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A Time-Sensitive Request God wasted no time before introducing the all-important concept of government in Scripture, doing so in the very first chapter: Genesis 1:26-28. Government is vital. Whether it be in a home, city, nation, or any other grouping of people, God’s intent for government was that it serve people by providing protection (covering), instruction, justice, appropriate and loving discipline, peace, and more (Luke 13:34; 19:44; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 13:1-4). Righteous rule (government) is God’s primary method of releasing these necessary actions and outcomes on earth. Proverbs 29:2 tells us that this brings joy to people; when it does not occur,  the result is mourning. No wonder He told us to pray first for those in government! (1 Timothy 2:1-4) The Hebrew word used for “mourn” in Proverbs 29:2, which occurs when the wicked rule, is a strong word. Anach  means not only to mourn, but to do so by moaning, even gasping. (1)  Proverbs 14:34 adds that the sin these unrighteous rulers produce causes shame and disgrace to a nation.  The ungodly element in America’s government has brought disgrace and mourning by believing it has the right to:  Kill babies in the womb  Approve the selling of the aborted babies’ body parts (are you gasping yet?) Allow babies born alive during failed abortions to lie unattended until they die   Redefine what it means to be male and female Reject the first covenant God established on earth, marriage, and redefine it using activities He forbade (and celebrate this rebellion with cheering, flags, nudity, and lit-up government buildings) Take ownership of children from their parents; they indoctrinate them using pornography and drag queens, even to the point of encouraging the children to be sterilized by drugs or castration (are you mourning yet?)  And much more And here is something else that makes me mourn: the American church could easily change all of this, but doesn’t. The reason? Approximately half of evangelicals aren’t registered to vote, and half of those who are still don’t vote.   This is mind-boggling. It is an accepted fact that if all evangelical Christians voted and did so according to biblical values, we could control every national election and position godly, Bible-believing leaders in office. This means that in one election cycle, we could begin reversing every evil I just listed. Every one. In America, “We the People” have the amazing freedom to choose who we want to rule over us, and “we the believers” have the numbers to ensure they’ll be leaders who possess God’s biblical values. The church could save the lives of babies, the reproductive future of children, God's plan for marriage and the family, and America’s freedoms - almost overnight, if we all voted. Today, I want to focus on making a difference in the great state of Virginia, the covenant root of our nation. At Cape Henry in 1607, Robert Hunt read a covenant that prophesied America’s destiny of sending the gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world.  Virginia became a battleground over parental rights in the gubernatorial election of 2021. Parents were being persecuted for involving themselves in their children’s school curriculum and activities. The Democrat candidate essentially said parents have no right to determine these issues, while candidate Glenn Youngkin stood up for parents, as did Lieutenant Governor candidate Winsome Sears. Both Youngkin and Sears won, with Winsome Sears becoming the first woman of color to hold a statewide office in Virginia. Both are strong believers. This year, Governor Youngkin must step down because of term limits in Virginia, and Lt. Governor Winsome Sears is running for the Governor’s seat. Her opponent, Abigail Spanberger, is a liberal who wants to roll back the clock, allowing schools to once again let boys in girls’ sports - and locker rooms, of course - along with other left-leaning positions. Sears, obviously, does not. Regardless of whether or not we live in Virginia, we can help stop this from occurring in this all-important state. Election day is right around the corner, Tuesday, November 4, and they need our help to keep righteous leadership in this Governor’s seat. MyFaithVotes.org   is an informative website that has done the work for you! It is a wonderful one-stop-shop website where you, the Christian voter, can be educated, informed, prepared, and ready to go to the polls. There, you can find information concerning upcoming elections, articles about upcoming bills in Congress you need to be aware of, and much more. If you follow their prompts, you can even find out if you are registered to vote, info on absentee voting, and where to vote near you (state by state). If you are NOT yet registered to vote, their links will take you directly to the right link in YOUR state where you can register to vote online, right then! Additionally, they provide simple ways to engage with those who represent us in our State and U.S. Congresses.  You can do all of this from home! And they have a simple, yet very impactful method to influence conservatives who aren’t actively participating in important elections. This campaign is called Write Now 2025 . Many of our followers here at Give Him 15 have worked with them successfully in the past. My Faith Votes  has the current names/addresses of thousands of registered voters who are pro-life, pro-traditional family, who either don’t vote, or are inconsistent in doing so. If you’d like to help change this, you can go to this link on their website: myfaithvotes.org/startwriting . They will supply a free digital packet with complete, easy-to-follow information, including a letter they have written. You will supply the printing of the letter, envelope, and stamp; that’s it. They also provide a return address to use in order to maintain your privacy.  Records show that 30% or more of those who receive these letters are motivated to vote. You will have a positive effect on 30-50% of the recipients of the letters you send. Nationally, My Faith Votes  has helped generate thousands of biblically motivated votes, helping turn elections. Think about it - with a couple of hours of your time and a few dollars, you can help elect godly, righteous leaders. With election day just around the corner, please consider getting behind this today! Pray with me: Father, in Christ’s name, we thank You for the awakening we see beginning in the church. The sleeping giant is stirring. Cause the alarm clock to become louder and louder. Make it impossible for Christians in America to silence the alarm or override it with other activities and thoughts.  Our hearts, though breaking over many issues, are also filled with faith that You are changing things dramatically. The conscience of a nation is being brought back to life. The heart of a complacent and passive church is being and will continue to be, awakened. Thank You for Your grace and Your mercy.  And Father, as believers awaken from complacency and lethargy, motivate them to vote. Give organizations like My Faith Votes great success and participation as they implement Your creative ideas. I ask You to lead many people to participate in their efforts. Give Winsome Sears and other true believers success in their elections. Thank You for turning this nation around. We are very grateful that You did not give up on America. And since You didn’t, we won’t. Your verdict has been rendered: America shall be saved! So be it. And we, Your family, will do our part to see this occur. In Christ’s name, we pray this. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we, the church, will involve ourselves at every level and in all facets of government, releasing the authority and blessing of God into the earth through our prayers and actions. You can learn more about how you can help with My Faith Votes’  letter-writing campaign by clicking here:  Write Now 2025  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. 584.

