A Prophetic Word for 2026

In early December 2025, I began asking God for a prophetic word for 2026. I didn't hear anything all month. Then around 1:00 AM on 1/1/2926, as I was going to bed, I felt like the Lord was saying, "Reset." 

I listened for more and He said, "Some things are going to reset this year."

Finally, there was my word for the year!

It is a general prophetic word, not strictly a personal one. The word may touch anyone and any sphere. I didn't have any indication whether the coming resets would be good or bad. However, God's character is  such that he desires good outcomes. As such, a reset usually leads to a good outcome, at least by degrees insofar as the people in the relevant sphere cooperate with God and that which is good. Good begets good outcomes; bad begets bad outcomes. Yes, God will use what is meant for bad and turn it into good, but still calls for cooperation with Him to that end. That is why the people of God need to pray and intercede and contend for every reset in every sphere. You may not be in a sphere, but your prayers are powerful. At the same time your actions are also powerful. Be bold and courageous as the Lion of Judah roaring on the inside of you. Let your light shine before all men, the Lord is at hand!

It hasn't taken long for some resets to show themselves. A cursory glance at recent news headlines reveals several major resets in progress. I do want to point out that this year is a Jubilee year for America. At 250 years old on July 4th, this is America's 5th Jubilee year. What things could reset in America in 2026?

The purpose of a prophetic word is to reveal the hidden things to God's people in order to equip them to move forward in alignment with God. Given that, what we can take from this word is that we must keep watch, as a sentry or watchman on the wall, for things that might be resetting and pray and contend for them and the people involved. 

May this word equip you to live from a place of wisdom, understanding, and alignment with God in 2026!

Twenty Four Hours After Charlie Kirk's Assasination

It has taken me a day to even feel like typing this. I am angry and devastated for Charlie Kirk's family, friends, and audiences. I am praying for everyone touched by this tragedy and for America.

This senseless political violence is demonic. 
Enough is enough. What is it going to take for people to wake up to the truth about the political spectrum? Things like today keep happening and people still think it's just an outlier. The fact is that the battle between good and evil has entered the political arena and sides have been revealed for a few years now. And isn't that what you would expect as we approach end times? You don't have to like it. It is just what things have become.
 
Many have been deceived and some demonically controlled to align with evil. It's time for people to wake up, renew their minds to the truth, and align with good in this spiritual battle. And I'll give you a hint, you won't find truth and goodness on the Left. You'll only find deception, lies, perversion, wickedness, and evil on that side. I'm not at all saying the alternative side is perfect and has it all together, but alignments have been made. Choose today to align with truth and goodness. Even if you don't understand how some positions on the alternative side are sound ones, you can still see the overall alignment with truth and goodness. Wake up and renew your mind now.

I would be remiss to not add that the greatest truth of all is the capital-'t' Truth, Jesus Christ. Even if you already know that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, you can most certainly surrender whatever you are holding back and allow Him to be Lord and King over even more of your life. It is Jesus who gives us, through the Holy Spirit, the compass and guidance to know truth and goodness in this dark confusing world. Time to fully and completely  open your heart, mind, and life to Jesus!

"Jesus said [to those who believed in Him], “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 
--John 8:31–32

Keys to Hearing God's Voice

This is the third of three posts about hearing God's voice, the ways God speaks, and keys to hearing God's voice. Be sure to read the first post here and the second post here.

Practically speaking, how do you hear God's voice? Hearing God’s voice is a skill that develops over time through relationship and practice in activated listening and awareness. You have to activate your awareness of God at all times to begin to recognize and listen to His voice. You do this by a strong relationship with God. That means abiding in Christ and walking by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 says, "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Throughout each day, continuously talk with God. Ask Him in each moment for guidance regarding your thoughts, words, and choices. That is what it means to walk by the Spirit. That is practicing the presence of God at all times. That is how you put yourself in position to hear God's voice.

Now, a word about "gratifying the desires of the flesh". This is the opposite of walking by the Spirit. The flesh can be synonymous with our sinful nature and ungodly desires.

The hippies of the Jesus People movement of the 1970s had a saying about this. They would say "Don't flesh out" or "Dude, you've been fleshing out". For example, a Spirit-filled Jesus People hippie who had given up sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll, would decide one night to listen to some of his old music. The next day at the hippie church, he admits to the next hippie, "Man, I fleshed out on some Stones last night". He'd say, "Man, it was groovy, but I shouldn't have!"

The reason he shouldn't have is because there are absolutely things that will suppress and drown out the Holy Spirit and the fruit of and the voice of the Spirit. When you flesh out and gratify the desires of the flesh, you pollute your soul. That makes it hard to walk by the Spirit, to bear the fruit of the Spirit, and hear His voice.

I'm going to say it right now, some of you have been fleshing out. It might be music, TV, Netflix, too much food: gluttony, laziness, or any number of other things. Whatever it is, I'm telling you right now to quit fleshing out. It will keep you from walking by the Spirit, bearing fruit, and hearing His voice.

I'm going to say it another way. Be careful what you let into your gates. You have an ear gate, an eye gate, a mouth gate, and even a sexual gate. That is one reason why the apostle Paul warned so strongly to flee sexual immorality. Letting the wrong things into your gates allows negative spiritual reprecusions. It can even allow unclean spirits and demons into your life to tempt, torment, and oppress you. Guard your gates. Don't let anything into your gates that will gratify the desires of the flesh, pollute your soul, and keep you from walking by the Spirit with fruit and hearing God's voice.

If you want to hear God's voice, here are a number of keys:

1. Know God will speak.

God is always speaking, we're just not always listening. While authorship of the Scriptures has ceased, understand that the revelatory experiences that biblical figures such as Abraham, Isaiah, Peter, and Paul had are still available to believers today. God’s revelatory activity did not cease with the early church. The Scriptures are set in stone, but God still speaks into our lives. Listen.

2. Prayer, fasting, worship, and Scripture reading.

Stay regular in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, worship, and Scripture reading-- and also consider prayer journaling. These spiritual disciplines are part of what entail abiding in Christ, as mentioned earlier. This will help you stay close to God and get on His 'frequency' so to speak. This will also help you learn to recognize the 'language of the Spirit'.

3. Don't try too hard to hear something.

This may seem paradoxical, but God is a God of paradox. That God, the Creator, Savior, Lord, and King died on a cross for the sins of humanity is the paradox of all paradoxy. Case in point, when we try too hard to hear something from Him, we usually don't hear anything. I don't know why this is, but somehow trying too hard o hear something messes with our ability to hear Him. Rest assured He is still speaking. Instead, be listening and aware of His presence by walking by the Spirit, as we talked about earlier. In this way, we often hear God clearly as we go about our daily lives, whether we're praying, reading Scripture, or driving our car. Practice the presence of God and listen throughout your day and you will hear Him better than if you impatienty stain to hear something right now.

4. Embrace the silence.

There's so much noise in our lives. Chatter, clatter, thoughts, TV, tunes, and loons all constantly clamoring for our attention. If you want to grow in hearing God's voice, you need to learn to embrace silence. We were never meant to live in the midst of so much noise. It's overkill and drowns out the voice of God. Embrace and, as I always say, listen to the silence.

Someone will say, "How? I can't get a moments peace." Well, that is one reason many men and women of God throughout history and today have gotten up early in the morning-- before anyone else-- and spent time with God in a quiet place without disturbance. Some other tips to help you are to turn off the music, TV, and video games and, at all times, be careful who or what content you let through your gates. This will lead to more moments of silence and clarity where you can listen to God.

5. Surround yourself with men and women of God.

This includes as friends, mentors, and a Spirit-filled fellowship where God's presence is tangible. We become like who we spend time with. You need men and women of God to influence you, support you, and speak into your life. They will help you hear God accurately through accountability, wisdom, and layering.

