I demanded, “I need to know that You’ll always be here.”

He assured me, “I can’t break My word, and that’s exactly what it says, Josh. It says I’ll never leave you; I’ll never forsake you. I said that … to you. It was Me writing those words down through Moses. And Moses wrote those words in confidence with Me because I was fathering him too. He wrote those words from experience, son.”

I said, “That may be, but life has taught me hard lessons. What do You care? Why don’t You just leave? I mean, if You are real, I can’t bear the reality of Your absence. I won’t do this with You. This isn’t a game to me. Why does it have to matter at all what I believe if the result is me without You?! If You’re real, then I need You. It’s not a game. Or does that not matter? I don’t matter? I knew that. What are you even doing here! Just leave already.”

I felt His nearness. He was wrapping me all the way up inside with love.

I was just waking up to the realness of God. I didn’t ask for it, and it was terrifying. I was like some kind of scared animal. I didn’t know if I wanted to fight or let it happen. So far I was ready for anything though.

I was tough. Life had seen to it.

It just kept coming. He was everywhere. His love was all over my unrighteousness—whatever—it just kept going. Like an endless train of a soft garment entering into the barrenness of my heart—a filthy womb of the dead. What was it even doing in there?

I cried.

I got angry again and said, “I can’t trust You. Just leave already!”

He responded gently, “Son, I’m always here. Right where you are. You have to believe a lie to not sense Me here with you. I made your senses to know. They respond to Me. I am here now and will never leave you. Not ever.”

I could feel His honesty. I began to see His innocence.

Read the the entire article by clicking here, and listen to this episode of Abundant Encounters on Charisma Podcast Network now. {eoa}

Christian author Joshua Marcengill produces a weekly podcast called Abundant Encounters that utilizes meditation and activations to help Christians cultivate more encounters. To help support his cause or learn more visit .

Generation X and Baby Boomers can’t carry the church forever. At some point, it will be up to Millennials to step into our destiny and calling and receive mantles of leadership from the previous generations. I have been serving an apostolic leader as an associate pastor for the past three years, and I have seen firsthand the absence of my peers in the church.

The Lord has been developing my ability to see prophetically, and He has asked me to be a prophetic voice to my generation. I truly desire to walk humbly, honestly and accurately in this calling. Recently, I have felt the Lord asking me to address some crucial areas of development that need to take place in the lives of Millennials. Without some significant mindset shifts, we will not be positioned to receive the responsibility of leading and building the church.

The church is still God’s number one priority. It is the greatest building project in the history of mankind. More money has gone into building the church than any other organization or movement—more blood, sweat and tears, have gone into this than any other cause, and more lives have been given to establish the kingdom than to any nation or war. The Lord has shown me that a Millennial-led church will change the world as we know it, but we have some mindsets and habits that will prevent us from entering into this prophetic destiny.

My generation has lost value for the church. We have said things like, “The church isn’t a building,” or “It’s time that we leave the four walls of the church.” And even though I agree with the heart behind these statements (to live more missional lives and bring the presence of God into our homes), they can become destructive if they are over-emphasized. Millennial church attendance has gone down dramatically, and the last year didn’t help. Why be a part of a church if I can just watch any service I want online in my pajamas? We have made following Jesus as convenient as possible, and it has caused an entire generation to become passive about God’s number one priority: His bride. The only way to change this is for us to correct our thinking about the church and our role in it. Past generations may have had their issues, but we are now being presented with an opportunity to take the church to a realm of glory no one has ever seen. We can no longer be hung up by past disappointments and disillusionment. We must be engaged again.

Join my apostolic leader Randy Rice and I as we unpack the heart and mind of Millennials and show the path forward. You can find us on The Prophetic Pulse Podcast on Charisma Podcast Network and listen to our multi-week series titled Prophetic Instructions to the Next Generation. I pray that we as a generation will walk in humility and repentance and receive the mantle that is being presented to us.

