When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (James 4:3). What motivates you when you ask? If you are asking to receive things from life rather than from God, you are motivated by a desire for self-realization. Watch out if this is the case. The more you realize yourself, the less will you seek God.
“Seek and you will find.” Have you ever sought God with your whole heart? Or do you merely give a half-hearted cry in his direction in moments of doubt? Get to work. Narrow your interests until they are centered on God. Seek, concentrate, and you will find.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). Are you thirsty, or are you so satisfied with your experience that you want nothing more from God? Experience is a gateway, not a destination. Beware of building your faith on experience. If you do, you run the risk of becoming so smug that you wind up driving others away from God. You can never give other people what you’ve found, but you can make them homesick for what you’ve got.
“Knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). The door is closed; your heart is pounding. “Wash your hands, you sinners.” Knock a bit louder; you notice that you are dirty. “Purify your hearts.” This is even more personal; you are filled with sincerity now. “Grieve, mourn and wail.” Have you ever gone before God full of grief about the state of your inner life? Have you gone without an ounce of selfpity remaining inside you, only a heartbreaking amazement that you are what you are? “Humble yourselves” (James 4:8–10). It is deeply humbling to knock at God’s door; you knock with the crucified thief. “To the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:8).
“When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” We all have faith in good principles, in good management, in good common sense, but who amongst us has faith in Jesus Christ? Physical courage is grand, moral courage is grander, but the man who trusts Jesus Christ in the face of the terrific problems of life is worth a whole crowd of heroes.
It’s time to celebrate America! What started as an upstart experiment in self governing, has lasted 250 years with no sign of ending. We are the best and greatest example of freedom, whether religious or personal the world has ever known. We are fundamental to the freedoms of the world. If America ever falls the world will degrade into chaos. We are what is holding the world together, and it is because of the Christian influence not only of our founders, but of the remnant of Christians praying and interceding for our nation. God bless the United States of America. Let your Spirit renew us and change us into your image is my prayer. Rh
If my people, if all Christians would truly live out their faith, living in repentance and interceding for our great nation, then God will restore. Renewal must first begin at the house of God. We need to make our churches a house of prayer! Once we have been revived, then it will spread to all people. Awaken us Lord! Rh
Yesterday, I shared some thoughts regarding spiritual warfare. While we are not to become distracted or preoccupied with satan or his demons, they do exist and must be resisted at times. The Bible tells us that:
We are in a very real spiritual war (see 2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Timothy 1:18).
We are soldiers in this war (see Ps. 110:2-3; 2 Timothy 2:3-4).
We are to “wrestle” against all levels of the kingdom of darkness (see Ephesians 6:12).
We are to “resist the devil” (which would in most situations be his demons) and he will flee from us (see James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9).
We are to “tread” on satan and his demons (i.e., exercise authority over them—see Luke 10:19; Romans 16:20).
We are to cast out demons (see Mark 16:17).
We have the authority to “bind” (forbid) and “loose” (permit) when dealing with the agents and gates of hell (see Matthew 16:19).
We have powerful weapons designed to overcome the kingdom of darkness (see 2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:10-20).
Regarding binding and loosing, the book I mentioned yesterday by Jack Hayford,Prayer Is Invading the Impossible, gives an enlightening amplification of Matthew 16:18-19, based on the technical aspects of the Greek wording. Dr. Hayford’s translation makes clear that WE must go on the offense:
“Whatever you may at any time encounter (of hell’s counsels which I’m declaring my church shall prevail against), you will then face a decision as to whether you will or won’t bind it. What transpires will be conditional upon your response. If you do personally and consciously involve yourself in the act of binding the issue on earth, you will discover that at that future moment when you do, that it has already been bound in heaven!”(1)
Wow!
The words bind and loose could be translated as “forbid” and “release.” The Greek words are actually legal terms, as in legally binding, or the opposite – being released from that which legally binds. The Lord is saying He has given us legal authority, spiritually speaking, to stop satan’s attacks and release individuals from his control. God doesn’t give us detailed formulas for doing so. He is not into formulas in any area of biblical truth. He prioritizes relationship, and gives us principles to apply as the Holy Spirit leads us. He alone knows exactly what is needed in each situation. Sometimes we simply give biblical commands, releasing the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17); other times we are led to worship (2 Chronicles 20:1-30), fast (Mark 9:29), or even clap and shout (Psalms 47:1).
