Enforcing Christ’s Victory I mentioned the following verse last week in a post concerning the dominion God gave humankind over the earth. “The heavens. . . the Eternal holds himself, the earth He has assigned to men” (Psalm 115:16; Moffatt Translation). This translation communicates with greater accuracy the contextual meaning of the Hebrew word nathan,(1) otherwise frequently translated “given.” God didn’t give away ownership of the earth; He assigned the responsibility of governing it to humans. The Passion Translation says He has “put us in charge” of the earth. God’s “gifts” are often His “assignments,” an example being our children. Holy Spirit uses this word no less than 6 times in the first chapter of Joshua to remind Israel that He had “given” them the land of Canaan (verses 2, 3, 6, 11, 13, 15). Canaan was the land He had promised (“given”) their forefather, Abraham (Genesis 12:7). They were now being assigned to conquer and possess what God had “given.” Someone once asked, “Well, was He giving, or were they taking?” The answer is, “Yes.” There is another word in this passage that aligns with this concept. Verse 11 uses the phrase, “The land the Lord your God is giving (nathan) you, to possess (yaresh)(2) it.” The word yaresh means “legally an heir; military invasion in order to seize or possess.” In other words, “I have given it to you legally; now, I’m assigning you to conquer and take possession of it.” The principle that we must “lay hold of” by faith and/or spiritual warfare what God has already given us is often confusing to many believers. They believe that what God wills for us to possess or experience - from that which Christ’s redemption provided - will sovereignly manifest for us. Not so. Most believers have never been taught what it means to “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life“ (1 Timothy 6:12). “Lay hold” could be translated as “seize.” Thayer says the word (epilambanomai) means “to take what is one's own, to take possession of, to take to one's self, to make one's own; to claim, procure for one's self; that which when taken is not let go; to seize, to lay hold of, to apprehend.”(3 & 4). Obviously, this verse is NOT telling us to “take” or “wrestle” something from God. But we ARE being told to use our faith to “take possession of” what God has given through Christ; to “seize” it, and “don’t let go.” Sin’s curse operating on the earth, opposing circumstances, demonic opposition, and more, will attempt to steal from us what God has given. Paul was telling Timothy, “I know it is a fight, Timothy, a fight of faith. But you must use your faith and lay hold of that which God has given you.” Joshua is an Old Testament picture or type of Christ; Israel pictures the Church. Joshua gave Israel their inheritance; Jesus gave the Church its inheritance. To help paint this picture, Joshua’s name was actually changed earlier in his life from Hoshea to Joshua, which is the Hebrew equivalent to the name Jesus. In Joshua 10:22-27, Joshua (picturing Jesus) and the army of Israel defeated five Canaanite kings and their armies (picturing satan and those aligned with him). The kings fled and hid in a cave. Upon discovering them, Joshua (Jesus) ordered the kings to be brought to him and made them lie down on the ground. Everyone thought he was about to enact a very familiar custom of that time, which was the conquering king placing his foot on the necks of his enemies in order to display his conquest. Oftentimes the defeated army or armies would be paraded before the conquering king or general as he did so. This is what Colossians 2:15 is referring to, “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” Joshua (Jesus), however, does something very different and very prophetic. Rather than place his foot on the necks of these kings, as was the custom, Joshua summoned some of his soldiers and had them do so! No more literal picture of Christ and the Church could have been given. When Jesus defeated satan and his principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, placing them under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:57, Ephesians 1:22, Hebrews 2:8), He “raised us up with Him” (Ephesians 2:6), placing satan and his army under our feet! And yet He also said, You’ll have to bind and loose (Matthew 16:18-19); you’ll have to use the “weapons of your warfare” (2 Corinthians 10:4); you’ll have to “wrestle” (Ephesians 6:12). He is saying, “What I have accomplished, you must now enforce. I have put our enemies under our feet legally—under My and your authority—but you must exercise that authority in individual situations, causing the literal manifestation of our victory.” This is why Romans 16:20 says, “And the God of peace will soon crush satan under YOUR feet” (v. 20, emphasis added). And Luke 10:19 tells us, “Behold, I have given YOU authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you” (emphasis added). In Joshua 1:3, the Lord said to Joshua, “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.” The word “tread” is darak, and means more than just stepping. It is a warfare term used for “bending the bow” when about to shoot an arrow. It is still used today in Israel for the command, “Load your weapons.” God wasn’t telling Israel that everywhere they simply walked or stepped would be given to them. He had already marked off the perimeters of their inheritance. He was saying, “Every place that I have promised, and where you are willing to “load your weapons” and possess, I’m going to give you.” So, one last time: Was God giving, or were they taking? YES! And to prove my point, I remind you that the previous generation in Israel was fearful and unwilling to darak - load their weapons - and fight. And they did NOT possess what God said was theirs. These things happened to Israel as types or shadows for us (see 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11). That which our Joshua - Jesus - has given to us will not automatically come to us simply because we are now born again. We must darak and yaresh! America shall be saved…as we lay hold of her salvation! Pray with me: Father, as we move toward revival and reformation, we are reminded of Israel. You told them to prepare their weapons; they were going to possess the land. They would have to “possess” what You were “giving” legally. As long as they walked in covenant with You and obeyed Your strategies, they prevailed. You have given us spiritual weapons, with which to overcome the powers of darkness that have influenced our nation for decades. They have controlled other nations for centuries. The spoils we’re after are people’s salvation; we want millions to be freed from the curse of the Fall and their separation from You. We want them delivered from sin and freed from oppression. We want our children to know You and Your ways, and to be passionately pursuing relationship with You. You want this, as well. We want our nation to once again embrace her calling and destiny. We want to serve Christ and other nations by taking the gospel of Jesus to them. We want You to be honored - from the highest levels of authority in our land, to every home and person. We want to help You accomplish the great revival You’re planning, being Your voices, Your hands, Your feet, and especially representing Your heart. You have said You would restore America to this if we humbled ourselves and prayed, turned from sin, and sought Your face. A remnant, a representational intercessory army has done so, and will continue to do this. We know You will honor what You have said. So we command once again, “Kingdom of God - rule of Yahweh, victory of Christ, life of God, breath of Holy Spirit - COME! Will and desires of King Jesus, BE!” We pray and decree these things through His authority, and thank You in advance. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will lay hold of that which God is giving. 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. 5414. Ibid., ref. no. 3423. Ibid., ref. no. 1949. Ibid., ref. no. 2983.

