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

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

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

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

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

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

INTRODUCTION As I’m sure you know, the Presidential debate between Harris and Trump will take place tonight. Many will be praying during the debate  - I certainly will - but we should pray beforehand also. Our dear friends at Intercessors For America have released the following excellent prayer points, written by Jamie Rohrbaugh, for the debate. Here is the article  in its entirety.  8 Prayers for Truth in the Presidential Debates  Intercessor, we first brought you this piece in June, back when Biden was still in the race and the nation was eagerly awaiting the first presidential debate. A lot has changed since then, but IFA Contributing Writer Jamie Rohrbaugh’s prayer points are still just as valuable. As the nation prepares for the first debate between Trump and Harris [tonight], we encourage you to pray through these prayer points once again. Are you ready for truth to be revealed in America? As we enter the debate season, American voters will have quite a few opportunities for things to come to light that we need to know in order to make informed decisions at the polls. But in this season of exposure and decision-making, there are those who want to deceive the American public. Nevertheless, it is always God’s will for truth to be revealed. Jesus Himself is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and it is His will for all people to walk in all aspects of Who He is at all times. Therefore, in order to contend for truth to be revealed, would you join with me and pray the 8 prayers below for truth in the Presidential debates (and all debates)? Let’s pray as follows: Prayer 1: Pray that the hidden things would be revealed. Luke 8:17 tells us that God will reveal absolutely everything eventually. Let’s pray for all needed information to be revealed NOW! For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light  (Luke 8:17 NKJV). Prayer 2: Ask the Lord to destroy the unholy unity of any liars that band together to conceal things from the American public. When people band together in unity, anything can be done — whether they are grouping together for good or for evil. But, God can obliterate even the unholy unity that happens when people band together to do evil. Remember what the Lord did in Genesis 11:5-8: But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city  (Genesis 11:5-8 NKJV). If He destroyed the plans of men who desired to exalt themselves back then, He can and will certainly destroy the unity and plans of people who desire to conceal evil now.  Lord, stop any plans that bring forth lies, and destroy the unity in the camp of any liars! Prayer 3: Pray that the Lord would surround the truthful with favor as with a shield. Since Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, it is God’s will for truth to be manifested in all situations. So, let’s pray that the Lord would bless and protect the truthful. Pray Psalm 5:12: For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield  (Psalm 5:12 NKJV). Prayer 4: Pray that the Lord would set any liars against one another in confusion, such that both their supporters and their strategies would self-destruct and flee. We need truth in America, and in these political debates. We have to stand firm in that! But God can use even our prayers to do mighty things. Look what God did in Judges 7:19-22 for Gideon and his tiny army of 300 men: So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled. When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath (Judges 7:19-22 NKJV). If God can make the Midianites turn against each other and flee before 300 men who did nothing but break pitchers, blow trumpets, and shout, He can certainly turn the houses of lying and confusion in America against one another, so that they also flee. Never doubt the power of your prayers! We may not have “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon,”  but we do have the blood of Jesus, the Word of God (which is alive and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword), and the prayers of the saints. And through our God, we shall do valiantly! Prayer 5: Ask God to increase the truthful in strength, and to confound all those who side with lies. Look what God did for the apostle Paul—then called Saul—in Acts 9:22: But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ (Acts 9:22 NKJV). Saul, having been converted, set out to preach the truth about Jesus being the Messiah. He shocked and offended many, for his conversion from persecutor of the church to preacher of the Gospel was certainly unexpected. But, the Lord blessed his choice for righteousness. God increased him in strength, and caused him to confound all those around him. If God will do that for Saul - turned - Paul, He will do that for people today who have America’s best interests at heart. He will bless the righteous choices of truth-tellers. Ask Him to increase the strength of all those who tell the truth, and to let their strength and honesty confound their opposition! Prayer 6: Pray that all candidates would speak as the oracles of God. It is God’s will for all people to only speak His words. After all, that’s what Jesus did—He only said what the Father said, and He only did what the Father did! Look at what 1 Peter 4:11 says about speaking as the oracles of God: If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen  (1 Peter 4:11 NKJV). We learned from the story of Balaam (Numbers 22-24) in the Bible that God can change the tongues even of people who set