Search Results

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dynamic Power Dunamai (1)  is one of the basic words for possessing power in the New Testament. Strong’s says it means “to be able or possible.” Thayer’s gives the following definitions: “to be able, have power, to be capable, strong and powerful.” The English words dynamite, dynamo, dynamic, etc., come from this Greek word. Jesus used a form of this word in Acts 1:8 when He said, “You will receive power [dunamis] after the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Dunamis  is also translated as miracle/s, because they are the results of God’s power (Acts 2:22, 8:13, 19:11, etc.). In 1 Corinthians 12:10, this word is used in the phrase “the working of miracles,” one of the gifts Holy Spirit gives to believers.  I find it interesting that the word is used referring to both God’s and satan’s power in the same verse, Acts 10:38:  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power [dunamis]: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed [katadunasteuō] of the devil; for God was with Him.” The dunamis-power of God worked through Jesus to produce healings and good works; satan’s power oppressed people. Kata, (2)  among other things means basically means “down” or “against.” When used as a prefix for dunamis/dunasteuo , as it is here, it has the connotation of working against something or someone, pressing them down. You can easily see the word “press” in “oppressed.” God lifts people with His power; satan uses his to press them down. The Passion Translation uses the word “tyranny” to translate satan’s oppressive work in this verse. Notice that the Lord equates healing with “good.” Sickness is evil, oppressive, and originates from the curse that came to humanity at the fall. This doesn’t mean that every sickness is caused directly by a person’s sin; it means sickness is in the world because of original sin. This is what allowed satan to bring his curses and diseases onto the earth, oppressing people. Jesus came to heal and restore us from spiritual tyranny. While here on earth, He went about doing “good” and healing all those oppressed by the devil. One of my favorite stories of healing in the New Testament is of the woman with continual bleeding for 12 years (Matthew 9:20). Can you imagine the physical weakness she must have felt from this constant loss of blood for 12 years? Not to mention the emotional toll it had to have taken. According to Jewish law, she was considered “unclean,” and anyone who touched her was also considered unclean (Leviticus 15:19-33). This is why the woman was “sneaking” through the crowd, trying to inconspicuously reach out and touch Christ’s garment (Mark 5:25-34).  The Passion Translation gives us added insight: “Suddenly, a woman came from behind Jesus and touched the tassel of His prayer shawl for healing. She had been suffering from continual bleeding for twelve years, but had faith that Jesus could heal her. For she kept saying to herself, ‘If I could only touch His prayer shawl, I would be healed.’ Just then, Jesus turned around and looked at her and said, ‘My daughter, be encouraged. Your faith has healed you.’ And instantly she was healed!” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:20-22; TPT) The margin of The Passion says, “The blue tassel on the corner of the prayer shawl was said to symbolize all commandments and promises of God. (See Numbers 15:38-40.) The Hebrew word for ‘fringe’ or ‘border’ (of a garment) can also mean ‘wing.’ Some have interpreted Malachi 4:2 (‘healing in his wings’) as a reference to the tassels of the prayer shawl.”  The verse in Malachi that TPT references says: “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall”  (Malachi 4:2; NASB). Some teachers and scholars believe that this promise is what gave the woman faith to receive healing by touching the wings or tassels of Jesus’ prayer shawl. Wow! One thing is certain: when she touched the tassel of His prayer shawl, her faith pulled healing “virtue” ( dunamis ) from Jesus. He wasn’t made unclean; she was made clean! I find it amazing that this woman initiated the miracle, not Jesus. He did not even know it happened until it was over. “Someone just pulled virtue/power out of me!” He said (Mark 5:30). Jesus supplied the power, she supplied the faith, and 12 years of misery and shame vanished.  When I was a young boy, we used to sing a simple chorus that said: “Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.  You’ll find He’s not too busy to hear your heart’s cry.  He’s passing by this moment, your need to supply.  Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.” (3) We are doing another Healing Summit this upcoming October 17 at my brother Tim’s church, the Oasis, in Middletown, Ohio (LINK) . As with past summits, many healing services will be taking place simultaneously throughout the nation. We believe the Lord will be present to do good and heal those oppressed by the devil. Prepare your heart to reach out in faith and grab the “healing in His wings.” Join us in person if you can, online if you cannot come. We are believing with you for tremendous miracles to take place. Pray with me: Father, thank You for Holy Spirit. Thank You for the power He brings us to witness of You, to work for You, and to overcome in life. Thank You for the example of Jesus, who went about doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil. Today, we especially thank You for the story of the woman with the 12-year, constant flow of blood. Thank You for demonstrating through her that there is healing in Your wings, and Your willingness to respond to faith.  As we have in the past, we ask You today for a fresh release of signs and wonders, and of the gifts of Your Spirit associated with this. Release to many believers the gift of faith, gifts of healing, the working of miracles, and the word of knowledge. Release Your compassion and Your power. As we gather in Middletown on October 17, and in many places around the nation and nations, pour out the power of Holy Spirit. Heal and transform, deliver those oppressed by the devil. Free people from disease, depression, addictions, all manner of sickness and infirmity. Give us miracles. And use the coming release of signs and wonders to not only heal those in need, but to point people to Jesus and spark the revival that has begun. All of this we ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that Jesus is still releasing His power to do good, heal the sick, and deliver those oppressed by the devil. You can find out more about the upcoming Healing Summit in Middletown, Ohio, at OasisWired.org .  Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 1410. Ibid., ref. no. 2596. https://www.godsongs.net/2016/01/reach-out-and-touch-the-lord-as-he-goes-by.html

