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Introduction I love many of the church’s hymns. However, some of my greatest memories from the early days of the Charismatic/Jesus People Movements are singing the praise and worship “choruses,” as we called them. We referred to them as such because they were typically short, like the chorus of a hymn. Some were only one word, like the Hallelujah chorus. They rarely had verses.  The simplicity of these songs was part of Holy Spirit’s brilliant plan. The young generation of that era rebelled against extravagance and form; we wanted things simple and real, sometimes to a fault, like living in communes and wearing few clothes! When we came to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gave us simple songs.  We also had rejected authority, the establishment - including, unfortunately, our parents and their traditions. We didn’t want their hymns. So when we came to Christ He simply said, “Give ‘em some simple choruses for now. They’ll come around.” And His most brilliant aspect of the plan was that He put in the hearts of our generation to use the Bible as our songbook. “We don’t need those fancy hymnals,” we boasted. “We sing the Bible!” Little did we know He was using this singing of His Word to renew our minds, remove our rebellion, and feed us on the bread of life. Holy Spirit is so smart! One of my favorite “choruses” of the day was taken from Psalm 20:6-8: “Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy Heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.”  (AKJV) The primary portion of the song was verse 7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”  It drove into my heart the revelation that we must look to the Lord first for our provision, protection and strength. We would do well to remember this today.  “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain”  (Psalm 127:1; AKJV). Ben Franklin quoted this verse from Psalm 127 at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 when suggesting more prayer was needed for wisdom and to overcome disagreements and other obstacles. We must remember its message today. My friend, Jay Comiskey, sent me the following information to encourage us as we build a protective prayer “dome” over America. It is entitled: THE IRON DOME SHIELD OF INTERCESSION In 2024, the Israeli Military (IDF) demonstrated a remarkable air defense system to protect their people. Guy Cohen, a Messianic Jewish leader from Israel, described this remarkable system: “Israel now has a multi-layered defense array. Our current system is surprisingly effective against almost all attacks from missiles, rockets, and UAVs. The IDF armor consists of the following defensive weapons: The Iron Dome, David’s Sling and The Arrow defense system. They each cover various distances, from close-range missiles all the way up to threats at the edge of the atmosphere. Currently, yet another level is being developed - laser technology.” (1) As you know, Israel has been attacked by several enemies over the past 16 months. From Hamas in the South, to Hezbollah in the North, including the nation of Iran, multiple thousands of rockets and missiles have been fired at Israel.   Miraculously, very few of these weapons have reached their target. Israel has been amazingly spared much death or damage. How? The Jewish people worked relentlessly (with the USA) to develop these Iron Dome Systems to protect their nation from evil missiles and rockets. They have won the defensive battle for their country. This has allowed their military to go on the offensive  and severely cripple Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran! On January 27, 2025, President Trump announced, we “need an Iron Dome for the USA!” He repeated this call in February. (2) Sometimes the Lord uses “signs, wonders and other indicators” in the natural to help us see a parallel truth in the spiritual realm. 1 Corinthians 15:46: “However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.” Israel has once again become an important SIGN to God’s Ekklesia in America: It is time to build and operate our own Iron Dome Shield of Intercession over our Country! The Holy Spirit is calling us to partner with Him in building a mighty Iron Dome system of prayer and intercession to protect President Trump, his agenda, and our country . I believe God’s Prayer Army is at a unique place of maturity to build this spiritual Iron Dome of protection for America and all the nations. In Dutch’s book, Watchman Prayer , Chapter 7 is entitled “ Armed and Loaded with Prayer .” He shares how our prayers build strategic boundaries. Our job as watchmen and women is to protect and empower God’s purposes on earth. I believe Holy Spirit is giving His people profound wisdom and revelation from the Scriptures to protect America.  Here are some powerful building blocks to operate an effective spiritual  defense system throughout our land: All Authority … Matthew 28:18: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Luke 10:19: “ Behold, I give you the authority …   over all the authority of the enemy , and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” The Alpha and Omega Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Exceedingly Abundantly Above … Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” No weapon formed against you Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.” Angel Armies Psalm 103:20-21 (NLT): “Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! The Lord is teaching us how to build His spiritual “Iron Dome Shield” over America. Ask for wisdom and revelation from Holy Spirit regarding what to PRAY and DECREE into a current reality over President Trump and all those in authority. He will give you insight. There is a clichè in football that says, “Defense wins Championships.”  