A New Identity In yesterday's post, we began analyzing the word Holy Spirit gave Chuck Pierce: “There will be a return to Gilgal.” We saw that Gilgal was the place Israel first camped and headquartered after they crossed the Jordan River into the promised land. They named it Gilgal because the word means “rolling,” and it was there the Lord said He had “rolled off of them the reproach of Egypt.” We also saw that this pictured all of humankind’s redemption and the rolling away of our reproach at the Cross. Israel made Gilgal their headquarters for the next few years. WRITING A NEW IDENTITY By making this their home base for a period of time, God was writing a new identity in their hearts and minds, renewing their minds (Romans 12:1-2). Every time they mentioned their hometown, they were, in essence, saying, “the reproach is rolled away.” When the men, after venturing into new regions and conquering new territories, said, “let’s head home to Gilgal,” they were literally saying, “let’s go back to the place where the reproach of slavery was rolled away.” Dozens - perhaps hundreds - of times, the Israelites announced to one another, “The reproach is gone; we’re no longer slaves.” Yahweh wanted them to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they were no longer oppressed, bound, and without purpose. They were conquerors - more than conquerors. As descendants of Abraham, who was in covenant with God, they also were in covenant with God. They were Yahweh’s partners in redeeming the world; He actually intended to bless all the nations of the earth through them (Genesis 12:1-3). Imagine that - from slavery to partnering with God in saving the world! This truth had to be written in their minds and implanted in their hearts until it was stronger than all past knowledge and experience. TWO MEMORIALS The Lord also had them build memorials to remind them of this. After crossing the Jordan, Joshua and the Israelites were told by the Lord to build two memorials there, constructed of 12 stones each. One was to be built IN the riverbed, before the water flowed back. The Jordan was so shallow that most of the time, the memorial would be seen protruding from the water. The Lord told them, “This shall be a sign among you; when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them, ‘That the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:6-7 NASB) The other memorial was constructed on the Canaan side of the Jordan (Joshua 4:8). Both were “altars of remembrance” and picture our Communion meal. Remember, the crossing of the Jordan pictured the Cross and Resurrection. And these two memorials symbolized Communion, through which we “remember” the Lord’s death (the Memorial IN the Jordan), and His resurrection (the Memorial on the Canaan/inheritance side). Please notice: there was no altar of remembrance built on the wilderness (slavery, sin, and death) side of the Jordan! After we place our faith in the sacrifice of Christ, God remembers our past no more (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 10:14-18). And He does not want us to remember the shame of our past, either. Build no memorial there! And if you have built one, tear it down! CORPORATE CLEANSING Through this amazing typology, the Lord is saying to us, “When you look back at your past, your history - sin, slavery, the curse, shameful acts, pains, brokenness, and spiritual death - instead of your shame, you will now see only a memorial to the Cross, that which rolled it all away! There will be no memorial on death’s side! Forget that! Live at Gilgal, the place where the reproach of sin and slavery was rolled away!” We are told in Psalm 103:6-14 that the Lord removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. Listen to all of these verses: “The Lord performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, and His deeds to the sons of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in mercy. He will not always contend with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our guilty deeds. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our wrongdoings from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our form; He is mindful that we are nothing but dust.” (Psalm 103:6-14 NASB) We often think of these as blessings God gives individuals. But at Gilgal, He gave them to a nation. Holy Spirit wants to grace America and other nations of the world with these blessings today. When enough people in a nation turn to the Lord, it’s as though a corporate salvation occurs. Corporate blessing, corporate healing and restoration, corporate life - they all flow to the nation. Revival will produce this. I pray that every Christian, every congregation in America would cry out for Revival. If they would only realize this is our only hope of survival! Evil and depravity are destroying us from within; the dragon and the bear are crouching at our door. America will either turn back to God and experience revival, or she will be attacked from without, just as she has been from within. Yes, I believe America shall be saved. But I believe our prayers and actions affect the timing. And consequently, they have the potential to ward off much devastation that would be caused by further delays. We are praying that further pain and suffering not be required in order for Americans to wake up. CIRCUMCISION AND PASSOVER After crossing the Jordan and building the memorials, Israel renewed their covenant with Yahweh through circumcision and celebrating Passover. These two covenantal acts of obedience had been abandoned by the previous generation in the wilderness. They were renewed at Gilgal. Passover was another picture of the Cross, and circumcision symbolized the cutting away of flesh - the “old man” - that occurs when we are born again. “…and in Him, you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross.” (Colossians 2:11-14 NASB) Let’s pray this for America. Pray with me: Father, returning to Gilgal means we return to the message of the Cross. We return to the place where our sins are cleansed and the reproach is lifted. We cross over into newness, healing, renewed purpose, and destiny. This is why You have been instructing us to take Communion together more frequently. You are reminding us of what Christ did at Calvary and is offering us today. Psalm 103:8 says You are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. Verse 11 says as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is Your lovingkindness toward those who fear You. Lord, the beauty of intercession is that we can pray and lay hold of promises such as this, not only for ourselves, but also for others. We ask for it today for our nation. Release Your mercy and lovingkindness to us through mega grace and power (Acts 4:33). Circumcise the heart of this nation and free us from the flesh that rules us. And we turn ourselves to prayer for those suffering in Syria and Turkey. Our hearts break for them. Though most of them do not know and serve You, You love them. Do something through this tragedy to open hearts to the Gospel, to a revelation of Jesus Christ. May those who know You and are supplying relief and care be given open doors to share You with people. We have long believed there will be a revival in the Middle East. Send this, we pray. Comfort those who are hurting, save those who are alive and need to be rescued. Pour out Your mercy, Lord. In Christ’s name, we ask. Amen. Our decree: We decree that there WILL be a return to Gilgal. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

A Word of Hope “Are you hearing from Holy Spirit anything I need to know?” I recently asked my friend, Chuck Pierce. “Well, I’ve been hearing a phrase in my spirit,” he said. “I’m not sure all that it means; perhaps you’re supposed to teach on it. The phrase is, ‘There will be a return to Gilgal.’” “Huh?” I replied with a bewildered look. Chuck does this type thing to me. So, while he jets off to prophesy someplace else, I go to my Bible, lexicons, and reference books. The Bible uses something scholars and theologians call “typology,” or “types and shadows.” This simply means God used events in the Old Testament to symbolize or picture events that will occur in the New. He also used people as “types.” Elijah, for example, was a type or foreshadowing of John the Baptist, Elisha pictured Christ. Gilgal, as well as events associated with it, is one of these Old Testament places that pictures New Testament truths. Incredibly important truth, as we shall see, and very relevant for us today. GILGAL We find Gilgal in the book of Joshua, which has several of these “types.” Holy Spirit’s phrase to Chuck could not possibly be understood without examining a few of them. So, for the next couple of days we shall mine the gold from “there will be a return to Gilgal.” It will be fairly in-depth teaching, revealing several of these symbolisms and various word pictures - be prepared to think! As you see these truths, the revelation will be a great blessing and encouragement to you. I promise. Joshua is an incredible book of Scripture, one of my favorites. In this great book Israel is able to finally possess their promised inheritance, and this is a picture of the entire human race finally receiving back our lost inheritance through Christ. It stands to reason, therefore, that we would see the Fall, Christ, the Cross, the Resurrection and more, typified or pictured in this amazing book. Having taught the book of Joshua a few times, I’m somewhat familiar with Gilgal. It was the place Israel first settled after crossing the Jordan River (Joshua 4.19), and Gilgal became their headquarters for several years as they conquered the land of Canaan. In a sense, it was their temporary capital. The name Gilgal means “rolling.” One might think they named this settlement “the place of rolling” because it was there Yahweh rolled back the waters of the Jordan river, allowing them to cross over. This is not the reason, however. Actually He did not even “roll back” the waters, He cut off the flow of water upstream. They named it Gilgal because this was where God said He had rolled off of them the reproach or shame of their slavery, their captivity in Egypt (Joshua 5:9). This was all intended by God to be a picture of the entire human race being delivered from our spiritual slavery, and receiving our inheritance through Christ. Obviously, then, “returning to Gilgal” means leaving our reproach, our slavery, and once again possessing our inheritance in Christ. JOSHUA But there is so much more detail in this picture painted by Yahweh. It is nothing short of amazing. Even the geography and topography of the area was used by Him. Joshua was a “type” of Christ; he gave Israel their inheritance, Jesus gave us ours. His name actually confirms this. Joshua’s full name was Jehoshua; Joshua is simply a shortened form. It comes from yasha, the root word for Yeshua. The name means “Jehovah is salvation,” and is the Hebrew counterpart for the name “Jesus.” Joshua’s name, essentially, was Jesus. (It had originally been Hoshea (Numbers 13:16), but Moses changed it - no doubt at the leading of Holy Spirit - to facilitate being a picture of Jesus, our salvation. Amazing - the one who gave Israel their inheritance had the same name as He who gave us ours!) CROSSING THE JORDAN The Jordan River pictures humankind’s spiritual death, that which “flowed” to us from Adam. Notice the geographical, topographic “map” and city location God prepared over time to picture this. Incredibly, twenty miles or so up river from this location, there was actually a town named Adam. From there the river flowed southward through the Arabah, which means “desert, sterile, or barren,” and emptied into the lowest point on earth, the Dead (Salt) Sea, where