The Dominos Are Falling You would have to look long and hard to find anyone more passionate about seeing America revived and reformed than my brother, Tim Sheets. He seeks God diligently regarding what Holy Spirit is saying to the church and what is necessary in order for these 2 things to occur. As you will see from this word, Tim is on fire. He shares: “Current events must be defined using God’s truth. Demonic visuals and messages must be forbidden and resisted. We must be a people who discern the times. Thomas Aquinas, a thirteenth-century Italian priest, philosopher, and theologian, made this statement, ‘He who is not angry when there is just cause for anger is immoral. Why? Because anger looks to the good of justice, and if you can live amid injustice without anger, you are immoral as well as unjust.’(1) “It’s possible to be angry and sin not (Ephesians 4:26). Anger at injustice is righteous anger. It is not love to wink at injustice; it is love to resist it. We are in a spiritual and ideological war for this nation. Ours is a call to spiritual warfare, and it is a call to cultural battles. It is an ideological war against unrighteous government and societal tyranny. It’s a call to speak truth to abusive, lying powers. The call of the Ekklesia is to arise and stand against evil. The weapons God gave us are mighty through Him to the pulling down of strongholds. We are called to partner with Him and stop corruption. It is time to cast off fear, apathy, indifference, laziness, and stand against injustice. “Last year, a shameful act of bullying by our government took place against our former president. This atrocity has never been done before in our nation. When I heard the news, I was reminded of things the Lord impressed upon me just prior to the event, ‘Leaders of some governmental agencies are about to panic. They will begin doing crazy things that will further expose their motives. In sheer desperation, they will lash out, but it will only reveal more of their own wickedness and evil. And though they are too deceived to know it, their dictatorial actions and communist tactics will have been further exposed.’ “Many in governmental positions of authority are trying to cover up their actions and lies. However, God spoke to me in a previous prophecy, ‘I will pull the covers off of you. I will bury your plans. I will write with my own finger: “vanquished.’” As Jesus said in Matthew 15:14, concerning the arrogant perversion of authority by Pharisees, ‘They are blind, but if the blind lead the blind, both fall in the ditch.’ “Currently, there are arrogant, self-righteous leaders in America who are going to lead other blind and arrogant people into a ditch. When fools lead fools, wrecks happen. These leaders are too blind to see that they have tipped a domino that will result in a cascade of falling dominoes. The serpent’s head is coming off. “1 Kings 18 speaks of Ahab’s and Jezebel’s confrontation with the prophet, Elijah. King Ahab and Elijah met, and Elijah proposed a challenge. An altar would be built and a sacrifice placed upon it; however, neither would light a fire. Each would ask for supernatural fire to fall on the sacrifice - Ahab’s prophets praying to their god, Baal; Elijah praying to Yahweh. The challenge would prove whose god was truly God. “The followers of Baal went first, praying from morning until afternoon with no results. Then it was Elijah’s turn. Immediately, the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed the offering. The challenge was over. The Baal workers supporting Jezebel were appropriately dealt with. “This passage of Scripture reveals that God has removed Baal’s influence from governments before. I believe He’s going to do so again. The day of reckoning is here. The hand of God is about to interrupt their party. The desecration of God’s laws and statutes will not go unopposed. The Almighty King is going to stomp the head of Leviathan that is slithering through government departments; his days in our government are numbered. “As I prayed into current events, the Lord spoke to me, ‘The Ekklesia must partner with Holy Spirit, allowing Him to lead in an aggressive battle plan. This plan will end in great deliverance, great reversals, and great victories, and will begin the discipling of nations.’ We must embrace this assignment. In many ways, our nation and way of life depend on it. Clearly, doctrines of demons are prevalent in our land; antichrist culture is being actively promoted. Christians are being persecuted, and our values are being vilified; the church has been described by some government leaders as ‘non-essential.’ “The war against Christ’s Kingdom and Ekklesia is real and is intensifying, but we are not without recourse! We have everything we need in order to prevail and turn this nation around. I believe the glorious Ekklesia is rising, just as God’s Word said it would. The Kingdom of God is amping up like I’ve never seen before, in order to accomplish Christ’s purpose on the earth. “To achieve this, we must do things God’s way, following the patterns and principles of Scripture. Sadly, we have too often seen nominal churches and shallow Christianity being promoted by fearful leaders. Obviously, this will not work; it is actually part of the problem. Nowhere in the Bible does it say to run from our adversaries, nor to be silent. We must not compromise, bow to fear, or cower to any challenge of our faith. “As Christ’s Ekklesia, we must raise our voices, make a visible stand without compromise, and be strong in the Lord. We must bring clarity and proper definition from Scripture to culture. When challenged by an ‘in your face’ attack from hell, we must respond by being real Christians, not religious pacifists, trembling in fear from loud-mouthed devils. “There is a remnant in the church that has heard Ahab’s defiance long enough. They are ready to rise up and do things God’s way, declaring, ‘Let the God who answers by fire be our God. If Baal is god, we’ll serve him. If Yahweh is God, we’ll serve Him. Let’s find out! Let’s find out who the real God is’ (1 Kings 18:24). “Jesus said hell’s government would not prevail. Let’s find out if Christ is big enough to back that up. I am confident that He can! God said He would watch over His Word to perform it. He said He would cause us to triumph. Let’s find out! Let’s find out if the name of Jesus is greater than any other name. I’m confident that it is!” Pray with me: Lord, break the darkness, break diabolical structures, and send Your great light. We decree that this is Your nation, and the recent schemes of our government will backfire in historic proportions. In the name of King Jesus, treacherous strategies will backfire, misfire, and boomerang! Battering ram angels are knocking the props of Baal out from under those who oppose You. Cause Your power to rise in this nation. Motivate the Ekklesia to raise her voice. Grant that boldness would be upon us to speak the Name of Jesus and the words He gives us. Give us signs and wonders. Show Your mightiness! Close the mouths of the prophets of Baal. Let righteous rulers arise, fearlessly declaring that You are God. Answer with fire! May the entire world see in this hour who the true God is. We continue to do as You instructed us and pray for protection over America’s water supply, waterways, dams, and ports. As the shaking occurs with greater intensity, as those with evil intentions begin their planned attacks and violence increases in our land, we boldly declare our faith that America is anchored, painted with Holy Spirit anointing, and will be restored through the shaking. Your Kingdom will come, and Your will accomplished, in Yeshua’s name! Amen. Our decree: We decree that Baal will be exposed in the government of America, and that God will answer our prayers with revival fire. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about Tim at TimSheets.org. __________________________________ 1. https://graciousquotes.com/thomas-aquinas/

Winner Take All It will not be news to those of you who follow GH15 that we are in a “winner take all” spiritual war for the soul of America. The Left certainly knows this and has pulled out all the stops, no longer even masquerading their attempts at taking over. In their deceived minds, parents no longer have the right to control the education of their children, and kindergartners should be indoctrinated regarding sexual preferences. America should have no borders, her history should be rewritten, and laws are made to be broken. The fruit of allowing humanistic ideals to control our nation is now in complete manifestation: truth no longer matters, and lying to advance an agenda is perfectly acceptable. The average American, even those who do not profess to be Christians, shakes her or his head in wonder asking, “How did we get to this insane point?” That certainly needs to be addressed in order to reform our nation. But the strongholds that now exist will never be fully overcome only in the legislative chambers and courtrooms of America. A Third Great Awakening MUST occur to reawaken the conscience of millions in America. Yes, much else must be done, but without an awakening, there is no solution. We must experience revival and reformation. So, we war and work for both, and we will achieve them. Our amazing friend, Quin Sherrer, wrote the following piece regarding the spiritual battle we are in, highlighting General George Patton. It fits well with the subject of spiritual authority that I shared in the previous two posts. Quin writes: ‘“I am a soldier. I fight where I am told. I win where I fight.’ That quote by General George S. Patton is displayed at the museum honoring him at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. “An intercessor friend who saw it during a visit there commented: ‘That should be our attitude when fighting God’s enemies, the powers of darkness, through prayer and spiritual warfare, especially with what’s happening in our nation. God needs Christians with a warrior’s spirit,’ she said. “‘Patton attended the Virginia Military Institute and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He studied fencing and designed the M1913 Cavalry Saber, more commonly known as the Patton Saber. He also competed in the modern pentathlon in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.’.(1) As a U. S. Army general, Patton’s leadership was strategic in winning battles. “‘George Smith Patton Jr. (1885–1945) was a general who commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean theater of World War II, and the Third United States Army in France and Germany after the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. ‘“Patton conducted a highly successful rapid armored drive across France. Under his decisive leadership, the Third Army took the lead in relieving beleaguered American troops at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, after which his forces drove deep into Nazi Germany by the end of the war.’(2)  Without question, Patton’s leadership helped to save the world from Hitler’s takeover. “Some of Patton’s talk to his troops was laced with words that ladies at afternoon tea would not approve, he once admitted. But he said his men did. ‘Patton's philosophy of leading from the front, and his ability to inspire troops was usually favorably received by them…[His] colorful image, hard-driving personality, and success as a commander were at times overshadowed by his controversial public statements.’(3) “However, biographers say Patton also believed in prayer. And he believed that the war he was engaged in, just as ours today, was spiritual. Here is one of his statements for his troops: ‘Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for battle. Pray for the defeat of our wicked enemy whose banner is injustice and whose god is oppression. Pray for victory. Pray for our Army and pray for peace. We must march together, all out for God.’(4) “Wow! General Patton once told his men, ‘You must acquire the warrior’s soul.’ Here is another strong quote of his: ‘There are three ways that men get what they want; by planning, by working, and by praying. Any great military operation takes careful planning or thinking. Then you must have well-trained troops to carry it out: that's the working. But between the plan and the operation, there is always an unknown. That unknown spells defeat or victory, success or failure. It is the reaction of the actors to the ordeal when it actually comes. Some people call that getting the breaks; I call it God. God has His part or margin in everything; that's where prayer comes in.’(5) “Prayer and spiritual warfare must be used when satan and his demonic forces attempt to wreak havoc in our families, communities, and nations. We enforce Christ’s victory against the enemy to break his attacks using the weapons God has provided for us: the Word of God, the power of Holy Spirit, and the name of Jesus. “Though satan’s plans are carried out through people, Paul instructs Christians that their struggle is not with flesh and blood but with invisible principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness. He says to come against the ‘wiles of the devil’ - the enemy’s evil schemes - by putting on the full armor of God, taking a stand, praying in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests, and staying alert (Ephesians 6:18 NIV). “Christ’s victory over satan is complete. Yet, we must enforce that victory. God is looking for those with a ‘warrior’s soul’ to unveil corruption and cause truth to prevail in our nation.” (Quin then quotes from one of my previous posts) “‘How does this warrior spirit translate into action today against the spiritual giants of our land? Obviously, it begins with prayer - spiritual warfare. But there is more. Standing for truth, voting out of office individuals with unbiblical ideals, giving to righteous causes, speaking out against that which opposes the rule of God - all are ways by which we war.’(6) “With Christ’s authority, we will win where we fight! But we have to engage, or we will lose by default.” Pray with me: Father, as we stand in the gap for our nation, cities, and families, we declare that the power of the blood of Jesus has broken every chain of bondage. Let every evil scheme be exposed and thwarted before they can even be carried out. We declare that no weapon formed against Your plans for our nation shall prosper. Every tongue that would rise up against this will be exposed and cast down. We pray for Your manifold wisdom to rest upon all in authority over our country who stand with You. May truth and discernment guide every decision they make in their public and private lives. May unrighteous officials currently in office be replaced by those who will serve with integrity. We pray for their salvation, but also for the failure of their evil plans. We cry for justice and mercy, truth and righteousness to be established.(7) We bind the powers of darkness that are perverting justice in our nation. We ask that those partnering with this would continue to be exposed, and that the American people be shown the truth. Break the unrighteous attacks against President Trump and those who served him. Bring justice to those being persecuted unrighteously for protesting abortion, fraudulent elections, and other evils. End the evil associated with our borders; turn the tables on satan and his vessels by saving many of those coming into America. Send Revival! Orchestrate reformation! In Christ’s authority, we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that the enemy’s tactics and assignments aligned against our citizens and country will be exposed and demolished. Justice will prevail. Christians across this land with a warrior’s spirit will continue to cry out and stand in the gap, ushering in the next Great Awakening - a great harvest of souls and a true reformation. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was contributed by our dear friend, author, and seasoned intercessor Quin Sherrer. You can find out more about Quin at QuinSherrer.com. 1. George S. Patton, enen.wikipedia.org › wiki 2. Ibid. 3. Ibid. 4. https://www.azquotes.com/author/11404-George_S_Patton 5. https://libquotes.com/george-s-patton/quotes/god 6. Dutch Sheets Ministries, Give Him15, August 4, 2021 7. Quin Sherrer and Ruthanne Garlock, A Woman’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare, (Minneapolis, Minnesota, Chosen Books, 217), 220.

