Prolific writer and biblical scholar R.T. Kendall was greatly impacting the kingdom of heaven when his buddy, prophet John Paul Jackson, stopped him with a personal prophecy nearly 30 years ago.

“He said, ‘R.T., you will live to a ripe old age, but if you don’t get in shape physically, you won’t be around to enjoy it,'” Kendall recalls.

“Well, because of his track record with me—he’d been accurate every time—he put the fear of God in me. He said ‘You need to lose weight, you need to exercise, lift weights’ and all that stuff.” 

Now, the 82-year-old Kendall says his weight hovers around 168, he travels the world and would not be able to do so had he not listened to Jackson.

Kendall shared the prophecy with Charisma Media on Friday, where he spoke on his new book, The Presence of God.

Due out this fall, The Presence of God identifies the ways we experience God’s presence in our own lives. In it, Kendall expounds on the three kinds of chastening, or disciplining, that God employs: internal, external and terminal.

He also addresses a question that plagues many who walk by the Spirit: What do I do when I don’t feel God around me? The answer presents itself in Psalm 16:8: “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved.”

Not feeling God is an opportunity to please God and walk by faith, like those mentioned in Hebrews 11.

“The truth is that Jesus is always at your right hand, but you may forget that this is true. Because you forget, by faith, you picture him there, and it’s something I’ve done for years.”

Set Him before you, cling to Him even when you don’t feel his conscious presence, and you are pleasing God, Kendall says.

Watch the video to see his full message.

Whether it’s watching from afar through a documentary or hearing about discoveries/escapes on the news, we’ve developed a fascination with cults.

“I’d never do that!” we might proclaim. Or “Who is crazy enough to join something so silly?”

Or, we may even think a cult has slowly indoctrinated a close friend or family member.

A reader had a similar question for Billy Graham: “Why do people get involved in cults? I think my cousin has gotten involved in one, but she won’t listen to any of us who try to talk to her about it. In her view, we’re all wrong, and her group is the only one that’s right.”

The famed evangelist responded:

People get involved in cults for many reasons, but often it’s because they are spiritually hungry and are searching for God—and they hope this group will satisfy that hunger. And for a time, they may think it has, and they turn their backs on anyone who tries to tell them otherwise. The Bible warns that in the last days “there will be false teachers among you” (2 Pet. 2:1b).

But all cults have one thing in common: they can never bring a person into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He alone is the divine Son of God who came down from heaven to save us from our sins, and He alone took upon Himself our sin and our guilt when He died on the cross for our salvation. We cannot save ourselves, no matter how hard we try; only Christ can save us.

More than that, Christ alone offers us eternal life as a free gift—because He has already paid the price for our salvation. All we have to do is accept His gift, by putting our faith and trust in Him as our Lord and Savior. The Bible says, There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Pray for your cousin, that God will open her heart to Christ and help her turn away from everything false. And let her know that you still love her—and so does Christ.

Donald Trump is six months into the U.S. presidency, and opinions about his job thus far certainly fall all along the spectrum of approval or disapproval.

One fact that can’t be overlooked is that President Trump has embraced the guidance of Christians who helped elect him.

A new book out this fall from Charisma Media CEO Stephen E. Strang, who strongly backed Trump in the election, will consider how the president’s faith has perhaps grown and strengthened in office. God and Donald Trump, set to release on Nov. 7, seeks to help readers understand who Donald Trump is, what he really believes, where his vision for America will lead us and where God is in all of this.

“With pundits asking, ‘How did he win?’ my new book explores whether there was a supernatural element involved,” Strang said. “Christian leaders prophesied before the election that God had raised up Trump to lead the nation through a time of crisis. But could this billionaire reality-TV star actually convince the voters he was for real? And if so, what is God doing, now not only in Donald’s Trump’s life, but also in the nation?”

Donald Trump is an enigma—a brash self-promoter, casino owner and man of the world. Yet he is also a devoted husband and father who has surrounded himself with men and women of faith and has made religion a key component of his image. Strang’s God and Donald Trump will explore:

• How family and childhood influences shaped Trump’s character and worldview
• How openness to evangelical leaders helped build his commitment to religious liberty
• How his election as president was predicted years before by charismatic prophets
• How he captured the largest evangelical vote in history and won the Electoral College
• What he really believes and how those beliefs helped shape his campaign promises

God and Donald Trump is a powerful first-person account of one of the most contentious elections in American history, with exclusive interviews and insightful commentary from the men and women who were there.

Stephen E. Strang is an award-winning journalist and successful businessman. After interviewing Trump, he became involved with other Christian leaders who campaigned for Trump’s election. Strang, the CEO of Charisma Media and founder of Charisma magazine, even attended the 2017 election-night victory party in New York because he believed the prophetic ministers who said he would win.