nothing can live. Could there be any doubt that even this geography - a river, flowing from Adam, into barrenness, arriving eventually at earths lowest point, feeding into the Dead Sea - was formed by God to picture Adam, his fall, and the fruit of his sin flowing downstream into the sea of humanity? None. THE ARK AND MERCY SEAT That is why the Ark of the Covenant, covered by the Mercy Seat where the atoning blood was sprinkled, was required to enter the Jordan first (Joshua 3:11-13). It pictures Christ, entering into death for us at the Cross, and then sprinkling His atoning blood on the Mercy Seat of heaven - the only thing that could cut off the flow of death that began at Adam. This is also why when the Ark entered the Jordan and the flow was cut off, it was not just stopped upstream a mile or so, enough distance to allow several hundred thousand people and animals to cross. It was cut off almost 20 miles upstream at the town of Adam! “Then the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off...” (Joshua 3:16; NASB) Let that sink in. At Gilgal, God painted a literal picture of Christ entering into death for us, conquering it, and cutting off its flow at the source. What a picture! CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST Joshua was instructed by the Lord to have the priests who carried the Ark and bloodstained Mercy Seat into the Jordan, to remain in the riverbed until all of Israel was across. Why? Because all the people entering along with the Ark pictured us being “crucified with Christ,” (Galatians 2:20). Obviously, then, exiting the other side of the Jordan pictures Christ’s and our resurrection. Out of death, into our inheritance, and living at Gilgal - where the reproach was lifted. Amazing. There is even more understanding for us regarding the rich symbolism of Gilgal. We will pursue that tomorrow. For today, realize that returning to Gilgal calls us to a fresh revelation of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, and our identification with it. It is remembering that He broke the curse of sin and death, its shame, and now invites us to live with Him in the power of His resurrection. This is our inheritance, the “promised land.” And I am confident He desires to do the same for our nation. America can return to Gilgal. And we will! Pray with me: Father, You are more than amazing. In ways no human could ever have even imagined, You hid pictures of Christ, the Cross, and our great redemption done through history. You even fashioned geography and topography to do this. Truly, You are beyond description. There is no one like You. Thank You for Gilgal, for removing our reproach, our shame. Thank You for sending Jesus into death, restoring to us our lost inheritance. And thank You for doing so with such finality that our past is not even remembered. As we ponder these things our faith is stirred to believe that You can do this for our nation…that such an incredible revival can take place it will lift off of an entire nation the reproach of sin and shame. Do this, please. Send us back to Gilgal! We pray this in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that there will be a return to Gilgal! Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Patton and Prayer We are in a “winner take all” spiritual war for the soul of America. The Left certainly knows this and has pulled out all the stops. They no longer even attempt to masquerade their attempts at taking over our nation. Winning by persuasion and numbers alone is no longer their plan; they also use force, laws, lies, and intimidation. The fruit of allowing humanistic ideals to control our nation is now in complete manifestation: God is “allowed” only in homes and churches; education has devolved into leftist indoctrination and recruitment; amorality prevails (which is what humanism teaches); the Bible is not recognized as the infallible Word of God, and its principles are considered antiquated; America - at its roots - is considered bad/evil, socialism is good; the media cannot be trusted; law enforcement is evil and violence is to be tolerated; truth no longer matters, lying to advance an agenda is perfectly acceptable. The average American, even those who do not profess to be Christians, shakes her or his head in wonder asking, “How did we get to this point?” The strongholds which now exist will never be fully overcome only in the legislative chambers, courtrooms, and classrooms of America. A Third Great Awakening MUST occur to reawaken the conscience of millions in America. Yes, much else must be done, but without an awakening, there is no solution. The awakening has begun and is being produced by the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, declaring God’s word, prayer, fasting, spiritual warfare, and obedience to God and His Word. All of these activities release spiritual power. One of the people I learned the most about regarding prayer, Gordon Lindsay, said the following about spiritual warfare: “I pray at least one violent prayer every day.” He was referring, obviously, to Matthew 11:12: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” This verse is not speaking of physical violence. It is referring to the release of spiritual power/violence, in the spiritual realm, to tear down spiritual strongholds. Lindsay took literally Christ’s statement that we would use His authority to bind and loose demonic powers. (Matthew 16:18-19) He did so daily, and the fruit of his prayers is immeasurable. The world is different today because of the ministry and life of Gordon Lindsay. Our amazing friend, Quin Sherrer, wrote the following regarding prayer and the spiritual battle we are in, highlighting General George Patton. Quin quotes him as saying: ‘“I am a soldier. I fight where I am told. I win where I fight.’ That quote by General George S. Patton is displayed at the museum honoring him at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. “An intercessor friend who saw it during a visit there commented: ‘That should be our attitude when fighting God’s enemy through prayer and spiritual warfare, especially with what’s happening in our nation. God needs Christians with a warrior’s spirit,’ she said. “‘Patton attended the Virginia Military Institute and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He studied fencing and designed the M1913 Cavalry Saber, more commonly known as the Patton Saber. He also competed in the modern pentathlon in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.’(1) As a U. S. Army general, Patton’s leadership was strategic in winning battles. “‘George Smith Patton Jr. (1885–1945) was a general who commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean theater of World War II, and the Third United States Army in France and Germany after the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. ‘“Patton conducted a highly successful rapid armored drive across France. Under his decisive leadership, the Third Army took the lead in relieving beleaguered American troops at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, after which his forces drove deep into Nazi Germany by the end of the war.’(2) “Some of Patton’s language to his troops was laced with words that ladies at afternoon tea would not approve, he once admitted. But he said his men did. ‘Patton's philosophy of leading from the front, and his ability to inspire troops was usually favorably received by them…[His] colorful image, hard-driving personality, and success as a commander were at times overshadowed by his controversial public statements.’(3) “Biographers say Patton believed in prayer. Here is one of his statements for his troops: ‘Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for battle. Pray for the defeat of our wicked enemy whose banner is injustice and whose god is oppression. Pray for victory. Pray for our Army and pray for peace. We must march together, all out for God.’(4) “General Patton once told his men, ‘You must acquire the warrior’s soul.’ Here is another strong quote of his: ‘There are three ways that men get what they want; by planning, by working, and by praying. Any great military operation takes careful planning or thinking. Then you must have well-trained troops to carry it out: that's the working. But between the plan and the operation, there is always an unknown. That unknown spells defeat or victory, success or failure. It is the reaction of the actors to the ordeal when it actually comes. Some people call that getting the breaks; I call it God. God has His part or margin in everything, that's where prayer comes in.’(5) “Prayer and spiritual warfare must be used when God’s enemies and ours, satan and his demonic forces, attempt to wreak havoc in our families, communities, and nations. We battle the enemy to break his assignment, using the weapons God has provided for us: His Word, the name and blood of Jesus, Holy Spirit’s power. “Paul instructs Christians that their struggle is not with flesh and blood but with invisible principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness. He says to resist the ‘wiles of the devil’ - the enemy’s evil schemes - by putting on the whole armor of God, taking a stand, praying in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests, and staying alert. (Ephesians 6:18 NIV). “Of course, Christ’s victory over satan is complete. Yet, we have a role in enforcing that victory. God is looking for those with a ‘warrior spirit’ to see corruption unveiled and truth prevail in our nation.” ‘How does this warrior spirit translate into action today against the spiritual giants of our land? Obviously, it begins with prayer - spiritual warfare. But there is more. Standing for truth, voting out of office individuals with unbiblical ideals, giving to righteous causes, speaking out against all that oppose the rule of God, loving our enemies - overcoming evil with good - all are ways by which we war.(6) Jesus won, we are enforcing His victory, and we will see the full manifestation in our lives and nation. Pray with me: Father, as we stand in the gap for our nation, cities, and families, we declare that the power of the blood of Jesus breaks every chain of bondage. Let every scheme of evil be exposed and thwarted before they can be carried out. We declare that no weapon formed against our nation shall prosper. Every tongue that would rise up against us in judgment will be exposed and cast down. We pray for the manifold wisdom of God to rest upon all who are in authority over our country. May truth and discernment guide every decision they make in their public and private lives. May unrighteous officials currently in office be replaced by those who will serve with integrity. We cry for justice and mercy, truth and righteousness to be established. We decree that the enemy’s tactics and assignments aligned against our citizens and country will be exposed and demolished. Justice will prevail. Christians across this land with a warrior’s spirit will continue to cry out and stand in the gap, ushering in the next Great Awakening with a great harvest of souls. We thank You in the name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we are more than conquerors through Christ! Portions of today’s post were contributed by our dear friend, author, and seasoned intercessor, Quin Sherrer. You can find out more about Quin at QuinSherrer.com Click on the link below to watch full video. ___________________________ 1. George S. Patton, enen.wikipedia.org › wiki 2. Ibid. 3. Ibid. 4. https://www.azquotes.com/author/11404-George_S_Patton 5. https://libquotes.com/george-s-patton/quotes/god 6. Quin Sherrer and Ruthanne Garlock, A Woman’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare, (Minneapolis, Minnesota, Chosen Books, 217), 220.

