Guard Your Heart I’ve been thinking somewhat about Chuck Pierce’s word that Holy Spirit is going to re-circuit the minds of individuals and nations. This is truly an amazing word (you can read it in this previous post). Let’s look today at how important this is. “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23, emphasis added). “Watch” is translated from natsar, also a Hebrew word for “watchman.” Yes, as important as it is to be watchmen for others, we are also told to be watchmen for our own hearts, guarding what we allow to enter. The word “heart” in this verse is the Hebrew word leb. Although this could mean the physical heart, it is used “figuratively for the feelings, the will and even the intellect.”(1) This would include the soul - the mind, will, and emotions. As doorkeepers of our own souls, we must determine what is allowed in, for what we allow in determines who we become. Proverbs 23:7 gives tremendous insight to the concept of guarding or watching over what we allow into our hearts: “For as [a person] thinks within himself, so he is.” “Thinks” (shaar) is a very important and interesting word. In fact, it is truly a watchman word. It does not actually mean “think;” that was a derived, figurative meaning. It actually means “to split or open; to act as a gatekeeper.”(2) The verse is actually saying, “Whatever a person lets into his soul, so he or she will be.” In other words, we are who we are because of what is allowed into our minds, causing a particular way of thinking. Each of us is the product of what we allow to access our minds and hearts. The context of the verse, in keeping with this reasoning, tells us to be careful with whom we associate. We are, indeed watchmen for our own souls - our minds and emotions. It is critical that we act as gatekeepers or doorkeepers of our hearts. We, as human beings, are not controlled by that which is true. We are controlled by what we believe to be true, whether it is or not. Deceptions, lies, and distorted perceptions can control us, even though untrue. These are what the Bible calls strongholds - prisons in the mind (see 2 Corinthians 10:4) built by distortions and deceptions. Even latent beliefs, buried deep in our subconscious control us, whether true or not. An article in Reader’s Digest stated: “When people who fear snakes are shown a picture of a snake, sensors on their skin will detect sweat, a sign of anxiety, even though the people say they do not feel fear. The sweat shows up even when a picture is presented so rapidly that the subject has no conscious awareness of seeing it.”(3) Once a concept or philosophy has embedded itself into the deepest recesses of one’s mind and memory, the belief center, the mind considers it to be true and functions accordingly. Again, what is believed to be true there WILL control the person, whether it is true or not. Thus Proverbs says, “So he [or she] is” (Proverbs 23:7). This is why Proverbs 4:23 says we must guard our souls, carefully controlling what is allowed to enter. And though we cannot control everything placed there, we can do much to watch over what does and does not have access. Then there is the information that came into our souls before we came to know Christ. Most people have allowed much unbiblical information into their before becoming Christians. Some have allowed great amounts of perversion and unclean thinking to be embedded into them. Still others have experienced great trauma, rejection, or other emotional wounds. All of these things can be used to shape our thinking, causing certain thought patterns and actions. A person isn’t born again long before discovering that the new birth did not erase all that had been previously programmed into the mind and emotions. We can certainly guard what comes into our souls in the future, but what of the strongholds, wrong ways of thinking, fears, and other destructive patterns already there? We must attack them with what God says - His Word. As mentioned previously, “watch” in Proverbs 4:23 is natsar, one of the Old Testament words for a watchman. But the word also means “to lay siege.” The concept is that when laying siege to a city, they were “watching” it to make sure no supplies were able to enter. By the power of Holy Spirit, we can lay siege to our minds. “The weapons we fight with...have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV). Ask Holy Spirit to re-circuit your mind, causing it to become synchronized to God’s Word. Ask Him to pull out or pull down everything placed there that is not consistent with God’s will and plans. He is going to re-circuit us! Pray with me: Father, You told us You are re-circuiting the minds and hearts of people at this point in time. You are doing this with individuals, but also with groups of people. You said the church would begin to think the way You think. We ask for this. We ask for the spirit of wisdom and revelation to be given to us, in order that we might be re-circuited with Your circuitry. For many, this will begin with deliverance from wounds caused by unpleasant experiences; others will be freed from strongholds caused by words spoken to them; and still others will be re-circuited regarding untrue things they have been taught. Do this, please. Do as You showed Chuck Pierce: pull out the old circuit and put in a new one. Then cause us to think Your thoughts. We want to think the way You think and say what You say. We want to be Your voice in the earth, Your mouthpiece. We want to speak words of healing and faith. We want our mouths to release the sword of the Spirit, pulling down strongholds and everything that exalts itself against You. Do this in us, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that when the re-circuiting is complete, the church will be more in sync with the thinking of Holy Spirit than ever before in history. Portions of today’s post were taken from my book Watchman Prayer. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ________________________________ Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, s.v. 3820. Ibid., s.v. 8176. Daniel Goleman, “What’s Your Emotional IQ?” Reader’s Digest, January 1996, p. 50.

Finish Well When God shifts us from a chronos time to an opportune kairos time, it doesn’t mean the process of reaping and fight of faith are finished. It means we have shifted into a season where there is an opportunity to reap. There is still a persevering that needs to take place. Kairos is an opportune time, not a guaranteed time. The Bible speaks of a pleroo, a fullness of time. Galatians 4:4 reads, “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.” This word pleroo indicates fully completing or finishing something. Whereas kairos indicates the opportunity to perform a task or produce fruit, pleroo means it has now been accomplished. This could be likened to the process of bringing forth children. After conception, a woman goes through all three stages of timing. For nine months, she faithfully endures the challenging but important developmental stage of chronos. Much is happening in the hidden place of the womb, but she cannot yet hold and fully enjoy the fruit she knows is coming. She then moves into the kairos stage of labor and delivery. She hasn’t yet come to fullness, but it is near. This kairos time is very difficult and dangerous, however. Opportunity doesn’t guarantee success. There will be work, pain, and pushing if the fullness stage of birth is to be reached. The Nature of Birthing Something New Spiritual births can also be difficult and dangerous. Unlike a woman in labor, however, we can give up during these strategic times and stop the delivery process. F. B. Meyer uses the illustration of a beehive to compare the struggle of bees to that of the Christian: A beekeeper told me the story of a hive - how, when the little bee is in the first stage, it is put into a hexagonal cell, and honey enough is stored there for its use until it reaches maturity. The honey is sealed with a capsule of wax, and when the tiny bee has fed itself on the honey and exhausted the supply, the time has come for it to emerge into the open. But, oh, the wrestle, the tussle, the straining to get through that wax! It is the strait gate for the bee, so strait that in the agony of exit the bee rubs off the membrane that hid its wings, and on the other side it is able to fly! Once a moth got into the hive, fed on the wax capsules, and the bees got out without any strain or trouble. But they could not fly and the other bees stung them to death.(1) When you are struggling to give birth, don’t give up. Your struggles won’t be wasted; they may even be necessary. The key is not to quit. Consider the disciples of Christ. They went through three intense years with Jesus. Then came kairos - the Cross, the Resurrection, the Ascension. They were very close to their fullness of time. But they came extremely close to losing the “baby” in this transition between kairos and pleroo. At one crucial point, they were very confused about what was happening. God was moving behind the scenes, but things were not unfolding the way the disciples had envisioned. In their confusion, they came to a point of frustration and had a meeting. One of them probably asked, “What are we going to do?” For three years, Jesus had been with them continuously; then they watched Him die. He was raised from the dead and they were excited, but He left again and something about it seemed permanent this time. He was gone. He had talked about Holy Spirit coming to them, but that didn’t make much sense. It would have been more logical had Jesus just stayed. Peter spoke up first (can you believe that?) and said, “I’m going fishing” (John 21:3). He was saying, essentially, “I’m going back to what I was doing three years ago, returning to the only thing I know and understand. The dream is over. I don’t know where God is going with all of this, but I know where I’m going. I’m going back to my business...I’m going fishing.” He and the others had come through the chronos season, then had shifted into the kairos strategic time. Just before fullness, they came extremely close to losing the “baby.” Only a few days later, Pentecost occurred, and we can see what they nearly lost. Through Peter’s first sermon as a born-again believer, filled with the Spirit of God, 3000 people came to Christ. As a group, the disciples then proceeded to turn their world upside down (see Acts 17:6, KJV). Fullness had come. When the shift into kairos comes, there are simply going to be some things that we don’t understand. In our humanness, we tend to plan everything out in our minds and envision the scenario of how we believe things will occur. When it doesn’t happen that way, another part of our human nature kicks in and begins to question everything. At this time, we are extremely vulnerable. The inclination to say, “I’m going fishing...I’ve had it...I’m finished” can be very strong. Consider the process of praying for revival. Who is the most vulnerable to disillusionment? Those who have been the most passionate for revival are the ones most susceptible to frustration and losing heart. Proverbs 13:12 states, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick”. The portion of the Body of Christ that is okay with things as they are and hasn’t been interceding for revival, isn’t going to become disillusioned. As long as the economy is good, most Americans - including Christians - are happy (of course this is changing!) But it is the remnant that has been crying out to God for years, those who are passionately desirous of revival who struggle the most with hope deferred and disillusionment when revival doesn’t come when we believe it should. If you are believing for a miracle in your life, you’re a lot more likely to experience hope deferred than the person who doesn’t believe in miracles. The irony is: a person who is more passionate for God is sometimes more at risk of spiritual disillusionment than a person who has little or no passion. The secret is to not give up. Like the disciples, we don’t always know how close we are to fullness. The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small uninhabited island. He cried out to God to save him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed to come. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a rough hut and put his few possessions in it. He succeeded in building a fire. But then one day, after hunting for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; he was stung with grief. Early the next day, though, a ship drew near the island and rescued him. “How did you know I was here?” he asked the crew. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.(2) We are moving into a fullness of time in America. Do not give up now. Satan and his forces would have us believe that everything is gone, that it has been burned up. But help is on the way. Our cries have been heard and the God of breakthrough is moving. Persevere! Pray with me: Father, we know what You want to do in the earth because You said it isn’t Your will for any to perish. You love to save. You want to deliver. Jesus announced Your heart when He began His ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19) He told us very clearly that to see Him was to see You (John 14:9). We do not have to wonder what Your heart desires and what You want. So, we choose to align ourselves with Your will - rescuing people from the fall, the curse of sin, and bringing them into Your family. And You have been orchestrating events on the planet to prepare for the greatest influx of souls ever. We know this. We also know Your will for America. Therefore, we declare over the corrupt and dishonest government in America, “You will not succeed in destroying this nation! Your weapons will not prosper. Your corruption will be exposed. We bind your efforts to transform this nation and call forth your utter failure. The memory of your government will produce disdain.” Our decree: We decree that the fullness of time for harvest and breakthrough is here. Portions of today’s post came from my book God’s Timing for Your Life. Click on the link below to watch the full episode. ________________________________ Richard A. Stele, Jr, and Evelyn Stoner, Practical Bible Illustrations from Yesterday and Today (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1996), p 329. Edward K. Rowell, Fresh Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Christianity Today, 1997), p 169.

