A Cry From the Heart of A Fatherless Generation

There is a cry in the hearts of a fatherless generation. God has given me dreams where I’ve seen the questions they’ve asked. I’ve heard the pain in their voices, the anger that has come in as a result of feeling fatherless and abandoned, and how the enemy has taken them captive because of it.

I’m not sure exactly who I’m talking to today. I know there is someone specific that has these questions in their heart. If I only reach the one, that’s ok. God has an answer for you, but before I go on, I want to say something. There are times when people fail us. In big ways and small ways, failure is a part of everyone’s life. The enemy is very good at twisting our perception of truth and spinning a lie so that what we believe is the most painful version of an event. Sometimes the truth looks nothing like what we have built it up to be in our mind. I know of situations like that, where the child saw a situation from one point of view, and then learning the parent’s side of the story, where one parent actually kept the other one from being able to be a part of the healing or help the child when they needed it. Yet, the child could only see what they thought they knew, and not the whole picture. Bitterness and fear tempt parents to play games and use their children as pawns all the time. It’s the most painful sort of game, with the children that suffer because of it. They grow up learning to take sides, and usually a skewed perception of one parent because of something the other parent did trying to win their child’s loyalty at any cost. My hope is that in reading through this, you can open the door to your heart a crack wider and see a bit more of the bigger picture. If you’ll open your heart to truth, that truth may hurt for a while but in the end it will help you heal.

A CRY FROM THE HURTING

I see a cry from a young woman. It may represent just one specific person, but again, it may represent many more. There is a cry from the daughters, a wail from the deep recesses of their heart, “Father, why did you not stand up for me? Why didn’t you fight for me, defend me when the enemy came in like a flood?” Sometimes this is the lie the enemy tells us about God. He accuses God in our minds as not being someone we can trust to take care of us. From parents that left their children far too soon to parents that were simply absent and unaccounted for in their manner of relating to their families, it has left behind a trail of woundedness and a sense of rejection. It has hardened the hearts of children and led them to believe that God is not real, or He is disinterested and unloving. Their cries were silent, while their soul suffered in disappointment when the men in their lives failed to stand up and lead like men. Perhaps it was simply a lack of knowing how to parent with love, strength and conviction; many men have not been fathered themselves. Perhaps it was due to men working or traveling long hours and they became unavailable. Perhaps weakness in their role models left entire generations of people feeling abandoned, confused and ill equipped for parenthood. Mothers and other women took up the slack and became the dominant role model, and many due to no fault of their own. In some situations it was just necessity, but God’s order got turned upside down, and that left it’s mark. A witchcraft spirit will cause the male role model to became despised and unwanted in some homes because the male authority is supposed to represent Christ's authority and God's divine order. If rebellion is allowed to grow, it lays the groundwork for the perverse spirit to gain an even stronger hold on the family. A spirit of fear often masquerades as manipulation, guilt and uses control to dominate the household. This spirit makes prey of others and turns them into victims. The perverse spirit twisted their perception of relationships, turned them upside down and reversed the order. Seducing spirits have led many individuals into a homosexual lifestyle, or a lifestyle marked by dependency upon anyone that could possibly fulfill their desire to be taken care of, even if it was in an illegitimate way outside of God’s design. People that are fearful and unsure of their own abilities, and those that cannot bring themselves to trust God, will look for security through dependence on others. The need to feel loved and secure has been so great that it took priority over wisdom, truth and faith. A new normal is defined yet it is far from healthy. Many, on some deeper level know it to be true; they are just afraid of feeling so lonely, rejected and fearful of an unknown future that they can’t bring themselves to face the truth and make the changes that are required to walk a different path. They have made someone else god in their life which will only ever produce feelings of dissatisfaction, more fear and insecurity, frustration and confusion.

WHY DIDN’T YOU LOVE ME? WHY DID YOU GIVE ME UP?

