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[As I have stated before, the Give Him 15 posts must be written and recorded on the workday prior to their release. That means this post was written and recorded on Friday afternoon, before Charlie Kirk’s memorial service on Sunday actually took place. Today’s comments, therefore, are generic; tomorrow I will comment more specifically on the service.] Today’s title is: Backfire! Backfire: “to bring a result opposite to that which was planned or expected.” (1) This past Friday, our U.S. Congress voted to make October 14 a National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk . On Sunday, over 100,000 people gathered in Phoenix to celebrate his life, and millions more around the world joined on live TV and social media; all heard the gospel. Sixty-two thousand (and counting) requests have come to Turning Point to open chapters on campuses across the nation, up from 2000 or so that existed when he was shot. Charlie’s assassination will go down in history as one of the greatest miscalculations of all time. It is safe to say that the bullet of those wanting to silence him was transformed by God into one of history’s greatest megaphones. His death will be used by God to bring millions into His Kingdom; it has become a catalytic event for the Third Great Awakening. Turning Point? I’d say so.  Today, I want to encourage you by looking deeper into what is causing the many dramatic changes we are seeing throughout the world. This Charlie Kirk phenomenon, the landslide victory of Donald Trump to regain the presidency, the loss of popularity for leftist politicians, entertainers, educators, etc. - what is causing all of this? Yes, lion-hearted leaders like Donald Trump and brilliant voices like Charlie Kirk are instrumental, and I would never fail to acknowledge the importance of hard work, good strategies, financial backing, and strong organizations. But great leaders and organizations alone would not have been enough to create these changes. What are some of the causes that have prepared the soil of America for the radical changes we are seeing? The Power of Truth and Common Sense Most Americans know the difference between boys and girls, men and women. They know it is evil to mutilate the bodies of small children after convincing them that their bodies are a mistake. They are simply not as vocal as the crowd that promotes these twisted ideals. Most Americans have enough logic to know how insane it is to have no control over our borders, allowing anyone to come in anytime they want. How absurd. Again, most Americans just want to get along, so they don’t raise a ruckus until millions of illegals pour in. They know how ludicrous socialism and Marxism truly are. They know thieves and violent criminals should be in jail, not walking the streets. It does not require a college education to know all of these things. To the contrary, and sadly, the opposite is now true. Nowadays, colleges are often used to blind people to truth and common sense.  The Power of Freedom Most Americans just want to be left alone. Their independent spirit and thinking, however, can sometimes lead to a lack of involvement in society and culture. They often ignore the crazies and radical voices… until their freedoms are encroached upon at a high enough level. When controlled and pushed around long enough, they rise up and take action. And this sleeping, sometimes complacent “giant” has now been awakened. The insane policies and controls associated with Covid were the last straw. Leftist leaders, globalists, and power-hungry politicians pushed too far, and Americans - led by a freedom-loving, persecuted, uncontrollable patriot and business tycoon - said, “Enough!” The Power of Prayer Using the phrase “the power of prayer” is basically saying “the power of God.” Prayer is the method God uses to release His power and purposes on earth; the two go hand-in-hand. Our “appeals to heaven” have activated the power of heaven, and will continue to do so. God has been able to energize all of the above causes of change because the Ekklesia has stepped forward. We have listened to Holy Spirit, asked for and declared His will and words, and moved in the authority of Jesus, King over all the earth.  As I wait upon the Lord for His leading in writing these  Give Him 15  posts - sometimes for hours - at times I feel the deep gratitude of God towards you who are praying. I clearly hear Him telling me in those times to encourage and thank you. The Lord appreciates what you do and wants you to know you’re making a difference. There would be no Donald Trump presidency and its halting of Marxism; no Charlie Kirk or other great leaders God has and is using to awaken and transform; no Third Great Awakening in America or revival elsewhere around the world - had not people like you grabbed the baton of prayer and begun appealing to heaven. No wonder lying politicians and liberal Christian leaders hate the Appeal To Heaven flag and its message. What it stands for has been and will continue to be their demise. Do not let up, not for a moment. Keep asking, and we will keep on receiving. Keep seeking, and we will keep on finding. Keep knocking, and the door will keep on being opened (Matthew 7:7-8). That is the literal translation of the verbs in these verses, by the way. The Greek tenses bring the continuous meaning into the verbs:  “Keep on asking, and you will keep on receiving,”  etc. His is the kingdom, power, and glory, ours is the asking. Let’s do so now. Pray with me: Father, thank You for the many answers to prayer we are seeing. We sometimes are tempted to lose heart when we don’t see things changing as quickly as we would like. Thank You for reminding us that we reap when we do not faint (Galatians 6:9). We have certainly moved into a phase of reaping. Thank You for warriors like Charlie Kirk, who have made a difference in our lives and nation. We are grateful to him and to his family for the price they paid. However, I also thank You today for those whose prayers enable him and others like him to do great things. The power source of Your kingdom is in prayer closets around the world, not on the platforms. Charlie knew this, and would never have argued otherwise. Our connections with You keep the current flowing. So, today, I pray for intercessors - and faithful believers who pray but would not call themselves intercessors - asking You to encourage them. Give them a deep assurance that they are making a difference. Remind them that Your power is flowing through their words and prayers, Your mercies are being released through their words. They are changing nations, moving mountains, delivering oppressed people, and writing history. They are invaluable to Your kingdom. Remind them of this, please.  All of this we pray, in Jesus’ name. Our decree: We declare that the prayers of God’s people are transforming the earth. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.dictionary.com/

Can These Dry Bones Live? Several years back, the Holy Spirit gave a significant dream to my friend, Pastor Will Ford. Will shares: “In the dream, I was becoming the steward of an 8-year-old boy who had a bad family background. When I asked if he wanted me to take him in, he said, ‘Yes. I had a vision of this related to 222.’ Unlike other dreams, when I awoke, I immediately knew the interpretation. The 222 was 2 Kings 22, where the story of the 8-year-old king Josiah takes place. Josiah also had a bad family background: His father, grandfather, and others before him had been wicked kings. “But Hilkiah, the High Priest of his day, found the book of the law, which contained Israel’s history. Josiah’s life was changed as he read this book. He was touched and moved by God’s past faithfulness, and it appears that when Josiah read about God’s history with David and Israel, something inside him came alive. We’re told,  ‘He did right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the way of his father David’ (2 Kings 22:2). The interesting thing about this is that David was NOT his father. Josiah was thirteen generations removed from David, but in his and God’s hearts, the generational connection was still valid. Revival came to Israel because Josiah removed personal and national idols, and turned the nation back to the God of their father, David. “From my dream, I knew that God was telling me to be like Hilkiah, the priest, and connect the next generation of ‘kings’ with God’s history of revival and faithfulness. Days later, I was given an opportunity to preach during Black History Week at New Beginnings Church in Fort Worth, Texas. The pastor, without knowing the details of my dream, asked me to speak on February 22 – yes, 2/22! Moreover, in Scripture, the number “8,” the ages of Josiah when he became king, and the young boy in my dream, represent new beginnings,  the name of this church. During the meeting, people were saved, and we had a glorious time. For extras, that very day, 2/22, was the birthday of two kids present, one of them an 8-year-old and the other a 16-year-old!  “There is a new beginning of kings and priests coming in our day, Josiah’s. God is going to connect them with what He did through the Son of David, Jesus, causing them to discover their destiny and birth the future. Their connection with Him will empower – not only personal – but also national destinies, just as it did with Josiah.” A Josiah generation is about to arise. They will not all literally be eight-year-olds, of course, but they will be young. God is going to awaken them to who they are, a generation destined by Him to change the world. Thousands of them have been saved in the last week, thousands more will be saved this Sunday afternoon as they watch Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. It is not the memory of Charlie that will save them, but the Savior Charlie served.  The radical way in which God used Charlie Kirk’s life, and is using his death, is prophetic of what He is about to do throughout the earth: a Josiah generation is about to be used to change the world. My challenge to all of us today is that Hilkiah’s will be needed. Someone will have to help them find “the book,” for it is there that they will find their purpose and destiny. Centuries ago, Ezekiel was given a vision of dry bones filling a valley. These skeletons represented the spiritual condition of Israel, apostate and spiritually dead. (see Ezekiel 37:1-10). God asked the prophet a question, “Can these bones live?” The answer came in the form of a demonstration. The prophet was told to prophesy life over them, releasing the breath of life. Through a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the “dry bones” were resurrected and became a great army.  