Capturing God’s Heart Second Samuel 18 is a sad chapter. King David’s traitorous son, Absalom, is killed and his coup overthrown. A “runner,” as they called them back then, needs to run with the bitter-sweet news to David: “The rebellion is over, but your son is dead.” A fast, gifted runner named Ahimaaz wanted to carry the news, but David’s general chose an unnamed Cushite, and off he went. Ahimaaz, however, was not to be denied: “ Please let me also run ” (v. 22). The general finally said ok. ay, and Ahimaaz took off. He was so fast that he eventually passed the Cushite and proudly delivered the message to David that the coup was over. “Speed” had won…or had it? When David then asked about his rebellious son Absalom, Ahimaaz answered with embarrassment that he didn’t know. He hadn’t cared enough to find out about David’s son! The Cushite then arrived and gave David the rest of the sad news: “Your son is dead.” Ahimaaz didn’t have the complete message because his motive for running was not for the King; it was for himself. David had not only defeated an enemy, he had also lost a son whom he still loved. Ahimaaz eventually stepped aside in ignorance, insignificance, and embarrassment, as a nameless individual took center stage and delivered the complete message. This is such a poignant warning for us, especially as we move into revival. Our message will always be deficient if it isn’t connected to the King’s heart. I’m speaking, of course, of God, our King. His passions, purposes, and heart of love must be the ultimate goal of our running. In Philippians 3:14, Paul said, “I press toward the mark”  (KJV). His goal, or “mark” as he called it, was clear. In verse 12 (NASB), he said, “I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” The Gift Mentality The charismatic/Jesus People movements were wonderful, but were unfortunately often tainted by a gift mentality . Leaders ran on the strength of their gifts. This often led to a performance mentality : running to set records, to be first, to be the best, to be the biggest. “Build ‘em big and build ‘em fast!” became the mindset of many in these movements. Overnight sensations were, and in some ways still are, the order of the day. There is nothing biblical about this mindset!  Persistent, long-term building should receive more honor than something produced quickly. Sadly, it does not. Far more character is needed to build a work or ministry over a long period of time than to lead something that springs up quickly. These past movements’ overall weaknesses in this regard led to many Christians believing that giftedness qualified one for ministry. Character and God’s heart were replaced by other priorities and motivations, which inevitably led many to build personal kingdoms. A cooperative heart was superseded by a competitive heart. Travailing, agonizing prayer was replaced with the strength of our gifts. Last, and probably most tragically, success was measured not by how well we knew the Father but by how well-known we were. Speed, fueled by ignorance, raced forward out of control and with deficient messages. Ahimaaz passed the Cushite, and  the King wept. We were in desperate need of an alignment; our fast-moving, state-of-the-art churches were pulling hard to the right and left. God has been correcting this. One of the basic problems with this unbiblical philosophy of success, aside from its inherent pride and self-exaltation, is that if any part of our vision, which becomes the goal of running, is born of personal ambition rather than God’s heart,  we are soon running for ourselves,  not the King. Zeal that was originally intended to do something for God, can  easily become a zeal to remain successful.  This change can be so subtle that it often happens without our even realizing it. The church in America has many ambitious Ahimaazes - individuals running for their own success rather than to satisfy God’s heart.  A great vision must not be our starting place. Vision,  born of God’s heart,  must be our starting place. The questions we must continually ask ourselves are: How well do I understand and relate to the King’s heart in this matter? Is that and that alone my motive for running, for building? Was His heart the birthplace of my vision? Our speed or giftedness NEVER validates our running. Holy Hubert Hubert Lindsay, a gentleman greatly used by God in the early days of the charismatic movement, exemplifies a ministry born of God’s heart. Mr. Lindsay was part of “The Jesus People Movement.” This outpouring was used by God to bring thousands of drug-addicted, sexually perverted, disillusioned, and rebellious young people into the Kingdom of God. Hubert Lindsay eventually became known as “Holy Hubert.”  Like King David, who was not called by his father to join the “Potential King Line-up” (see 1 Samuel 16), nothing about Holy Hubert’s appearance or personality made him stand out.  But, like David, he possessed something more important: God’s heart. I once had the privilege of hearing Mr. Lindsay speak. He spoke of his calling to minister at the University of California at Berkeley and mentioned the miracles and salvations. He mixed in some humor, and we all laughed, cheered, and applauded. What impacted me most, however, was a passing comment Holy Hubert made about how his ministry at Berkeley had been birthed. “I became so burdened for this generation,” Mr. Lindsay said, “that I would walk the streets of the campus - sometimes all night long - weeping and interceding for those lost kids. I pleaded with God to save those young people.” God had given this man His heart for a lost generation. The Lord answered Hubert’s cry - because it came from Him - and gave Him a revival. Church historians agree that the Jesus movement was incredibly significant in the entire renewal of the ‘60s and ‘70s. And when tracing the roots of The Jesus Movement, one invariably ends up at Berkeley with Holy Hubert Lindsay. Lindsay’s burden cost him dearly, however. His broken heart led to broken bones - not to a large salary or a huge congregation. Lindsay and his wife were beaten on numerous occasions, stabbed, mocked, and ridiculed as they preached the gospel on campus. His wife eventually suffered brain damage from this, and Holy Hubert lost his sight due to the beatings. They bore on their bodies the marks of the Lord Jesus (see Galatians 6:17). The Lindsays picture for us the principle of running with the heart of God, allowing that to become our passion and th e motivation for ministry. This heart releases pure revival, keeping it free from the debris of pride and selfish motivation. Pray with me: Father, like an automobile traveling down a well-worn road, the potholes of undealt-with ambition and desire for success can knock us out of alignment. Before we know it, like Ahimaaz, we are running for our own fulfillment, not Yours, speeding down life’s highway in search of self-worth and success. Passion for You will correct this. We believe this has begun. As it continues, our hearts will burn for You, not for our own fulfillment and building our personal kingdoms. Religion will be replaced by relationship; intimacy with You will be our desire and the fuel for our activities. Give us Your heart for lost and hurting people. Give us Your heart for the broken, wounded, and confused. Give us Your heart, even for the rebel. Break our hearts for them - give us many who will walk the streets, weeping for those who are so lost. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the heart of God is being imparted to the church, making us nameless, faceless, and powerful. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Church Services in the Capitol After Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, those who use fear-mongering against patriotic Christians, calling us “Christian nationalists,” predictably amped up their rhetoric. The tired arguments and ludicrous accusations that we want to force Christianity and biblical ideals on everyone ratcheted up again. You know you are losing the battle when all you have left are lies and slander. Sadly, even many pastors have bought into the lie that churches should avoid all cultural issues. Many of them refused to comment on Kirk’s assassination, not even willing to offer a prayer for his family. “Don’t mention societal issues, government, education, etc., at church. Don’t mix religion and politics,” they say.  However, isn’t it interesting that by mixing faith, politics, education (campuses were his mission field), and the societal issues of our day, Charlie Kirk was used by God more than any Christian leader of our time. It wouldn’t surprise me if, when all is said and done, his influence will have led more people to Christ than any pastor in America. Maybe more than any denomination. So much for the “leave politics and culture alone; just win people to Christ” theology.  The fact is that most people attending church on a regular basis want their pastors to teach them what the Bible says about societal and cultural issues. A few years ago, George Barna conducted a poll entitled, “What Would People Like to Hear About in Church Sermons?” The poll revealed the broad interest Christians have in topics regarding governance and related social issues. When asked about interest in these topics, a clear majority of Christians expressed a desire to learn more: Abortion - 91% 
(beginning of life, right to life, contraception, adoption, unwed mothers)
 Religious persecution/liberty - 86% 
(personal duty vs. government duty, church response, global conditions)
 Poverty - 85%
 (personal duty vs. government role, church response, homelessness, hunger, dependency)
 Cultural restoration - 83%
 (appropriate morals, law and order, defensible values and norms, self-government)
 Sexual identity - 82% 
(same-sex marriage, transgenderism, marriage, LGBT)
 Israel - 80% 
(role in the world, Christian responsibility to Israel, US foreign policy toward Israel and her enemies)
 Christian Heritage - 79% 
(role of Christian faith in American history, the church's role in U.S. development, modern-day relevance)
 Role of Government - 76% 
(biblical view, church-state relationship, personal responsibility, limitations)
 Bioethics - 76% 
(cloning, euthanasia, genetic engineering, cryogenics, organ donation, surrogacy)
 Self-governance - 75%
 (biblical support, personal conduct, impact on freedom, national sovereignty)
 Church in politics/government - 73%
 (separation of church and state, legal boundaries, church resistance to government)
 Islam - 72% 
(core beliefs, response to Islamic aggression, a threat to U.S. peace and domestic tranquility.)
