The word “saint” has traditionally been used to refer only to Christians who reach a high degree of dedication to God. However, the following Scripture throws the gate wide open all those who love the Lord:

“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their Lord and ours” (1 Cor. 1:2).

In this verse, three simple criteria are offered for sainthood:

• Belonging to “the church of God”: The word “church” is from the Greek word ecclesia (pronounced ek-klay-see’-ah), meaning “called-out ones.” Therefore, it is comprised of all those who have been truly called out of life of sin into a life of consecration to God;
• Being “sanctified in Christ Jesus”: The word “sanctified” has a double meaning: first, being cleansed from the defilement of sin; and second, being dedicated to the purposes of God;
• Calling on “the name of Jesus“: in other words, living a life of communion with the Savior of all mankind.
• “sanctified by the truth” (Jn. 17:19)
• “sanctified by faith” (Acts. 26:18)
• “sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:5)
• “sanctified … in the name of the Lord” (1 Cor. 6:11)
• “sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10).
• “sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:16)
• “sanctified by God the Father” (Jude 1)
• “sanctified” by the blood of Jesus (Heb. 13:12)

So all who have been born again, regardless of denominational affiliation, are not only invited, but included in “the assembly of the saints” (Ps. 89:5). Wow! In an age of much spiritual compromise, isn’t this a challenging idea to embrace? 

‘Sanctified’ People Become ‘Saints’

Sainthood and sanctification are inseparably interwoven, because a saint is simply someone who is sanctified. This initially comes as a gift from God. As soon as we confess Jesus as Lord of our lives, a number of sanctifying influences work together to present us “holy unto the Lord.” At that glorious moment of spiritual rebirth, we are made holy.

However, claiming sainthood from the very start of our walk with God is almost like asserting that an acorn is really an oak tree. It is, but it isn’t. It may have the identity and the potential, but to really be an oak tree in a manifested way, that acorn has to “fall into the ground and die” (John 12:24), then spend a good deal of time growing.

And so it is with us. All believers have the identity and the inheritance of being saints, but to really be saints in a valid and viable way (to fully realize this inner potential), we must die to self, die to the world and die to sin.

Then we must spend a good deal of time growing in God, yielding to His nature and fulfilling His will. Then we emerge in the very character of the “King of saints” Himself (Rev. 15:3c). This should be our goal every single day. {eoa}

Mike Shreve has been teaching God’s Word since 1971. He has authored 14 books including the best-selling Charisma House title, 65 Promises From God for Your Child and a new book on the names and titles of God’s people, WHO AM I? Dynamic Declarations of Who You Are in Christ. He and his wife, Elizabeth, pastor The Sanctuary in Cleveland, Tennessee. Please visit .

Parenting can be very challenging. Many influences are competing to control the hearts and minds of our offspring. There are a number of ways to combat these negatives, but one of the most effective means is prayer.

Too many parents pray the problems. They rehearse before God all the upsetting things their children are doing or facing—and all too often they “pray” with fearful, distressed or discouraged attitudes of heart. Could they inadvertently be reinforcing the very things they seek to overcome? How much more powerful it is to enter God’s presence reminding Him of the commitments He has already made in His Word concerning our sons and daughters. 

There are 7,487 promises in the Bible. Sixty-five of them directly relate to the children of those who are in covenant with God. Here are eight of my favorites:

• Divine Instruction: “All your sons shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your sons” (Is. 54:13).
• Deliverance: “Though be assured, the wicked will not be unpunished, but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered” (Prov. 11:21).
• Salvation: “I will contend with him who contends with you; and I will save your sons” (Is. 49:25c).
• God’s Spirit and Blessing Poured Out: “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring” (Is. 44:3).
• Covenant and Mercy: “Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy with them who love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations” (Deut. 7:9).
• Awakened Love for God: “The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live” (Deut. 30:6).
• The Legacy of the Word: “As for Me, this is My covenant with them, says the Lord: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your descendants, nor out of the mouth of your descendants’ descendants, says the Lord, from this time forth and forever” (Is. 59:21).
• Eternal Life: “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me, says the Lord, so shall your descendants and your name remain” (Is. 66:22).

No parent can force a child to love and serve God. But God intends to be involved in the process supernaturally. One touch of His Spirit is far more effective than hours of pleading and counseling from a distraught father or mother.

So purpose now to partner with the Creator in this high calling of parenthood. Don’t beg Him to move for your child anymore. Instead, thank Him in advance for fulfilling the pledges He’s already made. In fact, exuberantly praise Him as if these things are a done deal. That’s faith—and faith pleases God. What a great way to intercede every day of 2017! Get ready for miracles to happen. {eoa}

Mike Shreve has been teaching God’s Word since 1971. He has authored 14 books including the best-selling Charisma House title, 65 Promises From God for Your Child and a new book on the names and titles of God’s people, WHO AM I? Dynamic Declarations of Who You Are in Christ. He and his wife, Elizabeth, pastor The Sanctuary in Cleveland, Tennessee. Please visit .

A priest is someone who draws near to God—first, to minister worship to Him and then to represent Him to others.

Originally God’s intention was for all Israelites to fill this sacred role. After they left Egypt, He gave the promise (hinged to its condition):

“‘Now therefore, if you will faithfully obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is Mine. And you will be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation'” (Ex. 19:5-6)

Unfortunately, in the very next chapter, when the visitation took place on Mount Sinai and God spoke the Ten Commandments, instead of drawing near, the Israelites drew back—pleading with Moses to access the Most High in their behalf. Later on, when he was in the mountain receiving further instructions for forty days, they coerced Aaron to make a false idol, a golden calf—brazenly breaking the commandments they had just heard. That fateful day, only the tribe of Levi stood with Moses—and the priesthood passed to them for centuries.

Then the Messiah came and offered himself as the supreme sacrifice for our sins. And that’s when everything changed for the better. Through the blood He shed, all believers can now have “confidence to enter the Most Holy Place” (Heb 10:19b). In other words, we can all function as priests. Therefore, let us all “draw near with a true heart …” (Heb. 12: 22a).

Thank God, in this era, the priesthood is no longer reserved for only a few who achieve a higher-than-normal degree of consecration. All sons and daughters of God have inherited this right to enter the presence of God, to commune with Him, to receive His revealed wisdom and then to share the Word of God with others. Filling this role is not just a futuristic hope. Rev. 1:6a states in the past tense, “He has made us kings and priests.”