Let us build a defensive “Iron Dome Shield” over our country that will cause “America to be saved.” Pray with me: Father, as we build the protective prayer dome over America, give us willing hearts and hearing ears. Motivate intercessors and faithful believers throughout our nation to take seriously the warnings about praying for protection over America. Remind us that we can see our “turning point” take place this spring if we use the weapons of prayer mentioned in   yesterday‘s post . We will not make the mistake of placing our trust only in our government or military. We want and need wise leaders and a strong military, but our first and foremost trust is in You, not “horses and chariots.” We have prayed over America’s borders and waterways; we have obeyed other instructions telling us how and when to pray. We now make bold declarations of faith that we will continue to build and fortify Your protective dome/shield, and we will keep it in place through our prayers and decrees.  We declare that America shall be saved, both physically and spiritually. America shall be revived, restored, and reformed. She will pick up her mantle once again of being an evangelist to the world, funding, resourcing, and taking the gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth. Amen. Our decree:  We decree that though some trust in chariots and some in horses, we will remember the name of the Lord our God!   Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.tikkunglobal.org/post/iron-dome-and-the-full-armor-of-god   https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-signs-executive-order-to-develop-american-made-iron-dome-missile-shield/

When Kings Go to War Yesterday, I shared two urgent, credible prayer requests for America; you can find them here . Thank you for praying, and please continue to do so. I want to share another prayer request today, based on a dream given to Steven Springer a year and a half ago, in September of 2023. I shared it in a post not that long ago, but the dream keeps coming back to me. I believe it is important for now, perhaps even related to yesterday’s requests. After sharing the dream I’ll give some interpretation and highlight a portion. THE DREAM Dutch and I, in a group of five people, were in large, futuristic war machines. Dutch had a standard that held three banners/flags. The top flag was white, with red letters that read “The Love of the Lord.” The next banner was the Appeal to Heaven flag, and the third was the American flag, which was very tattered.  We followed Dutch in formation, advancing quickly toward a battle in front of us. We each had amazing weapons that shot laser lightning. On the side of the weapon was inscribed, as if it was the brand name, “Paga.”  Every time we shot the weapons we hit the mark, never missing our target.  Dutch would then get out of his vehicle and plant the standard into the ground as if to mark new territory claimed for the Kingdom! As the spear-like flag pole was thrust into the ground, springs of water would gush forth. I (Steven) would then declare, “Let your Kingdom come, and let the awakening well be unlocked!” Angels would then appear - to keep watch over the territory we had taken back. After each battle, Dutch was given another standard containing three more of the same flags, with the U.S. flag being less tattered.  We moved from battlefield to battlefield, and the process was repeated. Then, as we approached another battlefield and were positioning ourselves to fire, General George Washington came riding to us out of the woods. As he looked at the standard with the banners Dutch was holding - the love of the Lord flag, the Appeal to Heaven flag, and the American flag - he said to us, “Remember Gettysburg, and in the spring is when kings go to war. There will be a revolution and reformation that must take place.” He said again, “Remember Gettysburg, and in the spring is when kings go to war.”   The fear of the Lord came upon us. We all got out of our vehicles, fell to our knees, and began to pray. We were asking for gates to be opened, and that the Lord would give our nation back to the sons of the Kingdom and heal our land. As we did, lightning struck twice, and the land was healed. New growth came up from the ground. And as the banner of love waved in the wind, it released a sound over America.  End of dream.  INTERPRETATION  There were five of us in these battles, which were obviously spiritual, not physical. In Scripture, the number “5” represents “grace.” The grace gifts Christ gave the church, listed in Ephesians 4:11-12 were five in number. David carried five stones to his encounter with Goliath. With God’s gifts and grace, we are equipped to win our spiritual battles.  