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America’s Covenant With God In yesterday’s post , I discussed the power of covenant, using a dream the Lord gave Gina Gholston in 2022. I also pointed out that for millennia, evergreen trees have symbolized covenant, going all the way back to Abraham in Genesis 21:33. There, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree, which is an evergreen, and called on the Everlasting God. He was declaring his covenantal allegiance to Yahweh.  The Appeal to Heaven flag also has an evergreen tree on it. When we appeal to heaven, we are appealing to the God who keeps covenant. Doing so birthed our nation, and is now rebirthing it. In a dream given to me in 2007, I knocked out spiritual giants wearing boxing gloves imprinted with the words “Evergreen” and “Everlast.” I then stated that in order to take out the spiritual giants of our day, we would have to wear those two gloves. In using the “Evergreen” glove, Holy Spirit was showing me that one of the ways we would take out the spiritual giants ruling America was through the power of covenant. I discuss all of this thoroughly in my book An Appeal to Heaven . When I speak of America being in a covenantal alliance with God, I am not referring to our covenant with Him through Christ, but of promises we made to Him accepting His purposes for us. There are different types and levels of covenant. Most of us use the word only in reference to God’s covenant with Abraham and his offspring, or when referring to the New Covenant we enjoy through Christ. Because of this, many shy away from language stating that America is in a covenant relationship with God. I understand this caution. However, the word for covenant in Scripture has a much broader range of meanings. The Hebrew word is beriyth. (1) It means “a compact, covenant, alliance, pledge, promise, treaty, agreement, league; a constitution, ordinance.” Simply stated, a covenant is a binding promise or agreement between two or more parties. Some covenants are legally binding, as in a contract. They can be between individuals, as in a marriage or friendship, or between entire groups of people. In our culture, homeowners make contracts - covenants - with other homeowners; nations enter into covenants or contracts with other nations, often called treaties or alliances. And, of course, covenants can be entered into with God. Based on these definitions, there are clearly different levels and strengths of covenants. In God’s eyes, a marriage covenant is more binding than two friends promising to stick with one another. He always expects us to keep our word, but we do not become one with someone through a friendship covenant. The old and new covenants in Scripture obviously rise to higher levels than other covenants. The new covenant through Christ’s blood stands above all covenants. As I mentioned, some covenants are contractually or legally binding; others are binding only in the sense of honor, integrity, and principle. Obviously, the vast majority of them are not blood covenants, as many were in Scripture.  When I state that America is in covenant with God, I am NOT referring to the type of blood covenant Yahweh entered into with Abraham. And I’m certainly not placing it on the level of our covenant with God through Christ. Nor am I suggesting that it was ratified with a blood sacrifice of some sort. God did not enter into a blood covenant with America, and there will never be an agreement with a person or nation that rises to the level of our covenant with God through the blood of Christ.  However, America’s early Pilgrims, and later our Founding Fathers, did enter into sacred alliances with God. This was done through prayers, promises, and written documents - including our founding documents. The Pilgrims believed God led them to this land, and our Founders believed He was involved in the forming of our nation. Both groups were convinced that He had a divine purpose for this land, and for the nation that was eventually formed here. The earliest European settlers to America planted a Cross on the beach at Cape Henry and dedicated this land to God’s Kingdom purposes and plan, actually using the word “covenant” in this decree. Scripture was actually inscribed on the Liberty Bell, which rang at our nation’s birth. Our Founders made declarations stating that we were a nation under God, and that this land existed for His purposes, not just our own. They formed a government under His guidance and declared their dependence on Him. Four times He is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, including an appeal to Him for freedom and liberty. The Framers referred to Him in the Constitution and asked for His guidance and help when writing it, acknowledging that “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it”  (Psalm 127:1). Yahweh was prophesying through Robert Hunt at Cape Henry. He inspired the words on the Liberty Bell. He guided the early patriots as they wrote the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. God birthed this nation and gave our Framers the wisdom and language to use. No other document was quoted more by our Founders in their written communications than the Bible. God initiated and was pleased with this relationship. He inspired the alliance and has blessed America due to her partnership with Him.  America absolutely has a covenantal alliance with God. It is little wonder that satanic forces are trying to revise our history. Satan knows covenant roots are powerful. He is fully aware that God keeps covenant and mercy (Deuteronomy 7:9) and expects us to do the same. That means He honors and fulfills covenant. Do not be deceived or distracted by the lies and indoctrination of the left. They will lose; God will win. Atheists, leftists, liberals, and revisionists cannot steal our covenantal history with God unless we allow it, and we will not do so. Hold fast to it and use it in your prayers. Let’s do so now. Pray and decree with me: We decree that: America was raised up by God to be a city on a hill, a beacon of light to all nations. America was called to preach the gospel of the Kingdom to all nations of the earth, and to serve all nations. America is “one nation, under God.” We have put our trust in Him and no other. We have no king but Jesus. The phrases “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” an appeal to the “Supreme Judge of the world,” “the Creator,” and “divine Providence” are all in our Declaration of Independence. We decree that this legal document gives us authority still today. We declare into the atmosphere of America that our faith is still in this God! Leviticus 25:10 is on the Liberty Bell: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof.” This verse, referencing Christ as the world’s Redeemer, was announced at our birth through the ringing of the bell, proclaiming both our faith in Christ and our destiny. We declare its message over America again today: Christ is our Redeemer! Proclaiming His message is our purpose! Yahweh is our Judge, our Lawgiver, and our King (Isaiah 33:22), and our three branches of government were formed according to heaven’s pattern and under His rule! Our government will return to this! God had a plan for our restoration before we even rebelled against Him! The Lord’s redeeming power is greater than satan’s deceiving lies, and His truth will prevail! AMERICA SHALL BE SAVED!!! Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no.1285.

A Dream Revisited, Part 2 One of our Give Him 15 listeners reminded me of a significant dream given to our friend, Gina Gholston in 2022. It is very relevant for now. I mentioned the dream yesterday and will do so again today. In the dream, demons were destroying the roots of a huge tree on a hill. The tree represented America. The demonic actions were exposed and the tree was saved. Here is the fascinating and important dream again: “I dreamed I was with several prayer leaders, including Dutch Sheets. We were walking through a field with tall grass and noticed a hill ahead of us. This caught our attention because it was the only hill around us. The rest of the land was a level, grassy field. “On top of a hill was a huge, very old, beautiful tree. We were so captivated by this tree that we decided to climb the hill to get closer. The tree was the only thing on the hill, and the canopy was so large that the shade from it covered the entire hill. The ground around the tree was level, and the grass was tall and thick, much like the field we had just left. “We were in awe of this beautiful tree, amazed at the size of the trunk and the massive expanse of its canopy. As we all walked around it, looking up into the branches of the tree, someone tripped over what appeared to be a root protruding out of the ground. Then, all of a sudden, these ‘roots’ appeared everywhere. Where there had once been tall, thick grass, there was none. Now, only the roots that had not been there when we first came to the tree, were lying everywhere on top of the ground. “We were all very puzzled by this, so I walked over and looked more closely at one of the ‘roots.’ I could see that it was moving! This had not been obvious until I looked more closely. I motioned for my assistant, Darlene, to join me and whispered to her, ‘Watch this!’ And we both could clearly see this ‘root’ was moving. “I walked over to Dutch and said, ‘Dutch, these are not roots; these are the backbones of demons. They’re alive, and they are eating the root system of this beautiful tree.’ The demons didn’t realize we could see them, but with their backbones exposed, we could see their movements. “By this time, others had joined us, and I asked, still whispering, ‘What do we do about this?’ “Dutch responded, ‘I know what to do about it!’ “He then walked away for a moment, and came back carrying a perfectly carved wooden staff. “Someone asked, ‘What is that?’ “I said, ‘This is a staff that has been carved from an old tamarisk tree. Tamarisks are evergreens.’ “Dutch nodded his head ‘Yes’; then handed the staff to me, and I walked over to one of the demon’s backbones. I struck it with the tamarisk staff, and when I did, the demon vanished. I could actually hear the sound, ‘poof,’ and it was gone. I began walking from ‘root’ to ‘root’, striking them with the tamarisk staff. Then, somehow, all of the other people with me had staffs, also carved from tamarisk evergreens. They, too, were using their staffs to destroy the demons. Together, we destroyed every demon and saved the tree.” End of dream. INTERPRETATION I pointed out in yesterday’s post  that the tree represents America. Demonic plans and strategies were being “uncovered” and destroyed. This is most certainly what is occurring in America today. It is safe to say that there has never been a season in America’s history where as much corruption in government has been uncovered. The past four years have been one continuous exposing of evil and corruption. And now the shocking revelations have hit warp speed. Americans will ultimately be shown that their corrupt government has wasted trillions of their hard-earned dollars for illegitimate causes. In the dream, the power to stop the demonic destruction came from staffs made of tamarisk wood. The tamarisk tree was significant in the life of Abraham. “Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God” (Genesis 21:33; NASB). Tamarisks are evergreens and for millennia evergreens have symbolized covenant. I write about this in my book, An Appeal To Heaven . (1) The tamarisk evergreen tree Abraham planted symbolized his covenant with Yahweh. Many believe, myself included, that the evergreen tree placed on the Appeal To Heaven flag also represented covenant. And in a dream I was given in 2007, evergreen trees certainly represented covenant – and became a weapon. With special boxing gloves, one of which had the word “Evergreen” imprinted on it, I knocked out five giants. And in Gina’s dream, demons trying to destroy America were defeated with staffs made of tamarisk evergreens. The dream was clearly telling us that America’s covenant alliance with God is a “weapon” we must use to save her (the tree). MORE ABOUT THE TAMARISK TREE The tamarisk