This word is even more specific. I see a young Muslim man that has the question in his heart,  “Why did you give me up?” “Why did you abandon me when I was yet so young and still innocent?” “What did I do to deserve being abandoned to a fate such as this?” Fear came in while you were still very young and has been your companion since your infancy. Fear is like this demonic guard dog that is with you night and day. You can’t get away from it, and it has left you angry and full of questions. This is a cry from many individuals. It affects both male and female, and this pain is being used to attract people into the wrong purposes. You lost your voice and lost your identity, and the enemy will try to convince you that you can force the world to hear you roar.The deception from the enemy is that you can fulfill a great cause and make your life count by making a strong statement and you force the world to finally hear you - but the lie is that you are aligned with the right cause. Anger blinds people to truth and the enemy is aware of that. If Satan can use your anger to achieve his purposes to kill, steal and destroy, then he will spin his lie suited to the lies he has told you in the past. He has, after all, forged your belief system to align with his. This is the hook the enemy is using to pull people into fighting for terrorist groups like ISIS. This cry is especially strong in the heart of Muslims, and the enemy is taking advantage of those without a sense of identity and purpose to lure them into fulfilling his agenda. Fathers and mothers are to impart a sense of identity and purpose in their children, but when those deep needs are not met, people will grow up looking for ways to fulfill purpose in ways that speak to their heart. If they are angry, their anger will draw them into things that channel that anger into a negative purpose. If they feel abandoned, they may look for a sense of family and connectedness in gangs or other ‘false family’ structures. How they perceive themselves, God and others has everything to do with how people seek a sense of fulfillment and purpose as they grow older.

I saw a Muslim youth in my dream. He wanted to know why his mother had given him up and did not fight for him. That is a hard thing to answer, but especially in that culture, for their world is remarkably different than the Western world. I understand the nature of what he was questioning, though. He wanted to know why someone didn’t save him from the life he was born into. He took it as an abandonment from God, and the enemy came in to tell him about a different god. You see, children are not born evil, but they can be born into it, and the enemy then begins the task of inflicting pain, corrupting their minds and hearts, and robbing them of all their innocence. Children are naturally innocent and it hurts them greatly to witness evil and become subject to that in their lives. Many Muslim children, especially those raised by extremists or in other parts of the world, are forced into doing things against their conscience, controlled by great fear, and learn to hate themselves in the process. It is a painful and terrible thing to rob children of their innocence and defile their conscience, for without the truth about the One who loves them...the One who died in their place so that they could know genuine forgiveness and wholeness...without the truth of how repentance and confession can cleanse the soul...without the truth about their Heavenly Father that is nothing at all like their earthly father...they must carry the weight of their sins. If someone never tells them the truth, they will never know that there is a far different reality for those that will choose Christ, for His blood can cleanse their soul from all the unrighteousness and painful memories that haunt their soul. His love can provide a way out of the life they didn’t choose for themselves.

No matter where you may be in life, if you’re feeling abandoned, rejected, fearful or angry about your past, present or future...The truth is, God did not abandon you. He has not abandoned any of us, for His word states in Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I prefer the Amplified version of the Bible for it says it like this: “...for He [God] [b]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor [c]give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [d][I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor [e]let [you] down ([f]relax My hold on you)! [[g]Assuredly not!]”

Psalm 91:1-16 offers this consolation, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, …”

Deut. 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

And 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

The truth is found in God’s word. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16,17.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

Romans 8:31-39 tells us the TRUTH.

31 “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I PRAY THAT TRUTH SHATTERS EVERY LIE!

Dear one, the enemy of your soul is not your father or mother. It’s understandable to feel angry when one is disappointed, hurt or betrayed. It makes a person feel inconsequential and unimportant, rejected. Your enemy is not those who failed to provide a good role model in your life, or those that did not stand up for you the way you wanted them to. People fail one another all the time. The enemy is not those who rejected you or left you feeling confused, betrayed or abandoned. It’s not those that have neglected to protect you from harm, disappointment or even those that have perpetuated evil against you. The enemy of us all is Satan himself. I pray that you realize this and allow truth to restore your soul, to deliver you out of captivity, and to revive your heart. I pray that you turn your broken, grieving heart over to the One who can make it whole again. Jesus can even restore your innocence if you will just trust Him to bring you out of bondage and into the light of His truth. You may never have all the answers as to why certain things happened in your life, or why you had to experience such deep disappointments, but that alone is not evidence that God - the real God - does not exist. The presence of pain, anger, or disappointment as a result of others’ actions does not validate whether or not your Heavenly Father is real. It simply means that those that contributed to your pain did not know God themselves or allow Him to change their heart for the better. They did not understand their true identity or that God is love. He has not left you, even when everything inside of you screamed that He abandoned you. Jesus has not left you, even when your mind was surrounded by darkness and discouragement. Even when the enemy, working through negative circumstances, tried to convince you otherwise. God is holy and cannot lie; He has always been with you even when you did not know how to connect with Him. He is with you now, if you will just take a step of faith and cry out to Him. Those that call to Him shall never be forsaken.

“Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3.

Restoring Marriage & Family

So many marriages and families are under attack. Sometimes in the midst of a battle it can be very easy to lose sight of who the real enemy is. It's not your spouse or children, it's the enemy of your soul. It's the one who wants to divide, conquer and destroy. Unfortunately, Satan looks for people to operate through in order to do his dirty work, because his goal is to perpetuate a curse. He wants to keep repeating a pattern of loss and discouragement in the family line. Satan looks for open doors, so that means we have to be wise enough to shut him down at every turn. Although problems are acted out in the natural, there can often be spiritually driven agendas by unseen forces. It's futile to try to solve spiritual problems with natural solutions. What you need is a spiritual solution, and that involves prayer.

Here is a prayer to heal marriage and family, but I encourage you to go the extra step and renounce the sins of your ancestors and help heal your family tree. Renounce things like jealousy, broken vows and covenants, pride, stubbornness, adultery, lying, idolatry, blame shifting and bitterness that came through your family tree. Ask Jesus to cover those sins with His blood, and help you with a fresh start. When you bring Holy Spirit into your marriage and family, God is there to help heal, restore and mend what was torn by the enemy. When you heal your family, you heal your future and those of your children, too.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help us shut the enemy out of our marriage and family. We repent for anger, power struggles, poor communication and dishonoring one another. We repent for any ways that we have rejected or disrespected one another. We chose to forgive each other of the past and we will not bring up old issues. We will not continue to blame each other for things that happened in the past. We repent for any sins of ourselves or others in our family line that led to adultery, jealousy, broken vows, and betrayal of trust or broken commitments. We ask that the sins of the past be broken off of us and forgiven. We ask You, Lord Jesus, to receive us as Your own. We believe You can heal our marriage and make it healthy. Let this be a brand new day.

We renounce fear, unloving spirits, anger, condemnation and criticism. We repent and renounce any ways we have entertained fault finding. Today we ask for grace to modify our behavior, to know when to remain silent, and appropriate ways of addressing issues. We ask for a release of Your love and grace to help bring lasting change. Give us eyes to see the positive things and help us bless those things deserving of praise. Help us to replace bad habits with good ones.

We come together now in a prayer of agreement, asking that you help us recover trust, love, honor and respect. Holy Spirit, forgive us for grieving you and not honoring Your authority over our marriage. We make a covenant with You now, and ask that You speak to us, bless us with wisdom and counsel from above. Help us to remember to honor You and ask You for help. Please protect our marriage from the plots and schemes of the evil one and workers of iniquity. Come and refresh our marriage. You can make all things new. You can resolve issues that on our own strength we cannot. Let the hurt feelings be washed away by the power of Your love. Breathe a fresh wind into us individually, but also into us as a couple, and let your love wash over our children, too. Fill us with Yourself, Holy Spirit. We need You. We cannot revive ourselves. Please, help us come back into divine order in all things and shut the enemy out of our thoughts, our responses, our family and our future. In Jesus name, amen .

Apostolic Declarations for Breaking New Ground

In the name and authority of Jesus Christ I declare:

That You, Father, will release a chain of events in this city and this geographic region that will demonstrate the example of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ through signs, wonders, miracles and breakthrough.

I declare the Holy Spirit is revealing spiritual realities of people’s heavenly identities, according to John 16:13.

I declare the eyes of people in this city and region are opened to discern apostolic and prophetic gifts in God's vessels, and they will heed the word of the Lord.

I declare a release of spiritual discernment to recognize the difference between ecclesiastical or natural authority vs. genuine spiritual authority.

I declare people will come out from idolatrous structures and systems and be separated unto God as it is written in 2 Cor. 6:17.

I declare the queen of heaven is unseated from ungodly thrones, and people have come out of the systems of corruption as it is written in Revelation 18:4.

I declare the Kingdom of God is confronting demonic structures and systems now, as it is written in Acts 17:30,21 and Acts 19:8.

I declare people’s eyes to be opened and their hearts receptive to receive truth and hope related to their heavenly calling and purpose, in Jesus name.

