Free Chapel, one of America’s largest congregations, led by Pastor Jentezen Franklin, is calling the nation to 21 days of fasting and prayer. The fast, which begins on Aug. 1 and concludes on Aug. 21, comes ahead of a critical presidential election and amidst the world’s ongoing struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In moments like these the church prays and the church acts,” Pastor Franklin says. “We pray for a vaccine; we pray for those facing economic challenges; we pray for our children whose education and lives have been disrupted. We pray for those who are lonely and who feel lost in anxiety. We also act: giving to those who need help, protecting our vulnerable loved ones, tutoring children who are behind in their studies and helping people register to vote.

“This August, I’m asking every Christian in every city in America to pray and to fast. In Jesus’ name, we will find the strength to persevere through challenges and to ensure a bright future for our families and our communities,” Franklin says.

Throughout August, Free Chapel will be broadcasting virtual messages and Franklin will dedicate time to pray with followers about certain issues live on social media.

In order to get involved, people should follow Free Chapel and Jentezen Franklin on their social media channels, and they can visit to pledge to join the fast.

For those new to the concept of fasting, Free Chapel is also providing a wide variety of downloadable resources and answers to frequently asked questions about how to engage in a fast. Franklin and Free Chapel faithfully teach on the power of prayer and fasting and believe it unlocks spiritual potential for all who seek God through this important ancient spiritual practice.

“Now is the time. This is the hour to fast and to pray for our nation and for its future,” Franklin says. {eoa}

Abandoned by her real father early on, Malika Roebuck says it took many years for her to allow God to take away the tremendous hurt she felt and for Him to fill a big void in her life.

But once God got hold of her heart, not only was she able to find the right man to marry, but she also discovered she could forgive her natural father and enjoy a life of peace and contentment instead of bitterness and anxiety.

It’s what led her to write Daddy’s Girl, a book she hopes will help others find healing from a broken past.

“There are so many women that I’ve talked to—friends, family and co-workers—where you can see that there’s a root cause to their problems, to their hurt,” Roebuck told Dr. Steve Greene on a recent episode of Greenelines on the Charisma Podcast Network. “A lot of people, a lot of women, have something known as ‘daddy issues.’

“I really wanted to write a book to show other women that it’s possible for these issues to heal. No, I’m not the poster child for healing, and I still have some things I need to sort out mentally,” Roebuck says. “But at the same time, I was tired of seeing many women continue to hurt and put their ‘daddy issues’ into a box and make it something they just couldn’t talk about.

“I wanted to write my story to let women know that it’s very possible to heal and grow beyond this,” she says. “There are decisions that you make that are not the right ones, and there’s a root cause behind the way you think the way you do. I hope that people can read my story and that it will not only inspire them, but that they can relate to the pain of growing up with a void in their heart—a place that only a father could fill, but God can heal.”

For the rest of Roebuck’s story, listen to the entire podcast. {eoa}

After accepting Christ in 1978, I have witnessed various fads, trends and novel teachings come and go. It seems as though many in the church lack biblical discernment in telling the difference between truth and error.

Unfortunately, this has occurred despite the fact that one of the main callings of the (apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, teacher) leadership is to mature the saints so they will not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:11-16).

Now, there is nothing wrong with changing terms, vocabulary and categories to relate biblical truth in various contexts, communities and cultures. The methods may change from decade to decade but the essential message of the gospel of the kingdom should never be compromised.

Unfortunately, since the Enlightenment in the 17th-century, humanity has been under the false assumption that with the passing of time, we will have progress in every human endeavor. This assumption may be true when it comes to science and technology, but not when it comes to faith and biblical doctrine.

Jeremiah 6:16 admonishes God’s people to look for ancient paths and ways. Scripture is clear that we are called to contend for the faith which was “once for all delivered to the saints” and Jude tells us that we are called to fight for and protect “the faith” (Jude 3-4). In this passage of Jude, “the faith” refers to a set of beliefs, and not an individual faith (an invisible substance-Heb. 11:1).

This faith that has been “once for all delivered” means that there are no other revelations or systems of our faith that can be accepted if it deviates from this original apostolic faith. No new novel teachings, prophecies and revelations should be embraced if they do not conform to the original apostolic teachings handed down to us. We also have to understand that personal prophecies are never to be viewed on the same level as the Scriptures.

For example, the U.S. Declaration of Independence describes the purpose of the birth of our nation, while the Constitution describes how the nation should be governed. If we ignore or get rid of these documents, as many far-Left radicals desire to do today, then our nation can no longer justify its existence. Such rejection of the principles laid out in our founding documents would release mob violence, mass anarchy and a cacophony of political voices and theories that do not align with the original intent of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Christianity is the same. The Bible contains the divinely inspired writings of the prophets and apostles that go back thousands of years. Such writings declare the purpose of humankind’s creation as well as the calling and mission of the church. When people ignore, pervert or wrest the Scriptures, they come out with many new teachings. Most of these teachings have become extremely sectarian, cult-ish and even heretical. For example: Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, Universalism or process theology.