Don’t Get In Over Your Head I don’t remember her real name, but it doesn’t matter because I just called her “Idiot.” She was stubborn, stupid, and strong. To this day, I can’t forgive her. Don’t judge me too severely—she was a horse. We lived in Colorado at the time, and I don’t have anyone else to blame for this weeklong test of self-control, which you can already tell I passed with flying colors. I’m embarrassed to say that the delusional idea of renting horses for that year’s elk hunt was mine. Yes, I said “renting” – I paid $300 for my misguided, romantic decision to relive the Old West on our annual attempt to “feed the family.” I had probably just watched City Slickers or some great movie about taming the frontier. Anyway, back to Idiot. “Do you have enough experience with horses to do this?” the man asked when dropping off the animals. “Sure,” I replied confidently. “All I need is for you to show me how to tie that fancy little knot with the straps that hold the saddle on. It’s been a while.” He gave a big smile, showed me how, and was on his way. What a friendly guy, I thought. The next morning, we had our early coffee, dressed in our warmest clothes – it was very cold – took thirty minutes to do the fancy saddle-strap-knot, and we were off for the mountain top. Idiot was nice on the way up. (She hadn’t yet acquired this meaningful name.) But everything changed when we returned to the horses after several hours of hunting. With my incredible knowledge of horses, I knew we couldn’t shoot from their backs; they weren’t used to it and would have reacted violently. So we tied them to some bushes and wandered off to hunt. I don’t think horses like being tied to bushes for several hours with nothing to eat or drink, because when we returned to ride them back down the hill, they were really mad. Idiot wouldn’t stand still so I could load my gear; therefore, that took a while. We were on such a steep slope that when standing on the downhill side, it was hard to reach up and over her back to tie things on. And she kept moving up close to the bush, keeping it on her uphill side. Oh, she knew what she was doing, all right. Like I said, Idiot wouldn’t be still. To make matters worse, I had already untied her because the reins were so long I couldn’t have reached far enough to untie them from her back. Then the worst problem became evident. From the downhill side and with my thick hunting clothes hindering my mobility, I couldn’t hike my leg high enough to reach the stirrup. I couldn’t get on, especially with her dancing around! And Idiot was ready to go! I was fighting her, trying to hold her long enough to mount up, when finally my brother, Tim, succeeded in climbing on Idiot’s co-worker. (For a few minutes, we had looked like Laurel and Hardy - or rodeo square dancers.) When Tim finally made it on, his horse decided she’d had enough and took off running for camp. Idiot was not about to be left behind. So there I was, hanging on to the side of a moving Idiot, trying to climb aboard from the downhill side of Hell Mountain. One hand on the stirrup, the other holding the reins; one foot hopping off the ground, the other reaching for the stirrup. “Stop your horse!” I yelled. “I can’t get mine to stop with yours running.” “She won’t stop!” Tim yelled back. “You’re on your own.” So Idiot and I did the mountainside do-si-do for a couple hundred yards until we finally reached a level-enough grade for me to jump on. It’s a good thing I’m as athletic as I am. In fact, if not for my amazing combination of intelligence and athleticism, I don’t think I would have survived the ordeal. When we finally caught up with Tim, he looked at me and said, “What an idiot.” “She sure is,” I said. He mumbled something that sounded like “not the horse.” The animals were moving so fast I couldn’t hear him, so I just agreed. We never could get them to completely slow down - they galloped all the way down the mountain! It was a humorous sight when we came crashing into camp. Guys started diving out of the way as equipment flew everywhere. “You idiot!” one of them shouted. “I know!” I yelled back. Nonetheless, I had the last word where Idiot was concerned. I made her stay in camp the rest of the week – wouldn’t let her go hunting with me. Tim did the same with Idiot’s sister. Each time we fed and watered them, Tim gave me a disgusted look and said, “Idiot.” “I know,” was always my quick response. “She sure is.” A few weeks later, he gave me a T-shirt with the word Idiot on the front in big letters. “Why would I want a shirt with that horse’s name on it?” I asked him. Tim just rolled his eyes. (1) I Hope You Laughed I have no profound point to make with this story - just thought I’d try to provide a little humor during this crazy time in which we live. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine”  (Proverbs 17:22).  Also, Ceci and I want to thank you once again for the prayers, cards, and well-wishes. She is progressing well in her recovery. As you can imagine, the recovery is a challenging process, but she is faithful to her exercises, has had no complications, and is getting great reports. Pray with me: Father, I pray for all those reading or listening to today’s post. Cause joy to rise up within them, providing the strength Nehemiah and Ezra spoke of during the restoration of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 8:10). Just as joy sustained those workers, it will sustain us as we work to see our nation restored. I pray a blessing over each one – over their families, homes, businesses, churches, and all that they put their hand to. Please remove from them weariness, discouragement, hopelessness, sickness, and lack. Put a new spring in their step and a smile on their faces. I thank You for this and for all You are doing in our lives and nation. And I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Story taken from my book Authority in Prayer , published by Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, MN.