Two of the most powerful priesthood verses in the New Testament are found in the writings of Peter: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house as a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).

So children of God are commissioned in this era to present to the Creator not bloody animal sacrifices on a brass altar, but “spiritual sacrifices” on the altar of their regenerated hearts:

• Sacrifices of righteousness—Ps. 4:5
• Sacrifices of joy—Ps. 27:6
• Sacrifices of thanksgiving—Jon. 2:9
• Sacrifices of praise—Heb. 13:15

The second “priest” passage from Peter’s writings adds a new dimension altogether: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may declare the goodness of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Pet. 2:9).

Though the idea of a “priesthood” speaks of serving with meekness, the word “royal” implies ruling with authority. So New Covenant priests are empowered to reign over the flesh, over the devil and his demons and over all the negative aspects of living in this world. Then after it’s all over, we will actually reign on the earth in the age to come (see Rev. 20:6). Hallelujah! {eoa}

Mike Shreve has been teaching God’s Word since 1971. He has authored 14 books, including the best-selling 65 Promises From God for Your Child and a new book on the names and titles of God’s people, titled WHO AM I? Dynamic Declarations of Who You Are in Christ. He and his wife, Elizabeth, pastor The Sanctuary in Cleveland, Tennessee. .

My wife, Elizabeth, and I considered the choosing of names for offspring a sacred act. We took this responsibility seriously, knowing that the names we selected would mark our offspring for life.

Choosing the names of favorite celebrities was never a consideration. Choosing traditional names passed through the family was good but not good enough. Our expectation was that our children’s names would guide them prophetically into their destiny.

Our firstborn was a boy. After much prayer, we called him Zion Seth (Zion probably means fortress; Seth means appointed). It was our way of praying that the Almighty would “appoint” him to be a “fortress” of faith in a world filled with doubt, a “fortress” of truth in a world full of deception.

Ten years later Elizabeth became pregnant again. After five months we received a very disturbing report—our daughter, yet in the womb, had spinal bifida (a hole in the spine) and would probably have cretinism (mental retardation). Though the doctor knew we were ministers, he had the audacity to suggest abortion as an alternative to carrying the baby full term. We never went back to that physician.

Instead, we responded by naming out yet-to-be-born, precious girl Destiny Hope. It was our way of dismissing the negative report by raising a faith-filled banner over her entrance into the world. Yes, it was our way of announcing, “Little baby, no matter what they say, we declare that you have a destiny and you have hope. The One who formed you in the womb will perfect you, just as Psalm 138:8 declares.” And it happened. Faith attracted the power of God, and our baby girl was born perfect.

So name giving can be an expression of prophetic intercession—with transformational, even supernatural and miraculous results—especially when God does it.

My awakening to this revelation. Years ago I was involved in an in-depth study of the names and titles given to God in Scripture. It powerfully pulled back the veil on the true nature of the Creator, allowing me to behold the glory of who He is and what I should expect in my relationship with Him.

Incredible confidence was released in me when I came to know Him as my Redeemer, Savior, sure foundation, and the chief cornerstone of my life! What a blessing it was to discover that He is the Lord my righteousness, the Lord my healer, the Lord my provider, the Lord my shepherd, and the Lord who is always there! What a sense of security I felt upon realizing He is both the author and the finisher of my faith (Heb. 12:2)!

I learned in Psalm 91:1 that when I dwell in the secret place of “the Most High” (El Elyon in Hebrew) then I “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (El Shaddai in Hebrew). In other words, when I make Him the Most High—higher than all my dreams, goals, possessions and attainments—His mighty power overshadows my life to perform His purpose marvelously.

Praise God! My spirit soared. That word study empowered me to rise to the next level spiritually. Nothing I had considered up to that point could compare to this revelatory subject. Then one day—unmistakably, profoundly—the Lord spoke to my heart something that would change my life forever. He communicated that it would be just as important for me to know my God-given names and titles.

 A spiritual menorah was lit with holy fire deep into my soul.

I began zealously searching the Word. Much to my surprise I found not just dozens but hundreds of names and entitlements. Excitement surged through my spirit. With great gratitude, I realized God had led me to a mother lode, a primary vein of gold in His Word that would enrich me for the rest of my days. More importantly, it would enable me to enrich others. Each title was like another nugget—a shining, golden declaration of who we are in God’s great plan of the ages. I felt like a spiritual prospector dancing with glee at the sight of each gleaming, new discovery peeking out of the soil.

Poring over the Scriptures with fresh fervor my heart was filled again and again with great expectations as I learned what it means for us to be the apple of God’s eye, ambassadors for Christ, the bride, children of Abraham, children of the resurrection, a chosen generation, the church, disciples, heirs of the kingdom, heirs of promise, the light of the world, more than conquerors, new creations, overcomers, the redeemed, a royal priesthood, the salt of the earth, true worshippers, vessels of mercy, and much more.

The greatest transformation came not in my knowing but in my doing. It was wonderful to discover and know my identity in God, but it was far more wonderful to actually walk in the reality of that revelation—in tangible and relevant ways. Now it’s my blessed privilege and my sacred charge to pass this glorious gift to you. This revelation will prove to you how loved, blessed, transformed, called, empowered, victorious and destined you really are.

I urge you to do more than just accept them by faith. Be filled with wonder. Respond with worship. Then make it happen. Walk in the reality they declare—until you become who you really are. You will never be the same. But more importantly, the world around you will be changed forever as well.

Adapted from Who Am I? Dynamic Declarations of Who You Are in Christ by Mike Shreve, copyright 2016, published by Charisma House. There are hundreds of names and titles that describe the people of God in the Bible. Fifty-two of the most powerful names that belong to the body of Christ are explained in this book. Know who God says you are. To order your copy click here.

Prayer Power for the Week of August 7, 2016

This week ask the Lord to help you see how loved, blessed, transformed, called, empowered, victorious and destined you are. Accept it by faith and respond with worship. Ask the Lord to help you walk out what He deposits in your spirit through your study of the Word regarding what He’s created you to be and become. Continue to pray for those affected by the recent terrorist attacks at home and abroad. Pray for continual protection for our nation and its allies, and include Israel and the persecuted church. Ask for His guidance concerning the upcoming elections (Ps. 13.8; Heb. 12:2; Ps. 91:1).

