Bible teacher, missionary and author Joy Dawson, a respected leader in the Youth With A Mission community, died early Thursday morning at 96 of natural causes.

Dawson’s Bible teaching ministry and missionary journeys with YWAM took her to 55 nations on six continents worldwide. She also taught extensively on television, radio and is the author of several books. Her penetrating teachings are based on the character and the ways of God.

Dawson’s oldest son, John, spoke lovingly of his mother and expressed a deep gratitude to the many thousands of people who are contacting the family at this time, recounting stories of the impact of Joy’s life and ministry.

A memorial service is planned within the next two weeks at Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. It will be attended by her missionary children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Among them, there are representatives of six languages and seven nationalities.

Dawson gave her life to missions and ministry since 1970. For the past 50-plus years, she has been traveling and teaching, imparting revelation in the character and nature of God as well as intercession and a lifestyle of pursuing Jesus.

Most of her teaching ministry was at spiritual leadership conferences. Multitudes were blessed by her ministry, which crossed many denominational lines. “My life’s calling as a missionary and prophetic Bible teacher to 55 nations was against all odds,” Dawson once wrote. “I came from a denomination that didn’t believe a women should even pray in church in the presence of men—let alone teach them biblically! My wonderful dad was a strong leader in that denomination. I had no peers.

“When I started out in 1971, I found a book that had just been written about Dr. Henrietta Mears, who was a woman Bible teacher of depth, who greatly influenced both evangelist Billy Graham and Bill Bright as young men. Bill was the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ International, now known today as CRU. Dr. Mears had recently died, but the account of her powerful ministry to key spiritual leaders encouraged me.

“The unpredictable soon became the normal. Against all odds as a woman. I was pioneering a role of ministering full-time alongside male spiritual leaders.”

Among the books Dawson authored were: Forever Ruined for the Ordinary; How to Pray for Someone Near You Who is Away from God; Influencing Children to Become World Changers; Intercession—Thrilling and Fulfilling; Some of the Ways of God in Healing; Knowing God; Jesus the Model; Intimate Friendship with God; The Fire of God; All Heaven Will Break Loose and her final one, in 2021, My Journey with Jesus.

She also hosted a podcast called Spiritual Authority.

Dawson was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, in 2013. Jim was a founding member of the YWAM International Council that was formed in September of 1972 to provide true spiritual eldership to YWAM, separating this spiritual leadership role from the function of legal/financial accountability to a legal board.

Jim Dawson served in many international, national and local leadership roles in YWAM from that time onward because of the wealth of wisdom that resided within him and the depth of his character and relationship with God. The role that he is probably best remembered for is that of global YWAM pastor, because of his compassion and relational skills. {eoa}

Shawn A. Akers is the online editor for Charisma Media.

Riaan Swiegelaar, co-founder of the South African Satanic Church, believed his recent transition to Christianity wouldn’t garner much attention. In fact, he figured that he would “quietly slip out the back door” and that people wouldn’t be interested in what he was doing.

Little did Swiegelaar know that his Facebook video would go viral and news outlets would tell the story of his miraculous transformation from the darkness to the light, from worshipping Satan to worshipping Jesus.

Swiegelaar says that until a couple of months ago, he had never in his life been shown unconditional love. It was then that he did an interview on the CapeTalk radio station—to promote the South African Satanic Church—and let the interviewer know in no uncertain terms that he did not believe in the existence of Jesus Christ.

After the interview, Swiegelaar says the interviewer, whom he simply calls Amy, came up to him and gave him a big hug.

A week later, he discovered on WhatsApp that the interviewer is a Christian.

“After that interview, she held me in a way that I’ve never been loved. That’s all she did; she didn’t say anything,” Swiegelaar said. “I’ve never had anyone, let alone a Christian, do that. I’ve never had that kind of experience. I never knew a Christian could show that much love and could accept me unconditionally.”

What happened next, Swiegelaar says, was astounding.

“I had a meeting with council members after I had done all these interviews, and we affirmed that satanism is growing,” he says. “I had to do a ritual by myself to see what was the next step. How do I get more power and influence?