Consequently, the faith “once for all delivered” refers to the teachings as recorded in the 66 canonical books of Scripture in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Of course, there is room for fresh illumination and insight as well as new ways of describing the old truths of the Bible. That being said, any teaching, doctrine or truth we preach should have historical precedent and conform to the original writings of the New Testament apostles, even if the language, metaphors and narrative we use to convey the truth differs within the various contexts we find ourselves. Hence, if I preach something that has theological content, concepts or substances that were never preached or taught in the first five centuries of church history, it is probably heretical.

Unfortunately, through the years in Charismatic circles, I have heard many people say that we do not need doctrine or theology, we just need the Holy Spirit. However, much of the New Testament is doctrine as seen in Romans, Hebrews and Galatians. Without sound doctrine, we will not have a genuine church in the next generation since the church is called to be the pillar and ground of the truth (2 Tim. 3:15).

I read somewhere that “Liberal theology has no grandchildren.” A 2016 survey showed heretical beliefs are relevant in the evangelical church. A Ligonier Ministries survey in 2016 revealed that the majority of contemporary Evangelicals have unbiblical beliefs regarding original sin, moral depravity, the divinity of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Jesus as being the only way to salvation.

The reason for this is not because pastors are teaching heresy, but it is because of what they are not teaching. Unfortunately, in their attempt to garner large crowds, many pastors merely preach feel-good, self-help messages, thus failing to feed the flock biblically dense teachings.

In my opinion, the majority of church attendees desire to learn the Word and would welcome strong, biblical teaching and exegesis; I believe it is only a few who are looking to be entertained.

Without sound teaching, believers lack discernment and cannot tell the difference between truth and error.

Paul exhorted believers to hold fast to the teachings of the original apostles. Paul said, “Hold fast the pattern [system] of sound [healthy] words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:13, NKJV). He continued to say, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

Paul admonished the Church to hold to the traditions they were taught (2 Thess. 2:15). The focus was never on receiving new revelation and teachings, but to be grounded in the original writings of the apostles. The traditions were faith and literature that Paul received from the apostles and the Lord Jesus which he handed down to the Church. He used these traditions to establish churches and individuals. Thus, Paul’s goal was never to get a person to merely “decide for Christ,” but to make him a disciple! His objective in proclaiming the gospel was to “present every man perfect [mature] in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28).

In the beginning, every true believer was biblically established in the faith (unlike many of today’s believers who often receive 15 minutes of motivational “feel good” messages). The early Church was immersed in the original apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42).

The sermons of Peter in Acts 2, Stephen in Acts 7, and Paul in Acts 13 illustrate how saturated with Scripture they were. As Christians, it’s imperative that we follow suit. Our ability to discern the difference between truth, error and imbalances of teaching develops as we are grounded in the first principles of the Word, not just in prayer and worship.

One of the primary functions of the Word of God, according to Hebrews 4:12 is to pierce believers even to the division of our soul and spirit, and joints and marrow; the Word is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 5:14 says that “solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” We cannot go on to maturity as Christ-followers if we do not understand the first principles of the oracles of God (Heb. 6:1-2). According to the “Commonitory of St. Vincent of Lerins,” the historic Christian faith has always had a litmus test for all new teachers and teachings.

Questions to consider when introducing new teachings:

1. Does it conform to the apostolic witness of the first-century church and Scriptures?
2. Was it received as the correct application of the Scriptures by all Christians, everywhere in all places?
3. Was it approved by an early church council and or included in one of the major church confessions?
4. Was there theological consensus among the major ecumenical scholars or doctors of the church of the first five hundred years?

For more on this, read Chapter 11 of the book The Rebirth of Orthodoxy by Thomas C. Oden.

How would some of the popular teaching and movements fare today?

I have always utilized the Scriptures, the historic church creeds and church history to discern truth and error in regards to the latest fads and teachings. Based on the above method, how would some of the latest teachings since the mid-20th century fare? Did any of the original apostles teach it, or was it taught by the apostolic fathers the first five hundred years of the church?

How would the following teachings bear up under historical/biblical scrutiny?

—Hyper grace teaching.

—The courts of heaven teaching.

—Open theism.

—The word of faith movement.

—The contemporary apostolic movement.

—The contemporary prophetic movement.

—The charismatic movement.

—The cessationist fundamentalist movement.

—Universalism.

—The shepherding movement.

In my opinion, some of the above are nuanced and have good and bad elements, while some should be deemed heretical.