Position and Partnership, Rights and Responsibilities In previous posts, I have pointed out that when determining who will rule the earth, power has never been the deciding factor. God’s power is and always will be infinitely superior to all other beings. Authority, the right to rule and control, is the issue. In Genesis 1:26-28 Yahweh stated that Adam was being given dominion over the earth. The Hebrew word adam(1) literally means “humans” - humankind was being given dominion over the earth. Psalm 115:16 says, “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord; the earth He has given to the sons of men.” “Given” is the word nathan,(2) which in this verse means “to give an assignment.” “Men” is the word adam. This verse is saying that God will oversee the heavens, but the earth He has assigned to humans. The Passion Translation confirms this: “The heavens belong to our God; they are His alone, but He has given us the earth and put us in charge.” The first Adam sinned, and through his blood, passed the resulting fallen nature to every human. He also forfeited his authority over the earth to satan, his new master. Yahweh honors His Word. He did so when Adam surrendered this authority to satan, and when recovering it, He did so, as well. The Savior, who would redeem humankind and take back their authority on earth, would have to be an adam, a member of the human race. God so honors His Word that redeeming us demanded the incarnation of Christ! This God-man, Christ, DID recover Adam’s lost authority. He now possesses - not only God’s authority - but that which the first Adam surrendered, as well. This is why Jesus announced, “All authority is now given to Me, both in heaven AND ON EARTH,” (Matthew 28:18-19). Christ took it all; satan lost it all. However, God is still honoring His original decision to rule and work on earth through people. Therefore, Christ needs humans here on earth through whom to release and exercise His authority. These humans are His body, the church. He provides them the authority, Holy Spirit provides the power. Authority is the right to rule or perform an activity; power is the strength or force needed to do so. Some illustrate this through a police officer. His badge is his authority; his gun is his power. Authority controls and releases power; power backs up and enforces authority. Delegated authority is representation, which literally means “to re-present” or “present again.” One to whom authority has been given represents the one who delegated it, “presenting again” their will, wishes, laws, etc. A police officer doesn’t say, “I have decided that you aren’t allowed to drive this fast.” She says, “The law [decided and declared by the city, county, or state she represents] states that you cannot drive this fast.” She represents the will and authority of another, not her own. Let’s look at two facets of spiritual authority, our rights and our responsibilities. RIGHTS Our rights involve our inheritance in Christ as His bride, His body, and His family. As such, He made us His joint-heirs (Romans 8:17). In His name or authority, every believer has an equal right to enter God’s throne room anytime and ask for this provision (John 14:13,14, 26; 15:16; 16:23; Hebrews 4:16). All believers have the right to ask for every blessing provided through Christ’s redemption (Ephesians 1:3). We have the right to resist the works and activities of all demons that oppose us (James 4:7), and the right to complete protection from them (1 John 5:18). We also have the right, in Christ’s name, to involve ourselves in priestly intercession, petitioning heaven for others to receive these benefits (Matthew 5:44; Ephesians 6.18; Colossians 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:1; James 5:16; and more). RESPONSIBILITY However, our authority in Christ also comes with responsibility as His Ekklesia. Many are still unaware that the word translated “church” in Matthew 16:18-19 (“I will build my church”) is ekklesia,(3) which is a governing assembly. Christ was stating that His body, His family, would have authority to represent His Kingdom on earth. This authority is pictured in the passage by “keys.” In this capacity, all believers do not possess the same level of authority. Our level is determined by our maturity and our assignment. A person with representational authority derives it from the one who sent them. Just as Christ represented the Father who sent Him, we represent Christ who sends us (John 20:21). Jesus operated in the Father’s authority, we operate in Christ’s. This facet of authority involves our kingly ministries and activities, including intercession. It doesn’t refer to priestly petitions offered heavenward for ourselves and others, but royal decrees issued earthward, enforcing the will of the King. With this authority, we command His Kingdom rule and will into the earth (Matthew 6:10). We are seated with Christ in His seat of authority (Ephesians 2:6), and from there, we release His authority over principalities and powers (Ephesians 3:10). This facet of our authority is not the body of Christ functioning as Christ’s bride or family, asking for their promised benefits; this is the Ekklesia, those who possess the keys of the Kingdom, authority to bind and loose, representing the King and His Kingdom against the powers of darkness. This is who Christ said the gates of hell can’t prevail against (Matthew 16:18-19)! These are those who reign in life by Christ Jesus (Romans 5:17), the “more than conquerors” army (Romans 8:17)! As we said in yesterday’s post, Romans, chapter 8, contrasts these two facets of authority - rights versus responsibility. This passage tells us the earth is groaning, waiting - not for God’s children! - but for mature “sons,” those mature enough to be “led by the Spirit of God.” These “sons'' of God know His Word and ways, carry His heart, and are led by His Spirit (verse 14), enabling them to re-present Christ, not just themselves. These mature believers can be trusted with great authority and influence, even discipling nations and bringing healing to the “groaning” earth. The entire family, even the children, enjoys the rights, blessings, and benefits of being in the family (verses 16-17). But mature sons and daughters can carry greater authority and be given more responsibility, re-presenting Christ’s will on earth. During the past several decades, the body of Christ has matured much in her bridal, familial, and priestly roles. We progressed greatly in multiplying God’s family, fellowshipping with and teaching one another, and in our worship of God. We learned more about our rights and benefits as redeemed children of God. This has prepared us for a greater understanding of our responsibility as Christ’s Ekklesia. We are not as mature in this governing facet of authority; many do not understand what it means to be His Ekklesia. But this phase of restoration in the church will now go to new levels in the lives of millions of believers, resulting in much higher levels of authority. A church the gates of hell cannot prevail against will now emerge. Pray with me: Father, thank You for the rights and blessings we have in Christ. You delivered us from the domain of darkness and sin’s many curses (Colossians 1:13). We are blessed with every blessing pertaining to life and godliness through Christ (2 Peter 1:3, Ephesians 1:3). You gave us total access to Your throne room (Hebrews 4:16), and told us to draw near to You (Hebrews 7:19, 10:22). We ask You to now awaken us to the incredible authority and privilege we have of representing Christ. Do for us as Paul prayed for the Ephesians - release a mighty spirit of revelation! (Ephesians 1:17) Cause us to see and desire more than just our rights and benefits as Your family, awaken passion in the church to represent You, to re-present Christ and His great victory. Bring millions of believers into “sonship,” a company of healers and restorers who walk in full maturity, taking Christ into all the earth. Raise up an army that understands binding and loosing, and what it means to possess the keys of the Kingdom. Transform the church from being congregational only, to becoming congressional. Use us to disciple and heal entire nations. We move in this authority now, representing and releasing the will of Christ on earth. We declare over America that the strong man, baal, is losing his hold over us and that millions of Americans are coming to Christ. We decree that the Prince of Persia is losing his hold over the people of Iran, and that millions of Iranians and other Middle Easterners are coming to Christ. We declare that the dragon and the bear, China and Russia, will not cause WWIII, and that China’s attempt to control America will fail. We declare that the coming shaking will heal America, not destroy us. For Christ and through His name, we pray this. Amen. Our decree: We declare our position in and partnership with Christ - our rights, and our responsibility. We will receive His benefits and serve His purposes in our generation. 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. 120. Ibid., ref. no. 5414. Ibid., ref. no. 1577.