“I opened myself up, and Jesus appeared. I was extremely cocky and I said, ‘Whatever.’ I said, ‘If You are Jesus, prove it.’ He flooded me with the most beautiful love and energy, and I recognized it immediately because of what the lady at the radio station did for me. I recognized the love of Christ immediately.”

Besides the interviewer, Swiegelaar says he’s only known three other Christians that have shown him the love of Christ in his life. He says Adele and Donnie Frey, now his friends in Christ, also showed him love when he was an “ugly monster.”

Adele Frey wrote to him, “I just did a simple thing, and that’s to show you love.” That “thing,” Frey says, wasn’t so simple.

Swiegelaar responded to Adele, “That’s not just a simple thing. You have shown me everything; the love of Christ. I’ve seen it in you.”

Since that time, Swiegelaar says he’s had more than 100 people respond to him on WhatsApp and more than 200 on Facebook with messages of encouragement and love. He knows that most likely he will get negative feedback for his life transformation.

As a baby Christian, Swiegelaar says he isn’t sure what’s next for him, but he knows he will continue to learn more about Jesus and grow in His love. Click here to watch the entire 30-minute Facebook video Swiegelaar posted recently.

Stay tuned to Charisma News to stay on top of this story. {eoa}

Shawn A. Akers is the online editor for Charisma Media.

Hotter than expected inflation forced the Federal Reserve (Fed) to raise interest rates more than planned. Initial plans were to raise the interest rate 0.5% at their June meeting, but when consumer inflation came in at a much higher 8.6% (the highest in 41 years), the Fed believed they needed to act more aggressively. The Fed raised the rate by %, the largest increase in 21 years.

The Fed’s action increased market confidence that they will take the action necessary to control inflation. However, they are still far behind. Their target rate (federal funds rate) is currently at %, and the prime rate is at %.

With producer inflation at 10.8%, the inflation adjusted cost of borrowing is negative. Some argue that the target rate needs to move above the inflation rate to control inflation, which occurred the last time inflation was this high.

The economy begins slowing as the Fed reduces the money supply with higher interest rates and balance sheet reductions. A weakening economy reduces consumer, investor, business, and government confidence. Since an economy’s output is measure by adding consumption, investment, government expenditures, and net exports, a loss of confidence will further weaken the economy. Expect a recession, probably next year but possibly earlier.

We are already seeing economic confidence fall. Stock investor confidence has fallen. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell %, the S&P 500 Index fell 22.9%, and the NASDAQ Index has fallen % this year.

Small business confidence is dropping with the optimism hitting 93.2 (the lowest since the pandemic ridden spring of 2020) and those expecting better conditions in the next six months fell to a record low. Consumer confidence is also falling with consumer expectations dropping to , the lowest since 1980.

Many people are currently hurting, confused, scared, and angry because of the economic, geopolitical, social, and political environments. People have lost confidence in leaders and institutions. Sadly, some have even lost confidence in God.

Gallop released a survey in which they asked people in the United States if they believed in God. Eighty-one percent indicated that they believe in God, but it was the lowest percentage since they began asking the question in 1944. People need and want solutions. What an opportunity for Kingdom-minded citizens.

Kingdom citizens have reasons for optimism. We have the solution for the hurting, scared, and angry. We know the One who heals individuals, societies, and nations. In times of turmoil, we can have peace. In times of societal degradation, we can have righteousness. In times of sadness and despair, we can have joy. In times of spiritual decline, we have the knowledge and obligation to lead others to our King. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit and the Word. Let us share the good news in which we have been entrusted.

The dictionary defines confidence as a trustful relationship, a feeling of trust, freedom from doubt, a state of confident hopefulness. Synonyms could include belief, credence, assurance, faith, trust, and mindset. The Bible teaches that confidence has many spiritual implications.

We have confidence in the blood of Jesus. Our confidence in His blood gives us the right to enter the holy place. In the holy place is His shadow where we find refuge, protection from disease, our enemies, from evil, and from accident. In His shadow, we will find the protection of angels, honor, and long life (Psalms 91).

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,” (Hebrews 10:19-20, NASB 2020).