 According to Mark Burrell in his book Rediscovering the American Covenant , people were asking for biblical guidance on these issues, which are certainly some of the most relevant and important of our time. The survey also asked pastors if they had plans to discuss these topics from the pulpit. The results? Only 14% answered “Yes.” (1) The truth is that the supposed “wall of separation” between church and the government isn’t in the Constitution; it was a phrase used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter. The First Amendment of the Constitution states in part that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”   In his letter, Jefferson assured denominational leaders that our government would never be controlled by one religious group (as had been the case in England), nor would the government have the right to control the church (as also occurred in Britain). NEVER was it implied by our founders that God or religion should have no influence in government, education, or public life. Nor is it true that government funds or public facilities were to be prevented from use by the church. These are all lies designed to remove the influence of God from our nation. If someone had told our Founding Fathers to leave God out of the process of forming and running our government, they would’ve thought that person was insane.  It would shock some Americans to know that Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the letter with the now-famous phrase “wall of separation,” attended a church service in the Capitol building two days later. (2)  (Share that with a liberal friend, but only if they have a strong heart.)  Actually, numerous presidents and members of Congress attended church services in the Capitol – for decades!  – including John Quincy Adams, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and others. Adams explained why he attended: “I consider it as one of my public duties – as a representative of the people – to give my attendance every Sunday morning when Divine service is performed in the Hall.” (3) The Rostrum of the House Speaker was used as the pulpit, and Congress purchased the hymnals! I realize you probably weren’t taught this in our public school system, many of which indoctrinate, propagandize, and revise history. But, as Adams said, “Facts are stubborn things.” And it gets worse for the “separation” crowd. The Capitol was actually used for church services before ever being used by Congress! Approved December 4, 1800, by both the House and Senate, (4)  services began before the entire Capitol was completed, and Congress itself could move in. Jefferson (the wall of separation guy), Vice President at the time and therefore leader of the Senate, approved it on behalf of the Senate. He attended the services for years, throughout his time as Vice President and President, (5)  had a designated seat ,(6)  and was so committed to it that he even made the journey in inclement weather. (7) Services first began to be held in the north wing of the Capitol, moved to Statuary Hall as they grew in number, and eventually landed in the House Chamber. It was, in fact, the first official use of the Chamber on December 13, 1857, with as many as 2000 people in attendance! (8)  Services were interdenominational, speakers were local pastors or the House and Senate Chaplains, (9)  and included women (10) and blacks. (11)  Some churches were actually allowed to use it as their meeting place until they procured other buildings. (12)  And when needed, the Supreme Court Chamber, then in the Capitol building, was also used! (12,14)  How ironic is that! Don’t allow the lies of politicians, educators, or anyone else to deceive you. Our Founders were God-honoring and God-fearing men and women and were guided by Judeo-Christian ethics. And they welcomed God into governmental affairs. Pray with me: Father, just as Nehemiah told Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, those trying to stop him from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, that they had “no historical right” or “claim” to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:20; NIV and Expanded Bible), we echo those words today. Those who want to transform America into a non-Christian nation have no covenantal, historical right to America. You, who own all the earth, raised up America for YOUR purposes. We stand in Your authority and decree that this purpose will not be stolen. And though we have previously lost ground in this spiritual war, You have told us America shall be saved. Your mercies endure forever, and we ask now for this never-ending mercy to be extended. In the all-powerful name of Jesus, we bind the forces of darkness trying to disconnect America from her Christian roots. We declare that the systems and groups these forces are using will be completely unsuccessful, and many from within them will come to Christ. We declare with our Founders that America has “no King but Jesus,” and will serve no other gods. We declare that our roots are still alive and will once again bring forth the fruits Holy Spirit intends America to produce. We will experience a turnaround comparable to the great restorations of Israel. We declare that we will be a light and blessing to all the nations of the earth. Father, we thank You in advance for the great revival that is beginning. Millions of people will come to know You in this nation, and hundreds of millions around the world. We thank You for the incredible revival coming to the campuses of America and the world. Thank You for saving a generation from the strongholds of humanism, rebellion, drugs, immorality, gender confusion, and more. May they taste and see just how good You are. May they fall in love with Your Word and become acquainted with Your ways. We ask You to continue to transform the church. Mature us into the glorious church You spoke of in scripture. Build the Ekklesia You promised to build that cannot be overcome by the plans and government of hell. We ask and decree all of this in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the voice of the church will no longer be silent. We will speak the Lord’s Word into all of society. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Adapted from Rediscovering the American Covenant, Mike Burrell (Washington, D.C.: Ballast Books, LLC, 2022), pp. 28-29. William Parker Cutler and Julia Perkins Cutler, Life, Journal, and Correspondence of Rev. Manasseh Cutler  (Cincinnati: Colin Robert Clarke & Co., 1888), Vol. II, p. 66, letter to Joseph Torrey, January 4, 1802. Cutler meant that Jefferson attended church on January 3, 1802, for the first time as President. Bishop Claggett’s letter of February 18, 1801, already revealed that as Vice-President, Jefferson went to church services in the House.  John Quincy Adams, Memoirs , Vol. XI, p. 169, June 5, 1842.  Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States  (Washington: Gales and Seaton, 1853), p. 797, Sixth Congress, December 4, 1800.  Smith, The First Forty Years , p. 13.  Smith, The First Forty Years , p. 13.   Cutler and Cutler, Life, Journal, and Correspondence , Vol. II, p. 119, in a letter to Dr. Joseph Torrey on January 3, 1803; see also his entry of December 26, 1802 (Vol. II, p. 114).   William C. Allen (Architectural Historian of the Capitol), A History of the United States Capitol, A Chronicle of Design, Construction, and Politics  (Washington, D. C.: Government Printing Office, 2001), p. 271.   Smith, The First Forty Years , p. 15.   Smith, The First Forty Years , p. 15.  Henry Highland Garnet, Memorial Discourse  (Philadelphia: Joseph M. Wilson, 1865), p. 73.   Fundraising brochure, Charles B. Boynton. Washington, D.C.: November 1, 1867, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress; available at Library of Congress at https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06-2.html .  Hutson, Religion and the Founding of the American Republic , p. 90.  From the Library of Congress, at https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06-2.html .

Stemming the Violence “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of adversity.”  Ezekiel 9:9 The out-of-control crime in many parts of our nation has become a great indicator of the spiritual decline in America. Some people seem to have become numb to just how bad it is, and others are simply in denial. The secular media actually called riots in Minnesota involving murder and burning buildings “mostly peaceful.” One hopes they have no “violent” riots.  Our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., had not only become very dangerous, but it was also extremely embarrassing. From violent crime to homeless encampments, our capital was a disgrace. President Trump decided to change this. His “historic effort to restore public safety in the nation’s capital has led to unprecedented drops in violent crime, including murders. Now, as President Trump rightly calls attention to the crime and disrepair gripping other major U.S. cities, [some politicians] seem far more upset about the offer of assistance than the crime epidemic in their own backyards.” (1)   Leaders in the state of Illinois, especially in the great and beautiful city of Chicago, have been especially vocal in their resistance, calling Trump’s efforts “tyranny.” Governor Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Johnson walk the safer streets in Chicago with their entourage of dozens of armed protectors, decrying Trump’s offer to help with the crime in their city. The hypocrisy is laughable. Just this past Labor Day weekend, seven people were killed and 49 were injured from gunfire in Chicago. (2) “Here are some facts on Chicago’s crime problem: For 13 consecutive years, Chicago has had the most murders of any U.S. city. For seven consecutive years, Chicago has had the highest murder rate among U.S. cities with more than one million people. In 2024, Chicago’s murder rate per capita was three times higher than Los Angeles and nearly five times higher than New York City’s.  Out of Chicago’s 147,899 reported crimes since January 1, arrests have been made in just 16.2% of them. More illegal guns are recovered in Chicago than in New York City and Los Angeles combined. The number of reported motor vehicle thefts last year was more than double the number in 2021. Chicago has also come under scrutiny over discrepancies in its homicide data reporting.” (3) University of Chicago Crime Labs reports that: “Black residents remain disproportionately impacted by gun violence, being 22 times more likely to be killed compared to white residents. The disparity is even greater when considering geography: neighborhoods with the highest homicide rates experience approximately 68 times more homicides than those with the lowest rates. “Since 2010: Shooting lethality—the rate at which shooting victims die from being shot—increased by 44.9%. The number of high-capacity magazines recovered at shootings by the Chicago Police Department increased by over 480%. The average number of shell casings recovered per shooting victim has more than doubled.” (4) Safe and Sound Security gives the following overview: “Violent crimes in Chicago surged by 11.5%, signaling a growing public safety concern in major urban areas. Despite a reduction in homicides, the rate remains 45% higher than a decade ago, underscoring persistent safety challenges. The city reported a staggering 22,569 assault cases, highlighting the prevalence of violent crime in Chicago. Chicago experienced a decade high in vehicle thefts, with 30,501 incidents reported, marking a significant rise in property crime. The arrest rates for violent crimes have dropped to their lowest in a decade at just 10.8%, raising concerns about the effectiveness of local law enforcement.” (5) One can only wonder why the leaders would reject help in stopping this years-long violent crime and murder epidemic in Chicago. The only plausible explanation is that if Trump truly makes a difference there, as he did in Washington, D.C., it will make them look bad. In other words, it might hurt them politically and contribute to a loss of power. That is a nice way of saying they would rather stay in power than save lives. Which, of course, is despicable. Pray for the people of Chicago. So many who are negatively impacted by the violence and crime are innocent individuals. One 59-year-old lifelong resident said, “As a kid, she ‘would play outside ‘til the streetlights came on,’ but that’s impossible now. The body of her 15-year-old nephew was found burned in a dumpster in 2016, a year when homicides spiked to a decade-high. “‘My grandkids can’t sit outside. They can’t sit in the living room or at the kitchen table, because a bullet may come through,’ she states.” (6) May God show them mercy. Let’s join our Chicago friends by praying that help is on the way. Pray with me: Father, we ask You to intervene in the rampant crime traumatizing our inner cities. Our hearts break when we see the needless death and destruction. So many are trapped in horribly violent neighborhoods and see no way out of their situation. Our rebellion toward You here in America has decimated our land. We have sown the wind, and reaped the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). Please cleanse and heal our land. Send revivals to the inner cities of America. Raise up wise and righteous leaders who care more about the people than they do a position of power. Crush the political spirit that motivates this evil. Provide effective strategies to break the cycle of poverty and destruction that has bound so many. An outpouring of Holy Spirit in these communities would, without doubt, eradicate gangs, drug dealers, crime, and spiritual darkness. Send this revival, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Our decree: We decree that revival is coming to the inner cities of America. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/08/yes-chicago-has-a-crime-problem-just-ask-its-residents/   https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/02/us/crime-chicago-national-guard-trump   https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/08/yes-chicago-has-a-crime-problem-just-ask-its-residents/ https://crimelab.uchicago.edu/resources/2024-end-of-year-analysis-chicago-crime-trends/ https://getsafeandsound.com/blog/chicago-crime-rate/ https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/02/us/crime-chicago-national-guard-trump