evergreen tree, chosen by Abraham to represent his covenant with God, has several unique features that are symbolic of our covenant connection to God. They are wonderful shade trees and live hundreds of years. However, tamarisks are also slow-growing. They grow only an inch per year, taking 400 years to reach their full height. “Because the tree is so slow growing, no one would plant a tamarisk for him or herself; he or she would never personally benefit from it. When planting this slow-growing, long-living, covenantal tree, Abraham was thinking of his descendants. Future generations! He was making a powerful declaration that would endure for generations, ‘I am in covenant with Everlasting God, and you will sit under the shade of my everlasting covenant with Him.’” (2)  Amazing! The magnificent tree representing America in the dream was also producing great shade. America’s Founders planted an incredible “shade tree” for future generations, saying through their actions - just as Abraham did to the generations following him  - “You will sit under the shade of our covenant with God.” Our forefathers formed a nation under God, a land in covenant with Him, one that could endure. America has been incredibly blessed because of her partnership with Yahweh. Millions of people here and around the world have enjoyed the “shade” of these covenant blessings. We must save the shade tree called America for our children, grandchildren, and yes, for the world. Our war for America is truly spiritual, not just ideological. America was called to be “a shining light, a city on a hill.” She was called to take the gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth. This is what we are warring for. As America returns to her covenant roots, she will prosper once again. We, the praying church, must facilitate this by understanding and releasing the power of our covenant with God, symbolized by the tamarisk tree staffs. One of the ways we can release this power is by decreeing covenantal declarations and writings of our Founders. Let’s do so today, striking the enemy with the “tamarisk” staff. Pray and decree with me: We decree that: America was raised up by God to be a city on a hill, a beacon of light to all nations. America was called to preach the gospel of the Kingdom to all nations of the earth, and to serve all nations. America is “one nation, under God.” We have put our trust in Him and no other. We have no king but Jesus. The phrases “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” an appeal to the “Supreme Judge of the world,” “the Creator,” and “divine Providence” are all in our Declaration of Independence. We decree that this legal document gives us authority still today. We declare into the atmosphere of America that our faith is still in this God! Leviticus 25:10 is on the Liberty Bell: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof.” This verse, referencing Christ as the world’s Redeemer, was announced at our birth through the ringing of the bell, proclaiming both our faith in Christ and our destiny. We declare its message over America again today: Christ is our Redeemer! Proclaiming His message is our purpose! Yahweh is our Judge, our Lawgiver, and our King (Isaiah 33:22), and that our three branches of government were formed according to heaven’s pattern and under His rule! Our government will return to this! God had a plan for our restoration before we even rebelled against Him! The Lord’s redeeming power is greater than satan’s deceiving lies, and His truth will prevail! AMERICA SHALL BE SAVED!!! You can find out more about Gina at GinaGholstonMinistries.org . Click on the link below to watch the full video. “Always maintaining green leaves or needles, depending on the tree, evergreen trees have symbolized  eternity as far back as Abraham. This symbolism was sometimes expanded to include an everlasting or lifelong commitment to a covenant.  At the time of our nation’s founding, evergreens carried this significance to the Iroquois Native American nation. At a significant time in their history, a great leader united five native tribes (with a later addition of a sixth), establishing a confederacy among them. According to the Iroquois Constitution, the covenant began with the planting of the ‘Tree of Peace.’ Their peace treaty and everlasting covenant were then sealed by the symbolic act of burying weapons underneath a great evergreen tree. Some historians believe this covenantal ceremony is where we get the phrase, ‘bury the hatchet.’” Taken from my book An Appeal to Heaven, (Dallas, TX: Dutch Sheets Ministries, Inc., 2015), p. 47. Ibid. p. 51.

A Dream Revisited One of our Give Him 15 listeners reminded me of a significant dream given to our friend, Gina Gholston, in 2022, which is very relevant now. Here is the dream again: “I dreamed I was with some prayer leaders, including Dutch Sheets. We walked through a field of tall grass and noticed a hill in front of us. This caught our attention because it was the only hill around us. The rest of the land was a level, grassy field. “On the top of the hill was a huge, very old, beautiful tree. We were so captivated by this tree that we decided to climb the hill to get a closer look. The tree was the only thing on the hill, and its canopy was so large that shade from it covered the entire hill. The ground around the tree was level, and the grass was tall and thick. “We were in awe of this beautiful tree, amazed at the size of the trunk and the massive expanse of its canopy. As we walked around the tree, looking up into the branches, someone tripped over what appeared to be a root protruding out of the ground. All of a sudden, these ‘roots’ appeared everywhere. Where there had been tall, thick grass, now there was no grass, and these ‘roots’ were laying all over the top of the ground. They had not been there when we first arrived. We were very puzzled by this, so I walked over and looked at one of them more closely.  “As I did, I could see that the ‘root’ was moving. The movement had not been obvious until I looked more closely. I motioned for my friend to come to where I was standing, and whispered to her, ‘Watch this!’ We both could clearly see the ‘root’ was moving.  “I walked over to Dutch and said, ‘These are not roots; they’re the backbones of demons. They are alive and are eating the root system of this beautiful tree.’ The demons didn’t realize we could see them, but their backbones were exposed and we could see their movements. “I then asked the prayer leaders, ‘What should we do about this?’ “Dutch replied, ‘I know what to do!’ He stepped away for a moment and then returned carrying a perfectly carved wooden staff.  “Someone asked, ‘What is that?’  “I knew what he held and said, ‘This is a staff that has been carved from an old tamarisk tree. Tamarisks are evergreens.’ “Dutch nodded his head yes. He then handed the staff to me, and I walked over to one of the demon backbones. I struck it with the evergreen staff and, as I did, the demon vanished. I could physically hear the sound ‘poof,’ and it was gone. I began walking from ‘root’ to ‘root,’ hitting them with the evergreen staff. I then looked at the other prayer leaders and noticed that they all now had staffs in their hands made from evergreens. They, too, were using the staffs to destroy the demons. Together, we shattered every demon and saved the tree.” End of dream. INTERPRETATION The large, beautiful tree high on the hill, surrounded by green grass, obviously represents America. Our nation has long been referred to as “a city on a hill,” spoken of frequently by our nation’s founders and leaders. No less than 13 Presidents have used this phrase in referencing America.   “‘A City upon a Hill’ is a phrase derived from the teaching of Salt and Light in Jesus's Sermon on the Mount (from Matthew 5:14). In a modern context, it is used in United States politics to refer to America acting as a "beacon of hope" for the world. (1) The green grass around the tree represents the blessing and prosperity of God (Psalm 23:2). America has been blessed and exalted for centuries under God’s favor and blessings. In the dream, however, the green pastures had disappeared and the roots were now being destroyed by demons. It doesn’t take an arborist to know that a tree can still look and seem healthy for some time, even when the roots have begun to die. America has been dying for quite some time. No honest person can deny this. Our government became dishonest, much of our education system is a failure, our financial health has been hanging by a thread, freedom of speech has been attacked, we kill our babies, we don’t know male from female, kindergartners have been taught that they can change their gender, our past president was mentally challenged and the laughingstock of the world, our history has been revised, and the church - God’s remedy for these evils - became weak and a subculture, rather than being salt and light. To state that the grass is no longer green and the roots of the tree are dying is an understatement. In the dream, demons, previously hidden underground and thinking they were still hidden, could be seen destroying the roots of this great tree. This is such an accurate and horrifying portrayal of what has been occurring in America! Through sin, compromise, lies, and deception, demons have been destroying America’s godly roots. People are being used, of course, but the real cause behind America’s demise has been demonic. While we must work to stop the plans and attempts of those the enemy uses, these attempts will fail if we don’t deal with the spiritual, demonic source. In the dream, their activity was exposed. God has been and continues to expose the corruption and evil in America at shocking levels. When the 2020 election was not turned around as so many hoped, I (one of many) began sensing and saying, “This delay is to bring exposure of the evil at work in America.” I knew God would reveal evil, corruption, lies, and devious intentions. But I must admit that I didn’t foresee the absolute insanity and depth of depravity that would be revealed.  In the dream, government didn’t save the tree’s roots; it cannot do so. Only prayer can save the roots, and has been doing so. However, as the demonic activity is destroyed, righteous government can become part of the solution. Church activities and programs, good preaching and teaching, evangelism programs and Bible studies; government leaders, actions and programs, better laws; changes in our education system; an honest media – these are all essential but cannot save America. Only God, through the power of prayer, including spiritual warfare, can save America. We must have a resurrection! Thankfully, that is occurring. In tomorrow’s post, I will discuss the tamarisk staff. Pray with me: Father, You caused America to become a city on a hill, providing light to many nations of the earth. You made us a flourishing tree, providing shade throughout the world. Then we gave place to demons by yielding to pride and perversion. In our sinful arrogance we rejected You and Your ways, believing our own strength and wisdom created this great nation.  Our fall has been epic. We have no doubt become the laughingstock of hell. Led by fools, we sold our birthright for a bowl of soup. Wallowing in slop and feeding on the husks meant for swine, Your prodigal nation is gradually coming to its senses. We are seeing the depths of our sin and the insanity it produced. Though it is painful, please continue to expose the evil that has ruled our nation, so we can return to Your house.  Save us as You have promised, Father. We know You will do so. We boldly declare that 2025 will go down in history as the launch of Earth’s greatest revival. Save not only America, but pour out Your Spirit throughout the nations. I can see a tidal wave of revival coming! Bring this saving wave, in Jesus’ name.  Our decree: We decree that the city on a hill shall not be destroyed, but shall be restored and thrive.  Click on the link below to watch the full video. Squiers, A. (2018). The Politics of the Sacred in America: The Role of Civil Religion in Political Practice. New York: Springer. p. 62-63. ISBN   978-3-319-68870- 1.