Don’t Miss the Train The story is told of a man who rushed into a suburban railroad station one morning and, almost breathlessly, asked the ticket agent: “When does the 8:01 train leave?” “At 8:01,” was the answer. “Well,” the man replied, “it is 7:59 by my watch, 7:57 by the town clock, and 8:04 by the station clock. Which time am I to go by?” “You can go by any clock you wish,” said the agent, “but you cannot go by the 8:01 train, for it has already left.”(1) Jesus wept over Jerusalem, saying, “You did not recognize the time of your visitation” (Luke 19:44). They missed the train. A group of Israelites decided to try and possess the land of Canaan the day after God told them the opportunity had passed. They were routed by the Canaanites (see Numbers 14:39-45). The train had already departed. Ecclesiastes tells us timing is important to God: “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). We must recognize the timings and seasons God ordains for our lives, ministries, cities, and nations. Too often we try to reap during planting season, plant during harvest, run when we should be resting, and rest when it is time to run. Even the right action, if done at the wrong time - well-intentioned as it may be - will cause us to miss the train every time. One of the tribes of Israel, Issachar, had a prophetic ability to discern timing. “They were men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). Issachar’s ability to understand/discern the times gave them insight as to what to do. Recognizing God’s timing is one of the keys to taking proper action. Daniel 2:20-21 tells us: “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. And it is He who changes the times and the epochs [seasons]; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding.” I have often referred to this changing of the times and seasons as, “The Divine Shift.” We must understand and recognize the divine shifts—moments when God changes the times and seasons. If not, we could be sitting in the train station with our bags packed and ticket in hand, watching the train that was to carry us into God’s purpose, disappearing into the distance. One of the great disasters of history took place in 1271. Nicolo and Matteo Polo (the father and uncle of Marco) were visiting the Kublai Khan, at that time a world ruler over China, India, and all of the East. He was attracted to the story of Christianity as Nicolo and Matteo shared it with him and said to them: “You shall go to your high priest and tell him on my behalf to send me 100 men skilled in your religion, and I shall be baptized. And when I am baptized, all my barons and great men will be baptized and their subjects will receive baptism, too. So there will be more Christians here than there are in your parts.” However, nothing was done for 30 years. Then, 2 or 3 missionaries were sent, too little too late.”(2) It is staggering to think what a different world it may have been if China and India had been impacted by the gospel in the thirteenth century. The opportunity was missed. Could it be that God was trying to create an incredible shift that would have changed the course of history? We may never know, but it certainly seems possible. We must never allow anything like that to happen in our generation. When God wants to change the times and seasons, or the heart of a king, we must do our part to see it occur. The following three verses in Isaiah speak of God’s shift into new seasons: “You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time, even hidden things which you have not known.” (Isaiah 48:6) “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19) “Behold, the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.” (Isaiah 42:9) Notice the phrase “spring forth” in the last two verses. These words mark a shift in time. Something new is about to spring forth. “Will you not be aware of it?” God asks. Even though God’s shifts sometimes come quickly, they are typically the end of lengthy processes. And He always gives prophetic alerts. This is why I pay attention to dreams, visions, and words like the one I posted Friday entitled The Showdown. We have posted many words over the last year regarding what Holy Spirit is saying to the church now. This is the Issachar anointing. We must now be diligent to pray what He is saying. Even though Elijah knew it was time for the removal of Israel‘s drought, he still had to involve himself. He confronted the sin and compromise, and he travailed for the release of rain (see 1 Kings 18). Even though Daniel knew it was time for Israel’s restoration, he still had to fast and pray to see it come about (see Daniel 9). God has been and continues to expose the evil and foolishness in our current government. He has also been saying over and over that He is going to restore our nation through a great revival that will impact all of society, not just government. Holy Spirit has promised to judge the Ahabs and Jezabels of our day and bring down giants that oppose Him. He is telling us this - not simply to encourage us - but so we can, through prayer, birth His will in the earth, just as Elijah and Daniel did. God works through us, His people, not independently of them. We must not miss this timing. We must pray fervently and faithfully. Reading and joining me daily on this post is one way you can do this. But also use other reminders. Train yourself to pray simple prayers and make decrees as you go throughout the day. As you shower or put on your makeup, decree, “America shall be saved!” As you drive to work, decree the unrighteous government in America will be removed. Before you go to sleep at night, ask God for His mercy and declare that giants will fall. It does not have to be complicated. And it doesn’t have to be a long prayer. Be creative. Think of the accumulated time and amount of prayer that would be offered on a daily basis if we all do this! Friend, we must not miss this train! Pray with me: Father, You have told us by Your Spirit that the showdown is coming. You have said, “America shall be saved!” We believe these words. You have also told us we are moving into a great awakening. We believe this also. We believe YOU are coming to rescue millions and millions of people around the world from the stronghold of spiritual death. We honor our partnership with You. We are Your Ekklesia on the earth. Your family. We take seriously our responsibility to speak for You as Your ambassadors. We boldly declare as Jesus told us, “Come forth, manifest, kingdom authority of Christ on the earth! Will of God, be done on this earth!” We ask You for great power to be released. We ask You for Your glory to be released. We ask for Your angels to be released in greater number. We ask for principalities to be dealt with around the world. We ask for multitudes to be freed from their influence. We ask You for wickedness to be judged and dealt with, and evil to be cast down in the name of Jesus. Our decree: We decree that we will not miss the time of our visitation! 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 prayer. ______________________________ Richard A. Steele, Jr., and Evelyn Stoner, Practical Bible Illustrations from Yesterday and Today (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1996), p. 180. www.autoillustrator.com/online (accessed 10/16/2000).

