A Voters' Guide, and More

I want to begin today’s post by telling you about an incredible tool to help undecided voters make up their minds, and motivate them to vote. It is the Million Voices Candidate Fact Sheet. John Graves, who leads this effort, tells us:

“Research proves a nonpartisan fact-sheet is the #1 factor to motivate undecided, persuadable, swing voters to go and vote. We have only a few days left for people to share nonpartisan information about candidates. This info is crucial for persuadable voters.”

Their website, MillionVoices.org is easily navigated. Trust me - if I can do it, it’s easy! They have a short video explaining how to use the guides, which can also be downloaded. From the presidential race, to governor races, to congressional races, you can easily learn where candidates stand on important issues without having to read tons of information. You can even find out if candidates have changed their positions in the last few months. In other words, you’ll be able to tell what has been their long-term position.

This is a tremendous tool to use and share with others. Check it out.

* * * * *

From Dutch Sheets:

For today’s post, I feel it would be a great encouragement for all of us to be reminded of the “America shall be saved” dream. I first heard the phrase spoken several years ago by Reinhart Bonnke, who said the Lord spoke this very clearly to him. Then, a few years later, the Lord gave this dream to Gina Gholston. Here are Gina’s comments regarding this word, with a few more thoughts added. Be encouraged, and keep the faith. Our title is:

Ready, Set, Go

The Ekklesia is being called to attention and to their post to release prophetic proclamations that will reconnect this nation with God’s heart and desires. His verdict for America has been determined, and He has remembered His promises. This is not the time for intimidation or retreat. As His governing body, the Ekklesia must stand steadfast with faith and confidence in the Lord, unshaken in our expectation and persuasion that He is faithful to complete the good work that He has begun in this nation.

In 2018, I had a very significant dream, which was an announcement from heaven to reveal God’s verdict and His intentions for America. I had no idea at the time that God would use this dream in the prayer movement and beyond. Its message would give the Ekklesia hope and strategy for the future into which we were being ushered.

Dutch has shared this dream several times, but no time was quite as powerful as its initial release at the end of the Turnaround Conference held at the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C., in February 2018. This was just two weeks after I had the dream. That conference was actually incorporated into the dream. The gathering consisted of national and international intercessors who had united for the sole purpose of making an appeal to heaven on behalf of the United States of America. As the intercessors ascended in worship, they accessed the presence of God to hear; then they effectively declared His intentions. God’s response to their fervent appeal was to reveal His determined verdict: America shall be saved.

In the dream, a courier angel emerged from that gathering carrying a large scroll, which contained God’s response. The angel proceeded to the U.S. Capitol building and declared those words before a large crowd, releasing the glory of God to impact the nation with transformation and reformation.

“America shall be saved!” It’s not a cute catchphrase; it is a verdict that was determined by God Himself, and it is a promise that will be fulfilled by the God who made it. We must know and be convinced of this as we pray for our nation. We may not know the “hows” and the “whens,” but we must believe this is the will of God for America, which enables us to pray and decree effectively. If we pray from a place of doubt or uncertainty concerning His will, we are not aligning ourselves in agreement with Him, causing us to pray from a wrong perspective and in unbelief. We must pray from the perspective of the determined will of God.

Many prayer assignments have been carried out, and many faith declarations have been made since the Lord revealed His verdict through that dream. Our faith agreement has continued, and we press forward with undaunted conviction that what God has promised, He will do. Much has been accomplished, but we’re not finished. We must not relinquish our persistent push in prayer and our consistency in intercession. Heaven is responding to our obedience. God remembers His promises, and not one word or assignment will return to Him without results. He speaks with the intent to perform!

Another Encouraging Word

Last year, as I was preparing to speak at a conference gathering, I looked up on the wall of my hotel room and noticed a framed black and white photo of a clock tower. The tower resembled the shape of an arrow pointing upward. As I looked at the photo, I was suddenly caught up in the Spirit, and saw a bolt of lightning come out of the sky and strike the clock tower. Immediately, I heard the Lord say to me, “It’s a striking time!”

I was then reminded of a GH15 from 2021 about a dream I had in which the word “strike” was emphasized. In that post, Dutch stated, “The strike represents successful intercession! The Hebrew word for intercession is paga.(1) Among other things, it means to strike a target. It is used this way in Job 36:32, ‘He covers His hand with the lightning, and commands it to strike the target.’”

After re-reading Dutch’s post, the Lord spoke through the “Ready, Set, Go” command given to runners. He said, “The time has come. I am igniting the torch. My runners who have responded to My leading and positioning are being ‘set’ to run with the fire. Listen for the command of the ‘go,’ and do not hesitate to run.

“My runners will be divinely assisted to run with endurance as they carry and release the flames of revival and glory. I am igniting My saturated bundles that are positioned throughout the land. They will run and not grow weary. I am ready to ignite the nation with the fire of My glory.

“Your labor has not been in vain. You have taken ground! It has been a little at a time, but you have taken ground. In the previous season, I have been uncapping wells and releasing the flammable waters of My Spirit. Those waters have now spread throughout the nation. Now, I have ignited you to ignite the land. Don’t hold back! I have infused you with fire; run with it! I Am releasing you as My fiery arrows, and you are right on point! In the days to come, I will strategically direct and release you into designated targets, and upon impact, the ignition of My glory will be undeniable. These are the days when the fierceness of My might will be revealed.”

Striking time has come! We can’t stop now. We must not succumb to intimidation or weariness in our “well-doing” (Galatians 6:9). We must remember and be fully persuaded of what God has said. We must release our declarations with confidence that they are right on point, and that they will hit the target to release the unveiling of His intended purposes. America shall be saved! This is our promise, and it is our expectation, for the Lord has determined it to be so!

Pray with me:

Father, we know and believe Your verdict for America: She shall be saved. That salvation will come as a result of an awakening bringing an awareness of You. As Your Ekklesia, we rise to attention and release our voice in agreement with You, declaring Your verdict and prophetic proclamations. And we do so with the assurance that our obedient intercession is causing movement, and that Your words will strike the target to accomplish that for which You send them. We will not shrink back in intimidation or fear. We stand securely and confidently, with undaunted faith in You. We are unshaken in our expectation and persuasion that You are faithful to complete the good work You have begun in this nation. We pray this in Jesus’ name and for the greatest harvest in history. Amen!

Our decree:

We decree that the striking time has come! Our prayers are hitting the mark, and America shall be saved! This is our promise and expectation, for the Lord has determined it to be so!

Today’s post was contributed by Gina Gholston. You can find out more about Gina at GinaGholstonMinistries.org.

Copyright © 2024 Dutch Sheets Ministries, All rights reserved.

Battered, But Not Sinking

 

Dutch Sheets: The Statue of Liberty

This and That

Marked! As Dutch Sheets says, don't try to convince me of the modern "woke" ideas about politics, society, or God's active presence and actions in our times. You're too late to convince me that I'm mistaken; I've seen too much. :)

The Iditarod Committee disqualified former champion Brent Sass from this year's race. It's for the same, unspecified reason as that which occurred earlier this week with another racer. One would think that, sooner or later, more details will be released.

While other cities reduce or defund their police departments, Anchorage seems to be stepping up. They've added a permanent foot patrol to the downtown area.

Here's the line-up of things to do, see, or experience at this year's Fur Rondy in Anchorage.