6. Test what you hear.

Since you and me hearing God's voice is extra-biblical revelation, it means discerning between God’s voice, our own thoughts, and e enemy. Therefore, test all voices, words, impressions, thoughts, or images against the Scriptures and humbly seek confirmation and layering through other men and women of God. Pay attention to the fruit of the message—does it bring peace, align with God’s character, and bring you closer to God? If you are wondering if you've heard God's voice, test it.

7. Obey.

If God tells you to do something, obey. Jesus said those who were faithful would be given more.

BONUS: The baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit if you haven't already received it. Although all who have received Jesus can begin to hear God's voice without it, the baptism in the Holy Spirit does greatly enhance your hearing and recognization of God's voice.

Prayer

All that is left now if for us to pray and ask God to help us grow in hearing God's voice.

Growing in hearing God's voice is a process. It has taken me years to learn to recognize His voice, interpret my dreams and more. I did not share about my journey. But growing in hearing and recognizing God's voice is like growing in your relationship with God-- it's a process that takes time. Be paient and persevere. Be in it for the long run.

Pray that God will open our spiritual ears and eyes to what He is saying to us. We want to know His voice and follow Him.

And if you are well on your journey of hearing His voice, then lean into that. Ask Him what He's saying, thank Him and ask to grow closer to Him and go deeper with Him and knowing His voice moment by moment.

Pray with me:

Father, thank you that you love to speak to us. I want to hear you clearly moment by moment every day. I want to know you, to follow you, and to be guided by you. Help me to abide and to walk by the Spirit. Jesus, baptize me in the Holy Spirit with tongues of fire and power. Yes, Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit to overflowing. Help me to guard my gates. May I test all things by the Scripture. May I surround ourselves with men and women of God who will help mentor and guide me in discerning Your voice. Give me dreams, visions, and prophecies in these last days. Show me. Lord, the language of the Spirit. Yes, Lord, open my spiritual eyes and ears. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The Ways God Speaks

This is the second of three posts about hearing God's voice, the ways God speaks, and keys to hearing God's voice. Be sure to read the first post here. 

How does God speak to us? There are a number of ways God speaks. One thing to note, though, is that it is the Holy Spirit that speaks to us through the unique 'language of the Spirit'. The language of the Spirit can be direct and plainly stated or it can be indirect with symbols and numbers.  

Here are the ways God speaks to us:

1. Scripture

The Bible is the foundational and most reliable way God communicates. All other revelations are to be tested against Scripture. God will speak to you as you read Scripture by highlighting words, phrases, or verses, and helping interpret and understand what you read.

Examples: 

• 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

2. Inner witness

A sense of peace, conviction, or a deep knowing within the believer.

Example: 

• Romans 8:16 - The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

3. Thoughts and impressions

God can speak through spontaneous ideas or promptings that are not our own and that align with God’s character and Word. 

Example: 

• 1 Kings 19:12 - After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  

4. Dreams and visions

God can speak through supernatural experiences that may provide guidance, encouragement, or prophetic insight. 

Dreams occur when you are asleep. Visions occur when you are awake. In both cases, it does not matter whether your eyes are open or shut. What distinguishes the two is whether you are asleep or awake. Dreams: asleep. Visions: awake. You can have open-eye visions and closed-eye visions, in both you are awake. 

Examples: 

• Joel 2:28 - “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 

•  Acts 2:17 - “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 
•  Acts 16:9–10 - 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 

5. Prophecy

Prophecies are words spoken under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, often within the context of church gatherings. This includes instances where tongues are interpreted, which becomes equivalent to prophecy because it is the Holy Spirit speaking and then interpreting Himself through someone. 

Examples: 

• 1 Corinthians 14:1–3 - 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
•  1 Corinthians 14:27–28 - 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. 

6. Events, circumstances, and signs

God may use events, people, or situations to speak to and guide us. This can include, both, personal and public happenings.

Examples: 

• Jeremiah 18:1–6 - 1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. 
•  Hosea 1:2–9 - 2 When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.” 6 Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. 7 Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the LORD their God, will save them.” 8 After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. 9 Then the LORD said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God. 
•  Acts 16:6–7 - 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 
•  Revelation 3:7–8 - 7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 

7. Audible voice

This is rare, but some have heard God speak audibly. Don't count on this happening, it is a sovereign act of God. 

Examples: 

• 1 Samuel 3:4–11 - 4 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 
•  Acts 9:4–7 - 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 

As you can see, God speaks in a variety of ways and has a unique language that He speaks through. Growing in recognizing His voice and understanding His language takes time.

In the next post, we will look at keys to hearing God's voice.

Hearing God's Voice

Hearing God’s voice is considered a central and expected part of Christian life. It is rooted in both Scripture and contemporary spiritual experience. This is the first of three posts about hearing God's voice, the ways God speaks, and keys to hearing God's voice.

Why is hearing God's voice important?

Have you ever had a close relationship with someone you didn't talk to? That would be very, very rare. Such a person would probably be mute. Even then, they would probably find other ways to communicate-- signs, writing, pictures, technology, or tactile signs. But to have a close relationship without communication? It's silly to think we can have a close relationship with God and be out of communication with Him! Most of us pray and talk to God, but how many of us actually listen and hear Him talk to us?

Wait, but why is hearing Him talk to us important? Isn't our talking to Him sufficient?

No, it is not and that question misses the point of, both, having a relationship with God and the purpose of prayer.

First, a relationship is a two way street. Jesus said He does only what He sees the Father doing (John 5:19). His 'seeing' what the Father is doing is akin to 'hearing' God's voice. Jesus had a perfect relationship with God-- He is God in human form-- and He heard God perfectly. Jesus is the standard.

When we spend time with someone, we become more like them. When we watch someone, we can begin to emulate them and what they do. And when we listen to someone, we begin to know and understand them better, including what they want and expect from us.

Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me". Hearing His voice helps us follow His lead.

And the purpose of prayer? Prayer is not about us changing God, it is about God changing us and this dark, broken, confusing world we live in. Thus, God speaks to us in order to change us and guide us through this dark, broken, confusing world and to grow us and, by extension, His Kingdom through us.

So you see, God is not mute, nor is He laying incapacitated on a hospital bed. He is speaking and He speaks in a number of different ways.

In the next post, we'll look at the ways God speaks. After that we will explore keys to hearing God's voice.

 

Dreams of Riots

By now, everyone knows what is going on. The rich elites on the political left have organized and funded violent riots across the country. The riots in LA last weekend were the most notable, but there have been others and there are many more planned. 

Last month, I had a dream where I was in a car with some family. We were on a busy boulevard and stopped at an intersection. At the intersection was a sea of people as far as the next intersection. They were walking in neat rows about six feet apart and covered the width of the boulevard from sidewalk to sidewalk. They were walking past us yelling, chanting, and cussing threats and slogans. They had various objects in their hands. I could see hate and derangement on their faces. It was volatile and dangerous. We could not drive away from the midst of all those people.  Finally, after an agonizing amount of time, the last row of people passed us and there stood one lone person with a bullhorn. He instructed everyone to stop and led them in some chants and such. I heard the Holy Spirit say, "It's organized." or "It's being organized.", I can't remember which. I had the understanding that they would be violent and destructive at any moment, but they would also do it in such an organized, professional way so as to evade arrest as long as possible while trying to provoke law  enforcement into overreach. I also knew it would be a terrible thing to get ensnared by their destruction. Fortunately, the last row of people had passed us and I said to the driver, "Go! Go! Go!" and we sped away. When I woke up, I knew the dream was from God.

