Fierce Passion and Intense Desire Before I share an important phrase from the book of Acts, I want to comment on the author of this incredibly powerful book of the Bible, Paul’s partner Luke. He authored not only the book of Acts but also the gospel of Luke. He was a Gentile (non-Jewish) and a close friend of Paul, who referred to him as “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). Perhaps Luke’s interest in medicine is why Holy Spirit chose him to write the gospel of Luke, since it places so much emphasis on Jesus’ acts of healing. Paul also refers to Luke as a “fellow laborer” (Philemon 1:24). He joined Paul during the apostle’s second missionary journey (Acts 16:6–11); some scholars speculate that Luke was the “man of Macedonia” whom Paul saw in his dream (“Come over to Macedonia and help us” - Acts 16:9). He also accompanied Paul on his journey to Jerusalem and Rome, and was with him during his imprisonment there (2 Timothy 4:11). Scholars note that Luke had an outstanding command of Greek and was clearly a well-educated, observant, and careful writer.(1) This brings me to the phrase I want to mention (which is actually one word in Greek): “one accord.” This word/phrase is used 12 times in the New Testament, 11 of them by Dr. Luke in Acts. The other usage was by Paul in Romans 15:6. The first use by Luke is in chapter one: “Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room…These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…” (Acts 1:12-14) Luke uses the word/phrase five times in the first five chapters of Acts, the second one being in the more famous verse, Acts 2:1. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” The Greek word for “one accord” is extremely poignant and powerful. Homothumadon(2) comes from combining two words, homos(3) meaning “oneness, same, together, unison;” and the powerful word thumos,(4) meaning “passion, spirit, surging emotion or inner drive, anger, fierceness, wrath, indignation, and more”. Placed together, these two words paint a picture of people moving together in deep, passionate, harmonious unity. The website preceptaustin.org expands the description to (get ready for this one): “with the same emotion, with the same passion, of one persuasion…having the same desire, with the same mind, of one accord…with one purpose…with unanimous consent…simultaneously, as one. Homothumadon describes a complete harmony of views and feelings, as well as singleness of purpose. No schisms. No divisions. No divided interest. No discordant purposes.” They quote James Edwards as saying this unity “comes from outside ourselves… the sort of oneness that results when a group of soldiers is attacked by an enemy; whatever their differences, the threat of destruction welds them into a fighting unit.” The word doesn’t mean everyone thinks the same, but rather that they share a singular, passionate devotion to a common purpose or mission. Still in the same article, preceptaustin.org quotes John Franklin as saying, “the word can be understood as [having] the same burning of heart, or same heart passion. [Referencing the church in Acts he states] This ardor of heart, unity, fellowship, and agreement in purpose, desire, passion, attitude, mentality, action, and lifestyle marked the dynamism of their prayer meetings.” No wonder the building shook when they prayed! The analogy of an orchestra or symphony is often used to define this word (just as it is to define the Greek word sumphoneo,(5) the word for “agreement” in the New Testament, which we covered in a recent post). In an orchestra, many different instruments, playing distinct notes, blend and harmonize into a single, unified chord under the direction of a conductor. Through this, the music is multiplied and enhanced. Dr. Luke, motivated by Holy Spirit, wanted us to know that this level of unity, passion and agreement was key to the incredible power and success of the early church. I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that God even created a law of physics to illustrate His love of harmony and agreement. “Working together” in the New Testament is the Greek word sunergeo,(6) from which we get our English word, synergy. Synergy is the multiplying of power or strength that occurs when two or more people “work together.” When creating the laws of physics, God said, essentially, “If you’ll work together, I will multiply power.” He appreciates “your” labor, and He appreciates “my” labor. But He appreciates “our” labor more. Thousands of Christ’s Ekklesia will be in one accord, working together, next Friday night [October 30, 2026]. With the “same fierce passion” and “intense desire,” generated not from ourselves but from the Lord Himself, we will Appeal To Heaven with a “singleness of purpose.” With “burning hearts” and “surging spirited emotion,” we will make decrees for our King, declaring that His Kingdom will come and His will be done in America. We will bind the plans and ideologies of hell, forbidding their success in our nation. We will close every door to demonic influence and control. We will call for America’s Third Great Awakening. And we will pray regarding the upcoming midterm elections. God will answer, just as He did in the book of Acts. Please join us as we do so. Pray with me: Father, the orchestra of Your Kingdom does more than sing praises; it agrees in prayer. And when it does, You said it attracts You and multiplies Your power. We harmonize together today, recalling various themes for which You have asked us to pray: We break the power of darkness and deception over prodigals and call them home. We ask You for a billion-soul harvest throughout the nations of the earth: among Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists, and every other group of people. We bind the Prince of Persia in the Middle East and all of its allies. We ask You for a great harvest of young people here in America and around the world – the largest ever. We ask that the church be awakened from passivity and complacency and that Your fire would bring revival to believers throughout this nation and the world. We ask for human trafficking to be exposed and ended. We ask that You heal racial division and that love and compassion will sweep throughout our land. We pray that those who divide us for selfish reasons be humbled and exposed. We ask that You expose evil in our nation and purify our government by Your Spirit. We ask that You be Lord over the upcoming mid-term elections. We ask that those who call You Lord fully recognize the seriousness of the hour. Allow them to feel the “for such a time as this” weight of this window in history. Remind them that they are history-shapers, and that this is not only a responsibility but an extraordinary privilege. We ask for the complete restoration of America to Your purpose and destiny. All of this we ask in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that heaven’s symphony on earth is becoming more finely tuned and skillful, releasing a harmonious sound that is pleasant to the heart of God. Join us next Friday night (October 30, 2026) at The Oasis Church in Middletown, OH. You can find more information about this gathering and how you and your church can participate at: OasisWired.org. Click on the link below to watch the full video. 1. Gotquestions.org 2. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3661. 3. Ibid., ref. no. 3674. 4. Ibid., ref. no. 2372. 5. Ibid., ref. no. 4856. 6. Ibid., ref. no. 4903.