In 2018, Pastor Curtis Hill joined Pastor Randy Rice as an associate pastor, and the two have since established a relationship as apostle and prophet to the body of Christ in their local church and region. Together they have authored two devotional books and seen hundreds of people saved, baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Pastors Randy and Curtis share a heart for the church in America, to see the saints equipped to minister the kingdom effectively in these uncertain days. Following the 2020 election, they began the Prophetic Pulse Podcast to teach and equip their congregation and online community with wisdom and discernment regarding national events. The focus of the Prophetic Pulse is to encourage the body of Christ to hear God’s voice for our world, stand on the truth of the Word and then engage culture with the power and love of Jesus.

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One of our favorite messages to share is the concept of “We-dentity.” The believer who grasps this reality of the fullness of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in you equals a “We,” walks in the fullness of their spiritual identity.

Not that identity is not important, we need to have a clear picture of who we are in Christ. However, we were created for more. It is no longer “I” alone to face the world; the power of the fullness of the kingdom is within you. The truth is you are part of a “We.” To experience this reality, put your hand on your heart and make this declaration: “Father + Son + Holy Spirit in [your name] = We.” Do you feel the power of the 3 in 1 force multiplication? The truth is you are outnumbered! This is a very good thing.

From the beginning, we see that the Godhead works as a “We.” Genesis 1:26a says, “Let us make man in our image.” Jesus wants us to understand this as well. This was His prayer to the Father in John 17:22b, “that they may be one, just as We are one.”

When the accuser of the brethren comes, he attempts to aggravate the isolated believer. In truth, he is accusing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in you, too! He wants you to think that he is accusing you alone. When we take this bait, we find ourselves in despair, depression, anxiety and fear. We were never created to fight alone. The force of the Trinity is with you!

When you hear the voice of the accuser:

— Ask the Father, Son and Holy Spirit what He thinks about the accusation.

— Ask if there is anything He wants you to do or say regarding it.

— Ask for timing to proceed with what He tells you.

It is time to walk in “WE-dentity!” No more isolation. You are not alone!

Want to learn more? Listen to Occupying Force: The Force Be with You on Charisma Podcast Network now. You can also check out Preparing for Battle: Developing the Lifestyle of a Victorious Prayer Warrior by Kimberly J. and Richard C. Wilson. {eoa}

Richard and Kimberly Wilson, executive directors of Watchmen Arise International, serve as corporate trainers of societal transforming Christians. Together they co-host the Occupying Force on Charisma Podcast Network, co-authored Preparing for Battle: Developing the Lifestyle of a Victorious Prayer Warrior (available in Spanish, too), Victorious Prayer Warrior Bootcamp Online Train the Trainer Intensive and Societal Transformers Bootcamp. They are popular speakers who activate regional teams and individuals alike in the areas of spiritual management, civil engagement and transformed communities. To find out more about the Wilsons and interactive online training opportunities visit .

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Denise Goulet loves God stories, encounters and relationships that connect Jesus with His heart for people.

In this episode, Cristina Baker, a woman whose heart is set on fire for Jesus, shares her raw journey from childhood abuse to troubled teen years, to a descent into substance abuse. She resonated with a lost world, understanding firsthand how easy it is to lose hope.

Just as she was about to go to jail for drug possession, the hero of hope, Jesus Christ, came into her life and set her on a completely new path. Her testimony will bring hope and breakthrough to you and anyone who may struggle with addictions of any kind. Cristina’s life completely changed through the power of prayer.

If you want to know more about Cristina and her heart to help people find freedom in Jesus, check out her TikTok, Instagram or Facebook pages! Listen to this episode of Revealing God’s Heart with Denise Goulet on Charisma Podcast Network to hear her captivating story. {eoa}

In recent years, our culture has exploded with cries for “justice” regarding a number of issues related to politics, racism, economic disparity and health care. Protests and riots in the streets, political tensions and social media vitriol have highlighted the growing sense in our society that something is not right.

This desire for justice is God-given. The brokenness of our world is a result of sin, and a longing for restoration is a normal part of the human condition. We long to see wrong things made right.