As I conclude this article, I would encourage you to ask yourself the following questions:

—Am I rooted in the faith once for all delivered to the saints or is my faith based on subjective feelings and emotions?

—Do I have enough biblical knowledge to discern prophetic words and popular teachings?

—Am I easily led by the latest Christian fads, novel teachings and famous personalities?

—Am I genuinely grounded in the first principles of the doctrines of Christ?

—Have I only made a “decision,” or am I a disciple of Jesus?

I pray that this article will motivate you to be grounded in God’s Word and in a local church that faithfully teaches the whole counsel of God. {eoa}

What if we could enter the rest of God with our finances? What would your life look like if you had zero worry over your financial situation?

I truly believe that God wants us to see Him as our true source and only provider.

In my interview with Jim Baker of Zion Christian Fellowship in Ohio, Jim spoke about breaking through the lies we so often believe concerning our finances. One thing that Jim has said many times is a beautiful truth about the Lord and I want you to receive this today in your heart. Jim repeatedly brings the conversation back to this truth, “Nobody can take better care of me than Dad.”

There are so many of us who are sowing and storing into barns because we don’t believe the truth of what Jesus said, “Are you not of much more value to God than many sparrows?” (See Matt. 6:26). We need to hear the Word of God on this truth. We are not to sow a seed to get our needs met, we are to trust the Father to meet every need according to His riches in glory! (See Phil. 4:19). When we sow, we sow to multiply.

Jim says, “God owns it all, I’m His money manager.” If we can get that the Lord is the one who has the title deed to everything, we will see that we are called to steward what is in our account so that it can multiply for kingdom impact. “Affluence is for influence, income is for impact and prosperity has a purpose,” Jim explains in this amazing breakthrough interview.

I would highly encourage you to press pause on your opposition to this idea and listen to this two part podcast. You can find the link below. May you enter into the beautiful revelation that nobody can take better care of you than Dad!

Listen to these two episodes, 27 and 28, of The Faith-Rest Life on the Charisma Podcast Network.

We are living in conflicted times. Many times, the shifts we make are not our willful choices but result from the spiritual wars of the season. We would love to see something go one way, but atmospheric shifts in the spirit realm, conflicts of opinions, conflicts of philosophies and conflicts of emotions cause things to go a different direction.

The apostle James said that we war because we have cravings and desires in us that cannot be satisfied. Many times, these desires hold us in wilderness places. We are meant to cross over into prosperity, but we choose to have our way in a situation instead of submitting to the will of God. We are in a great warfare over a threefold cord controlled by Satan’s kingdom consisting of poverty, infirmity and religion.

War is the grace to fight. When the Lord calls us to war, He gives us the grace to triumph. God never calls His children to do anything without the grace that is necessary to fulfill His purpose. Therefore, in the midst of war, there is grace. We are called to protect our vineyard. My greatest concern for the church today is this:

Will a new generation rise up and war for all the promises that have been redeemed or paid for by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Christians must learn why it’s imperative that we fight and overturn the plans of the enemy. Learning to war comes easier to some than to others. To those who grew up in relative peace and comfort, it may come hardest of all. Why is war—particularly spiritual war—necessary? And more generally, why do nations and factions go to war? Why can’t people live in harmony—spiritually, emotionally, relationally, even nationally?

These are the questions we ask our parents when we are first exposed to conflict through the media, in school and playing with kids in the neighborhood. We ask the questions of our history teachers when we are learning the events that brought us to the present. Most importantly, we ask God, “If You are a loving God, why do war and destruction occur?”

The short answer is that there are two kingdoms in conflict. Satan’s demonic angels roam the earth trying to keep his kingdom in place. We, however, belong to God’s army of warriors. The Lord has already defeated Satan and all his dominions, powers and principalities. However, we are called to enforce that defeat. If we do not heed His call, then the enemy will step in and rule in our stead. We are called to possess, secure and protect our inheritance. We must remember that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof (see Ps. 24:1, KJV).

As the Holy Spirit moves us toward becoming more Christlike, the methodology of an old season will not propel us into the future. We need something new and fresh—as our Lord inquired in Matthew 9:17, who puts new wine into an old, fragile wine skin? We need a new glory. This is one of the wiles of the enemy: to hold us captive in the former manifestation of God.

Therefore, we live in the past rather than moving into the best that is ahead for our lives. This is how religious spirits operate. We become entrenched and enamored with past glory, our egos hold on to it and the enemy takes advantage. Instead, God is calling us to let go so He can take us into the new season. Stop looking backward in longing toward the “leeks and onions of Egypt” (see Num. 11:5).

He’s delivered you from bondage, and you need to walk forward from your Passover! {eoa}

Adapted from Chapter 3 of The Passover Prophecies by Chuck Pierce: A New Era With a New Season of War (Charisma House, 2020).