Moving Into Greater Authority In a post last week, I mentioned an important passage from Romans 8, regarding mature sons and daughters of the Lord, capable of representing Him on earth. I knew at the time that further explanation was needed regarding this. I want to address this today. Today’s teaching is also an appropriate follow-up to yesterday’s regarding anarchy and a lack of leadership. There are several Greek words for a child, each depicting a different level of maturity. These words are used to describe various stages of spiritual maturity. Nepios(1) means “no speech” and refers to an infant or baby; 1 Corinthians 3:1 (NASB) says: “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.” Hebrews 5:13 - “For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.” A paidion(2) is a toddler or young child; Matthew 18:4 says, “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” A teknon(3) is a child, up to and including a teenager or young adult. Galatians 4:19 says, “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.” 1 John 5:21, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” Finally, a huios(4) is a fully matured “son.” (Spiritually speaking, huios is not gender-based; just as a male can be part of Christ’s “bride,” females can be a fully matured “son.”) Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Matthew 5:45, “…so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” In Christ’s day, when a child matured and had been adequately trained, they were “placed” into “sonship.” For this important transition, a public ceremony called a huiothesia(5) was held. This word literally means “placed as a son.” It was different than a bar mitzvah ceremony and normally occurred at 30 years of age. The father of the child would invite members of the community to this event, for it was a public announcement that the child was now a fully mature son with full authority to represent the family name, business, etc. During the ceremony, the father would announce, “This is my beloved son (huios), in whom I am well pleased.” This is why Father God spoke these words at Christ’s baptism (Mark 1:11); He was declaring that Christ was fully authorized to speak for Him and conduct His business. It was Christ’s huiothesia. Huiothesia is usually translated “adoption as sons” in the New Testament. Technically, however, this word isn’t saying we are being adopted into God’s family. It refers to the above ceremony, stating that as His children, already in the family, we are being positioned or placed into “sonship.” God’s plan is to mature us from spiritual babies to mature sons and daughters, qualified to fully represent Him. This understanding is important regarding Romans 8. The chapter tells us that as God’s “children,” regardless of our maturity level, we have all the rights, blessings, and privileges of being in His family. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children (teknon) of God, and if children (teknon), heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:16-17; NASB). However, the passage makes an important distinction between children and sons, saying that “sons” (huios) of God are led by His Spirit. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons (huios) of God” (Romans 8:14; NASB). Many of God’s kids are not yet led by Holy Spirit. Though they have access to His blessings, they are not mature enough to know His voice and ways. Some never grow to this point. Children have rights and benefits; sons possess representational authority. The passage goes on to say that creation is groaning and travailing, waiting for the revealing of the “sons” of God - NOT His children (verse 19). The children of God cannot bring healing to the earth; only mature sons and daughters, those led by Holy Spirit, can do so. Obviously, a time of complete healing and restoration will one day come to the earth, just as a full manifestation of our sonship will one day occur. But as Christ’s Ekklesia, we are to manifest a level of this sonship now, representing His spiritual authority and releasing His healing to a groaning earth. I am confident that God has matured a company of believers throughout the earth into their “sonship” stage. They have grown in wisdom and knowledge. No longer spiritual babies or children, these believers have matured to a point where they can be trusted with Christ’s authority. As mature sons and daughters, they will bring salvation, healing, and restoration to impoverished nations, teaching them to prosper. They’ll transform governments, education, economies, medicine, farming, and more. They will be healers of decimated cities and nations (Isaiah 58:12), deliverers of the oppressed and downtrodden (Luke 4:18-19). This is all part of the discipling of nations we were commissioned to in Matthew 28:18-20. Although we are in an era of increasing spiritual warfare on the earth, with evil increasing and manifesting in many ways, God has a people prepared to accomplish His will. We must not fear but stand boldly in His name, releasing His kingdom authority and salvation. We are His healers and deliverers. We must move in humility, but also in power. We must operate in love, but also in authority. We are ambassadors of the King of kings, and this can be our finest hour. Pray with me: Father, we are a people called for such a time as this. You intend for and have prepared the Ekklesia to accomplish Your purposes on earth. Though we feel inadequate at times as we see evil abounding on the earth, may we be continually reminded that Your grace abounds even more! Keep us reminded that we are equipped for this battle, not from our own strengths and gifts, but because of the Greater One in us, and Christ’s authority upon us. We join our hearts as a vast prayer army, agreeing in intercession for the church around the world. We ask that a higher level of revelation be released in Your people, awakening us to our calling and equipping. Make this revelation as powerful for us as it was for Peter, who only weeks after denying Christ stepped into his apostleship and authority. Bring revelation to the church of Holy Spirit’s transforming power, of the incredible reality that He resides within us. Through His holy presence in us, we truly ARE more than conquerors, and CAN do all things through Christ. Pour out Your Spirit. Awaken Your spiritual army. Cause us, Your sons and daughters, to realize our full authority and position in Christ. Infuse us with new levels of humility, love, faith, boldness, and discernment. Do these things with such strength that we, like the early Ekklesia, turn our world “right side up.” Our decree: We decree that mature sons and daughters of the Most High God will arise in this hour to heal individuals and nations. 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. 3516. Ibid. Ref. no. 3813. Ibid. Ref. no. 5043. Ibid. Ref. no. 5207. Ibid. Ref. no. 5206.

America’s Anarchy and Its Cause In a recent publication, the National Faith Advisory Board stated the following regarding what is occurring at our southern border: “Sadly, the number of illegal entries this past year shattered all records, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection announcing that they processed over 300,000 illegal entries in December alone, the highest number on record. This is unprecedented and, more importantly, preventable. During the Biden presidency, over 10 million people have entered illegally, the highest ever in history, including 1.7 million ‘gotaways.’ In 2023, Border Patrol encountered nearly 500 people on the terror watch list, and fentanyl-related deaths rose 870% due to illegal border activity, making it cheaper, deadlier, and easier to obtain. “The border patrol agents tell us they are overwhelmed by the drug cartel bringing in fentanyl, cocaine, dealing in human and sex trafficking of adults and small children. Allowing for unmitigated illegal crossings is not compassionate to migrants either, who face overflowing programs for housing and healthcare, and puts American citizens at great risk due to the increased cost of illegal immigration, spikes in crime, and the entry of migrants on the terror watch list. 15 states have smaller populations than the total number of illegal border crossings in 2023. Migrants seeking to cross illegally are often targeted by violence and kidnapping by cartels. The smuggling cartels are profiting over $32 million a week for bringing illegal immigrants just into one 245-mile stretch of the border. Communities all over the country are flooded with migrants, overwhelming local resources such as a town of 15,000 in Wisconsin flooded by the Biden Administration with over 1,000 migrants. In a few months' time, this has led to the death of an infant child, multiple sexual assaults, and a kidnapping. “Our small towns, cities, and communities will all suffer under the weight of unmitigated illegal migration. It is not compassionate to let people get raped along the border, to have a price tag on their head, or to live without visas.” In her recent Fox News show, Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, she discussed illegals from China, perhaps America’s greatest current threat, now flooding into America. In 2022, 13.6% of those allowed in for “defensive” asylum were Chinese; the second most was El Salvador’s 10.4%, India’s 9.2%, Guatemala at 8.9%, Honduras 6.8%, followed by Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Russia, Mexico, and others. Some estimates are as great as 37,000 Chinese illegals entered last year, and 20,000 have entered in the last 4 months. “More than 30,000 migrants with possible ties to terrorism or other ‘nefarious activity’ were released into the United States in the last 15 months,” says the Daily Caller News Foundation.(1) The Daily Signal warns of Tren de Arafat, a Venezuelan criminal gang. “Joseph Humire, an expert on Latin American security, calls the Tren ‘the fastest growing trans-international criminal organization in the world.’” The Signal warns that “with 47,000 Venezuelans caught entering the US at the southern border last December alone – 27,000 of them single adults,” this gang is gaining momentum quickly. ”The Tren is reportedly active everywhere from Atlanta to Chicago to Washington, D.C.” When they enter our nation, by the way, in some cities, such as New York City, they “get free housing in luxury hotels, free meals, free laundry, and now, prepaid debit cards, thanks to taxpayers… in El Paso, Texas, [they engage] in human smuggling and sex trafficking. “In the New York City precinct where the Venezuelans attacked those two police officers, grand larceny was up over 83% last year over 2022.”(2) Meanwhile, America’s justice system is corrupt beyond belief. The state Supreme Court of Hawaii cited “The Spirit of Aloha” in a ruling that its residents do not have a Second Amendment right to bear arms: "The Spirit of Aloha clashes with a federally-mandated lifestyle that lets citizens walk around with deadly weapons during day-to-day activities," read the ruling written by Justice Todd Eddins. "The history of the Hawaiian Islands does not include a society where armed people move about the community to possibly combat the deadly aims of others," Eddins added. "We hold that in Hawaii, there is no state constitutional right to carry a firearm in public."(3) Carlos Garcia of Blaze News quotes several people who excoriate this crazy ruling: "’Ah yes, the “Spirit of Aloha” clause of the Constitution that allows the Hawaii supreme court to ignore or overrule SCOTUS,’ responded Ilya Shapiro of the Manhattan Institute. "’The Hawaiian Supreme Court completely lost their minds (and any credibility) by ruling the Second Amendment doesn't apply to them,’ read a statement from the Gun Owners of America. ‘Apparently, their “Spirit of Aloha” doesn't vibe with the right to keep and bear arms. Maybe the State of Texas can apply the ‘Spirit of the Alamo’ to federal mandates...’ "’The “Spirit of Aloha” does not give any court the ability to override our constitutional #2A rights. This is absolutely disgraceful,’ said Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa.”(4) Watch a conservative news network ANY night of the week and see America’s 2-tiered system of justice (in other words, injustice), “lawfare,” violence, lawlessness, and anarchy. As Isaiah once lamented, “Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” (Isaiah 59:14) We are being destroyed from within, as Abraham Lincoln once warned: “If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."(5) If you are a regular follower of Give Him 15, you know I believe America will be saved and restored. I also know this is only possible through a third great awakening, a revival and reformation of unprecedented proportions, which can only be birthed by intercession. There is no other way. I am continually shocked at the apathy of pastors and churches in America. One would think the pastors would be desperately turning their congregations into houses of prayer. Their children and grandchildren would thank them. The coming shaking, likely caused in part by the thousands of terrorists doubtlessly now in our nation, will no doubt break off much of the apathy. Anarchy Two definitions of anarchy are “lack of obedience to an authority;” and “confusion and disorder.”(6) Now let me surprise most of you. The original and literal meaning of anarchy is “lack of a leader; leaderless.” (From Greek: an - “without, lacking” and arch(ós) - “leader.”)(7) America’s anarchy is due to its lack of wise, honest, bold, selfless and godly leadership; it began in the church and spread to government. We leaders can decry the lawlessness, disorder, and spiritual death all we want, but we caused it through our “anarchy,” and our lack of leadership. In the church, we yielded to apathy, compromise of Scripture, weak theology, loss of passion and fire, cowardice and fear of man, wrongly defining success, and prayerlessness. Our weak salt and dim light then allowed what has occurred in government, followed by education and all of American society. Alex de Tocqueville’s warning was right: “America’s greatness started in her pulpits, and that’s where it ended.”(8) The health and well-being of any nation and culture are always linked to the church and government. These, of course, must have wise and godly leadership. When Israel rebelled, fashioned, and worshipped a golden calf (Exodus 32), Aaron, whom Moses had left in charge, blamed it on the people; God blamed it on Aaron. “Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to the point of being an object of ridicule among their enemies...”(verse 25). The only possible interpretation is that if Aaron had stood his ground and exercised godly leadership and authority, the Lord would have backed him up and stopped this rebellion and idolatry. The leaders of the American church must repent for the anarchy of our nation. Then we must continue to cry out for righteous and wise leaders! Pray with me: Father, I repent on behalf of leaders in the American church. Our lack of passion, wisdom, prayer, sound teaching, and Spirit-led leadership has caused anarchy in our land. We in the church of America have no right to point the finger at corruption in our nation and blame others. We are the problem. We humble ourselves before You, asking for cleansing. We lost our savor and turned out the light. You gave us the greatest nation in history - great in purpose, liberty, government, resources, and favor. Like the prodigal in Scripture, we have squandered it. We are asking for mercy. We are asking for a sweeping move of Your Spirit that restores first love, wisdom, and Your heart to the church. And we ask for sanity in our nation, a shake-up of America’s ungodly leaders who literally empower human trafficking, the shedding of blood, drug addiction, gang violence, and many other evils, all from a lust for power. Give us a revived, on-fire church, and an honest, wise servant-hearted government. Do this in order that we can once again represent You in this great nation, and participate in Your greatest Kingdom enterprise in the history of the world. We are not without hope; we have faith that You will do this. Therefore, we do as You instructed us and command the coming of Your Kingdom authority, and the creating of Your will. In Yeshua’s name, amen. Our decree: We decree that God is cleansing our nation, and healing America of anarchy and evil rule. Click on the link below to watch the full video. __________________________________ https://www.theblaze.com/news/30000-migrants-with-possible-ties-to-terrorism-or-other-nefarious-activity-released-into-us-report https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/02/08/gangs-all-here-thanks-bidens-open-border-borderline/ https://www.theblaze.com/news/hawaii-gun-spirit-aloha-ruling Ibid. https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN29V2GQ/ Dictionary.com, version 11.6.0.27 (11.7.0), “anarchy.” Ibid. This statement is routinely and widely attributed to Alex de Tocqueville and has been quoted by U.S. Presidents and leaders as such, though no exact quote can be found.

Our friend Gina Gholston, felt the need to break weariness, discouragement, hope-deferred, the pain of past wounds, and other weights hindering believers at this time. And I’m glad she did! We need YOU free and healthy to run the race! You’ll find her words encouraging and powerful. The title is: Free to Run Many within the Body of Christ are experiencing a deepening passion for God. There’s an unshakeable feeling that we have crossed into the unfolding of a history-making moment, provoking a deep longing to know and walk with God. There is a clarion call from the Lord, piercing the hearts of all who have ears to hear. Christ is calling His Body to rise and shine with the light of His glory (Isaiah 60: 1-2). Recently, the Lord spoke to me that 2024 will be a year of His revealed glory. This means the Church, must be alert and move in high levels of wisdom, authority, and boldness, enabling Christ to work through us. Undaunted faith in God is required at this time! I have said many times: real faith takes real courage. And we are in a real faith and real courage season! Faith comes from knowing God and His Word. As we spend time with Him, focusing on Him and His Word, faith arises within us. That faith gives us the courage and confidence to advance. It’s an urgent, yet exciting time, the moment we have longed and prayed for. However, some are finding themselves hesitant in their response to His calling. This hesitation could be for many different reasons. Some fear what is ahead. Grief and trauma from past wounds control some. Many have grown weary in well-doing, while others have become shrouded in hope deferred. Though some of our reasons seem justifiable, it is critically important that we overcome all that is detrimental to our focus forward, and refocus back onto God. Our love for and trust in Him must outweigh and overpower all fear or uncertainty of the future. Our desire for His glory must outweigh and overpower any shroud that seeks to confine us to emotional entanglements from past experiences. We must awaken passion, set our eyes on Him, cast our cares onto Him, disallow fear, and by faith, move forward! To some, America may seem too far gone for recovery. The advancement of evil agendas may seem to have prevailed against the prophetic destiny of God for our nation, but things are not always as they appear in the natural. There is another portion of the story that has yet to be told. Through past dreams and prophetic words, God has declared that He is NOT late, and that America SHALL be saved! This is the time, and the Lord has need of us in order to produce a national and international revival! Jesus is calling us to see and hear beyond the chaos and noise surrounding us. He’s calling us to draw near to Him, seeing and hearing from His perspective and with unhindered clarity. This breaks us free from the strongholds of doubt, fear, and the confining grip of anxiety and uncertainty. Recently the Lord reminded me of a vision I had several years ago in which I saw a man sitting in a chair, his elbows on his knees and his head propped up in his hands. He was weeping. His tears were dropping onto some type of white dust covering his legs and feet. As the tears mingled with the dust, they formed into blocks of cement. The man wanted to stand and walk, but was completely confined by the cement blocks. Then, suddenly, I saw a hand swinging a large hammer. As the hammer hit the cement blocks, they were broken into pieces, instantly freeing the man to stand and walk. I believe this pictures what is happening with many in the church today through spiritual awakening. When we hear and believe God’s Word, truth comes like a hammer (Jeremiah 23:29) to break us free from that which has been confining us to fear and other crippling emotions! Our journey is unfinished, and the Lord wants to free us to run without encumbrances and weariness. When He speaks, we must respond and obey. God’s plan is progressing. The path ahead is formed, and we must choose to take our place on that path so His glory can be revealed. It’s time. An increase is coming to those who respond in faith and obedience to the Lord—an increase of strength, vision, wisdom, and strategy. God is taking us to another level of seeing and hearing in the Spirit. He is increasing our awareness of the authority we have in our speaking and praying. Our confidence in Him is increasing, as is our boldness. And as we remain steadfast, Holy Spirit will work powerfully through our obedience. I hear a clarion call echoing from the throne room of God to the heart of His true warriors, “Shake off distractions and disappointments. Set your face like a flint toward Me. Do not be moved by what you see happening around you! It’s temporary. There is a turning in the works. I have told you ahead of time, and now is the time! I have called you for this moment. Believe My promises. Remember My Word! DO NOT DOUBT IT, and do not fear.” Pray with me: Father, thank You for this history-making time. We hear You, and we will follow You forward. We refuse to allow our enemy to talk us into surrendering our posts. We receive and believe Your Word. Like a hammer, it is breaking off all emotional entanglements of the last season. Thank You for healing many - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually - so that with renewed focus and strength, they can rise to finish what You have started in and through them! We trust You, and we will not be afraid. You are our strength and defense, and our salvation. Your favor is upon us, and You will work through us to fully establish all of Your intentions for our time. We breathe in Your awakening breath, and we shout with steadfast resolve, “Weariness will not rob us of our due season!” We are free, we will run, and we will BE all You have called us to be! We continue to pray for our waterways, water resources, dams, and ports. We ask for protection over them and for strength and strategy for those obeying this assignment We know a shaking has begun and will intensify. But You said America will survive and be restored to her destiny. We do not fear, we believe Your promise, and we will partner with You in all You have planned for our future, including revival and reformation. We thank You for Your faithfulness and mercy. And we pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We set our faces like a flint toward Yahweh. We are not moved by what we see happening around us! We remember and believe God’s Word, never doubting it, and we shall see the performance of that which He has said. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Portions of today’s post were taken from Gina’s book Carry On! You can find out more about Gina at GinaGholstonMinistries.org.