Coping With Delay In 1 Samuel 16:12-13 David was anointed to be king over Israel: “And [Jesse] sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”  (KJV) Most scholars believe David was somewhere between 10 to 15 years of age when this occurred. However, it was over 20 years before Samuel’s prophecy was fulfilled in 2 Samuel 5:1-5: “Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.” According to these verses David was 30 years old when he became king. However, the first 7 years of his reign David was King over only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, commonly referred to simply as Judah (verses 4-5); Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth, ruled over the actual nation of Israel. During the seven years David ruled Judah, his throne was in Hebron. Finally, when he was 37, David was made king over all of Israel, and moved his throne to Jerusalem, as described in the remainder of the chapter. The math isn’t complicated: if David was 10 years old when Samuel anointed him, it means he waited 27 years before the word was fulfilled; if he was 11 when anointed, he waited 26 years, and so on. My point is simply that David waited a long time before his word came to pass. And the waiting was anything but pleasant. During those years, David was horribly persecuted by King Saul, became an outcast from Israel, lived in caves, and struggled to survive. His home was not a palace, but a cave named Adullam. Many of the psalms were written during this time. In Psalm 27:1, David penned, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?”  (NAS) These words are much more meaningful when we realize David wrote them by candlelight in a dark, damp cave, during a time when the king of Israel had a bounty on his head.  David did not write the incredible 23rd Psalm, which has brought comfort to untold millions over the years, in a coffee shop or an air-conditioned office. He wrote it while fleeing from Saul, in exile from his own people, and living among strangers - even enemies. His life was continually threatened. The Psalm is an outpouring of David’s confidence in the Lord and trust in His care, even when experiencing the very real threat of death. He used memories of shepherding and protecting his father’s sheep to picture the Lord’s care for him. “Just as I was their shepherd, You are my Shepherd.” David was declaring. “You feed me, protect me, and comfort me.” He wrote the amazing 91st Psalm during this same season of his life. While living in caves, David declared that he was dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. Take some time and read this Psalm as you consider David’s circumstances. What amazing declarations of faith; what an incredible trust in the Lord he possessed.  God did not waste David’s Adullum years; they were part of his training:  • He learned to trust • He learned to lead, beginning with his army of misfits and outcasts • He learned humility • He learned to overcome rejection and betrayal • He learned to appreciate the small things • He learned to wait • He learned of God’s faithfulness • And he learned to love the presence of God When a journey toward a God-given promise becomes unexpectedly long, is plagued with difficult delays and fraught with monumental challenges, remember that the delays haven’t taken Him by surprise. He knew how long it would take, foresaw the obstacles, planned how you would overcome them, and determined how He would use them to prepare you for your destiny. When you finally arrive at the goal, you’ll realize you didn’t arrive late. Because He was aware of the upcoming delays, your Father simply started the journey far enough in advance to use the delays as part of your training. He made them serve you, and got you to your destination right on time… just like He did David. One more thing. The seven years David spent reigning over Judah in Hebron were not unimportant or insignificant, just one more delay waiting for “the real thing.” Hebron means “covenantal friendship;” it was actually here that God’s friend, Abraham, was buried. God wanted David to know, before he rose to the throne over all of Israel, that the ultimate key to success was intimacy with Him. Hebron was also the mountain city in the promised land where Caleb conquered its greatest giant. The Lord needed David to know that covenant with Him was the key to overcoming life’s giants. “Learn that lesson, David, and you’ll be ready for the ultimate throne in Jerusalem.” The purpose of the post today is to remind all of us that when it seems a promise from God is taking forever, this is neither without purpose nor was it unexpected by Him. He is using the time to accomplish His purposes. This is true for us as individuals, and also for nations. God knew how long it would take to restore America, and started early enough to get us to the finish line right on time. Not only will America be saved, she will be saved right on time. We have conquered our Adullam’s, killed our giants, learned many lessons, built our friendship with God, and are now heading toward Jerusalem. Stay the course.  Pray with me: Father, we have been on a long journey to see America saved and restored. Like David, we occasionally experience setbacks, demonic opposition, the actions of unrighteous leaders, abusive policies, and other delays. Please keep the ekklesia reminded that these delays have not taken You by surprise, that You planned ahead for our victories, and just how You would use the battles to mature us. As we move into a season in which we experience breakthroughs, please keep us reminded that we must persevere in our prayers. Give increasing revelation to the church that our unseen prayers can literally produce visible results in Washington D.C., and other cities here and abroad. May we not leave our posts on the wall, watching and listening for Your alerts and instructions.  We pray that the exposure of the Deep State in America continues. You said righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34) We have been disgraced by unrighteous actions in our nation, and the people indeed groan under the weight of sin and deceit. Continue to use good and wise leaders to expose, expose, expose. And as You cleanse and heal America, use this restoration to bring a season of peace on the Earth that is conducive to tremendous harvest. We call forth the billion soul harvest You have spoken of, just as Ezekiel was commanded to do. (Ezekiel 37) And we pray all of this in the name that gives us access to You, Jesus.  Our decree: We decree that we, God’s ekklesia on earth, will NOT grow weary in our well-doing, and we WILL reap in our “due season.” Click on the link below to watch the full video.

The Finish Line As the changes being made by Trump and other conservative leaders occur at breakneck speed, the Left is in a frenzy. America now has borders – the endless flow of illegals has been checked, and the flow of fentanyl is being curbed. It is hard to grasp that this drug from hell had become the leading cause of death in America of those aged 18 to 45, yet so many had no desire to stop it. One has to wonder at the motivation. This evil has killed hundreds of thousands. I know some of them, so do you. Thank God, there are now some in positions of authority who care. Boys and men are no longer allowed to invade girls’ locker rooms, nor rob them of their hard-earned medals. According to a report on Fox News, as of March 30th, 2024, 600 female athletes in more than 400 competitions have lost more than 890 medals in 29 different sports. (1) America will now be allowed to move beyond the insane green energy policies and utilize the abundance of resources available to us, curbing the horrible inflation that has become so crippling to many. Fox reported that from January 2021 to December 2024, energy inflation increased by 33% overall, with fuel oil increasing 47.2%, gasoline 34.2%, and electricity 29.8%. (2) Our tax dollars will stop funding abortion and the unconscionable mutilation of our children. Antisemitism will now be stopped in our universities and on our streets. The crime rate will go down as murderers, rapists, and thieves are imprisoned and/or sent back to their country of origin. And our military can now become strong again, providing peace through strength to the nations of the world. Vance said during his remarks at the International Religious Freedom Summit on Wednesday, “We are only in the third week of [Trump’s] second term, but I think it’s safe to say we’ve accomplished maybe more in the last two weeks than a lot of administrations have in a few years. But this administration is intent on not just restoring but expanding the achievements of the first four years and certainly of the last two weeks… “In this short period, the president has issued orders to end the weaponization of the federal government against religious Americans, pardon pro-life protesters who were unjustly imprisoned under the last administration, and importantly, stop the federal censorship used to prevent Americans from speaking their conscience and speaking their mind, whether it’s in their communities or online,” Vance added. (3) Perhaps one of the most shocking things occurring through Trump’s team is the exposure of the incredible waste and fraud in our government. As the astronomical dollar amounts are being released - numbering in the hundreds of billions, will no doubt end up being trillions - it is mindnumbing to hear the reports. It is also shocking to see the resistance to this. Watching large numbers of people in the swamp manifest as this occurs is like watching a colony of roaches when the lights are turned on. They are becoming rabid. As a matter of fact, it is suddenly okay to promote war in the streets, as was done in Tuesday’s protest by members of Congress over the exposures at USAID. One wonders why they aren’t pleased to see the waste and fraud uncovered. It turns out much of the aid being sent to other nations, billions and billions of dollars, has been to fund terrorism, DEI, and other leftist ideologies. More exposure will be forth-coming when Patel and Bondi begin turning on the lights at the DOJ and FBI — no wonder the perpetrators are scurrying like rats and screaming like banshees. Our country has been led, off and on, by some very evil people in the last few decades. They were entrenched and came to believe they could operate with impunity, unmonitored and ungoverned. But the veil is being lifted, and the piper is about to demand his wages. What should be our response to all of this? Continue to pray for the exposure of darkness and corruption. Pray that those making righteous changes are protected, make wise decisions, stay humble while maintaining boldness, remain pure of heart, and persevere. Bind the plans of darkness to oppose righteous leaders, confuse and deceive people, and stop the needed changes. As you pray, remember that this unfolding process to save America is two-fold: revival and reformation.  The saving and delivering of individuals, as commanded by Jesus in Mark 16:15-20 (revival) is beginning, in tandem with the discipling of nations, as He commissioned us in Matthew 28:18-20 (reformation). These dual activities will result in monumental transformation. They are different but related – two parts of a whole, two manifestations of the salvation of God. Pray for both. The changes produced by each will be short-lived without progress in the other. Don’t be distracted by the manifestations of angry people and demons. Love the people and pray for their salvation, while also praying that the principles of God’s Kingdom are released into every segment of society. Pray that a great awakening of revelation and truth invades the body of Christ. We will need an understanding of how to:  reshape wineskins without compromising the message;  create intimacy with God without allowing our traditions to hinder the process; and  win a generation that has become incredibly disillusioned and cynical.  