God and Donald Trump is published by Frontline, an imprint of Charisma House, which has published books that challenge, encourage, teach and equip Christians, including 13 New York Times best-sellers. {eoa} 

The great deceiver is always on the hunt, ready to pounce when he spots confusion or hesitancy.

But what exactly is he looking for? How does he decide who to manipulate and the way to do it?

One concerned reader asked Billy Graham: “What is the devil’s most successful trick? In other words, out of all the schemes he uses to try to lead us astray, which one works best? I’d like to know so I can be on guard.”

The wise evangelist responded:

I’m thankful you want to be on guard against the devil’s schemes—because the devil is real, and he will do everything he can to deceive us and turn us away from God. The Bible urges us to be alert to the devil’s schemes, “in order that Satan might not outwit us” (2 Cor. 2:11, NIV).

The devil has many tricks up his sleeve (so to speak)—but surely one of his most successful is to make us believe he doesn’t even exist. We may admit that evil is real—but then deny that behind it are demonic spiritual forces bent on our destruction and death. Or we may deny the devil’s true nature by turning him into a harmless cartoon character with a red suit and pitchfork. But Jesus said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him (John 8:44b, MEV).

Someone has said that the devil doesn’t need to think up any new tricks—because the old ones still work! It’s true: lust, pride, power, discouragement, doubt, money, escapism, pleasure, hate, anger, jealousy, selfishness—the ways he attacks us are almost endless. If one temptation doesn’t work, he’ll try another—and he’ll keep on trying.

But listen: The most important fact about Satan is that he is a defeated foe! By His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ conquered death and hell and Satan—and someday His victory will be complete. In the meantime, make sure of your commitment to Christ, and turn to Him every day for the strength you need.

So be on guard always and aware that Satan and his minions are just as alert. But do not fear, for victory is in the Lord. {eoa}

July 4, 1776 was a great day in American history: Independence Day! So historically, July Fourth is a day that is celebrated yearly with family get-togethers, cookouts, parades, watermelon and fireworks. It was a great day but not for all.

While our nation was liberated from British rule in 1776, there was a class of people, slaves, who didn’t enjoy independence along with other Americans until the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Until then, slaves weren’t considered to be persons.

Actually, slaves only achieved partial personhood in 1787, and then only because slave owners wanted to use them in order to gain a greater voting power. Thus, they were counted as three-fifths of a person in the Three-Fifths Compromise. The slaves didn’t enjoy true independence until 1863. And finally. on June 19, 1885, came Juneteenth Independence Day; a day celebrated in some circles with the same hoopla as many enjoy the Fourth of July.

Another class of Americans, the female suffragettes, waged and in some cases still do wage the battle for equality. Unfortunately, all too many still confuse women’s rights with human rights, and many pre-born persons are being discriminated against and killed as a result.

Yet, the celebrations for this year’s Fourth of July will go on for most Americans. Still, although African-Americans and women will join in the celebrations, there are still segments of Americans who do not enjoy the same freedom as everyone else; they include pre-born persons and victims of human trafficking in America and around the world.

America can never be truly free until the babies in the womb are free to be born, and all victims of abortion and other crimes against humanity are set free.

In America, the unborn are not considered “persons” under the law, and therefore they don’t enjoy the protection of the Fourteenth Amendment assuring ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” a right the babies could expect prior to the Supreme Court decision made in Roe v. Wade on  January 22, 1973. Since that date over 60 million babies have not celebrated an Independence Day, have not joined in family celebrations, watched fireworks or a parade.

I dream and pray for a day when all Americans, born and unborn, can enjoy justice for all and independence for all; an “Independence Day from Roe v. Wade” is in order. Otherwise, how can the dream survive abortion?

One day our babies will be free. Until that day, please enjoy this Independence Day, but also say a prayer for those who are unable to celebrate it with us. And please take a moment to say this prayer for Independence Day! {eoa}

In this segment, we will discuss how Satan is compared to the lion and the viper mentioned in Psalm 91. We will show you the common characteristics and how they mimic those of your adversary. We will also discuss how the Bible equips us to overcome our adversary. For the entire message, watch the video.

{eoa}

This article originally appeared on End Time Headlines.

When 2 a.m. rolls around, many of us are in bed, fast asleep, preparing for the day to come.

Not business entrepreneur and prophetic voice Lance Wallnau. He’s up and at ’em, pursuing the Lord to find out what’s going on.

“We were just in prayer a minute ago, and I felt like the Lord was saying, ‘It’s time to intercede,'” Wallnau says. “So we started praying, and anointing hit.”

