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Praying for Your City: A Guide

The document provides guidance for praying for one's city by focusing prayers on specific neighborhoods, and discusses the role of intercessors and watchmen in carrying God's heart and speaking out God's perspective for the city. It encourages developing intimacy with God through dialogue in prayer in order to understand His heart and vision for communities and influence positive change.

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Daniel Abraham
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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
314 views181 pages

Praying for Your City: A Guide

The document provides guidance for praying for one's city by focusing prayers on specific neighborhoods, and discusses the role of intercessors and watchmen in carrying God's heart and speaking out God's perspective for the city. It encourages developing intimacy with God through dialogue in prayer in order to understand His heart and vision for communities and influence positive change.

Uploaded by

Daniel Abraham
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Pray For Your City

One Neighborhood At A Time

Pray For Your City


By NANCI CRAIG
Pray For Your City
One Neighborhood At A Time

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Pray For Your City
One Neighborhood At A Time

Contents
Pray For Your City.................................................................... 1
PREFACE .................................................................................. 5
PRAY FOR YOUR CITY ............................................................. 6
INTERCESSOR or WATCHMAN? .............................................. 7
JESUS SENDS US TO OUR CITY FIRST ..................................... 10
GOD COMMISSIONS IN PRAYER ............................................ 15
CALLED TO WITNESS TO THE CITY, STATE AND NATION ...... 18
GOD’S STRATEGY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS/CITY .................. 21

GOD’S STRATEGY FOR A HOUSE OF HOPE ............................ 22


BRINGING RESTORATION TO FAMILY ................................... 24
PRAYER CHANGES THE ATMOSPHERE .................................. 26
VISION FOR THE CITY IS IN GOD’S HEART ............................. 32
ADMINISTRATING THE MISSION ........................................... 34
ADMINISTRATING OUR RESOURCES ..................................... 37
GOD’S HEART FOR CITY/COMMUNITY ................................ 40

THE FATHER’S LOVE .............................................................. 46

A WITNESS OF FATHER’S LOVE ............................................. 48

THE AUTHORITY OF A SON’S LOVE ....................................... 51


JESUS CALLS CITIES TO REPENTANCE .................................... 54
COMPROMISE LEADS TO POWERLESSNESS .......................... 58
THE GOSPEL IS MORE THAN FELLOWSHIP ............................ 63
QUESTIONING THE WAY OF GOD ......................................... 66
THE FATHER WANTS A FAMILY ............................................ 71
THE PROMISE IN THE CHILDREN ........................................... 75
THE FATHER WANTS A FAMILY THAT RESPONDS ................. 77
BROKEN VOW LEADS TO BROKEN FAMILY ........................... 80
DECEPTION: A FALSE IMAGE OF FAMILY .............................. 84
CARE FOR THE ORPHAN AND WIDOW ................................ 90
DRIVING OUT OPPRESSION AND POVERTY ........................... 91
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COMMITTED WITH MORE THAN WORDS ............................. 95


SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS PROTECTION .............................. 100
THE DIVINE EXCHANGE ....................................................... 104
A PEOPLE WITHOUT COVERING .......................................... 106
BE A BLESSING TO COMMUNITY........................................ 109
BLESS YOUR NEIGHBORS/COMMUNITY ............................. 110
PRACTICAL MINISTRY OF THE HOME .................................. 114
BLESSING OUR CITY ............................................................. 118
ENDING VIOLENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ................... 122
COVENANT WITH ISRAEL BRINGS REVELATION .................. 127
INFLUENCING 7 SPHERES OF THE CITY............................... 133
PRAYER: GETTING GOD’S STRATEGIES ................................ 134
FAMILY ................................................................................ 136
FAMILY: REACHING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ......................... 137
FIND THE NEED AND FILL IT ................................................ 140
RELIGION............................................................................. 142
PARTNERING WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH ............................ 143
FIVE-FOLD GIFTS EQUIP OUR CITY ...................................... 147
GOVERNMENT .................................................................... 151
PARTNERING WITH GOVERNMENT .................................... 152
KINGDOM PRIESTS CARRY GOVERNMENT.......................... 155
WATCHMEN RELEASE THE SOUND OF GOVERNMENT ....... 157
GOVERNMENT ANOINTING AND BLESSING ........................ 159
EDUCATION ........................................................................ 161
PARTNERING WITH EDUCATION ......................................... 162
TECHNOLOGY...................................................................... 165
TECHNOLOGY: OPENING GLOBAL DOORS .......................... 166
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT .................................................. 171
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: LANGUAGE OF YOUTH ............. 172
BUSINESS ............................................................................ 178
PARTNERING WITH BUSINESS/ECONOMY .......................... 179
INTIMACY WITH GOD .......................................................... 180

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PREFACE
Pray for Your City is a practical interactive guide to help facilitate intercession using God’s Kingdom
principles into a panoramic view of God’s plan. Prayer is about getting God’s answers for what needs
change. As those who live in the city no matter how long we are being made aware of what doesn’t line
up with God’s Word, His Ways or His Kingdom. He commissioned us to be that agent of change but how
do we do it. This is the journey of prayer, communion with God in a place where we get the answers and
become a part of the solution.

As you read and participate in interactive questions following each topic my hope is you will be inspired
to interact and get involved at some level with the problem and become a part of the solution. As we
enter these areas and ask the Lord what does He require for change He will give us instructions and to
the level we get involved is the level He will lead us through more than just asking but we can be a part
of the answer. He will give us power and authority God to shift the atmosphere, expose, disempower
and drive out the enemies of God. He always gives us authority in our city and as we put our faith into
action and He will increase our influence to touch the lives of those who are in authority and have the
delegated authority to make change.

Small Groups is another powerful outpouring of the church in our cities because they take the church to
the neighborhood. This book was written with group prayer in mind. Whether it’s your family prayer
times or small groups or even individually as I have done for decades, I pray you would be consumed
with God’s heart for your neighborhoods and city. May the True Shepherd arise and lead you as you
hear the hearts of a people scattered and looking for their place in the family of God.

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PRAY FOR YOUR CITY

`Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf;
for in its welfare you will have welfare.' (Jeremiah 29:7)

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INTERCESSOR or WATCHMAN?
“I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call
on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the
praise of the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7)

An Intercessor is one who carries the burden of God’s heart. It takes knowing the Lord…. whose
heart you carry!

I remember vividly the time when the Lord changed my intercession to a watchman ministry.
There is when my assignment changed from carrying His Heart to speaking out His heart.

The change came when I was inquiring about the watchman ministry. I didn’t really understand
it but I was being gripped by the ministry before I had an understanding. I had a perception that
it was like the bible described, men perched high on a wall giving warning when danger was
coming but this was not really the true picture. I was missing the “intimacy” with the Lord. It
may well be a ministry to help warn the community of coming dangers but it is a clanging
symbol without LOVE at the core and that LOVE must be rooted in intimacy.

The way it was explained to me was there is a dialogue with the Lord about what you see and
hear and that communion with the Lord about what you see BEFORE you ever say anything
shifts the entire ministry. You see in THAT place of communion you get His Perspective and His
Heart regarding what you see and hear and when you are full of His Heart then you can speak
FOR HIM not AT HIM.

I think this is the most inviting beautiful and consuming part of prayer…. talking to the Lord
about what He sees and perceives about what is going on not only in the present but what is
coming! After all we are full of us more than we are of Him and this emptying out of what we
think and filling up on what He thinks which can’t really be done without His word gives us the
most accurate view.

The truth is that process can take a long time but it’s worth it! There are some areas I have
been dialoging with the Lord on for over a decade and He has a lot to say I mean there is NO
end to His perspective, it is infinite and my mind is so small.

I had a pastor say it this way once and it bears repeating; it’s like trying to put a firehouse
through the eye of a needle…just imagine that flow of water that comes out of that firehouse to
quench the fires of a burning house and the power released for freedom of those caught
inside…. it’s a powerful picture if you had to put that flow of water through the eye of a needle
before anyone got rescued!

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I decided that day I had nothing to say until God said it ……it changed my leadership in prayer. I
was no longer led by the need but by God’s heart. I think this if foundational to a watchman’s
ministry.

Yes, I am an intercessor but He has given me the assignment of a watchman. God does that….
not man. We choose to make our ministry focus the Lord, we minister to Him and out of that
ministry to Know Him, to Bless Him by partnering with Him and caring more about what He
thinks and wants then our own desires and taking all our time and energy to understand and
carry His burdens…it is in that place we can be shifted to become His voice and carry His
message to warn and give understanding to what is coming or to expose the enemy’s plans. It is
one thing to know there is an enemy but an entirely different ministry to expose his plans and
have God’s plan to unseat the enemy and destroy his works.

The Lord gives us all kinds of assignments and it may be a burden for a neighborhood, a city, or
a nation. He will draw us to know His heart for that assignment. We can know His plan, the
dream of His heart. Every neighborhood consists of a community of people in a city that needs
solutions to social, economic and spiritual poverty. Out of that need the Lord will give His
servants the answers to meet those needs to prosper and create a dwelling place for Him. He
desires to tabernacle with man 24/7. What does it take, what will the Lord require to build Him
a dwelling place in our city? He comes to inhabit and build His Kingdom.

God wants to dwell in man in fullness with no boundary, no limit. We can have all of God and
He can have all of us. Our city is His and He will tell us what He wants and how He wants to
accomplish it. He requires us to come and hear Him and respond to the yearnings of His heart.
He created us for Him and we can abandon ourselves in a life of loving Him. Prayer is our
greatest avenue to loving Him, it is the most intimate place where we give Him all of ourselves
to meet His needs, His desire.

This is a paradigm shift because many believe intercession is about us but true intercession is
carrying the burdens of another…….to partner with the Lord we must KNOW Him and His heart
so we can respond.

The purpose is to reach an area in our city for transformation. To tear down the kingdom of
evil, violence, destruction, economic ruin and rebuild and restore God’s original intention,
prosperity, peace, provision and safety.

God cares about our city so He planted you and me here. He builds a community in the church
with the intention of making that church the vehicle to bless the city and create a dwelling
place for God to abide.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS
1. Why do you think God placed you in this city?
2. Can Prayer for our city take place somewhere other than a local church? What does that
look like?
3. What do you think God wants us to pray about for our city?
4. Who can be an Intercessor for our city?

 ACTION:
1. Pray out what you hear from God’s heart. Search for scriptures that support His heart for
the Kingdom being established in your city with an emphasis on what you hear Him
saying.
Example: You hear God speaking about the welfare system or crime in your city.

You shall not murder. (Exodus 20:13)


You shall not murder. (Deuteronomy 5:17)
You have heard that the ancients were told, `YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and whoever commits
murder shall be liable to the court. (Matthew 5:21)
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; (Proverbs 22:22)
For the LORD, will plead their case and take the life of those who rob them. (Proverbs 22:23)

2. Soak in His Presence for more revelation and then discuss what God is speaking.
Encourage the gift of prophecy and gifts of the spirit to manifest. Ask for dreams and
visions.
3. Pray for one another to hear and manifest the Fathers heart.

 GO:
1. Take a drive through your city praying over it and asking God for His plans to manifest to
you and for you to hear His Heart.

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JESUS SENDS US TO OUR CITY FIRST


Perhaps you are like me and you have nations on your heart to pray for them, the dying, the
lost, the poor….so many needs. If this is your heart, you are gripped by the images of third
world countries then let me share with you the power of God’s pattern. He leads us first to
pray for our city as a catalyst for giving us authority for the nations.

There is nothing happening globally that isn’t in some way happening right where you live.

It is the same enemy, he is the same devil with the same plan.

If we want to drive the devil out of nations…. we must first learn to drive him out of our
neighborhood.

I remember a great statesman, Dr. Lester Sumrall, saying you can’t have faith for a wedding
cake when you never asked Him for a donut. The Lord wants us to win every battle and walk in
His fullness. He has equipped us to lead and rule with Him in nations all over the world but first
He starts with our home, our neighborhood.

I remember another great man of faith, Kenneth Copeland who shared a story of God’s
perspective of His wonder working power in us; it is like a toddler with a rifle trying to kill a
spider on the wall on the shed out in our backyard.

We would do well to learn to walk in what God has given us right where we live!

There is nothing wrong or out of order when we want to pray for the nations! We are called to
pray! But to unseat powers and principalities in the nations we might want to first learn how to
drive out the devil in our neighborhood.

He will begin by showing us the how to pray for global crisis by showing us the root plans of the
enemy right where we live.

When Jesus gave the command to “GO” into all the world and preach the gospel.... He
instructed the disciples to “GO” to their own city first than to the surrounding nations before
going to the utter ends of the earth.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."(Acts 1:8)

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Jerusalem was where the disciples were planted. It is the city God gave them first. What they
did in their city could then be replicated in Judea and Samaria before reaching out to the ends
of the earth.

This same principle is practically applied in our homes. Since our youngest age, we learn to
clean up our homes first before going out. As we mature we realize our entire ministry hinges
first on our ministry to the Lord and then to our family. When we have mastered this then God
will send us outside our homes to minister. I like the way one of my pastors put it:

1) God
2) Family
3) Church
4) Ministry

We can see Jesus follows this pattern Himself. He spent His first thirty years ministering to the
Father and His family before He launched out in full time ministry. If we truly followed this
pattern I believe our churches would be healthy and powerful.

I am praying for a return to building the altars in our homes to the Lord and ministry to our
family second. As we minister to the Lord and to our families the Lord will inhabit our home. He
will make it His dwelling place.

His disciples remembered that it was written, "ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME."
(John 2:17)

And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods
of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the
LORD." (Joshua 24:15)

And they shall know [from personal experience] that I am the Lord their God, who brought them
forth out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God. (Exodus
29:46)

The passion of God’s heart is anchored in a work of God that is local. From the beginning of
time He had a dwelling place to meet with His family. We meet God individually and as a family.
God’s family is the greatest expression of the Kingdom of God. The love and care expressed in
family is the image of God. He created us because He wanted a family.

As we build our relationship with God in intimate prayer of seeking to know Him causes us to
want to be like Him. As we focus our attention on who He is we will want to reflect Him to
others. As He fills us with His heart we will ache inside to respond in love back to Him. He loves

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us first but we can’t help but love Him back. This love for Him becomes the motivation of all we
say and do. We arise every day to love Him more!

The foundation of the family is Love. We can love because He loves us. It is His love that fills us
to love others. This love is expressed in our worship. It is truly impossible to have intimacy with
Jesus without worship. We will be compelled to give our love a voice of adoration and
expression in the form of worship. It is more than a song set it is more than a prelude to a
church service; it becomes something that flows out of us in response to knowing Him. This
communion becomes a dwelling place for the Lord to inhabit.

Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8)

Perhaps right in your own city there are hindrances that keep God-fearing people from
worshiping the Lord. Maybe its poverty, violence, hard-times, domestic violence, no
transportation, bitterness, unforgiveness, maybe it’s a religious spirit in the church where they
once used to attend. No matter what it maybe we are sent to heal the wounded, bind up the
broken hearted and make available a way back to Jesus. Prayer can be the roadmap to unlock
their heart.

God’s heart is what draws men to Him. When we realize God’s not mad at us we are more apt
to come and confess our need for Him.

It is not us, people need, and it is not our great oracles, our spiritual words of prayer …. It is
GOD!

They need His Presence, they need to feel Him, sense His nearness, to know what He thinks
about them and most importantly Hear His Voice.

He can speak without us. His voice can be heard by every single person on this earth. Yet He
chooses to use us and allows us the privilege to partner with Him, to be a vessel of His words
and His Presence. Where ever we go, we can manifest His Presence, His Voice, and His Plans.

The powerful principal of reaching out to minister to the saved and the unsaved in our city, to
go to them like Jesus did, He traveled all over Israel to touch and give of Himself, to wash their
feet, to teach them to give them food and to bring healing to their sick. His ministry is our
ministry.

Jesus came to establish the Father’s authority. All He did He made clear that it was the Father’s
business. He came to show the world what the Father wanted and reveal His heart to us.

We will find that our prayers lead us to His mission, reaching the lost with the gospel and
leading them to Jesus. If you are seeking His heart, then you will find His heart leads us to His
people saved or not they are His and He loves them dearly. This will change us, we will see
people as He sees them and love them as He does. This love will compel us to serve them, win
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their hearts and want to lead them to His fullness. We will be given to the assignment of
leading the world to know our Father and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

This becomes the central purpose of missions…. to reveal the Father’s heart.

We are blessed with the most amazing access to all the wisdom and answers this world needs.
Whether it is a socio-economic issue, racism, violence, terrorism, the destruction of families,
social welfare…. God has the answer! We can tackle the problems in prayer and find solutions
for reformation and transformation, for prosperity and peace.

Our evangelism model has been to “get everyone saved” but I don’t believe we have been
presenting the gospel which is probably why there aren’t true conversions. The Father
transforms society when He brings salvation. It is more than just saying a prayer and going to
heaven, we have the power of the Kingdom residing on the inside to salvation destroys evil and
reigns down righteousness

We've been empowered to take on the ugliness of domestic violence and minister to the
families who deal with it day to day. Take on the battle to end murder, drug trafficking or
prostitution and build relationships with those who need truth and see if God doesn't give you
the keys to eradicating these evils and setting captives free.

Prayer is interactive....it has motion and it results in plans and strategies...if all we do is pray
and never go and do, act out in faith what we hear God saying then it’s like asking and refusing
to receive the answer. We must ask AND respond! Otherwise it’s not relationship! When we
respond, God will respond!

And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS

1. Where do you see, religious spirits hindering worship to God? What can be done to bring
change?

2. What does worship mean to you?

3. What does manifesting God’s power mean to you?

4. Testify to God’s power manifesting in your life and how it changed you and how it
changed others.

5. Talk about what hinders you from stepping out in God’s power when you know He wants
to demonstrate His heart for someone or something?

 ACTION:

1. Research and write down some promises of God for you and your city. Commit to
understanding God’s heart behind the promises.

2. Prophesy God’s Promises over one another and over the city.

 GO:

1. Share the promises of God for your city with someone and come back next time and share
what happened.

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GOD COMMISSIONS IN PRAYER


And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (Acts 2:1)

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house
where they were sitting. (Acts 2:2)

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:3)

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance. (Acts 2:4)

The Apostles were instructed to wait for the promise of the Father by gathering into an upper
room and entering communion. This act was one they were not unfamiliar with as they had
gathered often with Jesus to hear Him speak.

They had much to ponder knowing a transfer had taken place. They were no longer under the
tutoring or mentoring but now they were being released into the very vision Jesus had spent
three years imparting. They tasted of the power and the anointing that was on His life as the
demons were cast out and the sick were healed in the name of Jesus but this was different,
now they were getting their own anointing from the Holy Spirit. They were going to receive
their own commissioning.

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from
Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (Acts
1:4)

Jesus said “receive the promise My Father gave you”. What was this promise? It was more than
just a manifestation of speaking in tongues but it was an equipping for a purpose for a
mandate. They saw Jesus manifest the Father’s mandate and now they were to receive the
necessary equipping for their own mandate.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

This power was to manifest that mandate in different cities and regions. Judea, Samaria and the
uttermost part of the earth which meant restore the Kingdom in each of these cities, regions
and nations. This is the government of God. The ruling power was the Father’s but He was
distributing it to the Sons/Daughters.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou now restore again
the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6)

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And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in
his own power. (Acts 1:7)

The word know here translates wisdom so the understanding includes the plan. These men and
women didn’t have all the plans yet but they were connected to the source and they
understood He would have to lead them, give them insight and understanding how to bring the
mandate to pass.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

This power was coming to equip them to manifest this mandate.

And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You
have chosen (Acts 1:24)

to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." (Acts
1:25)

That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he
might go to his own place. (Acts 1:25)

To occupy or take this ministry is to receive and agree with the mandate which can be an office
or service, a command, a mission, a dispensation, assignment, execution or charge of God’s
plan.

The word occupy or take means to lay hold, to claim and take possession as belonging to one
self, with the purpose being to use it, to manifest it make it known, to recognize the power and
rank, the external circumstances related to it and the injustice and neglect connected and on
account of it, to make an experience of it, to make a trial of it, to prove it, to gain from it and to
get back what was given.

The apostles received a significant mandate that reached to the uttermost ends of the earth. It
was a world-wide mandate and they were giving their eternal life to fulfill it and there was
nothing more important, no person would prevent them, no power, principality nor dominion
of evil would keep them from fulfilling it. We can see in the way their lives ended and what they
endured that they understood this meeting in the upper room was truly the same power that
rested on Christ Jesus, the promise the Father gave them.

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the
cloud said, "This is My Beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" (Matthew
17:5)

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This is what they were anticipating; this is what they would receive. From that moment forward
the crowds gathered to listen and from the moment those disciples came out of that upper
room the crowds began to gather.

The release of this power and the mandate that manifested spoke to men from every
surrounding region and every different dialect. The manifestation spoke directly to them how
God would be glorified in their region.

INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. Discuss the difference of hearing someone talk about God’s heart for something and when
you KNOW God’s heart.

2. What Injustices do you feel are happening in your city?

3. How do you respond when someone is demonstrating something opposing to God’s heart
for your city? (Examples: Welfare, Domestic Violence, Drug/Human Trafficking, Abortion)

4. How can these opposing demonstrations against God’s heart be turned into a mission, an
assignment from the Lord?

5. Have you seen missions or ministries attempt to bring change and heard God’s heart was
different from what they presented? How did you respond? What might you have done
differently? Why or why not?

 ACTION:

1. Pray for a specific instruction for ministry to the hurting and those trapped in injustice.

 GO:

1. Follow through with that instruction and write up a report of what you did.

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CALLED TO WITNESS TO THE CITY, STATE AND NATION

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (Acts
2:1)

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the
house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:2)

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (Acts
2:3)

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)

This power that sat or rested on the apostles produced a manifestation. The bible describes it
as fire, mighty wind and cloven tongues.

The word cloven is the Greek word diamerizo which means divided up among them, sharing a
portion, distribute a part which leads to when you put all of them together than there is a
whole but amongst each is a significant distributed portion. These portions manifested in
languages that spoke directly to those gathered who were listening. There was a
communication to bring and gather these men who stood to witness the power manifesting.

The power had a purpose to release into the hearts of those listening. The power that
manifested brought a significant gathering. These men were devout Jews; their day was
ordered and structured. They didn’t waste time or give themselves to needless interruptions.
They reverenced God and took to heart with deep meditation His word. They were prosperous,
well off and did nothing half-hearted. They were serious and intent. Their purpose was to
occupy and possess they were not interested in “dating the ministry” they wanted
commitment. They were ones who took with the intent of getting what was rightly theirs by
God. These were the ones God gathered to hear Him speak through His apostles. He wanted
them to see His plan.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
(Acts 2:5)

There were men from every nation under heaven gathered there. This was no small
happenstance, the Holy Spirit made sure that the mandate for the uttermost ends of the earth
would manifest to a representative from every tribe and tongue.

And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each
one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. (Acts 2:6)

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There was to be such a great release of communication that the bible said the sound was like a
song and an utterance, it was a voice being released that gathered them to one place to hear.

The Greek word for sound is echo (2279) which translates to roar (Acts 2:2) and the root of that
is translated to voice. (Acts 2:6)

This sound came from heaven in a roar and it manifested in the voice of God speaking to every
nation.

And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole
house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:2)

The physical power of this roar filled the whole house. That word filled is the Greek word pleroo
(4137) which means supplied. It also translated to bringing the fulfillment of the promise,
accomplish, carry out, bring to pass prophecies, cause to fulfill God’s will, make known what
should be obeyed to receive fulfillment of what was given to the prophets.

The root word is pleres (4134) which means every vessel, every hollow space that was empty
became filled was made complete and lacked nothing made perfect. The soul became
permeated with this abounding, fulfillment.

The apostles were filled to fulfill, bless to be a blessing. They had a purpose and it exploded out
to the ends of the earth gathering men to be a part of this Plan, to be a witness. These ones
God chose to hear and what they did once they heard is a template, a witness of how God
imparts His plan. Their ministry instantly went global.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS

1. What did the disciples do with what they heard on the day of Pentecost?

2. How did they witness over the course of their lives this voice of God?

3. Have you ever had an encounter that empowered you? Share your testimony.

4. What witness does your city need from your encounter with God’s Power?

5. How can you increase these encounters with God’s voice?

 ACTION:

1. Determine where in your city the power of God doesn’t seem to have manifested at all like
a drug infested, high crime, a place where prostitution or trafficking is known or some
part of your city that seems the darkest and ask the Lord what can be done to bring in
light to that area.

2. Pray for this area: target it with scriptures, God’s promise, and prophetic words spoken
already over the city.

3. Ask the Lord for instruction for a way to bring light and truth to this area. Pray for and ask
God for a strategy to bring that to pass.

 GO:

1. Drive to this area and demonstrate God’s promise with a manifestation of power per the
Lord’s instruction.

2. Testify what God did in your mission.

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GOD’S STRATEGY FOR


NEIGHBORHOODS/CITY

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GOD’S STRATEGY FOR A HOUSE OF HOPE


And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he
may run that reads it. (Habakkuk 2:2)

He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom
forever. (2 Samuel 7:13)

"Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even
make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)

The plan for building a House of Hope is not a formula, it is in God’s heart and it is His plan. He
desires to bless the city.

God’s way of building is to bless and serve the community, city, state or nation.

To discover the plan of God, how to build the House of Hope in our neighborhood we must seek
Him first, we must find what is on His heart for our community.

Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the
city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

We must build the House of Hope according to HIS plan and He must lead us in building it. The
plan, the strategy to be a blessing is in the Heart of the Lord for every city.

His heart is to guard and protect, not just build a ministry. He restores and protects. It is our
position to be a watchman, to pray and partner with the Lord and build a wall of intercession in
our city.

The House of Hope is first and foremost a place of prayer and intercession to invite the Lord’s
Presence in our community. He is the one that has the ministry for the people. He is the One
who has what our community needs. His Love, His truth, His vision for their lives is what brings
hope and restoration, what builds eternally.

We aren’t building a ministry we are building hope in hearts of God’s beloved.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. What does a House of Hope look like in your city?


2. If God gave you a house in the inner city to minister hope to the neighborhood what
would it look like?
3. What does God’s love look like to you?
4. What does hope look like in your city?
5. What do you believe God wants to restore in your neighborhood?
6. What is the difference between the emotional soulish love and God’s love?

 ACTION:
1. Ask God where the hurting people are in your city that doesn’t know His Love. Pray over
them. Speak God’s word over their lives.
2. Ask God how you can demonstrate His love for them

 GO:
1. Obey His leading and GO demonstrate His love and be prepared to share what happened
next meeting.

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BRINGING RESTORATION TO FAMILY

the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever. (Psalm 9:18)

For I hope in You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God (Psalm 38:15)

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their
God. (Psalm 146:5)

`I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, `plans for welfare and not for calamity
to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

We must find the need and fill it. Be a blessing and serve the community!

And there He makes the hungry to dwell, so that they may establish an inhabited city, (Psalm
107:36)

Feeding the Hungry is a priority to God.

Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, and our daughters as corner pillars fashioned
as for a palace; (Psalm 144:12)

We must minister to the youth. They are the priority in our House of Hope. We are building the
next generation of leaders, intervening on their behalf. The youth are the ones God wants to fill
with the fullness.

"They will not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; For they are the offspring of those
blessed by the LORD, And their descendants with them. (Isaiah 65:23)

By reaching the youth we can bring restoration to the family. Our hope is to restore the family
to their purpose, the vision and dream of Gods’ heart for their life. It is filled with hope and an
expected end.

I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, `plans for welfare and not for calamity
to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

`And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.' (Zechariah
8:5)

The vision is a neighborhood, a city where the streets are safe and the children can grow and
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prosper in peace and safety.

INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:
1. What does family mean to you?
2. What does “broken family” mean to you? What are the families like in your city,
neighborhood?
3. What does restoration look like in a family?
4. What is God’s heart for children, youth in your city?
5. What ways can we reach children that are in broken homes and are fatherless or don’t
have healthy families?

 ACTION:
1. Pray for your family, the families you know and then pray for the families in your
neighborhood.
2. Pray for one another’s family, unsaved, sick, in need of restoration.
3. Pray in small groups for families in your neighborhood.
4. Ask the Lord what He requires to bring restoration to families in our city

 GO:
1. Follow through on His inspired plans to bring restoration, whether it is your family,
someone’s family you know or one in the city – reach out and bring a healing word, offer
prayer, prophecy, allow the gifts of the Holy Spirit to flow….be obedient to the Lord.
2. Visit somewhere in the city where they are ministering to families, pray for them, research
their ministry, attend meetings, a group session or an outing and ask the Holy Spirit to
reveal the Father’s heart.

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PRAYER CHANGES THE ATMOSPHERE

It doesn’t take a prophet to know our nation is headed into difficult times. The economy is on
everyone’s mind but the solution is not a debt plan or a change of administration, though
these will help no doubt, what we need is God to intervene on every level of society starting
with the family!

What will it take for God’s intervention? He wants a dwelling place in our lives and in our
cities. It begins with you and me. It is the same throughout bible history, a nation in need of
God’s intervention. The most horrifying part is the church today is much like Israel, rejecting
God. Even though on the outside you see church services being attended and people carrying
their bibles but the truth is no one even opens their bible in church anymore much less the
rest of the week. This is an indication of a personal communion with the Lord. A hunger for
God’s word is directly related to our communion with Him. Sweet communion with the Holy
Spirit leads us to devour His word every opportunity we can.

I don’t say this to condemn anyone but to reveal our need for God. He is longing to address
our every need in this nation if we would turn to Him and give Him the pre-eminence He
deserves, the glory and adoration worthy of the God who gives us breath! This nation belongs
to Him and so does our lives. We can draw near, as close as we want and hear His voice full of
instruction and wisdom to solve every problem in our lives, our cities and our nation.

How do we get there?

Well one thing is for sure, there is a remnant of which you may be a part of who are
contending for Him to make this nation His dwelling place, to create a habitation for Him in
our city. We can tell He is coming to awaken His bride and it will be through an intense shaking
this nation has ever witnessed. Before this takes place Lord, shake us awake; shake your
church awake so that we can be a voice of clear wisdom and understanding when you come to
shake the nation. Let us prepare the way by being prepared now.

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who
spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from
heaven, (Hebrews 12:25)

whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not
only the earth, but also heaven." (Hebrews 12:26)

Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of
things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12:27)

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by
which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (Hebrews 12:28)
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For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)

The voice of God will come through spiritual authority. When listening to spiritual authority we
would do well to realize that they are speaking as they are moved by the Holy Spirit, not as
mere men or by their own will. They have submitted themselves to speak what the Lord is
speaking.

And so, we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines
in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; (2 Peter 1:19)

knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, (2 Peter 1:20)

for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by
the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21)

The word if it is the Lord’s word will not pass away, it will endure forever. Though it may come
through a man and who has a particular style or personality, the word will not return void. If
we listen we can hear the voice of the word, the Lord’s voice speaking, instructing, protecting,
helping, guiding, modeling for us the way to draw near to God and enter the fullness.

We have to know harder times are coming, that trail, tribulation, war, famines, destruction,
chaos but there is something that cannot be shaken, something that will remain. A structure, a
plan, and a kingdom that is eternal.

"For thus says the LORD of hosts: "Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth,
the sea and dry land; (Haggai 2:6)

and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this
temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:7)

The authority structure of God’s kingdom is paramount to our navigation through what is to
come. We can have assurance and confidence when we know we are submitted to God’s
authority both personally and in the corporate church, whether local or global.

The plan is to fill the house with glory, the city a dwelling place, a city of refuge where His
Presence and power never lifts. Our submission to authority affects that, in that the more of
draw near to God together the greater the manifestation of His glory and presence is released.
He never intended for one man to be near, He wants us all to be near together, as close as we
can physically and spiritually come.

For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to
blackness and darkness and tempest, (Hebrews 12:18)

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and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the
word should not be spoken to them anymore. (Hebrews 12:19)

(For they could not endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the
mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow." (Hebrews 12:20)

And so, terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling."
(Hebrews 12:21)

Moses at Mount Sinai led the people near to the Lord. We see the fear of the Lord manifesting
in Moses’ heart. Moses has the right perception of God who is Holy and Terrible at the same
time. We can see that because the Lord continues to draw Him to face to face encounters.

The fear of the Lord plays such an important role in our relationship with the Lord. As we are
longing for encounter, longing to know God and to become one with Him in every way, the
fear of the Lord keeps us in a place of consecration and right perspective.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is
understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

It takes grace to not only walk in the fear of the Lord but to impart it to others so that they
also have a right perception of the Lord.

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of
counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:2)

His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide
by the hearing of His ears; (Isaiah 11:3)

The plan of God is not for us only to draw near to the Lord but that we would lead His people
to be near to the Lord in continual communion. The Father is looking for a family to commune
with Him 24 hours a day with no break in fellowship. We can do this by operating in spiritual
authority both personally and corporately where we minister and by allowing the fear of the
Lord to guide us and keep us with a pure heart.

Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thundering’s and
lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so
that all the people who were in the camp trembled. (Exodus 19:16)

Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its
smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. (Exodus
19:18)

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The earth shook; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved
at the presence of God, the God of Israel. (Psalm 68:8)

It takes continual communion with the Father to understand the times and the seasons. To
have a clear word to give during the tribulation and shaking that is sure to come as the word
of God show us. As messengers, we want to be so in tune with the Father, dwelling in His
Presence and in communion so that as each trouble would arise we would not only know
about it but we would have His plan to prepare the people to navigate through it.

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. (Psalm 68:5)

God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the
rebellious dwell in a dry land. (Psalm 68:6)

O God, when You went out before Your people, When You marched through the wilderness,
Selah (Psalm 68:7)

Just as He delivered the Israelites from Egypt so will He deliver us from every enemy who will
come as we near His return? We read in Revelation that the whore of Babylon, the False
Prophet, the anti-christ and Satan himself desires to destroy us as we walk through the end
times before ushering in the return of Jesus Christ and the Father who will establish their
throne on earth and dwell forever in eternity in the New Jerusalem. We have the promise but
how to get to the end unshakable and unmoved from our faith enduring without spot or
wrinkle until the end comes through a life of continual communion with the Father. A life of
worship and intercession giving ourselves to building His Kingdom in the earth and ruling with
Him to remove everything that hinders love, this is what we will do now and throughout
eternity.

The plan God gave to David in 2 Samuel 7 is still unfulfilled and we have given ourselves to
creating that dwelling place in the earth.

"Go and tell My servant David, "Thus says the LORD: "Would you build a house for Me to dwell
in? (2 Samuel 7:5)

Even today the Lord desires a dwelling place in our cities and our nations. He took David who
was a man after His heart and placed a plan that would be a plan that would establish His
kingdom throughout the ages.

Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you
from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. (2 Samuel
7:8)

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And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from
before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the
earth. (2 Samuel 7:9)

Moreover, I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in
a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them
anymore, as previously, (2 Samuel 7:10)

since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to
rest from all your enemies. Also, the LORD tells you that He will make you a house. (2 Samuel
7:11)

"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you,
who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. (2 Samuel 7:12)

He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
(2 Samuel 7:13)

I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod
of men and with the blows of the sons of men. (2 Samuel 7:14)

But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before
you. (2 Samuel 7:15)

And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be
established forever." (2 Samuel 7:16)

All throughout the Old Testament the prophets were prophesying to Israel to return to their
original calling as a Holy Priesthood. The continual thrust of God was to build a dwelling place
for the people to commune in a corporate way with the Lord. Not only do we have unbroken
fellowship individually with the Father but a witness of this in the earth that is tangible and
can be experienced with the corporate body. It is more than just us entering in; we want the
corporate expression of One in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit doing what we will be doing
throughout eternity.

The corporate expression of a House of Prayer is an outflow of our personal communion with
the Lord. The unending, unbroken fellowship with the Father will lead us through every trial,
every tribulation, to the land of promise walking in the fullness of all He has given us through
His Son Jesus Christ. We will be doing this forever; we are living for that day when His throne is
established during us and we see heaven and earth as one.

INTERACTIVE STUDY
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 DISCUSS:

1. How do you spend time in worship? Prayer?

2. How important do you think prayer is to your mission?

3. How has prayer had an impact on your ministry?

4. Why would continual communion be important to Prayer for Your City?

5. What does it mean to “establish God’s throne”?

6. What does a corporate expression of communion look like in the inner city? How might it
be different from a typical Sunday morning church service?

 ACTION:

1. Study the “priesthood”. Study what it meant to bring the needs of the people to the High
Priest and to the Father.

2. Study the Old Testament Prophets, how they brought the words of God to the people.

 GO:

1. Find a place in the busies, most active, distracting place in the city, in the streets and pray
for one hour about the needs of the people and what God wants them to know. Journal/
Write what you hear about the people and God’s heart during your prayer meeting.

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VISION FOR THE CITY IS IN GOD’S HEART

"Thus, says the LORD, `I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then
Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called
the Holy Mountain.' (Zechariah 8:3)

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, `Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem,
each man with his staff in his hand because of age. (Zechariah 8:4)

`And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.' (Zechariah 8:5)

The vision for the City is in the Heart of God so we must seek Him. Prayer and worship will give
us the time in His Presence to hear His heart. We must spend time every day seeking the Lord
to hear His heart. His vision and His plan for the city is what we want to build.

`Therefore thus says the LORD, "I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be
built in it," declares the LORD of hosts, "and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem."'
(Zechariah 1:16)

"Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your
midst," declares the LORD. (Zechariah 2:10)

It will always be God’s plan to the end of the ages to tabernacle with men. Our purpose here on
earth as we wait for His return is to build His habitation, the place where He will dwell with us.

In that place of dwelling is safety and protection. This is why it is important to follow God’s plan
we want His protection. No man can protect us from evil unless that man is following God, we
have many great ideas and plans to end crime, violence, drug and human trafficking, abortion
and poverty in our cities but only God can do that through us, we must have His vision and His
plan to build a habitation where He will inhabit with His presence and bring transformation to a
city where He will inhabit and dwell.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”(Acts 1:8)

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:
1. What do you believe God’s vision is for your city?
2. What would it look like if the city was a safe place for children to play in the streets?
3. What does it mean to you for God to inhabit the city?
4. neighborhood?
5. school?
6. Business?
7. Prison?
8. Government?

 ACTION:
1. Find a place where children are least protected in your city and ask God what you can do
to bring change.

 DO:
1. Do a corresponding action with what God shares with you.

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ADMINISTRATING THE MISSION

What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor
as yourself." (Luke 10:26-27)

so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit
in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10)

Our personal mission includes our home and our family. This also extends to our personal life
lived out on a daily basis. It extends to our job, ministry, and our connection to family, friends
and co-workers. It includes our ministry to our neighborhood, city, state and nation.

Our life has an expression of the communion we have with God. This communion includes a
measure of authority. We have authority and we are submitted to authority. As we pour out
our lives to the Lord in ministry to Him and He shares His plan for our life it will include these
expressions.

The Lord desires to establish His Kingdom in us so that we can in turn establish His Kingdom in
the earth. Throughout our day we are coming into contact with the world around us that the
Father has plans for, He has given His Son that plan and as we spend time in communion with
Him we will find Him talking to us about this plan.

Jesus will have the leadership to implement the plan but if we jump the step of finding the
Father’s heart we will miss being able to walk it out with the Father’s love. We must find His
heart for all that we have in this life. We must find out why He created all things for our
pleasure.

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John
20:21)

It is the Father’s love that will make all the difference in what we express and what we do. It
took the Father’s love to bring Jesus to us as a witness. He could not come on His own, He was
sent by the Father and so He will send us. We are sent when we can express His love. We have
to know that love to express it and give a witness.

"Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the
world was. (John 17:5)

"I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours
and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. (John 17:6)

"Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; (John 17:7)

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Once we have heard the Father’s heart we will want to administrate His heart. This means we
want the expression of His heart through our gifts, talents and individual lives.

The Father wants a witness of our communion in every stratus of our personal lives. This will in
turn validate our ministry. We can only express on the outside what is true on the inside. If we
do not have a personal communion with the Lord expressing in our personal lives His heart than
all we do in ministry is religion, dead cold religion that effects and changes no one.

We have to be a willing vessel to express His heart and not ours in our world. This will touch our
family, our neighborhood, our city, state and our nation. Through our home we can touch the
nation. It is truly all connected and it starts at home.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:
1. What is the Father’s heart for your home?
2. How can you express His heart for your home, your personal life?
3. How do you commune with the Lord at home?
4. How can you establish the Kingdom of God in your home?

 ACTION:
1. Pray and ask the Lord for a blueprint for your home for the next 5 years. Seek Him both
individually and with your family members.

 GO:
1. Do something that God revealed was His plan that you haven’t implemented yet. Journal
what you heard and how He instructed you to implement the plan.

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ADMINISTRATING OUR RESOURCES


(Time, Money and Relationships)

Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You." (Mark 10:28)

Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother
or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, (Mark 10:29)

Time is a precious commodity. Every man is given so many years to live and with that life is
compartments of time dedicated to the mission God has given to everyone.

Time is something you can’t get back, once you give it is gone forever. We can effect time and
time can be effective. Our focus of time should always be what is on the center of the Father’s
heart. All throughout the day we can continue our communion with the Lord inquiring His heart
on all that we face throughout the day.

We can find our time will have much more effectiveness if it is directed by the Lordship of Jesus
Christ. The Father has a desire for our time to be put forth wisely and He can help schedule our
priorities so that our time is accomplishing what He sets as most important. This takes continual
communion to walk out.

If we put the time in His hands He can direct it but if we only inquire than we will not have a
manifested witness.

To walk this out we must truly be willing to give Him all our time. If He wants it from sun up to
sun down than this is what we must be willing to offer Him. In a practical way we may be under
obligation or commitment to minister a 9 to 5 job but if we have a day that we do not go to that
job than we must be willing to offer that day to Him. All day He can choose what He wants us to
do.

This also means that the free time we have we must be willing to surrender that to Him. If the
Father wants us from the time we leave the office until we return the next day than we give
that to Him. If He wants communion morning, lunch time and after dinner than we give that to
Him.

We must dedicate the hours of our day to Him. Even if we are in ministry or on the job we can
yield and make Him the priority. If we make our job our ministry and see that He is our boss
over us with His leadership activated we will find His heart is to make us a blessing on our job so
He will always leads us righteously.

Turning to the disciples, He said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see,
(Luke 10:23)

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If we give Him all our time and keep our focus on Him we will find He brings us answers we
didn’t know we needed and insight that no person could have found out but because we are in
communion with Him this fellowship releases wisdom, word of knowledge, healing, prophecy,
strategies, etc.

At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have
revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. (Luke 10:21)

Beginning at home we can ask the Father if He is pleased with our time and how we spend it
and ask Him to show us what is most pleasing and what He is not willing to give His leadership
to.

We set ourselves apart and consider His desires before we consider ours. This will allow His
blessing on what we put our hand to even our fun times can be covered and protected because
we invited His leadership.

Our money and resources are the same, we offer them all to the Lord, willing to give them all
away if the Lord so desires. The willingness of our hearts determines how we walk that out.

INTERACTIVE STUDY

 DISCUSS:
1. What resources do you have for missions?
2. Do you think the Lord is pleased with how you spend your time? Money? Why/ why not?
3. What does it mean when you offer to the Lord your resources?
4. What does wisdom, insight, healing look like to your family? Your neighborhood?
5. Do you think the Lord is pleased with how you spend your time? Money? Why/ why not?

 ACTION:
1. Determine what resource God wants you to give to someone in need. Ask Him how to
manifest that resource – come up with a plan to give that resource to someone in your city
that is in need that the Lord instructed you to bless

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 GO:
1. Follow up with the corresponding action and be a blessing! Journal how that felt and if
you suffered any loss by giving that resource.

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GOD’S HEART FOR CITY/COMMUNITY

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If we don’t have love we are just a clanging symbol but if our love does not warn about evil and
protect then our love is not God’s love. He hates sin; it separates Him from His beloved.

Jesus took the place of a servant. His leadership was to serve and He told the disciples just as I
am so will you be to the world.

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an
example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater
than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know
these things, you will be blessed if you do them (John 13:13-17)

Rejection is not love! We can’t reject someone and say we love them. When we see someone
bound in sin it should provoke love not rejection. Our response to the bound up and broken,
the ones trapped in sin and overcome by evil should provoke a heart of yearning to see their
freedom, not to reject them. We can’t wink at sin, we must be resolute in acknowledging its
destruction to man, our attack is against the enemy of God and we must uncover evil at every
opportunity.

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning
since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. (1John 3:8)

The word destroy is the Greek word Luo (3089 Greek) which means to set free any person tied
or fastened to, to set free one bound, to release from bounds, to free, dissolve anything bound,
tied, to do away with, to deprive of authority, to declare unlawful, to destroy, to overthrow, to
do away with.

We have to be so careful that in our zeal to “not be religious” that we don’t enter into a “false
grace” message. It really takes the work of the Holy Spirit to bring forth truth, light and LOVE
with conviction, righteousness and justice.

Do not listen to the words of the prophets…they speak a vision of their own heart, not from the
mouth of the LORD. They continually say to those who despise Me, “The LORD has said, ‘You
shall have peace’ and…they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’”… I have not sent these
prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in
My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them
from their evil way… (Jer. 23:16-22)

They have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace… (Ezek. 13:10)

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to
deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own
conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry… (1 Tim. 4:1-3)

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(Mt. 24:9-13; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 2 Pet. 2:1-3)

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (Jesus’ second coming) will not come unless
the falling away comes first, and the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed… (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own
desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will
turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables… (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

We need a clear definition of LOVE. It is so much more than an emotion! The Love the Father
had for us caused Him to give what He treasured most, His only begotten Son. He gave His own
for us. The Love Jesus had took Him through death, His love demonstrated on the cross, in the
grave and now seated at the right hand of the Father. All the way from heaven He came for
LOVE. He came to destroy the works of the devil.

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
(1 John 3:11)

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that
loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1 John 3:14)

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay
down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)

His message of LOVE is our message of LOVE. If we don’t have LOVE we have nothing to give, all
our programs, our gifts and talents, our ideas, plans and strategies to reach the lost, to bring
them to Jesus have no weight in heaven or hell unless we LOVE.

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not
righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (1 John 3:10)

The word righteousness is the Greek word dikaiosune and it means in a broad sense: state of
him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God the doctrine
concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God integrity, virtue, purity of
life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting it also means showing what God
approves passing just judgment on others, whether expressed in words or shown by the manner
of dealing with them

If we ‘pass judgment’ on others we must do this in love, with a trembling heart that it could be
us, we are no different or better but by the grace of God in our lives, His mercy and forgiveness.
It is not us up to us to judge man but we do judge sin, we discern it and we express God’s heart
towards sin. We don’t approve of sin but we separate the sin from the sinner who we love
unconditionally just as God Loves.

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You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you,
her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven
little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”(Luke 7:46-48)

Forgiveness is such a powerful work of the ministry of Jesus. He gave us that same power.
When we love someone in bondage then we are extending to them God’s mercy and
forgiveness. It’s an open invitation to come; the welcoming arms of Jesus are without condition,
just come! His love will never manifest rejection but He will manifest correction as He brings
judgment on sin. He will expose the work of the devil; He will bring light to wrong thinking and
religious ways that bound up people from experiencing truth.

We must be so careful not to mix up what the Grace of God truly is; it is the power of God to
take us where we could not go in and of ourselves.

The grace of God…has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly… (Titus 2:11-12)

Grace doesn’t wink at sin but teaches us to how we can live right before God. We want to love
God the way He wants us to love Him.

If you love Me, keep My commandments…He (Father) will give you another Helper…If anyone
loves Me, he will keep My word…We will come to him (God’s presence) (Jn. 14:15-23)

He wants first place in our lives!

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and
with all your strength. This is the first commandment. (Mk. 12:30)

In Him we have grace to resist sin, if we don’t abide in Him and in His word that grace is not
activated on the inside to help us resist sin.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do
not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin… (Rom. 6:12-13)

We present ourselves to God and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us and show us where
we are missing the mark.

But present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments
of righteousness to God. (Rom. 6:13)

Presenting ourselves to God means seeking to know, love, and please God in a personal and
wholehearted way. It means cultivating His presence in our life

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and abiding in Christ (John 15:5) and includes fellowshipping with the indwelling Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will always reveal the word of God, Jesus. This is His ministry in the earth to
reveal Jesus to us, who He is and what He desires in our lives.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not
speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you
what is to come. (John 16:13)

“He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. (John 16:14)

We must know truth, resist darkness, and pursue God. We pursue loving God and people as we
resist sin, Satan, and sin-provoking circumstances in the context of knowing who we are in
Christ and the truth about God’s heart. We have to do all three.

Some people resist sin and pursue God without knowing who they are in Christ. Some people
run hard after God without loving and ministering to people or resisting sin. Others are very
good at ministering to people without pursuing God or resisting sin. Some people are only
ministering to people and building relationships and they do the work of missions but without
pursuing God and resisting sin which leads to spiritual burnout. It takes all three to lead a
balanced life in God and stand before Him blameless to the end.

He is coming for a bride who is spotless, blameless to the end.

Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of
him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (1Peter 2:4)

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your
praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your
Father Who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Matthew
10:20)

All things have been entrusted and delivered to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and
accurately understands the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows and accurately
understands the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son deliberately wills to make
Him known. (Matthew 11:27)

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. What is rejection?

2. What does God’s love look like when demonstrating His hate for evil and sin?

3. What does spotless and blameless mean to you?

4. What does resisting sin mean to you?

5. Have you or someone you know ever experienced burnout?

6. Describe religious zeal

 ACTION:

1. Pray and ask the Lord who is rejected in your city and is in need of the love of God. Ask
the Lord how can you minister, demonstrate His love for them.

 GO:

1. Do a corresponding action with that insight to Love the Rejected in your city. Journal the
experience what you learned.

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THE FATHER’S LOVE

Jesus came to the earth to remove the rejection we had of the Father’s Love. Our Father who
has throughout time reached for His Sons and Daughters beginning with Adam and Eve, found
us rejecting this most glorious, life giving Love. The most incredible gift a Father could ever give
is His Love and Acceptance.

God created man to Love Him and there in the midst of all that He created Eve rejected Him
and Adam rejected Him. The Father never stopped loving them and all throughout the bible He
was calling them back to His Love. Yet the nation of Israel continues to reject Him. What kind of
love is this of a Father who never quit loving Israel? What lengths did He go to and express His
love? How many prophets did He send to declare His Love?

Then the Father is silent for four hundred years. Have you ever been in the silence of the
Father? Have you ever been in place where you couldn’t hear the Father speaking or know
what was in His heart? It is a horrible place to be, not having the Father speak to you or share
His heart with you. Our nation and the nations of the earth have not heard the Father’s voice.

The Father of Glory will not be satisfied until every nation knows He is their Father.

All things have been entrusted and delivered to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and
accurately understands the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows and accurately
understands the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son deliberately wills to make
Him known.(Matthew 11:27)

Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching
which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me. (John 14:24)

After four hundred years the Father sends to us the most clear and concise message that would
remove all doubt and unbelief. He sends His Son to love us in such a tangible way. You cannot
deny the Son unless you want to deny the Father.

But whoever denies and disowns Me before men, I also will deny and disown him before My
Father Who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:33)

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into
the world, that we might live through Him. (1 John 4:9)

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
(1 John 3:8)

When Jesus came to the earth and manifested the Love of the Father and it destroyed the
works of the devil. The Love of the Son for the Father manifested His love for the whole world
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to see and know and be unable to deny. Once a living witness of truth manifests it is impossible
to deny. The unmistakable love of the Father manifested in every sermon, every miracle, every
confrontation to the religious, every beating, every accusation. Jesus continued to love and
continued to pour out and manifest the Father’s heart.

[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of
darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, (Colossians 1:13)

He then imparted that heart to the disciples. His love revealed the Father to them and when
the Holy Spirit was released they had the ability to manifest the Father and the Son.

INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. What is the difference between the Father’s love and the love of Jesus?

2. How does Jesus remove the rejection of the Father’s love?

3. How do you see the love of the Father destroying the works of the devil?

 ACTION:

1. Ask the Father how He wants you to manifest His love. Ask how you can demonstrate that
love and remove rejection from someone that doesn’t believe in Jesus

 GO:

1. Do a corresponding action publically. Create an atmosphere that removes rejection


without expecting anything in return. Just serve them to demonstrate the Father’s Love
and remove rejection. Let them understand how much the Father values them.

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A WITNESS OF FATHER’S LOVE

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment;
because as He is, so are we in this world. (1John 4:17)

The completeness of the Father’s love in Jesus manifests and executes the plan of the Father in
such an irreproachable way that it cannot be removed. Throughout all of eternity and
throughout history this act of Love permeates, culminates perfection. There is nothing more
absolute, nothing more unshakeable, and nothing more unwavering, more satisfying than the
perfect love of a Father manifested in His Son.

[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of
darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, (Colossians 1:13)

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of
God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (1 John 3:1)

The context with which Jesus manifested was a world full of religious hypocrisy. The religious
leaders had manifested the Father to the people and it was different, it was not true, they had
built themselves a nice little ministry that was benefiting them and all the while drawing the
people to reject the Father.

They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and
disown and renounce Him by what they do….. (Titus 1:16)

We know this is true because when the truest representation of the Father showed up the
people didn’t know who He was. They had lost fellowship with the Father; they were rejecting
him on the inside while they had all the outward appearances of communion.

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the
Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but
He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to
Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in
the future] (John 16:13)

One thing is certain, when the Truth shows up it uncovers everything and judges that which is
false. This is righteous judgment. When truth and righteousness are manifested there is a
righteous judgment against evil. There is so much power in living right and holy that the spirit of
this age spends all its time trying to get you out of it. When you are walking in right standing
with God your life is judging evil all around you. There is nothing more powerful that righteous
judgments, Jesus came to judge because it is truth.

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"I came into this world for judgment [as a Separator, in order that there may be separation
between those who believe on Me and those who reject Me], to make the sightless see and to
make those who see become blind"(John 9:39)

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
(1 John 4:14)

And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with
equity. (Psalms 9:8)

"But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who
sent Me. (John 8:16)

We have listened to the world tell us that judgments were bad and that a Loving Father would
never judge but the truth is when judgments are manifested people understand righteousness.
Discernment is manifested separating good and evil.

But judgment will return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. (Psalms
94:15)

And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about
sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about
judgment (John 16:8)

Jesus came to reveal what “right standing” with the Father truly was because the current
priesthood wasn’t able to find a sacrifice that was able to keep men from sinning and being
separated. There was much misrepresentation of the Father and His plan. The nation of Israel
was being led to believe everything was ok.

For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to
the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people
[turn away from them]. (2 Timothy 3:5)

The power of the Son manifesting in the natural the Father’s heart released the glory
(knowledge) of God that was and still is irrefutable. The authority of the Father manifested in
His Son made judgments on everything that was misrepresenting the truth. It was not enough
for Jesus just to show up, but when He began to minister that authority everything shifted. He
always had it but when He exercised it, executed it, released it to judge evil with truth, power
and the knowledge of the Father the entire planet’s future changed.

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I
do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me

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that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works
themselves. (John 14:10-11)

NTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. How do you know that you know God?

2. Describe a current priesthood like the one that was ministering when Jesus came on the
scene, building a ministry but misrepresenting the Father.

