When Pastor Mario Esparza Jr. talks about his past, he doesn’t sugarcoat it. His story is gritty, real and drenched in the grace of God.

Speaking in a powerful conversation with Richard Lorenzo Jr., Esparza talked about how he spent over a decade addicted to cocaine while hiding behind the mask of a functioning truck driver, husband and father. “It was my peace. It numbed me. It became my god,” he said of his addiction that began at just 17 years old.

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Raised in Oak Cliff, South Dallas, Mario’s life was marked early on by violence, rejection and deep emotional wounds. “I was 17 fighting grown men,” he recalled, referencing a night he was stomped into the concrete outside a gas station. “Death was following me,” he said. But even that wasn’t his lowest point.

To order Richard Lorenzo Jr.’s new book, What’s the Purpose of Life?, visit .

That came in a Motel 6 in Euless, Texas.

There, after bingeing on drugs for days and contemplating suicide, Mario heard a voice—felt a presence. “The Spirit of God flooded the room. I got scared, I thought someone was watching me. It was the fear of the Lord.” Moments later, a stranger tried to open the hotel door, claiming to be a maintenance man. But Mario knew it was more than a coincidence. “God was warning me. He was saving me.”

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Though he didn’t end his life that night, Mario continued spiraling—until the day his wife, Tiffany, signed him up for a Christian retreat in Whitesboro, Texas. “She didn’t yell. She didn’t nag. She said, ‘I signed you up.’ That’s when everything began to change.” Still resisting God, Mario slept in the woods during a required prayer session—until something supernatural happened.

“I was walking out, and the sun hit me. Suddenly, I had a vision of Jesus,” he said. “He was beside me, showing me kingdoms, saying, ‘This belongs to you.’ I tried to talk myself out of it—‘But don’t you remember what I’ve done?’ And He just radiated love. He didn’t see me as broken. He saw me as a son.”

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That encounter changed everything.

Today, Esparza ministers to countless men just like him who are battling addiction and are suffering in silence. Through his story, revival is breaking out. Truck drivers, drug dealers and others are getting saved and delivered, finally stepping into their calling as children of God.

If you are in crisis, please call 988 or visit . You are not alone.

Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

After a recent time of personal prayer, Alwyn Uys shared a profound encounter with the Holy Spirit that carries a timely message for the body of Christ.

While seeking the Lord, the presence of the Holy Spirit surrounded him in an unusual and powerful way—so tangible that it brought him a deep grief and anguish. Then came the burden: to intercede for the rising voices of the next generation.

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However, what Uys heard was not a call limited to prophets, preachers or full-time ministers. It was a divine stirring for every Spirit-filled believer to speak truth, declare hope and influence others for the kingdom. “It was a kind of sadness in my spirit, but I knew God was saying, ‘Pray for the ones I’m calling to rise up,’” Uys shared.

To order Alwyn Uys’ new book, Speak, Lord, visit .

As Uys continued to pray, a powerful phrase echoed in his heart: “Your voice makes a difference.” It wasn’t just a passing thought—it was a clear and unmistakable word from the Lord. “It was one of those moments where you just know it’s Him,” he said. “I knew this word wasn’t just for me; it was for all of us.”

What followed was a divine confirmation. The very next day, an email from Uys’ bank arrived with a survey reminder. He was shocked by its subject line: “Your voice makes a difference.” The exact phrase, word for word, mirroring what he heard in prayer. “There’s only so much you can chalk up to coincidence,” Uys said. “This was God confirming His word.”

Later that same day, a prophetic friend reached out saying he felt stirred to step out more boldly in prophetic ministry. Unaware of what had happened the day before, this message was yet another confirmation of the word the Lord had spoken to Uys.

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Uys’ message is clear: God is raising up a generation of bold, Spirit-led believers who are being called to use their voices to shift atmospheres, proclaim truth and lead others into the heart of God. Whether you feel silenced, discouraged or disqualified, the Lord wants you to know—your voice still matters.

As Uys explains, this movement isn’t about titles or platforms. It’s about obedience. It’s about hearing the voice of the Lord and responding. “If the Lord is putting something on your heart to pray for or speak about, it means He’s counting on your obedience,” he emphasized.

