you just need a few seeds that are willing to die to their own agendas so that the life of God can spring forth.  A Modern-Day Watchman America is certainly in a “Gideon moment.” God has called a remnant to rise up and take their place on the wall as watchmen. This isn’t about being part of a “special club”; it’s about a deep, sacrificial commitment to see God’s purposes established on the earth. This group is characterized by a “Holy Spirit tenacity.” They don’t give up when the culture shifts; they dig their heels in and appeal to the Supreme Judge of the universe. When the remnant prays, they aren’t just tossing “bless me” prayers toward the ceiling. They are releasing the decrees of heaven, and using the “keys of the Kingdom” to bind and loose. This small, focused group becomes a "strike force" in the spirit, breaking open the way for a great awakening. God has been raising up a people who are “ekklesia-minded”—those who understand their legislative authority in the spirit. In sewing terms, a remnant isn’t just a leftover piece of fabric; it is a “representative sample” that carries the DNA of the whole. When a remnant stands in the gap for a nation, they aren’t just praying for themselves; they are anchoring a nation back to its original intent. We are living in a day when the “remnant” is being mobilized. If you feel like a lone voice in your family, your workplace, or your city, don’t be discouraged. You are part of God’s hidden reserve. He is about to use the small thing to confound the mighty. Maintain your position, stand in the gap, and watch what the Lord will do through a people who simply refuse to quit. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”  (2 Chronicles 16:9) Remember, when we make decrees, we aren’t trying to convince God to do something; we are releasing His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We are moving from petition only to governmental decrees. Keep standing in that authority. Remember, God doesn’t need a crowd to shift the atmosphere—He just needs hearts that refuse to back down. A remnant is often the hinge that turns the door of history. Stay on the wall, watchman! Remember, you’re not just a person with a prayer; you’re a legislator with a mandate. Your voice is the instrument that releases the “sound” of heaven into your earthly circumstances. Make the following declaration with me today, and also let it be our prayer: In the name of Jesus, and by the authority of the finished work of the Cross: I take my seat in heavenly places as a member of God’s Ekklesia (Ephesians 2:6). I recognize that I am not an observer; I am a legal representative of the Kingdom of light, called for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). I decree that the “Key of David” is active in my life, my family, and my nation. What this key has opened, no man or demon can shut; what this key has shut, no power of darkness can open (Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:7). I bind and forbid every strategy of the enemy intended to cause delay, division, or distraction. I command the “squatter’s rights” of the enemy over my territory to be evicted by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11). I loose and permit the plans of heaven to manifest. I call for the “divine recovery” of everything the enemy has stolen from me. I decree that the hidden reserves of God are being activated now. I declare that I am part of a “Gideon company.” Though we may be few, we are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). I align my heart with the remnant across this globe to release a sound of victory that shifts the atmosphere of my city and nation. I announce that a great awakening is not just coming—it has begun, birthed through the prayers and decrees of the Ekklesia. I occupy my position on the wall as a watchman, and I will not be silent until God’s righteousness is seen in my land. Amen. Click on the link below to watch the full video.