America has certainly become a nation filled with “dry bones,” millions upon millions who are spiritually dead. Can such a resurrection occur in our nation today? Can’t you just hear the aching heart of a passionate God asking His covenant friends, “Can these dry bones live?” There are another three or four billion spiritual skeletons scattered throughout the earth: young and old, gay and straight, gangbangers and corporate execs, rich and poor, liberals and conservatives, left and right, and every other segment of society you can mention. They are hungry and thirsty, looking for something to satisfy their misidentified cravings; they’re spiritually dead, but looking for life.  And yes, they can live! Pray with me: Father, let Your passions erupt now in us, that we may declare Your works to future generations. And through our agreement with these generations, bring about a synergy so powerful that it heals and transforms nations. Break false ideologies, humanistic thinking, confusion, and deception off of millions of Josiah’s in every school, college, and university.  We speak to the dry bones of the earth and declare that death is being broken, and new life is being released! Breath is coming to them, and they will live! An army of Josiahs and Hilkiahs is on the way! Release generational blessings, and cut off curses from millions. We ask that future generations in our families would know Christ, that those yet to be created may praise You. Give them a sense of destiny at an early age, just as eight-year-old Josiah possessed. And give us a history with You to pass on to them. And we pray for the gathering in Arizona this upcoming Sunday to honor the life and memory of Charlie Kirk. Give words of wisdom and truth to his pastor, Rob McCoy, and others who share. Use their words to bring comfort, strength, and grace to millions. Let the gospel be clear and powerfully anointed – You said the gospel is what releases Your power to bring salvation. Release it this Sunday. Save a million people through this service; awaken many more from spiritual slumber. All of this we ask in Jesus’ name, amen. Our decree: We declare that YES, these dry bones will live! Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Superabounding Grace “… so that no advantage would be taken of us by satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. .”  (2 Corinthians 2:11) God’s Word tells us in this verse that ignorance or a lack of knowledge concerning satan’s methods and tactics gives him an advantage. The Greek word used here for “advantage” actually conveys a stronger meaning. The word is pleonekteo,  which is a compound word meaning literally “to have or hold the greater portion” ( pleon —“more, the greater part”; echo —“have or hold”). (1)  It is easy to see why this is a word for “covet.” It also means “overreach.” (2)   In the sport of boxing, the person with the longer reach has the “advantage” and usually lands more blows. This word is also translated “make a gain”; satan makes a lot of gains on those who are unaware of his ways. Bullinger says it means “to make a prey of, to defraud.” (3)   Satan, the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), is always “coveting” more: more people, more power and authority, more territory on earth, more control of people’s minds and actions. Not only is he a thief, He is also spoken of as one who kills  and destroys:  satan wants to cause more violence, more pain, more death and destruction. These things flow from his nature, from who he is.  A form of this same word, pleon,  is used in another verse to describe the actions of satan. Romans 5:20 tells us that  “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” The “abounding” of sin spoken of here is pleonazo: more, increasing, multiplying sin. Whether it be destruction, pain, violence, or just sin, generally speaking, satan wants more. The second use of “abound” in this verse, however, referring to God’s grace, comes from an entirely different Greek word. It is unfortunate that some translations use the same English word to translate them. When they do so, the full meaning is missed.  The Great Bible teacher and Greek scholar, Rick Renner, points this out far better than I could. Before he mentions the word, he begins by describing a time when strong attacks of persecution and violence were occurring in the nation where he pastored. The city was in a political upheaval. A bomb actually exploded so close to his residence that his house shook. Yet, in the midst of this, the Lord told them to expand, to launch out into new steps of faith. All logic said this was ridiculous, but the Lord kept instructing them to do so, telling him, “Dig in deeper! Keep pressing forward! Don’t let up for one minute! This is a perfect opportunity for the Gospel message to be spread even further!” Renner says:  “Right in the middle of all that chaos, we watched as God poured out His grace on us. Although it was a dangerous and difficult time, it was also a glorious moment to be serving in the Kingdom of God! God began to do marvelous new things in the nation where we lived. In that troublesome hour, people were open and hungry to know more about the things of God. They wanted answers and were willing to listen. As a result, people were saved; spiritual darkness was pushed back in people’s lives; and the Gospel was spread further than ever before! As God moved mightily in the nation, that very dark, precarious moment became a spiritually bright time as many were led into the Kingdom of God.” (4) Then Renner gives the biblical explanation. “This simultaneous operation of darkness and grace made me think of Romans 5:20, which says, ‘…Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.’ The word “abounded” that Paul uses to describe this abundance of sin comes from the Greek word pleonazo,  which simply means “more.” It denotes something that exists in abundance. The Greek tense describes an abundance that is growing larger and more expansive with the passing of time. The implication is that sin is never stagnant but continually grows, increases, and expands. This means Romans 5:20 could be translated,  ‘Where sin exists in abundance and is multiplying and constantly expanding….’ This describes the growing nature of unrestrained sin. “But Paul doesn’t stop there! He goes on to say,  ‘…Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.’  The words “much more abound” are from the Greek word huperperisseo , which describes something that is  growing out of measure, beyond proportion, and out of its banks to a far-stretched extreme.  It is like a giant river that is being flooded with water from upstream. Those waters are coming downstream so fast that the river can no longer hold the raging current in its banks. Its water rises, rises, and rises until it finally begins pouring out of its banks and begins to flood everything in sight. This is exactly the idea of the word Paul uses when he says,  ‘…Grace did much more abound.’ “This means Romans 5:20 could be interpreted: ‘For wherever sin exists in abundance and is multiplying and constantly expanding, that is precisely the time and place where grace is poured out in a far greater, surpassing quantity.’” (5) Incredible. Kenneth Wuest’s literal translation of the New Testament words this verse:  “But where the sin was augmented, the grace superabounded with more added to that.”  An endless, superabundant, never-ending supply of grace. Renner went on to say: “Regardless of where we live and what we are facing — regardless of how bad the situation around us looks to our natural eyes — the grace of God is flowing downstream, and God is lavishly pouring it forth in abundant measure! In fact, it is impossible for us to imagine, measure, or even dream of the amount of divine grace God is sending in our direction. No banks can hold the flood of grace He is sending our way! It isn’t just ‘a lot’ of grace; it is more, more, more, and much more grace! The flood of grace will always far surpass the flood of sin and darkness! “So when a situation looks bad, as it did so many years ago when we were living amid troublesome times in our part of the world, don’t be too surprised if you hear God’s Spirit say, ‘Pour it on! Keep it up! Don’t stop for a minute! Keep pressing ahead! It is in dark and difficult moments like these that I love to work the most! This is when My grace super-exceeds the darkness of the world. Wherever sin and darkness abound is where I really pour out My grace!’” (6)             We are seeing this fulfilled before our very eyes here in America. Satan, the thief and destroyer who is always coveting more; the one who divides with hatred and bitterness, promoting violence and murder; he who causes sin to abound, is desperately trying to stop what God is doing. And yet, the grace of God is overwhelming his actions EVERYWHERE. Grace is superabounding, with more added to that! Because of this, love will win, not hate; peace will win, not violence; the gospel will win, not the voice of evil. So, as Holy Spirit spoke through Rick Renner, “Pour it on! Keep it up! Don’t stop for a minute! Keep pressing ahead! It is in dark and difficult moments like these that I love to work the most!” Pray with me: Father, God of superabundant, mega grace (Acts 4:33), we clearly see Your cascading river of life flowing into our nation, as well as to other nations. It is flowing downstream from heaven to earth so fast that the riverbed can no longer hold the powerful current. The water is rising and rising, pouring out of its banks and flooding everything in sight. We ask for this to increase even more, and more, and more.  In 2001, You showed me this river of life, this revival fire, blazing across the campuses of our nation…an unstoppable, raging, holy fire of revival. This has begun, now we ask You for more. Give us more of Your superabundant grace, bringing superabundant salvation, overcoming satan‘s inferior power of sin and death. We agree with Your statement to me in that vision, “Nothing can stop this. Nothing.” Our decree: We declare that where sin abounds, grace SUPERABOUNDS! Click on the link below to watch the full video. Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary  (Iowa Falls, IA: Word Bible Publishers, 1992), p. 1173.  James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible  (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 4122. Ethelbert W. Bullinger, A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament  (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975),  p. 28.  https://renner.org/article/where-sin-abounds-grace-much-more-abounds/   Ibid. Ibid.