By confidence we draw near to the throne of grace. The current environment requires Kingdom citizens obtain an abundance of our Lord’s mercy and grace. We enter the throne of grace with confidence where we will find His mercy and grace.

“Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NASB 2020).

These times of economic challenges, geopolitical uncertainties, societal degradation at an almost unprecedented rate, and a political environment attempting to change many of the country’s principles, traditions, and institutions, we need answered prayer.

These times also offer almost unprecedented spiritual opportunities, where we will need answered prayer to gather the fruit. The scriptures declare that the key to getting our prayers answered is confidence.

“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him,” (1 John 5:14-15, NASB 2020).

Let us move forward with confidence in our King and all that He has done for us. {eoa}

James R. Russell is a professor of economics at Oral Roberts University.

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Speaking in tongues is a matter of the will, according to the apostle Paul. He said, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding” (1 Cor. 14:14-15, MEV).

He says that you will either choose to speak in tongues or choose not to. Everyone may do so anytime. Also, this passage proves that God does not speak through people when they speak in tongues and the Holy Spirit does not force people to speak.

Since speaking in tongues is a matter of one’s will, it is therefore a faith operation. What helps our faith is the realization that it is impossible to speak gibberish when speaking in tongues according to 1 Corinthians 14:10, which says that every utterance has meaning with God. And unless we know all 6,000 languages in the world today, we ought not tell people who are speaking out by faith to be careful not to speak gibberish. That’s a sure way to deceive and mislead them and destroy their faith.

On the contrary, here are ways to truly help people understand the baptism with the Holy Spirit and to confirm their reception of the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongues:

First, have a Bible study. Read aloud the following passages and either answer questions about each passage as you read it or ask your initiates to bring notepads and pens to write down questions that you answer at the end of the study. The relevant passages are as follows: Joel 2:28-29, Matthew 3:11, Luke 24:49, John 7:37-39, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-18, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:1-7, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Corinthians 12:13, and 1 Corinthians 14:10 and 14.

Second, after reading these passages and explaining them as necessary, inform the initiates that you and others in the room who already speak in tongues will begin to pray and worship God together. Remind them what Oral Roberts said: “Get with those who are praying in the Spirit and enter in.” It’s that simple.

Third, inform them that when you lay your hand on their heads, they are to enter in with you in praying in the Spirit at that moment. Remind them that they already have the Holy Spirit because they are saved, according to Romans 8:9. So all they are going to do is manifest the indwelling Holy Spirit as a river of living water flowing out of them, according to John 7:37-39.

Fourth, inform them to speak out by faith. There is no such thing as gibberish, for every utterance has meaning with God, according to 1 Corinthians 14:10, which says, “There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.” If they worry that there may be a counterfeit tongue on the basis that they think Satan speaks in tongues, inform them that is not true. If Satan spoke in tongues, and if this was an issue with which we should be concerned, Jesus or Paul would have warned us. But nowhere in Scripture did they say Satan spoke in tongues. Therefore, Satan does not speak in tongues. Since they were not concerned about it, neither should we be.

Fifth, after believers speak in tongues, they should be encouraged to do so daily. Inform them that their prayer language will grow just like any other language. Believers who do not speak in tongues at the laying on of hands should not be made to feel guilty nor told they do not have faith. Rather, be encouraging and willing to pray with the initiates again at any time. Or encourage them to speak out by faith when they pray alone with God.

With scriptural teaching, more people will begin manifesting the indwelling Holy Spirit and become powerful witnesses for Christ. Please join us for more teaching on how anyone may speak in tongues anytime. Please click here. {eoa}

James F. Linzey received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biblical studies at Vanguard University of Southern California (1979), and a Master of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary (1983), where he studied church growth under C. Peter Wagner and signs and wonders under John Wimber. He hosted Operation Freedom television and radio programs on the baptism with the Holy Spirit around the world. He authored The Holy Spirit and A Divine Appointment in Washington, D.C., and is the chief editor of the Modern English Version Bible translation. He served as an Air Force and Army chaplain for 24 years, attaining the rank of Major, and authored “The Space Force Hymn (Creator of the Universe).”