The Land is Being Healed The Healing Summit confirmed what I’ve been feeling and sensing for quite some time: we are clearly moving into another season of increased signs and wonders. Many were healed Friday night, there and around the world. I just saw pictures of a church in Liberia that joined us by livestream! Amazing. My brother, Tim, shared a verse Friday night that I often think of when preparing for a service of this type. “And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them”  (Luke 5:17). God’s power was definitely present Friday night. Back conditions were healed, tumors/growths disappeared, and more. Because we pray for so many people we don’t stop to talk with each one. We simply pray a short prayer and move to the next. (Even with this approach it takes the six of us a couple of hours.) Because of this we often don’t hear most of the reports until later; plus, we ask people to always check out the healing medically, or by testing their pain level over a period of time, etc., before informing us. This, of course, requires time. In these summits, people have experienced healings from terminal illnesses, cancers, heart conditions, and many other disorders. The healings have occurred, not just in the Middletown summit, but in many other churches and homes. Don’t give up on your healing, and ask the Lord to use you to release His healing power to others. Don’t buy into any doctrine that says one must be a pastor or apostle, etc., to be used by God in this way. Stephen and Philip, whose responsibilities in the church were to serve food to the widows, were both used greatly to release miracles (Acts 6,8). Mark 16:18 tells us “believers” will lay hands on the sick and they’ll recover. Ask and believe for this. Also, please join us in praying for a release of signs and wonders worldwide. Healings and miracles are confirming signs of authenticity for the gospel. Ask for this outpouring of miracles to increase throughout the world - this will be one of the fuels for the great harvest.  Healing Our Land Now, let’s focus on the healing of our nation. Second Chronicles 7:14 tells us: “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” The word “heal” in this verse is the same word used for physical healing in the Old Testament, rapha . It is also the word used in one of God’s names, Jehovah Rapha, “The Lord our Healer”  (Exodus 15:26). God not only heals bodies, but He also heals nations, including the very land on which we live. Our sins defile the land. (See Genesis 3:17-19; Deuteronomy 28:16-18, 38-42, Leviticus 20:22). When His people repent, however, turning from their sin and seeking Him, God heals their land.  Notice that God did not say that He would do so if unbelievers  repented; He said, “If MY people…”  God allows “identificational” repentance and intercession by believers; we can stand in the “gap” or “breach” created by the sins of others. This enables God to release His mercy and blessing. Ezekiel 22:30-31 states:  “I searched for a man among them who would build up a wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. So I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; I have brought their way upon their heads,” declares the Lord God” (NASB). In these sobering verses from Ezekiel, God was unable to find anyone to release the necessary intercession and, tragically, had to send judgment.  Such a lack of intercession has not been the case in America, however. God has found intercessors to stand in “the gap,” asking for His grace and mercy, and He is responding by healing our land, doing so through sound, righteous government decisions and the revival that has begun. You are probably one of those who has offered this intercession and I thank you. More importantly, HE thanks you– because it releases Him to do what He loves, granting mercy and sending salvation.  Curses are now being broken off our nation and our land, and demonic strongholds are being broken. One example: “A sharp decline in Gen Z Americans identifying as transgender and queer has occurred, from 6.8% identifying as a gender other than male or female in 2023 compared to 3.6% stating so in 2025.” (1) This demonic ideology is being broken off our children.  Another encouraging statistic is that “Americans are buying Bibles and downloading Christian apps and music at surging levels not seen in years, according to recent data reported by Fox News.” (2)  And as was prophesied by more than one person, the campuses in America are beginning to experience outpourings of the Holy Spirit. The Lord said the coming great awakening would begin there, and this has begun. The land is being healed.  Keep praying! Pray with me: Father, thank You for the breakthroughs many people experienced last Friday night. We are grateful. We ask that this release of signs and wonders would increase here in America and throughout the world. Let the rain of mercy You spoke of in 2016 include a deluge of healing and miracles. Let this include mental and emotional healing. And we ask that these miracles occur, not just in churches, but in the public square. Capture them on video; show them on news channels and social media posts. Cause them to go viral. Glorify Jesus through every possible venue in our world. And we ask for the healing of our land. We have brought curses upon our nation and land by our sins, curses which now oppose our prosperity and health (Leviticus 20:22). But Your people have been praying. We have humbled ourselves before You and asked for Your mercy, which You love to grant. We ask for the healing to continue. Cause it to manifest in every aspect of American society and culture. Heal, then transform. And we ask for this to occur throughout the earth. Cause wise decisions to be made by our government officials. Continue to expose and uncover evil therein and bring lawbreakers to justice. May they no longer get away with their crimes. Our government is filled with many liars and thieves. Please continue to reverse this. Protect our godly, honest leaders and law enforcement individuals. Expose and destroy the organizations that foster and pay for the violence in America. As part of the healing of our land, please help us stop the deception, corruption, and madness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the Lord our Healer is healing our land. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_2a1d90be-8b34-483a-902c-9097b1e26174.html   https://readlion.com/bible-sales-faith-apps-and-christian-music-streams-on-the-rise/

Many find the account of Gideon’s commissioning somewhat humorous. He was hiding from his enemies, the Midianites, while threshing wheat; these oppressors loved to steal the Israelites’ crops (Judges 6:11). An angel came to him in his hiding place and said, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor,” (verse 12).  At that moment, Gideon looked nothing like a “man of valor.” Aren’t you glad God sees into the future, knows the plans HE has for us, and deals with us accordingly. In today’s post, Gina Gholston reminds us of this truth and applies it to God’s prophetic timetable. Her insights will encourage you! Gina’s title is: God Is Ordering Our Steps A few years ago, the Lord showed me a vision of clock hands rotating at a very high rate of speed. Then I heard Him say, “Time has accelerated.” By the Spirit, I understood that we were entering a specific time God had set on His timeline, and things were going to begin happening very quickly. We are definitely seeing that acceleration take place now governmentally, socially, and spiritually. It is a holy moment, and God is calling the church to get into position. He is joining and positioning His body. As we each take our place and release our supply, we will function in the demonstration of the Spirit that gives evidence of the reality of Jesus. (Ephesians 4:13-16) This is a set time, and set times bring acceleration. This isn’t an indication that God is behind schedule, trying to catch up; rather, He causes things to shift and align with His timing and plans. Though these actions may feel like “suddenlies,” they’re actually the unfolding of plans God has been weaving. For many of us, what unfolds in these times may stretch us beyond our perceived limitations, but we must trust that God knows what He is doing. The Holy Spirit will awaken us to gifts and abilities He has placed in us that are necessary for His plan. God has led us, prepared us, and now He will launch and position us for the fulfillment of His plans and purposes.  I recall a transitional moment in my life that unfolded several years ago. During that time, many things in my personal life shifted and stretched me. One evening, as I was driving, the Lord visited me in my car and began speaking to me about what He had been doing - and was about to do - in and through my life. Words cannot explain what I felt in that encounter. It was life-changing! I was hearing God say to me, in essence, “I placed in you a purpose for this time, and now, I am opening the way for you to be and do what I’ve created you to be and do.” This was a defining moment for me. His words did not produce pride; to be honest, I struggled to fully embrace what He was saying about me. My initial thoughts were more like those of Gideon’s: You must have the wrong person! Who am I that You should say such things to and about me? My mind immediately began trying to figure out the “how” of what He was saying. Nothing in my present moment indicated that what I was hearing could possibly be true. But God wasn’t speaking about who I WAS; He was speaking about who I was BECOMING. What He revealed that night pointed me in a direction I would never have been aware of, had He not spoken. His words awakened in me a right perspective for the things that would transpire in the days and years ahead, as He unfolded the future He had planned for me.  As we surrender ourselves to the Lord, He will guide us down the path of destiny He has designed for our lives. God’s part  is to order our steps and plan our ways; our part  is to trust Him and obediently step where He orders. As we do, this enables us to release the supply He has placed in us.  When God began unfolding His plan for my life, I never thought that sharing the dreams, visions, and prophetic words He gives me would be an avenue through which He would use me. But He knew, and was orchestrating all the necessary components to mature and harvest the seeds He had planted in me...because it was time. Though I had not realized it, all along my journey, God had been ordering my steps. He saw what was ahead, and had been consistently guiding and preparing me. More often than not, we don’t realize that our steps are being ordered by the Lord. But God, in His infinite wisdom, is always working His plan for our lives. And at the right time, He brings us into launching moments for His will to be fulfilled. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us to “ Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth...”  (Amplified Bible) The focus of these verses is not so much on straight and smooth paths, but on the fact that if we follow and focus on the Lord, He will direct our steps and clear our paths. The fulfillment of God’s intentions for our lives will only be fully realized as we trust in, rely on, recognize, and acknowledge Him in all our ways. With faith in Him, we can follow the path and discover all that the journey has in store. Yahweh knows every step we are to take. He knows the “how” and He knows the “when.” And we have entered a “when” moment! There are things that will now be put in place quickly in order for the purposes of God to be realized. We must not allow our perceived limitations to dictate our responses to His leading. Rather, we must trust His wisdom, and allow Him to strategically position us for His plan to be revealed and fulfilled…because it is time. Pray with me: Father, You are awakening and launching important aspects of Your plans for this season. You have declared the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), and at Your command things are quickly aligning with Your will and purposes. Though we do not know every detail concerning what is ahead, we trust and believe that every part of the plan You have established for us will be fulfilled. You are imparting great grace to instruct and enable us to perform our part in Your plan.  Help us to believe and embrace the revelation of who You say we are and of what You are calling us to do - without filtering it through the confines of our perceived limitations. As we trust in, rely on, recognize, and acknowledge You in all our ways, give us the understanding and strength to accomplish all that You have called us to. Like Gideon, we will become who You say we are, defeating the enemies of our destiny, and partnering with You in Your present plans. It is time, and we will reap the harvest of Your full intentions. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Our decree: We decree that God has prepared and positioned us for our future, and will fulfill His plans and purposes for our lives.  Click on the link below to watch the full video.   Today’s post was contributed by Gina Gholston. Portions were taken from her new book, Along the Journey. You can learn more at ginagholston.com .