out to speak lies and curses, causing them to speak out truth and blessings instead. Let’s pray that all candidates (and even the moderators) at every debate would speak as the oracles of God, so that the full will of God can come forth at each event. Prayer 7: Ask God to give every candidate the tongue of the learned, and that He would awaken their ears to hear His voice. We see that God did this for Jesus in Isaiah 50: The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned (Isaiah 50:4 NKJV). Since it’s God’s will for every person to be made like Jesus, we know it is also God’s will for every person to hear His voice and speak His words—even those who don’t know Jesus yet. So, let’s pray that every person would hear the voice of God instructing them and teaching them in the way they should go (Psalm 32:8), and that they would obey Him and speak only words of righteousness. Prayer 8: Pray that there would be no twisting of words; that nothing would be misconstrued or misreported. I believe that the leviathan spirit is one of the top 5 evil spirits operating in our nation today. The foul leviathan spirit twists words, misconstrues and misrepresents facts, and brings people under the influence of gaslighting and manipulation. It is an evil thing when truth gets twisted! To counteract this, pray that the Holy Spirit—Who is the Spirit of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life—would be manifest. Pray also that every crooked thing would be made straight during these debates. Remember Isaiah 40:4-5: Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken  (Isaiah 40:4-5 NKJV). Intercessor, your prayers are not going unnoticed. Remember that God is storing up your prayers in bowls in Heaven! Your prayers are like a sweet incense in His nostrils. (See Revelation 5:8.) And as we pray together for TRUTH to come forth in this year’s debates, I believe we will see the Lord moving and shaking things up, revealing things we did not know. Let’s pray in faith for that shaking up to happen as truth is revealed, so we can vote with all the facts in hand! (1) Pray with me: Lord, as much prayer is offered regarding this debate, we ask for Your leading, and we trust You to oversee the outcome.   (Now, pray as you feel led, using these 8 suggestions as a guide.) Click the link below to watch the full video: Clay Nash’s regularly scheduled Josiah Company prayer call  will focus on praying for Donald Trump during the debate. To join, dial 719-718-6038 (tel:719-718-6038) tonight at 9:00 pm ET. https://ifapray.org/blog/8-prayers-for-truth-in-the-presidential-debates/ Jamie Rohrbaugh is the founder and CEO of   From His Presence . She is the author of over 40 books, including her two latest collections of prayer tools,   Wind of Heaven   and   New Season . She seeks to equip you to carry God’s manifest glory everywhere you go. Her resources have been published by   YouVersion Bible Plans , The Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, and various other ministry outlets. Download her free prayer tool , Praying the Names of God: 555 Biblical Names of God and How to Use Them in Prayer and Worship , here . For more information about Intercessors For America, visit ifapray.org .

The Importance of Staying Alert “Remember to stay alert and hold firmly to all that you believe. Be mighty and full of courage.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 TPT “ So that no advantage be taken of us by satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 The word “ignorant” in this verse is from the Greek word agnoeo , which means to be “without knowledge or understanding of.” (1)  Our English word “agnostic” is derived from it. Technically, an agnostic is not a person unsure if he or she believes in God, although we now use the word primarily in this way. An agnostic is a person who does not know or understand, regardless of the subject. We also get the words “ignorant” and “ignore” from the same root. In this verse, we are urged not to “ignore” or be an “agnostic” - without understanding - where the devil is concerned. “Schemes” is from the word noema , which literally means “thought.” The verse essentially says, “Don’t be without understanding of the way satan thinks.” Noema  came to also mean “plans, schemes, plots, devices” because these things are products of our thoughts. (2)  For greater insight, let’s insert these definitions into the verse: “Don’t be without understanding of the way your enemy thinks and operates - of his plans, plots, schemes, and devices.” What happens if we are  unaware of satan’s schemes? The verse says he will take advantage of us. The word “advantage” is derived from pleonekteo , which is a compound word meaning “to have or hold the greater portion” ( pleon  - “the greater part;” echo  - “to have or hold”). It is easy to see why this is a word for “covet.” It also means “overreach.” (3) In boxing, the person with the longer reach has the advantage and usually gets in more blows. The word pleonekteo  is also translated as “make a gain;” satan makes a lot of gains on those who are unaware of his tactics. The Greek scholar Bullinger, says pleonekteo  means “to make a prey of, to defraud.” (4)  Now, let’s put the definitions of all three words into the verse: “To the degree we are ignorant of the way our adversary thinks and operates - of his plans, plots, schemes, and devices - to that degree he will gain on us, prey on us, defraud us of what is ours and have or hold the greater portion.”  Not good! Satan wants the greatest portion of our jobs, marriages, families, health, communities, money, government, nation, and more. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Church in America was without an understanding of what satan was planning, and he took the greater portion of our schools, government, media, and much more. As we walk in our roles as watchmen, two other New Testament verses are meaningful. The first is Ephesians 6:18: “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert  with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”  The King James Version uses the word “watching” for the phrase “be on the alert.” The second verse is 1 Peter 5:8: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert . Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  Again, other translations use the word “watchful.” Significantly, the context of both verses is spiritual warfare. Each mentions our adversary and challenges us to alertness or watchfulness, both for ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to draw four very important conclusions from these two verses. Protection from the attacks of our enemy is not automatic, including for believers. There is a part we play in protecting what has been assigned to us. Though God is sovereign, this does not mean He is controlling everything that happens on earth. He has left many decisions to us. If God were going to protect or safeguard believers from satan’s attacks, regardless of what we did or didn’t do, these verses would be totally irrelevant. In our theology, we must factor in human responsibility. Our decisions and actions have consequences, both for ourselves and for others. God’s plan IS to warn or alert us to satan’s tactics. This is a simple deduction. If God says, “Be on the alert” for satan’s attacks, He is obviously willing to make us aware of them. God would not ask of us something He was not enabling us to accomplish. We must be alert - remain watchful - or we will not be aware of God’s warnings and alerts. If these attacks were always going to be obvious, alertness would not be necessary. Isaiah 56:10 speaks of “blind watchmen.” What a striking oxymoron! I am afraid it has been a fairly good description of many of us in our watching roles. We are too often like Christ’s disciples of old, whom He said had eyes but at times couldn’t see (see Mark 8:18). We must do more than casually glance; we must alertly watch! If we are not alert and watchful, if we are ignorant of satan’s attacks, he will devour and take advantage of us. Sadly, many are destroyed due to ignorance or a lack of knowledge (see Hosea 4:6). Satan and demons are real. They seek to oppress, deceive, steal, kill, and destroy. We must not deny the reality of or ignore spiritual conflict. Obviously, we are not to be preoccupied with satan; but neither are we to live in denial or ignorance. The results of both can be disastrous. The story is told of a desert nomad who awakened from hunger one night and decided he’d have a midnight snack. Lighting a candle, he grabbed a date and took a bite. Holding the date to the candle, he saw a worm, whereupon he threw the date out of the tent. Biting into the second date, he found another worm and threw it away, also. Deciding he might not get anything to eat if this continued, he blew out the candle and ate the dates. (5) Sometimes we, too, prefer the darkness of denial to the light of truth. Though the truth may not always be what we want to hear, denial does not change it. Satan is real, is aggressively warring against us, and has made great gains in America. Thankfully, God has raised up a company of watchmen who have re-lit the candle! They know their authority, are alert and informed, and are determined to take back this nation for Christ. And we will! Pray with me: Lord, because of a lack of diligence, we are sometimes taken advantage of by satan. Yes, You defeated him and removed his right to steal from us, but he is a thief and will trespass when not stopped. We are learning to do just that. We are not unaware of his schemes and are growing in our ability to discern his activities.  We are discerning at this crucial time that he has an attack of some sort planned against our nation. We rise up in the spirit against this, declaring that it will not succeed. No attack against our elections or our leaders will prosper. No attacks against us individually will prosper. We are in the secret place Psalm 91 speaks of, under Your shadow, protected from the serpent.  Lord, again today, we ask You to comfort the families in Wilder, Georgia. Wrap Your loving arms around them. We know that evil will occur in this life, but You have overcome its power to win, and Your peace is always with us. Help those affected by this tragedy to drink deeply of Your grace and peace. And we bind every attempt to sidetrack the Ekklesia and hinder the growing revival in America. Thank You for the recent event at Ohio State University in which many students were impacted. Thank You for giving boldness to the football players, enabling them to stand for You and share their faith. Multiply these outpourings on campuses. More, we ask for more! Revival has begun, is growing, and will not be stopped.  All of this we pray and decree in Yeshua’s name and authority. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that satan will not take advantage of us, for we will remain alert.  Portions of today’s devotional were taken from my book   Watchman Prayer . (6) 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. 50. Ibid., ref. no. 3540. Ibid., ref. no. 4122. Bullinger, Ethelbert W. A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament . Kregel Publications, 1999. “An Old Story Tells Of A Desert Nomad Who ...” Sermon Central , 18 June 2007, https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/60425/an-old-story-tells-of-a-desert-nomad-who-by-sermon-central . Accessed 20 February 2021. Sheets, Dutch. Watchman Prayer: Protecting Your Family, Home, and Community from the Enemy's Schemes . Baker Publishing Group, 2019, pp. 11-25.