As Christians, our hope for ultimate justice is found in Christ. We await His return when He will finally make all things new. But what is our approach to justice in the meantime? As we await the Second Coming of Jesus, how should the church engage in our culture?

Lisa Koons, the director of 24-7 Prayer USA, says the answer is in the convergence of prayer, mission and justice. In this episode of Presence Pioneers on Charisma Podcast Network, she says that “prayer is breathing in, mission and justice are breathing out.”

Our pursuit of justice in this age—our care for the poor, our pursuit of racial reconciliation, our attempts to be salt and light, the advancement of kingdom principles in all facets of society—these biblical efforts must overflow from our time in prayer. When we have been with Jesus, it is only natural we would begin to care for the people He cares about. Jesus actually owns the market on true compassion and justice.

In fact, Koons argues that our care for the marginalized and oppressed is intrinsically linked to our effectiveness in prayer, according to Isaiah 58. Many who are passionate about prayer may need to get out of their closet and show love to their neighbors. Likewise, many who are zealous for justice may need to root themselves in a place of prayer before trying to change the world in their own strength. We need to breathe in and breathe out. {eoa}

Matthew Lilley is an author, worship leader, intercessor and Bible teacher with a passion for God’s presence, extravagant worship and prayer and a desire to see cities transformed by Jesus. In 2004 he founded Presence Pioneers to help fulfill his calling to connect, equip and plant presence-centered Christian communities. He has helped launch two houses of prayer in North Carolina and has also served in national leadership roles in worship and prayer movements such as Burn 24-7 and Awaken the Dawn. Check out his new book, David’s Tabernacle: How God’s Presence Changes Everything.

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Leadership requires an intense amount of commitment, drive and hard work. How can you lead well in a way that can be sustained long-term? There are biblical leadership fundamentals that can help you fulfill your kingdom mission without experiencing burnout. These essential truths center around the following five areas: presence, purpose, plans, perseverance and people.

I’m learning that my ability to sift difficulty, pain and pressure through the Word of God is vital. This ability comes through a basic foundation—my relationship with the Lord. Everything I need can be found in His presence where my purpose will ultimately be revealed. Pursuing His purpose for my life will allow me to make plans that align with the Lord’s desires for my life.

God’s “presence, purpose and plans” have been on my heart for several months. Recently, the Lord has given me further revelation into two additional key fundamentals: perseverance and people.

Perseverance

You don’t just drift into your best life; fulfillment of your calling will require you to dig deep and persevere. James 1:4 tells us, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Often, perseverance requires a process called acclimatization. Alison Levine, polar explorer and mountaineer, says, “Climbing Mount Everest is not straightforward. In fact, the progression is similar to maintaining a strong organizational vision.” She describes how climbers’ bodies have to get acclimated very slowly, and progress requires going from basecamp up to higher altitudes and back down. If you can persevere even when it looks like you’re going completely backward, you’ll be well on the way to your destination.

People

There’s no legacy or influence without people. Likewise, there’s no influence with people without connection. Connection breaks down when we’re afraid to share the truth going on inside of us or afraid to see the truth in someone else. Respectful leadership communication values everyone’s thoughts, needs and feelings, which fosters connection.

Effective leaders must be skilled in the area of connecting with people, despite their scars. We all have scars, even the young among us. Scars represent what you’ve been through and the battles you’ve fought. They’re real. They’re authentic.

I hear the Lord say the same to us. Don’t be ashamed of your scars. He uses scarred people to do powerful things for the kingdom.

Subscribe to the Pinnacle Leaders Podcast with Dr. Langley to listen to the podcast episode we released containing more on the topic of avoiding leadership burnout. You’ll also find biblical wisdom on the areas of lordship, leadership and lifestyle.

Dr. Randal S. Langley is the president and CEO of Christian Life School of Theology Global, a world leader in theological and leadership education, providing online degree programs and customized Christian higher-education solutions for churches, ministries and other organizations. Dr. Langley is also president of the International Association of Bible Colleges and Seminaries and is a founding partner and certified life coach, teacher and trainer for the John C. Maxwell Team. His desire is to help people fulfill their ultimate purpose in life and achieve their God-given dreams.