I invite you to join me each day as we pray for our nation until the election crisis has resolved. I’ll be reading the daily Give Him 15, making comments, and then we will pray together. You can join me here as we Appeal to Heaven for America. [ When we refer to kings and priests, or kingly and priestly functions, we are not talking about priests being those in full-time ministry, and kings as those in the workforce. That is a teaching that has circulated in the body of Christ that is not biblically accurate. We all, regardless of our vocation, move in the kingly and priestly anointings of the Lord.] Priestly and Kingly Intercession – Both Are Needed God is using our prayers and decrees, causing us to partner with Him for His will to be released in America. I am a teacher and therefore, feel it is extremely important that you have an understanding of why we pray AND decree. As part of today’s GH15 devotional, I am sharing a teaching and a story from my book, Giants Will Fall . This will give you more understanding of how and why we are functioning as an Ekklesia. “As I studied the spiritual functions of both kings and priests, it became clear that priests represent the needs of people to God , while kings represent the rule of God . Whether through prayers, petitions, or sacrifices to atone for sin, priests presented the needs and requests of humankind TO HEAVEN; while through laws, decrees, and righteous judgments, kings presented heaven’s rule TO EARTH. “As Christ’s priestly intercessors, we represent the needs of people to God. In His name, we petition heaven on behalf of them, asking for God’s mercy, forgiveness, and provision. There are other times when we represent Christ in the Kingly, ambassadorial role. In these cases, we do not petition heaven, but command—for that is what the Greek text communicates in the Lord’s Prayer—Christ’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done (see Matthew 6:10). “In 1980, I was asked to pray for a newborn baby with a fractured skull. During a difficult birth, the doctor had used forceps to deliver the baby, and in the process had inadvertently fractured his skull. As I began to pray, Holy Spirit led me to command healing into this infant’s skull. I decreed that in the powerful name of Jesus, the baby’s skull was being healed. “It happened instantly! Through this miracle the mother was born-again, and at church the following Sunday I had the privilege of dedicating this baby to Jesus. “That is kingly intercession. “Priests request; kings command and decree. Priests pray; kings rule. Priests operate in humility, kings in boldness . We must function in both aspects of these callings, just as Christ does. David, though a great worshipper and intercessor, wasn’t modeling priestly activity when he faced Goliath; he was demonstrating kingly authority. “And like David, we must take out the giants. “There’s a new breed of warrior arising in the earth. Worshipping warriors. Priestly warriors, but warriors, nonetheless. They will know their authority as emissaries of the King, and as representatives of heaven’s kingdom on earth. These ambassadors will issue heaven’s commands over nations, people groups, and individuals. They will be Christ’s Ekklesia—liberators, deliverers, and enforcers.” Rise up, Ekklesia, and represent Christ in His priestly AND kingly role in our nation! GIVE HIM 15 MINUTES IN PRAYER: Lord, teach me how to function in my priestly and kingly role. I want to be Your ambassador for America’s future! I choose this day, to function in my priestly role bringing America before your throne. I pray for Your mercy to be upon our land. I also will function in my kingly role, declaring Your will to be done in America! Holy Spirit, bring us a righteous leader who will defend the sanctity of life and honor You. I will be part of the new breed of worshipping warriors enforcing your victory on the earth and in America! Lord, I choose to partner with You and release YOUR will into America! PRAYER YOU CAN PRAY: Thank you, Lord, for bringing me more understanding about my priestly and kingly role in prayer. When I know your will, I can now partner with You as your ambassador, declaring Your will into the earth. Today I appeal to heaven for Your will to rule and reign in America. I decree that nothing will stop America’s reset! I declare that evil will turn on itself as Your light shines on the dark places. We command the powers of darkness that are covering and hiding evil to cease and desist as the light of truth shines upon them. We pray that the truth will shine forth as bright as the noonday light! In Jesus’ name...Amen. DECREE: I decree that You are moving and operating behind the scenes to bring victory to America!

Make the Shift In August of 2022 my brother, Tim Sheets, said there was coming a stronger merger in Christ’s Kingdom between the natural and spiritual realms, the earthly and heavenly. This merging would result in new levels and manifestations of the Kingdom of God. Tim declared: “A merger is now beginning that will accelerate a new era Pentecost. Power and Kingdom authority will be seen on earth as never before. We have been prophesying this for a long time, and Holy Spirit says, ‘The merger is now occurring. The glory of My presence will now fill prepared territories, regions, and nations.’” Tim went on to say, “Ekklesias are getting traction in these places. I also heard Holy Spirit say, ‘Surge after surge of the King’s manifest presence will spawn sudden miracles. The enemies of the Kingdom will be disoriented and will fight each other, resulting in freedoms decreed by King Jesus and His Ekklesia. This will be assisted by My angel armies, for I will release My mighty ones to labor with you; My mighty angels are moving into the earth realm.’” Then he stated, “The glory of God is going to amp up in certain regions and territories in such a way that it will create miracles and breakthroughs. I believe we are moving NOW - not years from now - into a season of suddenlies. Sudden strikes of high-ranking angels, under Holy Spirit’s supervision, fueled by the decrees of a functioning Ekklesia. “I feel the Ekklesia as a whole is shifting into another gear. Holy Spirit is bringing change, prophetic words are about to come to pass, and powerful angels are being released. Something has shifted, and we are moving into another gear.” Then, knowing it can be difficult to shift into a new season, Tim used an interesting analogy, saying, “Dutch, you and I are old enough to know how cars with standard transmissions and stick shifts operate. You use a clutch when shifting gears. Sometimes, if the clutch is bad or the gears aren’t perfectly synchronized, the gears grind somewhat as an attempt is made to engage them. I feel this is occurring now in the spiritual realm. We are struggling to shift into this next gear, but will do so.” While listening to Tim, I recalled a similar experience I had several years ago. While in worship I suddenly heard the sound of gears grinding. This wasn’t something I was hearing literally but inwardly, in the spiritual realm. When I asked Holy Spirit what this meant, He said, “I’m shifting the church into another season.” Exactly as Tim had referenced! The Holy Spirit knew that by using this mechanical analogy, I would immediately understand what He was saying. Due to ignorance, uncertainty, resistance, hesitancy, past paradigms, etc., some in the church were experiencing difficulty in shifting.  Holy Spirit is once again shifting the church into a new season. We have been in a forerunning season of preparation; we are now moving into an awakening that will produce salvation, healing, deliverance, and ultimately great reformation. The healing aspect of this new season is what we are focusing on in tonight’s Healing Summit. Holy Spirit is shifting our mindsets and awakening our faith to the fact that it’s time to shift.  John 5:1-9 tells the story of a paralyzed man healed by Jesus. It was believed by the Jews of the day that an angel periodically stirred the waters of the pool named Bethesda, located at the Sheep Gate, and the first person into the water was healed. At the Pool, Jesus approached a man who had been in a paralyzed condition for 38 years and asked what seemed like a strange question: “Do you truly long to be well?” (John 5:6 TPT). The man’s answer revealed that although he was waiting at the pool, he really had no hope of being healed. “I have no one to help me into the water and someone else always gets there first.”  I believe Jesus asked the paralytic this question to point out that his hope was misplaced. Although he was waiting for the miraculous stirring of the pool, Yahweh - not the pool itself - was the source of the miracle he needed. A couple of feet and only seconds away from his miracle, just moments from total restoration, the man wasn’t able to recognize it. He needed to shift his thinking; his paradigm and his faith were based on the past. But Jesus had come - it was a new season! That which Bethesda symbolized was now being fulfilled. This symbolism of Bethesda is truly amazing: Bethesda means “house of lovingkindness or mercy.”  The Sheep Gate (verse 2) next to it (verse 2) was where the lambs - used for the temple sacrifices and picturing Christ, our Passover Lamb - were brought into the Temple.  Five, the number of porticoes around the pool (also verse 2), is the biblical number of grace.                                         