It’s the Water, Not the Well My friend Clay Nash had a significant dream in May 2022. I feel it is even more significant now. The dream involved Clay, his dad (who is now in heaven), my brother, Tim, and me. The dream is about re-digging a well. Here is the dream: “On the morning of May 9, 2022, I dreamed that I was working with my dad drilling a well. My dad was running the drilling rig, and I was supplying the drilling sand. I looked up and there stood Tim and Dutch Sheets. “They saw the surprised look on my face and approached me. My dad continued to raise and drop the sand bucket. Dad was a master at this and had found the rhythm that produced more depth. The manual clutch, which he was working with his right hand, was being precisely triggered over and over.  “As the Sheets brothers and I walked up to Dad, he switched the clutch lever to his left hand and stuck out his right hand to shake Tim’s and Dutch’s hands. He kept his left hand raising and lowering the sand bucket.  “After a bit, Dad stopped drilling. The equipment was now silent, and I asked Dutch and Tim what they were doing here. Dutch said, ‘Before we get into that, I want you to know, Mr Nash, that was one smooth operation of the drilling rig.’ “My Dad answered and said, ‘Please, call me Bob. Yes, that was the unforced rhythm of grace.’ “Tim asked, ‘How did you learn to do this?’ “Dad said, ‘My Dad and older brothers showed me.’ “I then spoke and said, ‘There must be something up for you two to travel all the way to Arkansas. What’s going on?’ “Tim spoke and said, ‘Dutch and I have an old well to re-dig and needed y’all’s insight on doing it.’ “Dad asked, ‘What well is this and when was it dug?’ “Dutch answered and said, ‘It was dug in the mid 1940s but became polluted and cluttered with stuff in the late 50s.’ “Tim spoke and said, ‘Our dad was involved with it.’ “Dad smiled and said, ‘So we got some legacy going here.’ Tim and Dutch both agreed strongly. Dad continued, ‘The first thing I need to tell you is that re-digging that old well is not the way to get this done.’ “Dutch asked, ‘What do you mean?’ “Dad said, ‘In the time you spend re-digging the old well, you can dig a new one. All that stopped the well from flowing is still there in the casing.’ “Tim stated, ‘But we need to tap into what the old well supplied.’ “Dad said, ‘Let Clay explain.’ “I began to tell Tim and Dutch, ‘It’s not about the well, the hole in the ground. The well is only the conduit to the source. You’re not looking for the well, but the source that the well supplied.’ “Dutch said, ‘That’s it, that’s it.’ “I instructed, ‘Digging in close proximity but still drilling into the original source will give you the same pure flow you are desiring.’ “Tim and Dutch agreed. Dad then told them, ‘The flow of this new well will be used in the saving of America.’ “We all agreed. Tim said to my Dad, ‘I want to be respectful, but at your age, you’re still able to do this like a young man. How old are you?’ “My Dad answered and said, ‘I am beyond years. I would have had a birthday today, May 7th, but I no longer celebrate it. Come over here with me.’ When we arrived at his pickup, he opened the ice chest, pulled out four grape drinks, and said, ‘Clay, grab those crackers; we must take communion together and agree for the saving of America.’ “The Sheets brothers both said, ‘We can get this done now!’ Tim then stated, ‘This new well will produce the unforced rhythm of grace that America needs.’ End of Dream.  My Thoughts Here are a few thoughts regarding the dream: The well Tim and I wanted to re-dig was the healing movement of the 40s, 50s, and part of the 60s. Our dad was part of this movement. It is no doubt time for this flow to be released again, which is the purpose of the Healing Summits we have been conducting at Tim’s church in Ohio. The next one will occur on October 17. Try to join us either in person or online. The dream states that signs and wonders will be part of the revival that saves and restores America. One of the keys to digging the well, provided by Clay’s dad, was operating in “the unforced rhythm of grace.” This would mean that it cannot be done by striving and human effort, but by the grace and anointing of the Lord Himself. The next point of the dream really stood out to me. We were instructed not to attempt to clean all the debris out of the old well shaft in order to reuse it. This would be very difficult and take much longer. We were advised to simply move over a few feet and dig a brand new shaft down to the water. It is the same water that is needed and wanted, not the same well shaft. When we speak of “re-digging spiritual wells,” we are referring to reconnecting with the same Source, not trying to implement the same methods, structures, systems, etc. In the dream, Clay told us, “Digging in close proximity but still drilling into the original source will give you the same pure flow you are desiring.” It is the water we want, not the well! Then Clay's dad served us communion. This pictures two things to