Persevere! Yesterday’s post was about staying the course. Today’s is on the same subject: perseverance, persistence...staying the course! I don’t know why these things happen to me. Like the time I was expertly postulating on the subject of mind renewal in Detroit, Michigan. Saturday morning was the final four hours of a ten-hour intensive, and about three hours into my captivating dissertation a lady to my right could persevere no longer. My Greek words, deep revelation, and incredible presentation finally pushed her into slumberland. My words do have a calming effect. I don’t like to brag, but not everyone can produce such mind-numbing revelation and soul-tranquilizing truth. Peace, that’s what it was. It takes years of study and learning to mature to this point in public speaking. To make the situation much more meaningful, this lady was a snorer. Obviously a professional. The room wasn’t all that big - there were probably 100 people seated around tables that accommodated 10 people each - meaning everyone was within earshot of this message-confirming endorsement of the highest order. Her first snore wasn’t all that impressive, just a small warm-up heard only by those of us within 20-30 feet of her. Those seated next to her were polite enough not to awaken her so that the full effect of this nasal applause could continue. Less discerning people would have foolishly roused her, robbing us of this blessing. But those seated around her were SHARP. They let it continue. The second snore was better, becoming more praise worthy of my glorious teaching, reaching two-thirds of the room. Those around her, appreciating the stunning effect these snorts of praise would produce, again allowed her to continue. I was amazed. No one was rude enough to nudge her awake. The third snore reached full volume, the kind of zzzzzzzzzzs dreams are made of - one for the record books - awakening everyone to the profoundness of my deep, stirring words. All eyes were now on this peaceful woman. “This,” I shouted, seizing the moment, “is the kind of deep tranquility I’m speaking of. Let the power of my words so stir each of you. Hallelujah!” The lady, awakened by my shouting, sat up with a start and grunted a loud “Amen!” which added increased weight to my words. Savoring the sweetness of the moment, I decided it was a good time for a coffee break. I could tell, by the smiles and soft chuckles, that everyone agreed. A recording of this presentation, entitled “Sounds of Serenity,” can be ordered from my product department. Several years ago in Oklahoma, another lady helped me with one of my messages. I was teaching on the following verses: “That you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12). “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36). Emphasizing the need for patience and endurance if we are to receive answers to our prayers, I shared the following story. One night a man had a dream in which an angel gave him a guided tour of heaven. He saw the golden streets, beautiful mansions, and millions of saints in this wonderful place. Then he saw a huge building, miles long, which looked out of place. “What is that?” he asked the angel. “That’s God’s warehouse” was the response. “It’s where God stores the things He had prepared to give people in answer to their prayers. Before He released them, however, the people gave up hope, lost their faith, and doubted His promise. Their unbelief prohibited Him from giving them these things, so He stores them in this warehouse.” “Wow!” said the man, “Can I see inside?” “Sure,” said the angel and proceeded to show the man a building filled with money, houses, cars, boats, clothing, food - just about everything you could imagine. Just as I was about to make my powerful point - “don’t give up, don’t cast away your confidence, stay the course; you don’t want your provision stored in God’s heavenly warehouse” - a little lady on the front row spoke up. In a quiet, mischievous voice, she asked, “Were there any men there?” I don’t believe I was able to regain control of that meeting! I don’t know if God has a warehouse, and if He does I doubt there are any men in it. But I do believe it is possible to ask God for something and fail to receive it because we wavered in the waiting period. We need perseverance in our intercession. We must STAY THE COURSE! There are two words in the New Testament that are related to the concept of staying the course. One is found in Hebrews 4:14: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. The words “hold fast” come from the Greek word krateo.(1) The root word (kratos) has the meaning of power, strength, might and vigor. The concept of this word is regarding the strength with which one is holding onto something. This verse tells us to hold strongly to our “confession,” a word which means, “say the same thing,” (homologia). Therefore, holding fast to our confession means: with all your strength hold onto what God says! And say it! The other word is found in Hebrews 10:23: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. In this verse “hold fast” is a different word, katecho.(2) The root word here, echo, simply means “to have or hold.” The prefix kata is what intensifies the meaning to that of holding onto something securely. Nothing too profound about that. But, this word became a nautical term meaning “to set one’s course” or “hold to a course,” (Acts 27:40). Holding on strongly to what God says - saying it, decreeing it, confessing it - enables us to stay on course. We are kept from wavering, from being blown off course by adversity, adverse winds and opposition, as we say what God says. This is why I repeat some things in these posts over and over. For example, “America shall be saved.” Every time we say it we are keeping ourselves on course. One other thing that occurs as we “hold fast to our confession” is that we become “pregnant” with His words. God’s words are seeds that produce faith in us. The root word, echo, is actually one of the words for “being with child,” (Matthew 1:18). Therefore, holding fast to what God says causes us to become “pregnant” with it until we are finally able to give birth to it. And, as my dad used to say, “That’ll preach!” “For years William Wilberforce pushed Britain’s Parliament to abolish slavery. Discouraged, he was about to give up. His elderly friend, John Wesley, heard of it and from his deathbed called for pen and paper. “With trembling hand, Wesley wrote: ‘Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them stronger than God? ‘“Oh be not weary of well-doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of His might, ‘til even American slavery shall vanish away before it.’ “Wesley died six days later. But Wilberforce fought for forty-five more years and in 1833, three days before his own death, saw slavery abolished in Britain.”(3) So today, friend, stay the course! Pray with me: Father, thank You for Your promises. You cannot lie. Your word is true. Your promises are unfailing. Your words contain power. You said they accomplish what You sent them to do (Isaiah 55:11). You honor Your words above even Your name. You have told us “America shall be saved.” You have told us the greatest revival in history is beginning. You told us You were building an Ekklesia that the gates of hell could not prevail against. We hold fast to these words. They are growing in us. We are becoming pregnant with these promises and through the power of Holy Spirit we will give birth to them! We ask You once again for a billion souls - and decree it again - 1 billion or more souls are coming into Your kingdom in this revival. We decree once again that miracles are coming in great numbers. We decree that nations will be transformed. We decree that people from every tribe and tongue will be in Your family. We decree that no force can stop this. We decree, according to the word of the prophets, this has begun. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the words of God will never pass away, they are eternal, all powerful, and that through them we will stay on course. Portions of today’s post were taken from my book The Essential Guide to Prayer. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ____________________ The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1977). Number 2902 Ibid. Number 2722. Edward K. Rowell, Fresh Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching: from Leadership Journal (Grand Rapids, MI: Christianity Today, Inc., and Baker Books, 1997), p. 46.

Use America’s History as Your Weapon God raised up America for the same general purpose for which He birthed Israel: redeeming the world from Adam’s fall. It shouldn’t seem surprising that God would raise up a nation for this very purpose. Why wouldn’t He? Though our specific role is clearly different from Israel’s - they were destined to be the people through whom Messiah would come to earth - the end game was the same. America’s role is to trumpet the good news (gospel) of the Messiah they birthed. Both nations were called and destined by God to help Him save the world from spiritual death and reunite His earthly family to Himself. In order to facilitate this holy calling, God was directly involved in the birthing, molding, and shaping of the USA. Obviously, this doesn’t mean He approved of all our actions down through history, such as broken covenants or treaties with the Native tribes, slavery, abortion, and other grievous sins. Yet, in spite of these evils America, like Israel, exists for this redemptive purpose and Yahweh has been involved with us throughout our history. Though America grants freedom of religion to all, this must never alter our identity and does not change our calling. We must never lose sight of our purpose and destiny, nor should we ever apologize for it. America doesn’t exist to further Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or any of the other religions of the world. Their followers are welcome here, but these religions are not our identity. We are called by Yahweh, the God of the Bible, to partner with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, whom the Bible teaches is the only way to God (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Though we are inclusive, tolerant and welcoming of all, we must never abandon our calling nor forget our rich Christian heritage. A City On A Hill From the days of the pilgrims, godly men and women have realized the Almighty was involved in the birth of our nation. They also knew if a nation chose to partner with and honor God, that nation would experience His favor and blessing in extraordinary ways (Psalm 33:12; Proverbs 14:34). The colonial dreamers agreed, believing the Sovereign was, indeed, birthing “a city [nation] set on a hill that can’t be hidden..a light to the world” (Matthew 5:14). They knew of John Winthrop, a leader of the puritan’s Massachusetts Bay Colony, using this verse in his 1630 speech on board the Arbella to describe what he believed God wanted to build in America.(1) The Founders knew about the planting of the cross at Cape Henry in 1607, and the ensuing prayer meeting dedicating the land to God’s glory. They had read the Mayflower Compact of 1620, stating the voyage was made “for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith…”(2) The Founding Fathers absolutely believed America had a God-given destiny. Throughout our history, America’s presidents and leaders have reiterated this belief. John F. Kennedy referenced Matthew 5:14 and Winthrop’s famous speech, as did Ronald Reagan and numerous other U.S. Presidents. (3) Though modern-day revisionists try to rewrite and remove our history, “the truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may divide it, but in the end, there it is.” (Winston Churchill). (4) The Declaration of Independence As our Founders declared their independence from England, they also acknowledged their dependence upon God. The Declaration of Independence, our original founding document, has four clear references to God, speaking of Him as our Lawmaker, Creator, Judge, and Protector. The Declaration concludes with these words: For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. (5) After signing the Declaration, some wept. Others, like Witherspoon, bowed their heads in prayer.(6) Samuel Adams rose and stated, “We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and ...from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come.”