The three flags represent: 1)  God’s redeeming love (Song of Solomon 2:4; John 3:16), 2)  Prayer, and 3)  America. The American flag was tattered, picturing the United States’ torn and broken condition. The three flags shown together reveal that God loves America and wants to heal her through the prayers of the church.  Our weapons were inscribed with the word  “Paga” and fired laser lightning. Steven didn’t know when given the dream that paga is the Hebrew word for intercession! Our weapons were prayer! Paga  has several nuances of meaning, which I teach extensively in my book, Intercessory Prayer , which can provide pictures of what our prayers accomplish. One of those meanings is “to strike the mark” (think bullseye). (1)  In the dream, our prayer-weapons released laser lightning, which struck the mark with great accuracy. This is actually spoken of in Job 36:32: “[God] fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike the mark.” The phrase “strike the mark” is indeed the word paga!  This dream - and the verse in Job - tells us that our prayers release God’s precision-guided judgments/lightning against His foes.  Paga  also means “to encounter” and “to mark boundaries of territory!” (2) Combining all of these definitions: in intercession we encounter spiritual forces, releasing God’s power to strike them with precision, staking claim to territory for the Kingdom of God . All of that is in the word paga!!!  This is what we were doing in the dream.  It is significant that the banner of love was above the Appeal to Heaven flag. God is love (1 John 4:8) and His power, released through our prayers, is motivated by love. Our war is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). We love people and want to see them saved, even those who oppose the Lord.  As we took back territory from the powers of darkness, the land itself was being healed, America as a nation (the flag) was being repaired, and wells of awakening (revival) began springing up from the ground.  At some point, George Washington, the “Father of America,” leader of the American forces in the Revolutionary War, and our first president, came to us with a fascinating message. Part one of his message was “Remember Gettysburg.” Gettysburg was a battle, not in the Revolutionary War, which Washington fought, but in the Civil War. This is significant. The Civil War was internal, a war amongst ourselves, not against another nation. We were being destroyed from within. Gettysburg was the turning point battle in this war.  Then in the dream Washington said, “In the spring is when kings go to war. There will be a revolution and reformation that must take place.” The first part is a quote from 2 Samuel 11:1. At the time in history when this verse was written, most wars were carried out in the spring, primarily due to weather conditions. Why is this verse mentioned in the dream? I am not confident enough to prophesy this interpretation as a sure word from the Lord, but I now believe that Holy Spirit is alerting us that there will be significant efforts this spring - perhaps two of them - to stop the turnaround in America. I don’t know the nature of them, but the Gettysburg/Civil War aspect of the dream causes me to believe they will be from within our nation. Could they be related to the attacks we mentioned in yesterday’s post? Or warnings we have received regarding our water supplies and/or ports? Could they be political? I’m not certain. What I am certain of is that we can win these battles through prayer.  When Washington told us this in the dream, the fear of the Lord came upon us, we exited our vehicles and began to pray earnestly. As we did, our prayers produced lightning from heaven, which struck the ground twice. This was the turning point! The land was healed, and the banner of love released a sound over America. How interesting! Was this a love song?! I believe our Gettysburg, the “turning point” in the spiritual war for the soul of America, the “revolution” for America’s “reformation,” may very well take place over the next few months. We must persevere in our spiritual warfare, our intercession, releasing the lightning of God to defeat His enemies. Pray with me: Father, we want to listen to You diligently and obey You quickly. We listen to and obey Your words from Scripture first and foremost, but we also take to heart the words of Holy Spirit as He leads us in our intercession. At the beginning of 2025, You emphasized lightning in our nation’s capital. This is the year for the lightning! You have also reminded us that Your power, Your lightning, Your judgments - pictured in Revelation 8:5 - are released from our intercession. Holy Spirit guides these prayers, causing them to “strike the mark” with great precision. And You have reminded us that they are to be motivated by Your love – though they release judgments against Your enemies, they are for the healing of our land and the redemption of many people. We will not grow complacent. We hear Your alert and believe You are telling us that our generation’s spiritual Gettysburg, our turning point, is coming this spring. We ask You for great sensitivity and discernment as we remain on our posts and appeal to heaven. Help us to stay alert and watchful. Give us this breakthrough! In Jesus’ name, we pray this. Amen.   Our decree: We decree that we will be sensitive to Holy Spirit’s instructions and win our generation’s Gettysburg! 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. 6293. Ibid.