In spiritual warfare, the point is not so much how we wrestle, but that we wrestle – bind, loose, and/or wield the sword – and do so as Holy Spirit leads us. We must go on the offensive and aggressively deal with the forces of darkness whenever necessary. The word “against” is used five times in Ephesians 6 to describe our spiritual warfare. The Greek word is pros, which is a strengthened form of pro. We get the English word “pro/professional” from it. These Greek words mean “in front of,”(2) or “superior to.” We use the concept when referring to professional athletes. A pro athlete is one who is “in front of” or “superior to” others. The words also have the connotation of stepping forward and facing toward something or someone.(3) Paul is using the symbolism in this Ephesians passage of a wrestler stepping forward and facing his opponent. God is saying to us in these verses, “Step forward and face the kingdom of darkness. Wear the armor I have provided and overcome them.”
The following remarkable story tells of two powerful intercessors stepping forward to face demonic powers. John G. Lake, a missionary to South Africa in the first half of the 20th century, relates the story of a fever epidemic that struck a portion of South Africa in a single night. The devastation was such that in one month, a fourth of the entire population of that region died. There were not enough caskets to meet the need, and people were being buried in blankets, so great was the devastation.
Lake tells of a powerful intercessor who began to pray. For days— all day long and into the night—he stationed himself under a tree and prayed against the plague. Several times, Lake asked the man, “Are you getting through?”
He would reply, “Not yet.” But one day he said to Lake, “I feel today that if I had just a little help in faith, my spirit would go through.” Lake got on his knees and joined the man in prayer. What happened next is amazing. Here it is in Lake’s own words:
“As we prayed, the Spirit of the Lord overwhelmed our souls, and presently I found myself, not kneeling under the tree, but moving gradually away from the tree….My eyes gradually opened, and I witnessed such a scene as I never witnessed before – a multitude of demons like a flock of sheep! The Spirit had come upon the other man also, and he rushed ahead of me, rebuking that army of demons, and they were driven back to hell, or the place from whence they came. Beloved, the next morning when I awoke, that epidemic of fever was gone.(4)
We have authority; we must learn to use it!
I shared this from “Give Him 15” by Dutch Sheets. Powerful and anointed teaching about praying and taking authority over our enemy. You have legal authority to bind and lose over your situation, community, church, and nation. Prayer moves mountains. Let’s pray! Rh
From William Bradford and the Pilgrims to the Founding Fathers, greatness was understood in the context of the blessing of God; our founding documents reflect this.
Can America recover? If our only hope is in cultural reclamation through the political process, our chances are nil. Our national sickness goes much deeper than politics; our problem is spiritual and the only true solution is also spiritual. The People of God must see through our enemy’s curtain and recognize Satan’s ability to work through mortals to achieve his sinister goals. After all, he is the Father of Lies and the Great Deceiver and can distract people with decoys, and counterfeits as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. We must grasp the nature of our enemy and pray accordingly, not being distracted by illusions and paper tigers. Now is not the time to self-censor and cower to the cultural elites, hoping for better days ahead. We are in a spiritual battle and must see ourselves as the Resistance of our day. We adopt no exit plan. We recognize our enemy’s tactics, expose his lies, and proclaim truth. Although Satan masquerades as an angel of light, once exposed, he runs for cover. Truth sets us free so we run toward the battle and not away from it.
Like the Founding Fathers, the People of God must care enough about their homeland to take action. Prayer is our greatest weapon but only effective when it’s utilized. America will outlast all the great civilizations of the past when she falls to her knees in humility and prayer. These are the tactics that will restore our greatness and bring revival. Author Unknown
Many times I get deep into the weeds (obsessed) with the state of the world and culture. I am a current events guy, but always with a Biblical context. Today is a most important post. James 5:16-17 gives us a prescription for the chaos and unbelief and outright demonic hatred of the world of today. Sincere fervent prayer! God is still in charge, we do not understand, but He is. We though do have a part to play. WE pray, We intercede and declare the Word of God. That is our job. I cannot change any dirty politician’s vote, but God can. I cannot change our culture. But God can. But what I can do is pray. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteousman or woman avails much.
The world is ripe for destruction, but also for revival. People are fearful. Many have no clue what will happen next, but Jesus Christ give me peace regardless. We can make a difference. God has moved on me to pray more this year, and I am. We have access into the very throne room of Almighty God, let’s use that privilege. Hebrew 4:16.
The devil saw my head down and he thought he won, until I said Amen!