10 Requirements For Turning America

 In case you want to quote, or quote from, the 10 requirements, here they are in writing:

1. “Reconsecrate ourselves to the Great Commission given us by Jesus. The Pilgrims prioritized this in the original Mayflower Compact - to proclaim the ‘gospel of the kingdom’ (not some ‘He Gets Us’ distortion!) to see lives transformed, not merely affirmed, by the power of the living God.
2. “Renounce and reject complacency. This has brought about the decline and demise of civilizations throughout history. We must repent and return to the values that made us great in the first place, refusing to succumb to the seduction of affluence and leisure as substitutes for hard work. 
3. “Cast off D.E.I. (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) mandates. These criteria for our institutions are inherently racist, giving people preferences and positions that should belong to achievers applying themselves to merit advancement. Our nation affords ‘equal opportunity for all’ who are willing and able to work for it!
4. “Replace destructive Marxist, Globalist elements. These have poisoned our government, schools, media, and corporate boardrooms. In their places, we must put leaders of integrity and conviction, mirroring those of our truly great and revered statesmen and stateswomen. Though they, like all of us, had flaws, they deserve honor because of their overall character and achievements.
5. “Put an end to propaganda and promotion of unbiblical socialism. We must return to a Constitutional Republic that has undergirded us successfully for close to 250 years – longer than any nation in world history. Anti-American activists are entitled to their opinions, but I agree with former Prime Minister of England, Margaret Thatcher, who said: ‘The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.’(1) Check out our unsustainable $34 trillion debt!
6. “Accept the sacred responsibility to expose and eradicate tyranny. We must replace oppressive government in all its forms and contend for freedom. Let us take seriously the warning of President Ronald Reagan: ‘Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling them what it was once like in America when men were free.’(2)
7. “Pastors once again must arise to the urgency of the hour. Just as in colonial America, they must courageously lead the way to embrace the directive of Jesus to be ‘salt’ (holding back decay), accept the responsibility to equip their congregations with relevant truth, and refuse to be silent in our current cultural battle. May they heed the sobering words of pastor/martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer who stood against Nazism in a similar situation. ‘Silence in the face of evil is evil itself. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak, is to speak. Not to act, is to act.’(3) We must reject fear of man and follow in the footsteps of Billy Graham, who stood openly against segregation, Apartheid, same-sex ‘marriage,’ and nuclear expansion, telling us, ‘Courage is contagious!’
8. “Unapologetically affirm man/woman marriage and the nuclear family. ‘One man and one woman’ is the explicit design for this sacred institution recognized worldwide and honored for thousands of years as the divinely ordained foundation of a stable society. Biology and science have recognized male (XY chromosomes) and female (XX chromosomes) genders throughout history, so we’ll simply stay the course and stay safe from ‘Woke’ moral insanity and societal instability.
9. “Sound the alarm and stop the massive invasion of law-breaking foreigners into America. Millions of cartel-driven illegal aliens are disregarding our established immigration laws to unlawfully secure healthcare, food, housing, education, costly benefits and privileges at taxpayer expense. THIS MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY BY EXECUTIVE ORDER (not by Congressional debate). America represents 4% of the world's population, and we cannot allow this unprecedented and unmitigated disaster to bring about our country’s collapse!
10. “Expose as demagoguery the leftist tactic of regularly dismissing valid opinions and perspectives as ‘destroying democracy,’ ‘racist,’ and ‘authoritarian tyranny.’ Traditional conservatives, Christians, pro-lifers, and patriotic Americans are slandered as ‘right-wing extremists,’ while agencies are weaponized to run roughshod over basic civil liberties, censor free speech, violate the Constitution, and use Soviet-style kangaroo courts to indict political opponents (so they can’t run for office). These agencies and tactics represent America’s real threats and must be exposed! 

Everything is Coming to Light - Welcome the Fire!

by Dr. Greg Hood

Sometimes it may be hard to see, but God is moving in the world today. He’s establishing His Kingdom on earth, and He needs our participation. Yet we can easily ignore, overlook, or even misunderstand all that God is doing.

There is a difference between God working in our midst and God working through us. We are called to partner with God—speak His words, call forth His will, declare deliverance and freedom on the earth, but we can’t do that as long as we are out of step with Him. We must be focused on Him and not the conditions around us. On the surface, everything could be falling apart; it could look like it's going to hell, succumbing to sin. But on a deeper level, God is transforming our world, reclaiming it for His people. When we fail to discern what God is doing, we risk failing to do our part, even if that part is to stand fast, pray, prophecy, decree, and believe.

How do we share in what God is doing? How can we know what our part is? It starts in the core of our being, the place of surrender, honor, and reverence before God. It starts at the altar—the meeting place of God and man.

We read of a similar struggle in the life of the prophet Elijah, from 1 Kings 18.

This parallels where we are today in the United States and the world. We have, in large part, in times past, forsaken the ways of the Lord, and this has brought us to the place where we find ourselves, where deception and death reign through confusion, fear, and lawlessness.

Thankfully, our God is a saving God. Amen! He always does things with a redemptive purpose in mind. God is not finished with America. Indeed, the trouble we see on one level is a sign that He is working on another level. We might see the disrupted soil and question what God is doing, all the while missing the plow and the seeds of restoration being planted into the very fertile soil of this nation.

No, God has not determined which nations will be goat nations and which will be sheep nations. The world is changing; it is evolving, and growing. Nations can be turned and saved in a day. Understanding the message of the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18 is key to our ability to begin posturing to reshape America again.

In this passage, the prophet Elijah meets with Ahab, the King of Israel, and tells him that he is troubling the nation because he has forsaken the commandments and direction of God. (A prophet confronting a government leader.) The trouble Elijah refers to is evidenced by a crippling drought that had afflicted Israel and its economy for several years.

Ahab followed his wife, Jezebel, and turned to Baal worship, a form of demonic paganism. Most of Israel follows Ahab’s example as Jezebel endeavors to slaughter all the prophets of God.

Elijah, at God’s command, is ready for a showdown, so he challenges Ahab to gather all the people of Israel to Mount Carmel.

Elijah is confident in the faithfulness of God, but note also, the confidence of the prophets of Baal. They go up to Mount Carmel fully expecting to prevail. Where does such confidence come from? It comes from past experience. God was not the only source of the supernatural in that day. As long as the people aligned themselves with the powers of darkness, the powers of darkness manifested.

Just as God is doing in America today, in this passage, God is letting things get to the breaking point for a reason, and that's to bring things to light.

This is the hour that we are living in. We must say to the people of this nation and the world, as Elijah said to Israel, “Come near to me. I have something to say; I have got something to show you.”

Still, there are a lot of words in circulation today, a plethora of prophetic messages and teachings. Some tell us to comply with the flow of society and the edicts of governmental authorities. Others implore us to separate and withdraw from the “world systems.” It seems that each side can support its position with Scripture. Most of us are just caught in the middle, confused and being pulled this way and that, struggling to hear God in the unpleasant, prolonged noise around us.

Like Elijah, we have to reach a place where we hear what God is saying. His voice! Not the voice of the media or conspiracy theorists, or doomsday prophets.

Elijah was confident that he had a word from God. Let’s face it: The odds of 850 to 1 are not very good odds...unless that one has the One True God on his side.

1 Kings 18:30-31 says, “And he [Elijah] repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob…”

Get this picture. Elijah has 850 frustrated and armed-to-the-teeth prophets of Baal ready for him to fail so they can cut him to bits, and the first thing he does is rearrange some rocks.

Really? The conversation could have gone something like this:

“Hey God, save me and Your nation of Israel from these demon-fed liars, but first, let me get these rocks in the right place.”

Yeah, that’s exactly what he did.

Elijah was challenging the reigning force of evil in his day, counting on God to respond to his preparation for the sacrifice. So, after arranging the rocks into an altar, he pours water all over it, soaking the wood, the dirt, and even the bull.

Think about this: why did he use all that water, especially in the midst of a three-year drought? Three reasons.