We will need wisdom from heaven regarding how to heal cultures and nations, repairing centuries-old breaches and wounds. This will not only be the greatest revival in history; it could very well be the most challenging. Pray that as young leaders emerge, both within the church and in other segments of our nation, there will be no breaches that develop between young and old. Pray that both age groups have the humility to accept the other, along with a desire to honor their gifts. Pray that both remain flexible and teachable, that hearts join and align, and that no strategy to separate us succeeds.  These are incredible days. As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 16:9, great opportunities and open doors exist, but much opposition does, as well. Prayer will determine the outcome. It has been our appeals to heaven that have gotten us to this point, and it will be our appeals that get us to the finish line.  Stay faithful.  Pray with me: Father, we humbly thank You for Your mercy and grace; we thank You for our salvation. It is because of Your mercies that we have not been consumed, overtaken by judgment and reaping. It continues to be proven that Your mercy triumphs over judgment. You love the world; that is why Jesus came. You love people in every nation, from every tribe and tongue.  We know You have a plan to rescue millions and millions of them from the strongholds of darkness in our time. Heaven’s greatest Kingdom endeavor yet is unfolding. You are the Master Planner, heaven’s great Architect, and He who declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Your Kingdom is eternal and ever-increasing (Isaiah 9:7), Your authority is complete, and Your power is limitless. The inferior powers of darkness will not foil You. We are overwhelmed with gratitude that You brought us into Your family and made us joint heirs with Jesus, Your Son, and our Savior. We are amazed and honored that You have made us partners with You in the great cause of redeeming people from the power of sin and darkness. May we be found faithful. In this critical hour of history, expose and destroy the evil plans of darkness, tear down their strongholds, and free their captives. Let the light shine brighter than at any time in history. Heal America and other nations of the world, and save a billion or more people. We ask this in the holy name of Jesus. Our decree: We decree that God’s light is overcoming darkness, His goodness is prevailing over evil. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Statistics from the United Nations, August 2024, as stated on Fox News, February 5, 2025. Statistics from CPI, January 2021 vs December 2024, as stated on Fox News, February 5, 2025. https://www.theblaze.com/news/jd-vance-reveals-how-the-white-house-will-uproot-religious-persecution-it-ends-with-this-administration

The Power of A Testimony In yesterday’s post, I shared some testimonies of healing from Tommy and Miriam Evans’ book Decrees that Activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  I found it interesting that some of those healings occurred during testimonies of other people being healed. Here are a couple of those testimonies from yesterday, quoted from the book: “Another woman who was deaf for 15 years had her hearing completely restored while I was ministering in South Carolina. I simply said to the crowd, ‘You have permission to be healed while we worship!’ When she was able to hear, she ran up to the pastor, and they interrupted the service for her to share. A woman in the crowd was healed of severe tinnitus just by listening to the testimony. The woman with tinnitus shared her story with a woman at a restaurant later that day; that woman was also healed of tinnitus in the middle of the restaurant! “While preaching in Indiana, I began to share testimonies of how God healed people through a group of believers praying over a handkerchief (Acts 19:12). While speaking, a man in the back was in a wheelchair, and he stood up and began to shuffle around the room. His wife and daughter began to cry. I asked for a report, and they said he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and normally could not walk. He walked out to his car that night as his wife pushed his wheelchair and loaded it in the trunk. God is so good!” (1) Several years ago, I had an interesting experience with the Lord that eventually led to an understanding of why testimonies of healing produce healing. While in worship, I heard Holy Spirit say, “I am bringing you full circle.” I knew the “you” was plural - not just me, but we, the body of Christ. As I continued meditating on this, Holy Spirit gave me a vision; I was looking down from heaven to Earth and could see what appeared to be a circle being drawn on the ground. In the vision, I was then moved from above to a side view. From this perspective, I realized I wasn’t seeing a flat circle on the ground, but rather an upward spiral, like a giant coil. Using this as a visual aid, the Lord said to me, “Full circle, higher level. I have now taken the church to a new level. She will do once again works she has done before, but at higher levels of effectiveness. Another season of miracles will be released…revelation will be imparted…revival is coming…all at higher levels. The church is coming full circle, but at a higher level.” I mentioned this in a message a short time later, and a man approached me after the service. “I am a Spirit-filled, Messianic Jewish rabbi,” he said. “I found your vision and comments regarding the circle interesting. This is very similar to what we Jews believe regarding time, and a related word in the Hebrew language.” Continuing, he said, “Do you know what the word ‘testimony’ means in Hebrew?” I answered, “Well, I assume it means to give an account of something that occurred in the past.” “Not exactly,” he said, “the root Hebrew word for testimony means ‘to repeat, to do something again,’ or ‘do time again.’ It does not mean only to tell about or give witness of something.” What an interesting phrase, I thought -  do time again.  He continued, “We believe that when one declares what God did in the past, a testimony, it is in some ways like coming full circle - back to when He first performed the act, the beginning point. And when we do so, the same power released at the beginning is released now to ‘do it again.’ We’re ‘doing time again.’  “That’s why we believe it’s so important to tell our children what God did in the past, and why God was angry with Israel when they neglected to teach them Israel’s history. By failing to tell the story, they were not only failing to educate them about God and their history, but they were also failing to re-release His power. We believe that when we tell our children about the Exodus, relating how God delivered Israel from Egypt at Passover through great signs and wonders, the same saving power is released again. Our children receive the benefits of Passover and deliverance. We believe this power can be released again, and again, and again, and again. “We have actually begun acting on this principle,” he said, “by repeatedly sending believers who have been supernaturally healed to share their testimony over and over with others who are ill. They don’t pray for these individuals; they simply repeat their testimonies of healing. And people are being healed!”  I was just, well…speechless. Testimonies don’t just encourage us or inspire faith; they release power? But he wasn’t finished! “It’s as though time becomes pregnant with God’s words and, therefore, His power. The Eternal God declares His eternal, living, and powerful words (Psalm 119:89; Hebrews 4:12) to accomplish something, and those words and the power they release are deposited in time. We can tap into this power by speaking His words and by declaring what He has done in the past.” To say this rabbi launched me on a quest would be an understatement. I set out to discover if these things were true. I’m still not certain I understand all of it, but I have at least been able to confirm some of what he said. In studying the Hebrew word for testimony, eduwth/eduth , I found that the root word ( ud or uwd ) means “repeat or do again.” The lexicon said It refers to “the continuance of a past event.” For this reason, the Arabic words for “return” and “habit” come from this same root. (2) As I considered all of this, I realized we have had elements of this concept in our Christian faith, but haven’t fully understood it. The best example is the preaching of the gospel, which Scripture says is “the power of God unto salvation”  (Romans 1:16). We know power is released when we re-tell the gospel story, the same power to save, deliver, and heal that was generated at Calvary 2000 years ago. God’s power is in the story, just waiting to be released in the telling. Many believe, and I am one of them, that when we eat the bread and drink the cup of Communion, the same power and provision generated at Calvary should be received by us again. We are to “partake of” it, which is what the word for communion actually means (koinonia ) (3) . Sadly, many have not been taught this and therefore, do not activate their faith to receive it. But the power of the Cross remains in this covenantal act, and when we  “eat this bread and drink this cup…retelling the story, proclaiming our Lord’s death until he comes” ‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭26‬ ‭TPT‬‬) power is available. As I pondered this, I found myself wondering: maybe this is why the Bible says, “We overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our TESTIMONY!” (Revelation 12:11). Perhaps this is why it is important that “The redeemed of the Lord SAY SO!”  (Psalm 107:2). Tell the stories! Pray with me: Father, what a fascinating thought - testimonies of healing produce healing. You release power to heal in several ways: touching or laying hands on someone, the spoken Word, anointing people with oil as a symbol of Holy Spirit, the prayer of agreement, acts of faith, intercession, anointed prayer cloths…and testimonies.  We are hungry for Holy Spirit’s manifestations and gifts. As we move into a season where His gifts operate at increased levels, remind us that we must never formularize how He works. You resist “boxes,” religious routines that we turn into formulas. At times miracles will simply occur as we talk about miracles. Give us childlike faith to believe, obey, tell the story, and come full circle. In Jesus name, amen.  Our decree: We decree that we will go to new levels of God’s power and glory, as we testify of His greatness. You can find out more about Tommy and Miriam Evans at RevivalMandate.org . You can find their book, Decrees that Activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit , on Amazon . Click on the link below to watch the full video. Tommy and Miriam Evans, Decrees that Activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit  (Destiny Image Publishers, Inc.: Shippensburg, PA), pp. 146-147.  R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament  (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1980), p. 648. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no.  2842.