There are two primary definitions assigned to the word faith. First, our faith can be the sum of religious principles on which we base our lives; second, it can be the act of believing in God and trusting His promises.

The word household can mean either a family or all those residing in the same home. As born-again believers, we are part of the same family, dwelling under the same covering of the redemptive love of God. Our privilege is to experience life together with hearts intertwined in covenant relationship. The glue that holds us together is not some denominational affiliation, but our mutual faith in our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strangely the word faith only appears twice in the Old Testament, but over 240 times in the New Testament—so it is definitely an emphasis in this era. There is much to be learned about this spiritual “substance” Paul described as a “mystery” (Heb. 11:1; 1 Tim. 3:9).

The following 10 insights are some of the most important:

1. Faith is a gift from God – Ephesians 2:8 declares, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God.” A gift is not something earned; it is given freely as an expression of love. God so loved us that He gave us the capacity to believe. The Scriptures title Jesus “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). He initiates faith within our hearts and then continues growing and developing that faith within us for the remainder of our lives.

2. Faith is allocated by God – Every child of God is granted a “measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3). In other words, in His omniscience, God anticipates all that His offspring will be called to do in the kingdom, and all the battles and challenges they will face in life. In advance He assigns enough faith to each one of us that we might succeed in every arena. Because of this, it is “not of works, so that no one should boast” (Eph. 2:9).

3. Faith is awakened by the Word of God: – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). As we speak the “word of faith,” confessing with our lips that Jesus rose from the dead, we are saved (Rom. 10:8).

4. Faith empowers us to receive the Spirit of God – We “receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal. 3:14). Then, after we are begotten of the Word and born of the Spirit, we move through life speaking “the word of faith,” aided by the “Spirit of faith” (a title for the Holy Spirit), thus empowered to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God (2 Cor. 4:13).

5. Faith makes us righteous in the sight of God – Christians are “justified by faith” (Rom. 5:1). To be justified means to be legally acquitted of all guilt, as if we never sinned, and recognized as righteous in the sight of God. Contrary to all other religions, the miracle of Christianity is that “with the heart, one believes unto righteousness” (Rom. 10:10).

6. Faith is a spiritual weapon – Paul exhorted Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith” and to “lay hold on eternal life” (1 Tim. 6:12). There are so many adversaries on this journey from time to eternity, within and without. We war against literal powers of darkness, as well as dark attitudes and thoughts that churn within our own hearts. One way we fight is by adamantly believing and confessing God’s Word. Hebrews 11:33 reveals that “through faith” we obtain “promises.”

7. Faith grants ultimate victory – 1 John 5:4 says that “whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and the victory that overcomes the world is our faith.” There is nothing that this world will throw at us that faith cannot overpower, even the worst thing—death. If faith can overcome the most grievous adversary, it can certainly empower us to rise above lesser problems. No wonder the Scripture uses the past tense in declaring that, “you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14). It is as good as done.

8. Faith activates resurrection power – At the grave site of Lazarus, Jesus asserted, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). When we believe that the Father raised the Son of God from the dead, our souls are saved (Rom. 10:8–10), but then we go on to believe God will raise us from the grave also to live forever in His presence.

9. Faith will bring us to perfection eternally – Ephesians 4:11–13 reveals that the five-fold ministry (pastors, evangelists, teachers, apostles, and prophets) exists to build up the body of Christ “until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, into a complete man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” The New King James says, “to a perfect man.” So it is faith that will bring the entire body of Christ to perfection, completion and fullness and cause us to finally emerge in the full image of the firstborn Son.

10. Faith without works is dead – James declared that “faith without works is dead,” or non-existent (James 2:26). Works will automatically result from real faith, and they indicate its existence. As General Booth, founder of the Salvation Army explained, “Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again—until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other.”

Declare Who You Are in Christ

“I declare that I am a member of the household of faith! Knowing that faith pleases God, I have determined to respond to the challenges of life with unwavering trust in God’s Word. Because I believe in the name of the Lord, His crucifixion and resurrection, I already have overcome the world. I refuse to stagger at the promise of God through unbelief, so that my faith might result in “praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:7)—when the author and the finisher of my faith returns in all His glory. In Jesus’s name, amen!

Excerpted from Mike Shreve’s book, Who Am I?: Dynamic Delcarations of Who You Are in Christ (Charisma House, 2016). You can purchase the book by clicking here. {eoa)

Mike Shreve was saved in 1970 during the Jesus movement era. He was a teacher of yoga at four Florida universities until an encounter with Jesus changed everything. His conversion story is featured in several books: In Search of the True Light (a comparison of over twenty religions), Truth Seekers (co-written with Sid Roth), and a mini-book called The Highest Adventure: Encountering God (offered as a free download on his websites). Shortly after receiving salvation, Shreve began traveling evangelistically, preaching in hundreds of churches and conducting large open air crusades in various nations, such as India, Costa Rica, Liberia and Nigeria. He and his wife, Elizabeth, presently pastor an interdenominational church in Cleveland, Tennessee, called The Sanctuary.

To redeem means to loose or set free from bondage. It is a biblical term especially associated with the liberation of debtors, slaves or prisoners. It can also mean to buy back that which has been lost, stolen, forfeited or sold.

In the beginning Adam lost his oneness with God and passed on that fallen state to all his offspring. The enemy has since stolen many things from our hearts and lives: virtue, righteousness, peace, perfect health and everlasting life. To one degree or another, we have all forfeited good things God wanted for us and in so doing sold ourselves into spiritual or mental enslavement—but thank God we learned to “say so,” to declare our redemption rights and lay hold of them by faith.

From the onset, God had a plan to redeem fallen humanity. Strangely, though, it took many centuries to unfold. The first mention of redemption is found in Genesis, the book of beginnings.

As Jacob prayed over his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, he declared:

“The angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; let them be called by my name, and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth” (Gen. 48:16, MEV).

The angel being referred to is no ordinary angel—it is “the Angel of the Lord,” a title assigned to the preincarnate Messiah when He manifested Himself during the Old Testament era (Genesis 16:7 and 22:11; Exodus 3:2 and 23:23; and Judges 6:11–24).