Putting all of this together, the pool of Bethesda and the symbolism associated with it pictures Christ, the Passover lamb, entering our fallen world to give us grace and mercy. He would bring wholeness and health to the “diseased” human race. This disabled man was staring at THE Lamb Himself, God’s gift of grace, the fulfillment of what everything around him pictured, yet didn’t realize it. An incredible opportunity, his kairos moment, had arrived, but he was trapped in the past. The gears were grinding, but Jesus helped him shift into the new season and a new life. We must listen carefully to Holy Spirit - “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2:7) - in order to recognize the timing for God’s shifts. Reader’s Digest told of the late, great golf instructor, Harvey Penick: In the 1920s, Penick bought a red spiral notebook and began jotting down observations about golf. He never showed the book to anyone other than his son until 1991, when he shared it with a local writer and asked if he thought it was worth publishing. The man read it and told him yes. The writer presented it to Simon and Schuster, then left word with Penick’s wife the next evening that they had agreed to an advance of $90,000! When the writer told Penick, the golfing expert seemed troubled. Finally, Penick came clean. With all his medical bills, he said, there was no way he could advance Simon & Schuster that much money. The writer had to explain that Penick would be the recipient of the $90,000! His first golf book, Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book , sold more than a million copies, one of the biggest best-sellers in the history of sports books. His second book And If You Play Golf, You’re My Friend , sold nearly three-quarters of a million. (1) Whether it be book writing, physical miracles, or the salvation of a loved one, we sometimes live in the waiting stage so long that it becomes difficult to believe in God’s mercy when it is offered. Listen with faith! God is saying it is time to shift.  Accept the offer. Pray with me: Father, thank You for moving us from glory to glory, strength to strength, and faith to faith. You are not a stagnant God! And You said there would be no end to the increase of Christ’s Kingdom (Isaiah 9:6-7). We are confident of this, our faith in You is strong. You have told us that a new merger of Your glory, angelic warriors, and an empowered Ekklesia is coming. We are determined to participate in this. We will shift with You. We ask You for an infusion of strength, revelation, and power enabling us to make this shift us into the new season. We ask You for the miracles spoken of. We ask for the suddenlies. We ask for strong outpourings of your Spirit to spring up. We ask for an increase of prophetic anointing to discern and hear clearly what You are doing. And we ask that the fruit of this will be the rescue of millions of hearts around the world. Give us the billion soul harvest we have been prophetically hearing of.  We ask that You continue to dismantle evil systems and render ineffective those who oppose You. With the keys of Your kingdom we now bind every attempt to stop this divine shift, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we will shift into God’s new season of signs, wonders, and worldwide harvest. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Watch the Healing Summit livestream at 7PM EST at oasiswired.org . 1. Adapted from: Edward K. Rowell, Fresh Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching  (Grand Rapids, MI: Christianity Today, 1997), p. 100.

The Mouse and the Elephant Unlike most of you, I love to wait. NOT! I mean, really, who enjoys waiting? There are several things regarding waiting that I would fix immediately if I were put in charge of the world. Driving in the passing lane of a highway without passing another vehicle would result in a $500 fine for first-time offenses and automatic loss of the driver’s license on the second occasion. Retaking driver’s education would be required in order to get it back. Actually, I might just make EVERYONE take (or retake or take for the first time) driver’s education, even without this offense, then they all would know how to use BLINKERS. Families or friends whose group stretches ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE TERMINAL CORRIDOR in airports, walking slowly, chit-chatting, and blocking those of us who have places to go and things to do, would lose all flying privileges. (Unless they took an Airport Walker’s Education class.) Folks standing in check-out lines talking with the cashier, telling them their life’s story while the rest of us in line wait, albeit patiently. They will be charged an extra $100 for their purchase. In my book, The Pleasure of His Company,  I share several more ways I could improve the world if I were in charge. It’s easy to see that, given the right opportunity, I could correct much of the injustice in the world and eliminate the stress caused by unnecessary waiting. These “injustices” aren’t actually a big deal to me, by the way. For the most part, I’m a pretty well-adjusted, mild-mannered, cool, calm, and collected guy. Okay, so I don’t like waiting. Most of us don’t. But there is one type of waiting I’ve learned to enjoy: waiting on God. Before you question my honesty, let me point out that I’m not talking about waiting for God to answer my prayers. Like you, I don’t enjoy that. The waiting I enjoy is spending time in His presence. The biblical concept of “waiting on the Lord” is understood by few people these days. Like many other biblical words, much is lost in the translation. Carefully defining three Old Testament words translated as “wait” or “waiting” will give us much clearer insight. The first word is duwmiyah , (1)  which means “silently waiting with a quiet trust.” The thought conveyed is a strong, calm, quiet trust in the Lord. David said, “My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken”  (Psalm 62:1-2). The second word, chakah , (2)  means “adhere to” or “long for.” The psalmist said, “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20). The writer was clinging to the Lord, knowing that He would come through as a help in time of trouble. When David said, “My soul thirsts for God”  (Psalm 42:2; 63:1), he was chakah  - longing for God’s company.  The third word, qavah, (3)   has two important meanings. The first is to “wait for with eager expectation.” Notice the combination of excitement and faith in this definition. Those who qavah  for the Lord are doing more than passively waiting; they’re anticipating and expecting. Psalm 27:14 tells us, “Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” Another powerful meaning of qavah  exists, however: “to bind together by twisting,” as in a braid or a rope. As we spend time with the Lord, our hearts are joined, creating oneness of desires, thinking, and actions. Passions are shared, creating energy and action. Another result of braiding, however, is increased strength. Isaiah said, “Yet those who wait (qavah) for the Lord will renew their strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:31). The renewing of strength this verse promises is the result of being braided together with God. When the strands of a rope are braided into one, the strength of each strand is synergistically transferred to the other. When we wait on God by spending time with Him, His strength is transferred to us and vice versa. Guess who gets the better deal? It’s like the mouse and elephant who were best friends. They hung out together all the time, the mouse riding on the elephant’s back. One day, they crossed a wooden bridge, causing it to bow, creak and sway under their combined weight. The mouse, impressed with their ability to make such an impact, said to the elephant, “We sure shook up that bridge, didn’t we?” In our union with God, guess who the mouse is? Let’s summarize these three meanings of biblical waiting, combining them into one complete definition of “waiting on the Lord”: Q uietly waiting with a strong, calm trust; longing for His presence and eagerly expecting Him, for you know He’ll come; and knowing that as He does, you and He will experience an increased oneness, a braiding together, your hearts and lives becoming more entwined. That’s what I’m talking about! If that doesn’t float your boat, you need a new boat. Practically speaking, what describes this type of activity? Do we sit quietly, trying to enter a trancelike state wherein we can more easily enter the spirit realm? No. The meditation process taught in Scripture — which is but one form of waiting on God — is not an altered state of consciousness. It is simply musing on, thinking about, or reflecting on God or a passage of Scripture. Waiting on the Lord can be done while sitting, kneeling, walking, lying down, or driving–it isn’t the position of the body, but the posture of the heart. Prayer, worship, or contemplative thinking are all ways through which we “wait upon” Him. There is nothing complicated about it. A quality “quiet time” is a means of waiting on the Lord. Make it enjoyable - sit with a cup of coffee and visit with Him. I’ve sat in front of a fire for hours, enjoying the pleasure of His company. For me, it doesn’t get any better than that. Quality, however, is more important than quantity. I’ve received great revelation and insight from Holy Spirit from just a few minutes of visiting with Him.  It is also important to wait upon Him with regularity. All of us should have regular quiet times of waiting on the Lord that are shorter, whether they be thirty minutes or an hour, and all of us should occasionally spend longer times with Him. Learn to wait. In this hectic world of microwaves, bullet trains, and air travel, some things still take time. Slow down. If only for a few minutes a day - slow down and find Him. I promise you that if you will, you’ll live longer...and you’ll live better. Pray with me: Father, help us to become comfortable with the art of waiting on You with strong, calm, quiet trust. Bind our hearts tightly to Yours, as we abide. We want to be one with You in thought and desire, reflecting the glory of Christ. We choose to slow down and position our hearts to wait. Echoing the prayer of the psalmist, this one thing will we seek: to dwell in Your house all the days of our lives, meditating, gazing, simply beholding every facet of Your beauty (Psalm 27:4)...enjoying the pleasure of Your company. As we do, cause us to experience a oneness with Your heart, a braiding together with You. May we think Your thoughts, desire Your desires, love what You love, and hate what You hate.  And we embrace Your promise that we will run with Your strength, move in Your gifts, release Your power, and speak Your words. Fill us afresh and anew as we wait on You! In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will re-prioritize waiting and listening to Holy Spirit, knowing that as we do, He WILL share His heart with us. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company,  published by Baker Books. 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. 1747. Ibid., ref. no. 2442. Ibid., ref. no. 6960.