God is Looking for Companionship - YOURS! God is misunderstood by many. Perceived as distant, He is often ignored. Considered judgmental and legalistic, He is thought by some to be intimidating and one to steer clear of. And mistakenly thought of by His children as one who likes hearing how great He is, God is praised. Now that I have your attention… Please don’t misunderstand me. Giving praise to God is obviously good and appropriate. It is our reason  for doing so that needs some tweaking. God does not need to be reminded of His greatness or strength. He is not narcissistic, needing to be told how wonderful He is in order to satisfy an inflated ego, nor is He insecure, needing to be reassured that He really is awesome. Some people actually believe that praise motivates God to action in order to demonstrate His power - tell Him He’s great and He will fight for you. Others think He can be bought or manipulated, rewarding us with His presence because our praises have made Him feel good. There are many misguided ideas about praise and worship. The truth is, God neither  needs  nor is He  seeking  worship. He IS, however, seeking worshipers (John 4:23).  The difference is immeasurable. WE ARE the worship. God longs for the singer, not the song. Our heart as a worshiper is what makes our singing worship, not the words and music. He’d rather have a love-filled glance from your eyes than a song parroted from your lips. When my kids were young and anxiously waited for Daddy to return home from work, they didn’t meet me at the door with a song. They leaped into my arms and gave me a big hug. When God created us, He made kids not a choir; family members not church members. He wants love, not liturgy. Far too often, our worship is simply a segment of a service, rather than a time to become intimate with Father God. Most church attendees do not understand that God is a lover as well as a Lord. And it was not His “Lord” nature that prompted Him to create us. Had that been God’s desire, He could have made a few billion more angels. It was His “love” nature, His “Abba” heart, that motivated God to create us. Jesus, who came to earth not only to redeem us but to show us what God is truly like (John 14:9), provided a great glimpse of the Father‘s heart in John, chapter 4. A loose-living, five-time divorced, currently shacked-up, societal outcast met a man interested in her heart, not her body.  Left alone with her at a well while His disciples went looking for food, Jesus first shocked this woman by breaking Jewish protocol and engaging her in conversation. Based on the ensuing dialogue, it seems obvious that He knew her lifestyle from the moment He saw her. It also seems obvious that He intended to change it. "Go, call your husband and come here," He said to her. “I have no husband,” the woman answered Him. Then, in His inimitable, supernatural way, Jesus cut to the chase.  “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly”  (John 4:16-18). The Lord wasn’t saying this to condemn the woman but to get her attention and begin revealing who He actually was. He had seen something more than lust for sensual pleasure when looking into this woman’s soul; He saw a thirsty heart and potential worshiper. Knowing He would first have to lead her out of the blinding fog of non-relational religion and past the stumbling block of racial division, Jesus ignored her question about where  she should worship and went straight to how: “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain or in Jerusalem will you worship the Father…An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.’“  (John 4:21-24) Jesus went to the heart of the matter, shifting the concept of worship from the place  to the person, which was a radical paradigm shift in her day. I’m sure she had never thought about this, and certainly not that God was actually seeking worshipers. “He’d like you to be one” was the obvious invitation. She was hooked. That God might actually be seeking her companionship was beyond this woman's wildest dreams. How could He possibly want her? But He did. In one moment, her shame was broken, and joy filled her heart. It feels good to be wanted for the right reasons. This new worshiper was so excited, she ran and told her village about Jesus, and they, too, ended up believing in Him. Jesus was too excited to eat! When the disciples returned, they were amazed that He was speaking with this immoral woman. Jesus was impervious to their shock, however, and completely unconcerned about His reputation. His excitement about transforming lives and finding true worshipers was far greater than any concern over His reputation. On one occasion, He actually allowed a prostitute to enter a person’s home and, while they ate, bathe His feet with her tears (Luke 7:36-50). In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees wouldn’t eat with “sinners” or allow them into their homes (Mark 2:16). Awkward!  But not to Jesus. He was on a search for true worshipers, and their pasts weren’t an issue with Him, only their hearts. Christ is still seeking true worshipers today. If the God you’ve been shown is distant, uncaring, stoic, or enamored with Himself, you've been duped. The true God is passionate, caring, a lover of people, and a seeker of companionship – yours. (1) Pray with me: Father, there are many “outcasts” You will draw to Yourself in the coming revival. You are not shocked by people’s sin, their past. And You do not find it difficult to welcome them into Your family. Keep us reminded of this as we represent You. Help us to see hearts, not the outer shell.  And help us make the coming movement a “worshiper” movement. We love to sing, to speak of Your greatness, Your power, Your love, and this is good. Remind us, however, that only when this emanates from the heart does it become true worship and bring You pleasure. Remind us that You are seeking the worshiper, not acclaim. It’s love from Your kids that brings You joy, not flattery; relationship, not religion.  Tens of thousands are now going to churches trying to find You. Please lead them in this process. Keep them from stale religion, legalism, and traditionalism; lead them to passion, fire, and intimacy with You. Help them find places where they won’t be judged for their past, but loved and accepted. Satisfy their hungry hearts. All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that, like the woman at the well, the thirsty are finding their way to the river of living water.  Today’s post was taken from my book, The Pleasure of His Company. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company  (Bloomington, MN: Bethany House Publishers); adapted from portions of chapter 2.

Don’t Wait; Prepare for Revival NOW In this past Friday’s post  entitled The Danger of Identity Politics , I stated, “The assassination of Charlie Kirk will now galvanize a movement. He is now a far greater threat to those who hated him than he ever dreamed of being when he was alive on earth. The love of God and country that Charlie possessed – and so infectiously transmitted – will multiply. That which he played a significant role in birthing, will now grow and mature into adulthood. This cannot be stopped – the seed is in the ground, and will be nurtured by God.”  Later that day, in an incredibly brave and strong statement, Charlie’s wife, Erika, said of his killer and those who may have been involved, “You have no idea what you have unleashed.” I have known that the great revival God spoke of to me several years ago – and I’m sure to many others – has begun. I also knew it was in its early stages and that somehow a momentum shift would be coming soon. I had no idea whatsoever that it would be through an event like this. Who could have guessed that one man’s martyrdom would light the fuse of worldwide revival? But it has, and it will not be stopped. That is what the Lord spoke to me the week of 9/11/01 when He gave me a vision of this upcoming revival. As I saw the outpouring, blazing with uncontrollable holy fire on campuses all over the nation, He said, “This will not be stopped. I am coming to rescue a generation with the greatest revival in world history.” Yesterday, a pastor friend of mine, Randy Lopshire, reminded me of a conversation we had a couple of years ago regarding changes the Lord was working within the church, preparing it for the coming harvest of young people. Randy said: “I shared with you a word that Holy Spirit gave me a few years ago about two waves of spiritual harvest coming. The Lord said the first wave of harvest would be a ‘harvest of harvesters.’ “Holy Spirit said, ‘These are those from Gen Z, to whom I have already been speaking in their hearts, “priming the pump,” though most have had no idea it was even happening.’ The Lord then said, ‘I have also been preparing an element of My church to receive them, a people having no hint of religiosity they would have to encounter when they get there.’ “Randy said the Lord told him this first wave of harvest would grow in the things of God VERY quickly and, in turn, be sent right back out to reap the ‘BIG world-wide harvest of lost and hurting.’” Randy added, “We’d been praying over and processing that word for about a year when one Sunday, Gina Gholston happened to be attending our service and heard me reference the word. She came to me afterwards and said she’d had a dream the night before where she was looking out from the loft of a barn. Someone approached her and said, ‘What you’re looking at is not the harvest…It’s a “harvest of harvesters.”’ “I woke up this morning around 2:00 A.M.,” Randy said, “and was reminded of that dream. Just before I went to bed, I’d heard several people comment that on this past Sunday, masses of young people attended church all over the world. “The Lord said to me, ‘This is the first wave!’” Make no mistake: this is not about Charlie Kirk. And he would say the same thing if he were able to speak to us. It’s not about his popularity, though he was tremendously popular. It’s not about his incredible intellect and abilities, though he possessed those as well. This is supernatural. God has orchestrated and prepared the hearts of millions for what He’s about to do, and He used Charlie’s tragic death to light the fuse. The Lord Himself is overseeing the process, and that is why it will not end. My advice to the church: GET READY!! Prepare now! Some believers have been preparing their hearts for this revival, even making practical preparations, but others have not. Wake up and see what is coming!!! Yes, there will be opposition; there may be more martyrs here in America, just as there are now in other nations. But this will not stop what God is doing; a generation is being raised up who will love not their lives, even unto death (Revelation 12:11). Just like Charlie, they will gladly pay whatever price is necessary for the cause of Christ. The greatest world-changing generation the world has ever seen is now being raised up. This is what people mean when they say “There will be a million more Charlie Kirks.” They are not saying that people will try to emulate his gifts and methods, but that they will follow his example of commitment, boldness, fearlessness, love for Christ and His cause.  