INTRODUCTION I read recently of a retired NFL quarterback who has never been married but has eight children from three women…and wants more. He is a male, but not a father. “Roughly 40% of children in America are now born to unmarried parents.” And “the absence of a father correlates with higher rates of poverty, teen pregnancy, youth crime, and substance abuse.” (1) America’s problems start at home, and many of them begin with the men. Far too many men have had “manhood” defined to them by TV, not by a healthy father. As we all know, siring kids does not make one a man or a father.  In today’s post, my friend, Kenny Price, discusses America’s struggle with masculinity, pointing us back to God’s plan. Today’s title: __________________________________________________________ The War on Masculinity There is a war on Masculinity. In the tumult of our age and culture, there is a strong need for men to rise, stand firm, and embrace the full measure of their God-given masculinity. God breathed His nature into both men and women, bestowing upon us a sacred mantle of strength, honor, and purpose. Yet, in a world ensnared by confusion and distortion, the crucial call for men to walk boldly in their God-given masculinity has suffered…and has never been more urgent!  It seems that every society struggles to define appropriate roles for its men. Without a clear understanding of who men are and what they are intended to do, they become confused. And confused men create major problems.  In America today, if you are breathing and paying attention, you can see that there is a war on masculinity, a movement to neuter manhood. But when you try to make men more like women, you don’t get LESS “toxic masculinity,” you get MORE! The answer to toxic   masculinity isn’t less  masculinity; it’s true   godly  masculinity. The growing problem in today’s society isn’t that men are too masculine; it’s that they’re not masculine enough. When we, as men, understand and embrace masculinity in a way that is healthy and productive, we become the leaders, the warriors, and the heroes our culture is in desperate need of.  When men deny their masculinity, they run away from responsibilities, leaving destruction and despair in their wake. One researcher said that young men under 25 are nearing a state of masculine meltdown. There seems to be no clear identity of masculinity or what it means to be a man. So many men are drifting in confusion.  America stands at a crossroads—a nation in need of strong, courageous leaders rooted in the principles of righteousness and integrity. From the halls of government to the bustling of our cities’ streets, the cry for leaders - both men and women - to rise and take their place as guardians of freedom and justice reverberates with urgency. As men, let us not shrink back in the face of adversity, but rise to the challenge with boldness and conviction, knowing we are called to be salt and light in a world shrouded with darkness. As Samuel prepared to anoint the future King of Israel, the prophet was taken back that it would be David, a small guy, the least among his family, and from the least of the tribes. But God told Samuel, “The Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart”  (1 Samuel 16:7).   The quality of a man is determined by his inner workings. It’s time that we start winning the war against masculinity by helping men find real masculinity in the place it was created: the heart of our Creator, GOD! Even though this war on masculinity might seem new, it is actually as old as the Garden of Eden. It was there that our enemy, the devil, was working to destroy the true nature of both men and women. It all started with a lie. The lie in the garden was that we humans could live independently from God, that we could govern our own lives and control our own destinies. Over the last several generations, we have sophisticated that lie.  When we enter God’s family, we come with a belief system, a worldview that must be dismantled and reshaped in the light of God’s love and truth. Salvation must ultimately return us to what Adam and Eve possessed before the Fall, an intimate relationship with God and a dependency upon Him. That’s tough for men because part of the lie was that we should not be dependent upon anyone. But we cannot find the answer to why we are here, our destiny and purpose—let alone true masculinity—apart from our Creator. Now more than ever, America needs men who will rise to the occasion and lead with courage and humility. We must be men of honor, integrity, and unwavering faith, willing to stand in the gap and fight for what is right, regardless of the cost. Whether in the boardroom or on the battlefield, let us be men who inspire others to greatness, who lead by example, and who leave a legacy of honor for the coming generations. The call to greatness extends far beyond the confines of individual ambition or worldly success. It is a call to revival—a call to awaken the spirit of godly masculinity that often lies dormant within the hearts of men across this great land. Let us rise, therefore, as a mighty army of warriors for Jesus, united in purpose and unwavering in our commitment to serve Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. Men, let’s get back to the beginning. Pray with me: Father, men are contending for true masculinity marked by courage, strength, and unwavering conviction. This can only be found in You. Father, open the hearts of men to see that we were created to be unconditionally loved by You. Show every man, Father, that he does not have to earn Your love and that his masculinity can only be found in an intimate relationship with You.  In disobedience to Your Word, we have been “conformed to the world” (Romans 12:1-2). We have allowed ungodly individuals to define greatness, manhood, and masculinity; morally weak individuals have become our heroes and those we emulate. This has caused absolute disaster in our land.  Raise up many, Father, who can model and minister Your truth to men. Give us a broad movement that will lend great momentum to this process. Without it, we will never recover our nation. In the coming revival, we ask You to revive biblical manhood.  We ask for these things in Yeshua’s name. Amen.  Our decree: We declare that men will step into their God-created masculinity and become the strength needed in our nation and homes. I asked Kenny for book recommendations regarding this subject, and he gave me these: The Men We Need: God’s Purpose for Manly Men  by Brant Hansen