There is division in America. That is a fact, no one can doubt that premise. However it is not by politics, but by sin. The division comes from two opposing world views. One is a Biblical worldview and the other is a secular humanist worldview. That is the red line in the sand. Neither side will give in. I will never compromise my Biblical Moral Worldview.
America has a rich tradition of being a nation built on traditional family values, Judeo-Christian values. God ordained us to spread the Gospel around the world and we did that by sending missionaries to far off distant counties. Our mandate came through a prophecy by Vicar Robert Hunt (1586-1608) the first Anglican chaplain of the Jamestown expedition and is renowned for a 1607 prayer and prophecy dedicating the new American land to God. Upon landing at Cape Henry, Hunt planted a seven-foot cross and “declared a covenant in the Gospel would go forth from that shore to the entire world”. Furthermore he stated “we should focus on the mandate to raise up Godly generations after us”.
I will say, we tried. The United States experienced three or four Great Spiritual Awakenings:
First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s): Led by figures like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, this period focused on personal conviction, redemption, and a shift away from traditional, formal religion.
Second Great Awakening (1790s–1840s): Characterized by camp meetings and the rise of itinerant preachers like Charles Finney, it resulted in significant church growth and reform movements.
Third Great Awakening (1857–1859): Often called the “Businessmen’s Revival,” this movement began with prayer meetings in New York City during a financial crisis and spread nationwide.
Fourth Great Awakening (Late 1960s–early 1970s): Debated by some, this wave is often linked to the “Jesus Movement” and rapid growth in conservative denominations
What America needs is not a new or reformed political party, but another great Spiritual awakening. Our government as it is now is a corrupt “ruling class” entity that does whatever it desires. Two passages in the Bible give us an insight into how the Almighty looks at us. It’s not a pretty sight. One thing I know is that God is not mocked, we will reap what we sow.
1 Timothy1:9-10
“knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,”
Take a look again at some phrases:
murders; abortion and rage of violence
fornicators; our sex craved society
sodomites; the entire gender mafia
kidnappers; sex slaves
liars; our government hides and lies constantly
perjurers; truth has fallen in the street
Read Isaiah 59:1-10: hands defiled with blood, feet that run to evil, no justice, lack of truth, and our thoughts are continually on evil and iniquities.
We need an awakening, repentance and a turning from the evil that permeates our society. The division is caused not by political, but spiritual warfare that divides us more than even a civilian war based on political ideology. We need intercessors more than candidates. We need hungry hearts and souls that long after the Lord. Humility filled with a desire for the things of God. Turning from evil and pushing into the holy place where God resides.
Unfortunately the majority of the American church is living in a daze of the prosperity gospel, feeling they have need of nothing. Bills are paid, money in the bank, but all the while Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts desiring a deeper relationship with His church.
We need the Ekklesia to become the remnant that pursues the holiness of God more than the pleasures of the world. Jesus is the only solution for a deprived world. He is our only hope. The world is on a downward path, the Bible tells us for a fact that a spirit of anti-christ will invade the last days. We are there now.
Let me be clear, I am not saying we shouldn’t be involved with politics. We most definitely should. We as Christian Conservatives vote our Biblical values. It is our duty and I believe a mandate from the Lord. Look through the slick commercials and line up your candidate with the Word of God. What I am saying is this…we need a “Great Awakening” to save this country.
Spiritual warfare is real and we must win the spiritual war first and then the awakening will come. Lord Jesus raise up holy intercessors in this time.. You were born for such a time as this.
The military action we see now in the Middle East is not leading to the Ezekiel 38 war. That war is with Russia, Turkey, and Iran with other Muslim nations forming a coalition to attack Israel at a time of relative peace and security. This war is doing something no other military war or action has done. Realignment in the Gulf region.
Deterrents and consolidations. The US, along with Israel is taking its rightful place as the moral force to deter forces of evil. Iran has raged a proxy war on Israel for years, and on America for 47 years ever since the taking of the Embassy in Tehran. The radical Ayatollahs have spewed hatred and death to Israel and the US. Calling us both tools of Satan. That is the pot calling the kettle black
A shift is happening, MBS (Muhammad Bin Salim) Saudi Arabia’s crown prince has publicly called for Trump to not stop until Iran is defeated. UAE has espoused similar assertions. Terror proxies have been deterred, new alliances have been made and old partners are showing their cowardness. NATO may well be finished as Trump declares he is watching and taking notes. Trump made the statement recently that one European PM told him “this is not our war”, to which Trump replied “neither is Ukraine our war”. Point counter point. Russia is lurking.