A month later, on the morning before the LA  riots started, I had a dream where I was in front of my mailbox when a long procession of vehicles began rolling past. They were beat up, used vehicles of every kind-- buses, vans, cars, even a tow truck, etc. They were moving slowly like a funeral procession. At first I thought it was some atheist's weird idea of a funeral (a la The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster), but then I heard the Holy Spirit say, "They are mobilizing." and I began to understand what the dream was about. I was given the understanding that they were going downtown to protest violently and wreck things up. This was also shown to me when the last car in the procession lagged behind while cutting donuts in people's yards and knocking over trash cans. When I woke up, I knew this dream was from God and it's fulfillment was immediate, but I had no idea it would begin within hours. 

Since November 2024, I have had about a dozen dreams like these. They involved carjackings, kidnappings, and home break-ins. All of them have given me the same understanding from the Holy Spirit: organized political violence is afoot. 

While the violence and destruction shows itself as politically motivated, that is only a masquerade. Behind the political agenda is Satan. It's long past time for everyone to understand that the day when politics was just benign  politics are over. Satan has entered the political arena. It's not even about politics anymore. It's about good and evil; truth and lies; God's ways and Satan's ways. That is why God would give me and others dreams,  visions, and prophecies that seem to touch on politics and current events. The dreams, visions, and prophecies are not about politics, they are about warning and guiding the Church in how to pray and navigate the spiritual realm. It's about Jesus shepherding His flock. 

The takeaways from these dreams are that Satan has plans for violence and mayhem in this country in order to try to destabilize, divide, and overthrow this country and God is warning the Church, not just to protect, but to call her to prayer against the evil schemes of the enemy.  How we respond will determine what comes from all of this. 

Pray for the cities, states, and the nation during this time. Pray that law enforcement, troops, and government officials would  be protected and will make wise decisions. Pray for the safety of innocent citizens-- bystanders, drivers, businesses, and homeowners.  Pray for the schemes of Satan to be null, void, and defeated in Jesus' name. Declare and decree it. Pray for the preservation of this country. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything He wants you to pray. Ultimately, pray for God to have His way and will done in all of this!

Churches, Clergy, and Sexual Abuse: Prevention and Response

Over the past few decades, churches have faced a troubling number of sexual abuse scandals. Statistics indicate that 14% of pastors admit to inappropriate physical relationships—a portion of which constitutes sexual abuse. These numbers don’t account for volunteers and laypersons, making the issue even more urgent. Preventing these violations of trust within the Church requires both practical safeguards and spiritual vigilance.

Sexual abuse in church—whether targeting adults or minors—is a grave betrayal of trust. Effective prevention calls for legal awareness, ethical conduct, and alignment with biblical principles. This article outlines concrete steps churches can take to protect congregants, uphold integrity, and embody the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

As noted, sexual abuse in religious settings often exploits spiritual authority and relational trust. Offenders may groom victims through pastoral counseling, mentorship, or misuse of theological concepts. Some clergy have even twisted spiritual gifts—such as prophecy—to manipulate victims. It’s essential to differentiate between the authentic use of spiritual gifts and their misuse. Churches should train members in sound prophetic principles and establish oversight teams to evaluate prophetic messages, ensuring alignment with Scripture.

To reduce misuse of spiritual authority, churches should implement shared leadership models that promote accountability. Teach that leadership exists to serve, not to control (Mark 10:42-45). Encourage members to question authoritarian behavior.

Administratively, in order to prevent these breaches in trust and integrity, churches and clergy must take proactive steps to circumvent the risks.

First, the church governance structure makes a significant difference in preventing and resolving sexual abuse. Churches with an autocratic governance structure are more vulnerable to leadership abuses. Autocratic leadership can frame opposition as rebellion. Involve lay leaders in governance to reduce pastoral autocracy. Shared leadership promotes accountability. Baylor University’s research emphasizes that shared leadership curbs abuse opportunities.

Second, all clergy on staff and all volunteers must go through a nationwide criminal background check, renewing the process every 1–3 years, before they can be employed with the church or utilized as a volunteer. This should be mandatory. Furthermore, staff and volunteers should go through careful interviews, reference checks, and social media reviews before being employed or enlisted.

Third, churches and their clergy and volunteers should undergo abuse prevention training. Such programs should teach recognition of grooming techniques and red flags in relationships, boundary-setting methods, appropriate use of spiritual authority, and reporting protocols. Two examples of such training programs are MinistrySafe and Darkness to Light.

Fourth, the church and the individual clergy should establish policies that circumvent abuse-prone situations and that remedy abuse when it does happen. For example, churches can apply any or all of the following:

• Open Door Policy: Ensure doors remain open when meeting with a minor or an individual of the opposite gender.
• Glass Room Policy: If confidentiality is needed, ensure a one-on-one meeting with a minor or an individual of the opposite gender is in a room with an unobstructed glass window and/or door and is in view of those outside the room.
•  Camera Policy: If confidentiality is needed, ensure a one-on-one meeting with a minor or an individual of the opposite gender is in a room with a camera. The audio input into the camera can be turned off, but the video input should never be turned off or obstructed. Furthermore, the video should be accessible to a large group of the church or organization's leaders, including the staff and the board. The video should not be able to be deleted easily.
• Two Adult Policy: Ensure no adult is alone with a minor or an individual of the opposite gender.

These policies should apply to all situations with minors and individuals of the opposite gender, including but not limited to: counseling sessions, small onsite meetings, offsite visits, and digital communications.

Even if the situation is circumvented with one or more of the aforementioned policies, pastors should not provide long-term counseling to minors or individuals of the opposite gender. In such cases, after a short period, refer counselees to licensed Christian professionals to avoid potentially compromising relationships.

One consideration for churches and clergy that involves not only administrative considerations but also spiritual implications is the effects of the use of pornography. Pornography use is a destructive cancer and a breach in the integrity of the individual and the church. Statistics show that 38% of clergy struggle with pornography. Pornography is a 'gateway drug' to more serious forms of sexual immorality, including sexual abuse. It would be wise to address pornography use with clergy, employees, volunteers, and the laypersons of the church. This can be done through a code of conduct policy and agreement, training, internet filters, accountability software, special seminars, and sermons.

Speaking of policies, what should be done when clergy become aware of accusations or admissions of sexual abuse?

This can sometimes be a difficult topic, depending on the situation and the relevant state laws. For example, if a state does not mandate reporting of suspected child sexual abuse, and a member of the clergy becomes aware of the suspicion during a counseling session with the suspected abuser, does the member of the clergy immediately report the suspected abuse, or does he/she honor clergy-penitent privileges (confidentiality)? The answer is not always clear. The course a church or clergy member chooses to take in the event of sexual abuse suspicions, accusations, or admission will have an array of consequences, including possible legal liabilities, the safety of the one(s) being abused, and the care of the soul of the abusive penitent-counselee. With that understood, what follows will provide some guidelines for navigating these situations.

In cases of sexual abuse accusations, churches and clergy should make the immediate reporting of sexual abuse to civil authorities. If a clergy member, employee, or volunteer is the accused, they must immediately be suspended until a thorough investigation can be completed. Never rely on internal investigations alone, as they can be easily manipulated. Utilize an external investigation. In selecting external investigators, avoid investigators who are hostile as well as those with conflicts of interest. In reporting and handling cases of abuse, do not prioritize an institution or organization over the victims.

In cases of suspected child abuse, a clergy member's obligations vary by state. This is largely due to the state's invested interest in the preservation of trust in the clergy and clergy-penitent privileges. The state and the courts have long viewed religion as a benefit to society and the clergy as essential to religion. Therefore, the state and the courts have afforded the clergy certain privileges to protect their role. While all 50 U.S. states require certain professionals, such as teachers and healthcare workers, to report suspected child abuse, the obligation of clergy varies by state. 