Love Crosses the Divide On Tuesday, when introducing this week’s emphasis on generational synergy and the importance of legacy, I mentioned my mom and grandmother. They loved Jesus, lived godly lives, and prayed for their kids and grandkids EVERY day. No finer people ever lived. I like to think they are watching this week’s posts with us - after all, they are part of the great cloud of “witnesses” - enjoying the fruit of their labors. Perhaps Abba, when one of their kids, grandkids or great grandkids does something for His Kingdom, glances their way and winks while mouthing a “thank-you.” Today’s post is written by our daughter, Sarah (Weinberg), and me. Sarah chose the topic and did most of the work. Not surprisingly, she chose the subject of “love.” Sarah is a lover of people…and dogs, and cats, and birds, and… Jesus, of course, walked in perfect love. He demonstrated that we could speak out against evil, stand for truth, reject hypocrisy, and make other righteous stands - all while loving perfectly. Christ epitomized loving the person while rejecting the sin, even to the point of stating from the Cross - the most heinous, unjust and evil act in history - “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) He expects us to emulate Him. We all just love the verses, “You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy? But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44). Ouch! In today’s post, Sarah does a wonderful job of reminding us that if we are to embody, represent, and reveal Christ - and heal the divisions in our land - it will be through our love. She says: “When my dad asked me to write a ‘15,’ I asked him if it would be ok if I give my perspective on the many divisions we are currently seeing in our culture. I’m grateful that he trusts my ‘millennial perspective’ on this topic, and I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you all today. “When thinking about the many divisions we see in the culture of America right now (racial, political, and religious to name a few) I asked myself these questions: ‘If Jesus were right here, walking among us and leading the church of America in this time, what would He say to the people who don’t know Him? How would He love them? How would he speak about them when they weren’t around? What would He say to heal their hurting, bitter, angry, or deceived hearts? “These questions led me into a season of soul searching, because what I am frequently hearing spoken by we, the church, is not what I believe Jesus would be speaking. I think, perhaps, the culture of division we are so surrounded by in America has crept into the culture of the church. Have we forgotten how to see people as people? A person with a different political persuasion is a person. Someone with different views on sexuality is a person. An individual who espouses a different religion is a person. Each of them deserves love and kindness, and I believe anything else grieves God’s heart. “As I said, I am a millennial. My generation, along with Gen X, is sandwiched between the hardworking, confident Baby Boomers and the free-spirited, compassionate Gen Z. I endeavor to see and appreciate the perspectives of each generation, and have often thought about how generational gaps can be bridged. I was pondering this as I watched my dad on Flashpoint last week. He spoke about a vision he had in 2001. In the vision, he saw how hard it was going to be to disciple the younger generation in the coming move of God without cramming religion down their throats. How do we do this? How do we bridge this great divide? I truly believe the answer isn’t as complicated as we often make it. It’s as simple as WE LOVE THEM! Just as they are. 1 John 4:19 (TPT) says, ‘Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.’ It’s wonderful when He simplifies things for us. “It can be tempting for us to want to love someone for who we believe they should and could be. But we can accept and love people as they are without agreeing with their beliefs or lifestyles, and this is how the divide can be crossed. Love creates bridges, whereas judgment only widens the chasm. God’s love conquers hate - every single time. When you don’t know what to do, love is the response, and love is the answer.” “One of America’s greatest adversaries in World War II was Mitsuo Fuchida, the Japanese general commander who led the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. He was a hero to the Japanese, hated by the Americans. “Shortly after the attack, Jake DeShazer enlisted in the U.S. Air Force with a personal vendetta against Commander Fuchida and the Japanese. He participated in Jimmy Doolittle’s secret bombing raid over Tokyo four months after Pearl Harbor. During the mission, however, DeShazer’s plane ran out of fuel and he was forced to land in Japanese-occupied China. Captured by the Japanese, he was held as a prisoner of war for more than 3 years. “Being close to death due to starvation and torture, DeShazer begged his captors for a Bible. After reading many passages, he gave his heart to Jesus. ‘I suddenly discovered God had given me new spiritual eyes,’ he later said. ‘I found my bitter hatred for them [the Japanese] changed to love.’ “DeShazer’s salvation gave him physical strength and purpose for living. When the war ended, he was released, fully recovered, returned to the United States and enrolled in a Bible college. Upon his graduation, he returned to Japan, only this time he brought love and a message of hope, instead of hatred. Years later, Mitsuo Fuchida, the Japanese commander was stepping off a train in Tokyo when an American missionary handed him a pamphlet entitled, ‘I Was a Prisoner of Japan,’ written by DeShazer. Impressed with the peace DeShazer had found in Scripture, the desperately unhappy Fuchida purchased a Bible and began studying it. He was struck by the words of Jesus: ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34). He realized he was one of those for whom Christ had prayed. “‘I requested him to forgive my sins and change me from a bitter, disillusioned ex-pilot into a balanced person with purpose in living,’ he said. ‘I would give anything to retract my actions at Pearl Harbor...but it is impossible.’ “This man, who led the raid of death, spent the last twenty-five years of his life as an ‘ambassador of peace’ sharing the message of love and forgiveness.”(1) “If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal. And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing. “And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value. “Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when a blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up. Love never stops loving. “It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away. It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent. Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten. Our present knowledge and our prophecies are but partial, but when love’s perfection arrives, the partial will fade away. When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways. “For now, we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.” (‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭TPT‬‬)(2) Pray with me: Father, You have loved us with an everlasting love. When we were still Your enemies, You loved us. We marvel and say along with our brother, Paul, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). Thank You, Father, for not sparing Your Son. As we focus on the power of Christ’s sacrifice today, not only do we celebrate forgiveness and cleansing, we remember that we were also given His nature, His mind. We are righteous, overcomers, warriors, servants, givers, and lovers. And the greatest of these is love. We remember this as we take Communion today, and pledge to allow Christ’s love to - as Paul stated - make us its prisoner (2 Corinthians 5:14). (Take the bread) And now, we take the cup. As we drink the juice, we remember Your passionate love of people, Your Abba nature, Your giving heart. And we desire to be like You. Awaken Your nature of love in us, that we might love the unlovely, even our enemies. As we drink this cup today, we remember love. (Drink the juice) Today’s post was contributed by our daughter, Sarah Weinberg. Sarah is the mother of our two wonderful grandchildren whom she homeschools. She and her husband, Blake, work alongside us at DSM and make their home in beautiful South Carolina. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ________________________ 1. Quin Sherrer and Ruthanne Garlock, God Be With Us - a Daily Guide to Praying for Our Nation (Grand Rapids, MI: FaithWords Publishing, 2001). 2. https://bible.com/bible/1849/1co.13.1-13.TPT

But Then A Light Ceci and I have been blessed with two beautiful daughters. They are both wonderful ladies and make us proud. Today’s post comes from our daughter, Hannah (Magness); tomorrow’s is co-written by Sarah (Weinberg) and me, and will include communion. As we look this week at the power of generational synergy and legacy, I trust you are being stirred, challenged and blessed. Hannah begins: “I’ve been a dreamer my whole life, especially of places I’ve never been and people I’ve never met. One of my favorite imagination games as a child was to take a globe and pick a random country. I’d look at its borders, the names of cities, topography, and imagine what it was like there. I’d create a grand story in my imagination about its history and the people who lived there. Then, I’d go into my dad’s library and pull out his old Encyclopedia Britannica books, thumb through to find that country, and read what it had to say. Was I usually close? Not at all. But still, I never tired of this game. Because imagining the country, and then reading about it, was like getting to meet it twice. Now that I’ve made a career working in some of those countries I used to dream about, I’ve met them again. “Meeting these lands has been more beautiful and challenging and sacred than I ever imagined it to be as a child. I’ve learned more about the similarities we share across humanity. And the differences used as banners across culture, politics, and religion. When I was 18, I had an imagination meets education meets reality moment the first time I went to the Middle East. I quickly knew that these nations were somehow in my heart, before ever visiting. I arrived to find purpose had gone before me. “Now, several years later, I work in the Middle East running a nonprofit organization. I’ve had the privilege of meeting these nations over and over again. Their light and their dark. Their joy and their pain. I’d like to share one of those stories with you today. This particular story is one I hold close to my heart. The faces and feelings it holds stay with me. “A few years ago, our staff was doing a food and clothing distribution on a very, very cold winter day. We were in the downtown area of a city that had become a haven for Syrian refugees fleeing that country’s civil war and, later, ISIS. Our organization had long been working in this city. On distribution days, our staff often receive multiple offers to come into the homes of those we serve for a meal or a drink. Arab culture has a big focus on hospitality, so this is truly a common invitation. Most days, we are too busy to take anyone up on their hosting offer, and politely decline. On this particularly bitter-cold, rainy winter day, I said yes. “I don’t know what was different this time and why I accepted. Maybe it was just because we were all so cold. But when we finished the distribution, we followed the kind woman Khadijah(1) up the street to her apartment. The entrance was a narrow, metal door in between street-level businesses. In we went, heading up four flights of broken cement stairs with rebar sticking out in several places, seeking the promise of a cup of tea to warm our hands. “As soon as we reached the apartment, welcomed by Khadijah and her daughters, I knew I would never forget this day, or these faces.⁠ ⁠ “We all sat together on the cold floor, circling around a small gas heater to warm our hands, drinking tea. As we slowly warmed up, we chatted with this family. As we did, an unimaginable story began to flow out of their memories and spill from their mouths, a story of the deepest darkness, the likes of which I could never imagine. ⁠As I listened, sipping tea and trying to get warm, my heart broke. My eyes flooded and spilled over with tears. And when it seemed that the story simply couldn’t get any darker, it did.