Introduction In today’s post, our friend Gina Gholston reminds us that God’s plan for us and for nations unfolds progressively, and encourages us to follow Him one step at a time. Gina’s title is: The Next Step God is not in time as we are. He is outside of time and not restricted by the boundaries of earthly limitations. The plans He set in motion since before the foundation of the world unfold according to His schedule, not ours. And we can be assured that He knows the entire timeline of our lives. Isaiah tells us He declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). God invites us to step into the unfolding of His plans through our faith and active obedience. While the journey doesn’t always unfold in the way and timing we imagined, we can trust that God is faithful, His purposes are intentional, and His timing is always right. It is a journey that requires complete trust in God’s ability and wisdom. This post was sparked by a dream the Lord recently gave me. In the dream, I was led to minister to a family who had just taken a giant, costly step of obedience. Following what they knew was the Lord’s leading, they relocated, only to find the doors they expected to be open were completely shut! Broken, confused, and angry, they were on the verge of turning back, convinced they had failed and misheard God’s voice entirely. At one point in the dream, the anointing of Holy Spirit came over me, leading me to prophesy to them: “The perceived assignment that brought you here was not your actual destination or identity for this time. It was merely a step God used to get you in position for a purpose you have not yet even considered. If you had not taken this step that brought you here, you would never have known there was more. If you choose to retreat now, you will never discover the full plan God has been leading you toward all along. Stop looking for what you were looking for. Turn your focus back onto the Lord and listen for your next step.…and there is a next step. You haven’t failed; you’re just not there yet. Refocus and keep going. Since receiving that dream, Ephesians 2:10 has really been speaking to me. Paul said, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared BEFOREHAND that we should walk in them” (emphasis mine). This is a profound truth for us to embrace. God created us on purpose, with purpose, for His purposes. Through salvation, He set us on a path to discover and walk in the fullness of all He prepared in advance for us to do. Along the journey, there will be many steps He leads us to take. Though we may not understand every step, we must follow Him with confidence and full persuasion that He is sovereign and faithful. He knows the way He has prepared and is intently leading us in it. Like the family in the dream, when the path we’re on doesn’t reveal the outcome we expected, our first instinct is often to abandon it. In these exact moments of vulnerability, the enemy tries to weaponize our emotions, using doubt, frustration, and confusion to trip us up. But we must resolve not to let our feelings dictate our thoughts or control our actions. The journey continues. There’s more to be discovered. We must remain spiritually attentive to hear God’s wisdom and instruction as He directs us. On our journey, clarity follows action, revealing itself only as we trust Him and keep moving forward. Proverbs 16:9 tells us that while we may plan our way, the Lord directs our steps. Notice the plural there: steps! God doesn’t lead us across the finish line with just one step. This is a journey of becoming. It is a step-by-step process that brings us into the fulfillment of God’s purposes. He leads us as we walk with Him. He opens doors, and we walk through them. He creates opportunities, and we step into them. He gives us ideas, and we work with them. It is vitally important that we hear what God is saying, and it is equally important that we obey Him when He speaks. I think of Moses and the Israelites standing on the edge of the Red Sea. They had followed the Lord’s leading, yet found themselves trapped. Their lives hung in the balance, and there seemed to be no way forward. Did we miss God? Should we go back? These questions didn’t just cross their minds; they gripped their emotions. They were judging by natural understanding and thought it would be better to retreat. But God saw what they couldn’t see. He had not abandoned them, and their steps had not been in vain. They were on a path that positioned them to fulfill God’s purposes. In that place of transition, they needed to stop leaning on their own understanding and remain focused on the Lord. The path forward wasn’t finished; it just required a next move. God told Moses to stretch out the rod in his hand. When he obeyed, the sea divided, revealing the continuation of a pathway God had seen all along. Many of us have taken steps over the years that seem to have failed. Some have even questioned if their labor has been in vain. But God assures us He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). The same is true for our nation. Every assignment has been necessary. Every border we anointed, every dam and waterway we prayed over, every decree we’ve made declaring this nation is realigning with God’s original purpose, every shout we’ve released, every mile we’ve traveled, every tear we’ve shed, every sacrifice we’ve made—these were all steps on the journey, and each of those steps has led us to this place of entrance into the next great awakening that is now unfolding. Though the individual steps did not reveal everything we expected, we can confidently trust they are part of a much bigger picture. And we are now in a time when God is putting the parts together to form the whole of His intentions. We are entering the door of access to the next phase of God’s plan. As we quiet our hearts to hear and obey Him, He will equip us with the precise wisdom, clarity, and boldness this moment requires. His will is unfolding, and His Kingdom is advancing. He is not late; He is right on schedule. He is leading us forward, and America is being saved! Pray with me: Father, thank You for this amazing journey You have us on. Thank You for Your faithful guidance as we traverse the path You have prepared for us. Even when we don’t understand some steps, we confidently trust that You are with us, directing us according to Your perfect will, plan, and timing. Thank You for inviting us to be part of what You are now fulfilling. Help us to center our focus and quiet our emotions, enabling us to hear Your voice and receive Your wisdom for today and for the road ahead. We surrender our agenda to You. Guide our steps and work through us to accomplish every purpose You have ordained for us and for this time. We also pray for our nation. We thank You for answering our prayers to uncover evil. Billions of dollars in fraud, corruption in our elections, wicked politicians and deep state operatives, and much more – You are cleansing our nation. We ask for this to continue. And we appeal to You for help in the mid-term elections. Don’t allow evil politicians to win races. Keep communists, atheists, and those with unbiblical beliefs from gaining a foothold in Congress. Give favor to those who honor You and our Christian roots. We pray all of this in Yahweh’s name and authority. Amen. Our decree: Yahweh is ordering our steps. He faithfully leads us, and we will faithfully follow, trusting His will, His plan, and His perfect timing. Portions of today’s post are from Gina’s new devotional, Words for the Way. You can find out more about Gina and where you can purchase this new book at GinaGholston.com. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Standing for One Another In the first chapter of Joshua, God gives Joshua incredibly important instructions about fulfilling His covenantal promise to Abraham. This promise to Abraham was about more than the nation of Israel. It was a covenant He initiated in order to use Abraham and his offspring to help Him save the world. The Messiah would come through them. God’s gifts are often also assignments and joint ventures with Him. The book of Joshua is another step in this partnership He established to redeem the world. That makes the instructions God gave Joshua regarding this important next step very significant. And as He lays out the important commands and encouragements, God mentions one to three of the tribes that may seem a bit unusual. In verses 13-18, He reminds 3 of Israel’s 12 tribes of a promise they made Moses 40 years ago. Shortly after leaving Egypt, they came to land suited to their ranching lifestyle, whereupon they asked Moses if that could be their inheritance, rather than a portion of land in Canaan on the western side of the Jordan. This was agreed to, as long as the men promised to temporarily leave their homes and ranches to war alongside the remaining tribes as they possessed their inheritance, when that time came. God’s plan was for all of the tribes to fight for one another, and these three tribes would not be allowed to sit comfortably and enjoy their inheritance while their brothers and sisters fought for theirs. Though the promise had been made 40 years earlier, holding them to it ranked toward the top of Joshua’s instructions. Though the book of Joshua can be read in a couple of hours, the conquest of Canaan took 7 years. This commitment these tribes had to keep was no simple task; it wasn’t just a couple of months or a few weekends here and there. It was 7 years! I’m not sure how they did this while protecting their families and possessions back home. Perhaps they alternated - a month on, a month off. Certainly, the women and kids had to pick up the slack and take over some of the responsibilities of caring for the livestock and land - for 7 years! Whatever the plan was, it was a very significant commitment. This requirement was so important to God that failing to do so would have been punishable by death (verse 18). Since what happened to Israel was written for our instruction (1 Corinthians 10:11), we can assume that the principle behind it is important for us, also. What if, rather than operating in a competitive spirit and building only our own ministries and churches, we took the command to help one another seriously? What if, rather than attempting to transfer sheep from another pasture (local church) to our own, we worked and fought spiritually to grow everyone’s congregation? What if, instead of attending “Church Growth/Sheep Transferring” conferences, we attended “How Can I Help My Fellow Believer Take His/Her Inheritance” conferences? It is an established fact that between 75-90% of all church growth in America over the last 50 years has been transfer growth.