Listen to the full episode of “The Holy Spirit in the Epistles With Chaplain Jim Linzey” on the Charisma Podcast Network here.

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Ever since I was a small child and heard the names Isaiah, Ezekiel, or Jonah, I can remember the amazement I felt that the G-D of the Universe would personally provide insights into the understanding of future events through chosen men and women.

I loved the mysterious and the unknown, especially the concept that one person could know something that no one else in the universe knew or understood. Maybe it was because I was a product of a generation that received magic decoder rings or glasses as prizes in every box of cereal.

As I grew up, I realized that I was not alone in my desire to know and understand things that no one else did. Although I was raised in Judaism, which has plenty of mystery all on its own, I was intrigued by anything that was mysterious. I studied everything I could find out about the creation of the universe. But I was not just interested in how the world began, I wanted to know how it was going to end. It was this desire to understand the end that drew me to the study of the Prophets of the Bible and these studies eventually revealed to me the Key to Understanding Biblical Prophecy.

I have wanted to share this key for many years now, but have not done so until today. As with all Keys, the Key to understanding Biblical Prophecy will unlock a door. Opening this door will allow all those who do so to have access to powerful understandings, exciting revelations, and amazing new insights into G-D’s word especially as it relates to end time events. If you are one of those rare people who are not interested in prophetic understandings and revelations, then I suggest at this point you click this link and read one of my previous blogs from my website.

Okay, here we go, prepare to have a paradigm shift …The key to understanding biblical prophecy is:

• Biblical prophecy isn’t about you. It also isn’t about me.
• All biblical prophecy is about Yeshua.

Biblical prophecy isn’t about America, Russia, or China. It isn’t about a New World Order, financial collapse or world wars. Prophecy may include all of the above; however, prophecy isn’t about the revealing of wars, pestilence, destruction, famine, or a one world government. The purpose of all prophecy is to reveal Yeshua.

From the very first words written or spoken under the utterance of the Spirit of G-D in Genesis, until the final word in the Book of Revelation, every prophetic utterance was and is about Yeshua. While this key may seem simplistic and unremarkable, I promise you that if you use this key, it will bring clarity to the words of Isaiah and Ezekiel. With this key, the words of Daniel and Jeremiah as well as every other prophet in the Bible will become clearer, and with the key, the Book of Revelation will truly become a revelation.

The only way to understand biblical prophecy is to remember that the context and purpose is not to reveal what is going to happen to us, with us, or about us, but rather prophecy reveals what is going to happen to, with, or about Yeshua. Contrary to our feelings of self-importance and self-centeredness, the Bible is not about us: it is about Yeshua. Therefore, while prophecy may affect us, our world, and our lives, prophecy isn’t about us. In order to understand prophecy, we must first understand that fundamental truth.

So, the next time you read a book about prophecy, watch a video about prophecy, or attend a prophecy conference, take this key along with you. If the book, the video, or the conference is about you, or worse yet, about the writer, presenter, or teacher and not about Yeshua, then take the key and lock that door immediately.

Then, sit down and open your Bible and use the Key yourself to unlock the great prophetic mysteries of the Bible. When you do, you will begin to have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. {eoa}

Eric Tokajer is the author of Overcoming Fearlessness, What If Everything You Were Taught About the Ten Commandments Was Wrong?, With Me in Paradise, Transient Singularity, OY! How Did I Get Here?: Thirty-One Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Entering Ministry, #ManWisdom: With Eric Tokajer, Jesus Is to Christianity as Pasta Is to Italians and Galatians in Context.

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Jesus told us to persist—continuously and tirelessly—in asking, seeking and knocking on the doors of heaven.

The New Living Translation emphasizes the ongoing action of Jesus’ words:

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10, NLT).

Keep on doing it. Keep on keeping on. Keep on praying!

I also want to urge you to keep on coming—keep coming to God and keep coming into agreement with Him as well as with your brothers and sisters who pray alongside you.

If you are still coming, it means you have not yet arrived, and that is OK.

It is the keeping on that is important as we grow spiritually and learn more about what it means to ask, seek and knock in agreement with God and others.

The Power of Agreement

Agreement is a wonderful by-product of lives that have been forged together in God’s kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy. (See Romans 14:17.)