Currently, in 28 states, clergy are classified as mandatory reporters, requiring them to disclose abuse even if learned during confidential counseling sessions. These states have overridden clergy-penitent privileges in favor of the protection of the abused. Failure to report in mandatory reporting states can result in misdemeanor charges, fines, or civil liability. 

On the other hand, 22 states permit but do not mandate clergy to report abuse disclosed in privileged clergy-penitent communications. These states preserve the clergy-penitent privileges but protect clergy from liability if their discretion leads them to report suspected abuse from within those confidential communications. 

However, in some states, these confidentiality protections in state statutes can often clash with reporting duties. For example, the minister’s state mandates reporting but also recognizes clergy-penitent confidentiality. In such cases, prioritize the child’s safety. Understand that the adult abuser always has more options than the child victim. When laws conflict, consult an attorney, but err on the side of reporting the abuse. In reviewing your state’s reporting laws, Child Welfare Information Gateway’s database is helpful.

For churches and clergy, it is important to understand all potential liabilities in situations involving sexual abuse. Understanding these potential liabilities helps increase situational awareness and the minimization of liabilities, thus preventing cases of abuse. The following are some other potential liabilities:

• Breach of Fiduciary Duty: Along with clergy-penitent relationships, courts may deem clergy-counselee relationships fiduciary if the minister positions themselves as a counselor. Sexual exploitation in such contexts can lead to lawsuits for:
• Malpractice: Failing to meet professional care standards (e.g., initiating a sexual relationship during counseling).
• Emotional distress: Reckless conduct causing severe psychological harm.

In order to prevent liability for breach of fiduciary duty, malpractice and/or emotional distress, refer long-term counseling cases to licensed professionals and avoid dual roles (e.g., pastor and therapist) to reduce exploitation risks.

• Sexual Harassment: Ministers overseeing staff or volunteers must prevent a harassing work environments. Defining sexual harassment can be broken down into two aspects:
•  Quid pro quo: Conditioning employment benefits on sexual favors.
•  Hostile environment: Pervasive sexual jokes, comments, or imagery.

Preventing liability for sexual harassment means implementing a code of conduct policy and agreement for clergy, employees, and volunteers, including a zero-tolerance harassment policy and training clergy, employees, and volunteers in Title VII compliance as well as principles of biblical and Spirit-filled conduct.

Prevention is not merely training, policy, and procedure. Ultimately, prevention flows from cultivating in our hearts and minds the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit makes doing the right thing effortless. The apostle Paul enumerates the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). For example, self-control enables one to resist immoral urges and to be disciplined in doing what is right. Faithfulness enables one to be true to the trust others put in them. A heart of love and kindness enables one to view others through the lens of compassion, care, and consideration rather than through the lens of lustful, manipulative, and selfish gain.

To cultivate-- or grow-- the fruit of the Holy Spirit, there are multiple keys to consider. First, abide in Christ and walk by the Spirit. To abide means to stay or remain in or with; to stay connected to.  John 15:4-5 says, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing". One abides in Christ by an ongoing relationship with and dependence on Him through faith, prayer, and obedience. Whereas Jesus is God in human form who died, rose again, and ascended to heaven to await a future triumphant return, in the meantime, He sent us His Spirit to transform, guide, comfort, and empower those who believe and surrender to Him. Therefore, we don't cultivate the fruit of the Holy Spirit by trying harder, but by yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us. Invite the Holy Spirit to work in you daily, asking for transformation in specific areas of your life. Throughout each day, continuously talk with God. Ask Him in each moment for guidance regarding your thoughts, words, and choices. That is what it means to walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 says, "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." 

It is essential to supplement the work of the Holy Spirit in your life through spiritual practices such as Scripture reading, fasting, solitude, and worship. Without these spiritual practices, your faith will starve and your relationship with God will suffer. Without faith and a relationship with God, the Holy Spirit cannot work freely in and produce the fruit of the Spirit in you. 

Another obstacle to the fruit of the Spirit is unrepentant sin. Repentance removes the sinful obstacle and allows the Holy Spirit to refine your character and replace sinful habits with godly virtues. Examine yourself and repent regularly, and in particular, as soon as you become aware of sins in your life. Repentance keeps an open connection with God, which is essential for effective prayers and growth, including growth in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

All of this is what entails abiding in Christ and walking by the Spirit.

Secondly, surround yourself with a Spirit-filled faith community that encourages accountability and growth. Through Christ, God has given us a spiritual family and called you to participate in that family. God often uses other people to foster growth in us. Just as iron sharpens iron, men sharpen men (Proverbs 27:17). Conversely, in a faith community, you have the opportunity to exercise your gifts and the fruit of the Spirit in you by serving others and fostering their growth. In part, this is what churches are for.

Finally, be patient and understand that cultivating the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life is a process. Persevere and understand that it's not about perfection, but growth. As long as you intentionally abide in Christ and walk by the Spirit in a Spirit- filled faith community, you will grow in the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Again, cultivating the fruit of the Holy Spirit will aid clergy and church people in turning away from fleshly desires such as spiritual and sexual abuse. 

In conclusion, addressing clergy sexual abuse requires a comprehensive approach rooted in both spiritual integrity and legal wisdom. Churches must move beyond reactive damage control and embrace proactive governance, training, accountability structures, and Christ-centered transformation. By doing so, we not only prevent harm but create faith communities where trust, healing, and holiness can thrive.

Dear Restless Heart

The following poem is by Edith Willis Linn.
This poem appears in various devotional contexts and has been shared in Christian communities as a source of encouragement for those experiencing doubt, worry, or restlessness in their faith.

Dear restless heart, be still; don’t fret and worry so;
God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;
Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know.

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God’s own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.

Dear restless heart, be brave; don’t moan and sorrow so,
He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;
Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.

Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour,
His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;
Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.

Dear restless heart, be still! Don’t struggle to be free;
God’s life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;
Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.

Notes from Recent Night Watches

 Lately, I've been prompted by the Holy Spirit to pray and worship more often. It happens at all hours, but I've found myself praying and worshipping at night frequently. I've never done so many midnight watches. Sometimes I go into the midnight watch intentionally and sometimes I am awakened by the Holy Spirit and prompted to pray and other times I have trouble going back to sleep and then realize the Holy Spirit is saying to pray and worship. For those of you who find yourself sleepless, this is often something you need to be doing. The presence of God is pure joy and comfort and rest.

There are many things I pray. With that said, I want to share a couple of things that the Holy Spirit has led me to pray.

I pray for my community, state, region, and nation. I am led to pray for revival and awakening to sweep through. I believe God wants to do one last sweep through every nation before Jesus comes for His people. I see the beginnings of that even now. We must pray it through to realization and completion and not sit back in complacency. People's eternal destinies are at stake.

I am also moved to pray for the upcoming election and electoral process in the USA. I pray for electoral integrity. I ask God to expose and thwart electoral fraud. I pray the electoral process will be true to the will of the people. I pray for the protection of candidates, then the elected, their families, those surrounding them, and their supporters. I ask God to defeat all the spells, curses, plans and schemes of darkness, evil, corrupt, and wicked spirits and people-- that they will fall in their own trap, fall on their own sword, have their bows and arrows broken and their shields shattered. It may be a long, trying, chaotic, and/or violent process, but I ask God to have His way in the election and electoral process. I pray that God will make America great and healthy again.

And I ask Jesus to have His way in everything and I proclaim His lordship and kingship over all things and in all things. And then I just worship Him as Creator, Savior, Lord, and King. Hallelujah!

Join me in praying these things. Join me in the night watch. Join me at all hours. God wants to partner with you too!