me. First, the entire dream speaks of generational synergy. Clay’s dad, who gave us insight into digging the well, is now in heaven. And Tim’s and my dad, who was part of the healing movement of the past, is also in heaven. We, today, are not generating something brand new in the Kingdom of God. We are part of an ongoing Kingdom endeavor, and are simply fulfilling our portion of the task. The efforts of previous generations cannot be completed without our work; we cannot complete our assignment without building on the work they did. The generations are interdependent. And all that is accomplished will be done through the power of Christ’s redemptive work. The new covenant established through His blood, is the key to all victory and success in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, before praying for the salvation of America, we honored the Lord’s sacrifice by taking communion, basing our actions on this. I believe this is why there has been such a significant emphasis on communion over the past couple of years. Some, such as Lou Engle and David Bradshaw, are referring to the coming revival as a “Communion Revival .”   This is the purpose of the   gathering on the Washington Mall, October 9-12 . We will cry out for God’s mercy through the blood of Jesus, and the release of the Third Great Awakening in America. This will include and be aided by great signs and wonders. Pray with me: Father, You are without doubt orchestrating events in preparation for the Third Great Awakening in America, and a great revival throughout the entire earth. You “so loved” the world that You gave Jesus as a sacrifice to save it. We are grateful for Your love and mercy. We believe the time has come for this love and mercy to be released in a new measure.  As millions partake of communion together on October 9-12, cause the power of Christ’s sacrifice to be released as a mighty river throughout the earth. Let this time create a shaft into the water table of Your Spirit, releasing the well of life that brings healing to the nations. We are not asking for old methods and programs; we are asking for the old water source, the old river, the old flow. Release it into the earth, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We release our faith, declaring that the unforced rhythms of grace will release a fresh flow of God’s abundant life. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Communion and the Cross We’ve all heard the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Indeed. This is why God, at times, used actions in history to give prophetic pictures of future events. Theologians often call these pictures “types” and “shadows,” taken from the language of 1 Corinthians 10:11 and Colossians 2:16-17. One such picture is in Genesis 14, which pictures the communion meal and Christ’s victory at the cross. The context is Abraham warring against an alliance of evil rulers who had attacked and plundered several other kings and their cities. In the process, they had taken captive Abraham’s relatives – Lot and his family. Abraham launched a rescue operation, liberating his family and reclaiming what the evil kings had plundered. In response, he was “blessed” by one of the leaders involved – Melchizedek, “king of Salem” (Genesis 14:18-20). Melchizedek was not only a king, but also a priest. Because of this and other remarkable details in the story, God decided to use Melchizedek as a “type” of Christ, our King and High Priest. Here are a few of those remarkable details. The Blessing of Abraham by Melchizedek  Melchizedek was from a race of people under a generational curse, visited on them due to the sin of their father (Genesis 9:25). In a striking paradox, a “cursed” king “blessed” Abraham (14:19). How could a “cursed” king possibly picture Christ? Galatians 3:13-14 gives us the answer, telling us that Jesus, our King and High Priest, took upon himself the “generational” curse passed onto us from our father, Adam:  “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” That alone is incredible! But there is more, much more. Melchizedek Was King of Salem Salem later became Jerusalem, meaning that the blessing given to Abraham occurred somewhere on the same ridge where, several hundred years later, Jesus would be hung on a tree, taking our curse and giving us “the blessing of Abraham!” Amazing. (1)   The Bread and Wine Before blessing Abraham, Melchizedek served him bread and wine (verse 18). This was fulfilled when Jesus, the night before being crucified, departed from the normal Passover meal and served bread and wine to His disciples. Remember, when  Melchizedek did this, it was a “victory meal,” celebrating the liberation of Abraham’s family and the recovery of all their possessions. This means that the communion meal Jesus inaugurated, the Lord’s Table, is not just to remember Christ’s death, but to celebrate His victory! The blood Jesus shed rescued us, delivered us from the authority of darkness, restored us to God’s family, and gave us the covenantal blessing of Abraham, the father of faith.  