Mary Had a Little Lamb (Revival and Reformation, Part 6) “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns, and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’” (Revelation 19:11-16; NASB) Mary had a little lamb… This gentle “lamb” spoke words of comfort to outcasts, healed those who suffered, gave of His time and energy to multitudes, and forgave sinners. His tender heart wept over the tomb of a friend, over a city, and in times of prayer. He allowed soldiers, whom He created, to mock Him, spit on Him, beat Him mercilessly, and lead Him quietly to His death at Calvary. “He was oppressed and afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7; NASB) But Jesus isn’t only the meek, sacrificial “lamb,” slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). He is also the “lion” of Judah; He fears nothing and no one. He created everything... with only His words. And He keeps the universe operating in perfect order... with just His words. While walking the earth, He also walked on water…and through walls. Storms obeyed His commands, He turned water into wine, and multiplied by thousands a few fish and loaves of bread. His spit healed blind eyes, and His touch cured leprosy. He raised the dead and reversed insanity. Demons fled from Him, shrieking in fear. When their Creator willingly died, the sun refused to shine, and the earth shook. Death, of course, couldn't hold Him, and His resurrection was so powerful it spilled over onto other dead people, raising them from the dead! Once back in heaven, He reclothed Himself in glory. His eyes are like fire, His voice is like a waterfall, and when appropriate, His words become a sharp sword with which He strikes down nations. Fire also goes before Him and consumes His enemies. In righteousness He judges and makes war, with the armies of heaven following Him. Angels worship Him; rulers cast their crowns at His feet. He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. It behooves us as humans to know which Jesus we’re dealing with: the Savior or the King; the Lamb or the Lion; the Mediator or the Judge. Mary’s little Lamb, who loves sinners and wants to save them, has been known to don His Kingly robe and send an angel to kill an earthly king - on this side of the Cross (Acts 12:23). The Great Shepherd, Pastor Jesus, laid down His shepherd staff and picked up His sword, striking down two people defiling the early church at its inception (Acts 5:5). On one occasion Savior Jesus determined that His warrior mantle was needed and struck a man with blindness for opposing the gospel (Acts 13:11). Am I saying that God likes to hurt people or rain down judgment? Absolutely not. In numerous posts, I have said that God takes no pleasure in the judgment of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). But neither am I saying that He never judges the wicked. God knows when grace and mercy are possible, and He knows when judgment is necessary. And His judgments are “true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:9). We have been discussing revival and reformation. Savior Jesus, the Lamb of God, is going to pour out His Spirit on Earth in unprecedented measure, saving a billion or more people in this season. And Lord Jesus, the Lion of Judah, is going to disciple nations, reforming them to His precepts and laws. In the Great Commission of Matthew 28, He stated that He had been given all authority, not just in heaven, but also on earth. This is King Jesus speaking. He then said go and disciple the nations, “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” Notice that He did not “invite” them to honor His teachings; He “commanded” them! Let’s remember in this revival and reformation that Jesus is Savior and Redeemer, but also that He is Lord, Master, and King. He is our High Priest, offering grace and mercy, and He is the Lawgiver, demanding truth and justice. He is the Lamb, kind and gentle; He is also the Lion, strong and fierce. He’s the Servant of all, yet He is the General of heaven’s army. He is our Husband, but also our Bishop; our Provider, but also our Creator; our Friend, but also our Captain; a Healer, but also a Warrior. He is the Son of Man, and He is the Son of God. This incredible God-Man is about to make His presence known on earth in dramatic ways. The Savior is coming with His redeeming grace, and the King is coming to expand His Kingdom. Keep your lamps burning brightly. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Jesus, for who He is, and what He has done. We thank You for His humanity and His deity. We thank You for His perfect love and perfect justice. We thank You for Your plans that are unfolding. Thank You for the way in which You orchestrate events, and even in perilous and difficult times, navigate through them to bring about great spiritual harvests on Earth. We ask for a release of Your saving power, and Your righteous judgments. We ask You to end the reign and terror of the Prince of Persia in the Middle East, and for millions of souls to come to You in that region. We ask You to stay the hands of evil leaders in China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and elsewhere, keeping them from actions that would hinder revival and reformation. We ask for You to stay the hands of evil in America, the rule of leaders who allow modern-day slavery - the trafficking of humans through Mexico - in order to gain votes in the future. Their lust for power and control has seared their consciences. Judge this hideous evil. Expose it. Remove those who shamelessly partner with it. Rain revival on our churches, our campuses, our cities, and our homes. We bind the strong man, Baal, in America, decreeing that he will not maintain his hold on this nation. We declare that the blood of Jesus is cleansing our nation and that You will send the revival we need. You will answer by fire, just as You did for Elijah, and send the rain. We ask for and receive these things by faith, in the holy name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Earth’s Creator, Owner, and Redeemer is coming to revive and reform. Click on the link below to watch the full video. You can find our recent Revival and Reformations teachings here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.

Revival and Reformation, Part 5 REVIEW God has told us that 2024 will be a year of revival and reformation. We must know what to expect. We have been looking at these two Kingdom activities and the fact that they are linked to Yahweh’s assignments to us through Adam and Eve in Genesis 1: multiply His family and govern/manage His earth. Christ recommissioned the church to these assignments in Mark 16:15-20 and Matthew 28:18-20. In the first passage, He told us to multiply His family by preaching the gospel; in the latter, He instructed us to teach His commandments, in order to disciple nations. We have also taught what occurs when we do not prioritize both of these assignments. You can see the first three posts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. In yesterday’s post, we discussed several differences between Mark 16, which produces revival, and Matthew 28, which leads to reformation. Today, we’ll look at more comparisons. THE FAMILY AND EKKLESIA Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church…” The word build is oikodomeo,(1) a compound word made of doma,(2) which by itself means “build,” and oikos,(3) meaning “a household.” “Oikos referred to three related but distinct concepts: the family, the family's property, and the house.”(4) Zodhiates says, “oikos includes the idea of household affairs,” and the lineage and posterity descending from one head or ancestor, such as “the house of David,” or “the house of Israel.”(5) Without question, Jesus was saying He came to recover God’s family, to restore the household of God, and to establish a posterity and lineage flowing from Himself. We are partnering with Him in this endeavor of restoring to God His family as we fulfill Mark’s commission. We are also participating in this process when we honor Christ’s family, properly relating to and caring for one another. We are, and must live as, “the household of faith,” (Galatians 6:10). And yet, we are also a Congress. Christ didn’t stop by calling us His family, but added that this household would also become His Ekklesia (church). We have already established that in Christ’s day, an ekklesia was a governmental term. Jesus left no doubt that this is what He was referring to by adding that He would give His family the “keys” or authority of His Kingdom. We are to use this spiritual authority to teach and disciple all aspects of a willing nation’s activities. God’s ways and principles apply to ALL aspects of life. Just as a family and an ekklesia are very different, we are defined by other contrasting comparisons. We are a flock of sheep, but we are also a convocation of eagles. We are the bride of Christ, loving, honoring, and worshiping Him, but we are also His soldiers, wrestling with principalities and powers, enforcing his victory at Calvary. We are His body - fellowshipping with, caring for, and feeding one another, and we are His voice - wielding His sword, releasing decrees, binding and loosing. We are farmers, harvesting souls according to Mark 16, at times reaping the bumper crop of revival; and we are ambassadors, representing the will of God as we disciple nations according to Matthew 28, reforming them to His ways and principles. We must know when to wear our “family hat” and when to wear our “ekklesia hat.” One must relate to family far differently than they do those outside the home. Also, some will be assigned to wear one hat more than the other. Just because your family unit - your congregation, or your broader affiliation, such as a movement or denomination, is more motivated toward soul-winning (fulfilling Mark 16), do not judge those who are called more to spiritual warfare and other ekklesia-related activities. It should also be obvious that our level of maturity will determine our activities. Only when children mature into adulthood are they qualified to perform certain activities and operate in certain levels of authority. The same is true in God‘s family; we are all heirs of God (Romans 8:17), but we must mature until we can partner with God. The first involves benefits; the latter, responsibilities. Everyone in God’s family should, at some point, be capable of representing Him in the full authority of His Ekklesia. If this does not occur, then they have not been truly discipled. The above passage in Romans 8 contrasts children, teknon(6) (verses 16-17), and sons, huios(7) (verses 14, 19). It tells us that all of God’s children (teknon) are heirs of His blessings, regardless of their age or maturity. But it also says His fully matured sons, the meaning of huios, are capable of being led by His Spirit. In that time and culture, when a child matured to the huios stage of adulthood - sonship - he was entrusted with the family affairs and business. The father would conduct a public ceremony in which he would say, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” It was his statement to the community that this child was now a “son” and was being given full authority to do business in his name. This is what Father God was doing at Christ’s baptism when He spoke those words: declaring Christ’s sonship. Isaiah prophesied, “Unto us a child is born, and a son is given. And the government will be on his [the son’s] shoulders…” (Isaiah 9:6). Father God was publicly declaring that it was now time for His Son, Yeshua, to be released into His full authority and ministry. He was authorizing Jesus to represent Him, to speak for Him in His name. Romans 8 says creation is anxiously waiting, not for God’s children, His kids. Creation is waiting for God’s fully matured sons and daughters, those who are led by His Spirit, know His ways, and can be trusted with broader authority. Children reap the benefits; sons are given authority and responsibility. It is they who can be trusted with the full authority of Christ’s Kingdom, enabling them to bring healing and transformation to the nations of the Earth. This is the church, the Ekklesia that Jesus is building. Pray with me: Father, we agree together today for the spirit of wisdom and revelation to increase, giving us a greater understanding of our assignment to represent You on earth. We are Your family, and we are Your Kingdom representatives, Your Ekklesia. WE increase and multiply Your family for You. It is profound, almost incomprehensible, that You would entrust us with such a responsibility and privilege. You also train and disciple nations through us! We must have this increase of wisdom and revelation in order to understand and embrace these assignments more fully; we also need it in order to accomplish them at higher levels of authority and effectiveness. Most believers have little understanding of these roles and responsibilities. They believe life is about temporal things, but so few see its significance through the lens of eternity. Please help us change this. We ask for this new level of maturity. Bring enlightenment, revelation, and understanding. We call forth the great outpouring of Your Spirit You have promised, which will not only win people to You, but will also create this awakening and reformation of the church. Do this here, and around the world, we pray in Jesus’ name. Our decree: We declare that the coming revival will be blessed with great wisdom and revelation. 