(7) To say God wasn’t involved in raising up America is asinine. Washington’s Heart After God These individuals weren’t confused or ambiguous about whether or not they wanted God - the Judeo-Christian God of Scripture - to also be involved in the leading of this nation. Note the God-honoring statement Washington made at his inauguration as the first president of the United States on April 30, 1789: ...It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to liberties and happiness of the People of the United States...No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency...We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal result of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained. (8) (Italics mine) Indeed, there is a history of dependence on God and of His faithfulness toward this nation. Our forefathers were not perfect, but they were God-honoring, and His overruling role in their lives cannot be denied. John Adams Bringing the Sovereign into our founding, John Adams said that the day on which the Declaration of Independence was signed: Will be the most memorable...in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty… You will think me transported with enthusiasm but I am not, I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain the Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means. (9) The Liberty Bell The Liberty Bell, which rang on the day of America’s birth, was given its name from the Bible verse inscribed on it (yes, the Liberty Bell contains a verse of scripture): “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10). This verse is taken from the description of the year of Jubilee, which was a prophetic picture of Christ, our Jubilee, who forgave our debts and freed us from spiritual slavery. Just to make sure you get the connection - our nation’s birth was announced under the biblical decree that “Christ is our Liberator and Savior!” Humanists, atheists, and liberals may not like the facts such as these, but as John Adams once said, “Facts are stubborn things.” (10) Even our nation’s form of government was taken from scripture. “The Lord is our Judge [Judicial Branch]...Lawgiver [Legislative Branch]...and King [Executive Branch]” (Isaiah 33:22). What a weapon to use when you pray for our government! Decree that God will once again be honored as Judge, Lawgiver, and King. America’s Colleges One hundred and six of the first 108 colleges in America were founded on our Christian faith. (11) Students at Harvard were required to read the scriptures twice daily. (12) Harvard’s founders stated, “All knowledge without Christ is vain;” its motto was, “For Christ and the church.” (13) The rules and precepts of Harvard stated that, “Every student shall consider the main end of his study is to know God in Jesus Christ…” (14) Princeton’s motto was, “Under the protection of God she flourishes.” (15) Jonathan Dickenson, the first president of Princeton stated, “Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the Cross of Christ.”(16) They forgot to tell you that in your history class! Countless other examples could be given. “Under God” is more than a religious quote stuck in the Pledge of Allegiance to satisfy America’s Christian zealots. It is fact...it is our history. We can lay claim to it and, like David, we can war with it. As you pray for America, declare and decree that we are a Christ birthed and honoring nation. State your faith in the God who keeps covenant and extends mercy (Deuteronomy 7:9). Ask Him to restore our true purpose and calling. Decree that as our Lawgiver, Judge, and King, He will rule our nation. Worship Him as our Founder and Savior. Refuse to allow lying historians, secularists, and polytheists to steal America’s history and purpose! Our prayer and decree: America’s destiny is to be a city on a hill, a light to the nations. We exist for “the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” We will accomplish this. As our Declaration of Independence states, God is our Lawmaker, Creator, Judge, and Protector. We firmly rely on Him. “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which we have become an independent nation has been distinguished by Providence.” (8) We acknowledge this. We were born under the sound of Jubilee. We were born to BE a sound of Jubilee, which is the message of Christ. We WILL do this. Our education system and colleges were formed for the glory of Christ. With the first president of Princeton we say, “Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the Cross of Christ.”(16) Portions of today’s post were taken from my book Giants Will Fall. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ______________________________ Winthrop, John. “A Model of Christian Charity.” 1630. Mayflower Compact. 1620. Kennedy, John F. “The City Upon a Hill.” Speech given at Massachusetts General Court. January 9, 1961, Reagan, Ronald. “We Will be a City Upon a Hill.” Speech given at the First Conservative Political Action Conference. January 25, 1974. Also quoted by Presidents John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/winston_churchill_129864 The Declaration of Independence. July 4, 1776 Marshall, Peter and Manuel, David. The Light and the Glory. (Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 1977). p. 307. Ibid., p. 309. Washington, George. “Washington’s Inaugural Address of 1789, a Transcription.” National Archives and Records Administration. www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/inaugtxt.html Marshall and Manuel. P. 320-311 Adams, John. “Argument in Defense of the British Soldiers in the Boston Massacre Trials.” December 4, 1770. McCalman, Allison. “The History of Christian Education in America.” Classroo, 2018. https//classroom.synonym.com/the-history-of-christian-education-in-america-12080826.html Richard, Carl J. The Founders and the Bible. (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2016). p.16. Ahrens, Darrell J. Divide Love/Divine Intolerance. (Oakland, OR: Elderberry Press, Inc., 2009), p. 283. Ibid. Princeton University. “University Flag, Shield, and Motto.” Princeton University, 2017. www.princeton.edu/~okrour/virtualtour/korean/Info09-Flag.htm Thwing, Charles Franklin. American Colleges, Their Students and Work. 2nd ed. (New York, NY: G.P.Putnam’s and Sons, 1883). p. 56.

Kansas’ Fight for Life I will be in Wichita, Kansas, tonight for a very important assignment. I’m asking you to agree in prayer with us. To fully understand the purpose and importance of this gathering, the following background information will help. We begin with a vision Chuck Pierce had on May 31, 2008. Chuck was caught up in the spirit and saw all the states of America. In his account of this, he said: “Holy Spirit showed me each state’s covenant root - or lack thereof. He also showed me a move of God in each state, which looked like a fiery river running through it. I knew this river was a people He referred to as the triumphant reserve that would arise in the future. Then He showed me what looked like fiery castles in some states. “When we're restoring and rebuilding the tabernacle of David, our activity is occurring in the heavens, the spiritual realm, but also on the earth. Amos 9 speaks of this - our rebuilding of David’s Tabernacle is allowing God’s glory to connect heaven and earth. This will produce the fiery castles I saw, which Holy Spirit said ‘will be the “freedom outposts” I develop for the future.’ Later on, I realized He was talking about “apostolic centers” that would be raised up, similar to what we read about in the book of Revelation. He not only showed me the freedom outposts/apostolic centers, He showed me where they would be developing. “Then He showed me iniquitous, ruling thrones in every state. Not all states had freedom outposts/apostolic centers, but every state had thrones of iniquity. Every state also experienced a new move of God. “Then in 2019, I had a dream regarding one of the states. In it, as a result of prayer, some American states were turning red. I didn't think this color referred to them turning red politically, but rather represented covenant. The redemptive power of the blood of Jesus Christ was shifting the land, re-establishing covenant roots. Due to prayer, Kansas was one of the states turning red. As this was occurring, however, a liberal voice - a person with a gavel - roared, trying to stop the transformation. The voice shouted, ‘No, Kansas cannot turn red. If Kansas turns red, all of America shifts into a life movement.’ “I knew this had to do with abortion. I also knew we would have to release a decree for Kansas and that this was related to bringing America back to her covenant roots.” Chuck feels we have now reached the point in time he dreamed of in 2019. The group Value Them Both explains the following, which I believe relates to what Chuck saw: “Kansas voters will vote on Value Them Both on August 2nd. This amendment will protect bipartisan, common sense limits on the abortion industry that have been enacted in Kansas over the last 25 years. This opportunity on August 2nd will allow Kansas voters to have a voice to ensure the state does not become a permanent destination for extreme abortion procedures. Without Value Them Both, Kansas abortion law will become as extreme as New York and California. “‘At this historically important time, the question before Kansans on August 2nd is clear: an unregulated abortion industry with no limits at all or the reasonable limits protected by the Value Them Both Amendment,’ said Mackenzie Haddix, Deputy Communications Director for the Value Them Both Campaign.”(1) Pastor Randy Bohlender of Kansas City adds context for this vote: “In April 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the 1859 Kansas Constitution contained a nearly unlimited right to abortion. Their ruling goes far beyond where Roe v Wade went, ruling that ANY restrictions on abortion are a violation of peoples’ rights. The result of this was that every limit on abortion in Kansas, including bipartisan limits, was now unconstitutional. This included the ban on late-term abortions, the ban on taxpayer-funded abortions, and the Kansas law requiring parental consent before an abortion clinic could perform an abortion on a minor. “The laws that had been passed in recent years to protect life had reduced abortions in Kansas by fifty percent. Those laws are all now considered unconstitutional by the Kansas Supreme Court. “In 2021, both the Kansas House and Senate passed an amendment called VALUE THEM BOTH to reverse the court’s decision. This would ensure that Kansas legislators could make decisions about abortion in Kansas (not unelected judges). “On August 2, the entire state will vote to pass or not pass this amendment. If it passes, the laws which we sent our representatives to Topeka to pass can be enforced. If it fails, the Kansas Supreme Court will have officially declared the abortion industry, almost entirely unregulated, open for business.” This amendment in Kansas MUST pass! For Kansas, for America, and FOR THE BABIES. Let’s all rally around Kansas in prayer. At one point, Kansas had one of the strongest iniquitous roots of death and bloodshed in our nation. As the dream showed, this had largely been removed. I have friends who have been beaten and thrown in jail there for peacefully protesting for life. Over time, the prayers and actions of pro-life individuals prevailed. Now, satan is obviously trying to reestablish a stronghold there. Chuck’s dream also makes clear that the victory Kansas needs will impact the entire nation. Please pray with us! Pray with me: Father, we thank You for the great victory regarding Roe versus Wade. A fifty year curse over America was broken. Thank You for helping us remove this hideous law that opened the door to a spirit of murder and death across our entire nation. Our national covenant with death has been broken. And yet, the battle continues on a local level - one of those places is Kansas. We ask You to help us remove the iniquitous root there once and for all and establish a covenant root with You. Direct and move on individuals to vote for this amendment on August 2, putting this issue in the hands of the people’s elected representatives, not a few judges who want to legislate from the bench. Heal the land of Kansas. Cause a covenant root of LIFE to spring up. Send Kansas the fiery river of revival Chuck saw in his vision. Raise up strong apostolic centers/freedom outposts. Cause the triumphant reserve to arise. And we ask for righteousness to invade America. As our nation continues to witness depravity and its resulting insanity, use this to awaken hunger in millions of people for substantive change. You are allowing us to be humbled as a nation, and we embrace this. However, we know You also want to give grace and mercy. So, let humility, grace, mercy, and awakening combine in an unprecedented spiritual invasion of our land! In Christ’s name alone we ask for this, amen. Our decree: We decree that the fiery river of life is invading Kansas…and America. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ________________________________ https://valuethemboth.com/