 Healing the Masculine Soul by Gordon Dalbey Kenny also has a YouTube channel for men called The Fraternity. The channel address is: kennyprice5858. Click on the link below to watch the full video: _____________________ https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/cam-newtons-tombstone-mindset-highlights-americas-marriage-crisis

INTRODUCTION As we move into this time of harvest and extending Christ’s redeeming love into the earth, Holy Spirit has been maturing the church into “a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ”  (Ephesians 4:13). The authority that comes with this is not a right to control people, telling them how to think and what to do. Instead, it is to liberate  them from control—the dominion and influence of spiritual darkness.  Liars and propagandists twist the Scriptures, stating that words like kingdom, dominion, rule, overcoming, weapons, warfare, etc., imply that we want to force Christianity on people. They accuse us with words and phrases like “Christian Nationalism,” “dominionists,” and others, attempting to shame and silence us. This is the same dishonest tactic that labels those who disagree with them as homophobes, hatemongers, etc. Don’t be distracted by this; satan has always used lies. He is “the father of lies,” after all. True Christians love all people, just as Christ does.  Those who know the Bible are very aware that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12) and that our weapons also are spiritual (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Even our involvement in government is not to control people, but to protect and promote “liberty and justice for all.” (Including Christians!) The church is moving forward in its ability to represent Christ, enforcing His victory over darkness. My friend Randy Lopshire addresses this in the following powerful thoughts. Our title is: ________________________________________________________________ No Longer On The Defense In November 2020, I had the honor of being in Coudersport, PA, with my friend Dutch Sheets and a team of leaders on a prayer assignment regarding our nation. It was a powerful time of prayer, declarations, and decrees.  Just before being asked to go onto the platform with the team, I experienced a vision in which I saw a man with a banner across his chest, similar to those worn by government officials or dignitaries in some nations. The banner was gold with blue lettering and said, “The Rising Ekklesia.” I knew the man wearing it represented a portion of the body of Christ, those who had been receiving revelation that would enable them to function as Christ’s Ekklesia.  Then, from behind me, Jesus walked around my right side. In His right hand, He had a fiery sword shaped like a lightning bolt. He stood before the man wearing the banner and extended His sword. With it, He snatched the banner up and over his head and threw it to the side. The Lord then replaced that banner with a new, brighter gold one containing brighter blue letters; it read, “The Standing Ekklesia.” I knew this man represented those at attention before the Lord, listening intently to Him, and could now do much more for the Kingdom than they were able to do previously.  This morning, the Lord reminded me of that experience. While I pondered it, He dropped these words into my heart: “I have once again removed an old banner, replacing it with another. This one reads, ‘The Ruling Ekklesia.’” He continued, “My Ekklesia is no longer simply a defensive body, but is now on the offense. This Ekklesia is not set back on its heels, trying to deflect the missiles of the enemy. Rather, it watches closely to see where satan’s “fiery darts” come from, then releases a counter-attack with great authority, precision, and success.” In my personal times with the Lord, I have been receiving revelation of this for some time, realizing this describes the Ekklesia necessary for right now. Holy Spirit has developed us quickly because these times mandate a mature, fully trained Ekklesia: a Kingdom “Special Forces.” Gone are the days of simply defending ourselves from sporadic, distracting demonic skirmishes. We will now locate the enemy with precision, advance, and neutralize them. Then, we will follow up by replacing their positions with Kingdom rule. All of this is accomplished with Holy Spirit’s power and leading. We are no longer “rising,” we are no longer just “withstanding.” We are now in a ruling mindset and posture. It’s time for us to reverse the tone of the war we are in and launch our own spiritual missiles into the kingdom of darkness, behind its walls. We will do that with renewed spiritual vitality, coming from the fresh revelation of WHO WE ARE in Him and WHO HE IS in us.  We must stop dreaming of going back to the Acts 2 church and realize instead, that we are Christ’s 2000-year-old church! We have entered adulthood. We are the mature Ekklesia of the Lord Jesus Christ, endowed with the greatest authority and power in heaven and earth.  