Jacob was “saying so,” as Psalm 107 suggests. He was declaring a spiritual law and precedent over his seed that when the Redeemer comes into the lives of His chosen ones, His intention is to deliver them from “all evil”—from every evil thing encountered in this world, even the bonds of death itself.

Redeemed from the Law

When the law was revealed, it resulted in both blessings and curses on the children of Israel. For those who obeyed, it promised great blessings, but for those who disobeyed, terrible consequences. Over one hundred curses are listed in Deuteronomy 27:14–26 and 28:15–68. One disturbing verse announced unequivocally: “Cursed is he who does not confirm all the words of this law by doing them” (Deut. 27:26).

There were 613 commandments in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and, according to this verse, if a person fell short of keeping just one, he or she came under this curse of the law. So all who participated in the Old Covenant were under “a yoke of bondage,” because no one could live a perfect life (Gal. 5:1). However, like the dawning of a new day, the New Covenant arose out of the shadows with the promise:

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).

What a miracle! Through His death and resurrection, Jesus paid a sufficient price in advance to loose all who would ever yield to His Lordship from all sins and failures, as well as the judgment that should have resulted. He delivered us from every curse of the law including sickness, poverty and confusion of mind. He did not accomplish this miracle through some religious ritual:

“For you know that you were not redeemed from your vain way of life inherited from your fathers with perishable things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18–19).

Even if death stalks us, and it appears we may leave this world, we can echo the confident words of the patriarch Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25).

Whenever that may take place, God’s redemptive plan will carry us through the portal of death to even greater glory at the second coming of the Lord and the resurrection of the dead. Therefore, “we also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan within ourselves while eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom. 8:23).

There is nothing to fear, for our God will never leave us nor forsake us until we arrive at this final goal. We have been “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13)—powerfully preserved by the Most High “for the day of redemption,” the day when we are changed fully into His image (Eph. 4:30). The glory of Eden that was lost will then be regained.

No wonder our main scripture encourages God’s redeemed to “say so” (Ps. 107:2). The key to experiencing all of these redemption rights is to seize them by faith through the power of the spoken word.

Let’s do that right now!

Declare Who You Are in Christ

“I declare that I am one of the redeemed of the Lord! This is a past tense fact. By the blood of the Lamb, I have already been redeemed—loosed away from the bondage of sin, sickness, poverty and all satanic plots against me. My mind has been redeemed. My emotions have been redeemed. My spirit, soul and body have all been redeemed. I have even been redeemed from the power of the grave. If that is my lot, I will emerge from the dust victorious, glorified and immortal. Until that magnificent day, I declare that I will live in my redemption rights and overcome all things. In Jesus’s name, amen!” {eoa}

Excerpted from Mike Shreve’s book, Who Am I?: Dynamic Delcarations of Who You Are in Christ (Charisma House 2016). You can purchase the book by clicking here.

Mike Shreve was saved in 1970 during the Jesus movement era. He was a teacher of yoga at four Florida universities until an encounter with Jesus changed everything. His conversion story is featured in several books: In Search of the True Light (a comparison of over twenty religions), Truth Seekers (co-written with Sid Roth), and a mini-book called The Highest Adventure: Encountering God (offered as a free download on his websites). Shortly after receiving salvation, Shreve began traveling evangelistically, preaching in hundreds of churches and conducting large open air crusades in various nations, such as India, Costa Rica, Liberia and Nigeria. He and his wife, Elizabeth, presently pastor an interdenominational church in Cleveland, Tennessee, called The Sanctuary.

Around the turn of the millennium an intriguing megatrend swept across the body of Christ. Believers all around the globe became enthralled with an obscure, 32-word prayer found in one verse of Scripture: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my territory, that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that it may not bring me hardship!'” (1 Chron. 4:10).

I believe this brief petition resonated with millions of prayerful people primarily because of the verse’s concluding comment: “So God granted him what he asked” (1 Chron. 4:10, emphasis added).

Wow! How simple can you get? As far as we know, Jabez didn’t attend any all-night prayer vigils. No one laid hands on him for an impartation. He didn’t fast 40 days. He didn’t prostrate himself before the Lord for hours. He didn’t mechanically repeat a certain faith confession hundreds of times. These aren’t bad things to do, but they are not what Jabez did. He just made five short requests combined into one sentence that took maybe 10 seconds to utter. And God was so deeply moved that He actually did it—He granted him what he requested. Don’t you feel like echoing my sentiment? Wow!

I have to admit, I got swept away with the profound potency of this prayer as well, but I can remember thinking numerous times: “If Jabez’s prayer could strike such awe in the hearts of believers, surely there are other prayers in the Bible that should also command our attention, prayers that are just as weighty (if not more so) and just as effective in securing a response from heaven.”

So I embarked on a journey through God’s Word, seeking not just instances in the Bible when people prayed, but specifically times when petitions also attracted some kind of supernatural response. I thought if certain prayer principles worked for celebrated faith heroes in the past, then using a similar approach should potentially bring results for believers who seek God in this era.

Prayer Heroes

I discovered a number of great examples—very inspiring prayers from key Bible figures such as Moses, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Elijah, Jonah and the members of the fledgling church in Jerusalem. Some are lengthy; some are quite short and to the point. But all were effective in bringing the kingdom of heaven down to earth.

Some of these prayers have impacted me far more than the prayer of Jabez ever did—and studying them has awakened a renewed confidence that God will do it again. I pray the same thing happens for you.

Martin Luther is quoted as saying, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” Let me assure you, we aren’t trying to “force” God’s hand by using any time-proven methods. Instead, we’re merely aligning ourselves with God’s will and getting in a receptive position.

So let’s accept this challenge together! Let’s determine to achieve the full capacity of a consecrated prayer life, expecting “great and mighty things” (Jer. 33:3).

Moving God Like Moses

One of these divinely moving prayers that has fascinated me is from Moses. After obeying God’s call to lead the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, Moses is summoned by the Lord to Mount Sinai, where he receives the Ten Commandments. The Israelites, taking advantage of his absence, lapsed into idolatry, convincing Aaron to make them a golden calf to be their god.