I declare the people in this city and this geographic region will no longer walk according to the evil desires of lust, greed and envy, and they will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

I declare people in this city and this geographic region will lose the desire to pursue selfishness, idolatry and will not be led by unfruitful thoughts and fantasies, in Jesus name.

I declare the love and mercy of God is released in ever increasing measure in this city and in this region.

I declare the idolatrous systems in this city and geographic region are overturned as it is written in Judges 6:25-27.

I declare the ungodly spiritual forces ruling the economic, government, education and religious systems in this city and this region are torn down and the government of the Lord Jesus Christ is established according to Isaiah 9:6.

I declare a release of persevering faith that breaks open new ground in this city and this region.

I declare people in this city and this region will experience a great baptism of the Holy Spirit, as it is written in Acts 1:4 and Acts 2:1-4.

I declare people in this city and region will be born of the Spirit and of the Water of the Holy Spirit and enter the Kingdom of God according to John 3:5.

I declare people will receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands as it is written in Acts 8:15-18.

I declare the exponential increase of the power of Holy Spirit to do good works, to heal the sick, to cast out demons, and raise the dead, as it is written in Acts 10:38.

I declare people in this city and region will have an awakening to the reality that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in them, as it is written in Romans 8:11.

I declare a release of supernatural forgiveness, grace and mercy in Jesus name.

I declare households and families are coming into right relationship and divine order in Jesus name.

I declare the passion, authority and fire of God is demonstrated in ever increasing measure.

I declare an awakening of heart and minds to align with the plans and purposes of the Kingdom of God throughout this city and region, and people will be eager to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to them, as it is written in Acts 10:33.

These things have been declared according to Your promise, Father, in Job 22:28. What we have decided upon shall be established so that light will shine on our ways, in Jesus name.

Keep Praying! Your Prayers Are Setting Off Spiritual Bombs!

Before I give this word, I want to clarify that God is a God of love and mercy. I don't take His words lightly, and neither should you, because they are anointed to produce exactly what He has said! Each word of God is filled with such power, it's like handling live grenades. When you send out the word, angels pick up those words and get in position. The effect of our prayers drop like stealth aircraft releasing bombs. God releases the fulfillment of the word and it is carried out the way He has decided ahead of time. Even though God is a God of mercy, He is also a God of justice. He cannot fulfill mercy without also exercising what is just and fair against the works of evil. In 2 Kings 3:18 the prophet Elisha told the king to grab some arrows and strike the ground as a sign that he would defeat his enemy. The king, however, did not realize the importance of continuing to strike the ground in this prophetic act. His lack of passion and obedience for the task at hand won him only a partial, short-lived victory when he could have received a much greater victory. Let us not make the same mistake. It's time to strike the enemy and bombard heaven with the word of God! Strike like you mean it!

Even though it was early in the day, I have been so extremely exhausted that I lay down for a short nap. I know by now that it's a spiritual heaviness. Usually that can be a sign that God wants to give me a dream and reveal spiritual realities, and He was faithful to do so! Before I took a nap I prayed and asked the Lord to show me something that would be a word of encouragement to His body, and this is what He showed me:

What I saw in the dream was a group of ordinary people who had been betrayed by a much larger entity and taken captive. I am not sure what sort of organization it was, but it felt a lot like government. There were people being held against their will in various hidden locations. Then suddenly, one person came in and began to free them. Instead of being afraid, they began working together and they went about freeing one another, then they went after their captors. They were sneaking around, investigating, and setting bombs to ambush them. Because they had been captives, they knew exactly where to find their captors. They went about locking doors and setting off bombs to catch their captors off guard and unaware! I saw one person grab a man by the throat and continue to choke him until he was subdued and almost lifeless. All of this took place in what looked like a big underground parking garage, but as these captives were set free they began to come out in the sunlight.

Now, the interpretation: There are many people in hidden places, just ordinary men and women that have reached the end of what they will tolerate. They are rising up together in prayer and going for the throat of their enemies! They are using their spiritual authority to lock doors and set off bombs that the enemy never expected. Ambushes are being set and they will blow up the house of the enemy!

That is good news! Let's grab our arrows of God's word and strike at the enemy!

In the name and authority of Jesus Christ:

Father, I thank You for going ahead of us and throwing the enemy into confusion driving out the wicked, for it is written in Exodus 23:27, "I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.”

I declare that the Commander of the Heavenly Hosts is setting ambushes for the enemy, according to 2 Chronicles 20:22.