First, it’s clear that Elijah got the water from the people because, in 1 Kings 18, we see King Ahab sending people throughout the land to search for water and finding none. So, this must have been the populace’s personal stash. Now, imagine the faith it takes for the people to make such a sacrifice for that precious commodity. This is about more than showing down; it’s about having a dog in the hunt, like we say in the South. The people are being asked to commit life-giving water to prove that God is the God of Israel.

Secondly, Elijah needed to cleanse the altar, both physically and, more importantly, spiritually. The water represented a spiritual cleansing.

Ephesians 5:26 says, “So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.”

Finally, the water demonstrated God’s dominion over the demonic realm. God had stopped the rain in Israel, and he would restore it...if the people gave their all.

They did, and God did, and the rest is history.

God heard Elijah’s prayer. The fire fell. The sacrifice was consumed. And the people were changed.

As great as this miracle was, it is too easy to focus on the spectacle of what God did and miss what it took for God to do it. If we are not careful, we can miss the true process at work as God performs miracle after miracle.

Elijah’s motive for following God was crucial to the successful outcome that day, just as our motives are for everything we do. If we are seeking to do anything instead of expanding the Kingdom of God and turning people’s hearts to God, then we are missing the mark. Even if we are having great success, drawing people to us, exercising our gifts, or seeing fire fall from heaven. If our motives are wrong, we are on the pathway to error. We cannot allow that to happen. We have to keep our hearts constantly before the Father.

Elijah knew that the stakes could not have been greater. The fate of God’s nation hung in the balance, as does America’s today. Evil reigned, figuratively and literally, for years. It was time to right that wrong. And yet, the first thing he did was rebuild the altar of God that had been torn apart through Baal worship.

It is time to take up our part in rebuilding the broken altar of the Lord—the place where God meets man, and the fire of God falls. God does not reveal His presence just anywhere. There has to be an altar—a surrender, a sacrifice, a place satisfactory to God to pour out His Holy Spirit into the earth.

Pray with me:

Father, we thank You for what You are doing in America and the world, even though we don’t like some of what we are seeing. We know it is necessary. We thank You that You have called us to partner with You in this great restoration process. We are asking You to give us ears to hear what YOU are saying to us, Your Ekklesia. Give us the boldness of Holy Spirit in order that we stand and act in the face of great evil. Amen.

Our decree:

We decree that we will stand. We will be God’s voice to this Nation of purpose as it goes through this cleansing process, and turns its heart back to Jesus Christ! We decree, Light of God, come and expose the evil. Fire of God, come and consume it! Rain of God, come and restore us! America, move into the salvation God has provided for you through the Kingship of Jesus Christ.

                                        Copyright © 2023 Dutch Sheets Ministries, All rights reserved.

Push Through the Curve and Come Out with Momentum

 From Dutch Sheets' podcast:

Hello and welcome to Give Him 15. Today our GH15 is a little different. I have a bit of a surprise for you, a plan I feel God has given me. I’m always asking Him, “What are you saying to the Ekklesia, Your church today?” I’m talking to my prophetic friends, asking them, “What do you hear God saying?” And I know most of our listeners feel the same way. So I’m going to start bringing on people whom I feel have a strong prophetic gift and are tuned in for the nation and the church. I plan to have them share on every Friday’s Give Him 15, letting you hear from them. I’ll also be on, and we will dialogue, discussing what Holy Spirit is saying to us today. I’ll be asking them to share what they hear Holy Spirit is currently sharing with them. Today I have my friend Greg Hood, whom you have seen/heard before regarding some of the dreams we have shared with you. I have asked Greg to share with us here today.

So, welcome, Greg - tell us what you’re hearing.

Dr. Greg Hood:

“Thank you, Dutch - it’s an honor to be with you today. I will share what I feel Holy Spirit is sharing with the church today. I believe we have been journeying with the Lord through the past several years, wondering, at times, what He is saying to us.

"When God speaks to us, what He says may not always be for that minute or that day, but it could be for down the road or even years later. But I’m hearing the Lord say that much of what we have heard for the past few years is beginning to sprout through the ground and bear fruit. For the church, we need to be in a place where we have our ear on the heart of God and listen like we haven’t listened before. God has brought us into a place of maturity, not to just withstand what lies ahead of us, and I think there are a lot of challenges lying ahead of us, but not anything that we can’t overcome. However, we must be careful. I used to go to an old butcher store as a young boy and watch the butcher trim the fat off the beef. I think that’s what God has been doing in us for the past few years, trimming the fat and getting us into a place where we are not serving Him for comfort, but for the breakthrough. The Kingdom of God is coming in a way that we’ve not seen before, and God is giving us opportunities to take ground like we’ve not done before.”

Greg continues:

“I believe the church is coming out of boot camp and training. We’ve had a number of great books written in past years. God has given us great teachers, programs, and Bible colleges have sprung up to get us equipped in our Christian beliefs. Now we need to get out of the bootcamp mindset and into battlefield mode and mindset. The Lord is bringing us into a place of harvest - traditionally, we think of this as people receiving Christ, getting saved. But I feel harvest isn’t only for individuals but also regions, nations, and governments. God is bringing culture back into the hands of the church. The Ekklesia has grown to a place where we can actually make a difference spiritually and culturally.

“Dutch, I’ve heard you teach regarding the Jesus movement of the 60s/70s and what happened during the Charismatic Movement - it’s so clear that we missed it during that season. But I believe we won’t miss it this time - we are ahead of the game and are ahead of the curve. The pressure is still there, but the church has to get used to being in a place of pressure. Through different churches and teachings, we have been used to living a life of ease, even compromise - living a life of a “it’s all about me/us” mentality. Some people go to church just to help them over a hump. But that’s changed. If you need a pat on the back and help over the humps, you may be disappointed over the next several years. We are headed into a place where there are going to be a lot of humps. But the church has emerged into a place of being able to carry the weight of God without buckling the knee.

“Pressure is important. I like to ride motorcycles. When you come to a curve, you want to put on the brakes. However, the pressure and acceleration you give the motorcycle help you get through the curve. As the church/Ekklesia, we are in a place where we are in that curve, pressure is there - cultural, political, and ideological pressure - we are coming to a place where the world is telling us we need to put on the brakes. But we can’t do that, we need to accelerate and use the momentum the curve gives us to propel us to the other side. Once we come through these tight places, there’s an acceleration that God gives us from the momentum, and we’re going to see a rapid harvest. People will come into the Kingdom like never before.

“But I also sense the greatest barrier, even the largest obstacle, will be the religious spirit (not people, but principalities). If we aren’t careful, we will find ourselves on the wrong side of awakening and revival. We must make sure the judgmental mindset is gone from us and from what God wants to do. Many of us are holding on to things that can be great hindrances, keeping us from God’s plan. We must especially be careful our doctrine lines up with God’s Word. I think God is asking us to meet with Him personally, individually, and corporately to deal with our doctrines. I relate them to the precious pigs that the Gadarene was raising. When Jesus showed up on the shore and cast the demons out of the man, they went into the pigs. The pigs didn’t want to live with the demons, so they ran off the cliff. God wants to run some of our previous pigs off the cliff. God is looking for oneness in the body of Christ that will release the power of God in this hour.

Greg continues:

“During the next few months - even as we walk through the upcoming elections - we must be careful as we look at the candidates - looking at their character and lifestyle. We may need to be reminded that God used Pharaoh, Cyrus, Hezekiah - many others who were not the ideal candidates, but He used them. We are there. We are asking Holy Spirit what Father is saying - what is He wanting today. The answer may surprise us and take us backward if we are steeped in a religious ideology that makes us more heavenly-minded than earthly-good. I see that shift coming and God bringing us into a place where we hear Him clearly.”