3. Describe a time when God convicted your sin. Did you feel rejected?

 ACTION:

1. Picture yourself facing the leadership of the church you just described. Pray for that
meeting and ask the Father what He wants you to say.

 GO:

1. Write out a letter (it will not be sent) to that leadership that would manifest truth and
conviction in the Love of the Father regarding where they are misrepresenting the Father.

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THE AUTHORITY OF A SON’S LOVE

Anytime a son or a daughter manifests the authority of a believer, the kingdom of darkness
suffers violence; however when a son or daughter manifests their authority that is established
in spiritual authority than that partnership manifests an entirely different atmosphere that can
have far greater devastation to evil’s future. This principle Jesus talked about when challenged
with where His power and authority came from, if the Son of God manifested to a world in sin
this way, how much more should we?

But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."
(John 5:17)

Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but
also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. (John 5:18)

Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of
Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like
manner. (John 5:19)

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
(Hebrews 1:1)

has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)

who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all
things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right
hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:3)

The world was rejecting the way of God and the Father wanted to remove that rejection from
the hearts of Israel so He sent His Son. The manifestation of the Son coming in the authority
and representing the Father was to remove and change the hearts of the people. They would
witness His love in manifestation, His authority over the world and His plan manifested in the
gathering of a Bride for wedding. This Son was the exact “express image” of the Father’s heart
and communicated that everything we needed to make to the end was available to us.

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon
in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Luke 12:27)

If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? (Luke 12:28)

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For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need
these things. (Luke 12:30)

All of this was always available for the nation of Israel, God’s beloved, did not believe He
wanted them to have it all. They could not see clearly His heart to care and supply for them, to
love and heal them, to restore all the promises to them so He sent the clearest message there
ever was in the form of a Son. The embodiment of everything in the Fathers heart came in His
Son, Jesus didn’t leave one thing out, it all came in the form that would speak the strongest and
manifest that greatest miracle of all, God inside a man.

For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I
came out from the Father. (John 16:27)

Jesus came to exemplify this tender love for a family. He came to express the Father’s plan not
in word only but in demonstration. Every miracle, every sermon, every encounter was telling us
what was coming and how to prepare for it. It is the most thought out plan of the Father,
directing everything the Son said and did to communicate to the world His Heart and plan for all
the ages.

Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will
take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. (John 16:15)

For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And
again: "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son"? (Hebrews 1:5)

It was more than just building the church but it was a plan that would take us through the end
of the ages. The Father always looks ahead, He is not living in the now, He is directing now for
the future

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny and disown and reject Him, He will also
deny and disown and reject us. (2 Timothy 2:12)

If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word
and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)

The Son came to turn a generation to the Father. His plan was for the sons and daughters to
know their Father. He gave up everything, laid down all of it for the sake of a generation for the
sake of Love.

That they all may be one as you Father are in me(Jesus) and I (Jesus) am in You (Father) that
they (you and me) may also be one in us (Father, Son) so that the world may believe and know
that you (Father) sent me (Jesus) John 17:21

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Saying, What are we to do with these men? For that an extraordinary miracle has been
performed by (through) them is plain to all the residents of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
(Acts 4:16)

INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. What is the Father’s plan?

2. What changed in the authority Jesus walked in to destroy death?

3. How did the Father’s love manifest to Israel through His Son, what manifested?

4. How does Jesus express the Father’s Love He for a family?

5. What about your life expresses your family and the love you have for one another

 ACTION:

1. Pray about how you can express the Father’s love for a Family. Target the broken families
and pray how God can use you to express His desire to heal and restore them to Himself
and to one another.

 GO:

1. Go to a place in the city where broken families are trying to get help. Pray over them for
an hour. If during this time you get prophesy or words of knowledge pray and ask the Lord
if you can minister them. If you feel led; ask families if you can pray for them. Be natural
and lighthearted and walk out grace, mercy and forgiveness. You can tell them the Lord
has given you a burden from His heart for broken families and while you were praying He
spoke to you……

2. Be careful NOT TO SPEAK NEGATIVELY over anyone you are praying for – rather pray the
Promise of God and the solution NOT the problem.
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JESUS CALLS CITIES TO REPENTANCE


"But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and
calling to their companions, and saying: "We played the flute for you, And you did not dance;
We mourned to you, And you did not lament.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and
they say, "He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a
glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her
children." Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done,
because they did not repent: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty
works (miracles) which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have
repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the Day of Judgment than for you.
And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the
mighty works (miracles) which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have
remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in
the Day of Judgment than for you." (Matthew 11:16-24)

Jesus calls cities to repentance.

We need an outpouring of the spirit of repentance!

Jesus mentions three cities in Matthew 11:24. His description of their future is very clear. He
confronts their unwillingness to repent. What strikes me is why is He addressing an entire city?
When judgment came to Sodom the entire city was destroyed. The judgment was for more
than just people, it became an entire city that the Father judged. This concept brings an entirely
new paradigm to our church

We are not just one building or one denomination in the eyes of the Lord. If we ever
understand that we stand before the Lord as a city and as a nation. He does not look at our one
little ministry nor does He look at our one little church. We may be misunderstanding that if our
ministry is cleansed than when judgment comes we will be ok, that is nothing more than a
deception because Jesus considers the church as a an entire city and nation. He does not see as
man sees.

In Matthew 11 and Luke 10 we can see that He clearly is telling the city that even though you
have done great works and even supported the synagogue, because you have seen the miracles
and you have encountered the worship of Me you will be held accountable.

On the counter of this, our witness of worship and miracles is a judgment against evil; this is
why we must pursue the fullness of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit because it gives evil no
excuse.

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"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you
had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and
ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you,
Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. He who hears you hears
Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." (Luke
10:14-16)

Jesus sends out seventy disciples to bring the gospel to surrounding cities and He gives them
the perspective of the Father’s heart. This is so serious; taking the gospel to the cities and
nations has such a weight to it. In our modern day missionary movement we take the spreading
of the gospel as some “duty” or some great “work” that actually glorifies us more than Jesus.

Jesus sets the disciples hearts in the fear of the Lord. He tells them that when they release truth
the entire city will be responsible. If we are sharing the gospel and do not feel or sense the
glory and fear of the Lord then we need to check and see what we are sharing!

Jesus clearly sets the precedence that once these men and women share the truth of Jesus
Christ in fullness, meaning with miracles manifesting to confirm the gospel, there will be no
excuse.

and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
(Luke 10:9)

The first step would be that we are carrying the full gospel in demonstration. If there is not
confirmation and demonstration, it is NOT the gospel. Everywhere that Jesus went there were
signs following and we can tolerate nothing less. We have allowed the excuse that as long as
the word goes forth it is ok; it is not ok unless it is confirmed with signs. We have to take a
stand to not settle for anything less, there MUST be demonstration because this confirmation
gives the witness. If it were not so …..than Jesus never needed to manifest in a human body.

The devil will manifest counterfeit signs and wonders and this end time clash of kingdoms will
be demonstrated on levels we are not even ready or prepared for. Jesus told His disciples you
must gather and pray, you must seek this gift of My Father, this promise of Power, so that you
can manifest the Kingdom of God to cities and the nation.

There must be a witness of truth so that when evil manifests there will be the gospel. The
gospel is not manifested in fullness until it is confronting evil. In other words, the miracles are a
confrontation of evil with truth. You can preach all day long but if the power never manifests
than that word has not been confirmed with a witness. The Holy Spirit will always confirm Jesus
the living word of God. When we encounter the word of God we should walk away from it
transformed on the inside. The power of the Word with the Holy Spirit is creative power to
transform.

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The endtimes is a confrontation of the Kingdom of God with the kingdom of evil. Leading up to
His return, there should be a confrontation every time the word is preached, hands are laid on
the sick and demon possessed, every time the gospel manifests. We are driving evil and
everything that hinders love out of our city and nation.

Jesus was clear when He told the seventy that if they reject you they will be rejecting Me. That
means our mission is to manifest the Son’s authority.

Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works (miracles) had been done,
because they did not repent: (Matthew 11:20)

When you look at Jesus’ ministry in the earth, it was His miracles that caused the most
controversy. The religious did not get violent or confrontational until the manifestation of
power confronted evil. Sickness and disease is evil, there is no excuse for sickness and disease
in the body of a believer, we should never ever be accepting of what Jesus died to overcome.
Sin, sickness and death have all been overcome and the power of the Kingdom of God
manifests truth, healing and eternal life.

But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, The
very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that
the kingdom of God has come near you.' But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that
Day for Sodom than for that city. (Luke 10:10-12)

And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the
mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until
this day. (Matthew 11:23)

To say that miracles and manifestations of power by the Holy Spirit is not the Gospel or truth is
to deny Jesus Christ. The darkest of cities, Sodom, manifesting homosexuality and immorality at
levels we have never encountered and because the miraculous and demonstration of power
was not present there was no righteousness exalting truth to keep that city standing. Even
though the righteous were given the opportunity to leave the city, that entire region was
destroyed. Judgment came to a city because they refused to repent. This is a clear example of
what we will encounter before Jesus returns.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:
1. What does the gospel look like to you?
2. Have you ever demonstrated the gospel? Explain
3. Have you witnessed the demonstration of the gospel? How did it impact you?
4. Where is the gospel demonstrated in your city?
5. Where would you like to see the gospel demonstrated?

 ACTION:
1. Pray the gospel to be demonstrated in your city. Declare God’s Promises to manifest His
Promise in the earth as a witness. Pray over an area of your city desperately in need of the
Gospel demonstrated

 GO:
1. Go to the place in your city you prayed over. Allow the Lord to give you strategies for the
demonstration of the Gospel. Gather for a public prayer meeting there and allow worship
to fill the atmosphere to Host the Holy Spirit. Be free to follow the Lord’s leading while you
are there.
2. Journal about your experience and write strategies to follow up on, to return and release
more.

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COMPROMISE LEADS TO POWERLESSNESS

For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him,
that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to
Abraham what He has spoken to him." And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom
and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether
they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I
will know." (Genesis 18:19-21)

Abraham had a prayer life. He had reached the Father’s heart in such a way that His response
was “I will go down and see….” The Father was going to intervene. But this was not enough. The
prayer movement, though very powerful is not enough. If we are unwilling to confront evil we
are missing something. Abraham contacted the Father and partnered with Him on one level but
His intent was limited to escaping evil. This is much like the “rapture” theory that fills our
church and is leading a generation astray

If all we have is a “get me out of trouble” mentality then we really don’t know the authority of
the Father and the Son and we are not preaching the gospel. Jesus told His disciples I want you
to head right into those evil cities and preach and prophesy and demonstrate My authority over
sin, sickness and disease and if they still reject you than they reject Me.

Sodom was full of evil and wickedness, they assaulted the kingdom of God but all Abraham
wanted to do when he was face to face with evil was get out. What we see in his next
confrontation with evil, he is cowardly and compromising because he never confronted. We
must take a stand against what assaults the kingdom of God. Sodom’s sin and blatant
demonstration of evil is in our cities, our church, our education, and our government.

So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, and said, "Please, my
brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man;
please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to
these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof."(Genesis 19:6-
8)

Abraham never went to the city to confront it. The angels went and spoke to Lot but Abraham
never went and preached the gospel, demonstrating the power of truth. Abraham prayed but
he never went.

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And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because
their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according
to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.(Genesis 18:20-21)

The Father demonstrated to Abraham what he must do. He said because the sin and outcry is
so great…I will go…and see. Abraham right there was being instructed to “Go”. Do you think
that God could not see or know what was going on in that city? Of course He did but Abraham
didn’t and because he did not confront that homosexuality and immorality, he fell into sin in
the next encounter with evil.
1 And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and
stayed in Gerar. 2Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of
Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him,
"Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's
wife. (Genesis 20:1-3)

There was a great change in Abraham after Sodom’s destruction. His next encounter with evil
found him powerless and compromising. He tells the ruler or government of the city that Sarah
is his sister so he doesn’t have to confront evil. Why would he do that? Why would he lie? Is it
ever ok to lie?

Abraham was unwilling to confront the disparity of covenant breakers, and because of that he
could no longer cover his wife with spiritual authority. He opened her up to the most degrading
attack that put her in danger of rape. He took his beautiful wife and gave her to the ruler of the
land to do with her as he pleased. The glory of God showed up and intervened because
Abraham did evil, God kept His covenant. This is the most powerful display of God’s love and
mercy!

This just makes me think of the judgment that will come to those who have been given spiritual
authority in their homes and in their cities. If we do not confront the evil of our day then we are
giving our wives, our children, those in our care over to evil.
4Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the
people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5And they called to Lot and said to him,
"Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them
carnally."
6So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, 7and said, "Please, my

brethren, do not do so wickedly! 8See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man;
please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to
these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof."(Genesis 19:4-
8)

Just as Lot who told the evil men to take his daughters and do as they pleased, we are giving
our children over to evil because we refuse to confront wickedness in our cities. It is not enough
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to just pray, we will never walk in authority if we are not willing to confront evil with the power
of truth and the demonstration of the gospel.
7And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing….(Genesis 18:7)
22Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood
before the LORD.(Genesis 18:22)

The men or angels were sent to Sodom but Abraham didn’t go. I really believe the Lord wanted
Abraham to go and see because what manifested afterwards in Abraham was the same sin that
Lot manifested. Abraham is in Gerar and he gives his wife, Sarah over to the Abimelech like Lot
gave his daughters. It is not about what the leaders did to the daughters or Sarah, because God
surely in His grace and mercy intervened. But what was in the heart of these men to uncover
their family was clearly the fear of man. They refused to confront government, the leadership
of the city and the crowds and choose to preserve themselves. The gospel didn’t get preached,
the truth was not demonstrated and the city was destroyed.
33So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham
returned to his place.(Genesis 18:33)

It is clear right here that Abraham did not follow the Lord. There was a separation. This word
“returned” is the Hebrew word shuwb (7725 heb) which means to draw back, turn back, defeat.
Abraham knew that Lot was not righteous and it would take a righteous man to go into the city
to prevent it from being destroyed. Abraham was not willing to go. This decision affected the
future of that city.

Will we ever understand how our obedience to God holds us accountable? The Lord is looking
at saving the city but He wants us to “go” His plan is for us to partner with Him not only in
prayer but in the demonstration and the “going”. It is more than just for the city but once we
understand His heart if we draw back it affects our family, our house.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:
1. What evil do you see manifesting in your city?
2. What do you believe is God’s heart about this evil?
3. How can you manifest God’s heart about this evil to your family?
4. …….Your church?
5. ……..Your ministry?
6. ………..Your city?

 ACTION:
1. Ask the Lord to send you as His voice to your family, or your church, ministry or your city.
Pray and ask the Lord for a plan to drive out the evil that has been highlighted to you in
your city.

 GO:

1. Travel to these places in your city where the evil is most evident. Pray for an hour and ask
the Lord how He would like to drive this evil out of your city. While you are praying,
prophesy what God’s plan is to put in its place, prophesy what belongs in your city. Bind
every power, principality and evil ruler you are sensing that has authority in that place,
unseat the powers, drive them out and declare that Jesus Christ is Lord in this area of your
city and over your city , state and nation. Declare how the Lordship of Jesus manifests, in
power, in demonstration, in conviction and judgment against evil. Invite the Holy Spirit to
fill this area of your city. Invite the Presence and Power of God to this part of your city.
Build an altar to the Lord and commit to keep this region of your city as an assignment in
prayer. Keep the fire lit on the altar by allowing the Holy Spirit to take you there both in
prayer and physically to pray and prophesy as He leads. Journal your experience.

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THE GOSPEL IS MORE THAN FELLOWSHIP


And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing
them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he
said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and
wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will
abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him,
and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and
they did eat. (Genesis 19:1-3)

Lot encounters two angels and invites them into his home for fellowship. It was an opportunity
for Lot to come to the saving knowledge of God. His father had given him an inheritance and he
chooses to spend it on himself. Truth came knocking on the door and an opportunity for
transformation availed itself. Lot’s choice was to confront the evil and make a stand for what he
knew was right and truth. His decision to appease the evil at the price of his own family caused
him great recompense.

Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy,
which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest
some evil take me, and I die: (Genesis 19:19)

Lot had no strength to obey the Lord. He was unable to follow His instructions and although
there was a measure of safety Lot never entered into the fullness. The restraining factor of
Abraham’s prayers preserved Lot from the city of Sodom but Lot could not stand against evil
himself.

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26)

Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of
our father. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay
with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. (Genesis 19:32-
33)

What happens next is the manifestation of evil on another level. Not only did Lot lose his wife
but his daughters manifested the most devastating form of sin, incest. Lot’s decision effected
the next generation. He not only is accountable for his family but now God will judge him for
how he affected his children.

Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the firstborn bare a son, and
called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. (Genesis 19:36-37)

This sin of compromise affected an entire generation. Moab was the seat of murder. The
idolatry and evil that manifested in the murder of babies set in the fire on the altars to the gods
is more horrific than we can imagine.
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The story doesn’t end for Abraham. He enters into twenty five years of trial. This testing
culminates in the sacrifice of his son, Isaac. We have to know that there is so much more to this
test. The very sin of Lot was that he was willing to give his daughters over to evil. This promised
seed Isaac was the dream of Abraham’s heart to fulfill the promise of being a Father of many
nations.

The nation next to his dwelling was offering their children on altars every day. They were
slaughtering them to the gods, like they were of no value or worth. Yet here was God asking
Abraham to do the same thing. Twenty five years Abraham waited for the fulfillment of the
promise from His Father and here he was now asked to take his life. There is so much more to
this than just an act of faith.

Faith is when what we believe is confronting evil. The entire description of this act is preaching
to the nation of Moab. Abraham was going to demonstrate to a nation what His Father did and
was going to do. We need to know that when the Father wants to confront evil we do not get
to choose the way that is going to manifest. Everything about this act had to thunder in
Abraham’s insides that this is so wrong.

I try to put myself in Abraham’s place and see if I could have done what he did. It is a great way
to test your faith. Often the Lord will call us to back to the very place of compromise and face
evil.

When one man chooses to do in the face of evil has such a great impact that can be seen in our
own cities and in abortion mills every day. On the other hand what can one man do in
obedience to Christ Jesus, willing to face the crowds of compromise in our churches and homes
and the evil of immorality and homosexuality that is trying to destroy this generation? Our
cities and nations can release the greatest confirmation of Jesus’ soon return.

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:
1. Has God ever asked you to do something that seemed entirely contrary to what is
considered “normal” Christianity?
2. Have you felt led to do something that would be unpopular, against the norm or opposite
of what the majority thinks is ok?
3. Have you ever risked something very important in order to obey God? Explain.
4. How would you explain that your obedience to God may cost you everything knowing you
would lose favor with leaders, family, and friends?

 ACTION:
1. Write an email to someone who you would like to explain why you did something but
were never given the opportunity to explain. Or write an email explaining why you are
about to do something they are in total disagreement with. Don’t send the email unless
you feel led – this exercise is to give you the opportunity to search your heart out in a
more concrete way for what you believe and why.

 GO:
1. Go to a place in you city that is expressively against what you are doing or engaged in or
believing to do and pray for them. They could be accusers, they could be religious, or they
may be against you personally, but pray for them and ask the Lord to give you His heart
for them.

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QUESTIONING THE WAY OF GOD


And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son.
And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? (Genesis
22:7)

Abraham spent twenty five years testing his faith. He was given a promise and it had finally
appeared and he was about to make it known to everyone. His son, Isaac was the promised son
that would manifest the Father’s authority. What was given to Abraham would manifest in
Isaac and he was going to make an offering to the Lord and remind Him of His promise.

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him,
Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac,
whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering
upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. (Genesis 22:1-2)

The Father shows up and challenges Abraham. He tells him to bring his son to the land of
Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering. This word offer is the Hebrew word alah (5927
heb) which means to go up, to ascend, and to go up before God.

Abraham knew this was a serious event. It has much weight to it. It meant that what happened
after that sacrifice would change their lives forever. The encounter with the Father in the place
of prayer prepared Abraham for this walk of faith. The Father not only asked Abraham to walk it
but he asked Abraham to lead his son in this walk of faith. They were to go up to the place of
sacrifice and trust that God would show up and supply for them an offering.

Perhaps it is unheard of to travel to a place of sacrifice without an offering. Perhaps it is a


stigma to build an altar and not have something to put on it. Perhaps it is even worse that we
would be asked to lead a generation to a place of faith we ourselves are struggling to walk in.

Abraham didn’t have the full understanding of what was going to happen on that mount where
he would build an altar. He had to go in faith. He knew in part but not fully. He went in faith
knowing God would manifest the sacrifice and then he could tell the world of God’s
faithfulness. The promise was very real to Abraham. He had been through much trial and
tribulation and it was all about to culminate in a demonstration of his son.

Abraham’s sin at Sodom was drawing back in the face of confrontation of evil and standing for
what was right and holy. It took two days to travel from the place of prayer to the place where
they would build an altar. There were surely plenty of opportunities to turn back, to quit and to
give up. The conversation between father and son would be very interesting indeed.

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Consider the conversation between our Father and Jesus when He explained that He must
come to earth to give His life. The Father reveals His heart to Jesus and it puts something on the
inside of Him that we can see as He enters into prayer and even at the place where drops of
blood form on His body as He chooses to obey and give His life as a ransom. The struggle to lay
down our lives for Jesus is never a one-time wrestle, but all our lives we will have to put our
desires and will to the cross and say Yes to His way.

It is interesting to think about the Father’s plan to send Jesus to the earth. It is so hard to
believe that there are people who think that the Father told the Jews to kill Jesus. The Father
knew what was in the heart of evil and wicked men but He also knows that when His power
manifests men can choose righteousness and choose truth. The Father believes so much in us
that He sends His Son to prove our hearts. His desire is that all would come to full knowledge of
His Salvation. The Father knew what would happen because He knows everything and He
prepares His Son still He did not make them kill Jesus. He did not fill their heart, the bible shows
us that Jesus saw what was in Judas’ heart and confronted him with truth and still Judas choose
to sin.

And he said - Take, I pray thee, thy son, thine only one, whom thou lovest, even, Isaac, and get
thee into the land of Moriah and cause him to ascend there as an ascending-sacrifice, on one of
the mountains which I shall name unto thee.(Genesis 22:2)

For two days Abraham is probably relating to his son the times when the Father asked him to
go on a faith journey and how he drew back. He was probably telling his son how this time he
would go all the way, this time he wouldn’t drawback choose compromise, this time he was so
sure that the Father would provide a sacrifice for the altar.

Abraham had the task of bringing his son to a place he had not been himself. This challenges all
of us, we know where we need to be and we are given the task of taking this generation to a
place we haven’t even been to ourselves, this takes faith!

Abraham didn’t even know where they would land, where the place was of sacrifice. He had to
start his journey, head in the direction the Father said go knowing that somewhere along the
way God would point to a mountain and say “Go There”.

Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. (Genesis 22:4)

And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder
and worship, and we will come back to you." (Genesis 22:5)

It is interesting that Abraham didn’t send his servants to go looking for a sacrifice. He had to
maintain that place of faith for Isaac’s sake, for all those who would follow. Abraham had to
climb the mountain and show Isaac even though there is nothing to put on the altar we can still
go build the altar and trust the Lord to show up and provide.

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They were going to worship. The intent of the altar was a place of worship. Pure worship has a
manifested Presence of provision.

Isaac was about to be revealed to the world as the promised seed everyone said was impossible
including his wife. Isaac was about to manifest the promise of Abraham, he was a father to
many nations. I really don’t believe Abraham had any idea what God was going to do or what
was in Abraham’s heart.

His son, Isaac begins to manifest the same sin that was in Abraham’s heart. Isaac begins to
question his father. He did not have the same faith as Abraham had, and he did not trust
enough to just go, he began to question his father just like Abraham questioned his Father
when He was headed to Sodom.

Something happened in Abraham’s heart when he heard what was in his son’s heart. I wonder
if at that instance he doubted everything God had told him about a promised seed. Surely the
Father would not manifest nations through a son who questions his own father? In that culture
in that day to doubt your father is to doubt God. The authority in the family of God was much
different than it is today.

Sarah had the same issues. She laughed at the manifestation of authority. When the Lord
showed up and said I will give you a son this time next year, she laughed. How we treat the
word of the Lord, how we treat spiritual authority has grave implications on the promise of God
being fulfilled and how we treat that promise when it manifests.

I don’t have all the answers but one thing I know, there was a plan in God’s heart and he was
willing to test Abraham to show him what was in his heart. Faced with direct doubt of our
authority in God will tell us what is in our heart. Isaac was testing Abraham’s faith.

Have you ever been tested by your son or daughter? Have you ever been tested by this
generation? Perhaps their doubt in your ability to lead them has caused you to doubt God.
Abraham was in a difficult place. He knew his past, he had probably told stories to Isaac and
here his son was questioning his judgment, questioning his leadership, questioning his
authority.

Did Abraham decide to give up his son to save his own face? Did Abraham decide that Isaac
couldn’t be the promised son if he was going to question his authority? When we understand
the Father’s love towards us, His heart to bring us to fullness no matter how many tests and
how many years it takes, His longsuffering and patience to bring us to the fullness without
casting us off or choosing another we can truly represent that to this generation.

Perhaps the rest of the trip Abraham wrestled with his soul. He knew the promise, he knew
Isaac’s heart and he knew that God would provide a way where there was no way. Perhaps he
came to the conclusion, this time Father I will “go”! This time Father I will enter into the same
place I compromised before and I will give you everything! I will face the accusation that I am
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no better than Moab because you are asking me to do this thing and they will say I am an
idolater, that I am sacrificing my son to the gods but I know what you have told me and I must
rise above what everyone thinks and obey You.

We can’t really tell the Father how to manifest the Son. We can’t tell the Father how to
manifest the Promise. He gives us the Promise and we have to have faith that the way to
receive and manifest that Promise is up to Him. Our obedience may cause the crowds to mock
and the people to cut us off, we may become the enemy to the very ones we are trying to
minister to but if we obey and trust there will be a ram in the bush, there will be a intervention
of God and there will be a manifestation of the Father’s heart and His authority.

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went
both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)

Somewhere between verse seven and eight there was a coming together of the son and the
Father in agreement. They were “together” in their decision to follow God and obey. This
manifested in another level of faith being released. I am not sure the ram would have
manifested if Isaac and Abraham were not in agreement.

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and
laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And
Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. (Genesis 22:9-10)

It could have been hours, maybe even the rest of the day between their agreement and the
building of the altar. This altar has such significance. It was in a strategic place, it was under the
direction of the Father on how to build it. The way it was built and what went into the building
of it was very significant.

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took
the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:6)

It took the supply and both the Father and the Son to bring the altar forth. The son carried the
wood and the father carried the fire and a knife. What it takes to carry the supply to build the
altar is so important. Have you ever carried fire? Have you ever carried fire in your hand?

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:
1. Is there something God is asking or inviting you to do that you feel you can’t because you
have failed at it before or gotten accused over it before?4
2. What do you believe God has called you to lead in this city?
3. Who has God called you to partner with in order to bring the fullness?
4. Did you ever feel God was wrong? Or did you ever feel that what you thought you heard
God say couldn’t have been right?
5. What is God calling you to walk out by faith?

 ACTION:
1. Ask God what is on His heart for partnership in your city? Who does God want you to partner
with to reach the city? Ask Him how to partner with them. Write down what you would share with
them if you were given fifteen minutes to ask for their agreement.

 GO:
1. Go to the place where those God wants you to partner are, pray for them, do business with them,
tour their facilities, learn more about them and ask the Lord for a plan a strategy. If you can make
an appointment with a representative and find out their plans for this area/city or do some
research online and email someone. Try to make some contact and share your interest and allow
the Holy Spirit to reveal more to you about partnering with them in making a habitation for the
Lord in your city.
2. Build an altar to the Lord in their place by offering this relationship to the Lord and by praying for
them. Declare the Lordship of Jesus Christ over their business, ministry or office.
3. Journal your meetings, prayer times and add what the Lord is showing you or sharing with you
about the potential of this relationship and potential agreement.