 

My Name Is Nicky Cruz

My name is Nicky Cruz. I was born into a family bound by witchcraft. My father was a satanic priest, my mother was a witch. My parents were deeply immersed in shamanism and black magic.
When I was born, I was raised and dedicated to Satan, my head was anointed with blood. I inherited my father's mantle, so it became a curse on my life.

When I was a child, I never got a single kiss from my mother, nor did I kiss her. I felt like I died when I was eight years old when i heard my mother say she didn't love me. I felt no affection and I got brutally beat up multiple times until I was eight. Many times I lay unconscious in a pool of blood. At the age of 4, I wanted to kill myself. You know when your mom calls you "freak", "bastard" it really hurts. I eventually realized she didn't love me and I hated her because of it. I screamed with a broken heart that I would rather be called a "nothing" than to be called her son. The last time she slapped me I was 8 years old, I swore I would never love anyone and cry again in my life.

At the age of fifteen I ended up in New York in the Mau Mau gang named after a blood thirsty African tribe. The gang became my "family" that I never had. A family of hooligans who draw their strength from each other and look out for each other. New York is a city where you have to have eyes in your neck. It was all about survival. You had to abide by the laws of the jungle. And the beast doesn't know the difference between good and evil. The beast must be killed to survive.

I could always remember my mother's voice grabbing my hair and smashing my head against the wall so blood would flow. I tried to look into her eyes like fireballs to see something human but all I saw was coldness and hate. And I heard "You're not my son, I don't love you! Get out of my life, I don't want to see you!". Being in that gang I knew I was gonna die young, but in my life I was already dead. I died when I was eight years old when my mother said she didn't love me.

At 16, I led that gang myself in New York. I fell into the depths of hell, thought about suicide many times.
When the police arrested me, I was isolated from all the other prisoners because I was dangerous. The court ordered me to see a psychiatrist.

Finally, I met Dr. Goodman. He took me to one of the worst hospitals ever, a very famous hospital for crazy people. Then he took me to another psychiatric clinic in Manhattan. Six months later, when we were walking with him on the street, he directly told me, "You're just cold! I tried to infiltrate you, punch you in the chest to get some kind of emotional response. But you're completely lifeless, you're very dangerous!”. And he said, “There ain’t nothing I can do for you Nicky! You go straight to jail to the electric chair. F*** you! And there is no hope for you. You are dead!”

But by the grace of God these words did not come to pass. God became my last hope and in my misery He found me.

I never thought about God in my childhood until suddenly this man, Pastor Wilkerson, fell down from heaven into our neighborhood. The police warned him: "They are going to kill you. This jungle, this a battlefield. All we gotta do is come get your body."

Wilkerson answered them with great conviction: "God will be with me."

The police said, "We hope He's going with you because we're not going!"

This man was used by God. When I showed no interest in anyone, God showed interest in me. He put great love in this man's heart and brought him to New York's biggest city with a message of hope.

Just two weeks before this, my psychiatrist said: “Nicky, you’re stepping on the electric chair and you’re going to hell". But Wilkerson said “No he’s not! It's heaven, it's God. It's Jesus Christ who died for your sins, who gave His life for you, just like you're willing to give your life for your friends, gang members, boyfriends and girlfriends.
There is a God who is truly the living God His name we remember. But when one of you dies, no one remembers you, you're not there anymore. But Jesus is always there. He is not dying!"
And this is the most important news David Wilkerson has ever given me.

And I approached him and started hitting him. I would not let him go. He couldn't get rid of me that easy. I cursed him, his God, and everything in this world. Like a wild animal, I jumped on him, grabbed his hair and began banging his head against the wall. Just like my mother did to me.

But this guy, ignoring the pain and blood, said in the middle of the street, in the presence of three hundred witnesses, "Nicky, I'm not scared. I came here to give you the news from heaven. I came to tell you Nicky, that Jesus loves you!"

And when he told me that, I withdrew. I've got my eyes on him. And he said, "If you want, you can kill me. And I know you can. But even if you kill me and cut me into a thousand pieces and scatter them across the street, remember: every piece will scream to you: "Nicky, Jesus loves you!"

This hit me hard. It felt like a stroke in the heart.

Two weeks later I went to listen to this man. I didn't go alone, I brought 70 guys as security to listen to this skinny guy. To my great surprise, two thousand people were already there. Twelve gangs. We came prepared. I came in with a loaded 22 caliber pistol.

And that night I listened for seven minutes, even though I was so restless, high off drugs. Wilkerson told why Jesus came to earth. What really moved me was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The first few minutes seemed boring to me. Seven minutes later, something happened to me that night. I saw Jesus Christ crucified before my eyes, so alive that I thought I was there, and saw Him die. And this has touched me deeply.

I was struck by the perseverance of Jesus. Loyalty to friendship. He, Jesus, friend, the best friend you could ever have. He is not a lying politician who promises a lot and fails to deliver. He promises you eternal life. He promised to die for you and He fulfilled it. And I admire a Jesus like that. It was the first time in my life I felt respect for someone. And this honor brought me to kneel before my Saviour Jesus Christ. Glory be to Jesus!

Today, Nicky Cruz travels the world, ministering and preaching the gospel. The former callous "beast" teaches people about forgiveness and love. He is the founder of the Ministry of Nicky Cruz which helps young people leave a life of crime and turn to Christ and serve Him. Pastor Cruz is also the author of many books, including a bestseller, Run, Baby Run. David Wilkerson was an Assemblies of God minister and the founder of Teen Challenge (now Adult & Teen Challenge) -- the most successful addiction and other life controlling issues rehab program there is. Wilkerson's book, The Cross and the Switchblade, can also be found wherever books are sold.

This article is sourced from social media.

Why Global Missions?

Missions are founded on the
Great Commission, which are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ himself: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20).

At its heart, missions is the sending of persons from an existing congregation to address people of other cultures and places beyond the usual influence of the sending church. The central purpose of the effort is to bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and help them to fervently and completely follow Him.

George Peters gives the following extensive definition of missions:

"Missions is a specialized term. By it I mean the sending forth of authorized persons beyond the borders of the New Testament church and her immediate gospel influence to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in gospel-destitute areas, to win converts from other faiths or non-faiths to Jesus Christ, and to establish functioning, multiplying local congregations who will bear the fruit of Christianity in that community and to that country."

From the Fall of Man until now, God has been on a divine plan and mission to reconcile humankind back into an intimate relationship with Himself that they may live in His presence now and forevermore. Jesus Christ as the Messiah is the crux of that divine plan and mission.

Galatians 4:4–5 says, “When the [appointed]
time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons [of God]."

John 3:16–17 gives us this: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only [divinely begotten] Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

From these and other passages we note that God initiated the process (plan) by sending (mission) His Son, Jesus, with the purpose of redeeming lost humankind back into an intimate relationship with Himself that they may live in His presence now and forevermore. Jesus is the original missionary and the crux of missions.

This brings us back to the Great Commission. Jesus now sends His followers to continue God's divine plan and Jesus' divine mission of reconciling humankind back into a relationship with Himself that they may live in His presence now and forever.

“Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21–23).

How do we continue God's divine plan and Jesus' divine mission? By taking the Good News about Jesus Christ into all the world. Again, the Great Commission is the key command or commission for this concept of missions.

The central purpose of the Great Commission and missions is to win people to Christ and to help disciple them to do the same. The final goal is to get as many as possible from every nation, tribe, and tongue to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

John saw the realization of this final goal in his vision recorded in the book of Revelation in 7:9, "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes...".