Our prayers bear fruit because “two or three” have gathered together in His name and have with one mind and heart prayed together.

In fact, Scripture promises that God will be in our midst.

We come into agreement with Him, and as we keep our eyes fixed on Him, He brings us into agreement with one another.

This is heaven on earth. What could be more powerful than that?

We should not underestimate the power of agreement.

Because God has placed His authority on humankind to work out His plan and purposes in the world, our corporate agreement with Him brings about His will on the earth.

In other words, when together we agree with God about something, it is very likely to happen. (By the same token, if we agree with the enemy—“the god of this world” [2 Cor. 4:4, NASB]—about something, even in ignorance, that too is likely to happen.)

How can you discern whether or not you are consistently aligning yourself with God? By paying attention to your routine thought processes.

Do you spend most of your time thinking about worldly concerns or do you daily and actively trust God to take care of your needs?

How much are you communicating with Him? What is He telling you?

We enter into agreement by being connected with God and with each other, and we enter into this lifestyle by offering ourselves up to Him (and to one another) in the light of God’s mercy.

We reject the message of the world around us, which is to trust in ourselves and to “look out for number one.” True agreement requires mutual humility and honor.

Then we can pray together the most powerful prayers of all.

When the early church prayed as one voice in the Book of Acts, amazing power was released and the meeting place shook; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they preached the Word with great boldness.

God’s Heart and Yours

Praying in agreement with God and each other starts with each one of us being as close as possible to the very heart of God.

Do you love Jesus? Do you love the believers you have been joined with?

Are you learning to lean into the heart of God Himself? Are you praying to God or with God?

The first and primary Person with whom we are to come into agreement is, of course, God Himself. Your effectiveness in prayer will depend on how well your heart pulses in rhythm with the heartbeat of God.

There is no easy three-step approach or methodology for coming into agreement.

It takes time. It is relational. It calls for character.

It necessitates love. It is a matter of the heart.

First, each one of us comes into agreement with God Himself and we maintain a desire to keep as close to Him as we can, setting aside our own agendas.

Then we put aside our prejudices and preconceived ideas and come into agreement with each other.

When you learn to agree with God, then your agenda, your motivations and even your assignments will change.

Your mind will be transformed according to the will of God: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2, NKJV).

Only then can we be candidates to pray prayers that strike the mark.

Target Practice

Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ great name. I ask You to graft into my life Your wisdom concerning prayer. More than anything, I want to come into agreement with Your heart and learn to pray in accordance with Your will, Word and ways. Help me to find two or three others with whom I may learn to walk in the power of prayers of agreement. Thank You. Amen. {eoa}

For the original article, visit .

Dr. James W. Goll is the founder of God Encounters Ministries. He is an international bestselling author, a certified Life Language Coach, an adviser to leaders and ministries, and a recording artist. James has traveled around the world ministering in more than 50 nations, sharing the love of Jesus and imparting the power of intercession, prophetic ministry and life in the Spirit. He has recorded numerous classes with corresponding curriculum kits and is the author of more than 50 books, including The Seer, The Prophet, The Discerner, The Lost Art of Intercession and Praying with God’s Heart. James is also the founder of GOLL Ideation LLC, where creativity, consulting and leadership training come together.

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“There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place” (Deut. 1:31).

Even from early Old Testament law, God’s Word illustrates how our relationship with our heavenly Father should be reflected in a father’s relationship to his children. As I approach my tenth Father’s Day as a dad myself, I’m reminded of both the abundant blessings of being a father and the great responsibility that I’m entrusted with to shepherd, protect and provide for my children spiritually, physically and emotionally.

I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the Lord’s relationship to His people as our heavenly Father only after being a father myself. Being a dad has taught me rich lessons in terms of what it means to love my children unconditionally, sacrifice to provide for them and lovingly discipline them for their own good—all things that our heavenly Father does for us.

Throughout the Scriptures, the Lord teaches us what it means to be a good Father. The Word of God instructs us to have compassion on our children (Ps. 103:13), to guide them on the right path from birth (Prov. 22:6), to avoid provoking our children to anger (Eph. 6:4) and to lovingly discipline them (Heb. 12:7).