No longer are we to only “stand on” Christ’s promises; we are to “fire them” as missiles onto the enemy, with faith that there is not a wall he can build capable of keeping us out! Our Word declarations will prevail. It’s time to “rush the gates” with the Master’s own words in our hearts:  “And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”  (Matthew 16:18-19). Like David when attacking Goliath, who slowed down only to snatch up the stones for his sling, we too must run to face the enemy (1 Samuel 17). “How dare he insult our God,” David declared.  Let us not be found waiting for another to do our job for us. We can’t afford to wrongly assume, “It will all just work out.” NO! We, the Ruling Ekklesia, must MAKE things work out through the authority and power Jesus gave us, using the “Promise Missiles” He has given us.  We are no longer the Rising Ekklesia, nor are we only the Standing Ekklesia; we are now the Ruling Ekklesia. Pray with me: Father, we know we are living in a world that has not yet experienced the fullness of Christ’s redemption. Satan and his forces are still at work, blinding the minds of unbelievers and controlling them through demonic ideologies and beliefs. We know these evil forces work through every possible means, including governments, education, false religions, wars, hatred, and more. We are called to war spiritually against this (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). As those who represent You on earth, we ask for the highest possible level of revelation concerning our union with Christ. Release powerful levels of wisdom and revelation. May the church realize - at higher and higher levels - who we are in Christ and who He is in us. Release this revelation until, as Randy says, we function as the ruling Ekklesia. As this mature Ekklesia, we will walk in the appropriate balance of humility and boldness. Like David, we will run to defeat giants; like Peter, we will be so bold as to say to the lame,  “Such as I have, give I thee!”  (Acts 3:6). We will possess the faith and boldness of Paul, who eventually took over the leadership of his “prison ship” (Acts 27 & 28). The darkness in the spiritual realm went into panic and chaos when these and other members of the Ekklesia showed up. It will be the same today when members of Your ruling Ekklesia arrive in territories, taking Christ into the dark places of the earth. We decree this, for You spoke of a church such as this in Your Word. We press toward this mark in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the Ekklesia of Christ is releasing Christ’s rule, doing so with humility, love, and authority. Post Script As I have stated, our GH15 posts are written and recorded the day before their release. As I was about to record this yesterday, the news broke of the four people killed and nine injured in the Winder, Georgia high school. This is but one more horrific example of the destruction satan employs in his efforts to steal, kill, and destroy. We pray for God’s grace and comfort to be released in this community and that, as the sheriff stated, love wins over hate. Today’s post was contributed by Pastor Randy Lopshire. You can learn more about Randy at RSChurch.com . Click on the link below to watch the full video.

INTRODUCTION We live in an era when so many pastors and Christian leaders shy away from speaking out on political and cultural issues. This hasn’t always been the case. At the time of America’s founding, pastors were the leading voices for independence and against England’s oppression. My friend, Larry Tomczak, in an insightful article addressing this, points out that during our time, even Billy Graham wasn’t afraid to do so. Today’s title: ________________________________________________________________ Billy Graham and Spurgeon: Examples for Election and Engagement Billy Graham, as God’s ambassador, announced the gospel and addressed the evils of his day: atheistic communism; segregation, and racism (front page headline in South Africa: “Billy Graham Calls Apartheid Sin!”); same-sex “marriage” and sexual immorality. He and Franklin placed a full-page statement in the Charlotte Observer exposing gay “marriage” and upholding biblical marriage between a man and a woman! SPURGEON In the mid-1800s, Charles Spurgeon, called the Prince of Preachers, was a master Bible teacher believing in the sufficiency of Scripture to address all issues. I love his famous quote: “Bold-hearted men are always called mean-spirited by cowards!” He spoke out boldly against slavery, causing his sermons to be burned in America. He said, “I often hear it said, ‘Do not bring religion into politics.’ This is precisely where it ought to be! The Cabinet and Parliament do the work of the nation as before God, and I say enough of men without conscience! Let policies founded on wrong foundations be cast to the moles and bats! Whether Kings or Queens, Prime Minister or members of Parliament, God grant that the day come when the division between secular and religion shall no more be heard!” FREE SPEECH Mr. Spurgeon speaks to us in America today! Multitudes have been misled regarding the “separation of church and state” (which appears nowhere in our founding documents). Correctly interpreted [the Constitution] means freedom OF religion, not freedom from religion! Many have been misled by the so-called “Johnson Amendment” (1954), which is used to intimidate and muzzle pastors afraid of losing tax-exempt status. It has caused scores to refrain from any advocacy for or opposition of political candidates or legislation. Truth be told, the IRS has never actually revoked the tax-exempt status of any church for violating