A Little Understood Truth Today, April 30, is America’s National Day of Repentance. Our National Day of Prayer is May 6. Most Christians have not heard of our National Day of Repentance. In order to participate at an effective level we need to better understand this important subject. Biblical repentance is really a threefold process, defined by three New Testament Greek words. All are important and must be included in the process; and Holy Spirit must be involved in all of these phases. They are: Metamellomai - sorrow, regret, remorse Metanoia - a change of mind and heart; thinking differently; a new understanding; afterthought Epistrepho - turn; convert; go a different direction Sorrow, regret or remorse are part of the repentance process, but do not complete it. One can be sorry for his or her sins and not fully repent, in which case, there is no forgiveness and salvation. Judas was “sorry” he betrayed Jesus (Matthew 27:3); he did not, however, find true repentance. Being sorry for/convicted of one’s actions can, however, lead to repentance (2 Corinthians 7: 9-10), in which case it is an important part of the process. The sorrow is a result of Holy Spirit, through our conscience, revealing our sin to us. This is important but, alone, is not enough. The second word, metanoia, is the word actually translated as repentance. It does not mean “turn and go in another direction,” as most Christians have been taught. It is, however, part of the process that creates the turning. The problem with this erroneous definition is that in oversimplifying it, part of what is necessary to the process is left out. Biblical repentance is not just of the mind; it is not simply changing the way one thinks in the brain. Biblical repentance is also a change of heart. To limit it to the mind or emotions removes the spiritual application, connection, and power. The fact that it involves the heart means Holy Spirit has to be involved. He must bring conviction and recognition of sin, at the heart level (not just emotions), caused by what the Scriptures refer to as “lifting the veil” (2 Corinthians 4: 3-4). The biblical word for this lifting of the veil is “revelation”. (Greek: apokalupsis. Apo: “lift, remove, uncover;” kalupsis: “veil, covering, hidden”). I don’t want to bore or overwhelm you with technical definitions and Greek words, but this understanding is crucial. Without this unveiling, repentance is only of the mind and emotions. And until this revelation from Holy Spirit is received at a heart level there is no spiritual power released to bring forgiveness and create transformation; only mental power. The revelation Holy Spirit brings in the process also includes Christ’s solution: the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This, too, is seen by revelation. Second Corinthians 4:4 says the god of this world blinds the unbelieving to “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” The lifting of the veil is needed, not only so we can see our own condition, but see God’s provision. Charles Finney, the great evangelist of the second great awakening, would sometimes preach in a location for 1-2 weeks before he would give his first altar call. In his meetings, he was known to have had grown men run to the altar weeping, and him tell them, “Please sir, go back to your seat, you are not ready yet.” Astounding! Yet, Finney knew that until the remorse or sorrow for sin was deep enough, until revelation of their need had reached the heart level, and until revelation of God’s provision had produced true faith, there would not be sufficient power to transform. In his meetings, which saw hundreds of thousands of people saved, Finney had a 97% rate of true conversion - in other words, of those who became active, long term, followers of Christ. In our evangelism today, with its weak and watered down message, our rate of true conversion is around 5%. For every 100 people who pray the sinner’s prayer, only 5 of them become true believers! The third part of the repentance process is the turning (epistrepho). When the first two aspects are fully accomplished, we can “turn” - from our hearts. There is now power, resulting from Holy Spirit’s revelation, to walk out the decision. And this change of mind and heart will now result in different actions. The faith and commitment professed will no longer be “without works” (James 2:26). I am giving this teaching so we can pray for unbelievers and for our nation with true understanding. We must ask God to convict of sin; to reveal the depth of our depravity, our need, our deception. We must ask for the blindness to be removed from the heart - for the veil to lift - bringing true revelation. Why can’t many unbelievers, and even some Christians, understand the heinous nature of abortion...of killing babies in the womb and even selling their body parts? Why do fathers abandon their children? Why do people rape, murder, steal? Why is there such violence in our nation? Because a veil covers their hearts, causing them to not see clearly. We must ask for this veil to be lifted, praying for the breaking of their hearts over sin and it’s devastation. Then, we must ask for the spirit of revelation to be released over America. A rending of the heavens, a lifting of the veil at a national level, the very atmosphere charged with Holy Spirit power and influence. This produces revival! America must see her need . . .and God’s provision. Then the turning will come. And it WILL come! Pray with me: Father, thank You for raising up this nation to be a light, a city on a hill, trumpeting the gospel of the kingdom to the ends of the earth. Though we have strayed from our purpose and destiny, You have not. You intend to resurrect it, and allow us to participate in the great billion soul harvest. As we pray for America today, we focus on repentance. We ask You to reveal to us our great need for You. We ask that You break our hearts over our sin and rebellion, for the babies, sex trafficking, for those confused about their identities. Break our hearts over our self-sufficiency, even the pride, arrogance, and rebellion toward You. Break our hearts in the church over our lukewarm condition and compromise. And Father, we ask You to send an explosive revelation into our nation regarding Jesus. Reveal Your love and grace that was demonstrated at the Cross, and the power released in the resurrection of Christ. Bring revelation of Your great redemption, Your healing power, and Your unconditional love for humanity. And Father, we ask You for the great turning - turning to You; turning from our way to Your way; turning from sin to righteousness; turning from death to life; turning from selfishness to selflessness and love. We know this is coming quickly and we thank You for it. You are good, kind, and faithful. We declare and ask for these things in Christ’s holy name, amen. Our decree: We declare that the spirit of revelation, bringing repentance, is coming to America.

The Lord Still Heals “Paula and Jim rejoiced when their granddaughter, Tiffany, was born. But three days later she had a seizure and doctors told the family, ‘The front right side of her brain is destroyed.’ So these grandparents went into warfare mode to battle against the enemies plan to kill or cripple Tiffany. “They began a barrage of prayer using the Word of God. ‘Satan, you have no legal right to attack this baby - she is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh,’ Jim would declare. “Holy Spirit prompted him to pray about the blood supply to the baby’s brain. ‘God, put a new blood supply to the part of Tiffany’s brain that is damaged,’ he prayed.’ Thank You for hearing me. Thank You for doing it. New blood supply to her brain, Lord, new blood supply. Thank You, Lord.’ “After some time, when they felt God’s peace and a sense of release, they stopped their warring. Soon a nurse came to tell Jim and Paula that the baby stopped having seizures. When Jim asked what time the seizures had stopped, he learned it was the exact moment he had sensed it was time to stop battling. “Four days later, Tiffany went home from the hospital and never had another symptom. When her parents took her for her six-month checkup, the doctors said new blood had gone to the part of her brain that had been damaged, just as Jim had prayed. Tiffany never had another seizure and tested above normal in development. “Paula and Jim covered Tiffany in prayer during her growing up and college years, and they continue to do so now that she is married and a mom herself.”1 This is one of many testimonies of God working miracles today as His people pray. Many questions surface when we begin talking of miracles. It would be insulting to you and the Lord to try and thoroughly answer most of them in a post this size. Attempting to do so would probably bring more confusion than clarity. One fact I do want to address, however, is that sickness is of satan, health and healing is of God. Though not all sickness and disease is directly caused by satan, it is nonetheless indirectly caused by him. He is the author and propagator of sin and rebellion, which brought all curses, suffering and sickness to earth. In Acts 10:38 God attributes all sickness and oppression to the devil: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power, Who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.” God is the Redeemer and Healer. He sent Christ, not only to redeem us, but also to reveal Himself to us. Jesus said, “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father,” (John 14:9). Many Christians have been taught God doesn’t heal today. All of us have prayed for a miracle healing for a friend or loved one and not seen the result we were looking for. When this occurs, we must commit the matter to God. We will not always know why the miracle didn’t occur. However, neither the teaching we have received, nor experiences we have had, nullify the character and Word of God. He still heals today. There are multitudes of stories of God healing today. Many Bible-believing Christians can testify to this. One of God’s names is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our Healer. This is one of the many names He is called in the Bible. In the Hebrew, Jehovah means “the one who exists” and Rapha means “to heal”. The literal meaning then is “the One who exists to heal”. If we can grasp the revelation of God’s heart to heal us, we will also move away from thought patterns derived from false teachings of the Word, which misrepresent His nature. This can also break doubt and unbelief formed in us by disappointments experienced when we didn’t receive the healing we sought. In our journey to know Him as Healer, let’s remember: Satan is the destroyer. The Bible says in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Satan is always trying to twist our view of God. He wants us to attribute death, loss, and disappointment to the Lord. No! The Lord is the Savior, Healer, and Redeemer. Believe the Word of God! The Gospels tell us Jesus healed all who were sick and afflicted by the evil one (Satan). (Acts 10:38) Before He left to go sit at the right hand of the Father, Jesus gave us instructions about expanding His Kingdom in the earth. It is called The Great Commission, in which He gives final instructions to the Church: “These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;... they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well,” (Mark 16:17-18). It is not our responsibility to provide the power to heal. It is our responsibility to believe in what Christ has done and lay hands on them in His name. Here are some verses you can think about to generate faith in you regarding healing: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 ESV) “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; the punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, and by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5 AMP) “At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.” (Luke 4:40; NIV) “And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.” (Luke 6:19 NKJV) “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.” (Matthew 10:1 GNT) “Is it easier for me to tell this crippled man that his sins are forgiven or tell him to get up and pick up his mat and go on home? I will show you that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth. So Jesus said to the man, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and go on home.’ The man got right up. He picked up his mat and went out while everyone watched in amazement.” (Mark 2:9-12a; CEV) Pray with me: Father, we put our entire trust in You for all things in our lives. We choose to believe You have recorded for us the truth of Who You are in the Word. We want to know Christ in the power of His resurrection. The price He paid to reconcile us to You and heal our bodies was complete. We place our faith in this. Give us revelation of Your heart for us. You have given us authority to lay our hands on sick people and see them healed. Awaken the church to this truth. Bring a fresh outpouring of revelation regarding Your heart, Your great commission and the gifts of Holy Spirit. Release words of knowledge, gifts of healings, working of miracles, and the gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9-10) through us as we stir up our faith to activate them. We want the world around us to see You through our lives and the miracles You work through us in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Today’s decree: We will pray for the sick, we will see miracles, and the lost will turn to Jesus and be saved! _______________________ 1 Sherrer, Quin & Garlock, Ruthanne. A Woman’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare, (Bloomington, MN:Chosen Books, 2017), 167-168.