Now is the time to rise. If God has placed a calling on your life, don’t shrink back. Heaven is backing you. “There’s a shift taking place,” Uys said. “A new generation is being activated—not just in the prophetic—but across every area of kingdom life.”

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Regardless of where you are in your journey, your voice holds power and significance in advancing God’s kingdom. This season is ripe for breakthrough and activation, and you are not alone—God is backing you, equipping you and calling you to move forward with courage and faith.

Don’t underestimate the difference you can make; your voice truly matters.

Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

In a gripping teaching drawn from Mark chapter 5, Rabbi Kirt Schneider discusses the powerful account of Jesus’ encounter with a demon-possessed man. As Schneider points out this is not just as a historical narrative, but a present-day reality of spiritual warfare.

According to Schneider, this man, dwelling among the tombs, had supernatural strength and was so overtaken by demonic oppression that even chains couldn’t hold him. He cried out day and night and gashed himself with stones—a stark reminder that demonic influence is often accompanied by an obsession with death, self-harm and torment.

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“This might seem strange,” Schneider shares, “but we can see this same spiritual phenomenon today. People attracted to darkness, to death, to Halloween, to Gothic culture—it’s a reflection of the same demonic pull.” The message is clear: demons still seek to inhabit flesh and blood, and they target the vulnerable, the wounded and the spiritually unaware.

The account of this deliverance takes a dramatic turn when Jesus begins commanding the spirits to leave. Unlike many deliverances in Scripture, this one was a process. Jesus asked the demon its name—“Legion, for we are many”—and granted them permission to enter a herd of pigs, which then rushed into the sea and drowned. It was a visible, undeniable sign of spiritual power clashing with the darkness.

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This was no mere story from ancient times. “I’ve seen it,” Schneider continues, recounting scenes in Africa and other nations where witchcraft and ancestral religion open doors to the demonic. “People convulsing, shrieking, foaming at the mouth. It’s real. These manifestations happen when darkness comes into the presence of light.”

Even more sobering is the reaction of the townspeople. Rather than celebrate the miracle, they were afraid—and they begged Jesus to leave. It mirrors how many today respond when they see the power of the Holy Spirit at work. “People fear the supernatural,” Schneider shares. “I was once taught tongues were demonic. I avoided it like the plague.”

But in a deeply personal story, he describes how years later he found himself speaking in tongues without even realizing it—proof that God’s Spirit had gently, sovereignly led him beyond fear into truth. “I was afraid of the supernatural before the Lord drew me in,” he admits. “But if we want to walk with God, we must walk with the supernatural God.”

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The message ends with a passionate exhortation: Don’t be afraid of what God wants to do in your life. Don’t fear the gifts of the Spirit. “If you ask the Father for a fish, He won’t give you a scorpion.” Demons tremble at Jesus because His power is real—and still available today to deliver, heal and set people free.

Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

In a recent conversation on Prophecy Watchers, prophecy experts Mondo Gonzales and L.A. Marzulli unpacked developments that many believe are signaling a rapid acceleration toward biblical end-times events.

At the heart of the discussion was a viral five-second clip showing a red heifer being burned in what appears to be a practice ritual. “It was not on the Mount of Olives,” Gonzales clarified. “This looked like Samaria, where the five red heifers were sent in 2022.” The animals were ceremonially significant because the ashes of a red heifer are required in Numbers 19 to purify those preparing for Temple service.

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According to Gonzales, one of the disqualified heifers was used for this test run. “This wasn’t the first practice,” he said, referencing a similar attempt in 2019. “But this was the first time with one of the five.” The symbolic act gained traction in the prophetic community, and soon after, connections to geopolitical tensions began to surface.

A stunning revelation came in the form of a Hamas memo recently uncovered in Gaza. Gonzales explained, “One of the internal reasons Hamas gave for their Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel was the red heifer ceremony. They believed it signaled an attempt by Israel to change the status quo on the Temple Mount.” He further noted that this concern was echoed publicly by Hamas in January 2024 as part of their propaganda effort to stir unrest.

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Biblically, these events point toward the construction of a Third Temple. Gonzales, a staunch dispensationalist, strongly affirmed the literal nature of this prophecy. “In Revelation 11, the temple is to be measured. In 2 Thessalonians, the Antichrist sits in the temple of God. You can’t allegorize that away.”