Watch the video to find out what’s next.

{eoa}

What do a 73-year-old Indian theologian, an American high school student and a pilot in the French navy have in common? 

Each one has signed on for Awakening Evangelism BASE Training, a unique program dedicated to equipping the saints with the tools they need to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Let me speak prophetically, I believe that what’s happening in our generation is this: for the last 40-50 years, God has been actively working to re-establish the foundation of the apostles and the prophets,” says AE founder and president Mattie Montgomery, former vocalist for hardcore band For Today. “As God has re-established the seats of the apostles and prophets, what has happened now is that He has laid a foundation for the evangelists to arise.

“Not evangelist meaning people who preach the gospel, that’s what a Christian is. An evangelist in the true sense is one who stands on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets and works actively to equip the saints for the work for the ministry,” Montgomery says. “The evangelist seat is rising.”

Tattooed sleeves decorate Montgomery’s arms, and another inked design peeks out from underneath his collar. His gauged ears are sewn shut. Montgomery looks nothing like famed evangelists Billy Graham, Reinhard Bonnke or Greg Laurie, but the anointing on his life is evident.

For more than a decade, Montgomery preached the gospel through his music. He avoided temptations that caused his peers to stumble. He humbled himself before the Lord, fasting and praying that God might be glorified. His living sacrifice manifested with countless salvations and supernatural encounters.

“I really believe the most substantial prophetic word I’ve ever heard maybe in my whole life came in 2016,” Montgomery says. “A lady in our church said, really in passing, it wasn’t the centerpiece of her message that day. She said, ‘It’s time for the church to break its covenant with death.’ She said, ‘We’ve made death our doorway into heaven; we’ve convinced ourselves that when we die, then pain will end. Or that when we die, then I will finally be able to behold glory.’ But Jesus is supposed to be our doorway to glory. It seems so obvious, right?”

He points to John 16 and Isaiah 6 as glorious realities, “But most of the church is blind to it.”

And that’s where evangelism comes in. It’s time for the saints to understand just how much power they possess.

He bid For Today farewell in January and focused on the AE training program. The online classes launch this fall, and video teachings will include spiritual heavy-hitters such as Todd White, John Bevere and Ben Fitzgerald. More than 144 students have registered with 600 other applicants awaiting a decision.

“What really drew us to this program is that it’s an incredible, resourceful solution to the desire in our hearts to see the gospel preached on a global scale like it never has been before while also enabling us to be faithful to the things God has called us to steward over at home,” AE Director Elijah Ward says.” Without leaving our families for weeks on end and touring the world to preach at weekend conferences, we can have a huge impact on the world from right here in Mobile, Alabama. We can reach the body of Christ internationally and equip them to take the gospel everywhere they go using a 16-week evangelism training course called BASE. It’s a dream come true.”

Many of the students were drawn to the program because of Montgomery’s tangible passion for Jesus.

“I think the only impact that someone like Mattie could have is to grow the kingdom,” AE Media Director Matthew Kimble says. “Since I first met him over seven years ago, he has always taught from the stage and pulpit that we have to put action to our faith. As someone who has walked with him as a friend through good times and bad times, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that he’s the real deal.

“These are urgent times we live in, and I think that in many Christian circles, the gospel is often more a subject of internal debate than external application. Mattie challenges all of us on the Awakening Evangelism team daily just by his example of choosing boldness and courage in his walk. With Awakening Evangelism, I believe we have a tremendous opportunity to stand with the church and empower her to reach neighborhoods, cities, regions and nations in a supernatural way that hasn’t been seen in a long, long time (or perhaps ever).”

Come August, AE will empower men and women internationally with courage, vision, a theological foundation and a heart to serve with humility.

“He’s willing to teach us an excellent way to walk in evangelism to avoid pitfalls like the fear of man; endless hell-centric spiritual warfare; and so many other snares that hinder the power of personal evangelistic ministry. I believe that a massive move of God is coming to this generation if we will see it and receive it, and I believe that Awakening Evangelism is a part of that,” Kimble says.

While Montgomery may be the catalyst, the movement already exists beyond his immediate reach.

As exciting and as congregational conferences are, they only last for a few days at a time. AE is different, both in scope and mission.

“It’s birthed from a place of family and honor and will require you to invest your heart and life into it,” BASE student pastor Matt White says. “Because of that, you’ll see a real return on investment into your life and thinking. It’s not a momentary, emotional change but a lifelong changing of your heart.”

And it’s not for the faint of heart or for those looking for a quick Jesus high.