(1) This means that rather than drawing in unchurched individuals or producing new converts, the vast majority of expanding congregations are simply “recirculating the saints”—gaining members who left a different church down the street. What if pastors and ministry leaders with successful ministries, large facilities, good salaries, etc., decided to spend time helping their fellow “tribes” possess their inheritance, as these tribes in Israel did? I’m not talking about a pat on the back, or a hundred bucks once in a while. I’m talking about true commitment, Joshua 1-type commitment – fighting for them, sharing resources, building buildings, etc. What would it look like if every larger church in America paid the salary of a pastor pioneering a church - a church that isn’t in their network or carrying their name, by the way? What if they supplied them with a worship team? A children’s pastor? What would happen? Well, fortunately, we don’t have to wonder. Jesus told us in John 17:21: “That they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” He said this unity would generate more believers! He also told us in Psalm 133 what would happen: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, as on Aaron’s beard, the oil which ran down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for the Lord commanded the blessing there— life forever.” Salvation and eternal life were the result of true unity in Psalm 133. Interestingly, the word “good,” describing unity in verse one, is the exact same Hebrew word as the “precious” anointing oil of Aaron’s priesthood. God places unity on the same level as His anointing. Perhaps if we had more unity, we would have more anointing. The unity described in Psalm 133 included working together practically, by the way, not just well-wishing or a lunch once in a while. The passage makes it clear that real benefits and blessings were being exchanged – Mt. Herman was watering Mt. Zion. This mountain to the North was known for producing heavy mist and dew, sometimes even snow. When the sun rose, the dew evaporated, forming clouds. The afternoon winds blew the clouds southward, where the moisture rained on Mt. Zion. Could any picture be more poignant and clear? The dew of Herman literally rained on Zion! And God said this is what He wants among His family. “Share some of your abundance! Fight for one another. Do so even at the level of inconveniencing yourselves.” What if… Pray with me: Father, please forgive us for arrogantly thinking that what You want to do through us is more important than what You do through others. Forgive us for our divisive actions and for allowing competition with our brothers and sisters to rule our hearts. We ask You to give us hearts that prefer one another in love, as You said (Romans 12:10). Give us hearts willing to serve our brothers and sisters and war spiritually for their inheritance. Tear down every wall that has been built by religion and pride. Give us the heart of Jesus, who made of Himself no reputation, laying everything down for others. Bring the greatest revival of unity and love the church has ever experienced. May we take joy in raining down blessings on ministries led by others. Please tear down every man-made kingdom in the church until only Yours stands. As we move forward into this great awakening, may it be marked by a generation of believers that gloried in warring for others’ success and inheritance. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we will allow the unselfish heart of Jesus to rule and reign in ours! Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.pastors.com/free-resources/two-statistics-every-church-planter-needs-know

The Friday Night Symphony “Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:18-20) The word “agree” in this passage is the Greek word sumphoneo.(1) It is formed from two words, sun, meaning “together,”(2) and phone, meaning “sound, tone, voice.”(3) Used together, the words mean to make the same sound or tone, to harmonize, to be in accord. It’s easy to see why it is sometimes translated as “agree.” It is also the word for “symphony,” which you can easily see and hear in sumphoneo. Many instruments, many parts, yet same song, same sound – harmonious. This important Greek word is translated in other ways, while still containing the same underlying principle of agreement. In Luke 15:25, after the prodigal’s return, it is translated “music,” referring to the sound of celebration and partying in the father’s home. In Luke 5:36, it is used in the context of patching a torn garment. The context is the need to keep our hearts renewed, soft, and pliable, in order to receive new truth. Jesus said you can’t put new wine into an old wineskin, nor a patch from new cloth onto an old garment. If you do, it will shrink and tear when washed because the piece from the new cloth won’t “match” the old material (KJV). His point: Only fresh hearts can receive and “agree with” fresh revelation. The Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) uses the word sumphoneo in Genesis 14:3 to speak of armies “joined together” as allies. Isaiah 7:2 uses it to speak of nations forming a “confederation.” To summarize these uses of sumphoneo: nations are stronger when aligned/joined with other nations; armies are stronger when their strengths and abilities are joined as one; fresh revelation can only be joined to a fresh heart; and God chooses to abide in the presence of joined hearts. As anyone would do, He walks out of the concert when all He hears is discord. Agreement in Prayer Just as a good symphony multiplies pleasant sound and synergy multiplies power, our opening text makes clear that agreement in prayer multiplies spiritual power. According to the verses, this happens not only when we address the Father, but also when we bind and loose the enemy. Thousands of us in Christ’s Ekklesia will join our hearts in one accord next Friday night, October 30, to pray for our nation. We will be in harmony, releasing the same sound, and the Lord will be in attendance. We will worship, we will appeal, and as an aligned army, we will bind and loose the enemy’s plans. We will join with angels, opening and closing doors and gates in our nation. Our King and Leader will use us to release His will into our nation. Join the symphony! We need your sound. Come if you can; if you’re not able to do so, please join us online. (youtube.com/oasiswiredonline) Pray with me: Father, the orchestra of Your Kingdom does more than sing praises; it agrees in prayer. And when it does, You said it attracts You and multiplies Your power. We harmonize together today, recalling various themes You have asked us to pray for: We break the power of darkness and deception over prodigals and call them home. We ask You for a billion-soul harvest throughout the nations of the earth: among Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists, and every other group of people. We bind the Prince of Persia in the Middle East and all of its allies. We ask You for a great harvest of young people here in America and around the world – the largest ever. We ask that the church be awakened from passivity and complacency and that Your fire would bring revival to believers throughout this nation and the world. We ask for human trafficking to be exposed and ended. We ask that You heal racial division and that love and compassion will sweep throughout our land. We pray that those who divide us for selfish reasons be humbled and exposed. We ask that You expose evil in our nation and purify our government by Your Spirit. We ask that You be Lord over the upcoming mid-term elections. We ask that those who call You Lord fully recognize the seriousness of the hour. Allow them to feel the “for such a time as this” weight of this window in history. Remind them that they are history-shapers, and that this is not only a responsibility but an extraordinary privilege. We ask for the complete restoration of America to Your purpose and destiny. All of this we ask in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that heaven’s symphony on earth is becoming more finely tuned and skillful, releasing a sound that is pleasant to the heart of God. Join us next Friday night (October 30, 2026) at The Oasis Church in Middletown, OH. You can find more information about this gathering and how you and your church can participate at: OasisWired.org. Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 4865. Ibid., ref. no. 4862. Ibid., ref. no. 5456.