⁠ “Pain, violence, brutality, fear, death. All of the worst kinds of stories you hear from war. Women taken advantage of, girls bought and sold like household goods, abuse of the worst kind, loss of property, loss of family, male relatives ripped from family, lives lost, and evil hunting you down. Khadijah’s story held it all.⁠ ⁠ “As I was sitting there listening to Khadijah’s story, tears kept rolling down my face. We all cried. Some of us cried and listened; others cried and remembered. I honestly didn’t know if I could take much more listening. The secondhand heartbreak alone was too much. “But then, spoken softly in a hushed room, a light…⁠ “When the time came that there were no options left in her home country - after the severe loss of people, places, and things - Khadijah fled in the darkness of night with her five daughters. No male relatives were left. “The two oldest daughters carried all they could. The next two held on to the skirt of their mother’s dress. The youngest, still a baby, was held in her mother’s arms. “Khadijah said the darkness of night was her best opportunity to flee without being caught. But it still held plenty of its own terrors and risks. For multiple nights in a row, they ran. Hiding through the day. Chasing an idea of hope that they couldn’t quite see yet. “Even while trapped in a darkness deeper than I could have imagined, Khadijah persisted. She'd heard rumors of freedom, stories of people who fled and survived. So she chased the hope in the rumors. “As you can probably guess, Khadijah and her daughters made it to safety. After several days of fleeing atrocities, they arrived at a border crossing and found physical safety. It was at this point that Khadijah realized the hope was more than a rumor. So, she kept chasing it all the way. All the way to a job, to an apartment, to food on the table, to a new place to call home for herself and her daughters. “I’ll never forget the day I walked up those flights of broken steps and met a woman who reminded me of the deep resilience of humanity. Of the way, even when we seem trapped in the deepest of darkness, a pinprick of light can keep us going and lead us to a tomorrow holding hope. “The state of our world reminds me often of Khadijah’s story. The darkness in our lives likely has different names than what she knew. But it is darkness just the same. It can seem as though darkness is all around us sometimes. When you face this in your life, I hope you remember that there is no darkness that light cannot lift. Tragedy will give way…the darkness will lift…the sun will rise. “And if you ever find yourself without hope, chase the stories like Khadijah did. Even if they seem like rumors. Because hope isn't a rumor. It's real. My hope for you is that you will find a little more of it today. “‘If you’re stumbling in the dark, Run your hands against the walls Find every window and every door Throw them open, throw them open It will flood a blinding light And it will chase away the night Even if you shield your eyes, Let it pour in, let it pour in.’ -Lyrics from the song Gallows, by Jess Ray”(2) Pray with me: As we have read and heard today about searching for light and chasing hope, we pray for those endeavoring to do so. Give them strength in their weakness, relief from their pain, and the fortitude to persevere. We pray that the Khadijah’s of the world find freedom, healing and new beginnings. And we pray that we would become the light-bearers You intend us to be. Awaken us to a deeper sense of purpose, of destiny, of being difference-makers. As we live lives that, for most of us, are comfortable and well provisioned, remind us of those who have not, and that we are called to help. Send a worldwide revival. When nations turn to You, love replaces hate, curses are broken, and darkness flees. Strengthen and provide for those working toward this - Heart of Mercy and others like them, going to the dark places of the earth. Meet every need with abundant provision. We ask for all of this in Christ’s name, amen. Our decree: We decree that the light we carry will always overcome the darkness. Always. Today’s post was contributed by our daughter, Hannah Magness. Hannah is the Executive Director of Heart of Mercy, a non-profit organization that provides holistic care to children and families in the Middle East on their journey out of poverty and towards a healthy and vibrant future. You can learn more about their work at HeartofMercy.global Click the link to watch today's video: _____________________________ Name changed to respect privacy. https://youtu.be/5pupsopSaJ8

The Full Measure of Jesus This week I am honoring the godly heritage my siblings and I were given, by posting GH15s written by several of my family members. I wrote Monday’s post, yesterday’s was written by my niece, Rachel Shafer (Tim’s and Carol‘s daughter). Today’s post was written by my brother, Tim Sheets, known and loved by many. His messages are always so encouraging. Tomorrow I will be sharing a post written by one of my daughters. I trust that these family posts will inspire you to believe in the importance of generational synergy and legacy. Give thanks today for a natural or spiritual parent who has passed on to you heavenly treasures. Tim says: “An incredible promise was given by the prophet Joel and repeated by Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). This promise was of a worldwide outpouring of heavenly power upon all flesh. This deluge began at Pentecost and continues to be poured out, wave after wave. Another is beginning. A Jesus movement greater than any in our past is going to sweep through the nations, saving many, transforming cultures and impacting governments. To facilitate this, God has planned great change this year. In 2023, we will see a glorious church further emerge, rising and standing by her King. In Ephesians 5, Paul wrote an amazing, hope-filled verse concerning the glorious church that would one day be seen on planet Earth. Holy Spirit has been preparing the true New Testament church for this promise and plan, which is part of reaping the ripened harvest. I believe this process is going to accelerate toward fulfillment in greater ways this year. “The maturing Ekklesia will be a church that stands for the Word of God, follows truth and walks in His ways. A church that rises above a liberal, progressive, hybrid gospel will be seen, one filled with born again heirs doing the same works as Jesus. This church will unashamedly stand and embrace covenant relationship with the King at levels we have never seen. “Centuries of Holy Spirit training and teachings are coming to maturity. Christ’s anointing will bring out the best of His bride, His body. The King is going to dress His bride in dazzling garments and put upon her radiant holiness, then present her in glorious beauty without stain or wrinkle. I believe we are moving into an era when the King will present His glorious Ekklesia to the world in remarkable ways. “This presentation will shock many who look at the church as weak, irrelevant and nonessential. Sadly, in some ways this description has been true, but Holy Spirit has been working consistently to build a true church, an Ekklesia, that the gates of hell will not overcome (Matthew 16:18-19). The King promised He would present this church in power and glory. In 2023, I believe the church of Jesus Christ will rise into much greater influence and be seen standing by her King. Like Esther, she will see nations transformed, Hamans overcome, and laws reversed. “The word ‘church,’ of course, is the Greek word ekklesia and is used 113 times in the New Testament.(1) Whenever you see the word ‘church’ in Scripture, it is this word. An ekklesia was a governing body. Biblically, it references a ruling and reigning church, Christ’s body that extends His spiritual Kingdom rule into the natural realm. This is accomplished by preaching the Gospel of Christ’s Kingdom, which transforms hearts and minds, and also by the church using its voice and actions to influence laws, conduct, and government. Jesus says in Matthew 28:19 that His church will actually disciple nations. “In Ephesians 5, Paul uses a metaphor saying that Christ is the ‘head’ of the church and the church is His ‘body.’ Much of what we call church today is not something Jesus is heading up. He is not heading or overseeing anything that is an antithesis of God’s Word. Sadly, many churches today are nominal, meaning ‘in name only.’ The true fulfillment of Ekklesia is the Christ-built church, not the religious, man-built church. “In Ephesians 1:23 Paul says the full measure of Jesus lives in His body, His Ekklesia. We are being prepared to manifest this and the result will be mind blowing. The coming days will absolutely be the greatest in church history. We will demonstrate, not a quarter or half measure of Christ, but a full measure! “This eliminates man-built churches. Christ does not intend to manifest in full measure in any institution that compromises His Word or promotes a leadership filled with iniquity. Holy Spirit has been preparing us to take the complete Jesus into the earth. “Recently, Holy Spirit said to me, ‘The world will see a much bolder New Testament church in 2023. It will see very aggressive Ekklesias moving into their territories, declaring God’s Word and refusing to back down from it. For the world will now see a very bold King - Jesus. They will now see His Kingdom rising in greater glory and prominence. The world’s definition of who Jesus is will not define Him or confine Him. Yes, He is the loving King, the caring King, the forgiving King. But He is also the King who will not wink at sin, pride, rebellion, iniquity, or lawlessness. He will not be the passive King who shrugs at covenant breaking or idol worship. He will not take a backseat to Baal. He will not allow Lucifer to have his way. “‘The world will now see a mighty King who handles conflicts very well. It will see the King’s Kingdom grow, expand, and prosper. It will now see a bold, aggressive Godhead that declares ownership of the earth, that declares changes will be made. The King will use His Ekklesias and angel armies to assist those changes. A new wind is blowing - feel the changes in the wind. See the God-happenings. Planned outpourings are riding the new winds. Kingdom movements are riding the winds. Prophecies and prayers are riding upon the winds. Angel armies are riding the winds. Changes are riding the wind. The heirs and joint heirs will be “wind-riders.” The Ekklesias will become wind farms, generating power from the wind to expand Christ’s Kingdom.’ “Clearly God has plans that are now coming together. This is a year we will ride the wind. The Ekklesias are being anointed, angel armies are being added to the conflict, and the true church will rise in great power and authority. Strongholds will be demolished, natural and spiritual thrones will be overcome. A glorious church will continue to rise and mature until the true Jesus will be seen speaking and acting through her. This is a year of change and victory.” Pray with me: Lord, we rise and decree what we hear You saying into this nation and world. We declare our faith and confidence in You, the One who always sees the future clearly. We ask You to restore destiny and release life. Shift cycles in the spirit realm that affect the natural realm. We declare, in the name of King Jesus, that we will stand as Your Ekklesia, allowing You to speak and act through us. We declare that You will rise through Your Ekklesia. You will rise through angel armies and You will remove principalities from their thrones. Arrogant leaders who promote murder, evil and oppression will be removed. In Jesus Name, we ask You to remove them and install those who are humble. We declare that principalities and powers of darkness ruling territories will be brought down in the Name of Jesus. You said You would breathe upon historic cycles in nations to change and shift them this year. Bring this change and shift things, in Jesus Name. Nothing can confine You. Release the full measure of Christ our warrior King. Move in ways we have been decreeing for years. To You be all the glory and honor. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the glorious church will begin to emerge, rise and stand by her King, and that a full measure of Jesus will be presented to the world! Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about Tim at TimSheets.org Click the link below to watch today's video: ___________________________ 1. Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, ref. no. 1577.