INTRODUCTION Yesterday, I released Part One of an article by Larry Sparks highlighting the book Decrees that Activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit  by Tommy and Miriam Evans. The purpose of Larry’s article is to challenge and encourage us to receive and operate in the gifts of Holy Spirit using this powerful book as a reference. These gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) are such an important part of the coming revival that I wanted to share his exhortation and also promote the book.  Part One, which I shared yesterday, encouraged us that if we share God’s Word regarding the gifts, they WILL operate. It also pointed out that our quest for balance has gotten us out of balance! In our attempts to fulfill 1 Corinthians 14:40,  “Let everything be done decently and in order,”  we have “ordered” a dimension of Holy Spirit activity out of our gatherings. Larry ended by pointing out that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are not atheistic, but are actually beginning to pursue spirituality. However, they want a genuine manifestation of the supernatural, not religion. When we reject the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit, we reject the very thing a generation is crying out for! Larry shares that silence regarding the supernatural in the church is one of the greatest enemies to our cause. Here is Part Two of: _____________________________________ DECREE AND DEMONSTRATE (PART 2) Good News… and Bad News Here’s the good news. The outlandish theory of cessationism is nearly dead.  Cessationism, not worthy of being called a theology, claims that the miraculous demonstrations of Holy Spirit power, such as tongues, miracles, and prophecy, ceased  when the Scripture was canonized and the last apostle died. This is completely unverifiable by Scripture, and also, the vast majority of respectable theologians would denounce this, including people like Dr. Craig Kenner, N.T. Wright, Wayne Grudem, Gordon Fee, and others. This sounds like good news, right?    Here is the next threshold we need to cross: will we demonstrate what we claim to believe? Many of us claim to believe that the Spirit’s miraculous gifts and power continue today. But are we willing to take the risks that welcome His presence into our gatherings and lives?   Practical Things We Can Do to Demonstrate the Spirit’s Power Let’s commit to celebrating the work and manifestation of the Holy Spirit, rather than simply “tolerating” Him.    When the Holy Spirit touches someone and they begin to respond physically, let’s pray that all parties involved would have discernment on how to navigate what God is doing. This is the appropriate response, as opposed to considering His actions as interruptions that should be shut down.   As leaders, let’s couple the preaching and teaching of the Scriptures with an expectation that the Lord will confirm His word with “signs following” (Mark 16:17). This demands that we live in a constant state of wide-eyed expectation that looks for activity of the Holy Spirit even while we are teaching or preaching the Word. I believe divine interruptions are available, through which people are healed and delivered in our meetings, as the Word is taught. But this will only occur if we become open and receptive to these moments.  In their book, the Evans illustrate this by sharing the following:  “A woman who was 80 percent deaf in both ears attended one of our meetings. No one said a formal prayer with her. She was just worshipping in the room and noticed a sensation in her ears. She went out to the lobby to change the batteries in her hearing aids. When she took them out, she found she could hear 100 percent. A few weeks later, my daughter and her friend were telling this same testimony to a teenage girl who was deaf in one ear. The young girl did not say anything but in her heart, she wished the same would happen to her. Three days later, her ear opened up! She immediately told her youth leader, and word spread like wildfire. “Another woman who was deaf for 15 years had her hearing completely restored while I was ministering in South Carolina. I simply said to the crowd, ‘You have permission to be healed while we worship!’ When she was able to hear, she ran up to the pastor, and they interrupted the service for her to share. A woman in the crowd was healed of severe tinnitus just by listening to the testimony. The woman with tinnitus shared her story with a woman at a restaurant later that day, that woman was also healed of tinnitus in the middle of the restaurant! “While preaching in Indiana, I began to share testimonies of how God healed people through a group of believers praying over a handkerchief (Acts 19:12). While speaking, a man in the back was in a wheelchair and he stood up and began to shuffle around the room. His wife and daughter began to cry. I asked for a report, and they said he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and normally could not walk. He walked out to his car that night as his wife pushed his wheelchair and loaded it in the trunk. God is so good!” (1) Perhaps most importantly, let’s all  commit to being practitioners of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul provokes us to “ earnestly desire ” the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 14:1. This is not so we can claim higher levels of spirituality, but in order to serve people supernaturally and see measurable results in their lives, bringing great glory to Jesus. Consider this: every time the Holy Spirit moves and manifests Himself in power, it’s a testimony that Jesus died, rose again, ascended to Heaven, and received everything He paid and prayed for. He paid for you and me to be completely cleansed from sin so that  we could become the dwelling place for God’s Spirit. N.T. Wright refers to Spirit-filled believers as “New Temple” people, a poignant description. (2)  Jesus paid for you to be forgiven and indwelt by the Spirit; He prayed for you to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire, so that His very presence would rest upon you to change lives and environments.    Bill Johnson famously said: “The Spirit within  you is for your sake, but the Spirit upon  you is for the sake of others.” (3) Miriam Evans states in this book regarding gifts of the Spirit:  “Tommy and I burn to live a life that brings glory to Jesus. We longed to live a life like the early church in the Scriptures. Then one day, we decided to take a risk. We hosted a revival and miracle night and told people to bring the sick and those who were tormented by demons. We said they would encounter Jesus. We took our eyes off our inadequacy and focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We concluded that if Jesus instructed us, His Spirit would empower us. We saw dozens healed that night. It’s been seven years since I wrote this, and we are still hosting those meetings around the world. Countless people have received salvation in Jesus, baptisms of the Holy Spirit, and miracles. Will you take a risk that will be the turning point in your life?” (4)   Tommy and Miriam Evans have provided a treasure to the body of Christ with this new book,   Decrees that Activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit . It contains not only stories such as these, but prayers and practical, Bible-based steps of faith with which to receive and move in the gifts of the Spirit. It will also serve as a daily guide to living with the presence of the Holy Spirit resting upon you , and His power changing things around you .    Pray with me: Father, as we move into revival and reformation, we find ourselves being awakened to needed changes – both in the church, and in our secular environments. You are indeed preparing us to be the church when we  gather to worship and when we  go forth  into our daily activities. The spirit of revival and the seeds of reformation are in our land. We ask You to bring both to fullness through the power of Your Spirit.  Your Word teaches us – as does history – that revival is fueled by the gifts of Your Spirit. We must have the release of these precious tools, enabling us to demonstrate the power of the gospel and the resurrection of Christ. We ask You for this. And we ask that resources and teachings, such as this powerful book by the Evans, be breathed upon mightily by You. Stir hearts in the church with a hunger for these gifts of the Spirit; bring a holy discontent for doing ministry without them. Then, satisfy this hunger with impartation and activation, invading hearts and impacting lives. It is time for this, and we are asking for it. In Jesus’ name, we ask, and in faith we say, “Thank You!” Our decree: We decree that a new season is now upon the church, a season of Holy Spirit’s gifts being poured out. We receive these manifestations of the great Holy Spirit, our Helper. You can find out more about Larry at LarrySparksMinistries.com  and for Tommy and Miriam Evans, go to RevivalMandate.org . You can find their book, Decrees that Activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit , on Amazon . Click on the link below to watch the full video. Tommy and Miriam Evans, Decrees that Activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit  (Destiny Image Publishers, Inc.: Shippensburg, PA), pp. 146-147.  N.T. Wright, New Temple People Language: Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense (New York: HarperOne, 2006), pp. 129-133.   Adapted from the book:  Bill Johnson,  Hosting the Presence  (Destiny Image: Shippensburg, PA, 2012). Evans, Decrees that Activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit , pp. 140-141.