We Will Not Be Silent “Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.” (Charles Finney, December 4, 1873) Many pastors and spiritual leaders who don’t want to make a stand on cultural issues and governmental elections hide behind Jesus’ statement, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). They contend that politics, the process of choosing government officials, divides. So, they say, pastors and spiritual leaders should stay out of the process, especially from the pulpit. They forget that Jesus not only spoke of making peace, but also of bringing division: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34-37) Even in the Beatitudes, Jesus told us that “peacemaking” would not always be possible. He followed up the peacemaker promise with a warning that persecution and slander will come our way as we represent Him - which would certainly involve speaking truth regarding morality, marriage, life, justice, etc. (verses 10-12). He then reminded us that this happened to the prophets of old (verse 12). Using claims of promoting unity and peace as reasons for not speaking out regarding government and societal issues is so unbiblical it defies all logic. I realize that government divides, but it also writes the laws that protect life, the sanctity of marriage, the bodies of young children, and our borders from terrorists and drugs that kill hundreds of thousands annually. Government writes laws that guarantee freedom to preach the gospel, to raise our own children without government interference, and to speak freely without censorship. Government funds and empowers our military that protects us from evil dictators and their ideologies, such as communism and Marxism. To assert that the church is supposed to be silent about these issues, or in helping identify who most stands for biblical ideals during elections is not only heretical, it is self-serving and cowardly. I often think of spiritual heroes like William Wilberforce and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who lived their lives - and in Bonhoeffer’s case, lost it - to defend causes of justice and morality - in the context of governmental actions. Both would have been persecuted by many leaders of America’s church in our day! Those who won’t speak up loudly and boldly for the protection of babies and children today, wouldn’t have spoken out against slavery in Wilberforce’s day, or Hitler and his Nazis in Bonhoeffer’s. And Bonhoeffer’s words are still true: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” The silent preachers of our day would not have stood with Patrick Henry in his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech. Nor would they have aligned themselves with signers of the Declaration of Independence like Lewis Morris of New York, who said, “Damn the consequences, give me the pen.” They would have aligned themselves instead with the British loyalists and conscientious objectors of their day, the “peace at all costs” group. The great patriot and God-honoring signer of the Declaration, Sam Adams, said of the fearful, “peace-loving” loyalists: “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” (August 1, 1776, at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) If you do make a stand for biblical morality in your congregation, if you identify and speak out for godly candidates, and people leave your church over it, do as Jesus instructed: rejoice! (Matthew 5:12) Do as Paul did regarding Demas and move on from them. “Demas had at one time been one of Paul’s ‘fellow workers’ in the gospel ministry along with Mark, Luke, and others (Philemon 1:24). During Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, Demas was also in Rome with him (Colossians 4:15). “There is also biblical evidence that Demas was with Paul during Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome, at least for a while. Then something happened. Demas forsook Paul, abandoned the ministry, and left town. Paul wrote about the sad situation: ‘Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica’ (2 Timothy 4:10). “The Greek verb used in the original implies that Demas had not merely left Paul but had left him ‘in the lurch’; that is, Demas had abandoned Paul in a time of need. The apostle was in prison, facing a death sentence, and that’s when Demas chose to set sail. Undoubtedly, Paul was deeply let down by Demas. It’s never easy to see a friend and associate in whom you’ve placed your trust forsake you in the midst of hardship. “The separation caused by Demas’ desertion of Paul was not merely [geographical] but spiritual. Demas left Rome because he fell in love with the world. In other words, Demas chose the corrupt value system of the unsaved world over what heaven values. As the NLT translates it, Demas ‘loves the things of this life’ (2 Timothy 4:10). We don’t know the details of Demas’ situation, but it is evident that Demas decided that what Satan has to offer in this life is better than what God has to offer in the next.”(1) Never has there been a time in America when it was more important to stand up for truth. If your church doesn’t do so, try to find another one. Don’t support those who refuse to speak up regarding moral and justice issues. Always strive for peace, but never at the expense of truth. Always strive for unity, but never at the cost of the children and babies. And always…vote! Pray with me: Father, we refuse to be like Demas, who abandoned his post. Give us hearts like Paul, Morris, Henry, Adams, Wilberforce and Bonhoeffer, men who were willing to give their lives for the cause of truth. Give us hearts that care more about Your purposes and the future of our children than we do our comfort, ease, and large churches. Give us godly patriots in America who care deeply about this nation You raised up as a voice for the gospel and for truth. Break off the church false ideologies that have told leaders to be quiet about government and moral issues while in the pulpit. We cannot be the salt and light You need if we will not use the voices You gave us. Give us backbones of steel, determined and fearless hearts. And again today, we ask for Your weighty convicting power to descend on believers across our nation who are not planning to vote in the coming elections. Awaken them to truth, convict them deeply, and stir them to action. Give us Your influence in this election by awakening the church. All of this, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will not be silent in the face of evil! Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.gotquestions.org/Demas-in-the-Bible.html

Neutrality Is No Longer An Option Our prayers are being answered. God continues to expose corruption and cleanse our nation. While encouraging, the level of corruption is nonetheless shocking. A comprehensive report released by the Treasury Department stated that, at the urging of the Biden administration, nine of the nation’s largest financial institutions systematically denied banking privileges and discriminated against lawful businesses. The findings revealed that banks routinely weaponized their institutions, quietly purging clients, denying services, and/or closing accounts for a variety of conservative, religious, or right-leaning entities. This included Maga merchandise sellers, religious organizations and faith-based ministries, pro-life groups, the firearms industry, immigration reform groups, and various leaders, including Donald Trump himself. This is extremely troubling. In another egregious violation of law, the FBI and former Special Counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed the financial data of at least 639,000 Trump donors and supporters. This includes gathering the personal information of half a million everyday citizens who purchased Maga hats! This is despicable. These criminals lied, cheated, stole, destroyed livelihoods - anything to hurt Trump and stay in power. Under Obama and Biden, it seems the Democrat party became one huge criminal organization. They weaponized government, persecuted Christians, legalized crime, and knowingly opened our borders to terrorists. They also knowingly opened our borders to drug dealers who brought in the fentanyl that killed more young Americans annually than the Vietnam war did in its entire duration!! They also allowed hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied minors into our country, some of whom were raped, killed, or forced into the sex-trade. All for a few more votes. This party allowed hundreds of billions of dollars in government fraud, while raising taxes and producing the highest inflation rate in half a century. They weakened our military and made us the laughingstock of the world as our “President” stumbled around, trying to shake invisible hands and find his way off of platforms. This corrupt, governmental organized crime syndicate committed the worst criminal activity in American history, working at the highest levels of our government to steal an election, frame a former president, and unjustly imprison many of his associates and followers. The Dems also made our education system a joke, lost the ability to distinguish between women and men, wanted men in boxing rings and bathrooms with young girls and women, cut off the genitals of children (or neutered them with drugs, even behind the backs of parents), clapped and cheered the murder of fully developed babies, and released murderers onto our streets. And they still push for these things. They also hate we “deplorable,” Bible-believing Christians and despise gun-owning conservatives. I know of one officer in the previously woke military whose career was interrupted because he flew an Appeal To Heaven flag at his home. But then again, Justice Alito was chastised by the media for doing the same. Some leftist controlled states are now attempting to make it a crime to preach from/read certain portions of Scripture. The Left is out of control… and out of the closet. It’s now ruled by its radical Marxists, communists, Islamists, and Jew haters. All of them want to fundamentally change America - including our form of government, give citizenship to 20 million illegals, add states in order to gain more liberal senators, and pack the Supreme Court with woke leftists who can’t define a woman. NEUTRALITY IS NO LONGER AN OPTION Anyone who thinks they can sit out this ideological war, that the insanity will just “go away,” is sadly and grossly mistaken. The coup attempt is real, and much ground has already been taken. Neutrality is no longer an option. Lack of involvement is abdication. Not choosing IS choosing. And not voting is in reality a vote for more of the above-mentioned insanity. Refusing to vote for truth and biblical values is now a vote for national suicide. I am well aware, and very grateful, that those of you who read or watch these posts and follow this ministry are cognizant of all this. But we must continue to pray that Americans - believers and unbelievers - take action now. We must not become like King Hezekiah. This selfish king in Israel actually said it was fine if judgement came to Israel at a later time - to his kids and grandkids - as long as it didn’t occur during his tenure. “Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, ‘The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.’ For he thought, ‘Is it not good, if there will be peace and security in my lifetime?’” (2 Kings 20:19; AMP) What a disgrace! Let’s stay engaged, continuing to pray and take action. We have begun the process of recovery and turnaround in America; let’s finish it!!!! And like it or not, this includes more than going to church. It involves going to the polls. Vote! Pray with me: Father, we refuse to be like King Hezekiah, who cared only for himself and his own legacy. We care more about Your purposes and the future of our children than we do our comfort, ease, and gas prices. We care deeply about this nation You raised up as a voice for the gospel and for truth; we refuse to see it destroyed on our watch. Therefore, we will continue to pray and we will vote. We will speak up against evil and let our voices be heard - boldly and loudly. Thank You for the prayer army You have raised up, and also for those who are taking action. We ask now for Your weighty convicting power to descend on believers across our nation who are not planning to vote in the coming elections. Awaken them to truth, stir them to action. Give us Your influence in this election. Please continue to heal and restore our nation. Increase the wind on the fires of revival, fan the flames. Remove veils of darkness and shine Your light. Continue to move in our government, bringing more and more individuals into Your Kingdom. Protect our leaders from those who would love to harm them. And give President Trump wisdom as he deals with Iran and their proxies. May every decision he makes align with Yours. We stand in faith for Your promised victory in that region. Ruler of the nations, let Your kingdom come! All of this we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that the church in America is awakening from slumber, and is becoming the light God called her to be. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

The Clean-Up Continues! The Trump Administration Task Force to Eliminate Fraud has reported uncovering $260.7 billion in total government fraud since January 2025.(1) This is both encouraging and disturbing. It is disheartening to know so much of our hard earned tax dollars have been squandered by this level of fraudulent activity. And the exposure is just beginning! But we can also be encouraged that God is answering our prayers. He is using the Trump administration to uncover and expose the astronomical amount of corruption that has existed in our government. The word “cesspool” comes to mind. Justice also may be finally coming to some of the corrupt politicians in our government. Who knows what will come of the investigation into Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, but it appears that authorities are zeroing in on illegal actions involving her immigration status. It is appalling just how many disloyal America haters have made it into our government. Hamas supporters, radical Islamists, Marxists and communists have gained much ground in our nation over the past few decades. But this is finally coming to light and is being resisted. We must pray that the clean-up continues. A Word from a Patriarch I have profound respect for Dr. Bill Hamon, founder of Christian International, and without question, the patriarch of the modern-day prophetic movement. Bishop Hamon is now in his 90s and has been in ministry for over 70 years. There is no one whose prophetic voice I trust more. Last year, he shared a word from the Lord that I feel we should remember. Paul told Timothy to wage war spiritually using prophetic words spoken over him in the past. “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight…” (1 Timothy 1:18). Words from the Lord don’t lose their relevance! Allow this word from Bishop Hamon to encourage you: “I want to share with you something God stirred deeply in my spirit. The Lord spoke to me clearly that we are standing on the edge of the greatest move of God the earth has ever seen. His glory is not coming in a trickle – it’s coming like a flood. The waters are rising, and it’s time for the saints to take their place as warriors and decree with authority. “This is not a season to be silent. We must rise up, join our shields of faith, and release prayers that shake nations. When we pray in the spirit, we enter enemy territory, uncover strategies of darkness, and release heaven’s counterattack. “We’re not just praying—we’re legislating in the spirit. I may be in my 90s, but I’m still in the fight. And so are you. The enemy has tried to convince many of us that we’ve lost our authority. But I’m here to remind you: Jesus gave us ALL power, and now is the time to use it. “‘In Him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28). In His name, we cast out devils (Mark 16:17). In His name, we bind and loose (Matthew 16:19). In His name, we decree, and it is established. (Job 22:28). “Don’t let how you feel dictate how you war. You may feel weak or tired, but your words still carry the full backing of heaven. Take your stand. Speak with boldness. Intercede with fire. And believe that what we birth in the spirit will manifest in the natural. “The devil is a liar. The watchmen are awakening, and the church is rising in power. The knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (see Habakkuk 2:14). “And we’re going to see it in our day!” There is much to process in this word. I suggest you read it again and truly digest it. Among other things, it states that we’re moving into the church’s greatest hour, and that the earth is about to experience the greatest move of God in history. It encourages us to prepare. We must cast off discouragement, push through tiredness, and remember whose we are. “Speak with boldness,” Bishop Hamon said, “intercede with fire, and believe that what we birth in the spirit will manifest in the natural.” Take this to heart from this giant of the faith. Pray with me: Father, firstly we want to thank You for this encouraging word through Dr. Bill Hamon. We believe it to be true: we are moving into the greatest outpouring of Your Spirit in history. Your glory will cover the earth like the waters cover the sea. May we be found worthy of participating in something so holy. We take heed to His admonition to stir ourselves, as Paul admonished Timothy, remembering who we are in You, and our assignment of working with You. We can – and we will – cast out demons, bind and loose their activities, and make Spirit-led decrees for You. Lord, we know that America will not fully turn around without the revival You spoke of through Bishop Hamon. It will break off deception and depravity; it will restore common sense, and it will tear down walls of hatred. We pray for our ICE agents and all those in law enforcement. We ask You to protect them as they operate under the authority the laws of our nation give them. We also ask for protection for their family members and homes. We ask You to expose and oppose the work of anarchists. Bring it to nothing. Dry up their funds, expose their plans, and unravel their networks. Save them, yes, but please also do whatever it takes to stop them. And we thank You for shining Your light on the corruption in our government. The filth and crookedness are almost unimaginable, and we find ourselves disheartened at times when we see just how bad it has become. But You are at work! Thank You for giving us leaders who are willing to clean things up. Give them great wisdom, skill, and success. We ask for justice for those who have defrauded the American people. We ask that You expose and remove government leaders who oppose You and Your influence. And we ask that You give us godly patriots in our government. Motivate Christians to vote in the upcoming elections, and do so according to biblical values. Please involve Yourself. We pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare with Prophet Bill Hamon: “The waters are rising, and it’s time for the saints to take their place as warriors and decree with authority!” You can learn more about Bishop Bill Hamon at ChristianInternational.com. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fraud/

The Power of Adaptability Deuteronomy 8 is a fascinating and very significant passage of Scripture. The chapter speaks of God’s faithfulness and supernatural provision for Israel during their 40 years in the wilderness as they waited to possess their inheritance. He gave them water from rocks and manna from heaven (verses 15-16)! Their clothing and shoes didn’t wear out, their feet didn’t swell (verse 4). He was now about to give them their promised inheritance, a good and plentiful land: “For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.” (Deuteronomy 8:7-9) While promising blessing, the Lord also gave them a stern warning: “Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage…And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.” (verses 11-14, 17; see also 19-20) In the midst of these incredible reminders and warnings, the Lord made an incredibly profound statement in verse 18, one filled with the promise of abundant blessing: “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” This verse has far more depth and revelation than most believers understand. An explanation of 4 words in the verse will give us enlightenment. “Give/giveth” is the Hebrew word nathan, and includes more than simply bestowing a gift; it also means to “give an assignment.”(1) God‘s gifts are often also assignments to steward. The gift of children is a clear example of this: children are gifts, but also incredibly important assignments God entrusts to us. The concept of authority is another example; when God gives us authority, He expects us to steward it well. Nathan also means “to appoint or designate.” This verse tells us God had “appointed” or “designated” Israel to “get wealth.” It is easy to see the concept of responsibility inherent in this promise. Their ability to produce wealth would not only be a privilege, but also an assignment and responsibility. “Power” is the unusual Hebrew word koach. Although it does mean strength, power, or might, it is also a Hebrew word for a lizard or chameleon!