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THE FATHER WANTS A FAMILY

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David who had the zeal of God for this generation had a revelation of the Bridegroom God.

THE HEAVENS declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork.
(Psalm 19:1)

Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge. (Psalm 19:2)

Of the heavens has God made a tent for the sun, (Psalm 19:4)

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; and it rejoices as a strong man to run his
course. (Psalm 19:5)

It’s going forth is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the ends of it; and nothing [yes,
no one] is hidden from the heat of it. (Psalm 19:6)

Paul had the same revelation and described the zeal the Bridegroom and the Father had for the
bride. In fact Paul thought of himself much like a Father and longed to present the bride as a
chaste spotless bride.

I am zealous for you with a godly eagerness and a divine jealousy, for I have betrothed you to
one Husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2)

All throughout the bible we can hear the Bridegroom’s voice drawing the bride to His side
longing to be one with her, longing for the consummation of a wedding.

Therefore, behold, I will allure her [Israel] and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak
tenderly and to her heart.(Hosea 2:14)

The Father’s love for the bride of His Son is strong and it can be like the fire that burns to refine
gold and silver. This fire has many levels to it. The more pure the gold becomes the hotter the
fire burns to remove any and all impurities.

The prophets prophesied in Jeremiah, Amos, and Malachi as instruments of this fire, like
assayers they revealed God’s jealous love and purified the bride if she listened and obeyed their
instructions. One of the reasons we pray for Israel the way we do is because many still today
reject God’s love. Mostly because they want to love God their way but real love is to love on
God’s terms.

The Shulamite knew the right way to respond after many tests and trials. She finally came to
the realization that the Bridegroom didn’t want to hurt her, rule over her or control her rather
His strong love was “for her”.

Until the day break and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh and to
the hill of frankincense (Song of Songs 4:6)

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When we see His love for us we can know that anything He asks of us to go through His love will
carry us and it will be worth it!

God’s plan throughout the ages was for a promised seed to carry His Glory, to display it on the
earth in absolute partnership with Him, the two becoming one.

The first generation fell into deep and gross darkness and God had no option but to destroy the
entire generation of evil men while delivering the righteous. He will come again and remove the
wickedness, this is our promise found in the book of Revelations.

God took His remnant and started afresh and anew. He made covenant with Noah promising
never again to wipe out the entire face of the earth with a flood. (Genesis 9)

God always deals in generations. He let an entire generation die off before He visited with a
new covenant. He called Abraham to leave Ur and go to a land He would show him. Often when
God wants to bless us He will give instructions that test our commitment. He will tell us what
the blessing is but will not release it until we respond with complete obedience. The response
to these instructions let Him know if we are ready for the blessing.

Abraham obeyed and God pronounced over him the blessing of making him a great nation.

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and
make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to
others]. (Genesis 12:2)

And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse
him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of
the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]. (Genesis 12:3)

On his way (of obedience into the Promised Land) the Lord spoke again and began to impart
vision into his heart with a promise.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. What blessing do you believe God wants to bring to your city?

2. What does it look like when that blessing has arrived?

3. What hinders these blessings?

4. What would the Lord need to purify in order to bring that blessing?

 ACTION:

1. Pray and Ask the Lord how to communicate the blessings He has in store for the city. Ask the Lord
for strategies to proclaim these blessings over the city. Pray over where they are least likely to
appear; the darkest and most degraded part of your city and prophesy these blessings over that
part of the city.

 GO:

1. Go to those places in your city and begin to bless the people, the businesses, choose to go there
when you could go somewhere else as a way of blessing that area. Choose to drive through it,
choose to speak well of it and to change the perception by visiting, praying and partnering as a
blessing. How can you bless this area that is rejected and unloved? Be that blessing! Cry out for
visitation from the Lord.

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THE PROMISE IN THE CHILDREN


Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, I will give this land to your posterity. So Abram built
an altar there to the Lord, Who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12:7)

God was revealing to Abraham that the promise would be in his posterity (children).

God continued to test Abraham because He had great blessing in store for not only Abraham
but a nation. A famine comes into the land and tests the provision and Abraham’s faith in God’s
promise of provision (Genesis 12:2-3)

Abraham’s response tells us what obstacles were in the way of his receiving the greater
blessing. Abraham heads for relief from the hard times. He wants to relieve the pressure of
having to rely on his faith in God’s promise and perhaps even do without some of the things he
had become accustomed.

Abraham made a choice of his pleasure over God’s instructions and provision from His promise
and went to Egypt. In doing so he opened up his life to the enemy. He left not only God’s
provision but God’s protection and when the enemy showed up he schemed a plan that almost
cost him his family.

Looking for a way out Abraham lied. This opened his life to the enemy.

And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not
tell me that she was your wife? (Genesis 12:18)

Why did you say, She is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife;
take her and get away [from here]! (Genesis 12:19)

We don’t really see where Abraham ever repented of this sin leaving him open for another
attack of the enemy. From here Abraham separates from his brother Lot and their family.
There was strife between the families and it could have been because Abraham didn’t repent
for his sin. Anytime we don’t repent of sin it affects not only our lives but our families.

Lot chose to go to Sodom; his eyes saw the lush land and something took hold of his heart. He
didn’t pray or ask God about where to go; he was led by his eyes and ultimately the lust of his
flesh.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. What pleasures of life distract or hinder you from seeking the Lord?

2. Have you ever chosen your desire over God’s desire for your life? Tell of a time it really
made a difference or impact.

3. What choices can you make now that will affect your children and their children?

4. What promises do you think God wants to bring to your children?

5. To the children in your city?

6. How does Fatherlessness affect your city? What do you think can be done about that?

 ACTION:

1. Pray about the children in your city. Pray for them to come into their inheritance even if
the Fathers of the city have been negligent, pray for the blessing to come to them even if
the generation before them messed up. Pray God would release double for what they
have had to put up with.
 GO:

1. Find the fatherless in your city. Open up doors for them to be fathered.

2. Share with Dads that you know what God is speaking about the fatherless in your city. Ask
them for their input on how transformation could take place.

3. Go to some men’s meetings and ask them if they would be interested in praying for the
children in the city without fathers. Find some agencies, churches, non-profits who have
the mission to father the fatherless and partner or serve their ministry.

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THE FATHER WANTS A FAMILY THAT RESPONDS


God visits Abraham again and tells him of the promise of provision in the land. God’s mercy and
unconditional covenant was still in effect.

The covenant was for more than just Abraham’s provision God had a nation in His heart and a
generation.

This promise refocused Abraham because his next test involved a dangerous mission. His
brother, Lot was attacked and Abraham rescued Lot and recovered his goods. On his way home
an evil king tempted him with blessing and Abraham refused. He remembered God’s covenant
and realized from his last mistake he didn’t need to look to evil men for his provision, he could
trust God and God alone.

This time the Lord visits with vision and a word.

AFTER THESE things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I
am your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great.
(Genesis 15:1)

Abraham questions this promise because he was childless. He looked at his natural state and
said God this can’t be true. The goodness of the Lord continues to show Abraham the promise
and eventually he agrees and believes.

God was pleased with Abraham’s response and counted it unto him as righteousness.

God speaks again of the promise. (Genesis 15:13-15) Every time we obey the Lord He releases
more of His heart to us. It is a process and each step of obedience, each yes releases more His
heart into ours. The more we hear of His heart the more we can have confidence in Him.

In the natural the promise seemed impossible because Abraham and his wife were barren
(much like the church today with 94% of this generation un-churched and without Fathers).

God was intent that Abraham would believe Him so he sent three angels to confirm the
promise of a seed, a nation and a generation. This visitation revealed the heart of both
Abraham and Sarah.

It was a test and it was revealing, letting God know where their weaknesses were to receive the
promised blessing.

Sarah had little faith and even though she heard the angels and the promise of God from her
husband, she did not believe.

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Maybe her desire to please her husband over rode her desire to please God. Perhaps there was
taunting and pressure from her family and servants, questioning God’s promise and reminding
her of the natural improbability of having a son. She probably gave into the pressure and made
a decision out of her soul or reasoning that didn’t include God’s wisdom or reflection on who
HE was and that nothing is impossible with God.

All these choices can hinder us from receiving from God and activating our faith in His promises.

Though Hagar was out of covenant still yet God had a promise for her seed (because the
Abrahamic Covenant was unconditional) and I by faith claim every child of every unsaved family
out of covenant with God – it is possible for them to come to Christ, I am a living example!

Sarah took her doubt a step further when she invited her husband to join her in circumventing
God; much like Eve did with Adam. Abraham agreed with Sarah’s reasoning instead of God’s
promise and once again made a wrong decision that brought forth this time a seed. Their
decision led to compromise.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. Have you ever needed rescued? Explain.

2. Have you ever rescued someone? Explain

3. Who needs rescued in your city? Rescued from destructive people, places, events?

4. What children need rescued in your city?

5. Who needs to know their worth and value in your city?

6. Where are broken families ministered to in your city?

7. Where do broken people go to get healing?

 ACTION:

1. Pray about a place in your city you know broken people are going to ease their pain and
forget their troubles. Pray about a place where there are people who need rescued from
dangerous people or destructive lives. Find God’s promises concerning the oppressed and
those in need of rescue.

 GO:

1. Go to one of these places and pray for an hour. Speak and prophesy the promises you
searched out. Pray for some of those who need rescue. Minister healing and loving
prayers and share what God lays on your heart about freedom and rescue.

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BROKEN VOW LEADS TO BROKEN FAMILY


Abraham broke not only his marriage vow but he broke the covenant with God. And he did it
more than once. Anytime we sin and sin again something is conceived in our heart and we
become separated from His provision and protection. He was no longer in right standing with
God. Anytime we break a covenant /vow we have taken before God we break fellowship with
God.

This didn’t however disannul or cause God’s unconditional covenant for a seed, a generation.
You can’t stop God’s plan only circumvent your participation in it.

God so intent on their partnership in the plan sends angels to speak into their heart the vision
of God’s heart. (Genesis 17)

The angelic messengers, once they completed their assignment to anchor Abraham and Sarah’s
heart by reiterating the vision and promise from God, turned their attention to next
assignment.

God had heard the cry of the afflicted in Sodom. God was grieved by what He heard come out
of Sodom. He wanted to send His angels to check it out.

And the Lord said, Because the shriek [of the sins] of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin
is exceedingly grievous, (Genesis 18:20)

What was the cry of Sodom that God heard? I believe it was the cry of generation who was
being sacrificed to the god of this age! Trafficked, molested, abused and sodomized by the
wicked and God heard their cry – his promised and his beloved sacrificed on altars by Lot, who
should know better, and the lost who had a conscience but it was seared in their depravity.

Because Lot was consumed with himself, caught up in self-worship instead of worshiping God,
he willingly gave not only himself but he had sacrificed the promised seed, his children, to the
gods of this age.

Lot left the Promised Land, God’s provision and promise after the lust of his eyes landed on
what he saw as instant gratification. Why wait for God’s promise when the hopes of success
and prosperity were right before him.

Look now, I have two daughters who are virgins; let me, I beg of you, bring them out to you, and
you can do as you please with them. But only do nothing to these men, for they have come
under the protection of my roof. (Genesis 19:8)

The fact that Lot willingly gave his children to be sodomized by the wicked is a screaming
example of what today we have delivered our own children into. Oh we may have dressed it up

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with fancy stadiums and comfortable theatres but it is the same spirit and it is the same gods
behind them.

When the angels went to leave Abraham’s presence He inquired of the Lord. The Lord revealed
His plan to destroy Sodom. And Abraham began to pray.

We must take note that during intercession Abraham did not want God to destroy Sodom. He
was praying for the rescue of the people but he was not in agreement with the judgment
against Sodom.

We need to be in agreement with all God’s plans, the blessing and the judgments. The dialogue
revealed Abraham’s heart. He wanted to hang onto something God wanted to remove. God
knew the poison that was in Sodom. God wanted to remove the entire city

For some reason we always want to keep the evil and call it Christian. Like Hollywood, we want
to just save them all and leave them in there when the plan of God may be to destroy it. He
doesn’t put His seal on what is evil. He destroys it, removes it so there is no chance of the seed
of it to continue to grow.

That which perverts and opposes God must be removed and to the measure it effects is to the
measure of the removal. Sodom had nothing good for Lot and his family. God’s plan was a mass
exodus – take the righteous seed TOTALLY OUT of it and destroy it from having any further
effect. Perhaps the grace of God knew that Lot would not be tempted again and rather than
loose Lot His plan was to eradicate from ever becoming a temptation again.

Yet Abraham asked God not to destroy the city, why? Was he getting some benefit from it, I
imagine so. We must weight that cost, is it worth the cost of a righteous seed, a generation?

We are faced with the same situation today. There are things in our lives that are poison. They
affect not only us but a generation.

God is just as zealous today as He was in Abraham’s day. He has promises for a generation He
wants to bring to pass. At the same time there are Sodom’s, places that will draw us away from
that promise by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life promising all the fame and
fortune quickly. Why wait for God’s promise and go through God’s process that seems so
difficult when you can enter into Sodom and find a quick release of the pressure, a quick
promise of provision or even a dream fulfilled.

This is what Hollywood, the entertainment industry, the sports industry is selling to a
generation. Enticing them with lust and fleshly glimpses of a fantasy life they slowly get us to
buy into the possibility that we can have all that our hearts desire for the price of our soul.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall
a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. Do you believe in angels?

2. Do you believe they are assigned to help confirm the vision or assignment God has given
us?

3. What is the assignment God gives to parents?

4. What does God promise Parents?

5. Are there families in your city who have forsaken their children for comfort, pleasure,
selfish wants and desires?

6. How do you think God feels towards the families in your city who have broken vows with
each other and with Him?

 ACTION:

1. Pray and Ask the Lord to share more of His heart for those who have broken marriage
vows who have left their purpose to care for and raise a family, to bring protection and
provision to their family.
2. Ask the Lord how He would like to minister to these families. How can we encourage the
families to renew their vows to one another? How can we value marriage and
commitment to families in our city? Write down His instructions.
3. Research what tears families apart, money, pressure, sickness, tragedy, accidents, affairs
etc. Find scriptures that destroy these works of the enemy. Find all the promises of God for
families.
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 GO:

1. Minister to YOUR family, neighbor’s families, choose to verbalize in your ministry that you
want the “whole” family ministered to, draw events to include the family “together” not
just ministered to separately but choose games, events or prayer to be for the entire
family.

2. Have a prayer meeting to bless families, anoint and pray for families dedicating them to
the Lord, invite people who have broken families so they can be included. Have a block
party and call it “FAMILY NIGHT OUT”. Speak about God’s heart for families, Declare
God’s promises over families

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DECEPTION: A FALSE IMAGE OF FAMILY


The family is the cornerstone of the church and society, it is where the strength dwells because
a “family” is why God created us…He wanted a family.

A false image of what God intended in family is disastrous and over time we have become dull
to the evil of it.

Part of that dullness comes through worship of false image (gods). In other words we give our
time, money and resource to see that image exalted, lifted up as a model to follow or as a
standard; this is a form of worship.

Worship is how we estimate the worth of someone or something whereby we give it praise,
honor and glory. We call it excellent and raise it up as a standard to be followed.

We are actually participating in a false worship movement when we spend our time and money
on things that promote destruction to what God is building and what He calls holy.

It may seem a little far reaching to call spending money a form of worship but money is our
livelihood, it was what we receive when we work all day with all our resources and energy. At
the end of a day or week we get a paycheck for all of our labor. That money represents our life
in a form to pay for what we need. That money will go to bring in provision; it will provide
housing, food and clothing. We labor and give and in return we can receive these commodities
to protect us and give us strength. That money can also be spent on things that bring us
pleasure; it can be spent on things that build our spirit, soul or body. When we are wise with
our resources we can build a refuge not only for ourselves, our family but even for others in
need. We also have the opportunity to spend our money on evil things, things that destroy or
tear down and pull apart, bring death or addiction and bondage. Some of these evil things we
give of our livelihood to can be leading us into a place to give more than money but we may
give our time that belongs to our family, our resources meant to build up our future or even our
own souls in greater agreement with the message behind what we buy with our money.

An example of this false worship is the sports and entertainment industry. There is nothing
ethically or morally wrong with the physical activity of “sports” but there is something wrong
with an “industry” that exalts men as idols and promotes a lifestyle of destruction.

Entertainment is also an industry that has lifted men and women as idols to be worshipped. The
lifestyle and character of these men and women depict the fruit of a life that is led by the very
enemies of God. Not all men and women in the industry are in darkness but to be a part of this
industry, to work for it or to support it with your livelihood is to say you agree with it and want
to help promote it.

Entertainment and Sports don’t have to lead to destruction; they can be edifying and
refreshing. What does it take to turn the direction of an industry that did not begin in darkness
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but rather was to add to the family and bring a sense of enjoyment? God’s heart is not to
destroy but rather return it to its original intent that was good. We must find the good and
speak to it, we must find the right and raise it up, and we must find the pure and separate it
from the evil.

If we can stay focused on God’s intentions and purposes for our lives then when the message
that would dull our hearts and minds has no power. We can expose it as a message that is
diametrically opposed to God’s message. We can’t be casual about the plans of destruction no
matter what level they are, it may seem harmless but if it is depositing seeds that are like a
cancer and oppose the right seeds and choke them out than we must realize eventually those
wrong seeds will germinate and bring forth fruits of unrighteousness.

Even worse than what may be entering into our heart unfiltered are the finances we pour into a
destructive industry. The multiplied billions of dollars that God has blessed us with and asked us
to steward and build His kingdom with are being poured into a system that could destroy a
generation. There is good and bad in the world all around us and the church must be have a
clear message of what is destructive or false and what edifies and builds up.

Lot was unable to stand against the evil that came to his home and in the moment of crisis he
gave his own children to the very evil men that were destroying the city. He had no ability to
keep them from coming into his home. He was unable to rebuke the lust crazed homosexuals
who wanted to rape his guests, he couldn’t stand up to that evil so he gave his daughters to
them instead. If you can’t confront the evil it will overcome you.

Only God can speak to us what our portion is, we don’t have to take on every battle but when
God makes us aware of evil we must be tender to His desire to speak to it and clarify to the
world around us His heart. There may be assignment for some to reveal His intention, His plan
to rule over the kingdoms of this world. He has a plan to reveal His heart to every soul that they
would see light and come out of darkness into His kingdom where there is life, provision and
protection.

It is not that sports are bad, it is actually a godly activity done with a right model. That model
includes training the soul to work with a team, to excel in teamwork, to play a game of skill and
talent but the goal is to bring the whole team to victory. It is a tremendous place for men and
women to gain such growth in their souls and body that they can endure the most rigorous
times that may come in the earth. The skills and training that athletes and artists have are gifts
given by God that can bring much glory to God’s Kingdom.

Any gift or talent out of the context of God’s original plan can bring the wrong motivation. One
such motivation that is destructive is the goal to be famous and wealthy. There is nothing
wrong with wanting to do something great and amazing, for our lives to have impact but if it is
to gain material wealth and fame without God’s purpose and plan it will lead to destruction.
Ask any young person why they want to be a sports star when they grow up….it wasn’t

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something that happened to them on the field, it was what they saw on television…up in lights.
It does something to a young tender heart to see the crowds cheering, the wealth, the fame all
for a game he or she can play or a craft they already seem to have.

We are spending time and resources for what was perhaps meant to raise up a righteous seed
without equipping them to destroy the very enemy who is the god of this world, the same god
who wants their worship.

All you have to do is look at the fruit of the so called “stars” that are full of lust and adultery.
They amass wealth to spend it on drugs and a lifestyle of debauchery and we are financing it.
Every time we buy a ticket or a product advertised during the game, gather with our parties of
beer and food to sit in front of a big screen TV and worship a lifestyle of sin we are helping to
build that industry.

If the “game” is what you are really wanting, go into the inner city and take a group of young
boys and play, coach and train some “good game”! That is a “real” love of the sport,
commitment to the preserving the art of what it was intended to be.

We actually build altars with finances, time and our cheering worship. God wants to be the only
one worshiped and He wants to rebuild the altars in our homes and our nation. He wants to be
the one worshiped at those altars and He wants to lead a generation to worship Him. You can
build an altar in the middle of a football game but if you do you will have to confront every god
that is worshiped through that medium beginning with the god of mammon.

May He shine the light into the all the inner parts of our hearts so that we may be found
blameless and holy and can stand before Him free from sin! May nothing of this world or sin
have anything in us!

I feel the Fear of the Lord coming to homes all across the body of Christ. God is going to hold
parents accountable for how they have raised their children. When you look at the sexual
immorality that is flooding the church and 94% of this generation is un-churched or unsaved,
you may ask the why! The state of this world is because of the state of our church and our
homes. He must come first to the house of God and clean and purge us so we can be used to
help cleanse the earth.

How many parents take their babies to a “dedication” service? They dedicate their babies to
the Lord, they make vows to Him but they have not honored their covenant with the Lord.

Why should I and how can I pass over this and forgive you for it? Your children have forsaken Me
and sworn by those that are no gods. When I had fed them to the full and bound them to Me by
oath, they committed [spiritual] adultery, assembling themselves in troops at the houses of [idol]
harlots. (Jeremiah 5:7)

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When you come to the Lord and ask Him for help or give direction in your life, you may find Him
silent. If so you may want to look at your vows to Him regarding your children. Let us take stock
and examine ourselves before the Lord, have we been faithful to rear our children (this
generation if you are without children) in the admonition of the Lord?

We can ask ourselves, when was the last time I sat down and had bible study with my family?
Am I starting the day with them in prayer? Am I teaching them how to hear from God, listen to
the Holy Spirit? Understand the word of God? Do they know how to get into the counsels of the
Lord, meditate in His word day and night?

The stewardship of what God has given us, He will examine. Have we done what is most
important with our finances? Have we cared for the poor and widowed? If what God has given
us is not doing what He desires then He may come and examine what we have done with what
He gave us. All the money spent on tickets and stadiums and maintenance to keep up the
stadiums and salaries for ball players and coaches and marketing and commercials and
television syndication could have a great effect on the Kingdom of God if it is stewarded
properly. The resources our nation has been given can be redirected if we commit to Him all we
have, than He can use the seeds we have to change the crop.

God wants a family and He will move heaven and earth to bring them to know Him as Father.
We are only responsible for our part and if we surrender what we have He can make it a
powerful tool to cleanse the waters like He did with the rod in the hand of Moses.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:

1. How does God view your family?


2. What hinders your family from God?
3. What has replaced the Leadership of the Holy Spirit in your family?
4. What will it take to increase the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the spirit in
your family?
5. How can you increase ministry as a family together?

 ACTION:
1. Set apart time to pray for your family both apart and together with the purpose of
increasing the activity of the Holy Spirit in your lives.
2. Ask the Lord to reveal what gifts are manifested in the lives of your family and
prophesy that over one another.
3. Ask the Lord what ministry your family can do together, whether going out and
incorporating ministry into your outing or finding a particular ministry you could do
together as a family.

 GO:
1. Go out and minister as a family
2. Spend time after you minister discussing the ministry time and how it might be
possible to increase the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
3. Pray and prophesy over one another after the ministry time and ask for more insight
into the Father’s heart for the family

(if you are single or your family is not born-again or you don’t have family to interact with
ask the Lord to highlight a family you could do this ministry with and explain that you are

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wanting to really understand the Father’s heart for family and see if they would engage in
this ministry with you or create with some friends the roles of a family and try ministry
together as a father, mother, sister, brother for the purpose of understanding a family)

(Another potential alternative would be to pray for a family before, during and after their
ministry, engaging in prayer for the entire family will help you to understand the family
dynamics in ministry.)

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CARE FOR THE ORPHAN AND WIDOW

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DRIVING OUT OPPRESSION AND POVERTY

The Lord considers the oppressed of the earth “gross darkness”.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD
shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:2)

Even though this Isaiah 60:2 is about Israel we can apply it because it shows His heart and
response to the darkness

Life is a free gift and in the earth there are those who believe they can oppress a life and do
whatever they please. This is simply not true.

For He who requires blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted. (Psalm
9:12)

The Lord will arise on behalf of the oppressed and put the fear of the Lord in their
oppressors….letting them know He is God and they are but men. He will answer David’s prayer.

For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever. Arise, O
LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You. Put them in fear, O LORD;
Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah. (Psalms 9:18-20)

He will not be silent for the sake of the poor.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of Glory thunders (Psalms 29:3)

The language of a loving God for His creation is the man, woman, child He created. How He
loves His creation, He clothed it in His glory.

The glory which thou gave me I have given them; that they may be one even as we are one John
17:22

The purpose of creation was for God the Father to have a family. God spoke to David I will be a
Father to you and you will be my son (2 Samuel 7:14)

The Lord responds with zeal like a Bridegroom coming forth out of his chamber….zeal for His
beloved children whom He created for Himself.

Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its
race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing
hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:5-6)

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I have heard His thunder for the children who are oppressed. His voice was like the finger of
God slamming into my inner man with the force of a rebuke but it was anger it was His passion
and zeal for His Children. He thundered into my spirit “Do Not Be Silent”. I could see the
multitudes of children being put into the back of trucks to be sold and I felt the weight of His
Glory and the fear of the Lord. I had to answer though I could barely talk I said Yes, Yes, Yes. He
wanted more so as the best as I could I said I make covenant the rest of my days, all that I have
is yours I will not be silent. I don’t think I even comprehended what that meant but when you
feel that glory and fear of the Lord it’s not time to dialogue He wants an answer.

There have been many voices speaking for the freedom of the oppressed but perhaps many are
not doing what He is asking. They may have committed, had right intentions but maybe never
followed through, or had another agenda….He thundered again” I have been waiting a long
time”

"You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You
shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will
surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your
wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. (Exodus 22:16-24)

Who will utter God’s voice?

A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy? (Amos
3:8)

LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your
ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may
oppress no more. (Psalms 10:17-18)

He is longing for an entire generation to speak His voice on behalf of the poor, the orphan and
the widow.

The second part of this encounter I saw a sea of young people who He was setting apart to
carry His burden for these His beloved ones who are oppressed. I saw boldness like I have never
seen before, they were speaking and conviction was falling, grown men weeping, stillness in the
atmosphere that was the presence of the fear of the Lord. They were everywhere, in so many
venues it was life a flood of His voice filling the land. You couldn’t get away from it even if you
tried. The Lord had anointing them with such boldness and consuming zeal they were to be
heard. And when they spoke it commanded attention; it just hit you that you must listen to
what they are saying. It was supernatural.

The bible talks about the Lord’s voice is many waters, I can picture it with a sea of young people
thundering His voice with the supernatural power of conviction.
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His voice is more than just an utterance and it will contain the plans to bring it to pass

I the Lord have You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a
covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners
from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house (Isaiah 42:7)

The Lord is a stronghold (refuge) for the oppressed. He desires cities to be a refuge for the
oppressed and poor, the orphan and widow. We can see this in the Exodus 8 where God sent
destruction to the oppressors and in the city of Goshen He made a place of protection.

And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of
flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the
land.(Exodus 8:22)

The cities of the nation have an inheritance it is God. God is their portion, their reward.

Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for
Your possession. (Psalms 2:8)

The priesthood was given an inheritance which the Lord described to Aaron in Number 18

….I am you part and your inheritance among the children of Israel (Numbers 18:20)

His plan to set apart cities where like David prayed in Psalms 9 would be filled with Worship and
the Glory that protected those He delivered from the oppressor.

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken
those who seek You. Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples
His deed (Psalms 9:10-11)

In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23)

Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, But he who regards reproof will be
honored. (Proverbs 13:18)

"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of
those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9)

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INTERACTIVE STUDY

 DISCUSS:
1. Where are the orphans and widows in your city?
2. How are they cared for?
3. What is God’s heart for them?
4. Is anyone ministering to the orphans and widows in your city? Discuss what you feel is
good and not good about that ministry.
5. Why you think the apostles believe that caring for the orphan and widow is undefiled
religion?