He also shared architectural plans he had seen that allow for coexistence between the rebuilt Jewish temple and the existing Islamic structures on the Temple Mount. “There’s at least 10 acres that aren’t being used. The plans include a wall separating the temple from the outer court—just like Revelation says will happen.”

As for the red heifer ceremony itself, Gonzales emphasized that it is not a sacrifice, but a purification rite that must take place on the Mount of Olives. “They own two pieces of property there, but it’s surrounded by Arab villages,” he said. “If Israel chooses to go forward, it would take massive security, but it could happen.”

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Ultimately, the conversation ended on a powerful note. “What was written will come to pass,” said Marzulli. “And if we start allegorizing prophecy, we lose the ability to recognize its fulfillment.” Gonzales agreed: “99% of the prophecies about Jesus’ first coming were literal. Why should the second coming be any different?”

As tensions surrounding the Temple Mount grow and symbolic actions like these continue, many see these developments as more than coincidence. Their prophetic implications are undeniable—and they point to a rapidly shifting spiritual landscape in the heart of Jerusalem.

Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

In a recent tribute video by Living Waters, evangelist Ray Comfort reflected on MacArthur’s influence over the body of Christ. “Pastor John MacArthur is now with the Lord,” Comfort said. “He’s been a source of stability and encouragement to millions over the years through his radio and television broadcasts and more recently on social media.”

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Comfort noted that what made MacArthur stand out was a specific virtue desperately needed in today’s Church: resilience. “He possessed one virtue we all need: a remarkable resilience. He never backed down when it came to taking a stand for righteousness,” Comfort explained. MacArthur’s theological boldness and clarity were seen in his firm stands on abortion, homosexuality and biblical family values. In one highlighted clip, MacArthur declared, “God designed the family to be a man and a woman to produce a child. It is the DNA… the genetic structure of civilization. If you don’t have that, you don’t have civilization.”

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Comfort pointed out how MacArthur did not sway from biblical truth on topics like marriage. MacArthur rejected the idea of attending a same-sex wedding out of compassion, saying, “It’s not loving to help somebody celebrate stepping into the fury of God’s judgment.” He believed the most loving thing Christians can do is warn others of the coming judgment and point them toward redemption.

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In another clip shared in Comfort’s video, MacArthur humorously reflected on his continued ministry even into his elderly years: “They keep having celebrations here at the church. It’s like a funeral, but I don’t die… I keep telling them, ‘I’m not going to die. I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.’”

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John MacArthur’s stand for truth will continue to echo through the lives he impacted during his decades of ministry.

Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

As flash floods devastated multiple U.S. states this July, Amanda Grace is pointing to a deeper message: one that warns of a coming reckoning in 2027 if the nation fails to return to the foundation of Jesus Christ. The floods, their locations and the timing form a striking pattern—one that mirrors Scripture and history.

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Referencing Matthew 7:24–27, Amanda Grace says, “[Verse] 25 says, ‘and it fell not.’ [Verse] 27 says, ‘and it fell and great was the fall of it.’ I believe this is a warning for the nation…about floods that are coming in the year 2027…a symbolic flood that could come and crash everything in 2027.”

On July 4, 2025, flash flooding struck Texas. Just two days later on July 6, Tropical Storm Chantal hit South Carolina, and two days after that, New Mexico faced another devastating flood. “They each came two days apart,” Grace notes. “It’s very strange because Chantal means ‘stone’…and then you have Santa Fe, which means ‘Holy Faith.’ You have a flood in an area named Holy Faith. You have a flood by a stone.”

The names of the locations where flooding took place recently—Eagle Pass, Chapel Hill, Santa Fe, Guadalupe—are more than geography. They’re prophetic markers. “Just think about these names for a minute…how it relates to the nation,” says Grace.

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The Guadalupe River, meaning “Valley of Wolves,” according to Grace, has a dark history of flood-related tragedies. It flooded in 1932, an election year during the Great Depression, shortly before Franklin D. Roosevelt won the presidency. It flooded again in 1987 during Ronald Reagan’s presidency—killing children at a Christian camp and coinciding with the Iran-Contra scandal and Middle East conflict. Now, in 2025, it floods again—after the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” from the newly sworn in president, Donald Trump.