INTRODUCTION My friend, Larry Sparks, recently sent me an exciting and informative new book by Tommy and Miriam Evans entitled: Decrees that Activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit . I use the word “exciting” not just due to the information it contains, but also because Holy Spirit motivating them to release this book now is just one more indicator of the kairos  time we have moved into. The Lord is further preparing us for the great outpouring that has already begun.  I also used the word “informative” to describe the book. It was written not only by two great teachers, but by two “doers” – the Evans move powerfully in the gifts of the Spirit on a regular basis (1 Corinthians 12). Tommy and Miriam use their experiences to illustrate the Scriptures, providing balanced and practical guidance. This direction, by the way, not only instructs us how to operate  in the gifts of the Spirit, but also how to  receive  and develop these essential tools. It is truly a handbook.  My brother, Tim Sheets, states in the book’s foreword: “Our friends Tommy and Miriam Evans have been anointed to produce this very timely handbook of practical wisdom. You will find yourself turning to it time and time again. Within these pages are spiritual insights that can help the body of Christ grow and mature and release the decrees of faith.” Larry Sparks, who sent me the book, ministers with the Evans on a regular basis. He wrote an article based on the book’s content, as well as his insights on what God is currently saying to the church regarding this important subject. I believe this subject is so critical, I want to share the article and promote this wonderful book here on Give Him 15. I will share Part One of the article today and Part Two tomorrow. The title of Larry’s article is: DECREE AND DEMONSTRATE (PART 1) There have been many exceptional training resources developed on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. From Derek Prince to Lester Sumrall to Norval Hayes to Kenneth Hagin and others, the body of Christ has been given sound, biblical instructions on these gifts. This has provided a foundation for the unique kairos  moment we are stepping into. The teachings of a previous generation are going to be demonstrated by this generation at a whole new level.     I, along with revivalists Tommy and Miriam Evans, have been traveling the nations, witnessing a collective hunger for the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and His supernatural power. And this has not been limited to a specific denomination.  We’ve found ourselves ministering in various settings, from Southern Baptist to Lutheran, and even Catholic environments. Regardless of the setting, the results are the same. As the Word of God is preached, it paints a picture of what’s possible for people to experience from the Holy Spirit. He breathes upon the Word of God, igniting hearts to step into the realities Scripture introduces to them. These results demonstrate the moment we are in : It’s time to decree the Word and demonstrate the power.  This reality is what birthed the book, Decrees that Activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit . Tommy and Miriam Evans were burdened by a desire to raise up revival practitioners, not simply revival theorists. I believe the simple encouragements and activations outlined in the book will be catalysts, launching many into a life saturated with Holy Spirit demonstration.   A Vision of What’s Possible: Word and Spirit Describing this present kairos  moment a bit more… I had a vision wherein I saw a minister delivering his sermon from an old-fashioned pulpit, similar to what you would see in the days of Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakenings. I knew he was preaching verse by verse from Scripture---expository preaching.  In the vision, I panned down towards the front of the church, right beneath the preacher.  Usually, this is what we call the “altar” space. I was shocked by what I saw. While the minister preached, in that altar space I witnessed people shaking under the power of God. I saw some laughing uproariously as they were experiencing the oil of Holy Spirit joy, some being delivered from demonic torment, others being healed, and still others were being baptized in the Spirit. It was glorious, holy chaos. I watched as prayer teams moved seamlessly through the group of people as they were clearly being touched by the Holy Spirit. One would think this “disorderly” sight would cause distraction or commotion among the attentive congregation. It did not.   I then panned across the congregation, witnessing something extraordinary.  While this wild manifestation of the Spirit was taking place in the altar space, people sat in their seats, diligently taking notes. When something the minister said stirred the heart of one seated in the congregation, they would get out of their seats and move toward the altar space. There, these individuals would begin to have unique encounters with the Holy Spirit.   1 Corinthians 14:40 was, in fact, taking place in this environment; everything was being done “decently and in order.” It’s just that sometimes decently and in order,  from Heaven’s vantage point, looks like 120 disciples in an upper room being described as “drunk” after being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2); or like a company of priests on their faces completely undone by God’s glory falling upon Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8). In both the Old and New Testaments, we clearly see a connection between and an emphasis on the declaration of the Word and demonstration of Holy Spirit power.  I’ve learned that if we treat the manifestations of the Holy Spirit as a disturbance and distraction, people will treat them that way. But if we actually celebrate the move of the Holy Spirit, with all of its uniqueness and unusual activity, we disciple people into identifying these manifestations as indicator lights of God’s holy presence in our midst. Manifestations become celebrated confirmations of the Word being preached.   The Greatest Enemies of What God’s Doing… Right Now Much of our ministry and experience has been in western nations – the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the USA. In the Western world, we mistakenly project that we have graduated from the wonder of the supernatural, as if “that miracle, signs and wonders stuff” is archaic and out of touch with modernity. We perceive that we have become more civilized and refined, when, in fact, we have moved away from the very thing that a generation is crying out for!   Historian Tom Holland, author of the outstanding book Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World  has been cited as saying that we need to preach “the weird stuff” and “take the supernatural seriously” in the context of the Christian church. Justin Brierley, author of Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God,  has observed similar phenomena, especially among youth and young adults in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, Brierly’s observation is that atheism is not  the great juggernaut that is opposing the advancement of Christianity. Perhaps it was in a previous era, but now, it would seem that more and more people—particularly GenZ and GenAlpha—are pursuing “spirituality.” The question is  what kind of spirituality are they seeking and practicing?   The greatest enemy that seeks to oppose the move of God in this generation is silence concerning the supernatural in the church . If contemporary Christianity keeps silent on the gifts, power, and move of the Spirit, the devil is waiting right outside our sanctuaries, seeking opportunities to provide counterfeit “power” to the spiritually hungry masses. [Tomorrow we will look at Part 2 of Larry’s teaching/article.] Pray with me:  Father, as we move into revival and reformation, we find ourselves being awakened to needed changes – both in the church, and in our secular environments. You are indeed preparing us to be the church when we  gather to worship and when we  go forth  into our daily activities. The spirit of revival and the seeds of reformation are in our land. We ask You to bring both to fulness through the power of Your Spirit.  Your Word teaches us – as does history – that revival is fueled by the gifts of Your Spirit. We must have the release of these precious tools, enabling us to demonstrate the power of the gospel and the resurrection of Christ. We ask You for this. And we ask that resources and teachings, such as this powerful book by the Evans, be breathed upon mightily by You. Stir hearts in the church with a hunger for these gifts of the Spirit; bring a holy discontent for doing ministry without them. Then, satisfy this hunger with impartation and activation, invading hearts and impacting lives. It is time for this, and we are asking for it. In Jesus’ name we ask and in faith we say “Thank You!” Our decree: We decree that a new season is now upon the church, a season of Holy Spirit’s gifts being poured out. We receive these manifestations of the great Holy Spirit, our Helper. You can find out more about Larry at LarrySparksMinistries.com  and for Tommy and Miriam Evans, go to RevivalMandate.org . You can find their book on Amazon .   Click on the link below to watch the full video.

The Great Architect In Acts 3:21, we find the phrase “ Times of restitution” (KJV). The word “times” is chronos , (1)  meaning a general time or season; “restitution” is apokatistasis . (2)  A better translation of this word in today’s vocabulary would be “reconstitute” or “restore.” The concept is restoring something to its original intent, purpose, or condition. It is a medical term used in Scripture only by Christ’s disciple, Dr. Luke, who wrote the book of Acts. The note in the Passion Translation says this medical term meant “Restoration to perfect health. ” Another word we often use in the context of restoring something is “reformation.” In Scripture, this word is diorthosis (3)  (Hebrews 9:10), meaning to straighten something crooked; to cause that which has fallen or is leaning to stand straight, even upright again.  Diorthosis,  like apokatistasis in Acts 3:21, involves restoring something to its original and appropriate condition. It is important to realize that they do not simply denote change. Change can be good or bad, appropriate or inappropriate. On the other hand, these two concepts involve restoring something to its original intent, condition, and/or purpose. America has been in a season of significant, inappropriate change for half a century. We are now moving into a time of restoration and reformation. Like a surgeon cutting out a cancer, a dentist removing an abscessed tooth, or a chiropractor twisting a body like a pretzel in order to make it straight again, America is being restored. And just as with the human body, the process can, at times, be painful.  Surgeons, dentists, and chiropractors all hurt us to heal us. A therapist demands that we trade pain for gain. A home remodel becomes a mess before it becomes beautiful. Martin Luther’s great reformation was a giant upheaval of the religious and political world while also restoring the true gospel and liberating the people. Reformation can be challenging, complicated, and very messy, which brings me to Donald Trump and his allies. We would do well to remember that they are not simply making a few changes. America is well past the point where that would be enough. Like it or not, we have a cancer in our culture, an abscess in our government. We are twisted and out of alignment, in drastic need of straightening. The restoration is going to hurt, and it is going to be messy. At this point in history, America did not need a statesman. And we certainly did not need a politician. Frankly, and this will upset some of my religious friends, we did not need a peacemaker. We needed a “boat rocker,” a status quo wrecker, a business-as-usual interrupter. We are in the first part of Jeremiah 1:10; the second part is coming, but that will be a little slower:  “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Do I like everything Donald Trump says? Do I like all of his actions and attitudes? Do I like everything in his past? Of course not; that’s not why I voted for him. I voted for a reformer. And at this point, I am more interested in his willingness to face those destroying America than I am his language. I am more concerned about determination than diplomacy. I want a John the Baptist who is willing to make crooked places straight, remove mountains, and raise valleys.  I want someone who will stare down the propaganda arm of the Democrat party, otherwise known as the mainstream media, and not be intimidated. I want someone who will build a military that is an effective war machine, not a woke machine. I want someone who will close our borders to all immigration that is not legal; someone who will demand that our education system teaches our children how to read; and someone who will stop the trans madness. I want healed children, not butchered children, common sense above Ivy League idiocy, and a Congress that can balance a checkbook.  I want reformation.  The progressive Left has used against us our desire for peace and “getting along.” They preach civility and spew venom; they speak of fairness while weaponizing government; they preach diversity and insist on conformity; and they speak of freedom while exerting control. For too long, those on the right have fallen prey to this hypocrisy.  Hearing them criticize Trump, accusing him of inappropriate and insensitive statements, then listening as they sit on committees and model rudeness, character assassination, lying, and the misrepresentation of facts is both laughable and infuriating. They epitomize the evil and ugliness of the political spirit. The Left only wants to get along in order to get ahead. They are like the female black widow spider who says to the male, “Help me multiply, then I will kill and eat you.”  Now that America has seen what they are doing to our nation, and has elected a man with backbone enough to resist it – and who also happens to be a person they tried desperately to humiliate and destroy – the Left is terrified. They maligned his character, turned our judicial system loose on him, “sicced” our FBI on him and his followers, and defiled his home. Now, he is even more angry and determined; their hypocritical cries for civility, kindness, and compromise are falling on deaf ears.  The progressive Left is also watching 50 years of antichrist secularization and globalism dissolve, their media lose influence with the populous, and the American people stand up and say, “Enough!” DEI is being dismantled, DOJ employees and Inspectors General are being fired, lazy employees willing to trade blind loyalty for a free ride have been served notice, and billions of dollars are being pulled from worthless and ridiculous government programs. The Left is angry and horrified. The nation they “changed” is being “reformed.” The time will soon come when America needs builders, statesmen, and peacemakers. At this time, however, we are in the demo stage. As we find the termites, mold, leaks, and cracked foundations, we can repair, reconstitute, and restore. A great revival is coming to fuel this process, also causing the desired changes to align with God’s will and ways.  Keep appealing, church. Do not trust this process to humans, regardless of how well-intentioned they are. Keep it in the hands of the great Heavenly Architect.  Pray with me: Father, we know that both the political and religious worlds hated John the Baptist’s forerunner work. Jesus revealed their true hearts, pointing out that they didn’t like Him either. The truth was, they wanted a completely different Israel than John and Jesus were bringing. The progressive Left in America today doesn’t like Donald Trump, and it doesn’t like the church. We represent an America they don’t want and a Kingdom they despise. They are the Psalm 2 company that conspires against You, declaring that You will not rule over them. In this great Psalm, You offer repentance and honor toward Your son or destruction - nothing in between.  We have no doubt that You love people enough to bring the revival and awakening we hear so much about; You love them enough not to allow the opposition of the antichrist forces to succeed. Expose their plans, tear down and demolish their structures, and destroy their systems. Use President Trump, his team, wise leaders in Congress and state governments, and righteous judges to do so. Give them wisdom, understanding, and strategic timing as they do this. Then give the same to those tasked to rebuild. Revive and reform America and let both be historic, monumental, and epochal.   In the mighty name of Yeshua, we pray.  Our decree: We decree that the uprooting and tearing down needed in America will be fully accomplished, followed by successful planting and rebuilding. 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. 5550. Ibid, ref. no. 605. Ibid, ref. no. 1357.