 ACTION:
1. Pray and ask the Lord how He feels about the current ministry to the orphans and poor in
your city.
2. Research where the orphans and poor live and where they go to get care.

 GO:
1. Visit the orphan and the widows in your city and ask if you can pray for them. Find what
their needs are and meet at least one of those needs.
2. Journal what the Lord shared with you before during and after the ministry to the orphans
and widows.

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COMMITTED WITH MORE THAN WORDS


In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23)

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction: but he that regards reproof shall be
honored. (Proverbs 13:18)

Often when we think of poverty we think of those not having enough. It is commonly
considered in the realm of finances but we also know that those who struggle with poverty no
matter how much money they receive, they always seem to run out and not have enough to
make ends meet. This is true poverty and it doesn’t really have anything to do with money.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
(3 John 1:2)

The mindset we frame our living affects our results or fruit. It is much like a farmer who plants
seed; he expects a harvest from that seed. This is how the church teaches finances in the
kingdom of God, sow a seed and get a harvest. The problem is that mentality is a giving to
receive mindset and that is NOT kingdom thinking. In fact Jesus taught give expecting nothing in
return.

And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore
beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Luke 10:2)

"Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. (Luke 10:3)

"Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. (Luke 10:4)

"Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house.' (Luke 10:5)

"If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. (Luke
10:6)

"Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his
wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. (Luke 10:7)

"Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; (Luke 10:8)

and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
(Luke 10:9)

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When we look at the body of Christ in the natural, we are not prospering in our souls. Jesus
taught that true prosperity was to go into a city with nothing and be cared for while ministering
all that was in the Father’s heart.

"Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. (Luke 10:4)

Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house.' (Luke 10:5)

Just go Jesus said expecting nothing and be a blessing and make yourself vulnerable. Don’t put
up walls, don’t claim you are rich and have need of nothing, be utterly dependent on Me not on
the people. You will be tested; you must walk this out in faith.

Today many ministers are motivated to come into our city based on the size of their
honorarium (offering) and they will take nothing less, raping the church and leaving us no
better, not edified or equipped or more prosperous in our soul but rather they tell us to believe
if we sowed some significant seed and we will “get our blessing”. God’s blessing is not tied to
sowing a seed, often the way to receive from God is by faith towards “God” not some work or
action. Meanwhile these preachers, teachers, ministers leave our city and return to their million
dollar homes with more cars than they have drivers and a staff of armourbearers. Something is
not right!

The context of scripture written then versus now hasn’t really changed much, it’s still a city and
it is still ministry and when the disciples returned they weren’t counting their offerings they
were relating the stories of how demons were subject to the name of Jesus and how they
healed the sick.

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
(Luke 10:17)

Jesus response to this was very strong!

And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. (Luke 10:18)

In other words you just said the same thing Satan said that got him kicked out of heaven.

"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power
of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. (Luke 10:19)

"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your
names are recorded in heaven." (Luke 10:20)

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It is as if the Lord is saying…..Yes you have authority; it came from Me not you. This power will
shift the atmosphere and change things but it is NOT the most important nor is it the reason I
sent you.

At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have
revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. (Luke 10:21)

Note how Jesus rejoices because He sees the Father’s plan so vividly. Men will be praising
themselves and their ministry and God will raise up a child, an innocent one to be the very
vehicle of His Glory!

"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except
the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal
Him." (Luke 10:22)

I am a man of NO REPUTATION and all that I do points to the Father. What I do doesn’t reveal
me it reveals the Father! He is who we want to bring the people to not to us or our ministry.

Turning to the disciples, He said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see,
(Luke 10:23)

for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did
not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them." (Luke 10:24)

The blessing comes when we have a witness, the story is told in the midst of weak men
attempting to understand, surrendering their lives and giving themselves to be corrected,
instructed and taught of the Lord.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY

 DISCUSS:
1. What is more important to have miracles or to have knowledge of God’s heart? Why?
2. Is it possible for there to be signs and not understanding? Have you ever seen this? Explain
3. Have you ever witnessed men/women taking the credit for healing or miracles or
manifestations of the Holy Spirit? How did it make you feel?
4. How does God feel about our taking the credit for what He is doing in the earth?
5. How can what we do in serving and ministry to reflect the Lord and glorify the kingdom
not our talents or gifts?

 ACTION:
1. Pray and ask the Lord if there are any areas where you have relied on your gift, talent or
significant ability to be the focus of your serving or ministry. If the Lord reveals anything
ask for forgiveness and dedicate yourself to taking a place of humility and lifting up the
Lord.

2. Pray about a task that requires a sacrifice in serving that makes you uncomfortable,
stretches your faith and causes you not to be seen or known, ask the Holy Spirit to show
you this and ask Him to lead you through such a task.
3. Ask the Lord what you could do to give Him the most glory today, what would magnify His
beauty, His majesty, His love, His gifts, His grace?

 GO:
1. Act on something the Lord has revealed to you in your prayer time that would be pleasing
to Him.
2. Do something specifically that would NOT be religious (example: sometimes on a fast day
when everyone was fasting I wouldn’t fast just to prove to my soul that I will not rely on the

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“act” of fasting but rather seek the Lord without that just to be sure I wasn’t depending on
the act of “fasting” and missing the message or the Lord altogether)
3. Attempt the ministry you usually do with your gift or talent only this time change it up so
you can’t rely on your gift or talent. (Example if you play guitar, only sing or play another
instrument you are not so good at or if you don’t normally lead then do or if you normally
lead only follow, etc.)

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SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS PROTECTION

"If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which
the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your
poor brother; (Deuteronomy 15:7)

The operative words in this scripture for me is in any of your towns in your land which the LORD
your God is giving you ; I believe as the church God sets us in a land just like He did Abraham
and He gives us the charge like He did Adam to bless it.

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
(Genesis 2:15)

The Hebrew word for keep means to watch, keep, guard, protect, preserve, keep covenant and
perform vows, save life. If you think about it the land God gives us carries a weight of
responsibility. We have a personal land and a ministry field that Jesus talked about when He
met the Samaritan woman.

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
(John 4:34)

"Do you not say, `There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you,
lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. (John 4:35)

"Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who
sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. (John 4:36)

"For in this case the saying is true, `One sows and another reaps.' (John 4:37)

"I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have
entered into their labor." (John 4:38)

The fields that Jesus told the disciples to look unto were the cities of Israel He had taken them
to. The three years of His ministry He was taking them to the cities that they would be given
apostolic authority to build His Father’s Kingdom. Each city they traveled through Jesus
revealed His authority, showed them how to operate the gifts and ministry; “to heal every
sickness and every disease. (Matthew 4:23) He modeled His ministry to the poor and the needy,
He fed, taught healed and delivered every one of them. The disciples saw the witness of the
Kingdom and their calling.

In Samaria though the disciples wanted to get meat, they wanted to get their provision first.
Jesus didn’t rebuke them but He had a purpose to fulfill first. Later the disciples tried to feed
Him but He stated the meat I have you know not. It seems to me this whole encounter had to
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do with provision. The disciples went to get their provision the way they always did but Jesus
stopped knowing there was more to the provision they needed and this woman needed and so
He stopped for encounter.

His whole ministry models to us how to bring encounter with the Father, how to find out what
the real needs are and minister to those, show the people the Father, His Kingdom and what is
to come.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this
mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. (John 4:21)

Ye worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (John
4:22)

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit
and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23)

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

The hour cometh and “now is” ….Jesus was calling her to a place of worship she had never been
before, He wanted her to know the truth of who the Father is and that she would know Him as
the One worthy of her worship with an undefiled spirit and with a life of truth. His entire aim is
to bring her to worship the Father, encounter the Father because He had what she needed.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY

 DISCUSS:

1. What is the difference between meeting an obvious need and waiting on encounter to
find out the real need?
2. How could you host an encounter with your neighbor to find out what they need?
3. Jesus modeled His authority in the city by serving with healing, prayer, teaching. What
can you do to model God’s authority in your city?
4. Jesus encountered the Samaritan women and her need was not just water, she needed
freedom from rejection. Where in your city is it not visible what the real need is? Explain

 ACTION:
1. Pray and ask the Lord where the needs are not being met but appear that they are. Where
is there a lot of work but no fruit in meeting the needs of those bound and in need? Pray
and ask the Lord for a strategy.
2. Ask the Lord, What do you require for transformation to take place?
3. Research on the internet the places that are proclaiming to meet this need. Example if it is
welfare go to Job and Family Services, Go to the Housing Authority and research their
mission and governing policies, search out non-profits or government grants that are to
supply this need and ask for the Holy Spirit to show you why this system is not working.
4. Pray and ask the Lord for questions to ask someone who is on the receiving end of this
ministry.

 GO:
1. Go to the place whether it is a government agency, a church food pantry, a city food
pantry, a non-profit where their mission is to meet this need you see that is not being met.
Ask for a place to serve or ask for a tour, meet with some leaders and ask questions about
their vision.

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2. Go to a family or person who is on the receiving end of this ministry or agency and ask
them the questions you got in prayer and explain you have been praying and you want to
see change but you need to understand who it works first. Put yourself in an advocate
position in prayer and/or missions.

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THE DIVINE EXCHANGE


Jesus wanted her to exchange what she had and didn’t have for what He could give her.

He starts by asking for a drink. He interrupts her, engaging her to do something that went
against what she knew was the normal, what was acceptable. A Jew asking for a cup of water
was unthinkable, Jesus confronts the rejection. He knew she was rejected, five husbands is a
sure sign of rejection.

She responds with rejection. If there is one consistent trait amongst the poor and needy, the
broken and the hurting it is a spirit of rejection. Jesus wasted no time identifying that spirit.

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to
thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living
water. (John 4:10)

Jesus was teaching on exchanging what wasn’t working and what seemed broken, empty and
bore no fruit could be exchanged for what He was offering her, taking her to the Father, to the
source of LIFE. He wanted to meet her needs.

She had five husbands. This is a very clear picture of a woman who had not found spiritual
covering, she had not found provision, and she was an unsatisfied woman and had turned her
heart away from even the law of God by living with a man who was not her husband. She had
lost everything, saw no value to her life and was willing to throw it all away for a place to sleep,
food and clothing.

The conversation was to lead her to her true need which was the Father where real protection
and provision came from.

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. (John 4:31)

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. (John 4:32)

Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? (John
4:33)

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
(John 4:34)

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INTERACTIVE STUDY

 DISCUSS:
1. What divine exchange have you had with the Lord?
2. What has the Lord asked you to do out of your comfort zone? How did it benefit you?
3. Define rejection.
4. Define rejection of Jesus.
5. What do you see in your neighborhood, your church that is not working that you know the
Lord wants to change?

 ACTION:
1. Pray and ask the Lord where those in our neighborhood that need a divine exchange. Pray
for them and ask the Lord for a word of knowledge, divine insight and prophecy for their
call, their purpose in this life.

 GO:
1. Go to the ones the Lord showed you and share with them what the Lord told you and ask
if you can pray for them. If they say know keep them before you in prayer and begin again
until you find someone you are able to minister to.

2. Prophesy over them and ask them or invite them to a bible study or event or church. This
is the doorway to building a relationship, even if they don’t come don’t be discouraged
God will continue to speak to you about them and you can continue to pray, visit and pray
and continue to invite them.

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A PEOPLE WITHOUT COVERING


The woman at the well had no spiritual covering. In the context of that day a woman without a
husband was to be cared for by the spiritual community. The Samaritan woman Jesus met at
the well must not have found that provision. Perhaps she chose to believe and accept that a
man would care for her but not marry her. In today’s terms that is what we call “living
together”. This meant she was out of God’s will and she chose to find provision without God’s
blessing. She had removed herself from covering by choosing this man she was staying with
that was not her husband.

Jesus does not say she was in immorality and it could be that she cooked and cleaned for this
man. She may have been his house servant or she very well may have been (as most
commentators explain) an adulterer or fornicator. Either way she could not have what Jesus
was offering her without a confession.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
(John 4:15)

Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. (John 4:16)

The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I
have no husband: (John 4:17)

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst
thou truly. (John 4:18)

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (John 4:19)

Jesus wanted to give her the eternal life but she would have to renounce her life as she knew it.
She would have to face where she was, a woman who had no covering. She was a woman who
found a man and made him her resource instead of God. A woman who looked everywhere else
but to God for what she really needed.

I think about her having five husbands. She must have been very good at what she did for them
to all have married her but at this season in her life she was probably older, worn from working
for these five men, caring for them, their home. Perhaps she had no children and was sorely
disappointed in her life for not being able to bear any fruit. Sons would turn around and care
for their mother if she were widowed. But she must not have had any sons and the religious
order we know Jesus rebuked them for not caring for the widow.

Marrying probably also gave her a piece of land; she knew the value of land. It probably gave
her the right to come to the well and drink. She was sharing that what she had, a right to the
well and she didn’t have to give that right to anyone else or perhaps she felt His authority when
He asked her for a drink and her “authority” was based on what she owned, a piece of
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property. She felt that uncomfortable feeling that comes in the presence of the Lord and since
she was not right with God she boasted of what she “owned” as her authority.

Here was Jesus really asking her to part with it, quit depending on what will not sustain you.
You have gained the land and gone through five husbands to get it, what I want to give you is
more than rights to the well.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from
whence then hast thou that living water? (John 4:11)

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and
his children, and his cattle? (John 4:12)

Jesus responds with a vision of what she would become, what was available to her….to never
feel like you do right now again, to never be without, to not have to depend on what you “own”
but I will give you what you truly need, eternal life.

Jesus answered and said unto her, whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (John
4:13)

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I
shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
(John 4:15)

Jesus calls us to take our authority in the field where He planted us, the city where we live and
be about His Father’s business by looking beyond what you see in the natural (5 husbands) and
see what is on the inside of their life so that you can give the answer, the solution to what they
are truly looking for, give your city an Encounter with the Father. If we worship Him with a
heart to pour out our lives in exchange for His heart, His dream He will take us all over the city
to encounter those who need the One who covers all.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY
 DISCUSS:
1. What is spiritual authority?
2. Who is your spiritual authority?
3. How do you come under spiritual authority when you’re ministering out in the
community?
4. How do you see spiritual and natural authority align in ministry in the city?

 ACTION:
1. Pray for the areas in the city where the Lord has shared with you His heart and ask who
has the spiritual authority in that area.
2. Pray for the agencies, neighborhoods, government, law enforcement and churches in
those areas and ask the Lord to reveal who He wants you to partner with to bring ministry
to that area.

 GO:
1. Visit these agencies, law enforcement, government or churches the Lord leads you to and
ask for their vision for reaching those areas as it relates to what He has shown you in His
heart.
2. Consider volunteering or partnering with one or more of these outlets to help serve the
people God has laid on your heart. Consider sowing into their ministry through prayer,
time, resources and follow the process to see how that resource reaches those God has
laid on your heart.
3. Evaluate the process over a set amount of time in order to see enough of the ministry,
agency or church to grasp their vision. This could take one or several months and even
possibly years.

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BE A BLESSING TO COMMUNITY

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BLESS YOUR NEIGHBORS/COMMUNITY

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' (Mark 12:31)

to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and
sacrifices.(Mark 12:33)

Our personal mandate is to love God with all our heart, mind and strength. This includes our
family, our neighbor and our city.

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."' (Matthew 19:19; 22:39)

As a born again believer we have this divine opportunity to manifest a witness in the earth (to
our neighbors and our community), a witness of who God is and His Kingdom. We bring into the
physical a witness that clarifies and interprets what we experience of God.

"Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, (Luke 10:23)
many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see...and to hear the things which
you hear... (Luke 10:24)

Jesus manifested in the flesh what was in heaven. It left no more excuse, it's impossible to deny
God. He is irrefutable He is unmistakable; no one can say God does not exist.

The MANIFEST Presence of God is different from the presence of God. What we experience in
our inner man is presence of God. This is for us but the outer witness or the MANIFEST
Presence is for the unbeliever.

Somehow we got stuck....thinking these manifestations are all to bless US but the Lord wants to
touch the world. It is possible that He will remove His Presence on us if we are not willing to
pour it out on the city and the nation.

We can only manifest what we are walking in. Our time with the Lord is for more than ministry
or to study for a sermon to preach. It’s more than just getting our needs met.

If we seek Him to know Him and to know His heart we will find answers. In all the time I spend
seeking the Lord I never really ask for my own needs, I have discovered if I am busy about His
business He takes care of mine!
The power and Presence of God will manifest a Harvest.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(Matthew 6:33)

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Communion unites our heart to His and we become one with all His plans and purposes in the
earth.

There are times when my needs are overwhelming and I find it is not possible to continue my
ministry without this need getting met and then I will stop and ask the Lord to address this
issue because I know He meets my needs I know He already has supply coming but perhaps I
missed where or what I must do to access that supply so I will then approach Him for that need
to get met. I remind Him of His promises and put my heart in His hands and ask for His guidance
on how to get that need met. I look for His leadership and rest in knowing it’s on the way.

"Because you did not carry it at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did
not seek Him according to the ordinance." (1 Chronicles 15:13)

David was longing to carry the Presence of the Lord into the tabernacle. He explained to the
priesthood they couldn't carry it because they weren't sanctified. It is the same today. First we
must sanctify or set ourselves apart by surrendering and being willing to put away/aside
anything that hinders Him.

Our seeking includes our response. When the Lord shows us what hinders or restricts Him, we
will want to respond!

The Manifest Presence is not to prove that our ministry is something big and WOW. This is a
wrong motive. Pure surrender means we must check our motives. Why are we seeking His
Presence? What do we want His Presence for?

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as
far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts
and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The Presence is to minister to others. The Father's Heart is always for family, working with each
other as one. He wants no one to miss out. He always reveals His heart for those around us and
inspiring us to release His heart to them through ministry or blessing. This can be expressed
directly, in a word of comfort, exhortation, or prophesy, meeting someone’s needs, serving
them or partnering with them for their harvest.

Practically we can feed the hungry, clothe the poor, help the bound with freedom and
deliverance, give to those in need, serve those that are rejected, love all the brokenhearted and
bruised.

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The Holy Spirit knows what our neighbors and community needs and if we will make ourselves
available to manifest that Presence, surrender ourselves, He will orchestrate it. He will move
through us to touch others.

INTERACTIVE STUDY

 DISCUSS:
1. What is the difference between the Presence of God on the inside and the Presence of God
on the outside, or corporate anointing? Give Examples
2. What would it be like if the presence of God manifested in your home?
3. What would it be like if the Presence of God manifested in your neighborhood?
4. What would it be like if the Presence of God manifested in some of the areas in your city
you are targeting?

 ACTION:
1. Pray and ask the Lord what is hindering the presence of the Lord in your home,
neighborhood, and city? Ask the Lord how you can remove what is hindering the
Presence of the Lord, what does He require?
2. Invite the Presence of the Lord into your home, neighborhood, and city. Speak His
promises to come and visit.

 GO:
1. Determine when would be a good time and host some worship times to manifest His
Presence.
2. Build an altar in the places where the Lord instructs in order to keep His Presence
hosted in your city. This may require tearing down and removing powers, principalities
and rulers of evil in the realm of the spirit in order to open the heavens and invite the
Holy Spirit. Confess God’s word and promises and bind and remove evil and drive it out
of the region. Close the door to all evil for this purpose was the Son of God manifest to

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destroy the works of the devil. Take authority and establish the Lordship of Jesus Christ
in your home, your neighborhood, your city.
3. Follow through with the Lords leadership and instruction for what He requires to
remove what hinders His Presence from abiding in your home, your neighborhood and
your city.

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PRACTICAL MINISTRY OF THE HOME

Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed
him; yes, I have made him. (Isaiah 43:7)

Housework can bring God glory; yard work can bring God glory, raising a family can bring God
glory. All that we do can be an instrument to access God’s power and Presence and administer
His plan in the earth.

So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ's
personal representatives] (2Corinthians 5:20)

The way we treat our home is an outward reflection of how we care for God.

He gives us stewardship of many possessions and our care for them can express to others that
we are a good steward that we have been taught by our Heavenly Father. The wisdom of God
can be expressed in our ministry to our home. Whether we understand from the Lord how to
grow the greenest, healthiest lawn, we have gardens with the most luscious vegetables, our
flowers bloom longer and look prettier, and our house is in excellent repair. These give a
witness in our neighborhood that we have wisdom, understanding and that Jesus is the head of
our home.

And she must have a reputation for good deeds, as one who has brought up children, who has
practiced hospitality to strangers [of the brotherhood], washed the feet of the saints, helped to
relieve the distressed, [and] devoted herself diligently to doing good in every way. (1Timothy
5:10)

Our ministry to our family is a reflection of our love of God. When Jesus is leading us He will
put His desire that family comes before anything else. We can be found around our home
ministering to our family instead of staying late at the office or church, instead of out spending
time with friends we want to build up and nurture our family. It doesn’t mean these other
choices are wrong it is just that in all cases we choose family first.

Having an interest in our children’s lives can be seen and witnessed if we are spending time
with them. We don’t just spend time with them to help us do our chores or work but time
spent doing what they enjoy, helping them discover their hidden talents and gifts. Helping our
children and spouse find God’s dream for them is our number one mission.

Our communion with the Lord doesn’t end when we minister to our family. We continue to
commune with the Lord and model to the family how this can be done. We are in constant

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dialogue discovering what the Lord thinks about our family and what He shows us about their
future. We want to be reflecting the Father’s heart to them so we must keep in communion
with the Father all day.

The time we spend in the word, in worship and in prayer with our family sets the foundation of
where we will go for answers. If we instruct about God and never actually model a life in God
we are making our words of no effect. Starting the day in prayer and worship is a great way to
show our family communion with God.

If things get difficult throughout the day we can shut things down and gather together and
enter into worship and prayer. By doing this we are witnessing the importance of maintaining
the Presence of the Lord in our daily walk. We can model for our family how to tell we are not
in communion and how to discern when trouble is at our door. We can train them how to hear
from the Lord and receive instructions.

The most helpful witness we could ever give is to open our lives up before our family and share
everything. We make ourselves vulnerable, share our weaknesses, share what the Lord is
speaking and revealing, share how we discern and receive instructions all of this will model to
our family how to live in continual communion.

What we do on the inside of our home is then modeled outside the home. We can support our
children and spouse in ministry, we can be their intercessors and demonstrate support in
encouragement by giving of our resources. We can join together as a family in ministry
opportunities.

Charge [the people] thus, so that they may be without reproach and blameless. (1Timothy 5:7)

The family witness is the most powerful witness in the earth! Having a family in unity reflects
such glory and power to the church and to the nation. The altar in our home will be reflected in
every stratus of society. We are desperately in need of God’s family witnessing His fullness in
our nation.

If anyone fails to provide for his relatives, and especially for those of his own family, he has
disowned the faith [by failing to accompany it with fruits] and is worse than an unbeliever [who
performs his obligation in these matters]. (1Timothy 5:8)

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INTERACTIVE STUDY

 DISCUSS:

1. How is God honored in our family, our home?

2. How can we manifest the dream of God’s heart for our family, our home?

3. What ways can we manifest God’s dream for our neighbors? Our city?

4. How can we make our life more transparent in order to reveal God’s ministry in our lives
and our relationship with Him?

 ACTION:

1. Pray and ask the Lord what can manifest the Kingdom or God’s way on the exterior of our
home, how you can demonstrate God’s ways in and outside the home or place where you
live as a witness to our neighborhood.

2. Pray about inviting a family in need over to your house to feed them, bless them and pray
for them. Ask the Lord who to invite and what their needs are and what they would enjoy
eating. If you can’t have them to your home then invite them out to eat and be sure to ask
the Lord for prophecy and words of knowledge for them.

3. Pray as a family for someone you know who has a need in your neighborhood, church or
workplace. Pray and come together with a plan to bless them.

4. Pray about finding a family who never has time to spend with their kids and ask the Lord if
you could somehow encourage them to put family first, ask for ideas, strategies and plans
to help model the plan of God for families first.

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 GO:

1. Go visit the family you prayed about and invite them to dinner at your house or go out to
eat and bless, prophesy and speak life into them.

2. Visit the family you want to bless and bring something they need, explain how God spoke
to you about them and how He directed you to bless them.

3. Make a public display of your family worshipping the Lord whether its expressed in song,
prayer, or giving make sure it is known that you are worshipping the Lord and giving it all
to Him in a way that brings Him Glory and Honor.

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BLESSING OUR CITY


But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My
witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the
earth." (Acts 1:8)

If we will be a blessing now to our city than in the day of calamity and tribulation they will listen
to us as we speak for the Lord. If we never take the time to build a relationship in the spirit by
prayer and supplication and by blessing then we cannot expect them to listen to us when the
Lord is speaking.

If we don’t submit to the laws of the land, support our government and local businesses how
can we stand before them and tell them we are wanting to help them when we have never
witnessed this to them. We can come under their authority and find a place to serve while the
Lord speaks to us how to be a blessing. Complaining and pointing out all that is wrong is not the
way to win a city for Jesus.

If we become the solution to the problem we will find many will listen but if all we do is point
out the negative and murmur and complain we will not find God wanting us to represent Him.

The Father has a plan for our city but He won’t reveal it to those who have other motives. The
plan Jesus wants to execute will be given to those who have surrendered all their plans and
aspirations, all their energy and resources to His plan and His way. We don’t want to march
around the city telling them they are not following God or His ways, we want to win the city
with Love and serve the city with Love and reflect the Love of the Father. This will open hearts
to Him and we want them to love God not us.

We don’t want position or title we want God to have influence. He is unseen and yet seen, He is
behind the scenes in support leadership and undergirding what is right. He moves our heart
with compassion not greed, with humility not pride and arrogance. We need to find those who
have a heart for the city and support them.

The Holy Spirit will show us what is to come. The Spirit of Truth can help us understand God’s
plan five and ten years down the road so that we can be a part of His preparation and vision.
There is no limit to God and His resources.
The city may be in need of finances and if we seek the Lord He knows where the financial waste
is and where the misappropriated funds are, He can lead us to be a blessing to the city instead
of telling them what they aren’t supporting. It’s easy to say we need more money in education
but finding where that money is not effective by a supernatural visitation from the Lord would
be much more effective to a mayor or governor.

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God has given us a unique strategy to affect our cities in the marketplace. Our buying power as
believers can be a blessing to the businesses God wants to touch. We go by His leadership, we
buy where He leads, we purchase under His leadership and businesses will be looking to God
for His blessing. This creates a canopy of blessing over the city. Just by choosing to give God the
leadership of where to shop can alter an entire city marketplace. It can also bless industries that
produce the products we are buying.

In other words if there is a brand name that was created by an industry who dedicated their
profits to feed the hungry in the nations, than God would certainly lead His body to purchase
that product. There would be no need to spend money on advertising but rather spend money
on intercessors who would release the anointing and Presence of God on the business and a
call in the spirit for believers to purchase the product which would in turn feed the hungry.

It is possible to transform the expression of marketplace ministry without using spirits of


seduction and immorality to advertise. It is possible to have an anointing on your products that
draw believers and unbelievers to purchase nationwide.

The way we minister to marketplace businesses, blessing them, blessing the workers asking
God to bless the business is a reflection to the city. We desire to be a blessing everywhere we
go.

During our drive around the city we may witness crime and we may be used of the Lord to solve
citywide problems with transportation, waste, utilities, crime, etc. If we make ourselves
available we can be God’s conduit for prospering our city and nation.

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INTERACTIVE BIBLE STUDY

 DISCUSS:
1. What is motivating you to know God’s plan for the city?
2. What will you do when God shares with you His plan for your city or what have you done
with what God has shown you about your city?
3. What marketplace or government relationships do you have?
4. Discuss how God’s plan would include these relationships.
5. How can you be a blessing to these relationships in a way that manifests God’s plan in the
city?
6. What relationships would you like to build in the marketplace? Government? Education?
Technology?