God’s Got This Never underestimate the importance of legacy and generational vision. My sister (Deana), brother (Tim), and I were raised by parents who knew the Lord. Both sets of grandparents did, as well. My maternal grandmother was blinded by eye surgery while a young mom, but I never once heard her complain. Every night before going to bed, she knelt and prayed for all of her children and grandchildren, individually. My mom continued this tradition. Only God knows what I owe to those prayers. This week I am honoring our godly heritage by posting GH15s written by several family members. I wrote yesterday’s post, today’s is from my niece, Rachel Shafer (Tim’s and Carol’s daughter). I hope these “family posts” inspire you to believe in the power of generational synergy and legacy. And if you don’t enjoy the benefit of a godly heritage, perhaps you can begin one. Rachel shares: “There is a war being waged for control of the hearts and minds of our children. Every day, kids of all ages are bombarded with satan’s lies that war against their God-given identities and destinies. Many of our schools and universities are openly teaching demon doctrines (see 1 Timothy 4:1). Traditional sexual identity is being redefined, gender confusion has been declared normal, and the definitions of “woman” and “mother” are being defiled. Our children’s minds are being attacked daily with nonsense and deception. “If the scenarios rampant in today’s culture are confusing to we adults, can you imagine what they are doing to our children? We must change this! Our children need to be emboldened and empowered by knowing who they are in Christ. They must realize their purpose and identity is found in God. As the Lord told Moses during the Exodus: ‘Teach My Word to your children. Explain My ways to them. Talk about them in your homes. Go over My sayings with them as you’re walking along life’s pathways. Then they will have good success.’ (Paraphrase of Deuteronomy 11:18-21 and Joshua 1:8) “The wise King Solomon put it succinctly in Proverbs 22:6 (NCV), ‘Train children to live the right way, and when they are old, they will not stray from it.’ We must point our kids in the right direction; the tried and true direction is God’s way. “My and my dad’s new book, God’s Got This, contains Spirit-led biblical decrees and devotions that will release breakthrough and victory over both young and old. Through this book, you and your family will identify areas under attack and be equipped with the necessary weapons of decree to defeat the enemy. It will mature and equip kids of all ages, inspiring them to live a Spirit-filled life. “God’s Got This is comprised of two sections, one geared for the elementary years and the other for teens into adulthood. All ages will glean wisdom and truth from this book! It is filled with powerful short devotionals, faith-filled decrees and customized prophetic declarations. “Here are some excerpts from our book God’s Got This: Power Decrees to Overcome Problems, Step Into Purpose, and Receive Promises. FEAR “When you were younger you may have been afraid of the dark or thunderstorms or being alone. If any of those fears happened, you probably went to your parents’ room or maybe to a sibling’s. Fear is a very real and powerful emotion. As you have gotten a little older, you may have different fears: fear of the unknown, your future or what others think of you. The list could be quite long. The Bible has much to say about fear and being afraid. “1 John 4:18 says you can be tormented by your fear, but God’s love takes the torment away. When you became a Christian, you received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is God. That means God is with you wherever you are. God knows you will have moments of being fearful. That is why Scriptures say over and over again ‘Do not be afraid.’ “God reminds you again and again that He is always with you. Think about the situations that make you afraid and picture yourself facing those situations with God. The reality is you do not face those situations alone and God is greater than your fears. “My Decrees: I decree that I do not walk in fear. It has no hold on me. I decree that even if it looks like or feels like I am surrounded, I am surrounded with Your love and Your power. I shake off every lie and the torment of fear and declare that in You I have victory, and it is Your perfect love that drives away fear. You are always faithful and You watch over Your Word to perform it. Thank You for being more than enough. Thank You that Your angels are with me! IDENTITY “Who am I? It is a question that is eventually asked by everyone. Identity is a clearly defined definition of self. As a Christian, your identity is understood by your relationship with Jesus. It is important to know what the Bible says about your identity in Christ and not allow society, peers, achievements, or failures to define who you are. “Part of your identity is wrapped up in the story of your life. Things that happen to you help shape and form the essence of who you are. As one who believes in Jesus, trust that He is helping write your story. Place the pen in his hands and see the wonderful things He has planned for you. “The Scriptures clearly explain that you were created in the image of God. You were given your identity so that God could be seen in you. You are to reflect His character so the world can know who He is. Your identity in Christ helps define your values, priorities, passions and purpose. “My Decrees: I decree that God uniquely designed me with characteristics to shape my identity in Him in order for me to walk out my destiny which He has prepared. I decree that I will not be influenced by current culture as to who I am, but that I will be defined by who God says I am, according to His Word. I decree the passions and purpose that God placed in me were written before I was even born. They are part of His design for my life and who I am to be. I decree that angelic assistance will help bring to pass all God has ordained for my life. Thank You, God, for continuing to write my story. “God’s Got This is filled with 180 devotions and over 700 decrees to speak over yourself and others in every season of life. It covers a wide range of topics, from how to handle difficult circumstances, to knowing our spiritual authority in Christ. When you decree God’s truth, your mind is renewed and you become rooted in a healthy, Bible-based identity. Let this book equip you with powerful truths and declarations to stand against the enemy’s lies, and to walk in the truth of your divine destiny!” Pray with me: Lord, we declare that our hope, trust, and faith are in You. We are thankful that our lives, as well as those of our children and their offspring are in Your mighty hands. We pray that the truths in this book will become firmly rooted in those who read it. We rebuke the enemy’s attack on our children and youth. We bind confusing and lying spirits, and pray for the release of truth and revelation. We call forth the destiny of our kids, our teens, and our grown children - none shall be lost! They are not out of Your reach! Lord, we pray for an outpouring of Your Spirit on our sons, daughters and grandchildren. We decree a revival among our youth and declare a release of an awakening. Our children will sing Your songs, dream Your dreams and minister under the anointing of Your Holy Spirit. They will be mighty members of Your Kingdom. Hell will not stop this. We pray that they will walk out their God-given destiny and grow into Your promises for their lives. We ask for transformative change to come into our education system. Give us leaders who will promote Your ways and values. In Jesus Name! Amen! Our decree: We decree that You will pour Your Spirit out on all flesh. Our sons and daughters will prophesy! Click the link to watch today's video: God’s Got This was written by my niece Rachel Shafer along with her dad, Tim Sheets (my brother). It is available at their websites listed below or for pre-order on Amazon. You can learn more about Rachel Shafer and order God’s Got This at www.rachelshafer.com You can learn more about Tim Sheets and order this book at www.timsheets.org

The Flame of Passion God loves wholeheartedness. Divided and lukewarm hearts, on the other hand, nauseate Him (see Revelation. 3:15 - 26). He refuses to tolerate indifference. The Almighty epitomizes passion and, to those who accept it, offers to share with them His passionate love of people. If we are going to turn America back to Him, we must be a people of extreme passion. I love the definitions of these two words, “extreme” and “passion,” when applying them to the cause of Christ: “The greatest possible degree of intensity” – that’s exactly what our cause requires. “Beyond the norm” – right on. Status quo desire will never change America. The liberals, humanists, and antichrist forces in America have been far more passionate about their cause than have we, the body of Christ. “The point farthest from the middle” – I love that! No middle ground. “Intensely emotional” – you bet. Of all the accusations made toward me, I don’t want lack of intensity to be one of them. Passionless Christianity is a contradiction. I’m certainly not setting the standard for passion and commitment - many believers convict me with their level of passion for Christ and His cause - but I’m working on mine. My goal is to always burn with extreme passion! Pioneers are Cause-Minded David had the kind of zealous love for God I’m speaking of. When listening to Goliath mock the Lord, he quickly reached his limit. “Who is this guy to curse the living God in the name of his false gods?“ David asked. Then he asked the poignant and loaded question, “Is there not a cause?“ (1 Samuel 17:29, KJV). Through this rhetorical question, David was declaring, “The ramifications of this threat are bigger than just the nation of Israel; they’re more important than our lands, and even our lives. God’s reputation is at stake!” Perhaps this is why David actually ran to face the 9 1/2-foot-tall giant. Death was possible, yes, but David’s passion for God was stronger than his fear of death. We must have Davids in our day who will run to face today’s spiritual giants. I believe passionate warriors such as this are on the increase. Though they will never constitute the majority, a remnant will be enough. God will empower them, just as He did David, and they will prevail. Years later, David was still passionate after God. As the Ark of God’s presence (abandoned and ignored during Saul’s reign) was making its way to Jerusalem, David threw off his kingly robes, laying aside his royal pomp and dignity, and danced wildly. (see see 2 Samuel 6:14 and 1 Chronicles 15:29). He was celebrating the fact that God’s presence was returning to the nation. I love it! David’s wife, Michal, however, not a worshiper and certainly not passionate about God, did not like his passion nor his humility. She actually mocked David’s zeal and lack of dignity. Michal and her prioritization of dignity over passion would be quite appropriate in most American worship services. David’s response to Michal was, “You haven’t seen anything yet. I will be much more undignified than this!” God‘s response to Michal’s spiritual indifference and disdain for David’s passion was much stronger. The Lord sentenced her to barrenness - He didn’t want her nature passed on. That’s pretty serious. Assuredly, God loves passion and loathes apathetic indifference. A Prisoner of Love The Apostle Paul demonstrated extreme passion. “The love of God controls us,“ he said, in describing his commitment to the cause of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:14). “Controls“ (Greek: sunecho) is a word actually meaning “to be a prisoner.” God‘s love had possessed Paul to the point that its hold was inescapable. Bound by love, he faced hunger, thirst, numerous beatings, imprisonment, and much more to reach people for Christ. The need for pleasure and comfort didn’t control Paul; passion for Christ’s cause had enslaved him. The Founders of America had an extreme passion and were willing to die for the cause of freedom. “Give me liberty or give me death,” was more than a slick campaign speech. When Patrick Henry made this now-famous statement, he was stating unequivocally, “I am willing to die for this cause.” Look at his entire speech and you’ll see his unwavering passion for God and our nation. Passionate Until Death! John Adams was such a passionate pioneer of liberty that Thomas Jefferson referred to him as a “colossus of independence.