Urgent Prayer Needed Recently, Intercessors For America  passed on the following urgent prayer requests. “Two urgent requests have come into IFA for immediate intercession. While we cannot share more details than listed here, please know these have come in from reliable, high-placed sources. “ CRITICAL ISSUE #1 :  Vetted national security experts with the highest security clearance in the communication field are asking for a prayer shield for our nation in regards to risk to our communication grid. Pray for those making decisions about our grid, engineers responsible for security, and those on the front lines. “ CRITICAL ISSUE #2 :  A request for prayer over personnel involved in U.S./Israeli relations. Pray for all those making decisions, for those both in Israel and in the U.S. who are working together on current issues in the region, and for God’s purposes to be fulfilled. “We appreciate your faithful and urgent prayer for these two issues, even without many details. God knows all the specifics to each of these urgent requests, and He calls us to partner with Him as we intercede.” It is no secret that all of America’s cyber systems are vulnerable. That would obviously include the power grid, communications grid, water systems, and others. Our government has been asleep at the wheel, seemingly refusing to take seriously enough the warnings. Hopefully, that is incorrect, and things are being/have been done that, for security reasons, we are not being told about. Regardless, we must absolutely take warnings such as this very seriously.  The world is currently in a very volatile time. This is not just for the obvious reasons, such as major global powers like China and Russia posturing for control. The forces behind globalism also desire more control; for this they want and need a weakened America. Trump’s “America First” agenda works against them tremendously. They must fight against its success in every way possible, from without our nation and from within. The victories President Trump and the conservative movement have won are real but tenuous, and nowhere near complete.  We also know there are certainly hundreds, but more likely thousands, of terrorists and enemy soldiers now in America due to the Left’s open border policy of the last four years. When will they strike? Could this warning of attacks against our communication grid be one of their plans? Perhaps. One thing is certain: they came here with a plan, not just for a better life.  We must pray diligently for our leaders and those in positions of responsibility to discover, expose, and stop these attacks. We must pray that God’s mercy triumphs over the horrible judgments America stands to reap. We must pray that we don’t experience the full fruit of the treachery and traitorous acts visited on our nation by our past leaders. We must ask for genuine revival - the fruit of repentance - and radical reformation in the place of these woes. We must continue to pray for the exposure of the corruption in our government and for the right people to be confirmed for President Trump’s Cabinet and Agencies.  THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL Regarding the prayer request regarding Israel, the U.S., and the Middle East, I feel this is very timely. I have been sensing the weakening of the prince of Persia (Iran). When thinking of Iran’s government and its evils (not Iranians in general), don’t forget that they are ancient Persia, and are controlled by the principality mentioned in Daniel 10. He is one of the spirits that has ruled this region for millennia, led the battle to stop Daniel’s prayers and Israel’s restoration (Daniel 10), and was the spirit behind Haman’s attempt to destroy the Jewish people in the Book of Esther. This spirit is still alive and active today in the region.  I have felt for quite some time that God is removing the influence of this spirit, which will also mean a shift in the government of Iran. Great revival is occurring there (underground), and I feel it will eventually feed a huge outpouring of the Spirit in the entire Middle East.  Let’s take this request seriously and pray that those making decisions now, especially the Netanyahu and Trump teams, make wise and timely decisions - kairos  decisions. It’s time for the head of this hateful, demonic snake to be cut off. As the above request says, pray for God’s purposes to be accomplished and for a great spiritual harvest to come in that region.  Finally, I assure you that there has never been a more important time for watchman intercessors to stay engaged. We must faithfully pray for protection over our leaders, and ask God’s wisdom to direct them. Allow no distractions; accept no complacency. We are writing history with our prayers.  Pray with me: Father, we join our hearts with thousands of intercessors today, asking for Your protection over America. We have sown the wind; we ask You that we not reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). We ask You for mercy and protection from attacks against our nation’s communication system, our power grid, our water supplies, and any other vulnerable part of our nation. Give supernatural exposure regarding plans to destroy or damage them and weaken our nation. We also ask You to protect our government leaders, and give them great wisdom as they lead in this very challenging time. Thwart the plans of those working against righteous causes, and bring success to those who are promoting wise, effective, and strategic policies. Give them grace and wisdom to reform and rebuild our nation. We continue to pray that the right people are appointed to President Trump’s Cabinet and Agency positions.  