 ACTION:
1. Pray and ask the Lord for divine encounters like Jesus had with the woman at the well. Ask
the Lord for a particular business that you know has a calling to bring transformation and
ask the Lord how you can minister to them what God is showing you.

2. Pray and ask the Lord to show you His heart for the Governor and Mayor of your city, ask
Him to give you insight into their calling and purpose, why did He choose them.

3. Pray over areas where you know God has shown you financial waste or misappropriated
funds in the city

4. Pray about your next shopping trip and ask the Lord to direct you where to go to spend
your money, be willing to go across town or somewhere you have never been to buy
groceries or gas or something you need or want. Do this consistently for several trips and
allow the Lord to speak to you about the business. Hesitate when you go to buy your usual
brand and ask the Holy Spirit which one He wants you to buy – ask why, be willing to look

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up into about the company online to research a connection to why the Lord sent you to
that product.

5. Ask the Lord to point out where seduction and immorality is selling in some places and
building a stronghold against transformation, against this generation. Remove the
powers and principalities and rulers of seduction and immorality and bind their works and
call them ineffective, drive them out of the city and invite the power of purity, holiness,
truth and Light to come in and fill the city in its place. Ask the Lord what do You require to
remove these powers.

 GO:

1. Go to businesses or government agencies and tour the place while praying and asking the
Lord what His desire is for this relationship in the context of city transformation. Make
yourself available to be used tell the Lord you will speak to anyone He wants to speak to
or do anything He desires you to do, even talking to people, asking questions He asks or
praying for people.
2. Go to the place where you prayed to shut down powers of seduction and immorality and
open the heavens through worship and building an altar to the Lord in that place. This
could take several trips over a period of time, be sensitive to the Lord for a release and
confirmation that evil has been driven out. Love on all those you come in contact during
this event.

3. Once the altar is established then hosting the presence will be a priority where the
heavens are open, agreement with God is manifesting in conversations, changed hearts
and plans and strategies for transformation are released.

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ENDING VIOLENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS


As I seek the Lord for answers and wisdom for ending violence and crime in our schools and our
city; He has prompted me to look into domestic violence in the home. The answer to our
problems in society are often in our need for a righteous role model, a witness of truth and the
gospel that we can point to and equip the body of Christ to walk in. When we look at the
Fatherlessness and broken homes in our city we know that violence and crime comes as fruit of
that sin.

If there is violence at home it speaks to this generation that violence solves issues you can’t
handle. I can see this wisdom from the Lord, look into domestic violence and you can see the
enemy’s strategy to train a generation. Of course media and movies all compound the issue but
the forming of our values comes from home first; film, television, music and internet are just
witnesses of what is going on in the home. The media outlet is equipping this generation how
to act it out. We must first deal with the root before we can deal with the fruit.

As a whole, the church doesn’t deal with this issue in the form of discipleship. Once violence is
recognized which has to be discovered through relationships, then we must place a clear model
before the congregation. This means becoming very open and vulnerable with how we deal
with issues in the home. The beauty of our family and home is to reflect the Godhead in us.
When we talk about our personal lives in discipleship then we can give a model and platform
for what real love and family looks like. With a righteous model we can then uncover and
expose what is diametrically opposed to God’s Kingdom.

If our home is out of order then the church is out of order and this leaves no spiritual leadership
to our city. In other words the moms and dads must confront this issue at home to open the
door for the authority to come on the church and gives us a measure of rule in the city. God will
always deal with the church first and then use the cleansed church to deal with the world.

Many violent events in schools and our neighborhoods stem from those who feel they were
misunderstood or bullied, pressed into something they could no longer deal with any other
way. Of course this is not always the case but the Lord is highlighting to us in this nation that
mental health has a direct connection to violence.

There is a tremendous effect when crime has escalated to such violence, murder and
destruction which today translates into something like a jihad war. We must first deal with this
in the spirit. It will take prayer, changing the atmosphere that invites the Holy Spirit’s Presence
to inhabit our home, our schools, and our cities.

We must ask the Lord, what do You require, to end crime and violence. The Lord answered this
another time by pointing out to me that abortion was murder and to legislate murder, call it ok
and legal is in direct opposition of trying to end murder on the streets. You can’t say one form

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of murder is ok and another is not, it has to be all or nothing. No murder means we must end
abortion; this step would have a direct result on murder in our city.
The battle to end abortion is unmistakably the battle of our generation and its one the church
has fought relentlessly for decades. We have had progress but the battle is filled with mixture.

As we continue to seek the Lord for direction on how to end abortion, HE WILL honor our
efforts. If we take an active stand against these violent acts as we have influence and
opportunity, He will move on our behalf.

I believe partnering with Law Enforcement is so important to transformation. God has placed
divine authority of protection on our law enforcement and there is a powerful spiritual
application when we partner with those who enforce that protection. (Psalm 91)

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm
91:1)

The shelter is also a secret place; it’s a place of coming under authority which takes agreement,
partnership. It is good to be right with God’s delegated authority.

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INTERACTIVE STUDY

 DISCUSS:

1. What is God’s heart regarding the violence in your neighborhood?

2. What is His heart regarding the violence in your city, nation?

3. What responsibility does the Church have in driving out violence in your city?

4. How effective is the church in driving out violence and crime in your city? Why or why not?

5. Do you know of any ministries or government agencies that are making a difference in
ending violence and crime? If you do, what do you see that they are doing is successful or
not?

6. Are any churches in the area piloting programs you believe would be helpful in ending
crime and violence? Why or Why not?

 ACTION:
1. Pray and ask the Lord to share His heart for ending violence and crime in your city. Ask
Him what He requires to end violence and crime.

2. Pray for those who are currently working on the front lines to end violence, Pray for law
enforcement, research what programs they are currently involved in that come close to
where you are targeting change. Pray about specific areas in the city seem to have heavy
crime, map out those areas and target them with prayers, ask the Lord what powers or
principalities are ruling in that area and how did they get the authority to rule there. Ask
the Lord where high altars of evil are in the city and ask if they are connected to the crime
and violence, pray over what He gives you.
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3. Find scriptures regarding God ending violence and protecting those in need. Prophecy
God’s word of protection and provision. Pray over the law enforcement and government
that has authority and ask the Lord to use you to share His strategies and plans to end
crime.

 GO:

1. Go to the places in your city that are high crime areas. Go to where prostitutes and drug
dealers are known to work. God in the daytime and go in the night in your car and pray
over those areas. Gather others and walk the places and pray. Ask God for His heart; ask
Him to show you what you can’t see but what He sees. Ask Him to give you a plan, a
strategy for driving out this evil in your city.

2. Target an area and make it a ministry outreach. Go every week and begin to pray over the
people that are there, pray over the businesses in the area, pray over those who drive
through it and pray over the government and law enforcement that has that region. Pray
for the churches in that area that have the spiritual authority in that area.

3. Partner with law enforcement, tell them you will serve them with prayer and support and
whatever they need to help drive out crime in this region. Follow through on what they
ask you to do, go to the meetings go to all the community outreach events they are
involved in to connect and pray for them. Ask the Lord how you can bless them and serve
them

4. Visit the agencies and government headquarters of those that have leadership or
authority in that region. Visit the congressman, the House of Representative, visit the
mayor, visit the city councilman pray for them ask how you can serve and bless them or
support them to make a change. Find out what they need and pray for that solution even
if it means becoming that solution. Open the door of communication between these
agencies and the church and be a liaison to keep communication flowing and inform the
church so they can pray and get involved.
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COVENANT WITH ISRAEL BRINGS REVELATION

And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse
him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of
the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]. (Genesis 12:3)

About five years ago I was introduced to the Israel Mandate. I knew about Israel but I didn’t
really know Israel and God’s plan for Israel. I read the bible, all the scriptures seemingly point to
Israel but the revelation of God’s heart for Israel became a guidepost for me, I understood that
when I understood God’s heart for Israel I would understand His heart for me and our nation.

It is almost like the mystery of God will not be released out of order. And my love for Israel is
genuine it is not a misplaced emotion or fantasy romance, it is real and I am willing to give my
life for His Beloved Ones. It took prayer; it took deep mediation on His word and spending
hours upon months upon years of dialogue with God and the spiritual leaders to Israel to fully
comprehend His plan.
This revelation is directly related to the global economy. It is locked within Israel, the economy
of prosperity. God ordained it and there is nothing man can do to change it. So if you want to
preach about prosperity go ahead but I know if Israel is not a part of your preaching you are
gravely misinformed, and if caring for the poor and need is not in your plan then you have no
idea what true prosperity really means.

"Your gates will be open continually; They will not be closed day or night, So that men may bring
to you the wealth of the nations, With their kings led in procession. (Isaiah 60:11)

"It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land," declares the LORD,
"they will no longer say, `The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' And it will not come to mind, nor
will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again. (Jeremiah 3:16)

"Then I said, `How I would set you among My sons And give you a pleasant land, The most
beautiful inheritance of the nations!' And I said, `You shall call Me, My Father, And not turn
away from following Me.' (Jeremiah 3:19)

The promises of God are tied to Israel, the Promised Land is IN ISRAEL. That is where we will all
dwell with the Father, in the New Jerusalem. The promise of God is that Jesus will return and
He will dwell in the land forever!

“I am zealous for Zion with great zeal…I will return to Zion, and dwell [live] in the midst of
Jerusalem.” (Zech. 8:2–3)

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The LORD…has given rest to His people that they may dwell in Jerusalem forever. (1 Chr. 23:25)

The land of Israel is blessed. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see it but it does take the spirit
of God to reveal to us how it is so and how partnering with Israel we can participate in that
blessing of the Father.

When we look at the troubled economy that oppresses and keeps poverty ruling in our nation
we must go to a place in the word of God where that power is defeated and find out how that
applies to our oppressors.

Israel has the global leadership; Israel is a blessed nation, persecuted but not defeated, the
more they persecute the more Israel prospers and grows!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you…” (Ps. 122:6)

True prosperity is tied to covenant, it is NOT tied to sowing a seed. It is more than an outreach
or a plan and program. It takes building a covenant with God and all covenant to men come
from the covenant God made with Abraham.

In our nation our covenant in the church is for the most part with the “church”. We make our
alignment of faith with the vehicle of God and often not God Himself. This puts restraint on
how God can flow through us. Although we are to edify the body but we have lost the
perspective that the HEAD of the Church Jesus Christ is where the leadership and the promises
flow from His Kingdom. His ministry through the Holy Spirit will always draw us into fellowship
with the Father. All throughout scripture Jesus points to the Father and there we find that
covenant is the only sustaining partnership that will carry us together through the end.
Covenant means all that I have becomes yours and all that is YOURS becomes mine by and
through the death of Jesus Christ which we must apply to our lives. We lose our agenda, our
focus becomes His Focus, and our purpose becomes what is His Purpose. We want what He
wants and our lives our married to His.

All of God’s promises are tied to Israel and His Family. We can’t replace Israel and put ourselves
in their place and claim we are the recipient of all those promises. We were grafted in and our
benefits in the Kingdom come through Israel and that will never change. It is forever written
and will ever be, so we must bless Israel we must align ourselves with Her to walk in fullness
and realize that through that covenant we can walk in true prosperity.

If you look at Israel’s economy, you may be stretched to find prosperity but it is because you
are looking for material wealth to signify prosperity, this is a western mentality and will not
measure with the end times. With eternity in perspective all the wealth of homes, cars,
vacation properties and diamonds mean nothing when you line them up to the glories of
heaven. You can have it all and end up in hell.

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The promise God made with Abraham was protection, it was safety, it was covering, and it was
a land of peace. Have you ever been without peace? If you have never had real peace, the kind
that comes from the Father than you have not experienced true prosperity.

So often we think being out of debt would mean we truly made it but you can be debt free and
still be in bondage to the system of this world and not in peace.

Hearing God’s voice is probably the richest gift and to have that every day of your life, you are
the richest of all men. If you can hear God then you can have His direction and leadership in
your life, this is the truest riches…the wisdom of God.

Our natural economy is run by supply and demand and if we try to put that principal to work in
the kingdom of God we will find it produces a religious spirit. God is not an ATM machine we
stick our request in to get a load of cash to come out. He is not a store we pay our dues (tithes)
and expect to shop in anytime we have a need.

God is about family and He makes a covenant with the Father of all nations to demonstrate to
us how to access our inheritance, our abundance our prosperity. We can have all of the
kingdom riches if we are in covenant with the King. He determines if that covenant is valid.
There are some signs of prosperity that we can see in Israel and measure our own lives, not as
the world sees it but as God sees it.

Solomon knew true riches; he had a covenant with the Father. He honored God’s covenant
with Abraham.

So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
(1 Kings 10:23)

God said to Solomon, "Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or
honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have
asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have
made you king, (2 Chronicles 1:11)

wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and
honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come
after you." (2 Chronicles 1:12)

So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
(2 Chronicles 9:22)

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The wealth of this world is not found in pleasures but in wisdom, having the answers, the
strategies to bring eternal transformation.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are
His judgments and unfathomable His ways! (Romans 11:33)

saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and
wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." (Revelation 5:12)

How do we end poverty? How do we transform lives from the power of evil and darkness into a
place of provision and security? It begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ the son of God. It
is through a relationship with Christ Jesus that we can enter into the covenant of prosperity
that God our Creator gave to Abraham. It is through a relationship with Jesus Christ that we are
grafted into the covenant.

Does this mean that an entire city must be saved in order to enter into the prosperity of the
Lord? As we examine the promises of God manifested in Israel we can see they are conditional
on men entering into covenant and in that covenant was a covering established for an entire
nation.

Turning to the Lord in covenant is what Jeremiah prophesied to Israel and in doing so God
would multiply and bless the land. He promised increase in provision and protection.

`Return, O faithless sons,' declares the LORD; `For I am a master to you, And I will take you one
from a city and two from a family, And I will bring you to Zion.' (Jeremiah 3:14)

"Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and
understanding. (Jeremiah 3:15)

"It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land," declares the
LORD, "they will no longer say, `The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' And it will not come to
mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again. (Jeremiah 3:16)

"At that time they will call Jerusalem `The Throne of the LORD,' and all the nations will be
gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor will they walk anymore after the
stubbornness of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17)

"In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come
together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance.
(Jeremiah 3:18)

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When we establish this divine order there will be fruit. It is not something we do religiously. It is
a surrendering of our will and our future to follow the same measure of this covenant in all our
dealings in the city. What manifest most prominently is a power to bless, to come alongside to
serve and bless and prosper others. That prosperity includes protection and provision.

Poverty is more than lack of resources but it is lack of a SOURCE of resources. There are those
whose cups run dry and they can’t give true fulfillment and then there is the peace of knowing
you are under the canopy of love and true divine protection. There is a supply that meets not
just your body (food/shelter/clothes) needs but your soul (rest from anxiety/true peace of
mind) and spiritual needs are met (live in eternity/have fellowship with the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit).

Freedom from poverty means you will have divine direction in the chaos, in war, in famine He
will lead you to the resources because you are connected to the SOURCE that is unending and
unlimited and eternal - there is no end to His ministry to us and for us. If we are not connected
than we are only getting that which passes away, runs out and is attached to conditions, strings
attached that has no eternal value, does not change our circumstances.

From this relationship of covenant we will engage all our relationships in the city with a heart to
be a blessing. We will manifest the blessing to all those around us. We will give with no strings
attached; we will minister expecting nothing in return but to be a blessing. We will be generous
in kind, in our giving and in our ministry to the city.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Ephesians 1:3)

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INTERACTIVE STUDY

 DISCUSS:

1. What do you know about Israel?

2. How important do you believe Israel is to us right now?

3. How can we connect to Israel here in our city?

4. Have you ever visited a Jewish Congregation?

5. What is the difference between Orthodox and Reformed Synagogues?

 ACTION:

1. Pray for Israel. Ask the Father to share with you His heart for Israel.

2. Pray and ask about the local Jewish Congregations in your city. Ask the Lord how you can
be a blessing to the Israel in your city, in your state.

 GO:

1. Visit some Jewish Congregations and ask the Lord how you can partner with them by
loving on them, serving them and listening to their heart for your city and for Israel.

2. Join them in their mission for the city, partner in their mission with prayer and finances, be
a blessing!

3. Get books and materials, research Israel. Find Prophets and Apostles that are carrying the
vision for Israel as you hear the Lord’s heart. Sow into these ministries and support their
work in prayer.

4. Hold prayer meetings for Israel. Join other prayer meetings for Israel.

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INFLUENCING 7 SPHERES OF THE CITY

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PRAYER: GETTING GOD’S STRATEGIES

The power of a vision is only as good as the manifested witness is in the earth. If we touch our
city we can touch the world. This principle is the very cornerstone of the Kingdom, Jesus Christ.
He came to the earth to manifest and witness to us in the natural the Love of a Father who sent
His only Son to die for us so that we could have everlasting life. This powerful witness is
undeniable and can't be resisted or ever removed in the earth. The City is a similar witness, it
signifies to the body of Christ how to commune with the Lord night and day. The model of
prayer and communion with the Father was made a witness by David and his son Solomon who
built the tabernacle. Having a place in the earth for all to see and understand was a witness of
God's dwelling among men. God tabernacles with men in the meeting place. Jesus brought us
to a new covenant and God moved from a building to dwell on the inside of us. The City
witnesses how we can commune with the Living God dwelling on the inside of us through the
context of worship and prayer. This strategy of God gives the city, the nation and the globe a
powerful pattern for not only personal devotion but a place to gather all denominations, tribes
and tongues, all walks of life and all seven mountains of influence a place to come and
tabernacle in a corporate anointing to partner in God's strategy for our city, nation and global
mandates.

Building this City reality is my number one assignment. Partnering with me in the assignment is
a calling in and of itself. I believe just as God raised up Cyrus to build the city of God, there are
those in the city, nation and around the globe who bear witness with the reality that God's
Government operates in the context of night and day worship and prayer. The atmosphere of a
City can manifest God's prophetic word and ministry to help sustain His plans in the earth.
Prayer supports and undergirds the plan of God in a city, state or nation. When we partner with
what God reveals to us as His plan in prayer He will release more of His plan to us. Coming
together in a corporate way will release revelation, prophecy and vision. This is how the
disciples gathered in the upper room as the Lord instructed them. The Holy Spirit came and
released such vision and insight they were overflowing with revelation and as they gave
utterance to it (in prayer and worship) men from the surrounding nations heard it and gave God
glory. (You can read more about this in Acts 1 and 2)

It is not possible to build the city of God in the earth without first building it in the hearts of the
people. This labor must first be done in prayer before it can move out into the City and build
altars to the Lord throughout the city. An altar to the Lord is a meeting place where we
dedicate the land, the ministry the works going forth in the region to the Lord. We declare Jesus
is Lord that the earth, the city, the ministry belongs to Him and He is Lord over it all. In this way
we are declaring to all the powers, principalities and dominions of evil that Jesus Christ is in
authority and they are not. Even though in principal it is true Jesus Christ is Lord but just as we
must confess His Lordship over our lives personally we must also confess His Lordship over our
city. The Lord Jesus gave us His delegated authority so we must declare it and confirm it with
our ministry to Him in that place. We build an altar to the Lord; we worship Him by placing Him

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as Lord and declaring who He is in that place. We welcome the ministry of the Holy Spirit and
we drive all evil out by declaring they must go in Jesus name. Depending on the place, the
works that have been going forth and many other factors it could take some time to establish
that altar as open communion to the Lord where His Presence abides continually.

There are Seven Mountains of Influence where the altars of God are built that can transform
the city. This Seven Mountain mandate was given to three men Loren Cunningham, Bill Bright
and Francis Shaffer back in 1975. The Lord visited all three of them with the same vision of
global evangelism. 1This ministry vision I believe gives a track to partner with the Lord and His
Messengers in any city, state or nation. Each mountain has God's specific strategy to build His
Kingdom and transform society with the Gospel that leads to an intimate relationship with
Jesus Christ as Lord. Prayer is God's Government to bring and establish His will in the earth. It
takes communion with the Lord and those who are willing to bring that witness by doing the
work. We pray for laborers to go forth into the harvest and that is where those we partner with
are needed, they do the work of the Lord in those mountains. It takes both prayer and the work
in the field to build God's kingdom. No assignment from the Lord is fully done without those
who support the work with finances, resources and prayer. Just as you support a missionary
who goes overseas to preach the gospel the significant part of that ministry is the work of
prayer, it is in our communion with the Lord we get the Plan of God, the strategy and how to
implement it. The missions movement and the prayer movement must work together to bring
forth God's plan for His Kingdom in the nations of the earth. If missionaries go without prayer
they will not have God's government and authority to establish the Kingdom it takes both, God
has a pattern and He continually makes it impossible to fulfill His will without the partnering
together. This is how He brings unity in the body of Christ.

"When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him
or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she
needed. We have refused to be instruments of love in the hands of God to give the poor a piece
of bread, to offer them a dress with which to ward off the cold. It has happened because we did
not recognize Christ when, once more, He appeared under the guise of pain, identified with a
man numb from the cold, dying of hunger, when He came in a lonely human being, in a lost child
in search of a home." Mother Theresa

1
You can read more about this here [Link]
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FAMILY

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FAMILY: REACHING THE NEIGHBORHOOD


The building of the House of Hope is building an infrastructure of the Kingdom of God.

As the family goes so goes the church and as the church goes so goes the world.

In restoring our city to God’s original plan He is going to build up a righteous example, a
witness, and a model of His intention for our city. He begins with the home, with the family.

In this plan, He takes a model home and in a strategic placement in our city He calls us to open
up our home and be a House of Hope.

Anyone can take on this ministry and do it fulltime. This ministry doesn’t take away from the
ministry of the church but enhances the labor of the Bride of Christ bringing the Gospel in a
real, tangible way to families where it’s needed most.

The call is first to the poor and needy, to the bound and hopeless which leads us often to our
inner cities. But anywhere in the world God can plant a House of Hope.

The neighborhood God chooses may not be what you think so stay open to the leadership of
the Lord because His plans are always including the future, ten or forty years from now where
He places you will be effected by your labors so we can’t determine where to go by looking in
the natural, the Lord will open the door. In fact you may find He will give you the house.

Today many of our neighborhoods are filled with abandoned homes. The inner city is probably
one of the most transient areas of home ownership. Many of the homes are owned by
landlords and filled with those who receive Housing Assistance from our government. Due to
the nature of that assistance that was only meant to be a temporary help, a large portion of
society lives off of that welfare assistance. The nature of the beast so to speak is when that
assistance is denied due to violations of housing, family or legal standards the tenants vacate
the home. The follow up to this vacated home is typically move the next tenant in without any
treatment, rehab or repairing to the home. After numerous “as is” moves the building becomes
inhabitable. Our neighborhoods are filled with these vacant homes that drug addicts and
homeless live in and often even set fire to these homes trying to warm themselves with who
knows what.

What does God see when He looks at our inner city? I believe His heart is broken because
almost all of His sons and daughters have vacated the premises. They have decided they can’t
raise their family in that environment; they want to be “safe” so they move away and darkness
moves in. Without the authority and light of believers in vicinity the darkness will move in and
set up encampments.

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We have an epidemic, we are continually moving out of the very place God wants to inhabit.
We have done it in our cities, in our schools and in the marketplace. We have left our
assignments for comfort.

When God was turning my heart to pray for the city I would drive all around and pray. I would
pray over the abandoned neighborhoods, the drug infested areas, the housing projects where I
knew the impoverished and needy were living.

I had served in a food pantry before out of our church. I remember we would go down to the
city food bank and volunteer several hours a week to get food we could distribute. We would
load up the food take it back to our food pantry and then open up and minister to each family
coming for food. We wanted them to know how much Jesus cared for them so we prayed and
ministered to them. These people had to come to us, they came in cars, sometimes many
families in one car and we poured out love on them and gave those bags and bags of groceries.
The purpose was to bring them to church, follow up on them with discipleship. We wanted to
plant them in the house. We led them to the Lord, we prayed for them and we fed them. It was
very fulfilling to serve the church in this way.

We also did outreach into some of the housing projects with Sidewalk Sunday School. We
brought church to the neighborhood. We would canvass the neighborhood before the event
praying and inviting people to come to Sidewalk Sunday School. This model comes from Bill
Wilson of Metro Ministries in New York City. It was powerful; many young people would get
born again and filled with the Holy Spirit.

In 1986 I was born again and within a few months I served in street ministry, going out after a
few hours of prayer and worship and leading the lost to Jesus. We had amazing encounters with
the Lord and walked in the word of knowledge and prophecy on the streets. I was marked for
the lost, ruined with the burden of the Lord for the lost.

Outreach is amazing and powerful but in this day and hour we need a stronger witness to the
Lost! We need a living witness day in and day out, living in the darkest parts of our city with a
24/7 witness. Day in and Day out communion with Jesus looks like this ……

This is the House of Hope, a home as a witness with sons and daughters living in a home, in the
darkest of neighborhoods in our city bringing incense, worship to God changing the atmosphere
and bringing hope and blessing to all the families on the block, in the town or village.

Finding the neighborhood may come many ways. The Holy Spirit will lead us where to go, who
to partner with, where to buy, rent or donate. Jesus is zealous to show us His heart. Whether
we live in the house, partner financially, bring in the donations, or volunteer our time and
resources everyone can build Houses of Hope all over our city, state or nation.

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If your portion is to live in a house in the inner city there are many resources today to owning
an abandoned home. Find out who the city council, civic association, neighborhood groups are
in the area you want to live because often the city can give those homes for pennies on the
dollar to bring in restoration. Many cities are looking for ways to rehab their inner cities and
placing Houses of Hope could be a benefit to not only the neighborhood but also the
government.

When you are looking for a home don’t be discouraged if the Lord highlights the worst one, if
there is a lot of damage and need its ok because the rehab of the home is just as important as
living in it. The neighborhood will watch, they haven’t had many people show them how God
can take on the impossible and make it beautiful. The process will become a witness to all those
around you and they will want to know if you will give up, quit, if you will cuss and get angry
when things get difficult, they will want to know how you handle the impossible or difficult.

The physical appearance of the House of Hope is important. It is all making a statement to the
neighborhood. Clean doesn’t have to be expensive but clean can demonstrate care and honor.
In a culture where clean, cleaning up and caring for property is at its worst, the rehab process
can be your first message to the neighborhood.

If you get a home that doesn’t need rehab you can still preach this message when you clean up
the outside, pick up trash, care for the lawn, wash windows and maintain the property. It may
end up being a small group meeting with neighbors….how to save money and care for your
home inexpensively. Consider everything you do in this House as ministry, someone may want
to know what you are doing and how you do it.

Keep journals or logs of what you do, what you spend and someday you may find you are
training urban missionaries how to build things or repair them.

This House of Hope can be modeled in our inner cities as a template for world missions. Every
culture will encounter some of the opportunities you experience in your Urban Mission. Every
culture lives in some type of home in their land, and every dynamic that you operate in can be
modeled in another nation. This is why I believe missionaries can successfully train in the House
of Hope, exercise their faith and gifts while gaining valuable experience.

Finding the neighborhood and house may take a year or even two. Don’t worry there is plenty
to do in the planning stages that will afford you a strong foundation that will stand the fiery
trials you may encounter down the road. The House is as strong as the foundation; it won’t
blow down if it’s set on the Rock, the revelation of who Jesus is to our City.

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FIND THE NEED AND FILL IT


There are many needs in our city that God has answers and solutions. He is longing to build His
Kingdom in our City. There are many other systems that may have been filled with good
intentions but have ended up being destructive because of the darkness they are aligned with.
It is easy to spend our time pointing out the darkness in these systems but going to the next
level we are called to build or model the right system alongside or in partnership with the old.
The reason for this I believe is to be a blessing and in doing so win many to the Lord.
We can’t win the lost without honor, many of our systems today began with good intentions,
they had good plans that went wrong because they had no standard of accountability. This
standard of righteousness must come from the church. If we remove that righteous standard
than how will they know they are wrong or headed in the wrong direction.