Missions is the gathering of those nations, tribes, and tongues. Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Interpreting Jesus' words gives us the principle that mission activity can be anywhere. In
Jesus' words being applied, your Jerusalem is your local community, your Judea is your region, your Samaria is another region of your nation, and the ends of the earth is any other nation. Missions may be among Buddhists in Thailand or Somalis in Minneapolis. In today’s globalized and interconnected world, missions are easier than ever and there is no reason to not be involved in missions.

What can you do for missions?

While not everybody is called to move to the other side of the world on a mission, everybody is called to play a part in God's divine plan and mission. That can mean to do any number of the following:

• Pray
•  Mobilize
•  Give
•  Send 
• Go

Each follower of Jesus Christ should pray and discern what all God is calling him or her to do for God's divine plan and mission. Jesus commanded and commissioned us to do so and the heart of love and servanthood that His presence gives us compels us to do so.

Besides the Great Commission and other commands of Jesus, the burden of missions is far less than the guilt of having neglected others who are lost. This is illustrated in Ezekiel:

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, “O wicked man, you will surely die,” and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. (Ezekiel 33:7–8).

From this passage, we see that God calls His servants to reach lost and wayward people with God's message. Jesus commanded us to do so in the Great Comission. To not do so is to disobey and be held responsible for that disobedience. This and the things we did in fact obediently do for Christ is what we will answer for at the Judgement Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10). But the presence of God in our hearts moves us to obey, because through the filling of the Holy Spirit, we have love for God and love for others (Mk 12:29-31). Indeed, Jesus as God in the flesh said, "If you love me, you will obey my commandments" (Jn 14:15).

In summary, Jesus gave us a command of global missions through the Great Commission and if you love Jesus and the billions of lost and wayward souls on this earth, then it's time to get serious about missions.

 

The Significance of Acts 2:16-21 in 2024

"This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’" --Acts 2:16-21

Since the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 was interpreted by Peter on the Day of Pentecost to mean they were now in the “last days,” how much more is the Lord’s Second Coming at hand 2,000 years later! Indeed, the day is far spent, and night is near. This calls for world evangelization; the gospel must be preached to every creature. Go forth into all the world and speak up with the message of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, saints; there's little time and many lives at stake!

Furthermore, in April, we have a reminder of these things when the total solar eclipse occurs. There is much significance to this eclipse on several levels. It is not just a fun spectacle; it is a serious sign in the heavens from the Creator of the heavens and earth. He has aligned it all perfectly since creation. The times always align with the heavens. They did for Nineveh in the time of the prophet Jonah and they did for the birth of Jesus and you can find that they did all throughout history. The immediate sign of this eclipse is a warning of judgement on America if we do not repent and change our ways. But the wider sign to all the world is as a reminder of the imminience of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

To the saints, it's time to live with purpose and share the message of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus' last words were a command to do so. Encourage one another to live accordingly. Let Jesus find us living in obedience, full of the Holy Spirit, and proclaiming the Good News of repentance and faith in Him when He returns.

To all people, saint and otherwise, let's repent and change our complacency, sin, and sinful lifestyles and put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Love, Power & Truth

The following is a testimony by Steve Harmon.

Two years ago I met a Satanist on Haight/Ashbury in San Francisco where the start of the hippy movement began. God taught me a lot in that experience about how people get set free. It basically works with three components, and it was these three components that Jesus used in His ministry.

So this guy asked me for a cigarette and I told him I don’t smoke. I began a conversation with him. He told me he was an Iraq war vet, in the marines. He’s homeless and apart of the “Occupy Oakland” movement. We talked for about 20 minutes then he told me that he had a torn rotator cuff that needs surgery. I asked him if I could pray for it to make it well. He said, “No, no…I’m a Satanist bro”. He proceeded to tell me all of his beliefs about God and the world. I just listened to him. I then said, “I’m not like other Christians you’ve met. I love people and I see value in you. There’s love in you. There’s a big heart that has been covered and people don’t see it, but I see it.”

He then told me that he has two daughters living in Oakland and that last week he celebrated his 12 year old daughter’s birthday. He gave her a birthday cake which was “hash brownies” (Marijuana laced brownies). She got so excited and was jumping up and down saying  “You’re the best dad in the whole world!”, and he said he started crying when she said that. I actually started crying myself just because the situation was so messed up, but in that, his daughter showed him a form of love and it moved him so much. Up to this point, I just wanted to hold this big guy because he was starving for love.

He told me that he nearly beat a man to death for raping his daughter’s friend. He served 5 years in prison for it. He was pouring out his life to me. I asked him again if I could pray for his shoulder and at this point, he felt more comfortable with me and he said, “Sure”. So I laid my hands on his shoulder under the signal light on the corner and started to command the infirmity to leave. I prophesied as well, then I told him to check out his shoulder. When he moved it, the pain started leaving. I prayed again and it was completely gone. He was swinging his arm and couldn’t get it to hurt. He was shocked because he also had been a shaman and he would heal people, but could never be healed himself.

From this point, I just laid into him the good news of Jesus in a way he had never heard. He was no longer objecting to it. I told him “God has a plan for your life.” He started crying  because his mom used to tell him that when he was once a pastor! His mom told him recently that all the seeds he sowed into people’s lives, (ten or fifteen of them) had gotten off drugs and were walking with God now. He cried telling me all that and said, “Now look at me. I’m homeless and an alcoholic?”

I told Him, “The Lord is still saying ‘yes’ to you,” then I asked if I could pray the Holy Spirit on him. He said “yes”.

I told him, “When I touch you, you’re gonna feel something that cannot be compared to any other drug you’ve had.” I put my hands on him and prayed for fire and love. His eyes were closed and tears were coming down his face.

After I was done, he opened his eyes and said, “That was intense!” We talked more and I just kept pouring the love of God into him. After I was done, God told me to tell him that tonight Jesus was going to visit him in a dream. He said, “Okay!” He told me that 16 years ago was the last time he felt God. I told him “16 years from that day God came and touched you again because He loves you”.

On the corner where rebellion against the establishment was birthed in the 60′s, God showed up in love and in power to tell a prodigal son to come home.

I didn’t engage with him and argue all of his outlandish ideas about Jesus and the Father. I ignored it, changed the subject, and told him about the love that I saw in his heart. I kept hitting that point until he finally softened. He was changed from a hardened Satanist into a sensitive puppy dog. Here’s how it worked:

Love brings down the walls. Power brings validity to truth. Truth sets the person free. When I first met the guy and he found out I was a Christian, he immediately put up a wall to me. My goal was to get the truth into him, but I couldn’t because of that wall. So what did I need?

Love.

Love brings down the walls. It makes the person realize you’re not a threat. Once the wall was down, he let me in and then I could display God’s power through the healing. Once the power was shown to him, when I spoke truth, he was more open to believe it because the miracle testified of the truth. Many people have walls up and it’s because they’ve been hurt. Trying to display God’s power and speaking truth to them can be difficult. Love should be the thing that begins every encounter.

For some people, you’ll have to display love to them for a very long time before you’ll have a chance to display God’s power or speak truth to them. This is because their walls won’t come down easily and until the wall is down and they feel safe with you—there’s no way they will receive the truth. At the same time, you can’t only work in love and expect that everyone will change. Mother Teresa did a lot of loving throughout her life and yet thousands died in her loving arms, scared, depressed and fearful. When love and truth is shown without the power, you can have a person who believes in the existence of a supernatural God, but they have very shallow faith that is shaky and can waver.

The moral of the story is: you need all three.

A Word on Pastors, Christians, and Abortion

If your so-called 'pastor' supports "My body, my choice," and abortion, then take your body elsewhere and choose a church and a pastor that actually teach biblical truth. Don't let false teachers deceive you. In no way does God say abortion is okay. In fact, abortion is a pagan child sacrifice ritual-- particularly to the god Molech who was based in the valley of Hinnom in Caanan. God vehemently warned the Israelites against such practices. That god and others are now called 'choice' and 'reproductive freedom' and 'sexual freedom', but behind those contemporary monikers are the same ancient pagan gods. In no way should a so-called pastor, church, or Christian support abortion.