The convergence of floods, historical repetition, and spiritual symbolism is more than coincidence—it is a divine alert. Through natural disasters and unfolding global events, God is calling the nation to wake up, repent, and rebuild on the only unshakable foundation: Jesus Christ. These prophetic patterns reveal that when a nation turns from truth, the consequences ripple through every level of society. But for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, there is time to respond—not in fear, but in faith and obedience.

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The storms may intensify, but those rooted in Christ will endure. As cycles of judgment and renewal continue, believers are being positioned to stand in the gap, proclaim truth and prepare the way for what’s ahead. The question is not whether the storm will come—it’s whether we will be ready when it does.

Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

A week after handing over The Potter’s House to his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and son-in-law, Touré Roberts, T.D. Jakes has already found a place back in the pulpit again.

Jakes was invited by Elevation Church pastor Steven Furtick to preach a message to the Charlotte-based congregation. Speaking on “The Power to Change Your Mind,” Jakes encouraged Christians not to conform to Christian culture and habits, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.

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As he opened, Jakes reminded the crowd that church isn’t just about goosebumps and celebration—real transformation happens in the “outer court,” where daily life tests the depth of our change.

“You mean I can have a new mind?” he asked rhetorically. “You mean I can literally be responsible for changing my mind? The place that holds my past, my trauma, my fears?” According to Jakes, the answer is yes—but not without sacrifice. He unpacked the meaning of being a “living sacrifice,” explaining that transformation is not pretty or easy. Like Old Testament offerings, it means laying oneself down, willingly, on the altar of surrender.

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Jakes lamented that the modern church often excels at conversion but struggles with transformation. “We know how to lead people to Jesus,” he said, “but we go home and wrestle with the inability to change.” He drew attention to how technology, culture and social noise have become modern forms of conformity. “Don’t be conformed to the world,” he warned. “Turn off the news sometimes… God did not design us to be inundated with other people’s opinions.”

The bishop spoke candidly about the inner tug-of-war between history and destiny. While God calls us to greatness—to be overcomers, mountain movers and reflections of His glory—our history often contaminates that calling. “It’s not my destiny I’m worried about,” he declared. “It’s the contamination of my history.”

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He urged listeners to confront what has shaped them—the people who touched them before God did—and to understand that transformation involves peeling back layers of hurt, fear and false identity. “God doesn’t want your impostor,” he thundered. “He wants who you really are.”

Throughout the message, Bishop Jakes painted a vivid picture of God’s longing for a people who mirror His image, not just in doctrine or behavior, but in mindset and identity. “You were created to be God’s reflection on Earth,” he said. “That’s why hell attacks you early.”

Ultimately, Jakes’ message called for a deep internal shift—a refusal to settle for surface-level Christianity and an invitation to step into the painful but glorious process of becoming new. Because, as he preached with bold conviction, “You can be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

A viral video circulating online captures the raw and emotional moment a young boy, reportedly recovering from a skateboarding accident, claims to see Jesus, and even his deceased father, while in the hospital. In a powerful reaction video, Kap Chatfield shares this boy’s remarkable testimony and the biblical precedence for it.

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In the video, the boy appears groggy and emotionally overwhelmed. He speaks tenderly, repeatedly saying, “Hi Jesus. You’re so beautiful,” and later asks, “When are you coming back? We need you.” The child’s visible emotion, innocence and sincerity have struck a chord with many. He also expresses repentance through tears, whispering, “I’m a bad kid,” and “I cause trouble.” Chatfield compares this tender exchange between the boy and Jesus to biblical figures like Peter and Saul who fell to their knees in repentance upon encountering the glory of God.

To order Kap Chatfield’s new book, The Power to Prosper, visit .

At one point in the footage, the boy calls out for his mother, saying, “I miss my mom,” even though she is right beside him—evidence Chatfield says that the child is experiencing a trance-like or spiritual vision rather than merely reacting to physical surroundings.

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Then comes a remarkable moment: the boy begins to speak to his late father. “Dad, do you see me skateboarding?” he asks. His father, as Chatfield points out, passed away a year ago. The child’s emotional expressions suggest a reunion that transcends human understanding. Chatfield, referencing Hebrews 12:1, suggests that the “cloud of witnesses”—those who’ve gone before in faith—might indeed be watching from heaven.

Throughout his commentary, Chatfield uses Scripture to explain this boy’s miraculous encounter. Citing Genesis 28, Solomon’s dream in 1 Kings 3, and Joel 2:28, he explains how God has historically spoken through dreams and visions.