As we see in Exodus 32, Moses’ first reaction was to throw down and break the tablets of stone, burn the idol, grind it to powder, mix it with water and make the children of Israel drink of the concoction. After this he displayed great unselfishness. When God set His mind toward destroying the entire nation and raising up a new nation from Moses’ seed, Moses pled with God to instead remember His commitment to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God mercifully relented.

Yet in Exodus 33 we find the Most High still deliberating over what He is going to do to the Israelites. At the same time, Moses, completely frustrated with the people, turns his heart worshipfully toward God.

Let’s look at the passage in verses 12-18: “Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, You say to me, “Bring up this people,” but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, “I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.” Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You, and that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too that this nation is Your people.’

“And He said, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’

“Then he said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how will it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we will be distinguished, I and Your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?’

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do this thing of which you have spoken, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.’

“Then Moses said, ‘I pray, show me Your glory.'”

This last petition that Moses uttered was only six words long (“I pray, show me Your glory”) but it elicited from God an extraordinary series of promises. Audibly He pledged: “‘I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’ But He said, ‘You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.’ And the Lord said, ‘Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen'” (Ex. 33:19-23).

God responded to Moses by giving him the very thing he asked. God showed him His glory. How amazing! And what He has done for one, He can do for another.

4 ‘Power Points’ in Moses’ Prayer

We can learn several things from Moses’ prayer. Let’s break down his full conversation with God into four “power points” to see how and why he obtained such a visitation from the Most High. At the conclusion of each point, I’ve included an action step for application to your own life.

Power Point #1

Moses first asked God to “show me now Your way,” the God-inspired path that he should follow (Ex. 33:13). He wanted to be in the center of God’s will.

Knowing these two things would be a confirmation that grace had truly been applied to his life, but Moses requested this so that ultimately he could experience even more of the grace of God. Whenever God pours out grace, in a sense He “stoops down” from His level of holiness and perfection to help unholy and imperfect humanity, simply because He loves us.

Action Step: Ask God to pour out His grace in your life by leading you in the right path. But tell Him your highest passion is to know Him.

Power Point #2

In verse 13, Moses reminds God that “this nation is Your people,” speaking of the Israelites. Likewise, we are not just any people; we are the people of God. We belong to Him. We are “the Lord’s portion” (Deut. 32:9), the group of people out of this world whom He has inherited in a special relationship forever. So we, of all people, should expect His intervention.

Action Step: Declare to God that of all the people of the world, you are one of those who truly belong to Him.

Power Point #3

In verse 15, Moses makes a bold statement: “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” He made it clear that if the Israelites lost God’s presence (the cloud by day, the fire by night, the supernatural fire on the altar that fell from heaven and the Shekinah glory cloud on the ark), they would lose the essence of who they were. It was the very thing that set them apart from all other nations.

Action Step: Make it clear to God that His personal, abiding presence is infinitely more important to you than what He can do for you.

Power Point #4

“I pray, show me Your glory” (Ex. 33:18). The glory of God is His manifest presence—His greatness, His dominion, His beauty, His awe-inspiring majesty and power. To see the “glory” is to transcend this natural realm, to be lifted into  heavenly sphere, to behold the supernatural splendor of God. This “glory of God” is all the more available now because of Jesus’ death and resurrection: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6, emphasis added).

Action Step:Appeal to God to show you the glory of who He is and to manifest His glory in your life.

My First Encounter With the Lord of Glory

I deeply relate to this passage of Scripture because it reminds me so much of how I first encountered the true and living God. In 1970 I was teaching Kundalini yoga to about 300 students at four universities in the Tampa, Florida, area. I also ran a yoga ashram, a commune where yoga devotees follow a more intense discipline. Each day I taught various techniques geared toward achieving that illusive state referred to in eastern religions as “God consciousness.”

Every day began at 3:30 a.m. with two to three hours of meditation and mantra yoga (the chanting of mantras), then various yoga disciplines for about 12 hours. However, one unique and wonderful day I broke with my normal pattern. A friend had sent me a letter explaining that he’d been “born again” (an unfamiliar concept to me at the time) and had discovered Jesus to be the only way to heaven. I initially responded in the negative, that I couldn’t confine myself to Christianity. But my friend’s letter weighed heavily on my mind.

So one morning I decided that instead of going through my usual yoga routine, I’d spend the whole day praying only to Jesus and reading only the Bible. Though unaware of it at the time, I was using a “Moses-like” approach. All day I asked the Lord to reveal Himself, using words like these: “Lord Jesus, I dedicate this day to You. Show me the way. If You are truly the only way to eternal life, if You really died on the cross for my sins and rose again, I pray You will reveal Yourself supernaturally. Manifest Yourself. Give me some kind of sign.”

When Moses prayed that God would reveal His glory, God’s loving response was: “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you” (Ex. 33:19).

A similar thing happened for me. I don’t have room in this article to explain all the ways God answered my prayers that day—including using a new believer, who had just left behind yoga and Eastern religions a few months before, to tell me about Jesus—but that day something supernatural happened to me similar to Moses’ supernatural encounter. God made His “goodness” pass before me (showing me the revelation of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Son of God). The word gospel means “good news.” As I learned various facets of the good news, the goodness of the Lord kept passing before me again and again—and I learned from the beginning, God’s glory is His goodness.

When Moses asked to see God’s glory, the second part of God’s response was the pledge that He would “proclaim the name of the Lord” before Moses (Ex. 33:19). That happened to me also during that pivotal turning point. I learned the true name of the Lord was not Brahman (from Hinduism), Sat Nam (from Sikhism) or Allah (from Islam)—but the Lord Jesus Christ, the triune name of the triune God, the name that is above every name, the name to which every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, the name that is connected to the true revelation of the plan of God for man.

Finally, at the close of Exodus 33, we find God doing something remarkable for Moses, something that speaks in a symbolic and spiritual way to us: “Then the Lord said, ‘Indeed, there is a place by Me. You must stand on the rock. While My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you will see My back, but My face may not be seen'” (vv. 21-23).

In like manner, when the Lord passed by me in the fall of 1970, He placed His hand upon me, opening up my spiritual understanding. In a spiritual sense He placed me in the “cleft of the Rock”—the one who is called the Rock of Ages. From that day forward I have been “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).