And we pray for the Middle East; we ask that You give the Trump and Netanyahu teams wisdom on what to do and when to do it. You are Lord over the nations – orchestrate events to cause revival in that part of the world. Eliminate the influence of the prince of Persia. Free the people of Iran and that entire region from his influence and control, lift the veil of deception, and open their eyes to Yeshua. You sent Michael, the great archangel, to deal with this principality in Daniel’s day. Send the heavenly forces necessary to do so again in this season. In Jesus’ name, we ask these things. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that mercy triumphs over judgment, and the purposes of God will be accomplished in our generation. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Restoring the Dream Most of today’s post is taken from my book DREAM , which I wrote in 2012. You may not be aware of it, but you have a dreaming nature. You inherited this part of your make-up from your Creator. He created us in His image and likeness so our hearts could relate to His and in order that His dreaming heart could find millions of expressions. You were designed to dream, both for yourself and for God. You MUST dream. In fact, if you don’t dream with Him, He can’t experience all of His dreams, and you’ll never achieve your destiny. A life without dreams is like a GPS without a satellite. The GPS might operate, but it would lead you nowhere. Likewise, without God-given dreams to guide you, you will travel life’s highway searching for a destination you’ll never find. Divinely inspired dreams, on the other hand, will guide you to the destiny God intended for you. Your Designer dreamed dreams for you before you were even born, then skillfully wove them into your DNA as He created you, along with the ability to find and fulfill them. His ultimate destiny for you will be the sum of those dreams. The journey of life, then, is meant to be a dream quest. Finding and fulfilling what your Maker dreamed for you brings life’s ultimate satisfaction and should be life’s ultimate pursuit. If you don’t discover those dreams, you’ll either waste your life running in wrong races and crossing wrong finish lines or, like many people, have no finish line at all. Some individuals stop running altogether, wandering through life as though it were a maze, hoping they will make the right turn and stumble upon the right exit. What a tragedy. Your Creator doesn’t intend for life to be a shot in the dark. You CAN find His plans and dreams for you and pursue them with confidence. The Ultimate Gift  is one of my favorite movies. It’s the story of Red Stevens, an older and extremely wealthy businessman who knew he was dying and was trying to decide where to leave his fortune. It seemed his children were money-hungry, self-indulgent, and irresponsible, as were his grandchildren. All but one. Jason seemed like all the rest, but Red had seen something else in him, buried under the outer layer of pain, laziness, and his party-driven lifestyle. Red knew that under this stained veneer was great strength and noble character. So he decided to leave his fortune to Jason - IF he passed a series of twelve tests, which Red personally presented posthumously by video. These were difficult, time-consuming tests, some of which were projects that took weeks. Jason would only learn of the next challenge after successfully finishing the previous one. When presented with the proposal by Red’s executor, Jason at first resisted. The old man’s money could go to charity; he wasn’t going to play the game. But after much thought - and the fear of going broke! - he decided to give it a try, just to get the money. What he didn’t know was that each challenge was designed not only as a test but as a character builder and teaching tool - Red called them “gifts, a series of gifts.” It is fascinating to watch the transformation in Jason. He learns the value of hard work, loyalty, giving, family, and several more important qualities needed for a successful and responsible life. Toward the end of the process, he sits down to see a video showing him his next assignment. Grandpa, though of course now gone, knew when making the videos that if, at this point in the process, they were still being shown to Jason by his wise and discerning business partner, Jason had passed the previous tests and could be trusted with the wealth. Almost.  