I declare the enemy has turned on one another and has destroyed one another from within their own camp, according to Judges 7:22.

I thank You, Father, that You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me, according to Psalm 18:39.

I declare the ungodly and corrupt leaders are deposed from their office and they are ousted from their positions, according to Isaiah 22:19.

I declare corrupt leaders have had their authority taken from them and they are locked out of their offices, according to Isaiah 22: 20.

I declare, as it is written in Psalm 18:40: You have also given me the necks of my enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

I declare the wicked nations are cut down according to Psalm 118:10.

I declare that the prayers and praise of God’s people puts our hands on the neck of our enemies and subdues every enemy, according to Genesis 49:8.

I declare the enemy is under our feet according to Joshua 10:24.

I declare you have given us the necks of our enemies, according to 2 Samuel 22:41.

As Your people make these declarations, I declare that “Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes,” according to Psalm 21:8.

I declare “Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed” according to Micah 5:9.

I declare the armor of enemy kings is loosed, according to Isaiah 45:2.

I declare the arrows of God’s archers have found their mark between the enemy’s plates of armor, as it is written in 1 Kings 22:34.

I declare the arrows of God’s archers have struck the enemy in his place of weakness and vulnerability, according to 2 Chronicles 18:33.

I declare ungodly kings will receive the message that we do not want them to reign over us, according to Luke 19:14.

I declare that the Lord of Hosts in all His majesty rides forth victoriously for the cause of truth, humility and justice. Let Your right hand achieve awesome deeds as it is written in Psalm 45:4.

I declare the Lord God Almighty has gone before us to break the bronze gates and cut through bars of iron, according to Isaiah 45:2.

I declare that God has gone before us to level the mountains, according to Psalm 107:16.

I declare that God's chosen servants are set in place and established to reign and rule in place of corrupt leaders, according to Isaiah 22:20.

I declare the thief has been caught and must give up all the substance of his house, and pay a 7 fold return according to Proverbs 6:31.

I declare that the hidden treasures of darkness belong to God's people, and we have received hidden wealth of secret places, according to Isiah 45:2.

I declare that God Almighty has come out to deliver His people and save His anointed ones, according to Habakkuk 3:13.

I declare God has broken through our enemies like a breakthrough of water, according to 2 Sam. 5:20.

As I have declared Your words, O God, let the victory be established, in Jesus name. Amen.

Fulfilling Your Story

   

 In a recent dream I saw that the enemy had attempted to re-write the story in many people's lives. He had written the story in such a way as to place a curse upon their heads that prevented them from entering into their appointed place, purpose and destiny. We know that GOD is the author of our stories and what He has written was done so FROM THE BEGINNING, knowing full well in advance of what the enemy would try to do! So, today let's pray that what has been written about all of God's children in HIS STORY now becomes YOUR STORY and will make HISTORY. You are His bride and there's no way He will leave you out of the story! You are way too important! Let it be done on earth as it has already been decided upon in heaven. Let your kingdom come, Lord Jesus! Every time you declare the word of God over yourself and your family you are essentially cancelling out the works of the enemy and cutting away the works of evil assignments. 


     I think part of what will help unlock people's doors is repentance for speaking death over others in the body of Christ. When people get hurt, disappointed or offended by others, they tend to speak negative words but they don't stop to consider they are actually enacting curses over their brothers and sisters. People will grow up through their mistakes, failures and shortcomings, but word curses can remain for a long time - unless a person does something intentional to break them. We all need to remember that the person you might feel tempted to speak against today could be God's chosen leader of tomorrow. Remember, David wore a crown while he was still a shepherd boy in the fields. Samuel had already anointed the up-and-coming king but no one else knew that yet. It's a dangerous thing to touch God's anointed, whether you can see their future potential or not. Speaking against others will get a person in trouble with the Lord and block answers to prayer.