this unconstitutional policy. The Alliance Defending Freedom is currently working to once and for all eliminate this measure (contact them for any caution or clarification). Are you aware that prior to 1954, churches and ministries had no problem speaking about political issues and political leaders? [In Britain] Mr. Spurgeon was not afraid to address controversial issues like freedom of speech! He spoke on other political issues: slavery, which he branded as the “foulest blot;” corruption in government (excoriating a “tyrant king”); using his monthly magazine “Sword and the Trowel” to address societal events (which were mild compared to today). He refused to go “woke” as he spoke out about compromise and what he believed to be unscriptural practices, eventually departing his Baptist Union denomination and being “canceled” by colleagues and friends. APPLIED TODAY Do you really think Mr. Spurgeon, a man of strong convictions, would’ve been silent if a young girl in his congregation had teen boys come into her bathroom or changing room? Would he have been mute if leaders in London were endorsing and celebrating taxpayer-funded abortion up until the moment of birth and beyond? Would he have turned a deaf ear to English magistrates pushing surgical mutilation of young children in the name of “gender care” … pornography distributed in schools… calls for defunding police…and parades of homosexuals and undressed lesbians in the streets of London, along with drag queen presentations in elementary schools…? Would Mr. Spurgeon simply look the other way if over 1 million unborn babies were slaughtered in the womb yearly? How about a hundred thousand dying annually from drugs coming into the U.K. from “open borders?” Or 300,000 children declared missing, with scores ending up in sex trafficking, raped, and experiencing horrible deaths? Is it “loving our neighbor” to allow this on our watch while supporting politicians who have this blood on their hands? Let’s be real - is simply studying books of the Bible and avoiding “hot button” issues getting the job done? “If anyone knows what is right and does not do it, for him it is sin”  (James 4:17). 4 KINDS OF PASTORS 1. Complacent Sadly, there are many in the pulpit who have “lost their first love” (Revelation 2:4) and are merely maintaining status quo religious services in order to make a living; they’re “waiting out the clock” ‘till it’s time to recalibrate their career or comfortably retire. 2. Compromising Tragically some are caving to “woke” cultural pressures and betraying the call to “contend for the faith once delivered” (Jude 2); they’re choosing to yield to the fear of man and societal acceptance. 3. Cowardly Those first “cast in the lake of fire” (Revelation 21:8) are those who submit to the fear of man. Lacking biblical convictions in these “times that try men’s souls,” they’re afraid of losing members, tithers, maybe their salary and next mortgage payment.   4. Courageous Billy Graham said, “Courage is contagious!” and the good news today is that many are awakening to bring both grace and truth, declaring the “whole counsel of God” in one of the most serious moments of America’s history. OUR DEFINING MOMENT Liberty or tyranny? Free market capitalism or Marxist socialism? The window is closing fast in America, and if the wrong candidate takes office, conservatives will awaken to chilling consequences. We are at an inflection point in this existential crisis requiring all of us to summon bravery to honor our Judeo-Christian heritage and our Founder’s ideals. If you are a pastor, parent, or person who can influence others, please avail yourself of the FREE, instantly available, brief videos prepared by 16 key leaders in America to help you with the 30 hot-button issues of our day. We need to be informed influencers, changing the hearts and minds of as many as we possibly can. Go to larrytomczak.com , click the Bullseye  graphic, and get started! HERE’S THE DEAL “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same or one day, we will spend our sunset years telling our children and children’s children what it was once like in the United States, where men were free.” Ronald Reagan Pray with me: Father, we have surrendered much sacred ground in America. Our ignorance has caused us to abandon the old path and lose focus of Your ways. You have called us to be Your voice on the earth. Help us to regain this voice, as we love and serve our fellow humans. We ask You to break the deception off the church that says government is evil, unclean, and something to be avoided, that it defiles our worship and teaching gatherings to talk about moral and biblical issues. While we shy away from this, others indoctrinate our children, shape our laws, and determine our national direction. Truth frees us. Give boldness to Your people to speak truth - to do so in love, yes, but to do so. We ask You to break fear off the church. Break lethargy and complacency off the church. Awaken us to the fire and passion You need us to embody. We ask for this in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the church of Jesus Christ will regain its voice, trumpeting the gospel of the Kingdom. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was contributed by Larry Tomczak. We encourage you to visit his website ( LarryTomczak.com ) for free videos, podcasts, books, and other valuable resources. ​​ Larry Tomczak is a best-selling author of 10 books, a cultural commentator of 50 years, Intercessors for America board member, and a public policy advisor with the Liberty Counsel. Go to www.larrytomczak.com  to watch 30 amazing, free on demand, brief videos done by some of America’s top leaders to confidently address today’s tough issues.