The welfare system is a perfect example of a system that began perhaps with good intentions
but is leading our cities into destruction. It is in gigantic of reform. How do we fill this need?

Our first place is in prayer. How do we pray, well we must come into God’s heart for those that
this system serves. We can serve the same people and find out where this system is in their
lives. It’s easy to look at fruit and know something is wrong but to fill the need with answers
and solutions we must know why or how that fruit got there.

In practical terms if the welfare system was meant to help people in times of trouble to
maintain their home and family than we should be able to look at that system and see that
families and homes are strengthened and intact. If we want to know how those families are we
need to go wash their feet. The way God reveals the hearts of men is when we bow down low
in humility and wash their feet.

Jesus on the eve of His crucifixion wanted to know the hearts of His disciples. He washed all
their feet and He knew what would be the outcome of the most difficult trial of their life, He
knew when He washed their feet what was in their heart and soul. He modeled to the disciples
that this was the way to truly bring a people through to eternity, wash their feet. All the
miracles would not do what washing their feet would, He needed to know what was in their
heart.

"You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. (John 13:13)

"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's
feet. (John 13:14)

"For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. (John 13:15)

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"Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater
than the one who sent him. (John 13:16)

"If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. (John 13:17)

Washing is a part of a priest’s duty. We are in essence the priests for our neighborhoods. We
bring the needs of the people to the Lord and we bring His heart to the people.

Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it; (Exodus 30:19)

So they shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die; and it shall be a perpetual
statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations." (Exodus 30:21)

It’s when we live in community we truly find out what is in the heart of the people and what is
true about their day to day lives. It is easier to look from the outside and criticize but when we
engage in serving we can find not only the true need but how to fill it.

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RELIGION

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PARTNERING WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of
bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (Acts
2:43)

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (Acts
2:43)

and they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to
house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46)

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul
preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
(Acts 20:7)

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added
unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine
and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and
many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and
had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as
every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising
God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as
should be saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

Jesus told the Apostles they must be endued with the Holy Spirit to accomplish the commission
of building His Church. This gift of the Holy Spirit was also necessary for Jesus to have in order
to preach the gospel and demonstrate what the Father had in His heart.

"I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
(John 17:4)

The evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a desire to partner with Jesus and His Church.
When we have partnership and are in one accord the manifestation of the Holy Spirit will bring
reverence on souls plus the manifestation of signs and wonders.

If we don’t have the Holy Spirit in our church, or our personal life, than there is rejection and
contention. The Holy Spirit always reveals Jesus’ heart for His Bride, both saved and those yet
saved. The ministry of the Holy Spirit draws the body together not drives apart. He continually
leads us to need one another for the fullness.
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The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia (2842grk) which means community, communion,
joint participation, the share one has in another, intimacy, and a gift jointly contributed
exhibiting proof of fellowship

This contribution (fellowship) meant spiritual and natural. Often we come together and look to
church to meet our own needs. If we have fellowship with the Holy Spirit we can get those
needs met in our personal intimate time with the Lord. If we aren’t having intimate time with
the Lord it manifests in a “needy” church body.

The Holy Spirit was given as a gift from the Father. Just as He gave the gift to Jesus to manifest
His heart to the disciples, so must we have this gift to manifest the Father and the Bridegroom
to the Bride? The operation of the Holy Spirit helps us to partner and participate in what the
Head of the Church, Jesus wants to accomplish.

Jesus has a plan given to Him by the Father for every city and every nation. His Father’s
business was to establish His Kingdom on the earth and set up for His Return and the Fathers
throne to be set physically as it was in Eden.

Jesus at the age of twelve knew how important it was to be in the Father’s House.

And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be
in My Father's house?" (Luke 2:49)

Today everything about church is denomination and separation, different beliefs and different
doctrines; we are supposed to be filled with the Spirit and all fellowshipping the same bread
and cup of communion. What we need today is the infilling and refilling of the Holy Spirit for
the purpose that Jesus has to fulfill the Father’s plan in our city and nation. In the process of
corporate partnership with Jesus and the Holy Spirit we must return to the Father’s House to
break bread and have communion.

And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:52)

The Greek word for filled is pleroo (4137grk) which means to fill to the full, to fill to the top, to
abound, nothing wanting to full measure, to consummate, to make complete, to render
perfect, to accomplish, to carry out, to bring to realization, to execute, to bring to pass, to cause
God’s will to be known, and His promises receive fulfillment. It comes from the root word Pleres
(4134grk) which means to lack nothing, perfect.

It is very clear we must have the Holy Spirit to partner with Jesus and His Bride. When we have
the fullness we can see every plan the Father has being realized and coming to pass. It is
impossible to accomplish His will without the Holy Spirit and the members of His body.

How we treat the Holy Spirit manifests in how we treat one another.

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Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; (Romans
12:10)

It is possible to offend the Holy Spirit and your brother. However, if you blaspheme the Holy
Spirit there is no forgiveness.

But the fruit of the spirit is love…. (Galatians 5:22, 23)

If you love someone you want to be with them and you want to give, minister, and fellowship
with them. If we don’t desire to pray or want to participate with the local body of Christ it is an
indication real God’s love is not in our heart.

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does
not love abides in death. (1 John 3:14)

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as
pastors and teachers, (Ephesians 4:11)

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
(Ephesians 4:12)

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature
man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)

Notice that Paul said build the body not your ministry. When we look at the gifts of the spirit in
the church today we see more often than not, the building of ministry instead of serving the
plan of the Bridegroom; present a spotless bride for a wedding.

These gifts were to bring unity which the Greek word for unity of the faith means to respect
one’s relationship with God and divine things with conviction; it means together we would be
confident, expectant faith in Jesus, the Father and the Kingdom of God. This agreement,
conviction and respect make us one. Only the Holy Spirit can truly accomplish this, we can
mentally ascent to it but true agreement comes from agreeing with what God says about one
another.

until we all attain ….to a mature man (Ephesians 4:13)

The result of this agreement is integrity, virtue, and maturity which are the definition of Greek
word for maturity, Teleios (5046 grk).

until we all attain …to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
(Ephesians 4:13)

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The Greek word for stature is Helikia (2244grk) which means attained a state fit for the
anointing and continued state of maturity.

until we all attain …to the measure ….which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)

The Greek word for fullness is pleroma (4137grk) which is to be filled with the presence, power,
agency, riches of God and Christ, like filling a ship with everything to get to its destination
(freight, merchandise, sailors, oarsmen, soldiers)along with the cargo., it is abundance, causing
us to abound, to be liberally supplied, nothing wanting, filled to the brim, to accomplish, to
carry out, execute, to cause God’s will to be known and obeyed as it should be bringing all the
promises to fulfillment

The measure we must live up to is what belongs to the fullness of Christ. In other words, we
must continue reaching until we walk in everything Jesus walked in. It is available to us and until
we are in the place we are doing everything He did on a daily basis we must continue to in the
knowledge of the Son of God.

Until we all attain...... the knowledge of the Son of God…. (Ephesians 4:13)

The Greek word for knowledge is the word epignosis (1922grk) which means full discernment,
to recognize, coming to the full knowledge of the Son of God, full knowledge of what is spoken
in the New Testament of God, Christ and divine things (syn) the acceptance of divine
revelation, comprehending divine revelation

The purpose of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to give us by demonstration, by revelation, by
understanding and comprehension the full, complete, nothing lacking or missing of the
knowledge of God. Who God is in us, to us, to our city and to the body of Christ?

The manifestations of the Holy Spirit give us the discernment, the ability to recognize what is
Him, what is divine and what is not. It is the ability to walk in the fullness of Christ with living
understanding and an anointing to teach, instruct and impart to someone the same.

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FIVE-FOLD GIFTS EQUIP OUR CITY


for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
(Ephesians 4:12)

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ: (Ephesians 4:12)

The Greek word for equip is katartismos (2677 grk) which is to complete, furnish and comes
from the word katartizo (2675grk) which means to mend what has been broken, to repair, to
equip, to put in order, to arrange and adjust, to prepare, to strengthen, and make one what he
ought to be

(deriv) Arti (737grk) now, at this time, this moment

(deriv) Airo (142grk) to take upon one’s self and carry what he/she has been raised up to do, to
bear what one has been raised up to do,

(Deriv) Artos (740grk) loaves the Israelites consecrated to the Lord, bread used at the love-
feasts and at the Lords table

The Greek word for edifying is the word oikodome (3619grk) which means the act of promoting
another’s growth in Christian wisdom, reverence, happiness (not a human emotion), and holy
living, the act of advancing the divine life.

(deriv) Oikos (3624grk) means all the persons forming one family, the family of God, the church.
This has connotation in a city and a nation, in a people and a people group. Such as the house
of Jacob (Lu 1:33) house of Judah (Hebrews 8:8)

(base) Doma (1430grk) means a building, house, frequently a place for meditation and prayer

The reason the Father sent the Holy Spirit was to build a family in unity for the purpose of
knowing Him, partnering with His Son, Christ Jesus the Bridegroom. The Holy Spirit prepares us
for a wedding. If we could arrive the day we were born again, why not ascend into heaven right
away? What would the purpose be of our walking through the building up of a corporate body
in local context, city, nation and global? Something miraculous is happening on the inside of us
as we grow in grace together to build this habitation for the Lord. The journey has much glory
for God!

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect
man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:13)

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That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
(Ephesians 4:14)

The purpose of the gifts is to bring us into unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God. If
the gifts are causing the body to leave the church and form something separate, make their
own doctrine, bring division and strife, weaken and destroy the corporate body it is worthy of
examination. True gifts manifesting the Holy Spirit will draw out the truth and display it in total
conversion. The gifts of the Spirit will manifest the “fruit” of the Spirit. The distinction is found
in the “fruit”

Jesus had to descend before He ascended to give gifts to men. This is so important to the
release of fullness. The power of the resurrection that ruled over death and hell brought the
fullness of the Holy Spirit to heaven and earth. Jesus descended and took back the ruler-ship
and authority of earth and then He went to heaven and in complete agreement with the Father
released the fullness of the Holy Spirit to man.

Gifts of the Spirit operating in the church so they can operate in the city -this is Gods mandate
for the bride.

The apostle is local first - his ministry manifests in a city first if you can't see his ministry in the 7
mountains he is NOT an apostle - this means his ministry must manifest the church in those
spheres of society -more on that later but the sons/daughters will testify of an apostle's
ministry. An apostle is a Father in the spirit. The ministry of the apostle will be to build the
church in the city from the local church. The apostle will have the vision for the city. The apostle
will draw the five-fold ministry to connect with him by the spirit, not a conference, not a
brochure or website.

There are apostles in government positions. They have the ability to build the supernatural
infrastructure of a city like an architect. They are the connection ministry, connecting office
gifts to flow together for the greater purpose of the city mandate. They are kingdom thinkers
and are connected to the national and global plan of God. Their vision helps the national vision
manifest. The apostle's mandate manifests in a prophets ministry. It is like Elijah interpreting
Moses to the people. Jesus is the witness of this ministry in the flesh as a priest.

The prophet must be connected to the apostle. There is no full time ministry for a prophet
unless they are connected to an apostle. The power of the apostle in a prophet's life gives
validation to their ministry because its the working of this gift that manifests the apostle's
mandate. The prophet once connected to the apostle will draw the apostolic ministry to
manifest in the local church. The prophet gives the church eyes to see their mandates
connecting to the apostle. The message of Elijah turning the hearts of the fathers to the
children and the children to the fathers. They children won't receive a prophet without an
apostle. There will be rejection which causes the prophet to leave the church and try and start a
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ministry on their own. The prophet is in need of the teaching gift to interpret the strange or
strong way a prophet manifest. The prophet will uncover sin and iniquity with such zeal that if
the teaching gift doesn't manifest the body will be offended. This also tend to make the
prophet feel isolated and misunderstood.

The Teacher is like the interpreter for the prophet. Often the teaching gift seems to put itself as
a prophet the reason why is because this gift is interpreting the prophet. Many people in the
body of Christ are calling themselves prophets but they are only teachers operating their gift of
interpretation. They need to spend time in the word so revelation can come from their ministry,
this is why the body is so anemic. The reason why is without the shepherd to minister and tell
the gifts they need oil there is no anointing and no grace for the gifts to operate.

The Shepherd/Pastor ministry is the oil that keeps the gifts and the body of Christ in check with
their ministry to the Lord. The shepherd ministry so clearly manifested in David's life because of
his intimacy with the Lord. If the Shepherd who most often manifests in the pastor gift, if he is
not heeded then the teaching gift or the prophet gift will manifest like the rod that pulls the
sheep back to the True Shepherd. If the shepherd gift is not manifested than these gifts will pull
the people to themselves giving place to idolatry and humanism.

The family is a manifestation of the gifts in operation. If they aren't manifesting in the family of
God they won't manifest in the church. The husband like the apostle needs the wife to interpret
his mantle to the home. She is like the prophet and sometime her ministry seems strong and
misunderstood which the father than takes the place of a shepherd. If the husband gives strong
direction of the apostle or even if he manifests the prophet then the wife will manifest the
shepherd / teaching ministry to help the family come in line with the head of the house and
ultimately draw the children into ministry with the Lord.

All the gifts can manifest in the seven mountains of influence in our city, state and nation but
they must first manifest in the home and in the church. This manifestation will reflect God's
kingdom and draw unbelievers to fellowship the Lord at home and in church. We can not
impart what we don't manifest personally otherwise we draw men to us and not to God.

The priesthood has the ability to see the overall ministry of the fivefold ministry and support it.
They priesthood ministry will be a view to where this ministry is not operating and be a refuge
while it gets in order. The priesthood releases a covering of love to the body of Christ while the
gifts operate under grace. This canopy enters into religious spirits if it isn't connected to the
local church. The priesthood (prayer ministry) can't operate without the church. This shepherd
ministry will always want to engage the body of Christ in this ministry. The body of Christ must
manifest in this ministry for their ministry to manifest. The body ministry comes out in the
priesthood ministry to serve the Lord. This ministry than takes on the action ministry by
manifesting that mantle or their body part in the church and the city. The other 29 gifts of the
spirit will manifest in them and also if they are fivefold ministry gifts they will manifest first in
the priesthood.
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If the gifts of the body try to minister without the priesthood ministry they will be independent
and draw men to themselves and appear as if they are telling God what to do and what they
want. Thy will be selfishly motivated and self-promote.

The body of Christ in the city need each other and without all the mandates coming together
we won't be able to manifest the full seven mountains of influence. When the body of Christ
moves out into the city they will find they won't have influence unless they work with
different denominations and come together.

We all need each other, we are one big family and we can't build the kingdom of God without
coming together.

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GOVERNMENT

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PARTNERING WITH GOVERNMENT

and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you
shall speak to the sons of Israel." (Exodus 19:6)

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except
from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has
opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon
themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to
have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a
minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the
sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who
practices evil. (Romans 13:4)

GOVERNMENT IS ESTABLISHED BY GOD


From the beginning of time God set up Governing Authority. The first governing authority was
Adam and from there God continued to delegate His Authority to man. Once we understand
that “the office” or “position” of authority comes from God then we can partner with Him. It
matters not as much that the ruler is righteous as it does that we are and that we take our
rightful place in partnership with Him.

But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another. (Psalm 75:7)

We lose much time, opportunity and leadership struggling with the one who is in authority
rather than focusing on God who put that person in position and can remove them just the
same. Our faith is in God not in man. Men are weak, can make mistakes are prone to fall but
God is faithful, everlasting, doesn’t ever lie and has ALL authority and power.

Daniel said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to
Him. (Daniel 2:20)

"It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He
gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding. (Daniel 2:21)

"It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the
light dwells with Him. (Daniel 2:22)

God doesn’t need us but He wants us. He can rule the earth Himself but that wasn’t the plan.
He created man, gave him ruling power and equipped him to run the kingdom with His Son.
When Adam gave that authority to Satan things got a little complicated but the plan never
changed, man still had dominion authority he was just sharing it with Satan or God, his choice.

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In the Covenant that God provided there was made provision for the ruling power of God in
partnership with man but it was contingent on keeping the covenant and the law. This was
possible but not without a continual communion with the Father. Not many were successful as
we follow Israel’s continual rebellion.

Today through Jesus Christ that authority can be completely a sealed partnership with no
authority of Satan if we choose rightly. That choice begins with our complete surrender to the

And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19)

Once we establish God’s authority in our life we are ready to partner with Government in our
city, state and nation. The gospel is the release of that authority in transformation. The gospel
transforms the souls of men, the land, the church, the culture, society and nations.

"I have manifested Your name (living witness) to the men whom You gave Me out of the world;
they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. (John 17:6)

Jesus commissioned the disciples to bring the witness of this power and make disciples by
teaching, demonstrating, and witnessing true authority, true government.

Effective teaching comes from a living witness. Jesus witnessed to the world the authority of
God over death, hell and the grave and we have the same commission. This includes restoring
authority to God’s original plan. Man partnered with God ruling the Kingdom.

Recognizing that rulers are subject to God and that all authority comes from Him than if they
refuse to give God leadership, God will give it to a man who will submit. That means if we are
not in our place of partnership than God will search for a man to put in that place. So often we
are hung up on the “official title” when an unrighteous ruler actually has to submit to God’s
authority in the earth or they will have no authority.

For you granted him (Jesus) authority over all people (John 17:2)

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

This doesn’t mean that we rule over every man because ruler-ship is actually servant based,
Jesus who was Lord of all came humbly to serve man by laying down His life but He had all the
authority to call all of heaven to obey. His model is what we follow. He girded Himself and
washed the feet of those He had leadership over. He poured His life out to a city, a people and
loved them and spoke the truth. He never compromised on His mission. He is the standard of
government.

True leadership can be seen by the anointing and the demonstration of power that comes with
that office. The High Priest was set by God in the land as His authority. Even if someone is given

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the office of authority it takes partnership with God to truly rule the land. The commission and
partnership of the High Priest was with the governing authority in the land, a king. This ruler
needed the leadership of the priest and the priest needed the protection and leadership of the
King.

Our master King David has just made Solomon king! And the king has surrounded him with
Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet…and they've mounted Solomon on the royal mule. Zadok
the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king … (1Kings45:43-48)

This government was delegated when Moses gathered seventy elders and released the same
spiritual authority that was on him to these men. This pattern continues today through Israel,
the Gentile church and the governments of the nations.

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was
upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they
prophesied. But they did not do it again. (Numbers 11:25)

"I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy
Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one
even as We are. (John 17:11)

Jesus writing to the seven churches spoke to the leadership and held them responsible for the
church. I believe God will hold us responsible for the leadership of our land not the sinners.
Judgment comes to the house first because the house is responsible.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a
trumpet, (Revelation 1:10)

saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to
Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
(Revelation 1:11)

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden
lampstands; (Revelation 1:12)

and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to
the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. (Revelation 1:13)

As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden
lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are
the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20)

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KINGDOM PRIESTS CARRY GOVERNMENT

`Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own
possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; (Exodus 19:5)

and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you
shall speak to the sons of Israel." (Exodus 19:6)

The king was the only type of government or state known in this context. "kingdom" could well
be translated today as a "government" or "state."

The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, "You are a priest forever According to the
order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4)

Melchizedek was a king and a priest. He had the power and authority to bless Abraham calling
him the possessor of heaven and earth. The Father of nations received his blessing from the
high priest but also the government.

The office of the priesthood had authority and was made of men who had the gift of wisdom,
endowed with an anointing and ability to bring forth the reflection of God in every aspect of
life.

"You shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom
(Exodus 28:3)

One of the governmental duties was to make sure the priests temple was protected and
provided for, there was to be a temple ministry carried forth by these priests.

The task at hand was to free up Aaron and consecrate him so he could minister to the Lord.

….that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.
(Exodus 28:3)

The Lord needed to manifest His divine authority in Aaron but He needed other priests to get
Aaron to the place of consecration. This is the protection and authority to bring about the
divine blessing to the Promised Land.

They were delegated authority working in tandem with the kings and priests and other workers
to assist in the government of the nation. When you think of government it was different in
that day compared to today. The Lord presented His desire and government was a part of
administrating that plan.

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It should be the same today. God presents His plan and if the current government can’t hear
that is because the priesthood isn’t operating. If the priesthood is in place then the government
can enter into the priesthood or hear from the priesthood according to the cleanness of the
heart of the government.

. They didn’t enter into the holy of holies but they were filled with wisdom to solve the
problems of the day. Some of them filled the role of judges.

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WATCHMEN RELEASE THE SOUND OF GOVERNMENT


If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not
the LORD done it? (Amos 3:6)

"And I set watchmen over you, saying, `Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' (Jeremiah 6:17)

So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning
flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the
people who were in the camp trembled. (Exodus 19:16)

When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him
with thunder. (Exodus 19:19)

All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and
the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.
(Exodus 20:18)

`But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are
not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity;
but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.' (Ezekiel 33:6)

the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest..(Ezekiel 1:3)

Ezekiel had blood on his hands because he was responsible. He was a priest. He had
government. It was as if he committed the crime. The Lord said you are to sound a trumpet you
are to release your government. The trumpet is what sounded when God surrounded the
mountain: thunders, lightening’s and the sound of a trumpet.

"It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound
of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall
down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead." (Joshua 6:5)

So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of
the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the
people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city. (Joshua 6:20)

It was the sound of a trumpet that released the government in Joshua 6 and that government
went to the entire city.

So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were
called together to follow him. (Judges 6:34)

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When I and all who are with me blow the trumpet, then you also blow the trumpets all around
the camp and say, `For the LORD and for Gideon.(Judges 7:18)

Gideon sounded a trumpet that gave direction and government to the people.

"At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for
us." (Nehemiah 4:20)

Lift up a signal in the land, Blow a trumpet among the nations! Consecrate the nations against
her, (Jeremiah 51:27)

We need to bless our government, serve them with the anointing and calling God has given us.
This partnership will release the promises we see in Cyrus’ life

"So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God,
observe and seek after all the commandments of the LORD your God so that you may possess
the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever. (1 Chronicles 28:8)

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GOVERNMENT ANOINTING AND BLESSING


David being old and full of days, made Solomon his son king over Israel. And he gathered
together all the princes of Israel, and the priests and Levites. And the Levites were numbered
from the age of thirty years, and upwards: and there were found of them thirty-eight thousand
men. Of these twenty-four thousand were chosen, and distributed unto the ministry of the
house of the Lord: and six thousand were the overseers and judges. (1Chronicles 23:1-4)

Cyrus was a king. He was the government representing God’s Government. The bible says God
would subdue the nation through him, cause Kings to agree with him and open the city gates.

Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, (equipped, supernaturally and naturally - every
spiritual blessing)Whom I have taken by the right hand, (have divine leadership)To subdue
nations before him ( touch and influence nations, people groups, ethnic groups) And to loose the
loins of kings; ( have favor from other leaders/peers/opening doors/ can influence, persuade
them to make good/right decisions)To open doors before him ( have opportunities, have favor,
go places others can't go) so that gates will not be shut: (Isaiah 45:1) (there is no end to the
blessing and favor coming your way)

"I will go before you ( the Lord prepares the way before you - angels go before you - keep you
from stumbling - show you the future- illuminate the way) and make the rough places
smooth; (remove offenses towards you - settle disputes in your favor - remove contention and
strife - remove the mountains) I will shatter the doors of bronze ( those who block you or try to
steal from you will be stopped in their track) and cut through their iron bars. (Isaiah
45:2) (those who try to close doors/imprison you / shut down your anointing will be removed/
plans will not prosper against you)

"I will give you the treasures of darkness ( you will know what is being done in darkness - the
plans of the wicked before they come to fruition like Ezekiel go behind the wall and see their
true heart)And hidden wealth of secret places, ( you will find hidden savings, hidden financial
blessings that the enemy can't see, hidden ways to bring success)So that you may know that it is
I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. (Isaiah 45:3)

"For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your
name; I have given you a title of honor (greater than any title or position man could give you -
Gods honor!)Though you have not known Me. (Isaiah 45:4) (you will get fresh revelation,
wisdom, insight and understanding)

"I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, (He will
strengthen you as one who has known God all your life = all His ways and what He will do in
every situation) though you have not known Me; (Isaiah 45:5)

That man may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I
am the LORD, and there is no other, (Isaiah 45:6)
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The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the
LORD who does all these. (Isaiah 45:7)

Cyrus represents what God intended in government. He wants to release the treasures of
darkness, the hidden wealth and to destroy everything that hinders His Kingdom being
established in the earth
God called Cyrus, God will keep Cyrus and God will rule and rein His authority through Cyrus. He
girds, strengthens and protects. God gives Cyrus creative ability to rise above the storms and
prosper.
There is a governmental anointing to release this blessing. As we search today for righteous
government we need to know we have the ability to bless the office of Government with that
anointing. We can take our priestly anointing and release the same blessings that Cyrus walked
out into our lives by blessing and praying for those in office.

So often we think only if the government is righteous we will be blessed, if that were true than
God’s anointing is ruled by man’s state of righteousness? This is ludicrous. The office is blessed
because it is ordained by God and when we partner with God and the office He will bless. It may
mean removal or it may mean encounter, either way God promises blessing and He will follow
through on His word by whatever means are necessary.

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil
and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45)

Our faith is not in man it is in God and His Word. We aren’t moved by what man can do but we
are moved by God’s heart and response to what man does. This is how we respond and we
must make the commitment to not back down, not be silent and to honor our covenant with
the Lord. Take our place in government, partner with the Lord all the way to the end.

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EDUCATION

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PARTNERING WITH EDUCATION

Education has a very important impact on our society. On average a young person goes to
school about 30 hours a week, it consumes the most important growth of young person.

God’s plan is to cause the systems and gods of this world to become the Kingdoms of our Lord
and Christ. An intricate part of the fabric of our neighborhoods is influenced by what goes on in
our schools five days a week. We must partner with them in order to bring God’s plan to light.

Education plays a huge role in ending poverty in our neighborhoods. Changing the economy in
our neighborhoods has a direct correlation to our education system and our stewardship of the
finances that are going into our public schools.

The best way to discover what is going on in your local schools is to become involved. There are
many ways to do this beginning with prayer, attending board of education meetings, open
forum meetings within the school district where your neighborhood is and attending school
events.

As God begins to reveal what areas of the education system are not conformed to His will and
plan you can find avenues of change through the City Government.
Everything is subject to change when we invite the Presence of God into our city, we can build
an altar to the Lord in our schools through prayer and commitment to give voice what God is
speaking to us about this system.

Over the past decade Christians for the most part, have pulled their children out of public
schools and built their own Christian schools instituting a Christian based education. Though
very understandable, what results from this is a void of light and revelation in the midst of the
darkness that now surrounds our public education.

Many of the places where education has taken a strong humanistic foundation there is no
contending or refuting this system because for the most part the Christians have left the battle
field. They have retreated into their own world created by themselves. Now we must find
another field where we can reignite the battle and create a place of change.

We may not have children in the public schools but it still has a direct effect on us and we are
no longer in a position of power because we retreated, we have lost our authority. In order to
regain that place of authority we must now go back and serve them in whatever capacity we
can.

Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know
wisdom. (Psalm 51:6)
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Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm
51:7)

Knowing the Lord desires to bring them His wisdom we must be there to bring this forth, how
can we partner with Education in a way that we can impart wisdom from God?

Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm
51:11)

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. (Psalm 51:13)

The power of God’s Presence is how He will manifest in a corporate way. Whenever we attend
an event or come into contact with staff or students, government or councils that have the
power to influence we can pray and invite His Presence to manifest. In that atmosphere His
voice and His will can be heard. If we don’t show up, He won’t come. God comes in a manifest
Presence in response to faith and our asking Him to come. If we don’t ask and we don’t show
up why should He? We partner with the Lord and He will come.