Dutch then shares:

“I came from a stream in the body of Christ that was very legalistic and dogmatic regarding what they believed. There are other denominations with doctrines causing them to isolate themselves from others if they didn’t believe a certain way. I’m not referring to basic beliefs such as being saved through grace by the blood of Christ, but other doctrines and beliefs. Years ago, the denomination I was with was so entrenched and controlling that we couldn’t watch tv, and women couldn’t cut their hair. It was a belief system we had built because of teachings from leaders whom we trusted. When I came into the Jesus Movement and people were being saved and walking out their salvation, I realized they didn’t believe things I had been taught. They didn’t believe things I had been taught were sinful, and it was a shock to me. I remember later in my walk with God, I was crying out for revival, and Holy Spirit spoke very clearly, “What are you going to do if I come riding on a donkey? I thought, that’s a strange question - but I knew immediately what He was saying. The Jews thought the Messiah was going to come a certain way, and they rejected Him. They thought He was coming as an earthly king, overthrowing the Roman government and taking over. When He did not do that, they rejected Him because of their traditions and beliefs. Jesus was asking me, “Are you willing to throw out some of your beliefs or expectations when I don’t do it the way you think I should, even when, or through whom? And if they don’t believe exactly the way you do, and they may be wrong in some of their beliefs, and I use them anyway, are you going to be okay with that? In other words, are you going to let Me be in charge and do this the way I want?” I believe that is what you are saying, Greg. We are all going to have to be very flexible and make adjustments. And I think we are moving quickly toward this.

“Greg, I’d love for you to comment. The other day I felt the Lord say there are several more strategic adjustments He is going to do this year, but in 2023, we will move into a completely new level of harvest, and the awakening will be strengthened. I feel it will be a huge shift. I know God doesn't necessarily go by our calendar - I’m just looking ahead to what I see in the near future. I also feel that for the rest of this year, more shifts are coming, but next year, things will shift even more toward harvest. Greg, what do you see?”

Greg shares:

“I see it very clearly, Dutch. We are in a very strategic time as a church. We are in that curve, ready to propel us. Here are a couple of things we need to pay attention to within ourselves, and if we miss some things, it won’t be because God failed, it will be because the church has not been able to make the necessary adjustments that need to happen.

“God is not obligated to manifest Himself in a structure that He has not organized or created for His manifestation. He is not obligated to manifest Himself in revival and awakening in our religious structures. He works with us, yes, but He’s always moving us toward change. I think it’s very important to pay attention to where we are right now. As we look toward the upcoming revival and awakening, we must step out of things that are trying/challenging to us. We must allow Holy Spirit to deal with what we are hanging onto as crutches, doctrine, and hindrances. During the next few months, I sense great exposure of false doctrines. There will be an opportunity to change those things and get back on track. God is going to deal with and give opportunity for this across the board - to all believers in all denominations. And as I am saying this, I am seeing a vision over the church and many question marks popping up everywhere. There have to be people qualified to answer these questions and able to say, ‘This is wrong,’ or ‘this is right’ and proven biblically. To get us through this year, God is dealing with us in order that we are positioned well enough to handle the upcoming great outpouring.

“So my challenge to you is to go in your prayer closet and ask God, “Why do I believe what I believe, what doctrines and beliefs have I held onto that are not right and don’t line up with Your Word? Give me the grace and boldness to change them.” We are coming to the place where we may have to make choices to follow Christ, even if our friends and family disagree with our decisions. We are in the time of mega decisions, stepping into this with the boldness and power of Holy Spirit, in order to push through the curve and come out with a momentum that brings awakening and revival.”

Dutch then shares:

“That’s a good place to segway into the prayer. Why don’t you mention that I’ll be with you this upcoming weekend?

From Greg:

“We are doing a service together this upcoming weekend (August 20, 2022) in the greater Nashville area. You can find out more information from my website: GregHood.org. It’s free but we ask that you register because the seating is limited. It will also be available online for a small fee.

“My desire is to bring the Ekklesia into a greater alignment in this region for awakening. I believe the greater Nashville area is primed for this and will be a first fruits for the nation for awakening and revival - we have a great expectancy for this gathering.”

Greg then prays:

“Father, we thank You today for Your presence and for what You are doing in America. We also thank You for what You’re doing in the church. Father, we ask that today You would bend us, bring us into a place that You have created us to function and flow from. We know that we are not where we need to be for the path You have before us, but we ask that You break those things off us, mentally and spiritually, we have tied ourselves to, that have hindered Your Ekklesia from being whom You’ve called us to be. Father, we know we have made great strides within the past few years. Help us to navigate and accelerate in this curve of change You have us in that will propel us in America’s awakening and revival. I thank You that everyone who is participating in the GH15 with us today is going to see themselves locked into the body of Christ like You called them to be. We give You glory and honor today for what You’re doing in and through us in America and around the world.”

Dutch closes:

“Greg, I agree with that prayer and know all of those joining us today are, as well.”

Copyright © 2022 Dutch Sheets Ministries, All rights reserved.

Fearless and Focused

From Dutch Sheets:

I am always interested when I find an article and statement regarding the Ekklesia. This, as many of you know, is Christ’s legislative arm on earth, translated “church” in Matthew 16. Our friend, Gina Gholston, sent me the following word she received from the Lord regarding His Ekklesia.

“The purposes of God for our nation are absolutely not a lost cause. The moment of history we are in has not taken God by surprise. One may be tempted to look through the eyes of the flesh and conclude that America is too far gone, but such is not the case. Known of God from the foundation of the world has been the content and outcome of His righteous plan. He is not chasing the devil, as though satan is ahead and God has to catch up with and overcome him. God is not, nor has He ever been, behind, and He is not reacting to what hell is trying to accomplish. God is working His plan!

“‘Through the finished work of the Cross, Jesus brought ‘many sons to glory’ (Hebrews 2:10). God has placed in these ‘many sons’ the Spirit of His Son, Jesus, who enables and empowers us to be His effective representatives in the world. He has strategically prepared and placed His sons and daughters in positions all across this nation and the world, and through them, He will work and accomplish His full intentions for all nations.

“The Ekklesia that Jesus built, His church, His body, is now standing with readiness to move and work with and for Him. They are not distracted by works of darkness that have blinded the eyes of so many. Regardless of how things may appear in the world around us, these devoted warriors stand with confidence, knowing that God is faithful and will never violate His covenant nor alter the word that has gone out of His lips (Psalm 89:34). They are not leaning on their own understanding, but trusting in the Lord with all of their hearts, in all their ways they acknowledge God, and He is directing their paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). They are persuaded that Christ always causes them to triumph and that, through them, He will release the fragrance of the knowledge of Himself everywhere they go (2 Corinthians 2:14). They do not depend on their own might or strength, but are strong in the power of His might (see Ephesians 6:10); through God, they do valiantly as He goes before them to tread down every enemy (Psalm 60:12). God has awakened and positioned the Ekklesia with understanding and revelation for such a time as this. Through us, He will show Himself strong and make Himself known.

“I heard the Spirit of the Lord say, ‘The boot heels of My marching army are creating a sound that is shifting the ground beneath them. The weightiness of My presence in them and on them is causing movement as they step in time to My rhythm. They are fearless and focused, moving by My Spirit, and the gates of hell will not prevail against them.’

“There is an unstoppable movement of the righteous, and through us, God will come and make things right again! We are not fighting against people. That must be understood. Our warfare is not with flesh and blood, but we are adequately and powerfully equipped to successfully extinguish every plot, scheme, and agenda of hell that has been launched in an attempt to overthrow God’s purposes for our lives and the existence of America.

“The Lord says, ‘There is order coming out of the chaos. My order is being established. It is a transformation. In the transformation, much and many will shake, but what remains will be a foundation, and My glorious church will rise and build with authority and the backing of My power. There has been disorder, but now, I say, watch My order being established and My will being done. Watch and see as My glory comes.’