Healing Summit Report Friday night’s Healing Summit in Middletown, Ohio, was very strong. Many people were ministered to - we must have prayed for 1000 people that night and over 700 churches joined online. Thousands watched in homes and hospital rooms. Many testimonies of healing were shared in the service that night. Some conditions that do not produce constant pain such as heart issues, neurological problems, organ diseases, etc., cannot be determined immediately as being healed. I believe time will reveal that many others were healed.  As one of the leaders present, Greg Hood stated: “We partnered with Holy Spirit and witnessed signs, wonders, and miracles as thousands of people were prayed for and healed worldwide. We were truly in awe. I have a feeling that Father enjoyed it even more than we did. In the weeks ahead, we can expect to hear many more testimonies of  God’s healing and faithfulness.” Testimonies are also flowing in from pastors and leaders around the nation. The host pastor, my brother Tim, texted me Saturday morning saying: “The testimonies are pouring in! The host churches are giving great reports!” Greg Hood told me late Friday night: “I have friends vacationing on Grand Cayman Island who were watching the Healing Summit tonight. They told me: ‘You spoke to “a clicking jaw” early on, as you began to release healing. I’ve been dealing with TMJ for several weeks. IMMEDIATELY, the clicking/grinding stopped! ‘Hallelujah … the mantle has already moved down into the Caribbean!’” Another friend told Greg: “We sent my grandmother [in another state] the link to watch the live stream. She has had excruciating back pain for the last month. Every time I talk to her she struggles getting up and doing anything. She said all of the back pain went away as the leaders were speaking. I think it was even before they started praying for people.” One of my dear friends in Kansas told me: “Thanks for the word tonight. Many were healed tonight from all over Kansas. We love you guys and are loving all that God has and is doing.” And still another friend in Missouri said: “What an amazing, powerful Healing Summit - a global phenomenon of God’s grace & mercy. Our church streamed it with other ministries in the region. I tell you, Dutch, we had testimony after testimony of many getting healed & delivered.” Because of Labor Day, I’m writing this on Saturday, the morning after the service, so my staff can enjoy their Monday holiday. We know that many more great reports will come in the days ahead.  A RE-AWAKENING I believe Friday was part of a reawakening. When the church grows weak in gifts, anointings, and functions that God intends us to walk in - whether from sin, complacency, doctrinal error, or lukewarmness - He takes us through seasons of renewal and restoration. Just as Isaac had to redig the clogged up wells of his father Abraham (Genesis 26), we have to be cleaned out and reawakened in our hearts.  Jeremiah 6:16 tells us:  “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls”  (KJV). We were asking and looking for “old paths” Friday night. I am confident we found them and a new season on God’s agenda was formally launched, a season of signs, wonders and miracles, associated with the great coming harvest. We spoke of these ancient paths in the meeting, and how what we were seeking was not new, but a relaunch of former eras in the church. We made formal statements and decrees accepting the mantles of healing and miracles that previous generations have walked in. To be clear: We were NOT implying that the church has been completely lacking in gifts of healing, the miraculous, etc. All of us leading the meeting have seen people healed in our ministries, as have numerous others in the body of Christ. We are saying God is expanding it, multiplying it, launching a broad movement among His people of signs, wonders, and miracles as He has in former times. We’re saying that this movement will help facilitate the billion-soul-harvest; and we believe that it will be participated in not only by leaders, but by believers in general (Mark 16:18). We are NOT saying we are the leaders of this movement - it will be led by Jesus, through the Holy Spirit.  And when we speak of past movements, anointings, giftings, etc., we are NOT saying we’re asking for former leaders’ mantles. We believe the gifts of the Spirit are just that: “of the Spirit.” The “transfers” we spoke of Friday are the passing of batons, not another person’s gift. The principle involved is God doing through our generation what He has done through former generations, taking the church from glory to glory. When we do “prophetic acts,” such as praying around the chair used in the tent revivals of the Voice of Healing movement (which we did Friday night), the acts are symbolic. We are using them to honor what God did in the past, as well as those He used, and are saying, “Lord, give us the types and level of gifts and mantles they moved in, a reawakening of miracle revivals. We are connected with these former brothers and sisters in the spirit, through You, and our actions today are a continuation of what they did yesterday. As we honor and connect spiritually with what You did through them, give us the synergy of the ages.”  SUMMARY In summary, we believe many were healed Friday night, and that this will continue; we believe gifts of the Spirit that produce signs and wonders were passed out around the world. We are convinced that this will be instrumental in producing the great harvest, and will release God’s mercy and compassion on millions. As Pat McManus, one of the participants Friday evening said, “We encountered a powerful expression of the love of the Father.” Indeed. The heavens are opening and rains of revival are beginning to fall. It is an honor to be part of God’s great Kingdom agenda.  Pray with me: Father, it was Your idea to connect signs and wonders with winning people to You, as You stated in the Great Commission of Mark 16. Then you demonstrated the plan over and over in the book of Acts. Down through history, miraculous signs have been part of revivals and awakenings. We will need them in the coming revival, as well. We ask for and receive the gifts of Your Spirit, in order to release these miracles. Please hasten this process; multiply the miracles! Healing is also Your “children’s bread” (Matthew 15:26), provided for them through Christ’s redemption. Miracles occur as You release Your compassion and provision to them. In the current uncapping of miracle wells, we are expecting many of our brothers and sisters to be healed. We ask for this to increase, including notable and creative miracles. Heal the suffering, even those terminally ill, and deliver many from the debilitating effects of disease. Our decree: We decree that we will steward well the release of Holy Spirit’s miraculous power. Click on the link below to watch the full video.