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My longtime friend, Ché Ahn, senior pastor of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, California, and apostle of Harvest International Ministry, a global network of over 25,000 affiliated churches and ministries, since the 1980s has been praying for and preaching about the need for revival to come afresh to America. Little did he know that part of his assignment would be political.

Following the results of the 2020 presidential election, Ahn said God drew him to a place where he was even more desperate to hear His voice for this moment in history. He cried out to God and felt a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit come upon him as well as an anointing to step into the ongoing struggle for the soul of our nation.

Blueprints for Revival

With a renewed touch from heaven and a fresh commissioning from God, Ahn received what he called a “spiritual download” regarding where the church in America goes from here. God showed him what he calls the “blueprint of historical revival” and told him to call the church to action. In a recent address to pastors, Ahn proclaimed three points of this blueprint:

1. The church gets revived. Scripture tells us that judgment begins in the house of God (1 Pet. 4:17). Many in the American church have dumbed down the requirements of the gospel in order to be relevant to our culture, Ahn said. Yet in our newfound “cultural relevancy,” we have become irrelevant to the kingdom of God moving on the earth. As a result, many pastors and leaders are bound by spirits of fear and of pleasing man. “Even though it is now legal to meet in California, churches are paralyzed with fear, and many won’t have in-person services,” he said.

2. The harvest comes in. This doesn’t refer to a soul getting saved here and there but rather to a moment of time when the masses are turning to Jesus. Ahn referenced the mighty Welsh Revival that occurred in the early 20th century and the more contemporary Jesus movement, which took place from 1967 to 1977. Some 20 million people found Christ as their Lord and Savior during the Jesus movement, reports estimate.

3. Society is transformed. Genuine historic revival must include the transformation of society—the salvation of souls on the micro level and the renewal of government systems on the macro level, Ahn said. He referenced the English politician William Wilberforce (1759–1833), who worked tirelessly over decades to see the slave trade abolished in Great Britain. Ahn proclaimed that abortion is the chief scourge of our nation today and as long as we have life in us, we must work to protect the lives of the unborn.

Strategy for Revival and Reformation

Now is the time for revival and societal transformation, said Ahn, who has been sharing a strategy for revival and reformation with pastors across the nation. What was the strategy?

1. Establish a house of prayer in every church to contend for revival in California and the United States. Pray specifically for the government and governmental leaders. Prayer moves the hand of God, and it is our privilege and responsibility to come before the throne of grace to implore God’s mercies over our communities, he said.

2. Equip and encourage fivefold leaders to return to and maintain their first love for Jesus. Every local church pastor must resist the temptation to let their love grow cold because of the lawlessness now being unleashed in our country. Now more than ever, pastors and leaders must press in to God and rekindle their first love for Jesus and the gospel.

3. Activate local churches in personal evangelism, and partner with Ephesians 4:11 evangelists in public revival meetings. California churches are partnering with ministers such as Mario Murillo, Sean Feucht and Jay Koopman to gather the lost and share the gospel en masse. Ahn said it’s time to once again “cast our nets” to reach a harvest as never before.

4. Plant as many ekklesias—small groups in the marketplace, homes, or churches—as possible. Ahn has a vision for small groups forming across the nation where believers work together to stay focused on the gospel and on letting God use them for the purposes of revival and reformation in every sphere of influence.

5. Activate every believer to be involved in the government mountain by exercising their privilege to vote biblically and also to run for local, state, or national office. From city councils to school boards, there are vacancies that should be filled with godly, Bible-believing people with hearts to serve God and serve their communities. Changing and impacting our government must be practical, and if every local church has at least one person elected to office, we would immediately see a massive impact on the societal and political climate in America.