“I remember a short vision the Lord once gave me where I saw the page of a book being caught by a blast of wind. A page turned and revealed a new page. There I saw the entire chapter of Mark 11. I gasped! Then the vision ended.

“I immediately opened my Bible and read Mark chapter 11. As I read those verses, I was heavily drawn to the first three words of verse 11: ‘And Jesus entered…’ The glory of God just seemed to surround me, and I felt a strong knowing that the King of glory is about to make a triumphant entrance—not for the church, not yet, but into the church and into the nations with an unavoidable awareness of His presence. And everything is about to change!

“The King is here. The church and America are rising with a show-stopping declaration: ‘Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me’ (Micah 7:8 KJV).

“Jesus is declaring and enforcing His verdicts through His surrendered Ekklesia. We are now rising with confidence that God is with us—Christ is in us—and His Spirit empowers us to be His effective representatives on the earth! He has put His words in our mouths. As His Ekklesia, we speak with His unmatched authority, and He watches over His words to perform and fulfill them with the backing of His might and the demonstration of His power! He works through us so the world will see and know that He alone, is God! We place our trust in Him. Besides Him, there is no savior, and in Him, there is no defeat! He has declared the future of this land, and He will save America. The King lives within us. Through us, He will work His plan, and no one and nothing can stop or reverse what He has come to do!”

Pray with me:

Lord, we are Your Ekklesia, filled with Your Spirit, and called to fulfill Your purposes for this time in history! We take our place on the timeline of Your plan with undaunted confidence and faith in You. Our eyes are focused on You. Our ears are attentive to Your leading, and our lives are devoted to You as vessels through which You can work. Show us Your glory. Be who You are! Do what You do! All-consuming Fire, consume us with Yourself. Burn off every hindrance. Clothe us with Your righteousness and stand us up as unmistakable, easily recognizable carriers of Your glory. May the weightiness of Your presence on us create a holy movement. We march to the rhythm of Holy Spirit as He guides us according to Your great wisdom and intentions. May we be carriers of Your spirit in undeniable demonstrations of Your transforming glory. In the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen!

Our decree:

As Christ’s representatives, the Ekklesia stands with anointing and power to enforce His righteous verdict: America shall be saved!

Modern-Day Heroes Needed

From Dutch Sheets:

This month of July is incredibly significant. God is doing much. I have heard of at least four major prayer journeys to DC and elsewhere over the weekend, which Holy Spirit led others to do independently from one another. Some have sent us pictures from their prayer assignments. This is all so obviously orchestrated by Holy Spirit, which makes it incredibly encouraging. We must continue to persevere.

After my assignment in Washington, DC, on Thursday of last week, I went to Boston to be with my friends, Jon and Jolene Hamil, at Faneuil Hall. This gathering, like DC, was very powerful and timely. Faneuil Hall is referred to as the “Cradle of Liberty.” It was there where founder Samuel Adams and others met to give impassioned speeches, appealing to New Englanders to fight for liberty. The building reeks of history; when there, I can feel it oozing from the floors and walls. Without question, in the 1700s, the world was changed from Faneuil Hall. In our era, God has led many back to this important place in order to tap into the synergy of the ages and re-stake claim to our nation. I have spoken there four times in the last dozen or so years. Preaching with pictures and busts of Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, George Washington, and other patriots staring at you is daunting and humbling, to say the least.

Last night for a couple of hours, I watched a TV series regarding the American Revolution. It was very moving. Thousands of patriots paid a horrible price for the freedom we enjoy and to further the God-given destiny of our nation. We must never let this be stolen. I cried as I heard a phrase from Emerson’s poem, Concord Hymn. The poem is considered a classic, but the phrase that overwhelmed me speaks of the “Spirit, that made those heroes dare to die, and leave their children free.” (1)

Those heroes indeed possessed incredible hearts and spirits, and they gave everything - including their very lives - to purchase the freedoms we enjoy. Yet, the price they paid forever changed the world. Their ranks consisted not only of fully grown men, but also young teenage boys and girls, women, and, yes, freed slaves.

Whether it be teenager Sybil Ludington’s 40-mile midnight ride to help gather militiamen for a battle in Danbury, Connecticut, or Betty Zane’s heroic dash to retrieve gunpowder for the fighting men around her, there were many heroes.

Nancy Hart is another example. “Standing six feet tall, the red-headed and muscular Hart made an imposing figure for those who dared to cross her. Her fearlessness prompted Cherokee neighbors to call her ‘Wahatche,’ which meant ‘war woman.’ This nickname would prove appropriate as the Revolution moved into the Georgia backcountry, and Hart became a staunch defender of the Patriot cause…

“As the Revolution moved into the Southern colonies, Nancy played an important role fighting against Tories in the Georgia backcountry. Hart succeeded in outsmarting British opponents on multiple occasions, frequently disguising herself as a ‘crazy man’ and wandering through British camps to procure information for the Patriots. When one of Hart’s children discovered a British soldier spying on the Hart home, Nancy doused the man with boiling water that she was using to make soap before tying him up and turning him over to Patriot forces…

“Though Hart gained recognition after the war for a variety of exploits, one of the most popular stories involved her capture of several British soldiers. According to local legend, six British soldiers entered the Hart home to question Nancy about assisting a Patriot in escaping from the Redcoats. The soldiers then demanded that Nancy feed them, and displaying unusual hospitality, Nancy agreed to host them, providing a fair share of food and drink. With help from her 12-year-old daughter, Sukey, Hart succeeded in discreetly removing several of the soldiers’ muskets from the stack they had formed in the corner of the room. Hart had passed two of the firearms to Sukey through a gap in the wall before the soldiers noticed. Hart instructed the soldiers to remain where they were, and when one of them rose to approach her, she shot him dead and wounded one of the others before taking the remaining four men hostage. Sukey ran to inform Benjamin [her husband], who returned to the cabin. After debating whether to shoot the remaining men or hang them, the Harts and their neighbors decided to hang the soldiers from a nearby tree. The story became a local legend after the war, and variations of the tale have continued to circulate since then. In 1912, a railroad company’s archaeological excavation of the land near Hart’s cabin unearthed six skeletons, suggesting that some version of [the story] was true.” (2)

I encourage you to pick up freedom’s baton; it has been handed to our generation, but we must each do our part. Though our weapons are spiritual, not physical - and the battle is, as well - it is no less real and important. If you see the spiritual war for America’s future as only about money, possessions, and physical well-being, you are missing heaven’s point of view. This spiritual battle is regarding the eternities of hundreds of millions of people around the world. America was raised up to take the gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. That…is what we must contend for.

I encourage you again, as I did in Monday’s post, to move out from the prayer closet occasionally, and do some onsite praying. Ask Holy Spirit to show you, your prayer group, or even your congregation where He needs you to pray. It may be your neighborhood, a school (after hours), your city or state government headquarters, a historic site, or perhaps a trip to DC. Be wise, obey laws and respect other people, but consider doing this. I’ve been on some prayer journeys that have changed my life!

And one other thing: Pastors, I urge you never to let a service take place where prayer for government, your city, and the coming revival does not take place. Real prayer! - not just a perfunctory mention. Take some time and pray! Ask a trusted leader or two, or perhaps some kids to lead in prayer for a couple of minutes. Doing this regularly will help you build your church into a house of prayer, as Jesus declared it to be (Matthew 21:13).

I also challenge pastors and leaders to pray over the children before this new school year begins. It’s important that we are diligent in keeping them covered with prayer, and also teach them about the armor of God, placing it around them each day (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Let’s all do our part to continue the prayer siege in America. We are winning…because appealing to heaven still works!

Pray with me:

Father, thank You for the awakening that has occurred in the Ekklesia. Incredible amounts of revelation have been poured out on us over the past 40-50 years. “Yet, still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate” [taken from A Mighty Fortress (3)]. He works consistently to counteract us. But we declare that he will lose.