“ Though the two of them didn’t always see eye-to-eye, their passion for America enabled them to put aside their differences, and they died as close friends – on the same day! Most people aren’t aware that both Adams and Jefferson died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826! Incredibly, it was as though both men willed themselves to live until that landmark day. Their passion to see the survival of this holy “experiment“ - as many described America in that day - kept them alive until this milestone was reached. Adams, too weak to attend the national Fourth of July celebration, asked to be sat in a chair by his window in order to watch the festivities. While there, he drifted into unconsciousness and died later that night. Two of Adams’ last words before he graduated to heaven: “Independence forever.”(1) Passionate in life; passionate in death. Adams and our other Founders were God-honoring, pioneer-patriots with the steel of mind and heart to face perhaps the greatest empire in all of history. Like David, they asked the profound question, “Is there not a cause?” And they answered it with their lives. That is the question we must ask today. Is Christ’s cause in America important enough to live - and die - for? There are now millions of young people in the United States who have had their opportunity to know Him stolen by ungodly educators, liberal politicians, legislating judges, and lukewarm preachers. Are not these young people worth our prayers and passion? How many more of them must die in gangs, school shootings, suicides, overdoses, drunken car accidents, and sex trafficking before the church of America has the courage and passion to stand up and shout, “Enough!” How many more babies must be murdered in the womb of their mothers? How many more children will be raised in fatherless homes? When will enough be enough? America has, indeed, lost her way. God is calling for a new generation of passionate pioneers to rise up and boldly declare, “Come hell or high water - persecution, mocking, or loss – we will experience revival and find the way back to God’s plan and purpose for America.” Pray with me: Father, You love passion, hunger, and wholeheartedness. You made it clear that You dislike lukewarmness and indifference. We want to be a people of passion, walking in the greatest possible degree of intensity regarding You and Your cause. With passionate hearts, we cry out for revival. With passionate hearts, we cry out for a presence movement to sweep the earth. With passionate hearts, we ask You for the greatest harvest ever - by far - of people coming out of death into life. With passionate hearts, we ask You to set captives free, open prison doors, and heal the brokenhearted. With passionate hearts, we declare that America shall be saved, the earth will hear the Gospel of the Kingdom, and the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea! Our decree: We declare that we will fan the flames of passion until we burn with the fire of revival. Click the link to watch the video: ________________________________ Adams, John. July 4, 1826

Over the past couple of years, we have shared hundreds of Give Him 15 posts. They have come from God’s mandate to equip the Ekklesia so we can pray for America more effectively. From time to time, we will be sharing our most requested posts. Some will be strategic teachings, key parts of America’s prophetic history, important concepts we are learning as the ekklesia, and occasionally, even prophetic dreams Dutch feels we need to keep in remembrance. Thank you for being part of the Give Him 15 family. Continue praying for America and enjoy these great teachings. The DSM Staff Is God Sovereign? My intent with this post is not to open a theological can of worms. I am certainly not the final voice on all things theological. I do want to make a very important point regarding theology, however: The sovereignty of God does not mean He controls everything that takes place on earth. This should be obvious, but a religious mindset permeates the church (and many unbelievers, as well) that says God is in control of everything that occurs on earth. The obvious negative connotations of this are dealt with through beliefs and statements such as, “there must be a reason;” “everything happens for a reason;” “all things work together for good;” “well, God is in control;” “nothing happens unless He allows it;” and so on. These statements and beliefs bring a degree of comfort to people, causing them to insert a sense of purpose into their pain. I understand this. However, problems, pain, loss, and difficulties don’t have to be allowed by God in order for Him to make them serve us. And the fact that He uses bad events doesn’t mean He is behind them. God did not put sinful motives into the hearts of Joseph’s brothers causing them to sell him into slavery. He did, however, have the ability and sovereign power to use their evil, turning it into good. Yahweh did not put into the heart of King Saul to falsely accuse and persecute David. No part of this was caused by God, yet He did have a plan to use it for David’s good. The cave of Adullam, David’s home through much of that season, became his classroom and writing chamber. He wrote many of the Psalms from that cave, psalms that have touched hundreds of millions of people. God does not have to cause it, to use it. The word sovereign actually means “the greatest in power and authority.” This is obviously true of God - He is sovereign. The word does NOT mean “in control of everything.” The Bible is filled with actions that occurred that were not God’s will, nor did He “allow” them. God “allowing“ everything on earth is only true in the sense that He allows humans to possess a free will - we have the power of choice. I once heard the great Foursquare Pastor, Jack Hayford, say regarding this topic, “God is sovereign, but in His sovereignty, He has limited Himself.” He also said, “The quest of Jesus Christ on the earth is greatly crippled by wrong notions of the sovereignty of God.” Pastor Hayford has a way with words! His point in the second statement was that a wrong concept of the sovereignty of God causes complacency and passivity in people...at times, irresponsibility. They believe - whether consciously or unconsciously - that God is in control of everything and will do what He wants, regardless of our involvement. This is so wrong. God works on earth through people. He needs our cooperation. Having stated this balancing truth, I want to share the fourth passage of scripture regarding Holy Spirit shifting us from phase to phase, season to season. His divine shifts, changing the times and seasons (Daniel 2.20-21), occurs in us, not just in the world around us. Psalm 84:4-7 says we go from strength to strength: “How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house! They are ever praising Thee. How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the highways to Zion! Passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a spring. The early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion.” “Baca” means weeping; therefore, the valley of Baca means “the valley of weeping.” We frequently refer to difficult times and situations in life as valleys. As we pass through these valleys - aren’t you glad they aren’t permanent - refreshing springs can burst forth as we cooperate with God. A valley of tears can be transformed into a place from which the water of life flows. A barren, dry place can be transformed into a place of springs. Notice that the place of new strength, doesn’t emerge after Baca, it is actually born at Baca - the place of weeping. The Hebrew word used for “strength” is also very revealing. Chayil is from the root word chuwl, the Old Testament word for travail or giving birth to something. What a picture! When we walk in faith and perseverance through difficult places, God can actually use them to birth (chuwl) new places of strength (chayil) in us. Like the cocoon of a butterfly, Baca can become a place of transformation. And like the butterfly, our destiny is not the cocoon of Baca - weeping; our destiny is the flight of freedom and victory. The dry, barren places in our lives can indeed become places from which the river of life flows and new strength is born. God has been doing much work in this troubling time on earth. Unfortunately, many Christians have not realized that the difficult seasons of travail are often the conduit to bring us to new levels. Rather than persevering through these seasons, many have despised the Bacas in their lives and grown bitter or cynical. Rather than going from strength to strength, they unwittingly choose to remain in Baca, making it home. They don’t move from a place of plowing and sowing to one of reaping and blessing. Tragically, many miss the shifting of the times and seasons God wants to do for them. Chayil, the word for strength, is also the word for army and for wealth. We can fight more effectively and prosper to a greater degree after having gone through the valleys of Baca - if we make them our servants. Yes, it can be difficult; we may not understand what is happening at the time, and it may even seem like we’re losing ground. But if we faithfully press on, allowing God to use the Baca times, He will transform them into boot camps and springs of blessing. Once on the other side, we’ll realize we’re stronger and more prosperous than before. God wants us to go from one position of victory to another, from one phase of soldiering to another - enlistment to Bootcamp to infantry and so on. Some will go on to special forces. Allow Holy Spirit to do what is necessary to shift you into the new. He will take you from one stage to another, and another, and another. Pray with me: Father, You have the necessary omniscience and omnipotence to transform anything satan, people, or life’s circumstances bring our way. What they mean for evil, You can use it for our good. Places of weeping can become birthing chambers, cocoons that house us while we’re transformed into those who can fly. Nothing can outmaneuver, outsmart, or out-plan You. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. This is true for us individually, but it’s also true for nations. You are Ruler over the nations. We anchor ourselves to this truth. In America, though the righteous have been weeping, You are going to use this season to birth something new and good. We will allow nothing else. We use the authority You gave us to bind and loose, forbid and allow (Matthew 16:18-19), and we will accept nothing else. We pray now for our brothers and sisters who have gone through difficult circumstances. The season has been very painful for many. But we now agree with them that You will do something good with it, and bring them forth as pure gold. Heal their hearts and strengthen their wings. In Christ’s name, amen. Our decree: We decree that going from strength to strength is our destiny; Baca is not our home. Portions of today’s post were taken from my book God’s Timing for Your Life. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