All humankind is God’s creation, but not all humankind are God’s children. Even for those whose faith is in Christ, the Bible speaks of Christians as being adopted:

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father'” (Rom. 8:15).

But God didn’t only teach us what good fathering is or demonstrate it through flawed believers who He graciously adopted; He exemplified it through His relationship with His own Son, Jesus Christ.

What are fathers to learn from God’s relationship with His Son? Here are four important points:

1. The Father provided for His Son. The Father providentially provided for Jesus, equipping Him with all that He needed, and orchestrated His circumstances so that Jesus could fulfill all the Scriptures. “But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled” (Matt. 26:56)
2. The Father taught His Son. It’s easy to emphasize Jesus’ deity over His humanity. But the Bible teaches that Jesus had to learn and study the Scriptures just as we have to. The Father ensured that Jesus had the opportunities to learn and obtain wisdom through the Scriptures. Even at age 12, “Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers” (Luke 2:47)
3. The Father frequently spent time with His Son. The Scriptures are ripe with occasions of intimate communication between the Father and the Son. Jesus took pleasure in praying to the Father, especially when alone in the early morning (Mark 1:35). And it was the Father’s pleasure to hear the Son and answer his prayers (John 12:28).
4. The Father allowed hardship for His Son. From a human perspective, killing the Son of God sounds like one of the most horrible things imaginable. Who put Jesus to death on the cross? Was it really the Romans? No, it was God Himself:

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities” (Isa. 53:10-11).

The Father willingly subjected His Son to hardship because many would be justified through it. Jesus’ suffering was for the greater good and glory of both the Father and the Son, and it is the sole reason for our hope as believers. Earthly fathers must consider how to raise their children in love while also challenging them and letting them experience trials, for suffering produces perseverance (Rom. 5:3).

An earthly father’s strivings for his children will never be perfect, yet they still offer a reflection of the perfect love, self-sacrifice and discipline that our heavenly Father provides to those who trust in Him. In a world broken by sin, this truth is encouraging for those who have a strained relationship or no relationship with their father.

May our heavenly Father’s example always be our guide for what it means to be a good father—any other “good dads” are only a reflection of the love He has demonstrated. {eoa}

Jared Belton is a Project Manager with Medi-Share, a husband and a father of three young children. He has served as a U.S. Army officer, obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa and his master’s degree from Luther Rice College and Seminary. Jared has a passion for technology and desires to use it to improve lives in God-honoring ways.

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I do a lot of writing and teaching on the Bible. Many times I will see things and come to understand things that are beyond my experience.

That doesn’t change the fact that I’ve seen them and understood them; I just haven’t fully seen them in my own life.

Sometimes you have to see the next steps before you can take them. Yes, sometimes you walk in the dark; I’ve done that for years, at times. Other times you see where you need to step.

Peter didn’t walk on water in the dark. He wasn’t surprised to find himself going over the side of the boat. He knew what he was going to do and then did it. It didn’t last long, and we don’t know if he ever tried that again, but he saw what he needed to do and did it.

The verse here is one that we all know about, but we don’t know exactly what to do with it. So I’m going to tell you—and myself.

The other night, I got angry with God. Really angry.

There are some things I have prayed about for years. I’m sorry for the lack of details here. But praying for things means that the responsibility for these things happening falls on God. The truth is that often the responsibility falls on us.

I know a lot of people don’t like to hear that, but I find this conclusion inescapable.

In the story here, Mark 9:14-28, a man had brought his son to the disciples. In verses 17-18 he says, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it” (NASB1995).

Then Jesus got upset, saying, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” (v. 19).

The disciples brought the boy to Jesus. “When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!’ And Jesus said to him, ‘”If You can?” All things are possible to him who believes'” (vv. 20-23).

Jesus’ words mean nothing but that this man and the disciples could have and should have dealt with the issue already.

Did the man pray for his son all these years? Yes, of course he did.

The disciples just met the father and son, but they too should have been able to rid the boy of the demon.

All things are possible to him who believes.