We ask You for a heightened level of alertness and discernment for Your church. We are grateful for increases of prophetic revelation - dreams, visions, prophecies, and Spirit-led direction for our prayers. But we ask for more…from glory to glory, faith to faith, and strength to strength. You overcame satan; as Your body, we will enforce Your victory. Send Your people out into their world to release Your Kingdom authority.

We continue to ask for the release of Your battering rams into the spirit of Baal’s defenses in Washington, DC, especially at the White House. We ask for warring angels to implement these battering rams. You have exposed Baal, now you are expelling him. We declare by faith that we will have a Spirit-filled, Spirit-led person in the Oval Office, one who openly welcomes You in on a daily basis. Give us anointed worship and 24-hour prayer in the White House. Take over, Lord! We boldly ask for these things in Christ’s name.

Our decree:

We decree that when we die, we will leave our children free, and America will continue exporting the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

1. https://www.preaching.com/articles/preacher-get-it-right/
2. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/301222-you-and-i-have-a-rendezvous-with-destiny-we-will
3. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63389/roosevelts-man-arena

A Watchman Decree Over America

 As a Patriot of faith, I attest my allegiance first and foremost to the kingdom of God and the Great Commission. Secondly, I agree to be a watchman over our nation concerning its people and their rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

WHEREAS:

• we, the Church, are God’s governing Body on the earth
• we have been given legal power and authority from heaven 
• we are God’s ambassadors and spokespeople over the earth
• through the power of God, we are His world influencers
• because of our covenant with God, we are equipped and delegated by Him to destroy every attempted advance of the enemy

WE MAKE OUR DECLARATIONS:

1. We decree that America’s executive branch of government will honor God and defend the Constitution.
2. We decree that our legislative branch (Congress) will write only laws that are righteous and constitutional.
3. We decree that our judicial system will issue rulings that are biblical and constitutional.
4. We declare that we stand against wokeness, the occult, and every evil attempt against our nation.
5. We declare that we now take back our God-given freedoms, according to our Constitution.
6. We declare that we take back influence at the local level in our communities.
7. We decree that we take back and permanently control positions of influence and leadership in each of the **Seven Mountains.
8. We decree that the blood of Jesus covers and protects our nation. It protects and separates us for God.
9. We declare that our nation is energy independent.

10. We declare that America is strong spiritually, financially, militarily and technologically.

11. We decree that evil carries no power, authority or rights in our land nor over our people.

12. We decree that we will operate in unity, going beyond denominational lines in order to accomplish the purposes of God for our nation.

13. And we decree that AMERICA SHALL BE SAVED!

 

We know this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. We know the truth; therefore, we stand for truth and will NEVER be deceived! We will NEVER stop fighting!

We will NEVER, EVER, EVER give up or give in!

We WILL take our country back.

We WILL honor the ONE TRUE GOD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! AMERICA SHALL BE SAVED!

“Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness]. For He says, ‘At the acceptable time (the time of grace) I listened to you, and I helped you on the day of salvation.’ Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation.’” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2; AMP)

*Watchman Decree was written and shared by Flashpoint on 7/1/2022.

**Seven Mountains of Influence includes media, business/finance, family, education, politics, arts/entertainment, and religion.

Mercy in the Midst of the Shaking

I was recently pondering why certain things in our nation can be so obvious to some and not to others. I get that some people are simply uninformed and ignorant. Also, I realize that others have been propagandized and deceived - they actually believe the foolish ideologies and dogmas of the left. This seemed easy to comprehend. But I was wondering how the very educated and seemingly smart individuals in government, media, and education could be so blind to the effects of their decisions.

Consider the following examples:

• Our border crisis: no honest person could believe it is healthy for a nation to not have secure borders. With our open borders: human trafficking is now rampant; rapes are common; children come in by the thousands without adult care; terrorists, criminals, and gang members come in by the hundreds, probably thousands; fentanyl and other drugs flow into our nation by the truckload - 100,000 people (mostly young people) were killed in the past year by overdoses… all in order for the left to increase their voter base. This is unconscionable.
• Inflation: The economic situation is out of control and will get worse before it gets better. Gas prices will continue to skyrocket and food prices will, as well. Shortages will continue and increase. This is all avoidable but, unfortunately, the left’s hatred of fossil fuels trumps the suffering their ideology is creating. A recent report I saw from the farming industry stated emphatically that the current food shortages and price increases are nothing compared to what is coming.
• Crime: I knew before I even heard of “the summer of rage” being called for by the radical left, that the violence was coming. Fasten your seatbelts - it is going to get ugly. And liberal DA’s around the nation refuse to prosecute criminals and anarchists.
• Mandates: Any honest person could see how the mandates of the past two years were hurting people more than helping them, especially our children. Lives were lost, mental problems were caused, financial devastation was incurred, and damage to the development of our children - mentally, emotionally, and physically - was staggering. It will take years for all of the negative effects to be fully understood. In spite of all this, the left was unmoved.
• Transgenderism: The immorality we allowed into America over the past 50 years has now devolved into moronic thinking. The assertion that preschoolers should be taught that they can change or choose their own gender is, quite frankly, depraved and unthinkable.
• Government: out of control, corrupt and inept. No explanation needed.

While pondering those things, and asking myself the question, “Why can’t these people see what they are doing to our nation?” the answer became obvious. They can no longer be given the benefit of the doubt - they do see it. The thought then occurred to me, “When people double down on stupid, it is not always stupidity. Sometimes it is intentional.”

The highly educated and intelligent people making these decisions know exactly what they are doing. It is all intended to give them more control, keep them in power, and reshape America as a weaker, non-Christian, socialist and globalist nation. And sadly, many of those who actually do believe the insanity are willfully ignorant. The following verses are applicable:

“They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.’” (Job 21:14)

“But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 7:11-12)

“For the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:15)

“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.” (Romans 1:28)

“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." (Ephesians 4:17-19)

I have good news and bad news to share. First, the bad: This is going to get worse before it gets better. Contrary to what some think, faith is not denying the existence of facts and reality, it is the refusal to accept them as the final verdict: Faith is a strong conviction that God is not at the mercy of facts, evil and destructive circumstances. It is an unshakable confidence that these things can be changed through prayer, God’s power, and faith in His word.

Why do I believe things will get worse before they get better? Because Americans - including the church - allowed unrighteous, ungodly, and unprincipled people to be placed in power and their tenure isn’t over. What we now have, we allowed. Past wake-up calls over the last couple of decades went unheeded and now we are reaping the whirlwind. The merciful shaking - caused by our rejection of God and truth - will serve its purpose of exposing evil and awakening our nation.

Now, the good news: God has NOT given up on America. He is NOT finished with this nation being a voice for Him throughout the earth. He WILL send the great awakening we often speak of and turn this nation around. The greatest harvest in history IS coming and WILL NOT be stopped. America will play an important role. He has CHOSEN to use us, and He will - not exclusively, but we will play a significant role. Because of this, I am confident America shall be saved!

My counsel to the remnant Ekklesia in this season is: do not waiver in your faith, persevere in your prayers and obedience, and keep your focus on the Lord and what He is doing. Isaiah 26.3-4 (AMP) tells us: “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character] Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], For the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”

Be strong, church! We always triumph in Christ.

Pray with me:

Father, we thank You for Your great mercy. America has, in a most blatant way, rejected You, Your Son, and Your ways. We have no one to blame for our problems but ourselves - we’re reaping the wages of sin. However, the condition we are experiencing is why revival comes. Common sense alone tells us that revival comes because people need it, not because they are healthy and filled with life.