God only knows what will happen next. But all signs point to the fact that the rumblings of revival are beginning. Every church, pastor and believer will have to decide how to participate in God’s purposes in the earth at this time. Let us pray that God will indeed send a fresh revival to our land and that it does nothing but grow in intensity and spiritual fervor that we might see a mighty awakening in our day. {eoa}

Excerpted from chapter 10, “Hurricanes of Revival,” from God and Cancel Culture by Stephen Strang (Charisma House, 2021).

God and Cancel Culture is set to publish on Sept. 7, and you can pre-order it on . When you do, you’ll get $120 worth of free gifts, including four e-books and a subscription to Charisma magazine. {eoa}

Stephen E. Strang is an award-winning journalist who founded Charisma magazine, the only national evangelical magazine to endorse President Donald J. Trump. He is also the bestselling author of God and Donald Trump, God, Trump and the 2020 Election, Trump Aftershock, and God, Trump and Covid-19.

Voted by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America, Strang has interviewed four U.S. presidents—including Donald J. Trump—and has been featured on many media outlets, including Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and CBN.

Read articles like this one and other Spirit-led content in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.

Being on the spectrum does not mean you don’t still have other things to contend with as well. You see, when the enemy has an assignment against your life, he won’t just create problems for you mentally, but he will cause trouble for you physically too. His ultimate agenda is to unleash complete destruction in and through your entire being.

Not only did I have autism, Asperger’s and obsessive-compulsive disorder to deal with, but on top of that, my physical body was also plagued with all kinds of ailments. Some problems would flare up out of nowhere. I dealt with different kinds of skin rashes and a variety of back problems. Despite the trials we face, God promises He will restore our health and heal our wounds (Jer. 30:17).

As born-again believers, it is up to us to take the authority God has given us to come against the power and the works of the enemy. We must rise and take control of the situation, rejecting and refuting his evil tactics in Jesus’ name. Satan will hide behind the autism, Asperger’s and OCD with an agenda to cause total destruction in other areas. He intends to wear you down and destroy your life so you give up. But God promised to deliver you from that destruction (Ps. 107:20).

No matter what agenda the enemy had against my life, it never happened. Why? My parents and I took our spiritual authority and rejected that assignment in Jesus’ name. That God-given authority comes automatically through the power and in the name of Jesus.

However, a declaration like this is not something you say only once. You must decree and declare the promises of God regularly, so the enemy knows you are serious. You must confess, constantly and consistently, the plans and purposes God has for your life. David, Joshua, Jacob and many others in the Bible held on to the promises God had for them, and at the appointed time, He brought the victory.

Repeated declarations are also important because so many different thoughts surround us in the atmosphere. The enemy will try to use those to flood your mind with negativity, reminding you of something your friend or family member said or other untrue claims. To stop those negative thoughts, you need to take authority by refuting and rejecting them in Jesus’ name.

God is in the business of healing, but in that process, we need to become constant in our confession, praying before Him and professing His word. Scripture teaches us that “He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction” (Ps. 107:20).

God has already sent out his word and healed, so we must now walk in that healing by taking and utilizing the authority God has given us. When we take authority, our medical conditions must bow at the knee of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 33:6 provides a little more clarity of God’s desired outcome for our lives: “I will bring it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.”

When we walk by faith and not by the things we see (2 Cor. 5:7), we can expect to see something powerful and tangible take place. Look out for the signs God gives through your child. Their speech, behavior or both may change. God heals internally first, and the evidence of that healing manifests externally. From there, wholeness will emerge.

Try not to look at the external factors but instead focus on the internal work God is doing. God’s word will accomplish and succeed in that for which it was sent.

God is doing a mighty work in families’ lives through the Autism Overturned podcast and private Facebook community.

Here’s a testimony from the Autism Overturned private Facebook group: “We are so thankful for this group, the testimonies I read here are exactly what I needed not to give up. I hope and pray other parents remember we are in this together and God is for us. No matter how long it takes we must keep walking by faith and not by sight. Thank you, Ps Reg.”

I invite you to join my private Facebook group, Autism Overturned. Post a picture of your child, and I will start to pray. When you have joined the group, let me know if you would like a free prayer cloth to place in your child’s pillowcase. Furthermore, check out my Autism Overturned podcast on the Charisma Podcast Network.