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. 3618. Ibid., ref. no. 1430. Ibid., ref. no. 3624. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oikos Spiros Zodiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1984; revised edition, 1990), p. 2232. James Strong, ref. no. 5043 Ibid., ref. no. 5207

Revival and Reformation, Part 2 Due to the fact that the GH15 posts have to be written and recorded the day before they are posted, I was not able to say much about the Day of Repentance in yesterday’s post. I did make a brief comment at the end regarding how excellent it was. The day fits well, however, with the few teachings I’m doing on Revival and Reformation, so I want to make a few more comments today. First, I find it ironic, at the very least, that while we were involved in a time of repentance over the sins of America, the Senate was conducting a necessary hearing with the leaders of several social media outlets regarding the promotion of sexually explicit material to children. Regarding this heinous activity, two verses I quoted in a post earlier this week from Jeremiah come to mind: “Everyone is after the dishonest dollar…They have no shame. They do not even know how to blush” (Jeremiah 6:13-15, The Message). Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, appearing on the Faulkner Focus (Fox Network) to discuss the hearing stated, “There is some research that says every day 100,000 kids are force-fed sexually explicit material on these sites. It is being pushed to them. They are not looking for it; it shows up in their feed.” She continued, “We have 42 state Attorneys General suing [social media companies] because of the addictive features they are pushing forward on children.” While addressing Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of META (formerly known as Facebook), during the hearing, Senator Blackburn said, “Children are not your priority; children are your product. You see children as a way to make money.” She told Faulkner that at the hearing, “Kids were wearing T-shirts saying, ‘I’m worth more than $270,’ which is what Zuckerberg said a teen was worth to them on social media.” How astonishing and indicative of America’s condition that this hearing was taking place as many in our gathering were weeping, asking for God’s mercy and cleansing of our nation. I was not able to hold back tears as I read Revelation 3:17-18: “…you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,’ and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see.” (NASB) After saying this to the church at Laodicea, Christ went on to say it was love motivating Him to bring this discipline (verse 19), and He concluded by telling them He was standing at the door and knocking. If they would open it through repentance, He would come in and sup with them (verse 20). Christ’s desire was not to judge them; He was offering cleansing, transformation, and a return to their relational connection with Him. I felt that on Wednesday, the “knocking Savior” was doing so through His tears. Hundreds of people gathered for this Day of Repentance, including a couple of dozen members of Congress, Speaker Mike Johnson among them. Many more people watched online. Several leaders attended from other nations to join us in our repentance and prayer, both for our nation and theirs; at least two or three dozen. It was a very emotional day. In describing last year‘s gathering, convener Jim Garlow (along with Tony Perkins) simply said, “God showed up.” I can assure you, His presence was with us again this year. And I’m sure that the Lord, like all of us, had mixed emotions: grief over America’s sins and rejection of Him, along with the satisfaction of our repentant, interceding hearts. Thank you for joining us. I know our prayers and repentance made a difference. (If you would like to watch a replay of the National Gathering of Prayer and Repentance, you can do so here: ngpr.org.) Now, I want to comment on revival and reformation, then connect it to the Senate hearing I just mentioned. In yesterday's post, I said that our commission from Christ in Mark 16 was to preach the gospel and restore God’s family. When breakthrough in this activity occurs, creating mass conversions, we call it revival. I also said that Christ’s commission in Matthew 28 was to disciple these new believers, not just individually but corporately - entire nations. When this occurs in mass, resulting in societal transformation - the changing of culture, laws, government, education, etc. - we call it a reformation. In most revivals of the past, believers thought only of winning the lost (Mark 16). This, of course, is essential and must be the starting point - birthing obviously precedes training. But if Matthew 28 - the reforming and discipling of individuals and nations - doesn’t occur, the long-term fruit will be minimal and can even be lost, as in the following example. The great Charismatic Movement of the late 60’s through the early 80’s, which included the Jesus People Movement, saw millions of people in America come to Christ, and tens of millions around the world. It was a wonderful example of Mark 16 occurring with great momentum, a significant revival. However, there was little understanding of the church’s assignment to do Matthew 28. The concept of discipleship that existed at the time was limited to discipling converts regarding their personal lives. We did not instruct and train believers to use the momentum of revival to disciple nations by modeling Christ’s ways and teaching His principles in all of society. Therefore, during the Jesus Movement/Charismatic Movement of the ‘70s, Christians did Mark 16. But while millions of people were being saved, humanists, secularists, and atheists were busy doing their version of Matthew 28 - discipling a nation. How incredibly ironic. We saved individuals; they discipled a nation. We preached the gospel; unbelievers taught dogmas and doctrines. We went to church once a week on the weekend; they indoctrinated in our schools and universities five days a week. We enjoyed a new wave of expanded Christian TV; they made movies, programs, and increased their hold on the industry. We sang and worshipped at church; they took over the airwaves and discipled a generation with their music. We bought a few cameras and thought we had arrived with our Christian TV; they took over technology and monopolized social media. The result: America experienced one of the greatest revivals in history…AND LOST THE NEXT GENERATION TO DEMONIC CONTROL AND INFLUENCE! This is almost incomprehensible! The irony is beyond belief, and the tragedy of it beyond words. Yet, it occurred. And now, the generation discipled by humanists, secularists, and atheists is in charge of our nation - governing, teaching, entertaining, etc. AND, they are grooming the next generation, our kids, as the Senator told us. Overall, social media has far more influence over the minds of our children than their parents. This is the fruit of Mark 16 without Matthew 28, revival without reformation. We must not make this mistake again. There is another powerful outpouring of Holy Spirit coming that will produce a great revival. In this outpouring, the body of Christ, His Ekklesia, must accomplish both commissions. If we do so, it will produce the greatest transformation in Earth’s history. More on Monday… Pray with me: Father, thank You for the gathering that took place in our nation’s capital on Wednesday. Thank You for your humble and sincere hearts of repentance and intercession. We know You heard our prayers and that they make a difference. You are answering the prayers and will heal our land. On behalf of our nation, we answer Your merciful knocking and say, “Please come in.” Father, You created family members in Genesis 1, then assigned them the responsibility of multiplying the family and also managing their home, planet Earth. This plan of Yours is still intact. Jesus restored it, and said He would build an Ekklesia, a family the gates/government of hell would not be able to overcome. Then He recommissioned them to begin again the plan of multiplying Your family, and of stewarding the earth for You. We embrace these commissions! This 2-fold plan of Christ’s is gaining momentum. His bride is growing in numbers and the Ekklesia’s revelation of its authority is growing. Bring another wind that increases this even more. Cause the greatest season of revival and reformation in earth’s history to take place - Mark 16 and Matthew 28 simultaneously. Release the greatest wind of evangelism the world has ever experienced, and fully reveal Christ among the nations. We love You, Father, and pray these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the two Great Commissions of Christ WILL be fulfilled by His family and co-laborers. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