If you are a woman who has had an abortion, repentance and asking Christ for forgiveness will wash it all away. For there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus-- if you go through Christ Jesus, that is. If you do not go through Christ Jesus, you have unwittingly condemned yourself already. Take your broken heart and life to Jesus. Ask forgiveness, and experience His love and transformation in your life. Then being in Christ, you will never want to have an abortion again. Furthermore, Christians mature in the faith will not condemn you and will love you. Do not fear condemnation, for if Christ does not condemn those who come to Him then neither do we. However, do not mistake exhortation not to sin as condemnation. We will exhort you and one another not to sin just like Christ exhorted others not to sin. Unequivocal but loving exhortation is done out of love for God and for you!

Biblical Identity Declarations

One sure way to move out of our flesh and connect with the Spirit is to speak these Biblical identity declarations over yourself. The more you repeat it the more God’s truth  is hidden in your heart.

I am made in the image of God. Genesis 1:27

I am a new creation in Christ Jesus, my old, sinful self has passed away and my new, righteous self has come. 2 Corinthian 5:17

I am a son/daughter of God. Galatians 3:26

I am not condemned in Christ Jesus, because His Spirit set me free from sin. Romans 8:1-2

I am a chosen people to proclaim the excellencies of God. 1 Peter 2:9

I am joined as one spirit with the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:17

I am at peace with God. Romans 5:1

I have righteousness with God through Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21

I am justified, just as if I never sinned, when I come to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 5:9

Nothing can separate me from God’s love. Romans 8:35-39

I have eternal life through Jesus Christ. Romans 6:23

I am the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19

I have been redeemed. Psalm 103:4

I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:37

40 Indicators of A Spirit-Empowered Disciple

The following is from the Appendix of Alton  Garrison's book A Spirit-Empowered Church: An Acts 2 Ministry Model. All Scriptures are from the NASB.

There has only been one person who loved God with all His heart, soul, and mind and loved His neighbor as Himself, but God wants all of us to keep growing in faith, love, hope, and character. You can use this list of forty indicators as an assessment of strengths and areas that need attention, but always encourage people to see themselves in the process of growth. We will only “arrive” in the new heaven and new earth!

A Spirit-empowered disciple loves the Lord through …

1. Practicing thanksgiving in all things

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving” (Ps. 100:4). “In everything give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:18). “As sorrowful yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:10).

2. Listening to God for direction and discernment

“Speak LORD, Your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:9). “She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word” (Luke 10:39). “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do” (Gen. 18:17)? “His anointing teaches you about all things” (1 John 2:27).

3. Experiencing God as He really is through deepened intimacy with Him

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deut. 6:4). “The LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice” (Isa. 30:18). See also John 14:9.

4. Rejoicing regularly in His identity as “His Beloved”

“His banner over me is love” (Song. 2:4). “To the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6). “He gives to His beloved even in his sleep” (Ps. 127:2).

5. Living with a passionate longing for purity and to please God in all things

“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?… He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Ps. 24:3–4). “Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29). “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15).

6. Consistent practice of self-denial, fasting, and solitude rest

“He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s’ ” (Matt. 16:23). “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.” (Matt. 6:17). “Cease striving and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10).

7. Entering often into Spirit-led praise and worship

“Bless the LORD O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” (Ps. 103:1). “Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling” (Ps. 2:11). “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth …” (Matt. 11:25).

8. Disciplined, bold, and believing prayer

“Pray at all times in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18). “Call to Me and I will answer you …” (Jer. 33:3)). “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.… We know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (1 John 5:14–15).

9. Yielding to the Spirit’s fullness as life in the Spirit brings supernatural intimacy with the Lord, manifestation of divine gifts, and witness of the fruit of the Spirit

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13). “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). See also 1 Peter 4:10 and Romans 12:6.

10. Practicing the presence of the Lord; yielding to the Spirit’s work of Christ-likeness

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after You, O God” (Ps. 42:1).


A Spirit-empowered disciple loves the Word through …

1. Frequently being led by the Spirit into deeper love for the One who wrote the Word

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.… You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:37–39). “I shall delight in Your commands, which I love.” (Ps. 119:47). “The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold … sweeter also than honey” (Ps. 19:9–10).

2. Being a “living epistle” in reverence and awe as His Word becomes real in my life, vocation, and calling

“You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men” (2 Cor. 3:2). “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). “Husbands, love your wives … having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word” (Eph. 5:26). “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord” (Col. 3:23). See also Titus 2:5.

3. Yielding to the Scripture’s protective cautions and transforming power to bring life change in myself

“From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (Ps. 119:104). “May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word” (Ps. 119:9). See also Colossians 3:16–17.

4. Humbly and vulnerably sharing of the Spirit’s transforming work through the Word

“I will speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed” (Ps. 119:46). “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2).

5. Meditating consistently on more and more of the Word hidden in the heart

“Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11). “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer” (Ps. 19:14).

6. Encountering Jesus in the Word for deepened transformation in Christ-likeness

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). See also Luke 24:32; Psalm 119:136; and 2 Corinthians 1:20.

7. A life explained as one of “experiencing Scripture”

“This is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16). “This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me” (Ps. 119:50). “My soul is crushed with longing after Your ordinances at all times” (Ps. 119:20).

8. Living “naturally supernatural” in all of life as His Spirit makes the written Word (logos) the living Word (Rhema)

“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word [Rhema] of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).

9. Living abundantly “in the present” as His Word brings healing to hurt, anger, guilt, fear, and condemnation—which are heart hindrances to life abundant

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). “I shall run the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart” (Ps. 119:32). “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John. 8:32). “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1).

10. Implicit, unwavering trust that His Word will never fail

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isa. 40:8). “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth, it will not return to Me empty” (Isa. 55:11).


A Spirit-empowered disciple loves people through …

1. Living a Spirit-led life of doing good in all of life: relationships and vocation, community and calling

“He went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men” (Luke 6:35). See also Romans 15:2.

2. “Startling people” with loving initiatives to “give first”

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38). “But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing’ ” (Luke 23:34). See also Luke 23:43 and John 19:27.

3. Discerning the relational needs of others with a heart to give of His love

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29). “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). See also Luke 6:30.

4. Seeing people as needing both redemption from sin and intimacy in relationships, addressing both human fallenness and aloneness

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house’ ” (Luke 19:5). See also Mark 8:24 and Genesis 2:18.

5. Ministering His life and love to our nearest ones at home and with family as well as faithful engagement in His body, the church

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). See also 1 Peter 3:1 and Psalm 127:3.

6. Expressing the fruit of the Spirit as a lifestyle and identity

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22–23). “With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; he will be satisfied with the product of his lips” (Prov. 18:20).

7. Expecting and demonstrating the supernatural as His spiritual gifts are made manifest and His grace is at work by His Spirit

“In the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Rom. 15:19). “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also” (John 14:12). See also 1 Corinthians 14:1.

8. Taking courageous initiative as a peacemaker, reconciling relationships along life’s journey

“Live in peace with one another” (1 Thess. 5:13). “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall” (Eph. 2:14). “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16). See also Ephesians 4:31–32.

9. Demonstrating His love to an ever growing network of “others” as He continues to challenge us to love “beyond our comfort zone”

“The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

10. Humbly acknowledging to the Lord, ourselves, and others that it is Jesus in and through us who is loving others at their point of need

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).