Do not be distracted by those who spew hate and mock Charlie’s death. Stay focused on the cause, the mission. Even as you process pain and anger, do not allow bitterness and hatred to overtake your heart. Jesus said of those who “martyred” Him, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do,” (Luke 23:34). Early church martyr, Stephen, when the stones were pummeling his body, followed his Master’s example and forgave his murderers (Acts 7:60). We must realize that those people and millions of others have been lied to by dishonest leaders in government, education, and media – both on TV and on social media platforms. They’ve been convinced of things about God and Christians that simply aren’t true. The Lord will bring His light to this and His salvation to many of them. We are about to see Isaiah 60:1-4 (KJV) fulfilled: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.” Light. Glory. Life. Get ready! Pray with me: Father, we ask You once again to heal hurting hearts across America and the earth. We pray especially for the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. Cause the grief to pass through them gently, infused with Your comfort and grace. Jesus endured the Cross because of the joy it would bring Him later (Hebrews 12:2). Enable Charlie’s friends and family to look beyond the pain and see the good You will bring from His death. We know this will not eliminate the pain, but it will infuse them with hope, purpose, and comfort. And Father, You told us in Scripture that when we recognized it was time for spiritual rain, the outpouring of Holy Spirit, we were to ask You for it (Zachariah 10:1). It is time, and we are asking: Send the rain! A deluge of spiritual rain, released upon the dry bones of the earth, giving them light and life. We know we’re about to see a fulfillment of Ezekiel 37 – bring it!!! And we pray for the church. Prepare us further to deal with the harvest that has begun and is increasing. Give us wineskins capable of accepting – not only the excitement – but the problems and changes that come with millions of newborns. And deliver us from all religiosity. The generation coming to You will not want religion, systems, and formalities; they will want to be introduced to YOU and Your ways. Give us great wisdom and flexible wineskins. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the wind of Holy Spirit is now blowing on the dry bones of the earth, giving them life. (Ezekiel 37) Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Introduction As we continue to grieve over the loss of our dear brother Charlie Kirk, it’s important that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and hold on to hope. Hebrews 6:19 tells us,  “ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…”  While on earth, Jesus was also acquainted with grief and knows how to heal us. Listen to today’s post and allow Him to begin healing your heart and your soul. Our title is: We Must Play Hope’s Song  People sometimes refer to their difficult times as “winter seasons.” There is a powerful picture associated with this in Ezekiel 47. The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision of the River of Life flowing from God’s presence. The river produced life and healing everywhere it went. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for “river” in the passage is nachal , and it means “a stream, especially a winter torrent” (1) (italics mine). This meaning doesn’t refer to when it flows, but what causes the river. Some streams and rivers dry up during certain parts of the year. They are refilled, however, when there is rain or, as in this case, the spring thaw melts the winter snow and ice on the mountains. Tiny rivulets develop, coming together to form larger flows, then streams, and eventually, becoming nachalim  (rivers). (2)  Though Ezekiel’s “winter river” began as a trickle in verse 1, it eventually became a mighty, unfordable river by verse 5. Indeed, God’s healing river often begins as a trickle. We can be confident, however, that it will deepen; God will use the snow and ice of our winter season to bring to us a deep flow of His healing power. Our season will change.  For those who are confused and disillusioned… For the heart grieving from pain and loss… For those who have been rejected by the world, who are heartsick with hope deferred… …your season will change! The warmth of spring will do its work, and summer is coming. Thank God winter seasons don’t last forever. The river of healing will flow to us, and we will drink of its healing power.  As the following story states, there is a song of hope inside you, and you must sing. One night, a discouraged man in London was on his way to drown himself. At that moment, his life did not seem worth living. As he walked along the street, he stopped and looked at a painting in a shop window. It was George Frederic Watt’s Hope  - a woman, blindfolded, sitting on top of the world, holding a harp with but one string. Yet still hoping and believing the instrument will make music, she is ready to play it. The man, as he stood looking at that painting, said to himself: “Well, I have one string - I have a little boy at home.” So he returned home to his son. (3) When you feel there is nothing left, look again. The prophet Habakkuk said the flock might be dead and gone, there may be no fruit in the orchard, and the hillsides might be bare. But still, “I will exult in the Lord,” he said. “I will rejoice in the God of my salvation”  (Habakkuk 3:17-18). There was music possible yet! And there is still music in our nation. We must play hope’s song, even in the dark night of the soul. Job, in his hellish suffering, said the Lord “gives songs in the night”  (Job 35:10). David, during his time of exile, said, “His song will be with me in the night” (Psalm 42:8). Paul and Silas, beaten, bleeding and in chains,  “about midnight…were praying and singing hymns of praise to God” (Acts 16:25). There is hope in the night, and there is music in our broken nation. Do not give up! A passage in the Song of Solomon speaks of the end of a winter season: “My beloved responded and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along. ‘For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, and the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. The fig tree has ripened its figs, and the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along!’” (2:10-13) Working Things Together for Good Psalm 51 was written by a man experiencing hope deferred. King David had lost his first love connection with God, which resulted in sin and a winter season. The following prayer he offered was answered:  “God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life…Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!”  (vv. 10, 12, MSG) God wants to do that for America and for you. A fresh start…a Genesis week…out of exile…a fresh wind - that’s what He wants for us. A well-known verse in Romans speaks of God taking our pain, hurts, and destruction and bringing good from them. It is actually one of the most famous verses in the entire Bible: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”  (8:28). This verse packs an even greater power than most people realize. The phrase “work together” is from the Greek word sunergeo , from which we get the English words synergy and synergism . Synergism is “the working together of two or more to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects.” (4)  In choosing this word, God is promising He will take all of the bad, all of the pain, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy our faith - “all things” - and then put Himself in the mix, infusing the evils with His miraculous power.  I will synergize with them,  He says,  and the good in Me will overpower the bad in them.  Amazing! Disappointment, plus pain and loss, are transformed into something good when God’s river of healing enters. Believing in this truth is part of restoring hope.   When complimented on her homemade biscuits by Dr. Harry Ironside, the cook responded, “Just consider what goes into the making of these biscuits. By itself, the flour doesn’t taste good; neither does the baking powder, nor the shortening, nor any other ingredient. However, when I mix them all together and put them in the oven, they’re transformed. They come out just right.” Much of life can taste bad. But God is able to combine these “ingredients” of our life in such a way that when He is finished, the result is good. (5) God is going to send His nachal  river to America. It is rising, even now. He will heal, save, and restore. Keep your appeals strong - they are saving our land. Pray with me: Father, grief does not contradict or negate faith. We pray for Your comfort to those experiencing unspeakable pain. We pray for Charlie Kirk’s wife Erika, their sweet children, and extended family. Hold them near to your heart and comfort them. And we pray for so many others across our nation who loved and respected Charlie and his message. And though we grieve for our broken nation, we believe You are coming to release Your river of healing. Yes, we have been in an icy winter. Without a doubt, there is no hope for us but You. However, You are merciful and do not abandon people or nations in their times of wandering. Your heart is always to redeem, and our hope is in You.  Bring the awakening we cry out for. Bring Your warmth and thaw frozen hearts until the winter in America is over and the river of Your healing flows with its full force.  Strengthen the intercessors. Keep them strong, hope-filled, and full of faith. Remind them that You bring good even out of evil and can even use the plans of evil people to do so, just as You did for Joseph. We draw on You for strength, and we will persevere in our prayers. We ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the level of God’s healing river is rising, and He will heal our land. Today’s post was taken from my book Give Him 15, An Appeal to Heaven Devotional, Volume 3. Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. s.v. OT:5158, “nachal.” James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990. s.v. OT:5158, “nachalim.” Oden, Marilyn B. 100 Meditations on Hope. Upper Room Books, 1995. p. 72. “Synergism Definition & Meaning.” Dictionary.com , https://www.dictionary.com/browse/synergism . Accessed 16 July 2024. (Accessed October 2, 2013). Adapted from Edward K. Powell, Fresh Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching . Baker Book House, 1997. p. 118.