(2) What?! Yes, a koach is a chameleon! This creature wasn’t named “Strong” because of physical strength, but because of its adaptability - the ability to adapt to its environment for protection and survival. Used in this verse, God is saying He has given us the ability to prosper in any environment and under all circumstances. He had just reminded Israel that even in the challenging conditions of the desert, He had been able to protect and prosper them. I realize that difficult times come throughout life, and that we are at times impacted by those difficulties. I am not indifferent to this, nor is our Heavenly Father. Yet despite them, He promises victory. Yes, sometimes plans take time to unfold, and seeds we plant take time to grow. But God tells us, “If the economy becomes troubled, I’ll enable you to adapt and succeed. If you lose your job, I’ll give you a better job, causing all things to work together for your good” (Romans 8:28). “I am giving you adaptability in order to prosper in any situation,” the Lord says in this verse. Amazing. But there is more. The words “get wealth” in this verse are asah chayil. Asah means “to create, generate, or produce.”(3) Chayil means “wealth, power, or army.”(4) The root word from which we get chayil is the Hebrew word for travail or giving birth. God was saying to Israel, “You will have the ability, regardless of the circumstances, to create, generate, and give birth to wealth. I am giving - and assigning you - this ability. It is in you!” And now the “why.” God wants to take care of His children, of course, just as He did for Israel. According to Philippians 4:19, He wants to meet all of our needs according to His riches in heaven. But this is not the reason He gives for this promise in Deuteronomy 8:18. In this verse, He says the purpose is to enable His covenant to be “confirmed.” The word is qum, which means literally “to arise, stand up; be firm, fixed, and established.”(5) “I’m going to need you to prosper,” He was telling Israel. “We are going to work together to establish My covenant in the earth - My will, purposes, and redemptive plans.” I am sure these Israelites did not realize it at the time, but the Messiah, the Savior of the world, would come to earth through them. They were His partners in the great plan of redeeming humankind! And so are we! This promise is every bit as true for us today as it was for Israel centuries ago. We have every right to believe God has given us the ability to adapt to any climate or situation and remain strong and victorious. His ability to generate and produce is in us. Yes, it will require faith, action, and obedience, but success is in us through Christ, and we can find it – always! And He has gifted us with the assignment of prospering, spirit, soul, and body, to see His covenantal love and redemption established on earth. Yes, we can and should enjoy this success personally. But even more incredibly, we can partner with the Creator in His great quest to redeem the world and establish His kingdom here. What an honor! Pray with me: Father, thank You for this incredible promise in Deuteronomy 8:18. And thank You for the unspeakable privilege of partnering with You to redeem humankind. You gave us a role in the greatest drama ever written. We accept this gift, assignment, and responsibility. Through Christ within us, we are more than conquerors, can do all things we are asked to do, and can always triumph. We also embrace Your ability to adapt. We are not at the mercy of life’s difficulties and negative circumstances. We are at YOUR mercy, and YOUR word over our lives is the final word. You are always willing to make all things work together for our good. We declare over our lives now: “We have victory-generating adaptability through Christ and the power of Holy Spirit!” And Father, though America has strayed from You, You didn’t give up on us. A remnant repented and, along with our President and other leaders, re-dedicated this nation to You. We are now on a path of recovery and restoration. This will not stop! And America will fully recover her assignment to help establish Your covenant in the earth. We will! We pray and declare all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare once again that we have victory-generating adaptability through Christ and the power of Holy Spirit! Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 5414. Ibid., ref. no 3581. Ibid., ref. no 6213. Ibid., ref. no 2428. Ibid., ref. no 6965.

You Can Be the Connecting Link The Hebrew verb paga is fascinating in the sense that this one word is used to describe several very different activities. The basic concept of paga is “coming into contact with or meeting.” The meeting can be between people, animals, or even inanimate objects, such as two people’s lands meeting to form a boundary. Any type of meeting can be paga,(1) and the meeting can be good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, intentional or accidental. Here are some other examples of the way in which the word is translated: Lightning “striking” or meeting the earth is paga. Two or more individuals coming together or meeting – for any reason – is paga. Battlefield terms, such as “attack,” “strike,” or even “impale” with a sword, are paga… weapon meets enemy! A “bull’s-eye” when shooting at a target is paga - the bullet meets the target Carrying a load for another – having their burden “laid upon” you, meeting your strength -- is paga. “Coming to” or “arriving at” a location is paga. But what fascinates me the most is that this word is also translated as intercession. Why? Because intercession does all of these things! Prayer creates meetings between God and man; creates boundaries of protection around people and places; releases God’s light, lightning, and glory to come in contact with or strike the earth; meets our spiritual enemy in spiritual war; “comes into contact” with the burdens of others to help remove them, and so much more. What a truly amazing word God uses for prayer. When you began your prayer with, “Father, I meet with you today to…” you were using the literal meaning of paga. When you said, “Father, please meet with so-and-so,” you were literally asking for paga. When you said you attended a “prayer meeting,” you were much more accurate than you knew – Prayer Meetings are aptly named! Jesus said our prayers can cause heaven and earth to meet or connect (paga) (Matthew 6:10). God wants to meet with people through our intercession. Through intercession, we can take cities, nations, and government leaders to Him. Through us, God reconciles people to Himself. We’re the connecting link. Second Corinthians 5:18-19 says He “has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ.” But the verses do not stop there. They go on to say He has now “given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” God meets with people through us! Most believers think of our part in this ministry of reconciliation only in terms of sharing the gospel or helping to send and support others who do so. But we also perform the ministry through intercessory prayer. Webster even uses “reconcile” in his definition of intercession: “to act between parties with a view to reconciling those who differ.”(2) In Webster’s words, through intercessory prayer we place ourselves “between” God and an individual, becoming the “reconciling” link. When, for any reason, we meet with God on behalf of a person or place and become the connecting link between them, intercession has occurred. Spiritual Warfare And as mentioned above, paga is used in the context of warfare or violence. In 1 Samuel 22:18, “Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon [paga] the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons.” Proverbs 17:12 speaks of meeting or encountering a bear robbed of her cubs. That’s a meeting I wouldn’t want! The point is that intercession at times involves spiritual warfare. In this context, paga is not meeting with God to appeal for his help, but with the powers of darkness to oppose what they do. Applying all of this to our present day, the Ekklesia in America is holding many prayer meetings this month. The Nehemiah Alliance is presently conducting a 52-day prayer initiative, with a public gathering in Washington, D.C., on October 31. On Friday night, October 30th, my brother Tim, several other leaders, and I will host a national prayer gathering to intercede for our nation. This will take place in Middletown, Ohio, and will also be live-streamed. Thousands of believers will meet with God, asking Him to meet with America and pour out His Spirit in abundance. Hundreds of churches will be participating. The agreement will be strong and effective. We will also meet strongholds, “tearing down” or demolishing them in the Lord’s name, according to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. We cannot look only to government, individuals, and agencies to solve America’s problems. We must deal spiritually with the ideologies trying to take over our nation, praying for the salvation of those involved, but also breaking the strongholds with our spiritual weapons. We must release wise, effective strategies to our leaders from heaven, asking God to give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation. And, of course, we will pray regarding the upcoming elections, asking Him to motivate believers to vote, and that favor be given to godly candidates. The Ekklesia, seated with Christ in heavenly places, will use the authority He has given us - as instructed: Ephesians 2:6: “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:10: “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” Matthew 16:18-19: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The church is growing up! Join us as we paga! Pray with me: Father, we meet with You today, asking You to meet with others through our prayers. Meet with prodigals and unbelievers, drawing them to You. Save and restore. Meet with those who need deliverance from strongholds – set them free. And meet with those who need healing, both physically and emotionally. We ask that You connect with people through our prayers, bringing heaven to earth. Release the power of Holy Spirit to break through barriers, heal wounds, open spiritually blind eyes, and reconcile people to Yourself. We ask that You do this in schools, on campuses, in offices, government buildings, homes, and backyards. Replace deception with truth, confusion with soundness of mind, and rebellion with obedience. Heal relationships, painful memories, and broken hearts. Meet with government leaders. Impart wisdom, understanding, ideas, and strategies. Meet with pastors and spiritual leaders, imparting wisdom and revelation. Where needed, restore to them passion, fire, and first love. Meet with Kingdom-minded business leaders, providing them with insight, creativity, timing, quality employees, and great prosperity. Bless and lead every prayer gathering taking place this month in the great blitz Holy Spirit has organized. Make it one of the greatest breakthrough months in America’s history. And all of these things we pray in Jesus' mighty name. Amen. Our decree: October is a month of God-ordained meetings; Many breakthroughs will occur! You can find out more about the Nehemiah Alliance HERE. You can find out more about the October 30th Prayer Coalition gathering in Middletown, Ohio HERE. Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 6293. The Consolidation Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary (Chicago: Consolidated, 1954), 384.