The Importance of Kairos  Moments As is often the case, our English translations do not fully convey the content of Greek words. With the intricacies of their language -- the various tenses, moods, forms, etc., the Greeks bragged that they could say more in one word than other languages could in an entire sentence. That’s why amplified and expanded versions are helpful.  Another problem is that our translations often use one English word to translate multiple Greek words. This can at times be very problematic. For example, the word “power” is used to translate both dunamis and exousia.  However, dunamis is literal power, as in dynamite; (1) exousia  is authority, the right to rule or release power. (2)  When not understood, this leads to misunderstanding. The New Testament tells us Jesus dealt with and delivered us from satan’s authority ( exousia ) – the RIGHT to use his power ( dunamis ) on believers (Colossians 1:13). Christ did not remove all of satan’s powers. The devil still has power, he simply has no legal right to use it on us. But since he is a thief and lawbreaker, he tries to do so anyway. Therefore, we must enforce Christ’s victory, exercising our authority ( exousia ) over satan’s power ( dunamis ).  Timing The word “time” in the New Testament is another example of multiple Greek words, chronos and kairos,  being translated with one English word. Chronos  means chronological time – you can easily see that our English word chronology comes from this Greek word. Chronos  is simply the general time or season in which something IS done. (3)   Kairos,  on the other hand, means well-timed, strategic time, opportune time; the time at which something SHOULD or MUST be done. Kairos  would be the equivalent of our often used “window of opportunity.” (4) Wuest, a very literal translator of the New Testament, uses the following phrases to translate  kairos : “epoch-making periods” (Acts 3:19); “strategic, significant period” (Acts 12:1); “strategic, epochal time” (Acts 19:23). Using his words, kairos times are strategic, significant, and potentially epoch-making.  Kairos Temptation The parable of the sower is an example of where knowing the difference between these two words is important. Jesus said,  “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away”  (Luke 8:13). “Time” is kairos. Knowing this brings the realization that Christ was saying satan times his temptations strategically, waiting for just the right time. This might be during weariness, confusion, disillusionment, spiritual laziness, and other opportune times. We must be aware of satan’s strategies and well-timed attacks.  Spiritual Warfare and Kairos Prayers Another subject in Scripture where the use of kairos  is extremely important is prayer. Hebrews 4:16 tells us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”  (KJV). While we know we are always welcome in the throne room of heaven, that is not the primary point of this verse. “Time” here is kairos,  not chronos.  God is telling us in this passage that we have a faithful and merciful High Priest, and we can approach Him boldly in our strategic times of need. The Amplified Classic translates the verse,  “ Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].” Wow! Ephesians 6, a chapter on spiritual warfare, is another passage where this distinction is important. Ephesians 6:18 says that we are to “be on the alert  . . . for all the saints ” and “ pray at all times [kairos] in the Spirit .” God is not telling us here to pray all the time, which would be chronos , and would also be impossible. He is saying to pray at all strategic times (kairos ). In other words, if we are alert for one another – in this spiritual war with the powers of darkness – Holy Spirit will warn us of the well-timed ( kairos ) attacks of the enemy. We can then pray, creating boundaries (one of the meanings of paga , the Hebrew word for intercession), a protective hedge, around the person. One morning, way back in 1978, (I was 10 😊) as I was praying the Lord gave me a vision. I saw a rattlesnake coiled at my dad’s feet. I did not yet know the meaning of kairos , but I knew this was a warning. I spent about 15 minutes or so praying earnestly for his protection until I felt a release, a peace. I knew whatever danger was coming his way involving a rattlesnake had been dealt with. The next day he called me – he was in Florida, I was in Texas – and said, “You’ll never guess what happened yesterday. I almost stepped on a coiled rattlesnake in the shed. Fortunately, I saw it in time.” I said to Dad, “Yeah, I know.” Surprised, he asked, “How did you know?” “I saw it in a vision,” I responded, “and prayed for your protection. You owe me.” (I didn’t really say the part about him owing me. I acted really humble and said something to the effect of, “Praise God” or “Glory be to God.” You know how we do it.) In these strategic times of spiritual warfare, it is important that we stay alert for one another. Be sensitive to the promptings of Holy Spirit; when someone comes to mind, pray for them. They may need protection from harm, strength against temptation, or wisdom to deal with an important decision. This could be for a child, a parent, a friend, or the president. Yes, pray regularly  for those in your family and for our government leaders. But also be alert for the kairos  warnings; when they come, pray. Pray with me: Father, there are times ( chronos ) to pray, and then there are times ( kairos ) to pray. As we walk with You and learn Your ways, teach us also to hear Your voice and recognize Your promptings. Holy Spirit is our Guide, our Counselor, our Helper. We want to be sensitive to His voice and instructions. We know that in life there are accidents, things that happen because of people‘s carelessness or mistakes, and there are also spiritually caused attacks, orchestrated by satan. Help us to do as You instructed in Ephesians 6, being alert to Holy Spirit’s promptings, so we can pray for others as You lead. And we pray now regarding any attacks planned against our government officials. We ask for protection over the Justices on our Supreme Court, members of Congress, and President Trump and his Cabinet. Expose terrorists and violent criminals in our nation. Thwart their evil plans. We also pray for our spiritual leaders, those on the front lines of this spiritual warfare. Please protect them from evil, temptation, sickness, and disease. All of these things we pray in the name of our overcoming Lord and Savior, Jesus.  Our decree:  We decree that we are alert intercessors, always on our posts, and will recognize the warnings and prompting of Holy Spirit.  Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 1411. Ibid, ref. no. 1849. Ibid, ref. no. 5550. Ibid, ref. no. 2540.