The Danger of Identity Politics  The assassination of Charlie Kirk will galvanize a movement. He is now a far greater threat to those who hated him than he ever was when alive. The love of God and country that Charlie possessed – and so infectiously transmitted – will multiply. That which he played a significant role in birthing, will now grow and mature into adulthood. This cannot be stopped – the seed is in the ground, and will be nurtured by God and by those who take up his baton.  When the news came to me that he had been shot, I was actually writing this post on the dangers of “identity politics.” It is certainly not wrong to disagree and vigorously debate policy differences; our nation was founded in part on this freedom. The danger comes when one side begins dishonestly labeling the other, calling them nazis, racists, fascists, etc., in attempts to gain or hold power. At this time in our nation, conservatives are routinely accused of hating those who disagree with them, of wanting to hurt others, of believing in tyranny, and even of being comparable to Hitler. Those who lead in this sinister evil know these accusations aren’t true, but with the help of a biased and dishonest media, they continue to spread the lies, propagating fear, hatred, and sadly, violence. This dividing of our nation for the sake of power - identity politics - is insidiously evil. The subject of race is a prime example. America had made great progress in the last 50 years in ending racism and accomplishing peace – if not harmony – even electing a black president. But many on the Left knew this ending of racial strife created the possibility of them losing a voting block they desperately needed. Therefore, they made conscious attempts to divide us, sowing seeds of distrust and creating illusions of victimization, saying that all white people were racist, power-hungry bigots, wanting to victimize blacks. If you tell someone long enough that they are a victim, chances are they will eventually believe it. The result? Distrust. Fear. Resentment. Anger. Hatred. And eventually, violence: victims will at some point fight back. America is now as racially divided as we were in the 1960s before the civil rights movement.   The division is so strong that on the day of his death, some members of Congress actually screamed in anger and protest over the suggestion that there be a prayer for Charlie Kirk and his family. It doesn’t get any sicker than that. Identity politics and the hatred it fosters are simply evil. The Bible tells us there are seven things God hates; one of which is this divisive spirit: “Haughty eyes, A lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who declares lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers”  (Proverbs 6:17-19 NASB). The New International Version of Scripture words the last of these as,  “a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Identity politics. Verse 16 tells us that not only does God hate these things, but they are an “abomination” to Him. The Hebrew word used also means “disgusting” and “abhorrent.” The actions of those who create division and strife among brothers are disgusting to the Lord. What an indictment. To be clear, diversity itself is not the problem. Having said this, I will always, to the best of my ability, agree with Scripture, as I believe it is infallible. In that regard, I readily admit to being a presuppositionist. However, people are different, our experiences shape our perspectives, and there will always be disagreements. But unity does not require uniformity of thought; instead, it requires a shared commitment to the open discussion of truth, justice, and the common good without hating each other. Does that mean we blindly accept each other’s differences and call both sides truth, different sides of the same coin? No. But it does mean that we are willing to love others, even when we disagree. The political psychology of identity politics can lead to normalizing retaliation as a healthy response to perceived wrongs. If every policy debate becomes a tally of whose grievance is greater, we move into a zero-sum game. The winner becomes not the one who crafts the best policy, but the one who can marshal the most resentment. Over time, resentment turns into bitterness and breeds cynicism, disengagement, hatred, and sometimes violence – precisely where we are now.  The use of identity politics for power also invites manipulation. In a media environment hungry for clicks, soundbites, and moral grandstanding, identity becomes a lever to mobilize votes, funds, and influence. Truth-telling gives way to branding. Honest disagreement is recast as betrayal of a tribe. Americans deserve leaders who appeal to reason, conscience, common sense, and justice, not to engineered fear or simplified caricatures of those with whom they disagree. We do not fear disagreement; we fear a politics that uses difference to weaken the bonds that bind us.  Pray with me: Father, America is being shown over and over that we are in desperate need of a true revival. Violence and hatred rage, people mock and cheer the death of a husband and father, and our members of Congress shout in rage at the prospect of praying for them. Identity politics and other evil strategies have divided us as a nation. We are a very, very needy people.  We pray against the seeds of bitterness, hatred, and false accusations that have been sown in our nation. We ask for conviction to come, causing a true change of heart and a love for one another. We ask that You remove politicians and media personalities who seek to divide us, and give favor to those who can bring us together. Show people that we can disagree without hating and harming. Satan has been successful in convincing some Americans that conservative Christians dislike unbelievers. Nothing could be further from the truth. We love them very much.  While we ask for justice to be accomplished in Charlie Kirk’s brutal murder, we also ask that his assassination not further divide our nation. Give us a miracle – use it to bring us together. Use it to foster love and peace, and to bring many people to Christ. Help us to process our grief, pain, and anger, without allowing them to become hatred and bitterness. Help us to model the love of Christ at this time and live our faith. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that revival is coming to America, and it will heal our land.  Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Honoring Charlie Kirk Today’s post is going to be a little different. As you probably know by now, yesterday, conservative leader Charlie Kirk was killed by an assassin’s bullet on the Utah Valley College Campus. Like many of you, I gave much of my afternoon and evening to praying for Charlie Kirk and his family. Then my friend, Gene Bailey, contacted me asking if I could be on a special edition of Flashpoint honoring Charlie’s life. I feel that for today, I want to continue the focus on Charlie, and pray for his family and our nation. Charlie was an amazing young man, only 31 years of age. Yet, because of the voice God gave him, he spoke to 100,000,000 young people on social media every month. It was probably Charlie’s influence that turned so many of the young generation toward Donald Trump in the recent presidential election. It is no exaggeration to say that because of this, he helped change and shape the course of America’s political history today. Before it was announced that Charlie did not survive the shooting, I had a sense that this would be the case. I prayed earnestly and fervently for his survival, but as I did, Holy Spirit kept taking me to Acts, chapter 7, which is the account of Stephen’s martyrdom. I couldn’t help but be reminded of how God had spared our president with a supernaturally motivated nod of his head. Why not Charlie? I wondered.  As I meditated on this passage while praying throughout the afternoon, the Lord began to emphasize how Stephen’s death was used to impact Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul. He was there watching and overseeing Stephen’s martyrdom. Paul was converted to Christ, of course, and became perhaps the most consequential believer in all of history. Through Paul, Stephen lived on. The attempt to silence Stephen’s voice only amplified it. And through the pages of Scripture, it speaks to us yet today. God never gives satan the last word, and will not do so where Charlie Kirk is concerned. His death only poured gas on a movement, fanning the flames of revival in thousands of young people across our nation. They will pick up the torch and burn with holy fire, as they carry Charlie’s message of revival and reformation. Through this, his voice will not be silenced: his life is now a seed that will multiply. Last evening, President Trump made some comments honoring Charlie Kirk. Here is a portion of that: “Hello Americans, I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. Charlie inspired millions, and tonight, all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror. Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loves so much, the United States of America. He fought for liberty, democracy, justice, and the American people. He’s a model for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth. Charlie was also a man of deep, deep faith, and we take comfort in the knowledge that he is now at peace with God in heaven. Our prayers are with his wife, Erika, his young beloved children, and his entire family, whom he loved more than anything in the world. We ask God to watch over them in this terrible hour of heartache and pain. This is a dark moment for America. “Charlie Kirk traveled the nation joyfully engaging with everyone interested in good-faith debate. His mission was to bring young people into the political process, which he did better than anybody ever; to share his love of country and to spread the simple words of common sense on campuses nationwide, championing his ideas with courage, logic, humor, and grace… “Tonight, I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived and died: the values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law, and the patriotic devotion and love of God.  “Charlie was the best of America, and the monster who attacked him was attacking our whole country. An assassin tried to silence him with a bullet, but he failed because together we will ensure that his voice, his message, and his legacy will live on for countless generations to come. Today, because of this heinous act, Charlie’s voice has become bigger and grander than ever before, and it’s not even close. May God bless his memory, may God watch over his family, and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you.” President Donald J. Trump  Please continue to pray for Charlie’s wife Erika, his two young children, the rest of his family, as well as Turning Point USA. Though young, his life left an indelible mark on millions of people. His evangelist heart also helped bring thousands into the Kingdom of God. We are grateful for Charlie Kirk’s life. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for the life of Charlie Kirk. He has most certainly left his mark on America and has now become a seed that will multiply throughout our nation. We ask that You inspire thousands of young people in America to pick up the torch he carried. May Charlie, like Stephen of old, never stop preaching. Let tens of thousands of young people trumpet his message. We pray today for his lovely family. They are hurting; the grief will be unbearable at times. You are the Great Comforter, and You can comfort even when the grief is so great. We ask for this peace and comfort for his wife, Erika, and his children. Carry them through this time, wrapping them in Your loving arms. And we pray for our nation. Comfort the hearts of millions who are hurting and confused. Deliver us, Father, from evil leaders who seek to divide us. You tell us in Proverbs that dividing and sowing discord between brothers is an abomination to You (Proverbs 6:16-19). Heal our nation from the hatred that divides us, and please use this tragedy to do so. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

“We Will Never Apologize for Our Faith” On Monday, I watched the gathering at the Museum of the Bible where President Trump gave an address pertaining to prayer, America’s history, and her relationship with God. I wrote about this history and its importance in yesterday’s post, pointing out that both King David and Nehemiah fought and won spiritual battles on the strength of covenantal history. If you haven’t seen or heard the post,  I strongly recommend taking a look.  Whitehouse.gov  pointed out some of the issues Trump addressed in his speech: “In a powerful address at the Museum of the Bible, President Donald J. Trump emphasized the enduring role of faith in America’s identity, highlighted his Administration’s unwavering defense of faith-based values, and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting our religious freedoms. The President also launched the America Prays initiative — a call for Americans to unite in prayer for the nation’s strength, peace, and prosperity as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches. “President Trump reaffirmed our nation’s founding principles: ‘When faith gets weaker, our country seems to get weaker. When faith gets stronger… good things happen for our country. It’s amazing the way it seems to work that way. Under the Trump Administration, we’re defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God. We are One Nation Under God — and we always will be.’ “President Trump called for Americans to come together in prayer: ‘Next year, we will celebrate 250 years since that Declaration was signed. As part of the grand commemoration… we’ve invited America’s great faith communities to pray for our nation, for our people, and for peace in the world.’ “Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner announced that more than 70 faith organizations and churches have joined together to participate in the America Prays initiative: ‘Think about the miracles that would take place over the next year… the transformation that you and I could witness in communities all across the land.’ “President Trump previewed new rules protecting Americans’ right to pray in public schools: ‘I am pleased to announce this morning that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in our public schools.’ “President Trump highlighted the importance of faith in God: ‘To have a great nation, you have to have religion. I believe that so strongly. There has to be something after we go through all of this — and that something is God.’ “President Trump defended our American values of faith: ‘America has always been a nation that believes in the power of prayer and we will never apologize for our faith — ever, ever, never, never. We will never surrender our God-given rights. We will defend our liberties, our values, our sovereignty, and we will defend our freedom.’ “President Trump welcomed a 12-year-old California student [and had him comment] who was forced in school to read material contrary to his religious beliefs: ‘Last year, in fifth grade, Shay was forced to read a book to a Kindergarten student promoting a message of radical gender ideology that is contrary to his religious beliefs and ours.’ “President Trump admonished a Democrat Senator for denying that our rights come from God: ‘The need for this commission has never been clearer than it was last week when the ineffectual Senator from Virginia — a man named Tim Kaine — stated that the notion our rights come from our Creator is “extremely troubling” to him… It’s this Declaration of Independence that proclaims we’re endowed by our Creator with the right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The Senator from Virginia should be ashamed of himself.’” (1) I was very encouraged by this gathering. Regardless of what you think about President Trump’s past or his personality, no Bible-believing Christian should be anything but grateful that he is in office. Prayer and worship now take place regularly in the White House, including in Cabinet meetings. God is honored by our president, as is the church, and our Judeo-Christian roots. I am always blessed and moved as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Scott Turner prays, as he is often asked to do by President Trump. His prayers are always Bible based, passionate, relevant, and done in the name of Jesus – which I have NEVER heard done in past Administrations. Do not think that God will fail to honor this. He is, and will continue to do so. Contrast this with the Democrat Party, which booed God off the stage and out of their official party platform at the 2012 Democratic National Convention; the contrast is stark. Just this past week, as President Trump mentioned, Democrat Senator Tim Kane insulted America’s Founders, contradicted our Declaration of Independence, and blasphemed God by saying our human rights don’t come from our Creator, but from government. Those on the Left no longer try to hide their disdain for God, the Bible, and our Christian roots. During his presidency, Obama began decreeing that we were not a Christian nation – and never had been. He actually mocked God and the Bible by lighting the White House in the colors of the Rainbow Flag when the Supreme Court redefined marriage to include same-sex unions. These and other actions by Obama removed the covering of the true beliefs and intentions of the Left. They want nothing to do with God and our history with Him.  America is now being saved by the mercies of God, made possible by repentance and prayer. President Trump and his team are part of this saving process. He openly calls upon God’s help and blessing, and does his best to honor the Lord. Heaven is listening. I encourage you to get on board with  America Prays . Pray for our president and his staff; pray for the godly leaders in Congress; and pray for our Supreme Court justices. Ask Holy Spirit to give them wisdom, guidance, strength, integrity, and protection. Ask Him to hover over our nation’s capital, releasing power, light, and life. Use your Matthew 16:19 authority and forbid demonic influence from deceiving these leaders or thwarting God’s will and plans. Our prayers are being used to save America – don’t stop now.  Pray with me: Father, thank You for Your mercy and love. The Godhead determined to redeem humankind before Adam’s fall even occurred. It is not a stretch for You to do so; it is Your nature to love and redeem. In fact, You delight in showing mercy (Micah 7:18).  When America’s government turned against You, denied You, mocked and booed You, You responded in love and grace, seeing us through the lens of the Cross. Your mercy prevailed. You are now restoring and healing our land. Thank You, thank You, thank You. As this occurs, we ask for the reversal of the damage that was done during our rebellious season. Reverse evil laws; restore the sanctity of life; save the young generation that was robbed of knowing You, and therefore of purpose and destiny. Cause the awakening they experience to be so incredibly powerful that it wipes away every gain made by demonic powers. Reverse it all, and use them to be the greatest transforming generation that has ever lived. We pray for our leaders. Give them wisdom, understanding, strength, integrity, and protection. Think through them. Keep them from mistakes, from pride, and from presumption. Cause them to turn away from all compromise, and turn toward You with all of their hearts.  And we ask all of these things for our brothers and sisters in other nations. Send a worldwide great awakening. All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that mercy triumphs over judgment.  Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/09/president-trump-champions-religious-freedom-unveils-america-prays/