Not One Was Lost Sometimes it’s great to just hear a good “praise report,” as we used to call them in Bible College days, 100 years ago. They encourage our faith and glorify our Lord. The following story not only pictures the protective hand of God released through watchman prayer, but also reveals His providential hand working - even when we are unaware. Sometimes our activities or schedules are interrupted by circumstances, other people, or even demonic entities. However, at times it can be Holy Spirit, working for His purposes and our good. As watchmen, we must check in with Him before assuming changes are bad. This is the story of Francis Barton and was written by his daughter, Linda Henson. The account has been added to the Archives of the WWII 292nd Engineers. And Linda begins: “In 1943, my father had the best job he’d ever had. One day the dreaded draft notice arrived. Many of his family and friends encouraged him to go to the courthouse and claim exemption due to working in a munitions plant and having two small children. His answer was, ‘If the man who went in my place was killed, I couldn’t live with myself.’ So, off he went to thirteen weeks of training that turned gentle family men into warriors. “Following training, he was sent to New York, where he boarded a ship to be a part of the World War II military force. On the ship, all the recruits were assembled, and the Commander asked if anyone had any experience cutting hair. No one volunteered. Dad seemed to be the only one who responded. His only experience consisted of trimming his brother’s and father’s hair on Saturday nights so they could go to church, but that was of little consequence. He was assigned the task of being the company barber for the duration of his military service. And, of course, the barbering was done after all other training and chores were completed. Dad says he enjoyed the extra job; it helped to keep his mind off of the loneliness and the horrors of war and gave him extra funds to send home to his family. “Dad was an engineer. Engineers built the roads and bridges so that the troops could travel. “Just after the famed “Battle of the Bulge,” his 292nd Engineers were given the task of building a bridge across the river which would open the way for the Allies’ invasion troops into Berlin. The Germans knew of the planned attack and gathered all the artillery they could muster, lined the river with big guns, and flooded the river. “Dad’s company approached the river and found it flooded, so they set up camp several miles away from the river, where they rehearsed their plan, prepared their equipment, and....waited ....and waited for the waters to recede. At any moment, the command would come, and they would have to rush to do their job. To say the atmosphere was tense would be an understatement. While they waited, the officers daily reminded the men to write letters home to their families because most of them would not come back from this assignment. It was not unusual to see a man wiping tears as he wrote his letter to his family, and some were praying with Chaplains. “On the first Christmas of my parents’ marriage, there was not much money, so they decided that they would buy a Bible, and that would be their gift to each other. This is the kind of man who was facing death alongside so many others. “One night, after all the military duties were finished, he set up his barber shop and began to cut hair. It almost seemed ludicrous that so many men wanted their hair cut when any day could be their last, but maybe it seemed a hopeful thing to do. At any rate, it felt like everyone in the company needed a haircut; he thought the line would never end. The last man raised up out of the chair around 3:00 A.M. Dad was so tired he just fell into his cot. “Around 6:00 A.M., he awoke with a start! Somehow he felt something was wrong. Immediately he was on his feet. As he looked around, he saw that no one else was in the tent. He ran to the next tent. NO ONE. The next. NO ONE. What had happened? Cooks never leave camp, so he ran to the mess tent. ‘Where is everybody? What’s happened?’ The cooks said that the call had come for the engineers to build the bridge. “‘Why didn’t someone wake me” he asked in total desperation. “‘The colonel said you worked all night; let you sleep.’ “Now, it’s unheard of for an officer in the armed forces to have mercy and let a soldier sleep when such an important job has to be done. But that’s what happened. My father was beside himself. Men might die in his place! They were too far away, he’d never catch them in time. “He did the only thing that he knew to do. He ran back to his tent and fell on his knees. He prayed through the first hour. He prayed through the second hour. He prayed all afternoon. He never got up. He could hear the shells bursting miles away and feel the earth tremors as bombs dropped. His mind conjured up images of his friends being slaughtered. He kept on praying. Finally, he heard sounds of the returning army. “He was so stiff from being on his knees he could hardly walk, but he began to trudge down the trail that they had made as they left. Who would be missing? Terrors invaded his mind as he limped toward the advancing men. He could see the trucks in the distance and hear shouts but couldn’t make out what they were saying. Were they angry that he was left asleep? “Tears filled his eyes at the thought of trucks loaded with the dead. The closer he got, he heard more shouting, and still, he couldn’t make out what they were saying. He prepared himself for the looks of disappointment from his friends. “Finally, he came into hearing distance and stopped dead in his tracks, for the words they were shouting were, ‘NOT ONE WAS LOST! NOT ONE WAS LOST.’ “Just a few miles up the river, two other companies had been given the same assignment, and they were cut to shreds. Many families of those men received the letters that had been written. “Heroes come in many forms. I believe my Dad saved the lives of those men that day. “Note: One of Dad’s buddies had kept a diary every day of the war even though it was not allowed. Just before my father died, the children of his army buddy put the diary on the computer and sent it to us. We quickly turned to the date of this event. There, he told the same story of how Barton was left sleeping because he had worked all night. He ended by saying, ‘The Man Upstairs must have been watching out for us because we all came back.’” (1) Pray with me: Father, thank You for encouraging us with this incredible testimony. Your sovereign hand is working at times when we are completely unaware of it. Teach us to listen, to be alert for divine occurrences and setups. Far too often it takes a burning bush to get us to turn aside and listen. Usually, You speak through the still small voice. We pledge to listen more carefully for Your alerts. You told us to watch/be on the alert for one another (Ephesians 6.18). As we listen to You, we’ll save lives, thwart attacks of the enemy and seize opportunities. You have told us we are in a critical month for our nation. Several have gone to DC to pray, others to their state and city government headquarters. We agree now for Your breakthroughs to occur. Batter through demonic strongholds and barriers. We declare that Baal’s strong hold on America is broken, in the name of Jesus. The national covenant with death has been reversed, he may no longer rule our nation. We declare also that his regional entrenchments are uprooted, freeing entire cities and states. And we now ask for Holy Spirit to be poured out. Our decree: We declare that we are watching, alertly listening to the warnings of Holy Spirit, and thereby are shapers of history! Click on the link below to watch the full video. __________________________ Taken from the Pentecostal Evangel, Springfield, MO, November 9, 2008 and November 9, 2014. Used by permission from author Linda Henson.