The Important Connection Moses was dead (Joshua 1:2). It was bittersweet, for he was the last of a generation that had to die before the next generation was allowed to stop wandering in the desert and living in tents. Israel’s inheritance awaited them – nice cities, homes, gardens, and more. After his death, they could possess this inheritance. And yet Moses was the great leader who led them out of slavery with amazing signs and wonders. But he was gone, and his spiritual son, Joshua, was about to take over for him. In three days, He would lead this chosen nation into the Promised Land. For over four hundred years, this had all been in the works. It started with Abraham, whom God chose to help Him redeem fallen humankind; Messiah would come through his offspring. As a thank you, God promised him some land. Abraham and his descendants would have to wait for the land, however. Yahweh wouldn’t simply take it from its current occupants and give it to him. In His justice, He would wait until the sins of the inhabitants reached a level that justified it (Genesis 15:16). It was time. What should be done to prepare for the momentous fulfillment of this great four-hundred-year-old promise? Four centuries is a long wait. Certainly, something very special should be done over the next three days to celebrate and prepare. Should they fast? Pray? Worship nonstop for the next seventy-two hours? Throw a three-day party?  Whatever we do, it needs to be monumental, they probably thought. There was a lot of packing to do, of course, but a very important spiritual assignment was given in order to prepare for this historical crossing over.  “Qadash yourselves,” Joshua told them, “for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you”  (Joshua 3:5). Qadash  is an important Hebrew word meaning “to set apart.” (1)  In biblical contexts, it was most often used as being “set apart UNTO God.” There is another Hebrew word for separation FROM, nazir, (2)   but qadash  is separation UNTO. It is often translated using theological terms like sanctify  or consecrate, but don’t let that complicate this simple concept. The Biblical concept of qadash is simply “to separate and set apart a person or object unto God.” Setting something apart to God meant it was dedicated to or reserved for Him. For example, furniture and utensils in the temple were qadash -ed to God, meaning they were not to be used for any other purpose. The same was true with people. The Israelites were to be qadash -ed to God – they must not give themselves to the worship of other gods.  On special occasions, the Israelites were often asked by God to qadash  themselves to Him, drawing near in an extra special way. This would be like a husband and wife getting away for a day or two, perhaps even for a vacation, to separate themselves from other activities and spend extra, quality time connecting with one another. Occasionally, God asked Israel to qadash themselves to Him in this additional manner.  The key to truly understanding God’s heart in the use of qadash  is the “unto Him” aspect. We have made sanctification  and consecration  religious and legalistic, interpreting them as separating ourselves FROM certain activities. This is inaccurate; they are actually relational concepts. A poor understanding of this has hindered our connection to the Lord. Consecration is for connection . In the same way that the wedding vow is relational, so is spiritual sanctification. The Lord’s request to Joshua and the Israelites before this monumental occasion was simple: “Draw near to Me. Let’s celebrate this new day by celebrating one another’s company.” How refreshing is that! Interestingly, the Old Testament word for “holy” is qodesh,  a derivative of qadash.  Like sanctification, being holy doesn’t mean to be separated “from sin,” but rather separated “unto God.” Inanimate objects were actually called “holy” ( qodesh ) (3)  in Scripture, as were places and days. Obviously, this was not because they hadn’t sinned. It was due to the fact that they had been “set apart to God” ( qadash ). Holiness isn’t defined by sinlessness! It is defined as “belonging to God.” It is comforting to know that my relationship with God centers not around my outward  performance but my inward heart. I’d rather reach toward God than run from sin. I’ll take a God who wants me more than my good works any day. There’s a vast difference between performing for acceptance and performing from acceptance. God has already “accepted” us through Christ’s sacrifice (Ephesians 1:6). Connect with Him. Celebrate His love and acceptance, allowing the power of His purity to flow through you. Then, like Joshua and the Israelites, prepare to move into your glorious future, found through your union with Him. Pray with me: Lord, help us to keep our walk with You simple, resting in Your grace and trusting in Your love. Keep us from striving toward perfection and consecration in our own strength. Remind us of Your desire that we draw near to You, and that from this connection we receive power to walk in holiness and consecration.  We draw near to You now, Father, responding to Your call to qadash ourselves. As we do, fill us with power and purity. Make us more like You in all our ways. We are confident that as we do, Your life will flow through us to others. You will do for us as You did for Israel, working wonders through and for us. In Jesus’ name, we receive this. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will pursue the Lord, drawing near to Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Today’s post was adapted from a chapter in my book The Pleasure of His Company,  published by Baker Books. 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. 6946. Ibid., ref. no. 5139. Ibid., ref. no. 6944.