What happens here is that people will say, “I tried that, but it didn’t work.” Like Yoda said, “Do, or do not. There is no try.”

Things usually will not change immediately either when we pray or believe they will. We read the stories in the Bible of great acts of faith, from healings to people being raised from the dead, but we think these events happened in a vacuum.

Maybe you’re not at this place yet. Maybe you are. This is where I need to go. {eoa}

Larry A. Craig went to school to go into the ministry (Moody Bible Institute, Mundelein College, Loyola University M.A. biblical studies) but spent his career in the meat business. Now he is retired, so he writes on politics and religion, both separately and jointly. He has written two books: The Importance of Healing and The Importance of the Lord’s Prayer. He is working on a commentary on the Gospel of Matthew and hopes to publish a book of his articles on politics and one of his articles on the Bible. He teaches the Gospel of Matthew in a weekly Zoom Bible class and emails out his articles on politics and religion. He can be reached at lacraig1@. His political blog is .

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President Biden signed the bill to make Juneteenth a national holiday, but Dr. Alveda King says it was President Trump who put Juneteenth “on the map.”

In the latest episode of my podcast, she explains, “When President Trump was still in office, he [began] to bring African-Americans to the White House to talk about things that were important to us. And at the top of our list was Juneteenth.”

According to King, President Trump listened to the Black leaders. He got the proverbial ball rolling, and Congress began to formulate the bill while he was still in office.

Juneteenth was first celebrated in 1865, two years after another Republican, President Abraham Lincoln, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Because there were no cell phones or even telephones, news travelled slowly, and black people in Texas didn’t realize they were free until June 19th, 1865.

Thank God slavery was ended, but sadly, the prejudices hung on in many parts of the country. When African-Americans began building generational wealth in Oklahoma, their “Black Wall Street” was burned. Segregation laws, referred to commonly as Jim Crow laws, were enacted across the South to limit the opportunities available to black Southerners.

Years ago, when I was visiting Atlanta, Dr. Alveda King showed me pictures of her dad, Reverend A.D. King, and her uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., sitting at a lunch counter in Atlanta protesting by sitting at a lunch counter and eating where they weren’t allowed. “Blacks could not eat at the lunch counter,” she says.

As an 11-year-old white kid from Iowa who hadn’t known almost any black people, I remember being horrified when we moved across the country. When we stopped at gas stations to get a drink of water or soda, there would be three bathrooms: Men, Women and Colored. I had never seen that before.

I went to segregated schools for five years, and as our high school was integrated in 10th grade, I wrote editorials about racial understanding and cooperation for my high school newspaper. A couple of my friends and I also decided to integrate our service club, which was like a high school fraternity. We recruited a couple of black football players to join us. And then, when I was in 11th grade, Dr. Alveda King’s uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated.

Before he was assassinated though, he spent some time in jail, and according to Dr. Alveda King, her grandfather, Dr. Martin Luther King Sr., tried to reach Vice President Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy. He said, “I’ve got a trunk full of votes, and I’m taking them to Washington, and I will give those votes to whoever gets my son out of jail.”

“Now, interestingly, Nixon’s advisors told him not to do anything about it,” she says. “President Kennedy, who was Senator Kennedy at the time said, ‘I can’t do that.’ And his brother says, ‘You’ve got to help this guy… Get him out.’ So, true enough, Granddaddy, a Republican shifted his vote to the man who got his son out of jail.”

When Nixon refused to help King, many previously Republican African-Americans sided with Democrats, the party that was previously associated with slavery and segregation. Although many now infer that Republicans are racist, Dr. Alveda King says the opposite.

The conversation I had with Dr. Alveda King was compelling, so I invite you to listen to the recent Strang Report podcast and see what you think. Please make sure to share it with your social media friends as well. {eoa}

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Here are seven things the Book of Revelation’s throne room experience can teach you as a believer:

1. Knowing and worshipping God are the two most sought-after experiences in eternity. Revelation 4:4 (ESV) says, “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.” The picture of 24 elders in worship before the throne is likely the presbytery of heaven. It represents all God’s people who worship and serve the Lord. Hence, the saints with the most authority in heaven desire nothing more than to be around the throne of God. Revelation 4:6-8 shows that angels, who have been with God from the beginning of their existence, are so much in awe of God that they never cease worshipping Him and always desire to be near Him.