Several weeks later I was battling raging doubt in my mind over the concept that the Bible is actually God’s inspired Word. The Lord Jesus understood my struggle and came to me in a dream. He appeared before me in glowing white apparel, so brilliant I could not make out the features of His face. Then He disappeared and in His place was the Bible, glowing with the same brilliant white light, with golden Hebrew print on the pages, and pulsating like it had a heartbeat. A river of light poured off the pages into my soul, and I realized that God and His Word are one and that the Bible truly is the Word of God. My doubts were dispelled forever when I beheld His glory!

Did all of these things happen because of prayer? Absolutely! Was it important that I asked God to show me His way (the right path) and manifest Himself to me supernaturally? Yes. It worked for Moses and it worked for me.

As Watchman Nee so aptly declared: “Our prayers lay the track down on which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, His power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.”

So lay down the rails today. You may be surprised what comes to you from above.

Mike Shreve has been involved in full-time ministry since 1971, sharing the gospel globally. He is the author of many best-selling books, most recently Powerful Prayers for Supernatural Results (Charisma House)–from which this article is adapted. For more information, visit .

Mike Shreve shares personal stories of how God supernaturally answered prayers for his family at

For more study …

In his latest book, Powerful Prayers for Supernatural Results (Charisma House), Mike Shreve demonstrates prayer that taps into God’s will. He uses prayers recorded in Scripture to show modern-day believers how to pray. You can purchase this book wherever Christian books are sold or at or .

If God responded supernaturally to Moses, Solomon and Elijah, we can expect Him to respond supernaturally to us. I have often said, “The only thing unchangeable in this world is the God who said, ‘I am the Lord; I do not change’ (Mal. 3:6).” Everything else is subject to change, especially when God’s people pray in faith and the Almighty responds.

Don’t minimize yourself. Elijah was a man who faced temptations and human frailties like the rest of us, but he walked in the supernatural. In fact, God was so appreciative of Elijah that when Elijah finished his time in this world, God carried him supernaturally to heaven in a chariot of fire.

How did he become such a history maker and world changer? The biblical explanation is, “He prayed” (James 5:17). Other people in the past have prayed with such power that the world was changed forever, including the following intercessors.

Abel—Drawing Heaven to Earth

After the insurrection in Eden, spiritual darkness settled on the world like a thick, impenetrable fog—that is, until Abel, attempting to offer God true worship, presented a lamb without blemish as a burnt offering to God on an altar.

As far as we know, his was a wordless prayer, yet that sacrificed animal, consumed with fire, was a prophetic statement representing Abel’s desire to present his life as a sacrifice to God and to be consumed with on-fire devotion to Him. The Most High honored his faith, and “Abel … was approved as righteous, with God testifying concerning his gifts” (Heb. 11:4).

By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain offered. Through this, he still speaks through his faith, though he is dead.

What was this “witness”? We don’t know for sure, but supernatural fire quite possibly fell from heaven and consumed Abel’s sacrifice, since that happened later when God found a sacrifice acceptable (1 Kings 18:38; 2 Chr. 7:1; Lev. 9:24). Whatever took place, there must have been shrieks of terror among the evil principalities that thought they had erected an impassable barrier of satanic control in this fallen world. But God responded to Abel’s prayer, the spiritual wall was breached, and a stream of blessing began flowing downward.

Like a barely burning ember coming back to life, renewed hope started glowing in this world from that moment forward. Things may look impossible for you now, but don’t you think they looked even more impossible then? Yet one praying person made the difference.

Noah—Lifting a Curse

After the flood was over, Noah’s family and all the animals exited the ark. Genesis 8:20-21 says, “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The Lord smelled a soothing aroma; and the Lord said in His heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the inclination of man’s heart is evil from his youth, nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.'”

Another wordless prayer had profound global impact. It seems that up until that time, it was almost impossible to grow any kind of substantial crop. Gripped with a suffocating curse, the ground primarily brought forth “thorns and thistles” (Gen. 3:18). Once again, though, a single individual touched the heart of God with his worship, and this time, a debilitating curse was lifted from nature.

Prior to the flood, there had been only a mist rising up from the ground (Gen. 2:5-6). From that point forward, however, nourishing rain fell from above. After He saw Noah’s reverential act, consecrating the new world, and He “smelled” the “soothing aroma” of passionate praise, the Most High God pledged: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease” (Gen. 8:22).

Mary, Jesus’ Mother—Releasing God’s Will

The most monumental event ever to happen was the incarnation of the Son of God. Each major stage of His journey through time was activated by intercession. His first coming took place because many thousands of Jews had prayed for centuries that the Messiah would come.

When the angel Gabriel announced that the ordained time had arrived, a humble Jewish girl prayerfully confessed: “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

That was a prayerful outburst, not only toward Gabriel but toward God Himself. The will of the Almighty was released, and nine months later, God became flesh, born of a virgin in a manger in Bethlehem.

Jesus’ Disciples—Interceding for Salvation

Approximately a third of a century later, at Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, His disciples jubilantly heralded the coming of the King of kings to the city of God, exclaiming, “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9).

What a moment for a unique worship word to surface in the Bible: Hosanna. You won’t find it anywhere else, except in its original form in the Hebrew language. You see, the New Testament word “Hosanna” actually evolved from a fusion of the traditional Hebrew praise words hoshiah na, which are a prayerful plea meaning, “Save now, I beseech You” (translated this way in Psalm 118:25 of the King James Version). The Jewish worshippers of that day understood this was a prophetic plea for the Messiah to set up His reign.

Even though “Hosanna” is a prayerful request, strangely, it is never spoken in a pleading tone of voice, as a petition. Instead, it is normally an ecstatic shout of praise. When I was first confronted with this paradox, I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around it. So I brought up the subject to a dear Messianic Jewish friend, and he explained, “Oh, yes, hoshiah na is a request, but it is made in full expectation of performance. It is similar to a wife asking her husband, ‘You will take out the garbage, won’t you?’ She may be ‘asking,’ but she has no doubt that her spouse will comply with her wishes and the action will take place.”

And so it is with the beautiful praise word “Hosanna.” Technically, it is an appeal, but it is spoken with an assurance of divine response. Though the strict translation is, “Save us, we beseech You,” the implied meaning is: “Lord, we fully believe You will save us and so we praise God for our deliverance in advance!”

When worshippers tag the phrase “in the highest” after the word Hosanna, it becomes an even more powerful proclamation: “Lord, I believe You are going to save me in every area of my being to the highest degree possible for God!” How intense is that?