Introduction My friend Larry Tomczak, a leader in the historic Jesus People Revolution, author, and true father in the body of Christ, released a powerful exhortation to the church. Larry exhorts us to rejoice in what the Lord has done, but also diligently  press forward. The title is: Looking Back/Looking Forward  (with God’s Gift of Mercy to America)   “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”  (Isaiah 43:18–19).  Fifty years ago a struggling Sly Stallone watched a boxing match, wrote a script (in 3 days!), then made the movie, Rocky, for $1 million. It grossed $235 million worldwide, and Stallone made five more movies with the character! I recently watched it again, allowing it to inspire me in this historic moment. We can follow Rocky’s example – he looked back briefly then moved forward purposefully.  This is what God intends for us in this supernatural reset of seeing America restored to alignment with the Founders’ vision, and to the values of our Creator. “The Golden Age of America begins right now” is how our President put it in the opening sentence of his inaugural message to America.  Our children and our grandchildren will now be rescued from the insidious progressive ideology that brought the decline of America. Imagine if we had just endured an inauguration of President Kamala Harris… The opening Scripture says not to dwell on (linger on) the past - God is doing a “new thing!” Learn lessons from the past, but “get back in the ring” and embrace the opportunities God is giving. Satanic forces are not going to exit the arena; their goal is still to diminish Christian influence and promote evil.  Miracle Mile  One of the most iconic sporting races in world history was the 1954 mile competition between England’s Roger Bannister and Australia’s John Landy. Both had previously broken the 4-minute mile barrier and were pitted against each other, with 35,000 watching. The first issue of “Sports Illustrated” launched with this famous race. With 90 yards to go, Landy was heading for victory, but looked back, lost momentum, and Banister burst forward to win 3:58.8 to 3:59.6. Today, in what can become one of the most transformational presidencies since Lincoln and Reagan, we must not look back, as though the race is won. Yes, we should understand and give God glory for what we’ve been rescued from, but then we must focus forward, praying and engaging in sharing truth amidst 2025’s palpable optimism. “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, let’s press on for the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. All of us who are mature should be like minded”  (Philippians 3:14-15). Looking Back on 15 Catastrophes   We are beginning a turnaround in our nation, so give thanks to God as we put behind us… The scandalous cover up of Biden in office while mentally impaired.  The Biden Administration leaving Trump with a “mess” as his policies bring ongoing damage for years. He departs office with America culturally, morally, economically, globally and militarily weaker.  The entrance of 15 million unvetted illegal immigrants allowed into America, including scores of terrorists, child smugglers, sex traffickers and criminals (not just “unfortunate children” as a pro-LGBTQ liberal bishop said in an attempt to humiliate President Trump).  The death sentences of 37 death row murderers being commuted, and granting “pre-emptive last-minute pardons” to family and friends.  The aggressive promotion of abortion ’til birth, paid for with taxpayer money, and calling it “reproductive health care.”  Obscene spending, which exploded our national debt to record levels (e.g. spending $100 million tax dollars on DEI!). “If we don’t get this debt under control, the economy is going to collapse!” - Janet Yellen, Treasury Secretary.  The shameless pushing of radical trans insanity & the LGBTQ agenda in schools/sports/corporations.  The corruption in our criminal justice system, abusing its authority by suppressing free speech & attacking political candidates (especially Mr. Trump!).  The insulting of Americans by awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to enemies of America devoted to tearing down our values, such as George Soros.  The weakening of America, even as China grew more aggressive and Putin became more destructive, with feeble Biden “asleep at the helm.”  The use of “Lawfare” to attack peaceful pro-lifers, parents in schools and soldiers in service.  The mislabeling of Jan. 6 rioting as “insurrection,” even though Trump said, “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capital to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” (Thousands of people rioting in 574 George Floyd riots in 200 cities, taking lives and costing billions, was dismissed as “peaceful protests.”)  The unmitigated disaster of the Afghanistan exit (lives lost plus $80 billion of military equipment left to terrorists).  In summary, Biden departed leaving our nation demoralized, divided and deceived.  We should offer praise to God that a horrible chapter can be put behind us. Like Rocky, we can give ourselves one last look back as we get into the ring, resolving not to squander our reprieve.  Going Forward with Hope and Vision  Goodbye to a Government gone astray! Our appeal to heaven is for God’s grace and guidance as we declare “In God We Trust!” As God-fearing, patriotic, traditional Americans we pledge to pray for our leaders, engage courageously as we share the gospel and truth, and believe for a third Great Awakening!  Undergirded by our prayers, the actions of the Trump team have said, “We’re done with the show, we’re closing the curtain, buckle up!” Our newly inaugurated president has signed over 100 executive orders, taking action with his experienced and competent Cabinet. One bold and decisive order declares the Federal Government will no longer recognize “trans” men or women.  There is a supernatural shift, changing the mood in America. It’s time for realignment. God has been merciful to us, and there is fresh vision, hope and determination to purge the poison of militant wokeism, deceptive socialism and [the true meaning of] DEI: Discrimination, Exclusion and Indoctrination.  Let’s unify and see America great again for the glory of God!  Turnaround Time  We are part of an historical reset and transformational presidency, similar to the “morning in America” when Reagan was elected after the disastrous Carter years.  This is not a time to retreat, but to speak out exposing harmful policies and ideologies regarding critical issues. Together we will remain tenacious, proclaiming truth via all the vehicles God has given us. We are “Sons of Issachar who understand the times and know what to do”  (1 Chronicles 12:32).  We will “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12), not combatively, but “contending for the faith” (Jude 3). (We know that we have to reach this next generation on their phones. That’s why 16 top Christian leaders did the 30 Bullseye videos  FREE and “on demand” to equip us in confidently and courageously addressing today’s “hot button” issues.) Here’s the Deal: God gave us a reprieve. Let’s seize this gift for His glory and as Rocky said, “Go for it!”  “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abound in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain”  (1 Corinthians 15:58). Pray with me: Father, we have come to an intersection in this journey toward seeing America restored. We are truly grateful for the turn we see occurring in America, not only in government but in the great numbers of Americans seeing the need for change. The veil is truly being lifted. Please continue to do so. We do, indeed, take the time to look back, not as though the race is finished, and as Larry has articulated, not in bitterness. We do so to learn from the past and rejoice in Your great deliverance. It is also now imperative that we look forward, dedicating ourselves to the opportunity at hand. You have given us a window in which we can begin a true spiritual and national reset.  We ask You for wise strategy to do so. Give wisdom to government leaders as they wrestle with complex issues, and the courage and boldness to do what is right, regardless of the cost. We also ask that wisdom be given to leaders in the church. Bring forth the appropriate messages and insights, bringing the church Your thoughts at this critical time. Bring forth prophetic vision for the future - Your vision. Changes are essential; show us what they are. Help us seize the moment. In Yeshua’s name. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that the church will move forward into the new that God is offering us.  You can find out more about Larry Tomczak at LarryTomczak.com Click on the link below to watch the full video.

God’s Mega Outpouring of Grace One no longer has to wonder at the motives of the Left in their attempts to transform America. Many of them unquestionably want to weaken our nation, if not destroy it. Globalists, at heart, don’t want a strong America and have attacked it on all fronts. Our education system has been a major target. Angela Morabito, former Education Department Press Secretary stated that 30% of 8th graders in America are functionally illiterate. (1)  Leaders who want to stay the course in education with results such as this are not only without love for America, they have none for our kids. Their willingness to castrate them to further a depraved ideology also proves this. Those behind the leftist ideologies WANT the next generation of Americans to be ignorant and psychologically damaged.  Now that thousands of violent illegals have been rounded up and returned to their nations in the first week of the Trump Administration, we are left to wonder why they were here so long. Our government obviously knew they were here and where to find them. The choice of Biden, Mayorkas, and their puppeteers, however, was to allow them to continue stealing, killing, and destroying. And the mainstream media? Are they excitedly reporting this rounding up of violent criminals? Of course not. Those behind the leftist ideologies WANT more crime in America.  One would think all of America would want a strong and fiscally responsible military - not a weak, woke DEI experiment with low morale and a lower enlistment. Especially with the dragon (China) and the bear (Russia) on the prowl for world domination, it would seem critical to have a dominant military. Yet, once again, ideology outweighs strength - those behind the leftist ideology WANT a weak America.  This is why I am grateful beyond words for our new government. They are making great, common sense changes and doing so quickly. God must have the right instruments to use in His saving and restoring: He needs believers to fund and declare His message (Romans 10:14); He used the words of Jeremiah to root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, build and plant (Jeremiah 1:10); Paul was used by God as a wise master builder in the church (1 Corinthians 3:10); and in the context of government, the Lord told us that when rulers operate in His righteousness, cities rejoice (Proverbs 29:2).  As we consider this truth that He uses people to accomplish His plans, we must also remember that those He uses are part of a divine-human partnership. The power and wisdom behind their efforts must come from God; only He can restore and save. Psalm 127:1 will always be true: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain to build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”  This is why we must be faithful in praying for our leaders, and for the changes we need. Too often the church slackens its prayer efforts after elections, subconsciously relying on those they elected for solutions. Consequently, the new leaders lack heaven’s power and wisdom, and the enemy is lurking in the shadows, waiting to attack. We must not make this mistake now. We must continue to pray and declare God’s will, releasing it into the Earth (Matthew 6:9-13). As we do, God will answer us, just as He did the prayers of the church in Acts. “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. 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 spoke the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:29-33) The word “great,” used twice in verse 33, is the Greek word megas . (2)  Our English word “mega” comes from this word. Mega grace brought the early church mega power. Acts 6:8 also speaks of “mega wonders and miracles”; and the miracles mentioned in Acts 8:8 brought “mega joy.” Our great and all-powerful God wants to release mega revival and restoration through us, and it begins with prayer. Let’s do so now.  Pray with me: Father, You are good and Your mercies are new every morning - You start every day with fresh mercy for us. Thank You for not leaving us to perish in our sin, but instead offering Your salvation to us. You are saving and restoring America. Our birth as a nation was linked to the gospel of Jesus Christ; we exist to make Him known. Though we have drifted far from this destiny, You have raised up a people determined to recapture it. We will persevere in our prayers for this.  We are amazed at Your plan of making us partners with You, of allowing us to be Your voice, Your hands, Your feet, and expressions of Your heart. We accept this privilege and ask You to give us more leaders in our nation who will do so. Give us godly and righteous educators, government leaders, parents, business people, and citizens. Give us leaders that fear Your name, honor Your ways, love Your Word, and know Your heart. Restore our nation to You. Give the intercessors here and around the world greater discernment and great endurance. We ask for great grace, resulting in great power, great miracles and great joy. Bring a mega outpouring of the Spirit to the earth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that great grace is being released on the church in this hour.  Click on the link below to watch the full video. Fox News Live, aired Sunday January 26, 2025. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3173.