How We Can Seize the Moment In a recent article, our friend, Larry Tomczak, shares some poignant thoughts and an appropriate challenge to the Church of America. He urges us to take advantage of the momentum created in the midterm elections. At this moment in history, leaders in the church must be as passionate as the recent Representatives who stood up to others in Congress, demanding change. Larry begins with a powerful quote from William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army: “‘I’m not waiting for a move of God. I am a move of God!’(1) “One of the oldest books I possess was written over 150 years ago by General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. ‘In Darkest England and the Way Out’ is a classic manual outlining God’s strategy for turnaround in a nation. Knowing that the only hope for America in our dark time is another Great Awakening, we should celebrate the midterm elections as a sign of God’s intervention to set our nation back on the right track. This can occur as we follow ‘the General’s’ example of personal passion for God, which helps ignite nationwide revival and reformation. “I just returned from a roundtable of senior leaders in California, led by one of my closest and longest friends, Dr. Che Ahn. In his latest book, Turning Our Nation Back to God Through Historic Revival, Che says the following: ‘Our world is in desperate need of revival. In this crucial moment of time, I am convinced that revival - true historic revival - is on God’s agenda. I believe we are being offered a divine invitation by God right now, as He is beckoning us to recognize the amazing and powerful ways He has moved in the past, so that we can act as a bridge in the Spirit to contend for an even greater move of God in our generation. What God has done before, He will surely do again!’ Unifying, Not Fearing Christian Nationalism “The midterm victory presents traditional conservatives with a wonderful opportunity to come together in unity for God’s purposes to be fulfilled. ‘But be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment’ (1 Corinthians 1:10). Don’t fall for the media-created ‘Christian Nationalism’ label designed to put fear in godly, patriotic Americans and cause a hesitation to stand up for our Judeo-Christian heritage! “Living in turbulent times characterized by a departure from the Biblical foundations upon which our nation was established, it’s important that we pledge to remain steadfast in fervent prayer, faithful proclamation of the Gospel, and fidelity to restoring our nation. This is essential in order to see national repentance and the spiritual awakening for which we pray. Following Our Founders “‘When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people…’ - with these words our Declaration of Independence begins. “The signers continued by affirming ‘Nature’s God,’ ‘self-evident truths’ and our ‘Creator.’ Then our brave Forefathers, putting their very lives on the line, ended their statement of convictions by declaring, ‘with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.’(2) “At another historic moment, a courageous leader named Nehemiah led the people of God in a similar pledge, recorded in the Bible (Nehemiah 10:28-39). They promised to uphold marriage as God intended (v30) and ‘obey carefully all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our God’ (v29). “It’s time for patriotic, principled men and women who love and fear God to do likewise. I submit the following framework for our pledge of solidarity to capitalize on the momentum of this moment. OUR SOLIDARITY PLEDGE 1. “We Pledge to Obey God, Not Government, Regarding the Sanctity of Life and Marriage. “Scripture tells us, ‘Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2). Therefore, any secular rulings contrary to God’s will for unborn babies, marriage and family cannot be honored by His obedient children. We will remain charitable but resolute that we will not capitulate. “The most innocent and defenseless in our midst must always be protected and given ‘the right to life.’ And since the Bible begins and ends with marriage, we will remain faithful to uphold natural marriage between a man and a woman. The two legs upon which our society stands are these: the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage. 2. “We Pledge to Honor Our Nation’s Scriptural - Not Secular - Heritage. “Our Founding Fathers established our nation on Judeo-Christian foundations and pledged obedience to God and His standards. As a result, we’ve been blessed like no nation in history. “Until recent generations, we basically remained faithful. Now, however, we find ourselves seriously adrift from those principles that made America great. We pledge our efforts, with humility, to reclaim our godly heritage as ‘one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’ “Founding father, Daniel Webster, reminds us: ‘If we and our posterity shall be true to the Christian religion, if we and they shall be always in the fear of God, and shall respect His commandments, if we and they shall maintain just moral sentiments and such conscientious convictions of duty as shall control the heart and life, we may have the highest hopes of the future fortunes of our country…but if we and our posterity reject religious institutions and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us, that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity.’(3) 3. “We Pledge to Trust in God’s Protection Amidst Judgment, While Praying for Spiritual Awakening. “The prophet Ezekiel was a ‘watchman on the wall’ who warned people of impending judgment for continuing to violate God’s righteous standards. Child sacrifice and disregarding divine standards for marriage and family brought discipline intended to turn people back to God. “For the remnant who remained faithful, God reassured them that amidst severe punishment, righteous ones like Noah, Daniel, and Job were supernaturally protected (Ezekiel 14:14). May we stand on their shoulders and experience similar deliverance. “In the meantime, we must heed the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14: ‘If My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’ “Like our forefathers, we should encourage one another and declare in unison: ‘With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.’”(4) I choose to make this pledge with Larry. We must do more than glibly quote, “Freedom is not free;” we must LIVE like we believe it. Whatever the cost, we must pay it at this time in our nation. God, our grandchildren - and a billion souls - will thank us. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for early heroes of the faith like Ezekiel and Nehemiah, later ones such as Daniel Webster and America's Founders, spiritual leaders like William and Catherine Booth, and many more. We also thank You for modern heroes of the faith like Che Ahn, Larry Tomczak, and others like them who contend earnestly for the faith delivered to us. Raise up a new generation of heroes. Give us leaders with strong backbones, passionate hearts, biblical foundations, and selfless motivations. In his book, Che calls this season a “crucial moment of time.” We agree with him that we are “being offered a divine invitation by You right now…What You have done before You will surely do again!” We pray that many in the Church will respond to this challenge from Larry. It is so basic and fundamental that we should all embrace it. The God who intends to arise and see His enemies scattered at this point in world history will first have to arise in the hearts of His people. May we, like William Booth, BECOME “a move of God!” As always, we ask these things in the only name that gives us access to You, Father: Jesus. Our Decree: We decree that a remnant - a growing remnant - is arising. They are determined and committed believers who are becoming the seeds of revival. Click on the link below to watch the full video. __________________________________ https://salvationarmyeet.org/i-am-a-move-of-god/ https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Register-Manual/Section-I/Declaration-of-Independence-US-Constitution https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/danielwebsterplymouthorationcomplete.htm https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

A History Making Moment Several years ago, Holy Spirit challenged me with the statement: “You can either make history, or you can sit back and watch it being made.” Someone will write the history of our generation; the only question is, who. My challenge to the church of our day is to partner with God and write the history He desires for our generation. Acts 13:36 tells us that David served the purpose of God in his generation. What an epitaph! Holy Spirit recently dealt with our friend, Gina Gholston, about history making. Gina shares: “The past several months seem to have ushered many into a deepening passion for the awakening, which has begun to broaden in scope and increased momentum. There’s an unshakeable feeling that we have crossed into the unfolding of a history-making moment. As a matter of fact, the Lord recently said to me, ‘The year 2023 will be one for the history books.’ “A few days ago, I was having lunch with some friends. During our conversation, I shared with them a revelation the Lord once gave me about ‘marked moments.’ Through that revelation, He helped me understand there are some things He leads us to do that, in that particular time, may seem to make no sense to our human understanding. But He assured me, saying, ‘Those times of obedience are pieces of a bigger picture. In and of themselves, they may seem to be irrelevant and even senseless, but there will come a time when I will put all the pieces together, and you will understand why each part was necessary.’ We are each on a journey with the Lord, and as we follow Him in faith and obedience, He leads us according to His plan. Even when we don’t understand the steps, we must stay the course so that, in the right time, the parts can be placed to form the whole of God’s intentions. “As I shared this revelation with my friends that day, I heard myself say, ‘This is the time when the pieces are coming together.’ Instantly, we all knew Holy Spirit had come to the table and entered our conversation. We all felt His presence, and the weight of those words was undeniable. ‘The pieces are coming together.’ That means we have moved into a ‘big picture’ moment. Something has been completed, and now the purpose for those ‘marked moments’ will begin to be revealed, and we’ll be so thankful that we took the journey! “The big picture not only validates our faith walk in times past, but also unveils understanding that lends itself to prophetic insight for where we are going. Moses stood before twelve men he had sent to scope out the land to determine Israel’s next move. Ten of them said, ‘We can’t take that land. The giants are huge and we are grasshoppers compared to them.’ However, Joshua and Caleb had received a revelation of the big picture. They reported, ‘This is what it’s all been about. Everything God has done has led us to this moment. His hand is good upon us, and we are well able to possess what He has promised.’ The pieces had come together, and the ‘big picture’ had made them acutely aware it was now time to cross over and take the land. “Their arrival in the land did not mean their journey was done or everything would be easy from that point forward. The journey would continue, and there were battles to fight, but the journey had shifted from circling the familiar path around the mountain to moving into the land God said they could and would possess. It was definitely a history making moment! “God is saying to us, ‘The pieces are coming together.’ A shift has occurred, and we are feeling the provocation of the Lord to focus forward with new perspective. It’s not a time to settle or wrongly assess the future and our ability to step into it victoriously. It’s time to be bold and courageous, and possess the land! “Recently, I saw a vision of a ravine. On one side of the ravine, I could see a pathway that was covered with glory, but the way across the ravine was a tightrope. I could see a line of people who would walk up to the edge. They wanted to go to the other side but feared crossing on the tightrope, so they walked away. “I heard a voice that thundered, saying, ‘Trust the Lord, and fear not!’ A few of the people then began to take steps onto the tightrope. As they did, angels began surrounding them, assisting them as they crossed over. I then heard the Lord say, ‘You are now at a critical point. Your past obedience has led you to this moment and has created a supply for your future, but you must choose to go over the chasm. I have provided a way, but it requires you to completely trust in Me. Your first steps will take a courageous act of faith, but as you move forward, you will find that I have provided divine assistance. I have commanded the hosts to assist you, and they hearken unto My voice. I have placed My Spirit within you, and as you listen to My voice and leading, the narrow way won’t seem so daunting. For those who choose to trust Me and fear not, will find strength and an ability to traverse the tight places and enter the way that is filled with My manifested glory.’ “I believe the Lord is saying to the remnant who will boldly proceed with trust in Him, ‘The culmination of all you have heard, seen, believed, and done is about to become the catapult that will launch you into a greater encounter, power, and effectiveness!’ “All this being said, I have that feeling you get when you are sitting in the seat of an airplane. You’re buckled in, awaiting the inevitable ‘take off.’ You feel the momentum increase as you leave the gentle taxiing down the runway! Suddenly, the engines roar, and the adrenaline kicks in as you gain speed! The thrust then leads to lift-off, and everything you planned, prepared for, talked about, learned about, and anticipated just got very real. And the remembrance of all the steps and preparation leading to this moment provokes a confident assurance that whatever is ahead, you are ready! There’s nothing but forward! “Yeah, this feels just like that kind of moment! The pieces are coming together, and it’s time for take-off into this history making year!” Pray with me: Father, You have taught us through our past experiences that You are faithful, able, and ever-present. Now, the culmination of all that we have seen, heard, learned, and experienced is catapulting us into this history-making moment. The pieces are coming together to reveal the big picture of Your intentions, and we are equipped and ready to step into it. Fear is not an option. The hosts of Heaven have hearkened unto Your voice to assist us. Holy Spirit is guiding us, imparting Your well-timed wisdom, empowering us to successfully navigate the journey ahead. The time to go forward is now, and no matter what the days ahead may bring, we are confident You are with us every step of the way, and we are well able to possess the fullness of all You have promised. Amen! Our decree: Our trust is in the Lord. We will not fear! He has strengthened us, enabling us to traverse the tight places, entering the way filled with His glory. The pieces are coming together, and we are ready for take-off! Today’s post was contributed by our friend Gina Gholston. If you would like to learn more about Gina, go to GinaGholstonMinistries.org. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Hang In There January is the National Sanctity of Human Life month. Today is the March for Life in Washington D.C. Here are some comments from the March for life organization: “As we kicked off 2022, we hoped against hope for a historic victory for the pro-life movement. The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case was heard at the Supreme Court last December, with the justices considering the possible overturn of the wrongfully decided Roe v. Wade case. “We prayed and waited for the decision to be issued, and on June 24 (the birthday of March for Life founder Nellie Gray!), we joyously saw the Supreme Court return the power back to the American people to protect the unborn through their elected representatives. “In the past few months, we have turned our focus to planning the National March on January 20, 2023, where we will be taking the ‘Next Steps’ and ‘Marching into a Post-Roe America’ (our theme for this year’s March for Life)! “This will be the 50th annual March for Life, the first Post-Roe National March. We plan to celebrate, give thanks, and remember those who have gone before us and led the way to this historic moment in time, and to map out a path forward!” (1) I’m sure you picked up on the fact that this is the 50th annual March For Life. That is some pretty significant perseverance! Galatians 6:9 tells us we will reap at the right time - if we don’t grow weary and give up. You may have heard the poem about 2 frogs: Two frogs fell into a can of cream, or so it has been told. The sides of the can were shiny and steep, the cream was deep and cold. “Oh, what’s the use,” said number one, “It’s plain no help’s around. “Goodbye, my friend, goodbye, sad world,” and weeping still, he drowned. But number two, of sterner stuff, dog paddled in surprise. The while he licked his creamy lips and blinked his creamy eyes. “I’ll swim at least a while,” he thought, or so it has been said. “It really won’t help the world if one more frog were dead.” An hour or more, he kicked and swam, not once he stopped to mutter. Then hopped out from the island he had made of freshly churned butter. (Author unknown) I heard this witty poem on the subject of tenacity over 40 years ago in a message by John Garlock, one of my professors at Christ For the Nations Institute. There aren’t many messages a person remembers 40 years later, but John Garlock had a knack for preaching unforgettable sermons. Garlock also mentioned 2 Samuel 23:8-12, the account of three of David’s mighty men: Shammah, Adino, and Eleazar. Shammah had tenacity in the face of a humble assignment, defending a small plot of lentils from a group of Philistines. Adino personified tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds as he killed 800 Philistines single-handedly. Eleazar pictured tenacity in the face of incredible fatigue - after fighting for several hours, his hand had to be pried from his sword! I rank perseverance and endurance near the top of my list of most important spiritual traits. And the longer I live, the higher it rises. “Hang in there” didn’t make it into the Ten Commandments, but it did into the nine fruits of the Spirit. The Greek word makrothumia, translated as “long-suffering” in Galatians 5:22 (KJV), is defined by Strong’s Concordance as “longanimity or fortitude.” (2) That’s what I said: “Hang in there.” In this day of instant everything from “fast foods” to “get-rich-quick” schemes, to “four easy steps to answered prayer,” we are rapidly losing the character trait of hanging in there. We cook faster, travel faster, produce faster, spend faster . . . and we expect God to keep pace with us, especially in prayer. He won’t. George Mueller, a great intercessor, evangelist, and orphanage builder in the 1800s, knew how to “hang in there.” One example of his persistence in prayer is related by Dick Eastman in his book, No Easy Road. He quotes Mueller as saying: “‘The great point is never to give up until the answer comes. I have been praying for sixty-three years and eight months for one man’s conversion. He is not saved yet, but he will be. How can it be otherwise . . . I am praying.’ The day came when Mueller’s friend did indeed receive Christ. It did not come until Mueller’s casket was lowered into the ground. There, near an open grave, this friend gave his heart to God. Prayers of perseverance had won another battle. Mueller’s success may be summarized in four powerful words: He did not quit.” (3) We, on the other hand, have mastered the art of one-liners in prayer and think if we give God a two-hour service once a week, we’re fairly spiritual. “Easy does it” might be good advice in some situations, but for most of life, including prayer, easy doesn’t do it. A pilot, early in a flight, went to the back of the plane to check on the reason for a warning light. The problem was a door ajar, which flew open as he approached it. The pilot was immediately sucked from the aircraft. The co-pilot, seeing by his panel that a door was open, turned back toward the airport immediately and radioed for a helicopter to search the area. “I believe I have a pilot sucked from the plane,” he said. After landing the plane, everyone was astonished to find the pilot holding on to the rung of a ladder, which he had miraculously managed to grab. He had held on for 15 minutes and, still more amazing, had managed to keep his head from hitting the runway during the landing, though it was only six inches away! Upon finding the pilot, they had to pry his fingers from the ladder. THAT is perseverance! (4) Anyone long associated with the church of America over the last 50 years knows that our problems do not result from a lack of information or provision. If we fail to achieve what God needs from us, it will be a failure of heart and spirit. Like the frog, I have kicked and swum my way - often over long periods of time - to more victories than I have accomplished quickly and easily. I have fought until my hand clove to the sword, and, like the pilot, I have held on to the ladder until my hand froze in place. No, I haven’t always won, but I have learned, without a shred of doubt, that tenacious endurance is often the key to victory in prayer. “Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!” (Psalm 27:14 TPT) Prayer and Communion Father, just as Christ persevered in the garden and on the Cross, we persevere in laying hold of what His sacrifice provided for us. He broke the back of death, hell, and the grave. He disarmed principalities and powers, making an open display of His victory over them. He canceled the certificate of debt against us and made us His co-heirs. As we partake of Communion together today, we remember His victory over death. Through our Lord’s broken body and shed blood, we ask for forgiveness and cleansing from the sin of abortion. We ask for a resurrection of America’s corporate conscience to the evil of this sin. Awaken and transform our nation's thinking. Heal those who have been wounded by abortion. (Take the bread.) And Father, as we drink the cup, we remember and declare the power of Christ’s death. We declare over the death culture in America: you will end. We declare over the abortion industry: the blood of Jesus will end your wicked hold on America. And we declare over America: Christ’s blood on the Mercy Seat is cleansing you of this wickedness. We thank You, Jesus, for Your cleansing blood. (Drink the juice.) Portions of today’s post came from my book Intercessory Prayer. ____________________________________ https://marchforlife.org/2022-a-year-of-pro-life-victories-and-new-opportunities/ James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2990), ref no. 3115. Dick Eastman, No Easy Road (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1971(, p 96-97. Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books 1993), pp 97-98. Click on the link below to watch the full video.