The phrase “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” was also understood to be a prophecy of the Messiah—a declaration that He would represent the Father and be filled with His authority. The crowd of disciples waving palm fronds, casting their garments in the road and shouting these words had no idea how profoundly their prayers would be answered in the next few days.

Jesus—Praying for Spiritual Transformation

After Jesus ascended to heaven, He sent back the power of the Holy Spirit to His disciples on the Day of Pentecost. Even this grand infilling was the result of intercession—by the greatest intercessor of all, the Son of God Himself. Right before He collapsed in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, He uttered the most powerful and pivotal petition ever to ascend to the Father of creation (John 17:1-26).

How mightily the great High Priest stood in the gap for the disciples, who would be waiting for the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room just over 50 days later! How powerfully that prayer has lingered ever since, hovering over the world in full potency for two millennia, released into manifestation each time a new convert receives the Lord Jesus into his heart. Here are the main things for which Jesus prayed:

• That believers would receive the gift of eternal life
• That we would actually know God and receive the revelation of His name
• That we would receive and understand the Word of God
• That we would be kept from the evil one
• That we would be sanctified (cleansed from the defilement of sin and consecrated to God)
• That we would be accepted into the same oneness with the Father that Jesus enjoyed
• That we would be brought to perfection
• That the love of the Father would abide within us
• That the Son of God would live within us

What an awe-inspiring event it was when that first group of believers received the fruit of this intercession. The Holy Spirit came into the upper room like “a mighty rushing wind,” and divided “tongues as of fire” hovered over them (Acts 2:2-3). Surely that “wind” was the very breath of God breathing into His people the restoration of what Adam had lost in the garden.

The supernatural transformation forecast in this prayer has been only partially implemented but will be brought to complete fulfillment in the not-so-distant future when the “dead in Christ” rise and “we who are alive and remain” are caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air at His Second Coming (1 Thess. 4:16-17). We will then be made utterly perfect, changed and glorified in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the King of kings comes “in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him” (Matt. 25:31). We will then be so filled with His magnificence that we will shine “as the sun in the kingdom” of our Father (Matt. 13:43).

The Church—Praying for the King’s Return

When the Lord returns, the prayer Jesus told His followers to pray will be finally gloriously fulfilled: “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10).

So you see, you are already doing it—you and around 2 billion other believers currently in this world. Every time you petition God with the inspired words, “Your kingdom come; Your will be done,” you are praying a prayer that will inevitably change the world forever. Every time you plead, “Father, deliver us from evil,” God’s answer extends far beyond your own personal life to ultimately encircle the entire globe with His deliverance power.

Maybe you thought that kind of prayer power was reserved for the recognized champions of the faith, but God loves to use common people to accomplish uncommon things.

Yes, of all the prayerful utterances that have been uttered in this world, this “powerful prayer” really will produce “supernatural results.” And it will absolutely be answered—gloriously and permanently—in a moment.

After many centuries of petitions ascending to heaven, the answer will come in one blinding flash of power. Your prayers and the prayers of the rest of the body of Christ, like burning incense swirling around the very throne of the Almighty, will soon attract an incomparable response from on high (Rev. 8:1-6).

When that happens, Jesus will descend in flaming fire, accompanied by all His holy angels. Every eye will see Him, the dead in Christ will rise, living believers will be translated, the kingdom will fully come to earth, and the world will finally be changed forever.

Anything can happen when God’s people pray. Don’t ever give up. Keep seeking His face. Supernatural results are awaiting.

Mike Shreve has been involved in full-time ministry since 1971. His passion is to see authentic New Testament Christianity, the release of God’s glory and the manifestation of His gifts. He and his wife, Elizabeth, reside in Cleveland, Tennessee, with their two children.

More information

In Powerful Prayers for Supernatural Results: How to Pray as Moses, Elijah, Hannah, and Other Biblical Heroes Did (Charisma House), Mike Shreve teaches you how to experience life-changing breakthrough when you pray. Find this book at , or anywhere Christian books are sold.

The Ten Commandments of the Old Covenant are a primary part of our spiritual foundation. Bible believers often display them in an effort to influence others toward righteousness.

God Himself proclaimed them from Mount Sinai in a fiery display, and engraved them on tablets of stone. However, they are part of “the Law”: a system of religious, moral and lifestyle demands Paul later labeled “the ministry of condemnation” and “the ministry of death” (2 Cor. 3:7-9).

Have you ever noticed that eight of those 10 commands are negative (80 percent)—telling us what NOT to do? The Messiah, however, introduced a new approach that is 100 percent positive—promoting, not a sin-conscious mindset, but a God-conscious celebration of life.

The New Covenant transitions from religion to relationship, from rules to rebirth—that spiritual awakening that happens when the Son of God dwells within the hearts of His people (John 3:1-7; Eph. 3:17). From that point forward, the Two Commandments of the New Covenant should light up our lives like the glorious dawning of a new day.

The Nature of the New Covenant

An expert in the Law of Moses asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” (Matt. 22:36). The Son of man immediately replied:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. ‘This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:37-40).

This last sentence means that all other commandments are supported by these two. If we sincerely love God and love others, we will automatically refrain from lying, stealing, indulging in immoral behavior, dishonoring God or harming any human being. No wonder the Scripture maintains “love is the fulfillment of the Law” and “the more excellent way” (Rom. 13:10; 1 Cor. 12:31).

Jesus Simplified the Law

Jesus was God “manifested in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16). You would think Deity visiting humanity would make the practice of religion more detailed, more complicated, more demanding. Instead, through Jesus, it was greatly simplified. In a sense, He took the Ten Commandments, inscribed on two tablets of stone, and reduced them to Two Commandments inscribed on one tablet of stone—the “tablet” of the human heart (Prov. 3:3, 7:3; 2 Cor. 3:3).

Instead of the external demand of religious regulations, Jesus introduced the awesome blessing of internal transformation, a “new and living way” that would impart to His own forgiveness and an infilling of “the divine nature” (Heb. 10:20; 2 Pet. 1:4). Once this happens, we are called to “walk in love,” manifesting the character of the firstborn Son, loving one another and forgiving one another “even as God in Christ has forgiven” us (Eph. 4:32; 5:1-2). This is “the royal law” and “the simplicity that is in Christ” (James 2:8; Cor. 11:3).