When this latter video begins, Red says, “It’s time for you to learn to dream, Jason.” Like the grandson in the movie, I was riveted to the television. What a concept! I thought. The test of dreaming . Jason was given a very large sum of money, told to dream, and do whatever he wanted with it. And just in case you decide to watch the movie, that’s where I’ll stop. The timing of watching this movie was perfect for me. I was in a season of reexamining my life, analyzing the past, and wrestling with the future. As part of this process I planned a week alone to think and pray. We were living in Colorado at that time. I had a cabin reserved for the week, but when I arrived, it just didn’t feel right. I decided to follow my instincts: This isn’t the place. I called Ceci and asked her to check online for another location, preferably in Estes Park, Colorado. I would start driving in that direction. The place she found was more than perfect. The Americana-themed decor reminded me of my calling, and the altar and a Cross out back reminded me of Moriah, a special place of dreaming mentioned in Scripture (Genesis 22). Though I was unaware of it, God had planned that He and I would dream together in this place. Perhaps you aren’t aware of Moriah and its rich biblical history. It is the mountain where Abraham took Isaac, at God’s instruction, to offer him as a sacrifice. God stopped him from doing so, of course. He had only wanted to paint a picture of Himself offering His Son on the altar of the cross centuries later. Moriah was the actual place where this would occur! There, on that momentous mountain, Abraham and God dreamed together. Abraham was told to envision the day he would have so many descendants they would be a great nation. God envisioned the day He would recapture His dream of family. And though Abraham didn’t yet understand it, the two dreams were intricately entwined. God would use this patriarch’s dream to recapture His. Messiah would come through the nation Abraham would birth.  God had big dreams for another nation: America. Some people find it ludicrous to think Yahweh birthed America for His purpose, His dream. Indeed, some find the assertion heretical, screaming, “Christian nationalism! God would never create a nation for the primary purpose of announcing the good news that Abraham’s nation was used to birth. He no longer raises up and uses nations. He only uses individuals now.” How ridiculous. He is Lord over the nations (Psalm 22:28). Acts 17:26 tells us He appoints the times and boundaries of nations; Daniel 2:21 informs us that He chooses rulers. Are we to believe that when raising up nations and leaders He never has His most important cause in mind: the redemption of the world through the sacrifice of His Son?!  This destiny on America doesn’t suggest He loves us more than other people. God loves “the world,” every “whosoever,” on the planet (John 3:16). Nor does it imply that other nations don’t have important callings from God. For a nation to be chosen as an “evangelist to the world,” as Robert Hunt prayed over America at Cape Henry in 1607, doesn’t give us elite status, any more than a person called from their birth to be an evangelist does. Yes, it is a very high calling,  but not a high status . God unquestionably raised up America to send the gospel to all the earth. This was His dream for us.  The American Dream of living free and prospering through hard work is good. But it is not the ultimate gift God had in mind for us, any more than it was for Abraham.  “I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee…and thou shalt be a blessing…and in thee shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,” He told Abraham. (Genesis 12:2-3) Fallen human nature caused Americans to forget God’s dream as they pursued their own. He wants to unite the dreams again. As you pursue “the American Dream,” don’t forget His. Pray with me: Father, Your plan for America was very clear: to be a “nation evangelist” to the world. You gave us the liberty and prosperity to make this possible. Like Israel, we failed You, even rebelled from You, many times. But thankfully, Your mercy is greater than our sin; You redeem and restore. Just as You did many times with Israel, You are restoring America back to You and to this purpose.  We will experience a revival that not only saves us, but also restores passion for our destiny. Evangelists will go forth from America’s shores by the thousands, and evangelism will go forth through the airwaves. Your Kingdom will come, Your will be done. Let Your hammer fall where needed, Your fire burn what needs to be burned, and the rain of Holy Spirit fall on our land. Even now, we hear the sound of abundant rain. May Your dreams for Earth’s greatest harvest come true, and may we be a part of this. Our decree: We decree that God’s dream for the greatest of all harvests will be fulfilled, and America will achieve her role.  Much of today’s post was taken from my book DREAM  published by Bethany House (Baker Books). Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Revival Fire and Reforming Zeal On Wednesday, I listened to a portion of the DOGE Congressional subcommittee hearing. It was a clear commentary on America’s broken government. A panel of experts was invited to give the committee insights regarding how our government can save money and become more efficient. One side asked sincere questions; the other played politics and, between chuckles, accused the richest man in the world of working to expose waste in government…in order to enrich himself. Of course, one of those on the Left was literally sworn in on a comic book, so I guess we shouldn’t be terribly surprised. Listening to him feign sincerity when complaining about Musk exposing waste and fraud, then demanding more openness and transparency actually was a bit comical.  