Reg Morais is the senior pastor of Living Faith Community Church, launched from Anoint the World Ministries, which he founded 15 years prior. Each week he runs seven services, reaching a global audience through social media platforms. Learn more about him and his ministry at .

Daniel Kolenda knows what ministry success looks like. But rather than resting on the past, the fiery world-renowned evangelist and successor to Reinhard Bonnke at Christ for all Nations is moving into the future with Holy Spirit power—and a God-ordained mandate.

“At CfaN, we’ve seen more than 80 million people come to Christ over the last 34 years,” Kolenda tells Dr. Steve Greene on a recent episode of Greenelines on the Charisma Podcast Network. “And we’ve held huge evangelistic campaign around the world—we are still doing that, by the way.”

But a little over a year ago, Kolenda says God put it on his heart that “We need to have a base, a home community. … It wasn’t so much that I sat down and said, ‘I want to plant a church,’ … I felt an ultimatum from the Lord, saying, ‘Are you going to do what I’ve asked you to do? Are you going to steward well what I’ve already put in your hands?'”

Kolenda realized that the process of evangelizing, then discipling and creating community for people is also called a local church. He also saw the many people coming to Christ through CfAN’s various Orlando, Florida, ministries (School of Ministry, Evangelism Bootcamp and more) and trusted God’s direction to plant a church there. Nations Church, , still in pre-launch stage, will hold its launch service Aug. 15. While many churches report struggles across the country in the wake of the pandemic and its resurgence, “We’re closing in on 1500 launch members,” he says.

“The word the Lord gave me was ‘multiply,'” Kolenda adds. “I don’t want to just be the next Reinhard Bonnke. … I want to see the next 100,000 Reinhard Bonnkes raised up around the world. And I believe we’re on the threshold of the greatest harvest of history.

“And what Reinhard was and what Billy Graham was and T.L. Osborn and so many of these great men, I believe they were prototypes,” Kolenda says. “They were examples. But now in this next generation, it’s going to fall upon sons and daughters. Many of them, you won’t even know their names, but God will raise them up, and they will lead multitudes into the kingdom.

“These are the days of harvest. I really believe that as the church, we’ve got to rise up and grab it for Calvary’s sake.”

For much more from Daniel Kolenda about evangelism, discipleship and how you can join the ongoing work of the Nations Church plant, listen to the entire episode of Greenelines here, and subscribe to Greenelines on your favorite podcast platform for more stories like this one. Visit for more information on how you can pray and participate in Kolenda’s exciting new venture. {eoa}

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Shortly after winning a silver medal in Judo at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday, Iranian defector Saeid Mollaei dedicated the award to Israel.

Mollaei represented Mongolia in the men’s -81Kg division, losing the gold to Japan’s Takanori Nagase.

Mollaei told the Israeli Sports Channel he is grateful for the support he’s received from Israel after defecting from Iran.

“Thank you to Israel for the good energy. This medal is dedicated also to Israel,” he said. “I hope the Israelis are happy with this win.”

Mollaei won his first Olympic medal two years after fleeing Iran after his country’s judo team tried to pressure him into deliberately losing in the semifinals of the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo to avoid competing against Israel’s Sagi Muki in the final. Mollaei subsequently went to Germany and then gained Mongolian citizenship.

CNN reported that Mollaei said he had feared for his safety and that of his family after ignoring Iranian officials two years ago, who he says told him to lose his semifinal bout on purpose.

Iranian athletes have long been prohibited from competing in any sport against Israeli opponents because Iran refuses to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist as a state.

Muki congratulated Mollaei after his win.

“I’m super happy for Saeid,” the Israeli judoka told reporters. “I know what he’s gone through, and how much he wanted it. He’s a very close friend of mine, and I’m so happy that he succeeded in achieving his dream. He deserves it. His journey is incredibly inspiring.”

For more of this article, visit our content partners at . {eoa}

Reprinted with permission from . Copyright The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

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