Jesus Exalted the Law

Isaiah foretold the Messiah would “exalt the law and make it honorable” (Is. 42:21). To exalt means to elevate and to increase in quality or power. Jesus accomplished this—He elevated the law to a higher, more honorable, more powerful place, by shifting the emphasis from outer actions to inner attitudes. Instead of the subduing of the carnal nature being our chief focus, the manifestation of a spiritual nature should emerge as the governing principle of our walk with God (Matt. 5:21-28; 1 John 3:14-15, 4:7-21). Other prophets spoke of this glorious era:      

Moses: “The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live” (Deut. 30:6).

Jeremiah: “Surely, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah … But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law within them and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Jer. 31:31, 33).

Ezekiel: “Also, I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh” (Ezek. 36:26).

Certainly, under the Old Will, many loved and served God, but now, this capacity has dramatically increased, for “the love of God has been poured” into us as a gift from above—something Jesus prayed in advance that we would receive (Rom. 5:5; John 17:25-26).

God’s Personality Permeates His Kingdom

In the Gospel of Mark, a scribe agreed with Jesus concerning this insight, commenting, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, that there is one God and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:32-33). When the Messiah heard him express such wisdom, He appreciatively declared:

“You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).

God’s kingdom is that invisible, spiritual domain in which the Creator dwells, a realm saturated with the love of God, overflowing with the character of the Creator. It was not accessible to people until Jesus rose from the dead. However, this unnamed scribe was enlightened to its reality in advance, sensitive in advance to that “better thing” soon to come (Heb. 11:40). Now, those who are washed in the blood of Jesus and born of the Spirit are “translated” into this wonderful, spiritual kingdom in which love—toward God and toward others—is the dual dominating influence (Col. 1:13). No wonder Jesus boldly claimed:

“There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31).

We have been very passionate about displaying The Ten Commandments of the Old Will. Should we be even more passionate about displaying The Two Commandments of God’s current mode of operating in the Earth? Especially since the New Covenant changes people supernaturally, and will ultimately carry God’s people from time to eternity.

Mike Shreve and his wife, Elizabeth, pastor “The Sanctuary” in Cleveland, Tennessee. He has written 14 books, including the best-selling 65 Promises from God for Your Child. Recently, they launched a project encouraging believers to display The Two Commandments of the New Covenant. For more information visit and .

As we meditate on the present state of affairs in our nation and world, no biblical passage should come to mind any more readily than the story of Esther. It was a critical time for God’s people then, and so it is now—politically, monetarily, socially and spiritually.

Read Mordecai’s exhortation to his niece, who had just been appointed as queen:

“Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not think that in the king’s palace you will be more likely to escape than all the other Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, protection and deliverance for the Jews will be ordained from some other place, but you and your father’s house shall be destroyed. And who knows if you may have attained royal position for such a time as this?’“ (Esth. 4:13-14)

Unchecked, Haman’s plan would have spelled destruction for the Jews. In like manner, left unopposed, there are certain dark forces and evil agendas converging on this generation that could bring destruction—on Israel, on the United States of America and on the New Covenant people of God all over the world. Too many believers are satisfied to just enjoy living in “the King’s palace”: accessing for their own benefit the royal heritage we have received in Christ. However, there are other Esther-like individuals who feel the weight of responsibility, who know the importance of their calling and who are willing to rise up and fight the good fight of faith.

Esther was the primary catalyst for change and rescue in her day; only God knows what elect persons are primary ‘catalysts’ for revival and spiritual awakening in this hour. But surely the six determining factors that lifted that Jewess from obscurity to prominence will be evidenced as well in any modern-day oracles that answer the call to be world changers and history makers.

1.  Esther was virtuous—If she had not valued her “virginity,” she never would have qualified as a replacement for Queen Vashti. So those who will be used mightily of God in this hour must hold virtue, integrity and holiness in high esteem—walking the walk, not just talking the talk.

2.  Esther had a mentor—Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, adopted her and trained her for many years in the things of God. It was his passion to see truth expressed through her life. In like manner, any person who flows effectively in the power of God normally has a mentor standing somewhere in the shadows. Elisha could point to Elijah. Joshua could point to Moses. Timothy could point to Paul. And so the prophets and prophetesses of this hour can point to the previous generation of men and women of God who held the torch high for us.

3.  Esther was willing to leave her ‘comfort zone’—Esther could have remained silent and simply tried to just save her own life. But she was willing to endanger herself for the cause of righteousness and the good of others. So we can just try to live comfortable lives, enjoying the Biblical revelation we have received for our own benefit—or we can step out of our comfort zones to help an endangered world and to advance the cause of the kingdom of God. Remember, as Edmund Burke said:

 “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

4.  Esther mobilized others—Esther knew that she needed to mobilize all of God’s people to be a success. She called God’s people to a three day fast. So great ministry leaders still understand the ‘big picture’—the greater potential for success that comes when large teams of like-minded believers are mobilized to accomplish great purposes. Remember the acronym for TEAM—Together Everyone Accomplishes More.

5. Esther was willing to take a risk—Even though it was not lawful for her to approach the King Ahasuerus without an invitation, she said, “If I perish, I perish…” She laid her life on the line. So God is searching the world over for those who are willing to risk it all in order to fulfill God’s purposes, thwart enemy plans and see their full potential awakened.

6. Esther was part of a plan—Most importantly, Esther (which means “star”) was part of a plan, a divinely ordained blueprint for triumph that existed in the heart of God long before she was ever born. So also, the Bible says that God has “saved us and called us with a holy calling, not by our works, but by His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Tim. 1:9).

So pray. Seek God. Find your ordination. Do your part. Step into your destiny. And we will find out once again, that even in times of darkness, there are believers who are chosen to “arise” and “shine.” (Is. 60:1) Remember, they that “turn the many to righteousness” shall shine “as the stars forever and ever” (Dan. 12:3). It may be a dark night, but God has some more “Esthers”—heaven’s “stars”—who are waiting in the wings.

“Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Mike Shreve has served as an evangelist for forty-five years. He  pastors The SANCTUARY in Cleveland, Tennessee. He is an author of 13 books, including the best-selling Charisma House title, 65 Promises from God for Your Child.