We are confident in Your love. We are confident that You love to save. We are confident that Your mercy triumphs over judgment. We are confident that heaven rejoices over one lost soul coming to Christ. We are confident that You love the world - that’s why You sent Your Son. We are confident that no shaking can damage or hinder Your kingdom. And we are confident that America shall be saved and returned to her role as a voice for You on the earth.

As Christ taught us, we command forth Your kingdom rule and will on earth, as it is in heaven! Amen.

Our decree:

We decree that good will overcome evil, and the ever-increasing Kingdom of Christ is moving into its finest hour (see Isaiah 9:6-7).

The Times We Live In

(From guest contributor Greg Hood)

If there has ever been a day when we needed to walk in the Spirit, it is today. In doing so, our nation will more wisely navigate through these turbulent times. Psalm 2:1 tells us, “Why are the nations in an uproar and the people devising a vain thing?”

This verse asks questions of us today, questions that demand answers.

• Why is America in an uproar?
• Why are we seeing things today on an unprecedented scale that we have never seen before?

In times past, we saw protests which were largely peaceful like those Dr. Martin Luther King led. Today, we are seeing organized riots and looting. Groups are actually bringing death and anarchy into our streets, defying the laws of the land, and defying God. Never before in the history of America—have we seen such hostility.

America is not perfect. We have our problems. In times past, like today, we've had corruption, desperation, and dark times when we pulled away from God. Unlike many nations, however, America’s corruption has been hidden, and when exposed, we attempted to deal with it. Today, the light of God is shining in our nation for revival and awakening. It’s exposing darkness on a whole new level.

There has never been a time of greater exposure of wickedness in our nation's history that I can recall. The devil wants to gain a foothold in America for evil. However, this only exposes his plans. We are seeing darkness exposed by light and the elements of evil are running. We are seeing all kinds of evil manifesting to keep their foothold in America, trying to hang on to its authority. By God, however, they are losing their grip on this nation as the Ekklesia is being positioned into a place of a great awakening and revival.

We must look past the surface of current events to see as God sees, to react as God reacts, to receive the manifestation of heaven that God desires on the earth.

Why is America in an uproar? Because change is here. I declare to you that we will see peace in this nation. Chaotic times cannot remain. Our God is not fazed by what He sees on the news. He cares about His purpose for this nation.

Now, we know that God is a God of judgment. We understand that nations are either going to be goat nations or sheep nations. Look at Psalm 9:17 with me. It reads, “The wicked will return to Sheol, even all the nations who forget God.”

The wicked will return to Sheol as the righteous return to God. The nations of the earth are evolving. God is bringing about His righteous judgment on the earth.

Evil will cease. Righteousness will prevail. Jesus wins! King Jesus has overcome the world and He is raising up an Ekklesia—a church that will not back down until we see the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our God. As we press toward “the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” we are causing the kingdoms of this world to become the kingdoms of our God.

Consider with me the description of Issachar from 1 Chronicles 12:32: “Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times with the knowledge of what Israel should do…”

The entire tribe was ready for action.

Let’s unpack this verse and get some very important things back in place.

This word “understood” in 1 Chronicles 12:32 means “an understanding,” of course. It also means: “discernment; truth; to discern; to act wisely; intelligent; to interpret; to be investigative; a skilled teacher; understanding and he will gain.”

With this definition, knowledge is more than just “Oh, I know.” Rather, we seek understanding to be able to gain, move forward, and progress the agenda of the heart of the Father throughout the earth.

The clearest meaning of “understand” is “truth.” Today, truth is more detested than a lie.

Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

We are in that day right now. We have news cycles all day long, 24/7, but little of it is truth. Instead, we are seeing reporting seeking to change our culture, our times, and the assignments that God has given us as individuals and as a nation.

America is in a cultural war over the revision of history. The fact is, you cannot erase your history and correct your history at the same time. History must be learned before its lessons are clear. Erasure is ignorance. We embrace our history for what it is—a historical record of the good and the bad and everything in between—so we can move forward with healing and wisdom from God and not repeat our mistakes. To not repeat history is to know history, not erase it.

America, and the world in general, faces a rising tide of activist groups operating behind noble-sounding titles and agendas. And some are noble, but many are cleverly disguised to divide and dismantle the plan and the purpose of God for America.

Here is a verse for you, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:14-17)

As we navigate through these times, we cannot succumb to operating in survival mode. It does no good to tread water until Jesus returns and “snatches” us out of here. We are partnered with an army of angels on a battlefield— we are kings called to the frontlines to strategically overcome and overtake the enemy so that the Kingdom of God can be expanded around the world.

Again, from 1 Chronicles, “understood the times” is a powerful description. It literally means “to always have understanding.” My redneck definition of this is, “being in step with God or being current with Him on current events.”

God is speaking today. He is not silent today or any day. There is always an open heaven. We may not always hear Him, but God is always talking.

When the Scripture refers to “the times,” it means “appointed times, circumstances, intervals, timely by year.” So, it is not just the time or a season but an appointed time. We are in an appointed time—a time in our lives when we need to step up as never before. The opposition is great. Darkness is real. The enemy is in our face. But today is the day, we say: “Back off, satan, you have crossed the line.”

1 John 4:4 encourages us in this, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

It is time for the Ekklesia to capitalize on this opportune time God has us in. We were born for this! Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, square your shoulders and declare: “I am ready. Here I am, God. Send me. I will be a voice. I will be the light. I will be what You need me to be to turn this nation into a place of revival and awakening.”

Listen, family, when you don’t know what to do - fear sets in, people stay still, chaos erupts - the enemy invades and his agenda takes root. We are seeing the majority of the church experiencing this today.

Yet God wants His church in motion. We are not called to be stagnant. We are not retreating. We are moving forward. We are pressing on towards the mark of the prize of the high calling that is in Christ Jesus. (see Philippians 3:13-16)

We need the mantle of Issachar manifesting in the church today. It is vital to us seeing and receiving the fire of God into our lives and the nation. This is not about individuals’ relationships with God, but about the Ekklesia—the body of Christ coming together to bring the awakening and revival that we need and have been crying out for.

The fact is, God is waiting on us, the church; we are not waiting on God. We need to rise up in the functioning apostolic, prophetic anointing that God has given His Ekklesia. We need the Issachar mantle so we will know what to do. We don’t need any more good ideas. We need Kingdom ideas. We do not need to hear from men. We need to hear from God. We need to hear from God through His sons and daughters. Then we will have the answers we need to bring peace to a chaotic world.

Pray with me:

Father, we know that our nation is in a very dark place, and corruption is at a level we cannot remember seeing before. We ask that You give us that Issachar Mantle that we may step into a new place of understanding our time, so that we may bring to our nation the answers needed to release revival and awakening on a level not yet seen, in the name of King Jesus, amen!

Our decree:

We decree that we are ready. Here we are, God. Send us. We decree we will be Your voice. We will be the light. We will be what You need us to be to turn this nation into a place of revival and awakening.

Copyright © 2022 Dutch Sheets Ministries, All rights reserved.

Impossible People

There is an obvious diversity of thought in the body of Christ regarding the future of America and, indeed, the world. Some believers hold no hope for a great, worldwide revival. There are various reasons for this. One of them is due to an eschatological view that there will be an across the board, worldwide increase of evil and deterioration of righteousness, including within the Church. In their thinking, a pre-tribulation rapture of the church is the only thing that can and will save us. Others do not see a revival and turnaround in America simply because of the degree and depth of our sin, compounded by the fact that more Americans aren’t repenting of and turning from our evil ways. (I write of my feelings toward this in my book, An Appeal To Heaven.) They also would point to the continued trending toward darkness by so many. This thinking that America is heading toward destruction has recently been confirmed in their minds by recent dreams and prophecies warning of America’s judgment and destruction.