This is a far cry from the dispassionate, lukewarm state of many Christians who must be urged to go to church and to daily spend time with God.

2. Worship causes people to be image-reflectors of their Creator. The saying is true: “You are who you worship.” Revelation 4:6-7 says the four living creatures around the throne had the faces of a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle. Some scholars believe their four faces represent the majesty, strength, wisdom and transcendence of the Creator whose eyes ceaselessly watch over every part of His creation. Hence, even the angels in proximity to the throne are transformed to reflect their Creator. Moses’ face was illuminated from being in the glory cloud with God for 40 days. How much more should we who are in Christ and know God seek His face and reflect His glory?

In reference to this, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:9: “For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.”

Connecting this to the church, he said in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”

Consequently, the church is called to be a mature, transformed, corporate son that reflects the image of Christ to this world (Rom. 8:29).

3. Worship should be theocentric, not human-centric. “At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne” (Rev. 4:2).

When John was caught up in heaven, the first thing he saw was “the One” sitting on the throne. Consequently, the primary focus of worship should not be us but Him! The major theme of the Book of Revelation is the throne of God, which represents His government or rule. Everything is centered around Jesus, not around us. Unfortunately, in many circles, Christianity is more about anthropology than Christology. Worship songs should be Christocentric and focused on the character of God. Worship is about ascribing worth to God, not entertaining the crowd with feel-good songs.

4. God is always worthy of worship despite our challenges on earth. In the Book of Revelation, the church was in turmoil. Many were being persecuted and thrown in jail, and the people were falling into Baal worship, fornication and other lapses away from the Christian faith (Rev. 2-3). Despite this, there was still a never-ending chorus of worship toward God. Psalm 92:1 (NIV) says, “It is good to praise the Lord.” Hence, it is always good to do this no matter our circumstances, because His value and worthiness never change. Thus, worship and gratitude are always a proper response to God.

5. The transcendent kingdom of God overrules everything done on earth. After the throne room worship experience in Revelation 4, it’s not a coincidence that the six seals were opened, the seven trumpets blasted and the seven bowls poured out on the earth (Rev. 5-18). This chronological sequence illustrates that everything allowed to take place on earth first emanates from the throne of God. He responds to the worship and prayers of the saints both in heaven and on earth.

The scene in Revelation 8:1-5 discloses the connection between the accumulated prayers of the saints going up as incense before the throne and God making decrees regarding the earth:

“And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake” (ESV).

This shows us the importance of continually offering up prayer, worship and supplication before the throne so that we can see the will of God and His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven (Luke 11:2-4).

6. Worship should be corporate, not merely individual. In heaven we see the 24 elders, the living creatures and all the saints who were martyred worshipping God together (Rev. 4, 7).

Too often, contemporary Christianity focuses on individual worship. The focus in the Bible is not only on individual worship, as we see in some of the psalms, but also on corporate worship. (The psalms have been utilized by God’s people throughout the ages for corporate-responsive prayer.) Ephesians 5:18-19 says, “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.”

7. Worship enables us to sense and prepare for the future (Rev. 4:1). God said to John, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Those who consistently worship become sensitive to the Holy Spirit. They attain His wisdom and counsel to plan and prepare for the future.

Paul equates being filled with the Spirit to understanding the will of the Lord (Eph. 5:17-19). Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us to always acknowledge God so He can direct our paths.

In conclusion, no matter what challenges we face, we should never cease standing before the throne of God in prayer and worship because His kingdom rules over all! {eoa}

Dr. Joseph Mattera is an internationally known author, consultant and theologian whose mission is to influence leaders who influence culture. He is the founding pastor of Resurrection Church and leads several organizations, including The U.S. Coalition of Apostolic Leaders and Christ Covenant Coalition. Dr. Mattera is the author of 13 bestselling books, including his latest, The Purpose, Power, and Process of Prophetic Ministry, and is renowned for applying Scripture to contemporary culture. To order his books or to join the many thousands who subscribe to his newsletter, go to .

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