Makin’ A Difference Over time, the verb “make” has evolved from a word indicating basic action to forming numerous idiomatic expressions representing success, survival, and other activities. For example, “making ends meet” means having enough income to meet all needs/pay all the bills, and “making money” means earning it. In the southern half of the country, many people dropped the “g” and shortened “making” to “makin,” as in “makin’ ends meet.” Southerners actually drop the “g” in many words, such as eatin’, goin’, learnin’, etc. Southern Ohio, where I was raised, was overtaken by Kentucky and West Virginia, so I, too, say “makin’.” (Southerners actually adapted much of the English language to their tastes, makin’ it much more user-friendly.) Here are a few more “makin” phrases: “makin’ a fuss” means to complain profusely “makin’ off with” means stealing “makin’ good time” means one is right on schedule, or perhaps even ahead of schedule “makin’ it work” means one is adapting to a situation, using whatever is at their disposal “makin’ it worse” means you’re really messin’ up “makin’ it plain” means tellin’ it like it is Now that you northerners are educated on the fact that “makin’ - the correct spelling of this verb - has various uses, we can discuss a couple of truly significant ones. (We’re makin’ progress.) During the last great national and international outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the primary goal of Christians became “makin’ it to heaven.” Many Christians began their relationship with God based on this goal; I certainly did. It’s a worthy goal, by the way. Spending eternity in heaven, rather than hell, should be on every person’s bucket list! And the first question Christian’s were taught to ask when evangelizing someone back then was, “Do you know for certain where you will spend eternity when you die?” This was the bait. Unfortunately, baiting people with the prospect of going to heaven rather than hell often led to a “what’s in it for me?” gospel message. Biblical repentance, making Jesus the Lord of our life, taking up our cross daily, and following Him were often left out. The exaltation of “self” at Adam’s fall - our knowledge above God’s, our will and desires above His - isn’t adequately addressed in this incomplete gospel. That’s why it resulted in many ministries focusing more on makin’ it big than on promoting the Kingdom of God. Nevertheless, makin’ it to heaven is a worthwhile goal. Another important goal that fell by the wayside through this inadequate message was “makin’ a difference” right here on earth. Heaven was simply a future goal, not something we could bring to earth. “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10) somehow failed to compute. Christ’s analogy of being the “salt” of the earth (Matthew 5:13) meant being a good enough person to give others an appetite for heaven, not being a preserver of godliness here on earth. Being a “light” (same verse) meant pointing people toward heaven, not releasing the enlightenment of truth, enabling them to implement God’s life-giving Kingdom principles right here on earth. In short, we Christians tolerated and avoided the culture around us, rather than changing and shaping it. But a constant defensive mindset eventually fails. It erodes the ability to withstand the opposition. Professional football teams talk about “keeping the opponent’s defense on the field”; they know this will wear down the defense. The same is true with societies and cultures. Jesus didn’t say “hold the fort till I get back.” He said, “occupy until I come” (Luke 19:13). Since He said to pray for the release of His Kingdom and will here on earth, then they can be experienced on earth. My life became complete when I transitioned from makin’ it to heaven and makin’ it big, to makin’ a difference. Don’t waste your life living in the incredibly small world of “self.” There is so much more available. Find out why your Creator created you, why you were born at “such a time as this,” and partner with Him to “make” history. One of my all-time favorite songs is "History Maker," written by Martin Smith and recorded by the worship band Delirious. Here are some of the words: “Is it true today That when people pray Cloudless skies will break Kings and queens will shake Yes it's true And I believe it I'm living for you “Is it true today That when people pray We'll see dead men rise And the blind set free Yes it's true And I believe it I'm living for you “Well, it's true today That when people stand With the fire of God And the truth in hand We'll see miracles We'll see angels sing We'll see broken hearts Making history Yes, it's true And I believe it “We're living for You”(1)(2) Make some history with Jesus today! Pray with me: Father, remind believers today that they are called to be difference-makers. Help those who have not yet discovered this, break out of their self-imposed limitations and small dreams. Impart revelation of Your audacious plan to partner with humans, filling them with Your Spirit and enabling them to represent You on earth. Encourage them by assuring them of their great worth to You. And as Your ambassadors here, we pray for the ongoing transformation of America. Send the fullness of revival and the Third Great Awakening. Lift the veil of darkness, rend the heavens, and COME DOWN! Clean up our government, reform our schools, and let the fires of revival burn in our streets and homes. We bind opposing demonic forces in Jesus’ name. We pray also for the increase of the “cloud the size of a man’s hand” in the Middle East. Like Elijah, we have heard You speak of rain, and we can hear the sound. Unlock the heavens over Iran and that entire region. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done! And there, too, we bind every spiritual force of opposition in Yeshua’s name. Father, again today we ask You to involve Yourself in America’s upcoming midterm elections. We realize You aren’t political, but You are very governmental. It matters greatly to You who holds positions of power. We ask You to give wise, fruit-bearing strategies to those promoting righteous candidates. Give the candidates themselves wisdom and understanding. Cause candidates who promote evil to be exposed, make mistakes, and find disfavor with voters. Give us a breakthrough, we pray, in Jesus’ name. We pray and declare all this in the all-powerful name of King Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare over our lives today that we live to make a difference! Do yourself a favor and click this LINK to hear Martin Smith and Delirious sing “History Maker.” Click on the link below to watch the full video. Martin Smith/Delirious Band, “History Maker” from the album “King of Fools,” Furious? Records, 1997. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_Maker

GH15 family: This month you may hear a post or two that sounds familiar. Some have written or called our office, knowing this is a heavy travel month for me, and have asked to hear some favorite reruns. Today’s post is indeed a favorite. A Heart of Courage Encouragement is an important subject. Paul frequently spoke of encouraging others and of receiving encouragement. A believer in the early church named Joseph was actually nicknamed Barnabas by his fellow believers - which means “son of encouragement” - because of his encouraging heart and nature (Acts 4:36). Moses was twice told by God to encourage Joshua regarding his future ministry (Deuteronomy 1:38 and 3:28). When we hear the word “encouragement,” we often think of lifting someone’s spirits, motivating them to press on, or giving a compliment that helps them feel good about themselves or their performance. These aspects of encouragement are good and significant. The deeper meaning of this word, however, is even more significant. In its etymology, the word [encouragement] literally means “to put in courage.”(1) The “courage” portion actually comes from the Latin word for heart.(2) Think about that: Courage is a force that originates in the heart. Emotions will fail you in times of crisis or trouble; the mind, invaded by numerous scenarios and “what ifs,” will often flounder in times of uncertainty, fear, and indecision. “Heart courage” is the only safe source of strength in times of trouble. David said, “My heart is fixed,” meaning that it was immovable. (Psalms 57:7 and 108:1). In Psalm 112:7, he stated about one who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments: “He will not fear bad news; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is firm, he will not fear, But will look with satisfaction on his enemies” (NASB). Courage emanating from the heart will never fail you. And to think we can actually put this courage into another’s heart with our words, incredible! The Greek word translated as “encourage” (also translated “comfort”) is parakaleo.