God can show up anywhere but He chooses to show up where we are and in the place where
we worship Him and exalt Him. This doesn’t mean you have to have a song service; your life is
an instrument of worship. You can worship in the way you honor God in a place physically,
inviting His Spirit to come and have His way.

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. (Psalm 127:3)

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. (Psalm 127:4)

How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they
speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:5)

It is so important children hear who they are to God and what God says about them.

Children are a gift; they are full of promise and have the potential to lead our nation. When we
speak over them who they are then they are armed against what the enemy says about them
and to them. We may be the only voice of God they hear and how will they hear if we don’t go
where they are?

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him
whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14)

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Many of our youth today are filled with shame. They are condemned by the enemy and they
need to know how much the Father loves them.

He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces;
he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. (Isaiah
25:8)

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the
kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren
has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.(Revelation 12:10)

There is a judgment for those that would hinder the children from coming to the Lord. We can
walk in authority and confidence when we partner with those who don’t believe in God
because He will move heaven and earth to bring them to Himself.

But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the
kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."(Matthew 19:14)

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TECHNOLOGY

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TECHNOLOGY: OPENING GLOBAL DOORS


But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)

To the ends of the earth means global, a global witness, how will we reach the globe? I
remember when I came to the Lord I would watch Christian Television and the founder of TBN
Paul Crouch talked about the vision from the Lord that he received as the call to begin the
network.

“I’m reading from Zechariah 5:1 and 2. 1 I looked up again and saw a flying scroll. 2 “What do
you see?” the angel asked me. “A flying scroll,” I replied. “It’s 30 feet long and 15 feet wide.”
Paul said let me tell you people something, this satellite I’m sending into space is 30 feet long
and 15 feet wide, the space shuttle’s cargo bay has enough room to fit two of these satellites to
send up into space to circle the earth for the word of God....give the Lord a great sound of
praise.”(Paul Crouch)

I remember hearing about Lester Sumrall who prophesied about Apollyon. He believed it would
manifest through television. Television in his day was the global technology base; internet was
not where it is today. I believe that the prophecy was technology based and that there is a
ruling power that takes dominion through technology that has the ability to connect man to
such levels of unimaginable evil instantly in such a sheltered unmonitored way that it could lead
multitudes to destruction and death.

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the
Hebrew tongue is+ Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon (Revelation 9:11)

From making a bomb to blow up cities to nuclear and chemical warfare the internet can instruct
any person at any time day or night how to bring world-wide destruction. From destroying
families to addicting multiplied millions to pornography, drug and human trafficking technology
has opened up the global runway for every lower nature desire known to man. The access is
uncapped. From virtual sex to virtual robbery of the sophisticated heists that destroy global
government. The Kings ruling in the technology shall have world-wide power grids to give it and
take it away.

From evil to good God has a plan to build His Kingdom through technology and this generation
more than any other has been given this gift. They are skilled beyond any other generation to
open global doors that effectually reap a generational harvest in moments. The speed of the
cyber space market is opened to all those who will take the risk for the Lord, nothing is
impossible or limited when the Kingdom of God dominates technology.

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The interesting part of Revelation 9 is that the “star” that fell (pipto 4908grk) or the Greek says
“to fly” from heaven…..to him was given the authority to open and close the bottomless pit.

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was
given the key of the bottomless pit. (Revelation 9:1)

To this star was given the authority to release judgment on the earth.

And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a
great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
(Revelation 9:2)

And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as
the scorpions of the earth have power. (Revelation 9:3)

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any
green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their
foreheads. (Revelation 9:4)

And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five
months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
(Revelation 9:5)

And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death
shall flee from them. (Revelation 9:6)

In Revelation 9:11 the angel tells us who this star is and he is named both in the Hebrew and in
the Greek.

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the
Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. (Revelation 9:11)

What power does this star have to rule as a king, to release such destruction?

This power brings torment.

And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented
(Revelation 9:5)

And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death
shall flee from them. (Revelation 9:6)

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Men who become addicted will be unable to control their addictions. This power brings the
source of their addiction to their home, there is no barrier, no stopping the flow of their
addiction coming to them unfiltered, the access to all their sin desires is opened up like a
bottomless pit, it’s got no end there is no turning it off….its endless.

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads
were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. (Revelation 9:7)
The power of technology can change a man, hide him behind another face, he can actually take
on a completely new identity and live a completely different live in the world of technology. It is
as if they have recreated themselves.

An example is the sexual predator online that through a social media meets a young 12 year
old, lures her out of her safe home to leave with him and then turned into a trafficking victim.
The horror of the man who cloaked himself in a complete made up identity (face).

The word locust comes from the root word (Akron 206grk) which means the farthest bounds,
uttermost parts, end, highest, extreme of the earth, of heaven. In the form of internet we can
see that the carrier of this technology goes to the uttermost ends of the earth.

And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as
the scorpions of the earth have power. (Revelation 9:3)

The word Power is the Greek word (Exousia 1849 Grk) meaning the power and liberty to do
whatever they want, the power to influence, the power to rule as a government over the
people in the area of domestic affairs, causing a thing to become subject , one who possesses
authority like a husband over a wife, dominion, domain, control.

In this context it is clear this is an evil tormenting power. The scorpion stings but its power has
to do with the end goal or what one has in view like a watchman or an observer it appears that
the goal or view is concealed by this sting, In this context of technology the view or what we see
can completely subverted or concealed through the deception and sting of concealing what this
view by presenting something totally different or opposite of what is real, this power of
concealment of evil is so dangerous its unveiling in the hearts of men so destructive that
multitudes could be swept away and destroyed.

The example that comes to mind is the mass murders we have witnessed on our school
campuses and a recent movie theatre. The killers were swept into a technology world, they
walked through that open door, took on an identity of evil and they may have thought they
could turn it off, shut the door but it over took them and destroyed so many lives through
them…. It is unthinkable. Concealed behind a power that you don’t know how deadly it truly is
until you are stung, until you are marked by it.

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And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was
to hurt men five months. (Revelation 9:10)

Lester Sumrall said it was television, that was the technology of his day, Rod Parsley said it was
internet, that is the technology of his day…..who knows but what the “smartphone” is the next
technology where all that is with us in a 24/7 capacity and all the boundaries are removed.

And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death
shall flee from them. (Revelation 9:6)

Men shall seek death that means they will crave death demanding from death, they will think
about it, meditate on it, be consumed with it. They will seek the power of death. The desire is
(Epithumeo 1937 Grk) which is a lust, covet, it is to seek for what is forbidden and it comes
from the root word (Thumos 2372 Grk) which is an angry passion that boils over like and
inflaming wine that drives a drinker mad or kills him with its strength. This desire is like an
angry temper to get something it implies wrath, rage and the word fierce. The second root
word is (Thuo 2380 Grk) which means to sacrifice, slay, butchered, kill or slaughter. We are not
talking some little dainty want …this is a serious power infused in a negative way to get
something they lust for and are consumed with, it’s at a length of violence that steps into such
destruction.

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was
given the key of the bottomless pit. (Revelation 9:1)

The word him has the root word (aer 109 grk) translates the air, particularly the lower and
denser air as distinguished from the higher and rarer air, the atmospheric region which gives us
the understanding that it was not given as much to a “him” as it was the atmosphere he was
given dominion in a region to rule in….we get the “rule” from the word “key” which is the word
kleis (2807 grk) which is the power to open and shut and the root word (kleio 2808 grk) which
means to obstruct the entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

It is clear there is a region of atmosphere between man and heaven that must be overcome and
in that atmosphere is a power and there is a battle we must enter into to overcome and
remove that power.

In the reverse of this there is a door to heaven in Revelation 4 whereby God calls us to come
through that open door and enter into a continual communion with Him.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come
in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

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After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard
was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee
things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)

He gives us power to open and close doors and we can close the door to the bottomless pit and
open the door to heaven for continual communion.

In the realm of technology we must take the land, possess it just as Joshua took the Promised
Land and possessed it, so we must take up the cyber land with righteousness and holiness, raise
up a standard that takes dominion across the landscape.

And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the
land to possess it. (Numbers 33:53)

Possessing the land in technology may mean taking up domains on the internet or buying time
on television stations or owning them to broadcast the Word of the Lord 24/7. Anytime we
establish righteousness, a standard of Holiness in the kingdom of darkness we bring Light and
Glory of God. We change and transform the atmosphere.

Owning land in the natural is to possess the land, in the context of the bible they set up their
habitations on the Promised Land; they built an altar to the Lord and exalted His name and His
ways.

We can dedicate our ministry to the Lord and honor Him in all we do and minister to Him first
with our lives and our ministry. We build an altar to minister to the Lord and then we speak
what the Lord tells us to the people. This is the priesthood ministry. This is how we possess the
Land.

My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve
him, to minister before him and to burn incense."(2 Chronicles 29:11)

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: LANGUAGE OF YOUTH

This generation is incredibly creative. The gift of God in their life is creativity. More than any
other generation they have broken through the restraints of conformity with almost a violence,
they do NOT want to conform they want to be “different”. The platform that Arts &
Entertainment offers is a place to EXPRESS yourself however you want to, there is little
accountability in their promotion of freedom. The delusion from the spirit of this age is that you
are free but the truth is you must sell your soul for that freedom, which is not freedom at all. All
you have to do is look at the fruit, the destroyed lives, marriages, families and ultimately short
lived fame and fortune which is not true riches.

The enemy counterfeits everything which reveals to us he can’t “create” he can only imitate.
The true creator is the one who releases “creativity” and that power has the ability to “re-
create” which is the giver of Life! There is no greater power than to give LIFE.

We don’t want to imitate the imitator we want to open up the power to “create” which means
making a safe atmosphere where mistakes can be made without wounding or bruising the soul.

Creativity will reproduce what is in the spirit or the soul depending on the leadership of the life
in authority.

Reaching this generation will include manifesting a righteous form of Arts & Entertainment. If
the world is producing a counterfeit than what does God’s Art and Entertainment look like? The
angels are enthralled with what they behold around the throne….do you suppose there is much
more to God than we imagine?

In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the
train of His robe filling the temple. (Isaiah 6:1)
Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two
he covered his feet, and with two he flew. (Isaiah 6:2)
And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole
earth is full of His glory." (Isaiah 6:3)
And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the
temple was filling with smoke. (Isaiah 6:4)
Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among
a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 6:5)
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The spirit of this age is using the entertainment industry to train more evil and more
destruction. I believe that movie producers get much of their inspiration from demon spirits
who have committed some of the crimes they produce into movies the problem is they
fellowship these demons who release these creative thoughts and at the same time they are
taking hold of their souls with that same spirit and eventually they are unable to battle those
demons and they take possession at some point - it is tragic because without the power of
God they are unable to keep these demons from taking over as they lead these men and
women to stronger powers to rule through them...it’s like the opposite of our walk with God -
each level of obedience and sacrifice - laying down our life to follow Christ we actually get
more gifting and more anointing and I believe the counterfeit is true these actors/actresses
and producers give themselves in acts of obedience to gain more inspiration and more insight
but its darkness and it can only result in trapping their soul for ultimate possession - at some
point the devil takes them to the mountain top like he did Jesus and offers them all promotes
them to prove his promise which is hidden in deception and hidden in control. They can place
their gifts on the altar to one god or to the true God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He can manifest
the glory and plan of God through their gifts, what God intended life to be, a mystery,
glorious, too wondrous to comprehend
In the light of His glory, at His throne the prophet Isaiah caught a glimpse and he was undone,
fell as a dead man….capture that in your movie!
In like manner I believe we are given power to walk into realms of darkness to expose and
uncover the plans of the enemy. Whether they are about to happen or have already
happened we are given the power to destroy the kingdom of darkness.
He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the
Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
When we extract information from darkness we must be pure we must be holy because to
walk in the realm of darkness and extract this information which if you watch movies ( I don't )
but if you do you probably say wow that is so "real" because it probably is it probably
happened and a demon who was involved shared it with the producer/writer - in the same
way we can extract this info from the evil darkness if we consecrate and if we walk before the
Lord in total obedience - what does it take to walk there and reveal what is hidden in
darkness, (solve crimes, reveal corruption in companies, show the sins of men that need
deliverance, etc.), the world is our pulpit and there is no lack of ministry . The only question is
what will I give God? I will give Him everything! He wants everything and we will rule the
kingdoms of this world with Him in partnership! To the level we give is to the level we can
walk.

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A FALSE IMAGE OF FAMILY

The family is the cornerstone of the church and society, it is where the strength dwells because
a “family” is why God created us…He wanted a family. A false image of what God intended in
family is disastrous and over time and we have become dull to the evil of it.
Part of that dullness comes through worship of false image (gods). In other words we give our
time, money and resource to see that image exalted, lifted up as a model to follow or as a
standard; this is a form of worship.
Worship is how we estimate the worth of someone or something whereby we give it praise,
honor and glory. We call it excellent and raise it up as a standard to be followed.
We are actually participating in a false worship movement when we spend our time and money
on things that promote destruction to what God is building and what He calls holy.

It may seem a little far reaching to call spending money a form of worship but money is our
livelihood, it was what we receive when we work all day with all our resources and energy. At
the end of a day or week we get a paycheck for all of our labor. That money represents our life
in a form to pay for what we need. That money will go to bring in provision; it will provide
housing, food and clothing. We labor and give and in return we can receive these commodities
to protect us and give us strength. That money can also be spent on things that bring us
pleasure; it can be spent on things that build our spirit, soul or body. When we are wise with
our resources we can build a refuge not only for ourselves, our family but even for others in
need. We also have the opportunity to spend our money on evil things, things that destroy or
tear down and pull apart, bring death or addiction and bondage. Some of these evil things we
give of our livelihood to can be leading us into a place to give more than money but we may
give our time that belongs to our family, our resources meant to build up our future or even our
own souls in greater agreement with the message behind what we buy with our money.

An example of this false worship is the sports and entertainment industry. There is nothing
ethically or morally wrong with the physical activity of “sports” but there is something wrong
with an “industry” that exalts men as idols and promotes a lifestyle of destruction.
Entertainment is also an industry that has lifted men and women as idols to be worshipped. The
lifestyle and character of these men and women depict the fruit of a life that is led by the very
enemies of God. Not all men and women in the industry are in darkness but to be a part of this
industry, to work for it or to support it with your livelihood is to say you agree with it and want
to help promote it.

Entertainment and Sports don’t have to lead to destruction; they can be edifying and
refreshing. What does it take to turn the direction of an industry that did not begin in darkness
but rather was to add to the family and bring a sense of enjoyment? God’s heart is not to
destroy but rather return it to its original intent that was good. We must find the good and

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speak to it, we must find the right and raise it up, and we must find the pure and separate it
from the evil.
If we can stay focused on God’s intentions and purposes for our lives then when the message
that would dull our hearts and minds has no power. We can expose it as a message that is
diametrically opposed to God’s message. We can’t be casual about the plans of destruction no
matter what level they are, It may seem harmless but if it is depositing seeds that are like a
cancer and oppose the right seeds and choke them out than we must realize eventually those
wrong seeds will germinate and bring forth fruits of unrighteousness.

Even worse than what may be entering into our heart unfiltered are the finances we pour into a
destructive industry. The multiplied billions of dollars that God has blessed us with and asked us
to steward and build His kingdom with are being poured into a system that could destroy a
generation. There is good and bad in the world all around us and the church must be have a
clear message of what is destructive or false and what edifies and builds up.
\
Lot was unable to stand against the evil that came to his home and in the moment of crisis he
gave his own children to the very evil men that were destroying the city. He had no ability to
keep them from coming into his home. He was unable to rebuke the lust crazed homosexuals
who wanted to rape his guests, he couldn’t stand up to that evil so he gave his daughters to
them instead. If you can’t confront the evil it will overcome you.

Only God can speak to us what our portion is, we don’t have to take on every battle but when
God makes us aware of evil we must be tender to His desire to speak to it and clarify to the
world around us His heart. There may be assignment for some to reveal His intention, His plan
to rule over the kingdoms of this world. He has a plan to reveal His heart to every soul that they
would see light and come out of darkness into His kingdom where there is life, provision and
protection.

It is not that sports are bad, it is actually a godly activity done with a right model. That model
includes training the soul to work with a team, to excel in teamwork, to play a game of skill and
talent but the goal is to bring the whole team to victory. It is a tremendous place for men and
women to gain such growth in their souls and body that they can endure the most rigorous
times that may come in the earth. The skills and training that athletes and artists have are gifts
given by God that can bring much glory to God’s Kingdom.

Any gift or talent out of the context of God’s original plan can bring the wrong motivation. One
such motivation that is destructive is the goal to be famous and wealthy. There is nothing
wrong with wanting to do something great and amazing, for our lives to have impact but if it is
to gain material wealth and fame without God’s purpose and plan it will lead to destruction.
Ask any young person why they want to be a sports star when they grow up….it wasn’t
something that happened to them on the field, it was what they saw on television…up in lights.

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It does something to a young tender heart to see the crowds cheering, the wealth, the fame all
for a game he or she can play or a craft they already seem to have.
We are spending time and resources for what was perhaps meant to raise up a righteous seed
without equipping them to destroy the very enemy who is the god of this world, the same god
who wants their worship.

All you have to do is look at the fruit of the so called “stars” that are full of lust and adultery.
They amass wealth to spend it on drugs and a lifestyle of debauchery and we are financing it.
Every time we buy a ticket or a product advertised during the game, gather with our parties of
beer and food to sit in front of a big screen TV and worship a lifestyle of sin we are helping to
build that industry.

If the “game” is what you are really wanting, go into the inner city and take a group of young
boys and play, coach and train some “good game”! That is a “real” love of the sport,
commitment to the preserving the art of what it was intended to be.

We actually build altars with finances, time and our cheering worship. God wants to be the only
one worshiped and He wants to rebuild the altars in our homes and our nation. He wants to be
the one worshiped at those altars and He wants to lead a generation to worship Him. You can
build an altar in the middle of a football game but if you do you will have to confront every god
that is worshiped through that medium beginning with the god of mammon.

May He shine the light into the all the inner parts of our hearts so that we may be found
blameless and holy and can stand before Him free from sin! May nothing of this world or sin
have anything in us!

I feel the Fear of the Lord coming to homes all across the body of Christ. God is going to hold
parents accountable for how they have raised their children. When you look at the sexual
immorality that is flooding the church and 94% of this generation is un-churched or unsaved,
you may ask the why! The state of this world is because of the state of our church and our
homes. He must come first to the house of God and clean and purge us so we can be used to
help cleanse the earth.

How many parents take their babies to a “dedication” service? They dedicate their babies to
the Lord, they make vows to Him but they have not honored their covenant with the Lord.
Why should I and how can I pass over this and forgive you for it? Your children have forsaken
Me and sworn by those that are no gods. When I had fed them to the full and bound them to Me
by oath, they committed [spiritual] adultery, assembling themselves in troops at the houses of
[idol] harlots. (Jeremiah 5:7)

When you come to the Lord and ask Him for help or give direction in your life, you may find Him
silent. If so you may want to look at your vows to Him regarding your children. Let us take stock

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and examine ourselves before the Lord, have we been faithful to rear our children (this
generation if you are without children) in the admonition of the Lord?
We can ask ourselves, when was the last time I sat down and had bible study with my family?
Am I starting the day with them in prayer? Am I teaching them how to hear from God, listen to
the Holy Spirit? Understand the word of God? Do they know how to get into the counsels of the
Lord, meditate in His word day and night?

The stewardship of what God has given us, He will examine. Have we done what is most
important with our finances? Have we cared for the poor and widowed? If what God has given
us is not doing what He desires then He may come and examine what we have done with what
He gave us. All the money spent on tickets and stadiums and maintenance to keep up the
stadiums and salaries for ball players and coaches and marketing and commercials and
television syndication could have a great effect on the Kingdom of God if it is stewarded
properly. The resources our nation has been given can be redirected if we commit to Him all we
have, than He can use the seeds we have to change the crop.

God wants a family and He will move heaven and earth to bring them to know Him as Father.
We are only responsible for our part and if we surrender what we have He can make it a
powerful tool to cleanse the waters like He did with the rod in the hand of Moses.

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BUSINESS

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PARTNERING WITH BUSINESS/ECONOMY


The businesses in any given city or region have a divine opportunity to be a blessing to their
city. Where they are located is strategic and what they produce is not only jobs but potential
mentors, financial and protection to the city through wisdom, understanding or even through
physical resources. When we partner with these businesses by blessing them with patronage,
speaking well of them finding out how we can serve them then there is potential for a greater
calling and purpose to come forth.

Every person is called into the Kingdom because God desires none to perish and as they are
being called, summoned one thing that helps to unlock their heart is to see what God sees
about them. It is the same principal for every business, government or education system. God
has a plan, a divine destiny for them to fulfill in the city and He will give us that plan for us to
reveal it as we serve and bless these industries.

Your city could just be a geographical location in the natural but in the spirit if you see what
God sees then the unveiling of the Kingdom God plans to establish will encompass every
business that is not destroying lives. If the business is detrimental to the people, society, this
generation or God’s plan then they are to be driven out, not the people but the evil work.

No matter how evil or wicked something is God will always want man’s heart and soul to be
saved so He will pursue the driving out of evil with the purpose and plan of saving souls.

Transformation includes creating a more healthy society, a place of safety and the Presence of
God hosted in all the spheres of society. If things remain the same we have not brought
transformation. We can change things and they still remain the same, transformation has end
results that continue forward and eternal transformation is the end goal of Prayer For Your City;
Bringing Hope to My City.

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INTIMACY WITH GOD


Everything we do must flow from an intimate relationship with the Lord. If we find we are hitting road
blocks, if things aren’t flowing or working out right the best advice is to get back into the place of prayer
and seek the Lord.

The Father has the plan and He will not allow us to move out ahead of Him or without Him, He loves us
that much. He will shut things down and prevent things from happening in order to bring us to the
greater gift, our fellowship with Him. This is the prize, He is our reward!

The journey is more about the our relationship with Him in the midst of it all, He is who we want, He is
why we do what we do and His love, His wisdom, His direction this is what we want. At the end of the
day it is His city, His nation, His world and we get to be a part of it all.

There really isn’t a formula to build His Kingdom in our city because the Father makes it impossible to be
done without an intimate relationship with His Son and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Enjoy the journey,
enjoy the fellowship, He is worth it all! We will be doing this, communing with Him for all eternity.

For More Information: [Link]

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Common questions

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The manifestation of the Father's love through Jesus plays a crucial role in combating spiritual ignorance and denial by presenting an undeniable example of divine love and truth. Jesus' life and actions provided a clear, tangible demonstration of God's love, fulfilling prophecies and confronting religious hypocrisy. This manifestation served to reveal and dismantle misconceptions about the Father fostered by religious leaders. Through Jesus, the true nature of God's compassion and intent was showcased, offering a remedy to denial and ignorance by proving through miracles, teachings, and sacrifices that the divine love is real and accessible. This demonstration calls individuals to a deeper understanding and recognition of the need to align with God's purpose .

Strategies to turn community challenges opposing God's heart into mission-oriented initiatives include identifying key issues such as human trafficking, drug abuse, or domestic violence and mobilizing resources to address these problems through targeted missions. Initiatives could involve collaboration with local authorities, education programs, and advocacy group formations, leveraging community assets to fulfill divine mandates for justice. Conducting prayer walks, establishing partnerships with social services, and cultivating local networks to support affected individuals are practical steps. By channeling community energy into addressing these injustices, believers can align their actions with divine purposes, transforming societal conflicts into ministries of outreach and reconciliation .

The experience of the apostles at Pentecost serves as a model for modern Christian missions by illustrating the importance of receiving divine empowerment to communicate effectively with diverse groups. The apostles were able to speak in various languages which echoes the goal of missions to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps. By preaching to individuals from every nation present at the event, the apostles set a precedent for inclusivity and the global spread of the gospel. The instantaneous global reach achieved at Pentecost reflects the aspiration for modern missions to disseminate knowledge of God's message universally, supported by active divine presence and guidance .

The event of Pentecost demonstrated a profound communication of God's plan as people from every nation under heaven gathered in Jerusalem and each individual heard the apostles speaking in their own language. This miraculous occurrence showed that the Holy Spirit was facilitating a universal understanding of God's message, transcending language barriers, to ensure that representatives from every tribe and tongue could hear the divine word. The sound from heaven acted as a catalyst to gather devout Jews, creating an opportunity for the message to reach diverse nationalities, thereby fulfilling the mandate of spreading God's word to the uttermost parts of the earth .

Individual and communal worship can reflect God's presence within a community by creating a shared atmosphere of devotion that encourages spiritual growth and unity. Through collective acts of worship such as prayer, song, and charitable deeds, the community signals its alignment with divine values, thus fostering a space where God's love and purposes are manifest. This unity in worship acts as a powerful testimony to the surrounding society of God's transformative power and can serve as a catalyst for further witnessing. The act of community worship involves modeling divine principles in everyday interactions, extending God's influence beyond personal devotion to societal integration .

Abraham's confrontations with evil, such as his dealings in Gerar, demonstrate that a lack of faith and obedience can lead to moral compromise and vulnerability to sin, as seen when he allowed his wife Sarah to be taken by the king due to fear. His initial failure to confront evil showed a lapse in spiritual authority and resulted in personal and familial risk. However, Abraham's ultimate faith in God's provision during the sacrifice of Isaac highlights redemption through obedience and trust. When Abraham maintained his faith and followed divine instructions without knowing the future, he overcame adversity and was positioned to receive God's promises, demonstrating the necessity of steadfast faith and obedience .

The significance of modeling spiritual practices within family settings for enhancing spiritual growth lies in establishing foundational experiences that shape lifelong faithfulness and understanding of God's principles. By engaging in regular prayer, worship, and scriptural study, families create an environment where members can learn to integrate faith into daily life. This modeling offers a practical demonstration of God’s love and guidance, reinforcing spiritual values and encouraging personal encounters with God. The family, thus, becomes a microcosm of the Church, where members learn to apply faith principles in personal relationships, acquiring skills to impact broader society through their lived example .

Understanding the concept of spiritual authority helps Christians respond effectively to the presence of evil by emphasizing the need for believers to exercise their God-given authority to confront injustice and sin actively. In the example of Abraham, his failure to assert faith and authority left him compromised, but God’s intervention showed that spiritual authority is grounded in aligning with God's commands to resist evil. By maintaining spiritual integrity and demonstrating commitment to God’s plan, Christians can confront modern societal evils such as human trafficking or domestic violence. Proper management of spiritual authority involves proactive prayer, intervention, and living out principles that reflect divine justice and mercy, thereby becoming representatives of God's power and change .

The ethical challenges arising from failing to confront evil, as illustrated by the biblical narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah, include the potential for moral decay and the erosion of integrity and divine purpose. Abraham's hesitancy to directly address and confront the sins of Sodom highlights a lapse in proactive spiritual engagement. Subsequently, he found himself in a morally compromising position by deceiving others about Sarah's identity to avoid conflict, thereby opening avenues for further ethical breaches. The narrative underscores the importance of spiritual vigilance and the moral obligation to confront and rectify evil actively, failing which can lead to wider societal decay and personal downfall .

Technology presents opportunities to enhance spiritual integrity by increasing access to religious resources, facilitating global missions, and fostering community connections. However, it also poses threats to spiritual integrity by enabling distractions, spreading misinformation, and promoting behaviors contrary to biblical teachings. As seen in the discussion of technology in the context of the biblical "locusts" metaphor, certain forms of technology can conceal sinful behaviors and encourage moral detachment, leading individuals astray. The balance lies in leveraging technology responsibly to spread God’s message while being vigilant to its potential to obscure or pervert spiritual truths .

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