A Spirit-empowered disciple loves His mission through …

1. Imparting the gospel and one’s very life in daily activities and relationships, vocation, and community

“Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thess. 2:8–9). See also Ephesians 6:19.

2. Expressing and extending the kingdom of God as compassion, justice, love, and forgiveness are shared

“I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose” (Luke 4:43). “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:18). “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to you” (Ps. 51:12–13). See also Micah 6:8.

3. Championing Jesus as the only hope of eternal life and abundant living

“There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). See also Acts 4:12; John 10:10 and 14:6.

4. Yielding to the Spirit’s role to convict others as He chooses; resisting expressions of condemnation

“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (Rom. 8:34). See also Romans 8:1.

5. Ministering His life and love to the “least of these”

“Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me’ ” (Matt. 25:45). “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27).

6. Bearing witness of a confident peace and expectant hope in God’s lordship in all things

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thess. 3:16)! “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 3:15). See also Romans 8:28 and Psalm 146:5.

7. Faithfully sharing of time, talents, gifts, and resources in furthering His mission

“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God” (Col. 1:25). “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more” (Luke 12:48). See also 1 Corinthians 4:1–2.

8. Attentive listening to others’ stories, vulnerably sharing of our story, and a sensitive witness of Jesus’ story as life’s ultimate hope

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15). “This son of mine was dead and has come to life again” (Luke 15:24). See also Mark 5:21–42 and John 9:1–35.

9. Pouring our life into others and making disciples who in turn make disciples of others

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19–20). See also 2 Timothy 2:2.

10. Living submissively within His body the church as instruction, encouragement, reproof, and correction are graciously received from faithful disciples

“Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (Eph. 5:21). “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). See also Galatians 6:2.

An Exhortation to Pray

The revivalists of history-- both, great and small-- and their people would spend two hours a day in prayer during  their fruitful lives, a little-known fact. That type of commitment to God from His children is what it will take for America to experience a much-needed revival and awakening. This is one of the keys to revival. We must be so connected with the Father that His works follow us wherever we go!

I want to empower the prayer warriors, intercessors and prophetic voices in this hour to double down in prayer and warfare.
Though we do not like to admit weakness, there are times when we can grow weary in praying and interceding. Whether it be for family members, our region, our nation or the nations of the earth, every issue matters to the Lord. As we press in to God and partner with the Lord in prayer and intercession in bombarding the kingdom of darkness, things can seem to intensify and to worsen in the natural. It can seem as if our prayers are agitating the atmosphere, and they are, because we are agitating the darkness with the hosts of heaven and the presence of God. While the darkness appears to be thickening and gaining momentum, we should not shy away because it is in that time we are to double down in our prayer and intercession.

"My face is set like flint. I will not be moved." This is what double down means. Merriam Webster defines double down as, "to become more tenacious, zealous or resolute in a position or undertaking."

Much of the church prays with microwave expectations; we give up after a few "travailing" minutes. Prayer meetings are not exciting to the flesh and sadly, because of this, they are vacant of fleshly bodies. There is an unspoken rhetoric among believers that someone else will pray. I would dare say that most believers are of the mindset that prayer is boring.

If prayer and intercession are boring, you are doing it wrong.
Jesus withdrew from His disciples and the crowds to pray and to intercede. It was a facet of His relationship with the Father(Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34).

Jesus has provided a blueprint for you and me as co-heirs with Him. We are to be a praying people, a royal priesthood. Priests pray! Priests stand in the gap as tears soak their faces and His fiery Spirit captures their tongues to loose the declarations in accordance with the Word of God. Intercessors do not come off of their post and their decrees until they see the manifestation of their prayers. Time does not move them off the promises of God, and when the devil raises the stakes, prayer warriors double down.

Prayer is not unspoken. The devil would love nothing better than to downplay prayer and strip it of its power. Prayer is an arsenal all by itself. Ephesians 6 assures us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
The Lord is encouraging His intercessors and prophets to not only engage in prayer and warfare, but to double down on what we are declaring by faith. Refuse to come off the wall, and refuse to be silent. Get louder with your prayers and your warfare as the darkness tries to intensify. Double down on lost family members and seemingly hopeless situations, and do not give in or give up. Get excited about prayer, set your face like flint, and tell the devil, "I ain't budging!"

The author of this exerpt is unknown.

Spurgeon On Intercessory Prayer

The memory of Charles Haddon Spurgeon has been cherished among evangelical Christians for over the past 100 years. Many Christian leaders consider him to be the greatest preacher ever. He is commonly hailed as the "Prince of Preachers". Over 63 volumes of published sermons still bear witness to the richness and success of C. H. Spurgeon's ministry. Though he is known as a great preacher, it was not preaching that made Spurgeon great. It was prayer. Spurgeon himself repeatedl attributed his success to he and his congregation's faithful prayers.

It has often been remarked that the whole church helped produce Spurgeon. When visitors would come to Spurgeon's church he would take them to the basement prayer-room where people were always on their knees interceding. Then Spurgeon would declare, "Here is the powerhouse of this church."

In a sermon delivered on August 11, 1861 titled “Intercessory Prayer” , Spurgeon says:

First, then, by way of commending the exercise, let me remind you that intercessory prayer has been practiced by all the best of God's saints. We may not find instances of it appended to every saint's name, but beyond a doubt, there has never been a man or woman eminent for piety personally, who has not always been pre-eminent in his anxious desires for the good of others, and in his prayers for that end.But further, while we might commend this duty by quoting innumerable examples from the lives of eminent saints, it is enough for the disciple of Christ if we say that Christ in His holy gospel has made it your duty and your privilege to intercede for others.

When he taught us to pray, he said, "Our Father," and the expressions w hich follow are not in the singular but in the plural—"Give us this day our daily bread." "Forgive us our debts"; "Lead us not into temptation"; evidently intending to set forth that none of us are to pray for ourselves alone, that while we may have sometimes prayers so bitter that they must be personal like the Saviour's own—"Father, if
it be possible, let this cup pass from me"; yet, as a rule, our prayers should be public prayers, though offered in private; and even in secret we should not forget the church of the living God.

Intercessory prayer has stayed plagues. It removed the darkness which rested over Egypt; it drove away the frogs which leaped upon the land; it scattered the lice and locusts which plagued the inhabitants of
Zoar; it removed the murrain, and the hunder, and the lightning; it stayed all the ravages whic God's avenging handdid upon Pharaoh and his eople
. Intercessory prayer has healed diseases; —we know it did in the early church. We have evidence of it in old Mosaic times. When Miriam was smitten with leprosy, Moses prayed, and the leprosy was removed. It has resored withered limbs. When the king's arm was withered, he said to the prophet, "Pray for me," and his arm was restored as it was before. Intercessory prayer has raised the dead, for Elias stretched himself
upon the child seven times, and the child sneezed, and the child's soul returned.
As to ho many souls intercessory prayer has instrumentally saved, recording angel, thou canst tell! Eternity, thou shalt reveal!

There is nothing which intercessory prayer cannot do. Oh! believer, you have a mighty engine in your hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it now with faith, and thou shalt surely prevail.
And, O God, lend us thy strength now, that this duty may come forcibly home to our conscience, and we may at once engage in this exercise!

Brethren, I have to exhort you to pray for others. Before I do it, I will ask you a personal question. Do you always pray for others? Guilty or not guilty, here? Do you think you have taken the case of your children, your church, your neighbourhood, and the ungodly world before God as you ought to have done? If you have, I have not. For I stand here a chief
culprit before the aster to make confession of the sin; and while I shall exhort you to practice what is undoubtedly a noble privilege I shall be most of all exhorting myself."

 Let's make an effort to intercede for others. It is our secret weapon to seeing the miracles, the salvations, the transformations, the peace, blessings, and goodness of God in the lives of others around you!