     There's been a lot of competition in the body, too. When people are jealous or competitive, they aren't blessing others with their words; they're being critical. Critical people don't want others to fulfill their destiny. Selfish ambition produces a curse! In Psalm 50:21 God had this to say about Joseph's brothers:"You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother's son. These things you have done and I kept silent; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes." Joseph's brothers were jealous and wanted him out of their life, but what they didn't know is that Joseph was God's chosen servant to save them from dire circumstances that would occur many years later. None of them could really know what God's plan entailed for their future! The point is, we really need to be careful how we respond when we feel as if someone has let us down, hurt or angered us. Negative words have ripple effects beyond what we stop to consider. There is a scripture in Ecclesiates 10:20 that is a great reminder that 'birds of the air' can pick up our words and repeat them to others. Those words can even make their way back to the one that's been spoke about! "Curse not the king, no, not even in your thoughts, and curse not the rich in your bedchamber, for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and a winged creature will tell the matter." Sound waves remain in the earth's atmosphere for quite some time, and they ripple into the spirit realm. Even though the words drift away and can no longer be heard by the human ear, the spirit realm continues to hear those words quite clearly and power is given to those words to create what was spoken. People say things that end up hanging over others in the spirit realm, acting like negative prophecies waiting to be fulfilled. The devil is out there waiting to make sure those words come to pass. Even prayers can be destructive if they are spoken out of a desire for judgment rather than mercy. The law of sowing and reaping are always at work. Psalm 109:17 says "He loved to pronounce a curse-- may it come back on him. He found no pleasure in blessing-- may it be far from him." And of course there is the reminder of Matthew 7 in which we are judged the same way we judge others! We have the Creator's voice inside of us, and it's our job to make sure we speak words of life!! Our words have great power and there is a definite need in the body of Christ to repent for carelessness. 

 I believe God wants us to wake up and realize the power of our words. So much of this is about teaching us before we receive a blessing. It's not that God is stingy, but He is looking to grow us up. God is always looking for ways to vindicate us, but He is bound by His word and the spiritual laws that are set in place. I wonder how many people get stuck and wonder why a door won't open and they fail to realize that something they did years ago when they were upset, offended and mouthing off is still affecting them today. A bitter spirit is anointed to produce bitterness, offense and false judgment in others. A bitter or offended spirit seeks agreement from others, and more often than not the agreement is produced through gossip, slander and other things. People have a hard time unhearing negative conversation about others because it causes them to question the other person's ability to be trusted or thought of with integrity. This is the sort of thing that produces barriers and spiritual blocks. Think about it...what if the very person you slander is the very person God wants to use to give you an answer that you need, a reference to a new opportunity, or help you through a door years down the road, only now he can't because you just destroyed the blessing with your mouth? What does one have to do to reverse that process? Not saying it always works that way, but one thing I know: every one of us is connected and if one person is blocked then so are others down the line in our connections. Unbelief is anointed to produce discouragement, double mindedness and more unbelief. It's all about what spirit is attached to the words that people speak. Words laced with death produce death. They ring in other people's ears for a long time. Until people repent and start blessing people with their words, they can find themselves stuck. Maybe God withholds the blessing until people 'get it' and condemn the words so that no more fruit will come from them.  If one person cannot get into their appointed place that has a ripple effect across the body of Christ. Others become blocked as well. Repentance can unblock a lot in the spirit realm and make room for God to answer and release a big breakthrough for everyone.

Father,

I come before You to reverse the curse that the enemy has secretly written in order to curse Your children and prevent them from entering into their divine purpose. Let everything that the enemy has done to shut them out of their destiny now be reversed in Jesus name,

For we have attained royalty for such a time as this. Let relief and deliverance come forth for your people now, as it is written in Esther 4:14

Remember Your covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, of which we are, according to Leviticus 26:42.

It is written that You provided deliverers for Your people, according to 2 Kings 13:5, Judges 3:9, 15.

For it is written that we are a royal priesthood, a chosen people, a holy nation and God’s special people, appointed to declare the praises of Him who called us out of the dark and into the light, according to 1 Peter 2:9.

That we are called to speak to the nations, according to Exodus 19:6.

That we may fulfill the great commission as it is written in Mark 16:15-18.

Let every curse that has been spoken, written or declared by the mouth of the ungodly be dissolved now, for it is written that no weapon forged against us would prosper and every tongue that rises up against us shall be refuted, according to Isaiah 54:17.

Let every evil work of the enemy be destroyed now according to 1 John 3:8, because YOU destroyed the works of Satan and as You said in John 19:30, “It is finished.”

Let the power of death laced words be broken, because it is written in Hebrews 2:14 that You broke the power of death.

Let every word spoken by myself and others be forgiven and fall to the ground with no more bad fruit produced, in Jesus name.

Let people’s minds, thoughts, ears, and hearts be cleansed and sanctified according to Hebrews 9:14 so that Your people may serve the living God. 