“This is like, people don’t take our evangelism training course because their family wants them to,” Montgomery says. “The thing I’m excited about is Jesus said, ‘Bless those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.’ Ultimately, the people who are signing up are signing up because they want more than Sunday-morning Christianity. They’re signing up because they want to be a conduit, a vessel for the glory of God into their workplace, onto their school campus, into their local coffee shop, wherever they happen to be. And I have to believe that if that is somebody’s heart, then God is always going to answer that prayer.”

Evangelism is rising, Montgomery says, and the keys are ready for the taking. {eoa}

In this segment, we will show you three powerful attributes that I believe the end-times generation will possess and how they are prophetically veiled in the prophecy of Joel. For the entire message watch the video.

{eoa}

Editor’s note: Shaneen Clarke is an internationally known evangelist who sees the Holy Spirit igniting revival across Europe. As we battle not against flesh and blood, though, darkness desperately is trying to stamp out the growing light. As Clarke travels across the continent, she’s allowing the Holy Spirit’s flame to catch fire and awake the nations. Here’s what the Holy Spirit is telling her right now.

Tell me about your vision for Europe: 

Evangelicals make up 1 percent of Europeans. We must reach people through local churches. In Finland recently, I saw 25 churches come together for a single purpose. Sadly, there is lethargy in the church, and I see the need for young and old to come together to avoid the social club environments and old-age club environment. The church can be vibrant and sustainable. We don’t need fashion; we need sustainable models where the elders mentor the young and the young challenge the elders.

How will the Lord accomplish this? 

The Lord is sending missionaries from overseas to study these gatherings and then return to their nations with fresh fire. I am one of the missionaries, and God has given me a heart to reach out. He will continue to use the misfits, the unnamed and faceless to rise as leaders.

How is the Holy Spirit igniting revival right now?  

Fire has ignited in missionaries’ hearts like mine. It’s being carried to the nations and set alight in the people. It comes from the hunger of those people who are invariably bored who are seeking an authentic encounter with The Holy Spirit. The ignition through worship and the music is vital. The gospel is being taught parallel to modern-day life, and the supernatural is evidenced in many places. There is a need for a revival culture to enlist wholehearted disciples.

How are terrorist attacks, like the recent ones in Manchester and on the London Bridge, evident of the growing spiritual warfare in the land? 

The commandment “Thou shall not kill” is being broken as society becomes more lawless and chaotic. The accommodation of others and their cultures has extended the traditional boundaries, and the floodgates of evil are breaking through. Terrorism is guerrilla warfare, causing fear and intimidation against innocent civilians at random. The increasing occurrence of terrorist events indicates that the battle becomes fiercer before the victory. We are in a period of intense spiritual warfare. The attacks in Manchester and London will help the church focus on the uncompromising work of the Holy Spirit.

What sort of miracles have you seen happen? 

When I was recently in Oslo, a man received his hearing back. I have seen hepatitis healed and broken bones instantly healed. I have seen alcoholics set free. Through preaching the Word, I have seen many lives transformed and people on the verge of suicide have come back from that point to now flourish. I have seen financial miracles and career breakthroughs.

Where do you see God moving next? 

God is constantly moving, though I sense that He will move in the business world and a great awakening will come from unexpected areas such as refugee populous. We are about to see an end-time revival and the greatest persecutions yet the greatest time in the history of the church.

When do you think this great revival will begin? 

Increasing persecution will mark the beginning of revival. I see the persecution now increasing over the next 10 years and many will not be able to stand the times that are coming. The Judaeo-Christian financial model has broken down and Sharia law and financial model is being adopted in many parts of Europe.

Who are some key players in the coming revival? 

A new William Wilberforce will rise against sex trafficking, a new Clapham Sect will arise in society and the coming revival will be triggered by the healing ministry. The supernatural ministry will come to the forefront and will be scoffed at by the majority, attacked mercilessly and ridiculed always. Those of us willing to stand will grow stronger.

It is anticipated that by 2050 there will only be 15 percent of Christians in Europe, four times less than 150 years ago. In Africa and Latin America, only 60 percent will profess Jesus. By 2050, the world population is forecast to be 9.5 billion people. Proportionally, one-third of these will be Christians and more than one-third will be Muslim. Though Christianity is in decline by number, the Christians who stand and stay the race will be of a higher quality and equipped and ready for the days to come. For the first time in history, we will witness a harvest of 1 billion souls.

The digital platforms will bring the great revival, as the new form of church will be online services. {eoa}

Shaneen Clarke is often called an evangelist but sees herself as more of an apostle and teacher. To equip and empower people is of particular appeal to her ministry. She’s known for a sense of humor, wit and global outlook. She’s ministered in more than 20 nations and speaks Mandarin. You can connect with here here.

(This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.)