One guest expert on the panel explained how our government could save taxpayers $1 trillion annually from fraud alone just by updating to the type of systems that businesses routinely use. T-R-I-L-L-I-O-N!! Every year. Just from fraud. Not one member on the Left was interested in his information. He also pointed out that another trillion dollars - again, trillion - was lost to fraud during Covid, 70% of which went overseas. Still, not one Representative on the Left was interested, acting more like they were in a college debate than an effort to save a nation.  When unbelievable but true amounts of money, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, were mentioned for things like condoms sent abroad, sex change surgeries abroad, support to Al Qaeda, trans research on rats - the list seemed endless - not one person on the Left registered concern. Not one. Their only issue was with the billionaire who is exposing it for free, working for another billionaire who also works for free. If only they were being paid exorbitant amounts, perhaps their efforts would be accepted. And we wonder why America hasn’t been able to get her financial house in order.  By the way, this exposure of trillions in waste and fraud is being called a “constitutional crisis.” Not the waste and fraud, mind you. The exposure. The Left is crying foul because Musk is an “unelected” appointee investigating “unelected” bureaucrats. When that accusation didn’t work, they shopped for the right “unelected” judges to help them stop this “unelected” individual. I know, it’s confusing.  Many Americans have been saying for decades that what America needs in government is a return to common sense. That is certainly true, as Trump has stated repeatedly. Sadly, however, we must add honesty and integrity to the list. The American government needs a good bath; it is filthy. While there are good leaders in our country, there are also many who are corrupt and deceived.  But let’s be honest, this is simply reflective of our nation, in general. Humanism invaded our land with its relativity and lack of moral absolutes. Secularism removed God from education and government, the church lost its voice, and the inevitable consequences are now being witnessed. A decade or more ago, discernment may have been required to see where this was heading. Now, however, one need not be discerning to see it - common sense alone is more than enough.  The problem did not begin in government. It started in the spiritual realm as an attack against God and truth, then invaded education and government. This will have to be reversed. We cannot simply vote or legislate the problems out in our nation. Biblical truth must be restored. If it isn’t, the evil and insanity will just be voted back in. We’ve seen the cycle over and over.  Revival - an outpouring of Holy Spirit producing millions of conversions and a love for God and His Word - will break the cycle. Truth will be restored, making true reformation possible. If we want a healthy and free future for our kids and grandkids, we won’t find it at the ballot box alone. We will achieve it first through a return to God, accompanied by voting for righteous leaders. Revival and reformation - revival feeding reformation - this is the key.  Don’t just watch Trump, his Cabinet, Johnson and righteous House members, Thune and conservative leaders in the Senate, and Judges. Pray for them! They are the scalpels, not the surgeon; hammers, not the carpenter. Only Christ can heal us; except He builds the house, they labor in vain (Psalm 127:1).  Cry out for revival!!! I’m continually amazed that so few churches and believers do so. We should be travailing in intercession, appealing for a great awakening. There is no other hope for America and the world. Find a church that is sounding the alarm and praying accordingly; partner with them. If you can’t find one near you, connect with one online. Support those making a difference, and agree with them.  Pray with me: Father, You told us in Your Word to be diligent and alert to satan’s attacks. We were not. You told us to pray first for government, the entity You established to funnel Your peace, protection, and justice into the Earth. We did not. Through these and other failures, we allowed darkness and deception to invade our nation. We gave them an inch, they took a mile.  Thank You for mercy, and for enlightening us. Now we cry out for a life-giving revival, accompanied by a transforming reformation. Save and heal America. Return us to You and restore our sanity. We appreciate wise leaders, and we pray for their success, but we also pray that they come into a true and strong relationship with You and Your truth. Show them their need for You, and that You must be the source of our nation’s healing and health. Send a revival to our government; then lead them as they reform .  And awaken the church. You began a worship movement in the 1970s that emphasized our connection to You. Indeed, loving and relating to You must always come first. However, we now need the fire of revival; lovers must become laborers, and worshippers must become warriors. We have passion; we need zeal. Please give this to the church. Please.  Our decree: We decree that revival fire and reforming zeal are coming to the church, and to our nation. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

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.