War is chaotic and causes confusion, but it ultimately brings peace and realignment. Arab neighbors are forgetting old tribal grudges and looking toward a new stability and prosperity in the Gulf region. Netanyahu has been pushing the idea of a pipeline from Saudi Arabia across Israel to export oil, making piracy and closure of the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz a mute point. Seems MBS may be ready to explore that plan. Funny how the enemy of your enemy becomes your friend. Arabs are finding out Israel is not the problem. With new alliances, comes new prosperity and that is good for the entire region.
Sometimes it takes a war to clear out the rats as they scurry to find protection. War is chaos. The military is designed to bring fury on the enemy, but the aftermath could, hopefully bring old combatants together. Let’s pray for that. God is able to bring change and new directions out of the fog of war aftermath. After all He created the world out of emptiness, nothing is impossible. Could this conflict bring about the peace and security that Israel craves and set the stage for Ezekiel 38??
IMO the next war in the Middle East will likely be the Ezekiel 38 war. The Russia, Turkey & Iran coalition will attempt to move on Israel as the world looks on and hopes for diplomatic means to end the next crisis in the Middle East. But this time it isn’t a nation, but Almighty God who crushes the Gog and Magog alliance with large hailstones from heaven! It all makes sense to me. Prophecy given, prophecy fulfilled. This conflict isn’t the big one, but most likely the next one will be Ezekiel 38.
Look up your redemption draws near. Maranatha! Rh
*Update* Spain, Italy, UK, France and Poland have told the US they will not be a part of any help when it comes to the conflict in Iran. Including the strait of Hormuz. NATO is falling apart right before our eyes. They seem very cocky for a bunch of cowards who run to America for help every time Putin sneezes in their direction. Rh
Throughout biblical and Church history, the great leaders possessed a remarkable discernment of their times. Moses, Joseph in Egypt, Joshua, the prophets, Daniel, Ester, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul, all demonstrated keen discernment of their cultural contexts both inside and outside of their faith communities. Subsequent great leaders did too, Martin Luther, John Wesley, William Wilberforce, C.S. Lewis and there is not enough space here to mention many others who discerned their times. Their words and actions weighed heavily and impacted the issues of the day. Sophisticated and complex challenges are coming, and Evangelicalism will require wise and discerning leaders who will be competent in unpacking biblical resolutions.
There will always be the appearance of godliness” (2 Tim. 3:5) but the actual power of the Gospel will not be there. People can learn in any self-help book. Influential evangelical leaders will be men and women who know their God and are personally assured that only His grace is the antidote to sin. That I may “know” Him (Jesus) and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.
Courage
The Bible says everywhere, “fear not.” Every generation has had to stand strong in proclaiming the ageless message of God’s grace. Courage is a trait that distinguished all of the Christian leaders who made history. C. S. Lewis once said, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” In a world where the relevancy of the Christian faith is increasingly tested, future Evangelical leaders will require a unique confidence in maintaining that God’s grace remains legitimately relevant. Moreover, Evangelicalism will require leaders who can intelligently proclaim that “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced” (2 Tim. 1:12). Fear is emotionally crippling and will cause impediment to the effective evangelical leadership required for a changing culture that continually intimidates believers to be silent.
The writing is on the wall: cultural thought is becoming increasingly hostile to the Christian faith. As Solomon once observed, “See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes” (Eccl. 7:29). Already, parts of the Western world are by law prohibiting the use of certain Scriptures. How far will these restrictions and scheming go to halt Evangelical thought?
Regardless, the Christian faith will never be silenced, even if weak willed pathetic compromisers fill a pulpit. We must learn to be bold as lions, roaring out the truth, not caring about likes or clicks on social media or even pats on the back. It will, however, take courage and a face as hard as flint. A true shepherd can engage competently with cultural thought, prioritize a personal relationship with Christ, and demonstrate the courage and wisdom to communicate truth to cultural. These traits will become indispensable for dynamic leadership.
It is time to be a son of Issachar, discerning the times correctly, not with the fads of social media influencers or of the woke standing in pulpits of dead churches giving putrid meat to half dead parishioners. Who being dull of understanding practice a dead religion while professing themselves right with God. But oh they love to have so.
Excellent article by a grassroots Christian conservative organization that has been in the fight for Faith, Family, Freedom for decades. Please enjoy. Rh
Christian Conservative Coalition 