War With Covenant As I listened to President Trump honor God and America’s roots from the Museum of the Bible yesterday, I found myself reflecting on David and Goliath.  David defeated Goliath on the strength of his history. The first thing God tells us in the story is the location of the battle. “Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines” (1 Samuel 17:1-2). I realize that doesn’t interest you. You’re like me: Come on, Holy Spirit, get to the good stuff: Goliath’s description; the drama of his taunts; the fear of the Israelites; David, the young sheepherder; the battle; off with the giant’s head. I skipped those two boring verses for the first 50 years of my life. And missed a nugget. This location was in the territory of Judah, which was the tribe David came from. Holy Spirit was informing us, right from the start, that this land belonged to David and his tribe . It had been given to them by God generations before. David had more than squatter’s rights to the property the giant was trying to claim; he had divine rights. If he followed God’s instructions, these first two verses of the story assured him of victory. The God who created and owns the earth (see Psalm 24:1) had the right to give it to whomever He pleased. And in history, He had given it to Judah. Battle over. Don’t think so? I’ll give you another reference that reinforces this truth. When Nehemiah was allowed by the Persian King Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem in order to rebuild its walls, he faced great opposition. The locals, led by Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, despised the Jews and were determined to stop them from building. When Nehemiah faced their threats and opposition, he stated his case for success in one verse:   “I answered by saying, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We, His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or  historic right to it. ’”  (Nehemiah 2:20 NIV). “We have a historical, God-given right to this city,”  Nehemiah declared. “ You don’t. Therefore, we win, you lose.”  Case closed.  It is beyond doubt that God raised up America for His purposes. He owns America, just as He does the entire earth, and in that right of ownership, He delegated stewardship of this nation to followers of Christ, believers who would partner with Him in His great cause of redeeming the world. Do not listen to revisionists who say otherwise, be they secularists or deceived Christian leaders. If the body of Christ in America ever fully grasps this revelation, the giants attempting to steal our nation have no chance. Uncircumcised Philistine David’s next “history weapon” can be seen in the fact that not once did he call Goliath by name, referring to him only as the “uncircumcised Philistine.” What is that all about? Imagine two guys about to fight, shouting insults at one another.  Jed: “You’re ugly.” Jethro: “Your mama is ugly.” Jed: “You’re a wimp.” Jethro: “You couldn’t beat up a flea.” I realize these insults are not exactly Rambo-level insults, but I’m trying to keep it clean here. And you get my point - insults and degrading salvos are flying back and forth. Then one of them seals the deal with the ultimate insult: “Well, You’re UNCIRCUMCISED!” Huh? Didn’t see that one coming. As humorous as this seems, there was actually an important reason for David’s choice of name. Circumcision symbolized Israel’s covenant with God (Genesis 17:13). Since the days of Abraham, this had been the case. It was a requirement mandated by God, some believe, for health purposes. Circumcision served the added purpose, however, of picturing New Testament believers who would have the “flesh” of our hearts circumcised (see Romans 2:28-29). For our purposes in this story, however, what we must understand is that David was stating to the giant,  I’m in covenant with God; you’re not. Since those in covenant with one another share enemies, you’ll be fighting God, not just me. This battle won’t be decided by your size, experience, weaponry, or strength. It was decided long ago when my grandfather cut covenant with God. I’m going to defeat you through my covenantal history. I win; you lose. No wonder secularists want to rewrite America’s history with God! We shouldn’t be surprised that former President Obama once decreed that we were not a Christian nation, contending that we were also a Muslim nation, a Hindu nation, an atheist nation, and so on. (1)  Karl Marx once said, “The first battlefield is to rewrite history.” (2)  The demons controlling Marx knew the importance and power of history. And, of course, demons today inspire anti-Christ forces in America to try and rewrite our history for the same reasons. As believers, we must stake our claim to the fact that God birthed America, and that He and our Founders made covenantal promises to one another. I’m not suggesting that God and those who came to these shores entered into a covenant on the same level as the old and new covenants in Scripture. There are different levels of covenants, however. The biblical word means “a compact, confederacy, league.” (3)  The great Brown Driver-Briggs Lexicon defines it not only as covenant, but as “an alliance (of friendship); an alliance (of marriage); a constitution; agreement.” (4)  The fact that our Founders covenanted with God when they came to this land is beyond dispute.  Do not underestimate the importance of this. God put into the hearts of our forefathers to come to this land. He did so to raise up a nation that would form an “alliance,” a sacred “agreement” (the definitions of covenant) to partner with Him for the propagation of the gospel to all the earth.  In spite of our failures, such as those with our Native American friends, God redeems, cleanses, and continues to use us, just as He did with Abraham. We must believe this, and do as David did: stake our claim to this land based on our alignment with God and His plans, purposes, and promises. That is what empowers us to take out spiritual giants. Politics won’t defeat them, nor will money, great plans and strategies, or well-meaning leaders. Covenant will! As mentioned earlier, those aligned in covenant share resources and strengths; they also share enemies. If the Ekklesia in America faces the giants of our day armed with decrees that this land belongs to God ( “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” Psalm 24:1); if we stand on the truth that He Himself established our nation to represent Him; and if we now resist the giants in His name - we will defeat them! War with covenant! War with history! Pray with me: Father, we thank You for America’s history with You. We are humbled by the privilege of partnering with You in Your great cause. Thank You for cleansing us of our unrighteous past. We acknowledge that we need ongoing Your mercy, forgiveness, and healing. The powers of darkness have determined to cripple - and ultimately stop - us from being a voice and light for You. A rebellious culture, enabled by a lukewarm church, has allowed those powers to make great progress. Today, we place our faith in covenant with You. We stand on the fact that You keep covenant and mercy to a thousand generations (Deuteronomy 7:9). We reach back into our history, declare our faith in You, and decree that we will once again be a light to the nations. We will once again be a strong voice of the gospel and of freedom to all the nations of the earth. Jesus, we exalt You. Yahweh, we honor You. We declare that revival is here and coming. America shall indeed, be saved. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen. Our decree: We decree that our covenant with Yahweh through the blood of Jesus Christ, and the covenant we made with Him as a nation, will defeat every giant of darkness in America. Today’s post was taken from our Give Him 15, An Appeal to Heaven Devotional, Volume 1 . Click on the link below to watch the full video. Obama, Barack. “‘ Call to Renewal’ Keynote Address .” Washington, D.C., June 2006. Washington, Ellis. The Progressive Revolution: History of Liberal Fascism Through the Ages, Volume V, 2014-15 Writings. Hamilton Books, 2017, p. 219. Strong, James. The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Red-Letter Edition. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001. Reference no. 1285. Brown, Francis. The Brown, Driver, Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon . Hendrickson Publishers, 1996.