The Most High God, Possessor of Heaven and Earth In this Genesis account, God referred to Himself by a name used for the first time in Scripture. Four times the name Most High God is used; in two of those occurrences, it is followed by the phrase “possessor of heaven and earth.” (Genesis 14:18, 19, 20, 22). Why is this significant? We are told in Isaiah 14:14 that satan tried to overthrow God in heaven and make himself the “most high god.” God easily defeated him and banished him from heaven to earth. Satan decided that if he couldn’t have heaven, he would at least possess earth and rule its inhabitants. When Adam sinned in Genesis 3, it seemed he would succeed in this endeavor. Satan had become “the god/ruler of this world” (John 12.31; 2 Corinthians 4:4), capturing Adam and taking his authority over the earth. But at this “victory meal” picture of communion and the Cross in Genesis 14, God was adamantly stating, “I am the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth! Satan, the ruler of darkness, couldn’t possess heaven, and he can’t have earth. Contrary to his desires and false claims, he is not -- and will never be – the Most High God!” Neither Melchizedek nor Abraham realized the picture they were painting. No one did, including the angels, until Jesus departed from the traditional Passover meal and – as THE Passover Lamb – took bread and broke it saying,  “This is My body broken for you.”  Then He took the wine and said, “This is the new covenant in My blood, poured out for you”  (Luke 22:19-20). It is significant that Jesus celebrated this victory meal with His disciples in advance, BEFORE the Cross. And notice, He did not say, “I hope  what I am about to do accomplishes your redemption.” He did not say, “ If all goes well , this will represent a new covenant in My blood. I am going to  try  and take your curse, giving you back your inheritance and blessing.” No, Jesus celebrated the victory meal with them IN ADVANCE, declaring,  “This IS the new covenant in My blood!!!” When we partake of communion, yes, we are remembering Christ’s death, but we are doing so much more than that. We are celebrating His victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave – for us. We are celebrating our rebirth into God’s family and our restored inheritance. And we are celebrating satan’s defeat. All of these things are why I find it so significant that Holy Spirit has led David Bradshaw to host Communion America  on the Washington Mall, October 9-12. (2) Tents will be set up for all 50 states, where worship and prayer will take place 24/7. On the 11th, a communion table will be set up extending the length of the entire National Mall. Thousands will partake of communion together there, and hundreds of thousands will join online.  Could it be that Holy Spirit is saying this is a “victory meal” for America – in advance? Is God saying He has brought us to the point of breakthrough over the powers of darkness that have attempted to take possession of America? Is this gathering a declaration that Yahweh, the “Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth,” owns America and the nations of the earth? Is it a statement that He is about to release the greatest revival earth has ever experienced…a communion revival?  I believe it is.  Pray with me: Father, we are deeply stirred that You are calling our nation to a communion service, a victory meal, a covenant meal. It was at the Cross that mercy and truth met, righteousness and peace kissed each other (Psalm 85:10). It was there that Jesus, our great King and High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, took our curse and gave us the blessing. It was there that we were liberated, and the way was made for us to return home. We boldly declare that You are the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth. You are the possessor of America. Every inch of it belongs to You, and You are taking it back. As we honor the covenant we have with You through Christ during this gathering in October, we ask that You release a mighty downpour of spiritual rain. Send a deluge, “showers of blessing” (Ezekiel 34:26). “ Rend the heavens and come down”  (Isaiah 64:1).  And we pray for grace and favor to David Bradshaw and his staff. We pray for strength and health to them. We ask You for the worship teams needed from each state. We ask that You move upon the hearts of many people to attend, and that many more participate online. And we ask You for abundant provision to pay for this expression of worship and devotion to You. Move on the hearts of people to sow into this important event. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Our decree: We agree with and declare the promise that the table of the Lord releases the provision of the Lord. If you would like to learn more about the upcoming gathering in Washington D.C., Communion America,  click this LINK . Click on the link below to watch the full video. www.generationword.com   https://awakenthedawn.com/communionamerica/