The Hostages Are Home! Today, we celebrate peace in the Middle East after President Trump and other leaders signed a historic peace agreement. President Trump was in Israel for the release of the hostages, and also made a historic address to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset. With dozens of world leaders in attendance, this significant peace agreement, brokered by President Trump and signed in Egypt, ended two years of fighting in Gaza. Trump said, “This is the day that people across this region and around the world have been working, striving, hoping, and praying for. With the historic agreement we have just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered. Together, we have achieved the impossible. This breakthrough that we’re here to celebrate tonight is more than the end of the war in Gaza; with God’s help, it’ll be the new beginning for an entire beautiful Middle East. All the momentum now is toward a great, glorious, and lasting peace, and our commitment to fulfilling the 20-point plan we developed together will be the crucial foundation for achieving that bright future.” Trump suggested that the next phase of the plan would be rebuilding from the rubble in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also tirelessly contributed to the negotiations of the peace plan, which took nine months. (1) After 735 days of captivity, Hamas released all of the twenty living Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The remains of four of the twenty-eight deceased hostages were also released, and others are supposed to be coming.  While the excitement over the release of the hostages is palpable, many details of the peace plan remain to be finalized. These include the governance of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas (which they have thus far rejected), and Gaza’s demand for statehood. So far, Israel is saying no to that.  “Mr. Trump’s plan to end the war also stipulates that regional and international partners will work to develop the core of a new Palestinian security force.  Reconstruction will be another major challenge. The World Bank and a postwar plan proposed by Egypt estimate that at least $53 billion will be needed to rebuild the shattered Palestinian territory. Egypt plans to host a future reconstruction conference.” (2) Regardless of the challenges and what happens as they move forward, the progress thus far is enormous. Without President Trump’s efforts, including his savage blow to Iran and his efforts to build bridges in the Middle East, this would have never happened. We must pray that breakthrough continues and peace prevails.  And as we give honor to President Trump for his efforts, we should recall that his efforts have resulted in the ending of eight major conflicts/wars around the world:  Thailand & Cambodia Israel & Iran Rwanda & the Democratic Republic of the Congo India & Pakistan Serbia & Kosovo Egypt & Ethiopia Armenia and Azerbaijan, and now Israel & Hamas President Trump has also completely changed NATO and its 32 members. Each country of Europe and North America was required to share 2% of its annual budget with NATO for the defense of Europe. Most of them have not done so for years, expecting the U.S. to protect them and the American taxpayers to foot the bill. Trump said, “No more.” The percentage was raised to 5% and incredibly, all of the nations are now stepping up to the plate to pay their fair share. Russia and China are now being weakened by the tariffs. Russia is also being weakened by its war with Ukraine, as well as America’s financial pressure. Trump has now agreed to sell some very nasty weapons to the European Union, which they will provide to Ukraine. These weapons will prove devastating to Russia. In short, God is using this man to radically transform the international scene. Pray for him; he is hated by the powers of darkness and those they influence. President Donald Trump will go down in history as the Peacemaker President, probably more than any other. Many are comparing him to Winston Churchill, the statesman and leader, primarily known for leading Britain to victory in World War II.  Our President is also being compared to the Persian King Cyrus. God used this sixth-century king to fulfill His divine purpose and plan for the Jewish nation. We must continue to pray for him and his team, asking God for wisdom and protection. God is using President Trump to bring healing and the beginning of peace to Israel and the Middle East. For this, we are grateful. For months, many have been saying that the Prince of Persia’s hold over the region will be dismantled. This is that. That does not mean, of course, that there is no longer any satanic or demonic influence in the region. But this spirit/principality has been creating chaos, death, and destruction in that region for thousands of years. That influence is being removed and will result in a great, great spiritual harvest. This harvest has already begun, of course, but will increase dramatically. As we give Trump and his team the credit they deserve, don’t forget to thank the Lord, who made it possible, and those whose prayers birthed this in the spirit.  On Monday afternoon, after working on today’s post, I was on a call with several prophetic leaders discussing the peace plan in the Middle East. Some of the themes and words they have been receiving included: Isaiah 19:23-25 is a word for now. It speaks of a highway the Lord creates from Egypt, unifying them with Assyria and Israel.  Isaiah 60 was mentioned, which speaks of the light and glory of the Lord transforming nations, as well as camels and ships bringing the wealth of the nations to serve His cause.  We are on the cusp of an incredible revival and harvest throughout the Middle East. It was strongly emphasized that God loves not only the Jewish people but ALL people in that region. One person prophesied that an incredible revival would come to Gaza.  Also on the call, there was a recurring theme that we must not grow complacent but continue to pray against obstacles, ensuring the enemy is not successful in distracting or wearying the church and thereby altering God’s plans and purposes. (Daniel 7:25) We are living in incredible times that demand our focus, determination, and commitment to the Lord’s plans. We must continue to walk in the anointing of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32), discerning the times and seasons, which enables us to know what to do. God is trusting us with much; we must steward it wisely. Pray with me: Father, we are living in incredible times and are in awe of what You are doing. You are Lord over the nations, and are working to position them for this great coming harvest. We are partnering with You in this, praying not only for our President and his team, but also for harvesters to be raised up and principalities to be pulled down. Father, we rejoice that the hostages were released, and new beginnings in the Middle East have begun. We are excited about what You are doing. The strongholds of darkness are being dismantled, and light is shining. Your glory is coming forth and will shine like the midday sun (Isaiah 60). You love not only the Jews, but the Arab population as well, and came to offer Yourself as a sacrifice for the entire world. Continue to release dreams and visions in that region, and raise up powerful evangelists to preach Your gospel. Send evangelists to Gaza, just as You sent Phillip into that region, on the road “to Gaza” in Acts 8:26. And we bind every attempt of the enemy to weaken the church, to distract the intercessors, and thereby alter the times and seasons. We declare that this will not occur. All of this we pray in the all-powerful name and authority of Jesus. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that we will not miss this time of visitation (Luke 19:44), and the harvest God has planned for our day will not be stolen. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-celebrates-peace-middle-east-after-signing-gaza-deal-achieved-impossible   https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/israel-hamas-peace-deal-live-updates-hostages-trump-knesset-egypt/

Mega Grace, Mega Power, and Mega Miracles The Communion America gathering in Washington, D.C., was a powerful time. I am confident it brought pleasure to the Father, allowing Him to release mercy over our nation, a mercy that will increase the momentum of revival here and around the world. God loves to grant mercy. Thank you for participating; I know some of you were there in person, and others joined online. You are part of the Ekklesia and army God has raised up to partner with Him, and your participation in events such as this is truly significant.  Today, I want to mention another important meeting taking place this upcoming Friday night. I will give you specifics at the end of the post. First, consider the following thoughts regarding a small but powerful word. The English word “mega” comes from the Greek word megas , the word for “great.” Megas  means “great, the highest level of rank, excellence, or importance; greatly surpassing others of its kind.” (1)  Our English version, “mega,” was first coined and used, so far as is known, in 1968. (2)  There can be megas intelligence, idiocy, wealth, peace, pain, fame - almost anything. There is also a different form of this Greek word megistos, which means “ exceedingly great.” It’s one thing to be mega, another thing to be exceedingly mega!  The New Testament uses the word megas  numerous times, referring to various subjects. I find it interesting and appropriate that it only uses megistos  once, when speaking of God’s amazing promises:  “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”  (2 Peter 1:4). How about that: exceedingly mega promises! Apostle Paul spoke of a megas  door for effective ministry being opened to him in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:9). He added that there were also many adversaries, but regardless, he was going to remain there for a season: the megas  door was greater and more important than potential problems. Was it ever! Read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and thank him for going through the door.  The Scriptures also speak of megas  wonders and miracles:  “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people”  (Acts 6:8). Evidently, there are miracles, and then there are great miracles. Perhaps healing a broken bone would be a miracle; creating one would be a mega-miracle. Walking on water would qualify as a mega-miracle! As would raising the dead! The healing of the lame man at the Gate Beautiful in Acts 3 would certainly be a mega-miracle.  Deacon Philip was used to bring healing to “many” lame and paralyzed people in Samaria (Acts 8:7). These would certainly be mega-miracles, and verse 8 tells us they produced “ megas  joy.” I imagine so! That may be a megas  understatement!  The megas  miracles in Acts were caused by “ megas  power” and “ megas  grace.” “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all”  (Acts 4:33). My belief is that the mega-grace released the mega-power. Grace is undeserved favor, mercy, provision, and ability. We don’t deserve God’s kindness based on our own righteousness and works; it is a gift to us through Christ. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ. The church in Acts had identified with Christ. His blood from the Mercy Seat of heaven had cleansed them and imparted God’s very own righteousness to them. They now had continual access to His “all-sufficient” grace, releasing God’s power and causing them to “abound (excel) in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Mega-grace releases mega-power.  Several leaders, including me, will be hosting another Healing Summit  this week, Friday night, October 17, in Middletown, Ohio. We are asking God for and expecting a  megas  door to open, a door of megas  grace, producing megas  power and megas  miracles, resulting in megas joy. We are basing this faith on His “exceeding great” promises.  If you can’t attend, join us online . Many churches will actually participate in this way, worshipping with us, listening to our exhortations, and then praying for people themselves as we begin to do so. We love this, believing that the purpose of the summits is not only to pray for people, but to pray for a release of signs and wonders EVERYWHERE. We are not promoting our ministries, but Christ’s. Signs and wonders that point to Him  will accompany the great revival that has begun.  I’m sure most of you know that Christ is not Jesus’ last name. The word means “the anointed one.” He is “Jesus, the Anointed One.” And by God’s grace, the Anointed One has anointed all of us with the same power-producing oil of Holy Spirit with which He was anointed. Please pray and believe with us that this oil flows on Friday night to heal the sick and diseased. Let’s ask for this now.  Pray with me: Father, You tell us in Your Word that signs and wonders will accompany the preaching of the gospel (Mark 16:15-20). Although there has been a lull in this over the past few decades, at least in America, we believe the atmosphere is pregnant once again with Your miraculous power. You told us to ask for the release of this power (Zechariah 10:1), therefore, we are doing so. We ask that You send the rain of miracles throughout the world, miracles of such magnitude that people are awakened to the reality of who Jesus is. Our hearts are moved, Father, over the suffering of people. Use believers everywhere to bring healing and deliverance to others. Release the gifts of Your Spirit to perform megas miracles and deliverances. Increase revelation and faith among believers, enabling them to believe for this, and stretch forth Your hand to heal.  Use this service in Ohio to increase signs and wonders throughout the earth. Cause it to be an “intercessory” meeting, through which gifts of Holy Spirit are released to the body of Christ. And we ask that Your power be present to heal on that night, that great signs and wonders be done in the name of Jesus. Use this gathering and the miracles produced to bring great glory to Him. And in His name we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that great grace, great power, and great miracles are increasing in the earth. To learn more about the upcoming Healing Summit in Middletown, Ohio, Friday, October 17, visit OasisWired.org . Click on the link below to watch the full video. Merriam-Webster.com   Ibid.