When God Is Removed, Evil Fills the Void The 1960s marked the beginning of a downward spiral in America that has continued to this day. The use of drugs, the sexual revolution, and the break-up of the American family can be traced back to then. Sixty-plus years of moral and spiritual devolution have been devastating. Many have pointed out the correlation between this downward spiral and the removal of God from America’s classrooms. Prayer in schools was not always a controversial topic. In fact, public schools had prayer for nearly 200 years before the Supreme Court ruled that state-mandated class prayers were unconstitutional in the landmark case of Engel vs Vitale in June 1962. “When the families of New Hyde Park, New York, complained that the voluntary prayer in schools went against their religious beliefs, the prayer in question went as follows: ‘Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon thee, and we beg thy blessings on our parents, our teachers, and our country. Amen.’ “Since the court outlawed prayer, the nation has been in steady moral decline. Former Secretary of Education, William Bennet, revealed in his cultural indexes that between 1960 and 1990 divorce doubled, teenage pregnancy went up 200 percent, teen suicide increased 300 percent, violent crime went up 500 percent, and he maintains that there is a strong correlation between the expulsion of prayer from our schools and decline in morality.” (1) The moral decline in our nation over this span of time has never stopped and is shocking. One of the manifestations is, of course, violence. Yesterday, a 23-year-old young man opened fire on students attending their first Mass of the school year at Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis, MN. At the time of this writing, 2 children were killed and 17 people were injured (14 of whom were children). The shooter was identified as Robert/Robin Westman. Robert, identifying as a trans woman, legally changed his name to Robin Westman in 2020. Westman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics. Only two years prior, leaders of non-public and religious schools in Minnesota had asked Governor Tim Walz for help in securing their schools. Tragically, the funding was never authorized. In the same month as this request, April 2023, Gov. Walz signed legislation establishing MN as a “trans refuge” promising to “protect those seeking gender-affirming care,” according to OutFront MN. (2)  One has to wonder what the drugs being given to these dear children may be doing to their minds. Our hearts break for the parents, teachers, and children of Annunciation Catholic School who were affected by this horrible attack. We especially pray for the families who lost loved ones. May God’s grace and peace be with them. President Trump ordered American flags on military posts and government buildings throughout the U.S. to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Sunday. Our friend Cheryl Sacks pointed out in the GH15 post  on August 20, the spiritual attacks taking place against our children:  “An invisible war is raging for the hearts and minds of the next generation. Just last week, I read about a murder plot devised by fifth-graders (two boys and two girls) to take the life of an autistic boy. One student was to bring the knife, another to fake a suicide note, and one to serve as a scout while the stabbing took place. The autistic boy thought these were his friends. (3) “When God is removed, the devil fills the void. Good is evil. Evil is good. Lord, have mercy! “What’s happening in our schools is alarming. Once beacons of academic learning, places of safety, friendship, and good citizenship, they are anything but that today.” (4) I encourage you to revisit Cheryl’s post from last week , where she provides detailed suggestions on how we can pray for our children. She also included a map that shows how others are praying across the nation and allows you to sign up to pray for schools in your area by clicking this link:  prayerforschools.com . As I have stated many times, only a powerful spiritual revival can reverse the current state of our nation. Thankfully, this has begun. A mighty revival is coming to America, beginning with the young. There are documented instances of revival breaking out among our youth, both here in America and in the UK. We must pray fervently that what has begun will intensify. During this time, the words of Nehemiah (4:14) are appropriate: “When I saw their fear, I stood and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: ‘Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.’” Pray with me: Father, our hearts grieve over the senseless loss of lives in Minnesota. We ask You to bring comfort and strength to the families involved. Nothing can remove from them the present grief of their loss, and the trauma to the children that survived will be tremendous. But You are the Healer and the Comforter, and we ask You to do what only You can do. Comfort them.  And we pray once again for a mighty revival that will transform our nation. Let it be strong enough to undo six decades of damage to the soul and psyche of our nation. Forgive us for allowing You to be removed from our schools. Free our children from the resulting confusion, addictions, violence, lack of identity, and purpose. Introduce them to Your glorious Son and their wonderful Savior. Make them strong in character. Use them to reform our nation and carry Your light to the nations of the world. Help us remain faithful during this time of transition in our nation. Keep the intercessors motivated so that we may finish well. Don’t allow complacency to enter at this critical time. All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that the great revival that has begun will not weaken, but will intensify until it becomes the greatest release of God‘s glory the world has ever seen. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://panthernow.com/2011/02/09/moral-decline-due-to-absence-of-school-prayer/ https://www.outfront.org/governor-walz-signs-conversion-therapy-ban-and-trans-refuge-bills-law Micaela Marshall, “Surprise Family Speaks Out After 5th-Grade Classmates Plotted Son’s Murder,” Arizona’s Family , August 4, 2025,   https://azfamily.com/2025/08/04/exclusive-surprise-family-speaks-out-after-5th-grade-classmates-plotted-sons-murder . https://www.givehim15.com/post/august-20-2025

Dynamic Power Dunamai (1)  is one of the basic words for possessing power in the New Testament. Strong’s says it means “to be able or possible.” Thayer’s gives the following definitions: “to be able, have power, to be capable, strong and powerful.” The English words dynamite, dynamo, dynamic, etc., come from this Greek word. Jesus used a form of this word in Acts 1:8 when He said, “You will receive power [dunamis] after the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Dunamis  is also translated as miracle/s, because they are the results of God’s power (Acts 2:22, 8:13, 19:11, etc.). In 1 Corinthians 12:10, this word is used in the phrase “the working of miracles,” one of the gifts Holy Spirit gives to believers.  I find it interesting that the word is used referring to both God’s and satan’s power in the same verse, Acts 10:38:  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power [dunamis]: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed [katadunasteuō] of the devil; for God was with Him.” The dunamis-power of God worked through Jesus to produce healings and good works; satan’s power oppressed people. Kata, (2)  among other things means basically means “down” or “against.” When used as a prefix for dunamis/dunasteuo , as it is here, it has the connotation of working against something or someone, pressing them down. You can easily see the word “press” in “oppressed.” God lifts people with His power; satan uses his to press them down. The Passion Translation uses the word “tyranny” to translate satan’s oppressive work in this verse. Notice that the Lord equates healing with “good.” Sickness is evil, oppressive, and originates from the curse that came to humanity at the fall. This doesn’t mean that every sickness is caused directly by a person’s sin; it means sickness is in the world because of original sin. This is what allowed satan to bring his curses and diseases onto the earth, oppressing people. Jesus came to heal and restore us from spiritual tyranny. While here on earth, He went about doing “good” and healing all those oppressed by the devil. One of my favorite stories of healing in the New Testament is of the woman with continual bleeding for 12 years (Matthew 9:20). Can you imagine the physical weakness she must have felt from this constant loss of blood for 12 years? Not to mention the emotional toll it had to have taken. According to Jewish law, she was considered “unclean,” and anyone who touched her was also considered unclean (Leviticus 15:19-33). This is why the woman was “sneaking” through the crowd, trying to inconspicuously reach out and touch Christ’s garment (Mark 5:25-34).  The Passion Translation gives us added insight: “Suddenly, a woman came from behind Jesus and touched the tassel of His prayer shawl for healing. She had been suffering from continual bleeding for twelve years, but had faith that Jesus could heal her. For she kept saying to herself, ‘If I could only touch His prayer shawl, I would be healed.’ Just then, Jesus turned around and looked at her and said, ‘My daughter, be encouraged. Your faith has healed you.’ And instantly she was healed!” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:20-22; TPT) The margin of The Passion says, “The blue tassel on the corner of the prayer shawl was said to symbolize all commandments and promises of God. (See Numbers 15:38-40.) The Hebrew word for ‘fringe’ or ‘border’ (of a garment) can also mean ‘wing.’ Some have interpreted Malachi 4:2 (‘healing in his wings’) as a reference to the tassels of the prayer shawl.”  The verse in Malachi that TPT references says: “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall”  (Malachi 4:2; NASB). Some teachers and scholars believe that this promise is what gave the woman faith to receive healing by touching the wings or tassels of Jesus’ prayer shawl. Wow! One thing is certain: when she touched the tassel of His prayer shawl, her faith pulled healing “virtue” ( dunamis ) from Jesus. He wasn’t made unclean; she was made clean! I find it amazing that this woman initiated the miracle, not Jesus. He did not even know it happened until it was over. “Someone just pulled virtue/power out of me!” He said (Mark 5:30). Jesus supplied the power, she supplied the faith, and 12 years of misery and shame vanished.  When I was a young boy, we used to sing a simple chorus that said: “Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.  You’ll find He’s not too busy to hear your heart’s cry.  He’s passing by this moment, your need to supply.  Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.” (3) We are doing another Healing Summit this upcoming October 17 at my brother Tim’s church, the Oasis, in Middletown, Ohio (LINK) . As with past summits, many healing services will be taking place simultaneously throughout the nation. We believe the Lord will be present to do good and heal those oppressed by the devil. Prepare your heart to reach out in faith and grab the “healing in His wings.” Join us in person if you can, online if you cannot come. We are believing with you for tremendous miracles to take place. Pray with me: Father, thank You for Holy Spirit. Thank You for the power He brings us to witness of You, to work for You, and to overcome in life. Thank You for the example of Jesus, who went about doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil. Today, we especially thank You for the story of the woman with the 12-year, constant flow of blood. Thank You for demonstrating through her that there is healing in Your wings, and Your willingness to respond to faith.  As we have in the past, we ask You today for a fresh release of signs and wonders, and of the gifts of Your Spirit associated with this. Release to many believers the gift of faith, gifts of healing, the working of miracles, and the word of knowledge. Release Your compassion and Your power. As we gather in Middletown on October 17, and in many places around the nation and nations, pour out the power of Holy Spirit. Heal and transform, deliver those oppressed by the devil. Free people from disease, depression, addictions, all manner of sickness and infirmity. Give us miracles. And use the coming release of signs and wonders to not only heal those in need, but to point people to Jesus and spark the revival that has begun. All of this we ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that Jesus is still releasing His power to do good, heal the sick, and deliver those oppressed by the devil. You can find out more about the upcoming Healing Summit in Middletown, Ohio, at OasisWired.org .  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. 1410. Ibid., ref. no. 2596. https://www.godsongs.net/2016/01/reach-out-and-touch-the-lord-as-he-goes-by.html