(3) Interestingly, in one of its different forms (Paraclete), it is used as a name of Holy Spirit, usually translated as “Comforter” or “Helper.” Holy Spirit doesn’t simply want to give us pep talks to lift our emotions; He wants to put an immovable force of strength into our hearts, our “courage center!” And He often wants to use us to do so. Holy Spirit “...comforts (parakaleo) us in all our affliction, so that we will be able to comfort (parakaleo) those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NASB). Amazing! The Holy Spirit wants to strengthen others’ hearts through us! Our freedom today may, in part, be due to a 20th-century “Barnabas.” Winston Churchill didn’t look like much of a fighter, but he was one of the Allied Forces’ greatest warriors during WW2. He fought with his words, giving heart to Britain when the odds against them seemed impossible to overcome. At times, it seemed all they had left was heart. Here are a couple of examples: “THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN was raging. Every resource of Fighter Command was engaged in defense against the attacking Luftwaffe. On August 20, Winston Churchill reassured his countrymen. In the speech, he coined the phrase ‘the few’ to refer to the fighter pilots of the RAF (Royal Air Force), a phrase that would stick: “‘The great air battle which has been in progress over this Island for the last few weeks has recently attained a high intensity. It is too soon to attempt to assign limits either to its scale or to its duration. We must certainly expect that greater efforts will be made by the enemy than any he has so far put forth. “‘The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’”(4) Another example of Churchill putting courage into the hearts of his people was through the following: “DURING THE DARKEST days of the war, there was trouble in England’s coal mines. Workers were leaving the mines to enlist in the army. Many young men wanted to be fighting in the front lines, not digging coal out of the ground, and coal production was in jeopardy when the nation needed it most. Winston Churchill went to the mines to deliver a speech and to give the miners a vision of the future. “His words pictured for them what would take place when the Nazis were beaten, and the war was over. He said there would be a great parade honoring all who sacrificed for victory. First, there would be the Royal Navy sailors who had battled Hitler at sea. Then would come the Royal Air Force pilots who had fought the Luftwaffe in the skies. Then would come the Royal Army soldiers who had fought at Dunkirk. Last of all would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner’s caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, ‘Where were you during the dark days of our struggle?’ And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, ‘We were deep in the earth, with our faces to the coal.’(5) “Churchill’s words penetrated their hearts. With tear-streaked faces, the miners went back to work with the firm belief that every piece of coal they brought out of the earth was vital to the survival of their nation. They knew that their work might be mundane and seem unglamorous, but it was necessary to the larger cause.”(6) Put courage in someone you know today. “Lay hands on” their heart with your words, and impart strength and fortitude. Tell them they are strong in Christ! Tell them they have great value and are needed! Tell them they are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves them, and that the greatest power in the universe dwells in them through Holy Spirit! Tell them their feet are on solid rock that will never crumble! “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. Refrain: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.”(7) Pray with me: Father, thank You for sending the great heart doctor, Holy Spirit. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for infusing strength into us, making us steadfast and immovable. Through You, we have “heart courage!” And thank You, Jesus, for transforming our hearts and being our Rock. As we “put our faces to the coal,” motivate your Ekklesia to walk in “Barnabas anointings.” Remind us that we can put courage into the hearts of our brothers and sisters as we war for the soul of our nation. Encourage them to encourage others. We declare today that with Your strength, we will not yield to the forces of darkness in the world. We will not grow weary in our well-doing, our prayers, and decrees. We mount up with wings like eagles - running without getting tired, walking without fainting. Your strength empowers us; Your wind lifts us. We are like trees planted by water; our roots are deep and strong. With hearts like David, we run to the battle. With vision like Caleb, we ask for our mountain. With faith like Abraham, we hope when it seems there is none, and believe in the face of the impossible. With determination like Paul, we press toward the mark. We are “of God” and will overcome the forces of darkness. In Christ’s name and authority, Amen. Our decree: We decree that we have heart, and will persevere in every situation. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.etymonline.com/word/encourage Ibid. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3870. Larkin Spivey, Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II, (AMG Publishers: Chattanooga, TN), p. 38 and The Churchill Centre, www.winstonchurchill.org. From sermons by Bill Hayes (http://RevBill.Wordpress.com) and Norman Lao (http://JLRCM2008.Wordpress.com). Larkin Spivey, Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II, (AMG Publishers: Chattanooga, TN), p. 259. https://hymnary.org/text/my_hope_is_built_on_nothing_less

Shaping the World on Our Knees At a speech yesterday (October 7) in Athens, Greece, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “Today, we find ourselves at a crossroads. The next decade will write the story of the next century. The course we take will determine whether the West maintains its place at the head of the world, or resigns itself to a future of atrophy, servitude, and decline.”(1) Those of us who have been declaring the significance of this season don’t find Secretary Rubio’s statement surprising. While it is confirming to hear this from a government official, it is also sobering. “The next decade will write the story of the next century.” What a profound and powerful statement. Leaders like Rubio are doing their part governmentally to shape an outcome that assures freedom, but the church must do hers. We must do so through preaching the gospel, yes, but also by being a voice for truth in general. The gospel saves us spiritually, but truth preserves the freedom to preach Christ’s gospel and implement the principles of His Kingdom. One without the other becomes incomplete. Jesus not only said He was “the way” and “the life” in John 14:6, but inserted “truth” as the centerpiece or bridge between the two. In His great commissions of Mark 16 and Matthew 28, He emphasized both - preaching the gospel in Mark 16 and teaching the principles of His Kingdom in Matthew 28. One saves, the other disciples. One rebirths the spirit, the other transforms the mind. Without both, our message is incomplete, and our assignment fails. Any congregation neglecting to emphasize both is derelict in its duty. Each one requires boldness and commitment, fueled and empowered by Holy Spirit’s anointing; He uses prayer to generate these qualities in the church. The intercessor realizes he or she can change the world on his/her knees. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 ). Informed believers know that God’s words on their tongues become swords, wielded through them by Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). These decrees establish Christ’s Kingdom rule and enforce His will (Matthew 6.10). "A warrior filled with wisdom ascends into the high place and releases breakthrough, bringing down the strongholds of the mighty" (Proverbs 21:22 TPT). This passage was written for us both personally and governmentally. In this decisive period of history, as Secretary Rubio so poignantly described, we must be diligent to do these things. Our prayers will empower their wise policies. Thank you for your participation. Before ending this somewhat shorter post, let me remind you that we are conducting another nationwide prayer gathering of the Ekklesia on Friday, October 30th. My brother Tim will once again host it in Middletown, Ohio, and the same team that participated in the similar prayer event on August 14th will join us, along with a few more. We will livestream it, as always, and thousands will participate. Together, we will exercise our authority for Jesus and His Kingdom, releasing His influence into our nation. Don’t miss it! Pray with me: Father, what an amazing honor to partner with You in saving and discipling the world. We are one with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17) in His great cause. Just as You sent Him, He has sent us (John 20:21). Holy Spirit is awakening a mighty company of Christ-followers to this, and we are responding to the call. We ask now that these faithful ones be made fully aware of the seriousness of the hour. Allow them to feel the “for such a time as this” weight of this window in history. Remind them that they are history-shapers, and that this is not only a responsibility but an extraordinary privilege. And lastly, I ask You to refresh them by the power of Holy Spirit. Infuse them with strength as you spoke of in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—l am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace” (Amplified Bible). In the mighty name of Yeshua, we pray. Amen. Our decree: We are ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses us with inner strength and confident peace! (Philippians 4:13) Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/10/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-remarks/