I declare the enemy cannot penetrate the blood barrier nor can the death angel come into our house according to Exodus 12:23.

Let us fulfill the days fashioned for us by Your hand, as it is written in Psalm 139:14-15.

I thank You, Father, that you are faithful and you have established Your people as it is written in 2 Thes. 3:3. Let these declarations be established according to your will, in Jesus name. Amen.

The Arrows of The Lord's Deliverance

     2 Kings 13: 17-19 has an important lesson. The prophet Elisha went to the king and said, "Open the window toward the east," and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot!" And he shot. And he said, "The LORD'S arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them." 18 Then he said, "Take the arrows," and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground," and he struck it three times and stopped. 19 So the man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times."…

     God's intention was to give the total victory over the king's enemies, but the king of Israel only partially followed the command to strike. Let this be a lesson to us all: If you're going to strike at anything, do it like you mean it, and be passionate about it. At this point in our history, we cannot afford to leave any enemy room to come back and rise up again. Grab the weapon that God has anointed for YOU and use it well. Whether it's worship, dance, the song of the Lord, prophecy, declarations or something else, do it with all your heart. These are the weapons God has given us to tear down the enemy's strongholds. Let the arrows of the Lord's deliverance fly!

     Not everyone will see the value in doing things the way you would do them, as you operate in your area of gifting. That's ok! Just don't stop being yourself. God made each person unique, and no one can get exactly the same results by trying to conform to the way someone else 'does their thing.' BE YOU, because the anointing gets choked out if you try to conform to someone else's preferences. Realize that is simply their personal preference, not necessarily what God would tell you to do. Yes, be teachable, and yes, be humble enough to ask yourself if there is something that you might benefit from in taking someone else's advice; BUT also remember the lesson from David and Saul. David could not fight the giant in Saul's armor. He had to stay true to what he had used before and trusted to get the job done! Trust that your anointing will flow and accomplish exactly what God intends to accomplish as you remain true to how He made you.

     The Lord will set us on fire and turn us into the enemy's torment. We become the weapon in God's hand to tear the enemy's kingdom down. When the WORD OF GOD comes our of our mouth, angels pick up those words and hurl them like flaming arrows right into the enemy's face. No more timidity! Stand up and fight!

How to Know When Someone is Ready for Deliverance

How do you know if someone is ready to receive deliverance? People often just want their problems to go away, but they are not yet ready to live for Christ and put away the things that give demons legal entrance into their life. It is a waste of time trying to deliver someone that isn't ready to make a commitment to living a different lifestyle. You must first figure out if the person has given demonic spirits a legal right to be there.

1. Are they a Christian? Have they received God's forgiveness for their sin?

2. Is unforgiveness or bitterness an issue that has given demonic spirits legal grounds to stay? Demons always look for legal loopholes and they know when a person has given them permission. You must deal with that first before you can resolve other issues.

3. Are they willing to part with sin and live for Christ, spending time in prayer, the word and worship in order to maintain their healing and deliverance?

4. Are they willing to be open and honest about their life? Far too often people only want an immediate problem resolved but they are still holding out and not telling about other areas of their life that affects their ability to receive real healing and restoration.

5. Are they willing to confront the strongholds in their own belief system? This means the person must be willing to confront the lies and misconceptions that they have been protecting and holding on to. No more self pity and blame shifting. They must be willing to deal honestly with their own sin and failures and surrender them to God.

These are all important things to find out, for your own personal growth as well as those you minister to. You must remove the demon's legal rights to stay before you can expect to make much progress in healing, otherwise they will just come back, and then you'll have a much bigger problem to deal with, because they can come back 7 times stronger. Always remember that just because you can see a problem, or just because someone else wants relief from their problems, doesn't always mean they are ready to receive their deliverance. Sometimes we want people healed more than they want it for themselves! Know when to resist the temptation to 'help' and when to act. God will wait until He knows they are ready to correct some things in their life and get desperate enough to embrace real change. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't pray for others. There are times when people cannot get free because demons are controlling their behaviors. Don't condemn or judge others for having problems, but do show them the benefits of living for Christ and encourage them to pursue good, godly passions that will help them stay free once they do receive their healing.