Modern Day Heroes Needed Thank you for all the tremendous feedback regarding Monday’s and yesterday’s posts. It is obvious that just as the prophets have spoken, this month of July is incredibly significant. God is doing much. I have heard of at least four major prayer journeys to DC and elsewhere over the weekend, which Holy Spirit led others to do independently from one another. Some have sent us pictures from their prayer assignments. This is all so obviously orchestrated by Holy Spirit, which makes it incredibly encouraging. We must continue to persevere. After my assignment in Washington, DC, on Thursday of last week, I went to Boston to be with my friends, Jon and Jolene Hamil, at Faneuil Hall. This gathering, like DC, was very powerful and timely. Faneuil Hall is referred to as the “Cradle of Liberty.” It was there where founder Samuel Adams and others met to give impassioned speeches, appealing to New Englanders to fight for liberty. The building reeks of history; when there, I can feel it oozing from the floors and walls. Without question, in the 1700s, the world was changed from Faneuil Hall. In our era, God has led many back to this important place in order to tap into the synergy of the ages and re-stake claim to our nation. I have spoken there four times in the last dozen or so years. Preaching with pictures and busts of Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, George Washington, and other patriots staring at you is daunting and humbling, to say the least. Last night for a couple of hours, I watched a TV series regarding the American Revolution. It was very moving. Thousands of patriots paid a horrible price for the freedom we enjoy and to further the God-given destiny of our nation. We must never let this be stolen. I cried as I heard a phrase from Emerson’s poem, Concord Hymn. The poem is considered a classic, but the phrase that overwhelmed me speaks of the “Spirit, that made those heroes dare to die, and leave their children free.” (1) Those heroes indeed possessed incredible hearts and spirits, and they gave everything - including their very lives - to purchase the freedoms we enjoy. Yet, the price they paid forever changed the world. Their ranks consisted not only of fully grown men, but also young teenage boys and girls, women, and, yes, freed slaves. Whether it be teenager Sybil Ludington’s 40-mile midnight ride to help gather militiamen for a battle in Danbury, Connecticut, or Betty Zane’s heroic dash to retrieve gunpowder for the fighting men around her, there were many heroes. Nancy Hart is another example. “Standing six feet tall, the red-headed and muscular Hart made an imposing figure for those who dared to cross her. Her fearlessness prompted Cherokee neighbors to call her ‘Wahatche,’ which meant ‘war woman.’ This nickname would prove appropriate as the Revolution moved into the Georgia backcountry, and Hart became a staunch defender of the Patriot cause… “As the Revolution moved into the Southern colonies, Nancy played an important role fighting against Tories in the Georgia backcountry. Hart succeeded in outsmarting British opponents on multiple occasions, frequently disguising herself as a ‘crazy man’ and wandering through British camps to procure information for the Patriots. When one of Hart’s children discovered a British soldier spying on the Hart home, Nancy doused the man with boiling water that she was using to make soap before tying him up and turning him over to Patriot forces… “Though Hart gained recognition after the war for a variety of exploits, one of the most popular stories involved her capture of several British soldiers. According to local legend, six British soldiers entered the Hart home to question Nancy about assisting a Patriot in escaping from the Redcoats. The soldiers then demanded that Nancy feed them, and displaying unusual hospitality, Nancy agreed to host them, providing a fair share of food and drink. With help from her 12-year-old daughter, Sukey, Hart succeeded in discreetly removing several of the soldiers’ muskets from the stack they had formed in the corner of the room. Hart had passed two of the firearms to Sukey through a gap in the wall before the soldiers noticed. Hart instructed the soldiers to remain where they were, and when one of them rose to approach her, she shot him dead and wounded one of the others before taking the remaining four men hostage. Sukey ran to inform Benjamin [her husband], who returned to the cabin. After debating whether to shoot the remaining men or hang them, the Harts and their neighbors decided to hang the soldiers from a nearby tree. The story became a local legend after the war, and variations of the tale have continued to circulate since then. In 1912, a railroad company’s archaeological excavation of the land near Hart’s cabin unearthed six skeletons, suggesting that some version of [the story] was true.” (2) I encourage you to pick up freedom’s baton; it has been handed to our generation, but we must each do our part. Though our weapons are spiritual, not physical - and the battle is, as well - it is no less real and important. If you see the spiritual war for America’s future as only about money, possessions, and physical well-being, you are missing heaven’s point of view. This spiritual battle is regarding the eternities of hundreds of millions of people around the world. America was raised up to take the gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. That…is what we must contend for. I encourage you again, as I did in Monday’s post, to move out from the prayer closet occasionally, and do some onsite praying. Ask Holy Spirit to show you, your prayer group, or even your congregation where He needs you to pray. It may be your neighborhood, a school (after hours), your city or state government headquarters, a historic site, or perhaps a trip to DC. Be wise, obey laws and respect other people, but consider doing this. I’ve been on some prayer journeys that have changed my life! And one other thing: Pastors, I urge you never to let a service take place where prayer for government, your city, and the coming revival does not take place. Real prayer! - not just a perfunctory mention. Take some time and pray! Ask a trusted leader or two, or perhaps some kids to lead in prayer for a couple of minutes. Doing this regularly will help you build your church into a house of prayer, as Jesus declared it to be (Matthew 21:13). I also challenge pastors and leaders to pray over the children before this new school year begins. It’s important that we are diligent in keeping them covered with prayer, and also teach them about the armor of God, placing it around them each day (Ephesians 6:10-18). Let’s all do our part to continue the prayer siege in America. We are winning…because appealing to heaven still works! Pray with me: Father, thank You for the awakening that has occurred in the Ekklesia. Incredible amounts of revelation have been poured out on us over the past 40-50 years. “Yet, still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate” [taken from A Mighty Fortress (3)]. He works consistently to counteract us. But we declare that he will lose. We ask You for a heightened level of alertness and discernment for Your church. We are grateful for increases of prophetic revelation - dreams, visions, prophecies, and Spirit-led direction for our prayers. But we ask for more…from glory to glory, faith to faith, and strength to strength. You overcame satan; as Your body, we will enforce Your victory. Send Your people out into their world to release Your Kingdom authority. We continue to ask for the release of Your battering rams into the spirit of Baal’s defenses in Washington, DC, especially at the White House. We ask for warring angels to implement these battering rams. You have exposed Baal, now you are expelling him. We declare by faith that we will have a Spirit-filled, Spirit-led person in the Oval Office, one who openly welcomes You in on a daily basis. Give us anointed worship and 24-hour prayer in the White House. Take over, Lord! We boldly ask for these things in Christ’s name. Our decree: We decree that when we die, we will leave our children free, and America will continue exporting the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Click on the link below to watch the full video. __________________________ https://www.quotescosmos.com/quotes/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-quote-28.html https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/nancy-hart https://hymnary.org/text/a_mighty_fortress_is_our_god_a_bulwark

A Force To Be Reckoned With God is actively preparing for the great coming harvest. He is fiercely determined. Some would have us believe He is finished moving on the earth, that the end of His activity on earth is here. This is not true. My brother, Tim, preached a powerful message recently declaring over and over a word from the Lord: “I’m not finished!” You can hear the entire message by using the link we have provided. Here is a portion of that message. “The Apostle James was the brother of Jesus. He was the lead apostle of the first Ekklesia during the church’s first spiritual war season. James led the church through Herod’s government tyranny. He was a steady voice to all the other apostles throughout the book of Acts. James also led the Ekklesia in its first great revival, a move of God that changed the world. “In the Book of the Bible that bears his name, James made a statement that gives us a vital key to the success of the church then and now. Holy Spirit has said we’ve entered a season of spiritual war that will be very fierce, all the way through the midterm elections. The Ekklesia must engage in this by presenting themselves before the Lord in prayer, decrees and worship warfare. “James 5:16 (NKJV) says, ‘The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.’ He is very clear and succinct. In order to avail much, there must be increased prayer. To win spiritual battles there has to be an engagement in prayer. In the Amplified Translation, Classic Edition, a portion of this verse says: [Prayer] ‘makes tremendous power available and is dynamic in its working.’ The Message Bible says the prayer of a person right with God because of the blood of Jesus is ‘something powerful to be reckoned with.’ To see victorious results in this war season, we must pray with a force that hell will have to reckon with. “When the church prays, God promises He will engage with us. His entire Kingdom, including angel armies, will do so, releasing tremendous power. This is a power that binds hell’s princes and stops government tyranny, a power that raises people to seats of authority while removing others. Psalm 75:7 says, ‘He takes power from one and will give it to another.’ This is a part of what this war season is about - God taking power from those who have mocked and opposed Him. When the church prays, seats of power and authority change. God intends to give governing authority to those who will rule justly. Part of this war season also includes unseating demonic powers in the spiritual realm. As this occurs, the governmental landscapes will change. God has spoken prophetically that He is now going to hasten His word to perform it. We will see the dreams of our hearts - for ourselves, family and nation - come to pass. “Saint Augustine said, ‘Without God, we cannot. Without us, God cannot.’(1) We are in a special season in which we must partner with the living God through prayer. “Much is being said in today’s world that opposes God and His ways. In light of these current situations, it is vital that we hear from Him. I have been crying out to Holy Spirit, ‘Tell me what You’re saying!’ In response, a word the Lord gave me several years ago began rising up in me. The words burned like fire inside of me. I knew the Lord was declaring them into this current season of spiritual war. I believe this word is going to resound through Washington, DC, rattling the demonic babbling of his enemies. Settled law isn’t settled when God says otherwise. Here is what I heard Him say: “‘I said “It is finished,” not “I am finished.” I am NOT finished. I completed redemption for sins on the Cross, but I am not finished building My church. Its relevance will surely be seen, shutting the mouths of the naysayers. My church will be glorious, without spot or wrinkle, reigning in My Name. It will not be intimidated, scared, confused, bewildered, tepid or spineless. I have much to finish and I WILL finish it. “‘I’ve saved the best wine for your times, and I will now finish the release of outpouring. My power and anointing will be revealed in My manifest presence. The world will see My true power manifesting through My triumphant remnant. My glory will become demonstrably real in your times, from glory to glory to glory, just as I said. “‘I’m not finished! I’m not finished healing blind eyes, opening deaf ears, restoring damaged limbs, reaping the harvest, saving the lost, setting the oppressed free and delivering captives. I’m not finished saving Muslims and Hindus, penetrating the nations with My gospel, and delivering adulterers, alcoholics, and those addicted to drugs. I’m not finished healing those with gender confusion. And I’m not finished with abortion. I’m far from finished. “‘I’m not finished with America, with aligning the nations, and establishing My Kingdom on this earth…which means you’re not finished. My church, My Ekklesia, is not finished binding hell’s plans, standing for My Word and confronting demon doctrines, rebel governments, kings, dictators, presidents, judges and evil dignitaries that mock Me. My reigning church is not finished prevailing over the gates of hell. It’s not finished preaching the word of truth and prevailing over principalities, powers, mights and dominions. It’s not finished being salt and light, lighting up darkness, reversing evil laws, treading on demons, preaching hope and deliverance to captives, reaping My harvest of lost individuals, and discipling nations. “‘The activities of My church don’t stop when governments, presidents, governors, the Supreme Court, the IRS, media, professors or hireling shepherds say they must stop. They stop when I say they stop. And I say to My church, “You’re not done.” “‘You’re not finished and I’m not finished! Occupy until I come. Take care of My Kingdom business until I say you’re finished. Overcoming church, you are My reigning ones, called to these times. Rise in authority, rise in My power and rule in the midst of your enemies. Yes, redemption is finished, but I’m not finished. Salvation is finished, but you’re not finished. Focus on what I say and let that settle the issue.’” Tim then says, “In this war season, it is imperative to stay focused on what God says. We have to know what Holy Spirit is saying to the church, rather than focusing on what we see occurring around us. God’s Word WILL prevail and dynamic power WILL be activated as we pray what He says. “We must release what James called a force to be reckoned with. There must be a realization and determination in the Ekklesia that God isn’t finished. He will accomplish what He has said, and we are going to faithfully and determinedly pray it through.” Pray with me: Lord, let the voice of Your Ekklesia be clear and strong. Give us insight, strategy and wisdom to declare into this moment. Continue inspiring us to partner with You. The battle for America is not over! You are about to give us great victories. You are going to unseat demonic powers; they will not rule our nation. You are about to answer long-standing prayers and fulfill prophetic words. You are about to open the windows of heaven, releasing power to change things in ways we have never seen before. Holy Spirit, inspire our hearts to be engaged with You. We are warriors declaring Your truths and promises. We ask and declare these things in Jesus’ Name, amen. Our decree: God is not finished with the Ekklesia. We will be a force to be reckoned with. Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about Tim here. Click on the link below to watch the full video. __________________________________ https://quotefancy.com/quote/905675/Saint-Augustine-Without-God-we-cannot-Without-us-God-will-not

A Challenge from Washington, DC Hello, and thank you so much for joining me for a different Give Him 15. If you’re watching, you can tell we are not in the studio - I am in Washington, DC, with a couple of friends, Dr. Greg Hood and Pastor Randy Lopshire. You have heard of both them from previous posts, and we are here on a prayer assignment. We didn’t know if we would do this today - try to share a post from here - but decided it would be beneficial to do so. We didn’t bring a video/sound crew with us, but we will casually pass the microphone around and talk about what the Lord was saying to us, encouraging you. We can’t do the posts live because we have to transcribe them. We have thousands who just read them instead of watching - that’s why we don’t do live programs. But today, we want to talk with you about what we experienced here yesterday (July 21) as we prayed outside the White House and on the Mall. I had received a prophetic word/assignment from my friend Chuck Pierce, who said he felt that the month of July was extremely important. And then the Lord gave my brother, Tim Sheets, a dream where he was standing outside the White House on July 4, decreeing. I asked Chuck if he had anything prophetically he wanted to pass on to me for the month of July, and he said - “You need to go, you need to go to DC - I see you standing on the Washington Mall - I see a wind coming and I hear you decreeing the portal that has been opened to evil is now being closed.” I never do this type of thing by myself; I always bring people with me to help with the assignments, so we came here yesterday to do that. I will just say that when we come, Holy Spirit is very faithful to speak to us, to lead us in our decrees. And just as Chuck said, as we arrived at the mall, the winds kicked up - it blew so hard that it blew a sign over next to where we were standing - we just looked at each other and said “here we are!” It was a confirmation to me that we were hearing and doing the right thing. We felt so led by the Lord regarding this assignment and our prayers, especially at the White House. I’m going to hand the mic off to these guys so they can encourage you - we don’t want to just talk about what we felt/sensed from the Lord. We do this privately - no one really knows what we’re doing on these prayer journeys - we are discreet about what we pray and aren’t going to go into a lot of detail, but want to encourage you to do this in your capital city, your state, your city hall, schools - on-site praying. Greg - share what is on your heart. “Dutch, I feel prayer assignments are important, to have boots on the ground. I’ve had people ask me - why do you have to go to this place or that - why don’t you just pray from home? There are a couple of things that I feel are important. In the realm of the supernatural, when you pray at a location, you are encountering angels at that particular place that are territorial - you're able to see and hear things that you cannot see or hear from home. We saw angels yesterday and were reminded of dreams and visions that were very important. Also, God shows up where He tells you to go. The point of you meeting God in that place is very important. There is a divine appointment there, and I think we are seeing that a lot as we go pray at different places. I personally know it’s easier to hear prophetically when we are on these assignments. I hear the Lord say - ‘Keep watching, and He will show you activity of the spirit that is going on there and address it easier on site.’ God is there all the time, but the enemy is not. I feel that today, people are challenged to go to and pray at a location, and not just from home. As people are watching this, God is going to stir their hearts to go and pray in different locations - go pray and agree where He is telling you to go.” [Dutch asks] Randy - what do you think? “I agree with Greg, you have to get in the environment, on the ground, and feel the atmosphere in order to connect for that moment. It was amazing yesterday and an honor to pray there with you guys. I had an overwhelming sense of victory - we have a taste of victory in our mouth right now at least on some levels, the enemy is set back on his heels and off balance. I heard Holy Spirit speak this morning that the scales have been tipped against him - it’s time to keep the pressure on [through prayer] so that he will completely topple. He’s tipped, and it’s time for Him to topple. I felt one of the reasons God sent us here was to apply the pressure that the Lord wanted to apply. “I felt excitement regarding the ground we have gained after a long season of grinding that out [referring to the reversal of Roe vs Wade]. But this is not time to let up, it’s not time to stop or rest on our laurels, but continue on - there is work to do through prayer. I also felt that yesterday, we released an energy from God into this place and as we did so, we represented the rest of the Ekklesia - and accomplished this through our prayers and decrees.” Pastor Randy continues: “Dutch, as I prayed this morning, I heard the word “reserves.” I think that God, the great commander and Lord of hosts, is calling in the reserves - the fresh reserves. Some on the front lines are winded, not weary, but winded. Army reserves are ordinary citizens who have military training and are ready at any given point to be called forward to serve, even into the battle. Some years ago Chuck referred to the Triumphant Reserve. I feel in my spirit that everybody needs to be ready because these assignments are going to spread to others. He is raising up these prayer assignments - the reserves across this whole country. I am believing that people will be sensitive to Holy Spirit and not let it be a passing thought, but realize that perhaps, the Spirit is asking them to get in their car and go to where God leads them, praying the words He gives - taking them on prayer assignments.” (Dutch shares) That’s very good. I feel that I should prepare something that will give people insights, guidelines, etc., for prayer journeys - everything from the practical details, to the spiritual side of it - that would probably be helpful. There are things you do and don’t do when God asks you to pray at a location - we will work on getting that done very soon to help everyone out. Greg shares again, “As Randy was speaking, I was seeing an activation of Give Him 15 people all around the world - that reserve being activated for an “invasion” (spiritual speaking) of taking back what belongs to the kingdom of God - to occupy the territory that the enemy took, but doesn’t belong to him. As you talked about those guidelines, Dutch, I felt this could be helpful to people all over the world. The time and season are so right for us to shift things back into the kingdom of light. I saw this - a major onslaught of those reserves - a spiritual D-day at hand without the casualties. I want to encourage people today to prepare themselves for these prayer assignments. They will build your faith, stir up your gifts, and will enable you to work with others in the body of Christ. Get ready - that is the word of the Lord today.” (Dutch finishes up) That’s outstanding. We are going to pray now - thank you for your patience with this going a little longer than a usual GH15, but let’s pray and sum this up. Pray with us: Lord, I felt Your wind as we shared. It’s amazing how You do these things, Lord, but I believe there is a commissioning taking place right now to this Triumphant Reserve - that people will grab the baton and do some prayer journeys, going to their capital, doing these prayer walks/assignments. Lord, their prayers, and the prayers of those agreeing with us today, are as important and vital as anyone else’s. So we commission this praying army to be boots on the ground now - go to the place where God tells you to go and put your feet there knowing that every place where the sole of your foot treads, He is giving it to you. We are sending you now with the apostolic authority of the Lord Jesus Christ - we send you forth on these prayer assignments and say you will accomplish everything that God wants to do through you, in Jesus' name. (Greg prays) “And Father, we thank You today that there is a great stirring and releasing of their spiritual gifts, and they will see signs and wonders. I believe they will have dreams before they go - You will release to them things in the supernatural they have not seen before. You’re bringing your Ekklesia to another depth of walking in synch and partnership with heaven. I think there is an alignment between the spiritual and natural there hasn’t been before - we pray for dreams and visions to be activated in order to reap a harvest of souls and take back the land. Lord, You have so passionately said, ‘I will have this nation.’ You have said You need this nation. As this Triumphant Reserve is activated, we say, America shall be saved!” (Randy prays) “Lord, we call forth those individuals who hear and are getting ready to respond, reminding them that every prophetic word was for this moment of activation - make it real to them again, Lord - connect them with people and intercessors who can help them - speak into their lives. Anoint them to see and hear clearly and bring courage to step out and do what You are asking them to do for Your glory.” Amen. (Dutch shares) This has been awesome. I believe people will be encouraged. Thank you guys - I believe God has done what we asked Him to do. Thanks for joining us today. Click on the link below to watch the full video.