While I am not disputing anyone’s dream or word in this post - as yesterday’s post stated, great shakings are coming - I am contending that judgment can be lessened and, at times, stopped by intercession (Genesis 18:22-33; Ezekiel 22:30-31). I am also contending that if judgment is reaped/does occur, it will be redemptive and America will survive. God is not finished with America!

I first heard the words, “America shall be saved,” from the late Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, who contended that he heard it from Holy Spirit. Then, God gave a powerful dream to our friend, Gina Gholston, in which an angel announced the words at the U.S. Capitol. I know there will be some shaking, but I also know America SHALL be saved.

My friend and fellow-believer in America’s unfinished destiny, William Ostan, agrees and wrote the following case for continued prayer for our nation. His belief in prayer’s effectiveness is why he introduced me years ago to the Appeal To Heaven flag. Will knows, “It still works.” He states:

“As world events have continued to spiral out of control with massive inflation crippling an already weakened America, a resurgent Russia’s illegitimate war in Ukraine, and an aggressive China making its intentions plain for eventual world domination by the end of this decade, the church now has a stark choice on how it responds to these and other difficult circumstances. Will we retreat in the face of overwhelming odds and prepare for what some deem an inevitable defeat? Or will we stay engaged in the culture through prevailing prayer and a resolute determination to overcome the odds, becoming ‘impossible people’?

“In his book, Impossible People: Christian Courage and the Struggle for the Soul of Civilization, author Os Guinness[1] writes,

“‘In the golden era of the Roman Empire, Pliny the Younger advised Emperor Trajan that Christians should be executed solely for their tenacity and intransigence. “Whatever the nature of their admission, I am convinced that their stubbornness and unshakable obstinacy ought not to go unpunished.”’[2].

“Christians in the early church confronted far more dire consequences than we do today, including instantaneous death or dismemberment for illegally proclaiming the gospel, yet they refused to stay silent and cower in fear! Instead, they became known as ‘impossible people’ because of their courageous stand marked by ‘unshakable obstinacy.’ We would be wise to draw inspiration from their strength for our current cultural moment!

“Guinness accurately describes the thinking in America by stating, “‘Christians throughout the West often appear to be on the back foot. They have been told repeatedly that their prospects are hopeless. In a thousand withering dismissals we have heard that we are fighting a losing battle and the game is already over. [As] Christians…our day is done, our disagreements with others are a matter of bigotry, and we are reactionaries and on the “wrong side of history.”’[3]

“We are fed these lies by the world daily and, sadly, at times by some leaders in the church. For years, countless books, articles, and speeches have stated that a ‘post-Christian’ America is fait accompli, and her eventual doom is imminent.

“How did we come to believe these lies? In my opinion, one of the reasons is that some leaders have constructed an idol of comfort in the hearts of millions of American Christians. But instead of being lulled into complacency, we need to be reawakened to our holy calling as ‘impossible people,’ those who will suffer anything for the glorious cause of Christ and stand resolutely in the face of cultural decay, come what may.

“Guinness teaches us that, “‘As salt and light in today’s extraordinary world, our contribution is indispensable. We are not simply guardians of some of the best of the past, but pioneers whose task is to stand against the world for the future of the world – and for the very sake of humanity.’[4]

“‘Standing against the world’ simply means to resist the unbiblical ideals and control of those who oppose the church. And I want to home in on Guinness’ ‘very sake of humanity’ phrase. Recently, there have been some prophetic words and dreams matriculating through the body of Christ that predict several states seceding from the union, significant food shortages, and a total dismantling of our monetary policy. I’m not qualified to say if these predictions are true or not.

“However, I am confident that if these things occur, there will be major rioting and looting, leading to much death and destruction. The ‘thin red line’ between order and chaos will rapidly cease to exist. Storing up a few cans of food and bottles of water would likely be the least of our concerns. If the dreams are from God and come to pass, I believe we will experience widespread suffering in America at a level unknown since the Civil War.

“One of the reasons God gives His people dreams of this nature is so we can pray fervently for mercy and turn the tide of history. At times, however, the unintended consequence of hearing a warning dream can be to short-circuit the praying church, causing them to acquiesce and hunker down for the inevitable. This is human nature. The worst may indeed come to pass. BUT, I believe ‘history belongs to the intercessors’[5] who are willing to change it through prayer and fasting.[6] Mercy may once again triumph over judgment!

“Some of you may be thinking that I’m ‘Pollyannish’ or ‘blindly love America too much’ to see the impending judgment. I ask you to consider the heroes in the book of Hebrews’ ‘Hall of Faith.’ Their incredible exploits compel us to continued engagement. Allow these words from Hebrews 11:32-34 and 12:1-2 to permeate deep into your heart and mind:

“‘And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets – who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight…Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.’[7]

“Overcoming overwhelming odds by being ‘impossible people’ is not just in our spiritual DNA, it is our destiny. Winston Churchill echoed this truth during WW2 by teaching the following to all freedom-loving people, ‘When great causes are on the move in the world…we learn that we are spirits and not animals, and that something is going on in space and time, which, whether like it or not, spells “duty.’”[8]

“Friends, if a time of worldwide crisis is imminent, that is precisely why this is the greatest time to be alive, courageously following in the footsteps of the mighty men and women of the past who did their duty as ‘impossible people!’”

Pray with me:

Our Father, we ask You to show mercy to America. We plead with You to send another Great Awakening to our beloved country. We remind You of the memory of all the “impossible people” You used in our founding, during the civil war, the two world wars and other times of national crisis. Help us to do our duty today as “impossible people” while we serve Your purposes in our generation.

Lord Jesus, help us to run the race in this life while we look to You to for strength and encouragement. We acknowledge that the course laid out before us hasn’t changed; the conditions have simply become uncomfortable and unfavorable. Therefore, Holy Spirit, fill is afresh and anew as we set our faces toward the mark and run with endurance…for the sake of humanity.

Our decree:

We decree that as “impossible people” we will stand against the world, for the future of the world, and that America shall be saved!

Bio:

William J. Ostan is a medically retired U.S. Army Major and combat veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the Founder and President of Arc of Justice, a nonprofit organization that advocates for wounded warriors still on active duty. Will is currently spearheading the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights (H.R. 6043) in Congress. You can find out more about his story at www.arcofjusticeusa.org


[1] This post draws heavily from insights gleaned from Os Guinness’ books. In my opinion, he is one of the most important public intellectuals for the church today. He is extremely intelligent, humble, and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I’ve found this to be a rare trifecta. Os still has a paradigm for the possibility of nation-wide reformation through another Great Awakening. I highly recommend all his books but especially Renaissance, Last Call for Liberty, The Magna Carta of Humanity, and Impossible People.

[2] Os Guinness, Impossible People: Christian Courage and the Struggle for the Soul of Civilization (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2016), 30. Quoting Robert Louis Wilken, The Christians as the Romans Saw Them (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1983), 23.

[3] Guinness, Impossible People, 26.

[4] Ibid., 27.

[5]https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8333426-history-belongs-to-the-intercessors---those-who-believe-and

[6] In World Order, Henry Kissinger wrote “Each generation will be judged by whether the greatest, most consequential issues of the human condition have been faced, and that decision to meet these challenges must be taken by statesmen before it is possible to know what the outcome might be.” Accessed in Guinness, Impossible People, Quote Section. Put another way, the future is never inevitable so we must face it full of fiery faith empowered by the courage of our convictions while believing that we can partner with the Lord of History to fulfill His purposes in our generation (Acts 13:36). To choose abdication, appeasement, or acquiescence is to lose by default as nature abhors a vacuum and evil will inevitably fill the void. British statesman Edmund Burke put it best by stating, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

[7] ESV

[8] Guinness, Impossible People, Quote Section.

Copyright © 2022 Dutch Sheets Ministries, All rights reserved.