Recognizing a Divisive Spirit

     

There is so much good going on in this geographic region with all the prayer and worship gatherings. It is also helping to rebuild the walls, restore the gates, and take dominion away from the enemy. More is happening in the Spirit than we know. But it also reminds me of the opposition that Ezra and Nehemiah faced as they were rebuilding the walls of their city. Their adversaries said "They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause their work to cease." They bragged that "from whatever place they turned, the adversaries would be upon them." Nehemiah 4:11. 

     The accuser of the brethren is a whisperer and a slanderer. He often issues an order to ambush people out of left field. He does it to divide relationships and stall the work or make it less effective. The question is, what will you do when someone begins to tell you of 'concerns' they have about someone else? The enemy's intent isn't always readily understood, especially if it comes in the form of a familiar face. He doesn't use someone that isn't significant or unable to influence you! Be careful. Be alert, and ask yourself what the enemy's intent is before you bite down on the bait. If he is trying to use someone's mouth in order to divide relationships, there is always a bigger reason why, even if it's not easy to discern at first. Satan simply looks for someone that he can use to exploit a weakness: an unhealed offense, jealousy, fear or insecurity, but it doesn't necessarily mean that that person's opinion is truth. The accuser always tries to create resistance, fear, confusion and disagreement in order to stop the work of the Lord. He uses intimidation and separation to eliminate the strength and anointing that comes from people being in one accord. PRAYERS ARE HINDERED WHEN A SPIRIT OF DIVISION IS AT WORK. Accusations are intended to prevent people from being able to influence others for the sake of healing, restoration, reconciliation, and gaining momentum in the work of the kingdom.Stop the enemy in his tracks! There is always a reason why the accuser does what he does. A demonic spirit is anointed to cause suspicion, accusation and division, and long after the words have been spoken, they will ring in the ears of those that took in those words. Cast down words of death and condemn those words so that NO WEAPON formed against you (and your relationships) will prosper. YOU are the only one that can take authority over the spirit behind the words so that bad fruit doesn't come from them!

 Don't give the enemy any wiggle room to get between you and trusted relationships. Shut him down before he can do any damage by praying in advance. Shields up!

Let the accuser of the brethren be cast down in Jesus name. Where there is no wood on the fire, the fire goes out. 

Deliverers are Coming Forth!

     

God sends a variety of people on different assignments. Those people are often not appreciated and sometimes not wanted by the very people they are sent to help, often because people tend to prefer the comforts of their bondage over freedom and taking a different path in life. When God sends someone as a deliverer, they may not always be well received. They come to cut away webs of deceit, tear down the enemies false authority, and free the oppressed from spiritual influences that have them bound. There can be no deliverance without some sort of fall out in the process, but if people can recognize that not every whirlwind in their life is meant to harm them, then they will be able to see that the whirlwind is actually there by the hand of God to free them and lead them on into victory. Helping others see and recognize their deliverance when it's in process is key to helping them have the right attitude and perspective so that they don't feel bitter or fearful of the changes taking place around them. Give others your eyes to see the spiritual reality and you will lift their faith and shatter fear.

     

Moses was called to deliver a nation of people from the behemoth world order of his day, and they ended up hating him for it. Deliverance is messy! They were full of fear on so many levels...fear of change, anxious on where there provision would come from, afraid of the backlash from Pharaoh and his army, and most of all, they complained because they missed the predictability of their former bondage! People get so used to being held captive to a poverty mindset and all the bondage that it brings, that they tend to actually rebel against God when they are set free. Freedom can be such a foreign concept to many that they don't know what to do with it - or themselves. The complaints and frustrations they voice are simply the evidence of the areas of their life that they have never learned to trust God for their life. God is getting ready to shake this nation, shake systems, and shake people. We must be ready to stand firm in the midst of shaking so that we can let others know GOD is trustworthy.

    Gideon was another deliverer, called to confront Baal and tear down the ungodly altars. When people found out he was the one to do it, they went after him, but God intervened and had him bring a great victory against the Midianites that were impoverishing the nation and taking all their profits. Ezekiel was told to prophesy to the corrupt and arrogant Pharaoh of his day, which was also a world power of that time. God heard the words of his servants and dealt a harsh blow to those that used power to oppress, plunder and take His people into captivity. Sin puts us in captivity, but repentance and crying out to God will pull us out. God has heard the cries of His people. We must be ready for changes on every level. Don't complain against the changes when they come or you could find yourself resisting God and getting yourself in trouble in the process. Get ready, get ready, get ready! A new wave of deliverers are coming on the scene!