No Intimidation It should come as no surprise that those who deny the existence of absolute truth, the inerrancy and authority of Scripture, the morals laid out therein, the sanctity of life, and the sinless life of Christ would endeavor to silence the church regarding government, education, and laws. Their insistence that these and other teachings be relegated only to the four walls of a religious building should not be a mystery to anyone. These individuals would be foolish to desire anything else when trying to secularize America, redefine morality, weaken America’s Christian roots, and transform American culture. I spoke of our patriot and brother, Sam Adams, on Friday; this American Founder also stated, “Liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals.”(1) Selah. When Christians do take their beliefs outside the building, as every American citizen should be free to do, the left twists our words, assigns untrue motives, conjures up misleading labels, and when all else fails, censures us: Standing for the biblical definition of marriage is labeled as “bigotry.” Standing for the unborn is “hatred of women.” Spiritual warfare is “promoting violence.” The phrase “taking back America,” in the context of prayer, voting, righteous laws, and common sense education, a phrase EVERY movement and party uses, is also considered “promoting violence” when used by Christians. Preaching about “the Kingdom of God,” Christ’s most talked about subject, is touted as “tyranny,” a belief in “taking over everyone’s rights,” forcing people to live as Christians. Believing that apostles exist today is “extremism, designed to rule others by force.” The Appeal to Heaven flag, designed as a call to prayer, commissioned by George Washington and used by our Founders, is now “a symbol of violence, extremism, Christian Nationalism and insurrection.” And making the claim that God was behind America’s birth in order to propagate the greatest message of all time - the gospel - is also “Christian Nationalism,” which the left defines as “racism, arrogance, and a perversion of that gospel.” Let me be clear: their contention is that believing America was raised up to preach the gospel is a perversion of the gospel. And all of these words and phrases are now “a threat to democracy.” Holy Spirit said of nonsense such as this, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22 AKJV). Again, these attempts to confine, threaten, censure, label, misidentify, misdefine, mock, and ridicule the church are not surprising. Their goal is to muzzle and silence us, removing our influence. Don’t be intimidated by these attacks. Refuse to be silenced or muzzled. Ignore their labels, accusations, and insults, just as Nehemiah did when rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem: “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.  And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall….And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” (Nehemiah 4:1-3, 6:3; KJV) And please don’t be intimidated or misled by leaders in the church that partner with this foolishness. Many pastors have bought the lie that we should not discuss these things in our worship services. “Do not mention government in church,” they say, even though government makes our laws regarding morality, life, the posterity of our children, marriage, our liberties, etc. “Don’t speak into election processes,” they tell us, even though this process elects said government. “Don’t even mention these issues, just teach and preach the Bible,” we’re told, though ALL of them are biblical topics about which the church is supposed to be discipling nations (Matthew 28:18-20). The body of Christ is supposed to disciple people when we gather, teaching them the full counsel of God, including his standards for all of life and morality found in the Bible. Our church services should be more than worship and fellowship; they are supposed to be where truth is taught. If you attend a church that refuses to address these moral, cultural, and biblical issues, my advice is to find another church. Do not give your time and money to that which has compromised, lost its voice, and become part of the problem. Our friend Sam Adams also said, “Shame on the men who can court exemption from present trouble and expense at the price of their own posterity’s liberty.”(2) Amen, brother Adams, that’s good preaching. And since I have been gleaning so much inspiration from this wise patriot lately, I will close with a final poignant statement he made: “The liberties of our country, the freedoms of our civil Constitution are worth defending at all hazards; it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors. They purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood. It will bring a mark of everlasting infamy on the present generation - enlightened as it is - if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of designing men.”(3) Pray with me: Father, when the early church faced threats, false accusations, and intimidation, their prayer to You was: “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30 AKJV). You obviously liked this prayer; Your response was: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness… And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:31, 33; AKJV). We ask this today for the American church. Give us boldness; fill us with Your Spirit. Give us great grace in order to release great power, that we may effectively prove the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Place a firm determination in Your people to stand, to never compromise truth, and to declare Your full counsel. Give us Your heart of love, enabling us to do these things with gentleness, compassion, and servant hearts. Forgive us for the times we have not communicated truth with the right spirit, and give us wisdom to do so appropriately in this hour. All of this we ask for in Yeshua‘s name, amen. Our decree: We decree that as ambassadors for Christ, we will boldly speak His words. ________________________________ https://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/samuel-adams-quotes-2.html http://www.samuel-adams-heritage.com/quotes/freedom-liberty.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CShame%20on%20the%20men%20who,defended%20it%20as%20they%20should.%E2%80%9D https://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/samuel-adams-quotes-1.html Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Revival and Reformation, Part 4 God has told us that 2024 will be a year of revival and reformation. We have been looking at these two Kingdom activities and the fact that they are linked to Yahweh’s assignments to Adam and Eve - and therefore all of us - in Genesis 1: multiply His family and govern/manage His earth. Christ recommissioned the church to these assignments in Mark 16:15-20 and Matthew 28:18-20. In the first passage, He told us to preach the gospel in order to see people saved; in the latter, He instructed us to teach His commandments in order to disciple nations. We have also taught what occurs when we do not prioritize both of these assignments. In the 1970s and 80s, America experienced a powerful revival, yet we lost much ground spiritually in our nation. Why? While the church worked at getting people saved (Mark 16 family mandate), unbelievers worked hard to “disciple” the nation (Matthew 28 mandate). Both groups were successful: we revived, and they reformed. We prepared people for heaven; they shaped a generation's thinking and prepared them to rule here on earth. America is now experiencing the fruit of this: we have an ungodly government, education system, and media, great erosion of the family unit, gross immorality, a loss of purpose as a nation, a lukewarm church, and we could go on. You can see the first three posts here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. In yesterday’s post, I listed a few comparisons between revival (Mark 16) and reformation (Matthew 28) in order to help us understand the differences. I want to give several more today. 1. The messages are different, as are the methods of delivery. In Mark 16, Jesus told us to “preach the gospel,” which is the good news of Christ’s redemption. In Matthew 28, He told us to “teach” what He “commanded.” The New Testament word for preaching simply means to announce or proclaim a message, whereas teaching means to explain, expound, instruct, etc. We announce the good news; we teach God’s ways, precepts, desires, and the principles of His Kingdom. 2. The goals of Mark and Matthew are also different. The goal of Mark’s commission is saving people; the goal of Matthew’s is saving nations. Mark’s goal is to birth children; Matthew‘s goal is to mature, train, and commission them as Kingdom soldiers, ambassadors, and legislators. Through Mark’s commission, people receive God‘s life and nature; through Matthew’s commission, they are trained to release His life and nature. The fulfillment of Mark‘s commission brings wholeness to and shapes individuals; the fulfillment of Matthew’s brings wholeness to and shapes cultures, societies, and nations. Mark’s commission is intended to deliver people from demons and sin; Matthew’s is designed to deliver nations from principalities and powers, philosophies, laws, unrighteous systems, humanism, racism, and more. Mark’s assignment is to heal people of brokenness, diseases, oppression, etc.; Matthew’s will heal nations of poverty, hunger, violence, and other evils. The salvation released through Mark’s message fills individuals with Holy Spirit; Matthew’s teaching is intended to fill the atmospheres of regions and nations with Holy Spirit’s presence and peace. In Mark, Holy Spirit is poured out; in Matthew, the Word and truth are taught. One is an outpouring; the other is an outworking. Through Mark’s commission, personal destinies are awakened and accomplished; through Matthew’s, national destinies are awakened and accomplished. 3. The church’s activities are different in each assignment. In Mark’s, we serve the needs of people, protecting and nurturing God‘s family; in Matthew’s, we serve the purposes of God, accepting risk, sacrifice, and even martyrdom. In revival, we emphasize the provision of Christ; in reformation, we emphasize the principles of Christ. The former focuses on our inheritance and our rights as a joint heir with Christ; the latter focuses on our assignment from Christ, our responsibility as a citizen of His Kingdom. In order to fulfill Mark’s commission, we gather and are filled, empowered, and anointed by Holy Spirit; to accomplish Matthew’s, we are authorized, commissioned, and sent. In the former, we release power for signs, wonders, and miracles, doing the works of God; in the latter, we dispense truth, doctrine, and information in order to transform systems and laws with the ways of God. To win the lost (Mark 16), we preach grace and emphasize God’s mercy, compassion, and love; to disciple nations (Matthew 28), we teach God’s Word and emphasize His justice, righteousness, and truth. As God‘s family, our prayers are priestly - petitions, requests, intercession; as the Ekklesia, our prayers are kingly - decrees and declarations. To accomplish Mark 16 and function as God’s family, Christ’s ministry gifts of pastor, evangelist, and teacher are needed; to function as the Ekklesia, Christ’s ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, and teacher are needed. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Your heart to redeem and save. Thank You for the power of the gospel, of the name of Jesus, and of Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your Word, which transforms, instructs, and teaches us Your ways. And we thank You for Your prophetic words informing us that revival will intensify and reformation will begin in 2024. We will partner with You as instructed. We will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world. We will baptize those who believe, lay hands on the sick and see them recover, and we will cast out demons. This will produce the revival You speak of. We will also teach Your Word, Your commandments and ways, discipling nations. We will do so with Your authority, as You instructed us in Matthew 28. This will produce the reformation You have spoken of. We will not be fearful of the shaking that is coming, for it is a cleansing and shaking down of evil, and a restoring of our nation to You. It is like that which You spoke to Jeremiah, a tearing down and uprooting, but also a building and planting. Therefore, we will move forward in faith through anything that comes against us, overcoming it in Your name and authority. So, Father, we boldly and passionately ask You for this revival and reformation. Let Your power and outpouring be such that they cannot be ignored. Awaken the church, save unbelievers, and transform nations. And all of this we ask for in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the greatest revival in history has begun, and the greatest season of earth’s transformation has also begun. Click on the link below to watch the full video.