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As Kap Chatfield reminds viewers, God has always used dreams and visions to reach people—young and old alike. For those willing to listen, this boy’s encounter serves as both a reminder of heaven’s nearness and an invitation to reflect on the reality of Jesus, who still reveals Himself today.

Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

In a stirring message titled “Apostles, Demons, and Your Power Over The Enemy,” New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Cahn draws from Acts 19 to reveal a powerful truth: believers have been given authority over darkness—but only when they are truly walking with God.

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The passage recounts a group of Jewish exorcists, including the sons of a chief priest named Sceva, who attempt to cast out demons by invoking “the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches.” They didn’t know Jesus themselves—they were simply mimicking Paul, using the name of Jesus like a magical incantation. But spiritual authority doesn’t come from formulas; it comes from relationship. When they tried to cast out a demon without true faith, the demon responded chillingly: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” The possessed man then attacked and overpowered all seven of them.

To order Jonathan Cahn’s latest book, The Avatar, visit .

Cahn makes it clear: “You don’t mess with the enemy without God.” The power to overcome demonic forces isn’t automatic. It’s not about how loudly we pray or how many Bible verses we quote—it’s about being in alignment with God’s will. Without that alignment, even the name of Jesus won’t protect us from the schemes of the enemy. But with God, we have nothing to fear. “On your own, you cannot win,” Cahn says. “But with God, you cannot lose.”

He also warns against seeking God’s power without seeking His heart. “The occult wants the power without the righteousness. Fortune-telling mimics prophecy. Divination mimics the word of knowledge. Sorcery mimics the power of the Holy Spirit—but it’s all a counterfeit.” Even some Christians fall into the trap of treating prayer like a vending machine: do the right things, say the right words and get results. But Cahn urges believers to focus first on holiness, on relationship with God. “Seek His will, seek His righteousness and the power will follow.”

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Cahn emphasizes that God doesn’t want His people to merely react to darkness. We are called to lead. Just as Paul was feared in the spiritual realm because of his authority in Christ, so should we be. “You may not be known in the world, but you can be famous in the realm of the spirit,” Cahn says. That kind of power comes only from intimacy with God. “You are not to be overcome by the situation. You are to lead the situation.”

As a final encouragement, Cahn tells believers to start using their power and authority before the enemy ever attempts to come in their midst. “Why wait?” he asks. “You have the Holy Spirit. You have the name of Jesus. You have the Word of God. You have the power. Use it.”

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The key is living in God’s will. When we do, we don’t just survive spiritual warfare—we dominate it. Jesus said, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy” (Lk. 10:19). It’s time to walk in that authority.

Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

In a stunning and unprecedented development, five prominent Arabian sheikhs from the historic city of Hebron have proposed the formation of an independent emirate—and they desire to align it with Israel and the Abraham Accords.

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Author and prophecy researcher Daniel Wright joined L.A. Marzulli to discuss what may be a prophetic turning point in the Middle East. “These dominant families have run Hebron for generations, since before the Palestinian Authority, the British Mandate, and even before the state of Israel,” Wright explained. “They’ve survived every political transition by adapting. But this—this is different.”

According to Wright, the sheikhs submitted a formal proposal to Israeli Minister Nir Barkat. He claims that they discussed their desire to break away from the Palestinian Authority, establish a self-governed emirate in Hebron and recognize Israel as the legitimate Jewish state. This is something they refused to do in 1948, 1967 or during the Oslo Accords.

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“This is a fourth or fifth of the West Bank,” Wright said. “They’re essentially saying, ‘We’re not going to be part of Gaza’s chaos. We’re not going to harbor terrorism. We want peace and prosperity for our people.’”

However, Marzulli and Wright warn that this could lead to a false sense of peace.

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“I think that there’s an opportunity for some for a great stability and productivity and that could lead to political changes that could bring about lots of prosperity which could , anger, frustration… maybe people in the north don’t like what’s going on in the land of Israel…” Wright says.

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The proposal from the Hebron sheikhs represents a dramatic departure from decades of Arab resistance to Israel and could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the West Bank. While the move hints at new possibilities for peace and regional cooperation, it also raises prophetic questions about what such alliances may usher in.

Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.