Twice a week in Pensacola where I live, we have a Scripture study at two coffee houses. I look forward to these meetings because unlike studies at my synagogue where I do most of the teaching and talking, at these two gatherings each participant gets to share a nugget from the Torah that they mined for themselves.

We sit together around a table and just go from person to person, with each person sharing from the sacred text. Once a person shares their nugget, the rest of the participants can comment or interact with the nugget that has been shared.

This form of study is a form of Jewish study called pilpul, which loosely means “pepper.” Once a person makes a statement, others in the group can pepper them or each other with other verses for or against their statement and add further comments or questions.

This form of study, many times, causes those involved to find Bible truths that they were not even looking for because the path of the conversation follows an unplanned (at least by humans) stream of thought.

At a recent study while looking into the first chapters of the book of Deuteronomy, one participant asked the question, “Why does it seem as if Moses and the rest of the children of Israel went through the same experiences, and yet Moses appeared to walk in faith while the majority of Israel walked in doubt?”

I had never really been presented with or contemplated this question in this way before. I began to think about these following things. After all, both Moses and the Israelites experienced the following, and much more together:

—The 10 plagues.

—The parting of the Red Sea.

—The destruction of the Egyptian army.

—The cloud and fire.

—The bitter water being made sweet.

—The Ten Commandments spoken at Sinai.

—The manna.

Each of these miraculous events took place in front of the eyes of Moses and the children of Israel, yet Moses walked in faith while most others walked in fear. I knew there had to be something we could point to that caused this difference.

It wasn’t that Moses had a relationship with G-D and the rest didn’t, because G-D was visibly and tangibly present in the midst of Israel. G-D had spoken to all Israel and Israel had spoken back to Him. I began to pray and look for an answer and one jumped out of the pages of the Bible right into my mind. The difference was not whether there was a relationship or not. The difference was in the type of relationship.

Just think about this with me: While in Egypt, both Moses and the Israelites knew of and had a relationship with the G-D of Israel. We read in Exodus that G-D heard the cries of Israel. We also know that Moses killed an Egyptian to protect a Hebrew because Moses knew he was a Hebrew.

What made one a Hebrew? The covenant relationship between G-D and Abraham.

So, as we see in Egypt, Moses and the Hebrew people had a relationship with G-D. Then, after Moses killed the Egyptian, he ran away in fear (remember this statement). It was in Midian that Moses saw a burning bush and drew near to G-D. G-D then spoke out of the fire.

Moses and G-D had a supernatural moment and it changed Moses’ relationship with G-D. Moses didn’t run fearfully, rather Moses went back to Egypt and G-D used Moses supernaturally in the deliverance of Israel.

This experience that Moses had where G-D spoke out of the fire changed Moses’ relationship with G-D. Moses didn’t just see the supernatural; he drew near, or entered, into the supernatural.

Now, let’s look at the rest of Israel. At Mount Sinai, G-D offered them exactly the same supernatural experience that He invited Moses into. But, instead of drawing near and listening to the voice of G-D speak directly to them, they responded in fear, drawing away from G-D and asked G-D to speak to Moses instead of them. They rejected the supernatural relationship and chose only to have a physical relationship.

It was because Israel rejected this personal individual supernatural relationship that, instead of walking in faith, they walked in fear. This walking in fear is also the reason that they struggled to walk according to Torah instead of walking in their own ways and often fell into sin.

Years later on the Day of Shavuot (Pentecost), G-D once again offered Israel the opportunity to enter into a direct supernatural relationship just as He offered at Sinai, as we read in Acts 2:1-6:

When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out. Now Jewish people were staying in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound came, the crowd gathered. They were bewildered, because each was hearing them speaking in his own language.

Notice here that we see fire on top of a mountain again and each person hears something supernaturally. It was this supernatural relationship that changed Peter from someone who was fearful, hiding and even denying Yeshua just weeks before, into someone who, like Moses, stood up in front of all Israel and proclaimed freedom.

This personal supernatural relationship is what is referred to where we read in Acts 1:8:

“But you will receive power when the Ruach ha-Kodesh has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and through all Judah, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

When speaking of the above verse, I often hear people say, “You will receive power to become witnesses.” But that is not what it says. The verse says, “You will receive power and you will be My witnesses.”

In other words, because we receive this supernatural power, we are then able to be witnesses of that power, just as Moses was after he encountered and entered into a supernatural relationship with G-D. His walking in faith instead of fear was his witness or testimony of the power of supernatural relationship.

Many believers have a wonderful relationship with G-D, have seen Him work miracles, and have felt His presence in their lives, but they have never drawn near to the fire, heard His voice and begun a supernatural relationship. They have a relationship with G-D; it’s just external instead of internal. It is physical instead of supernatural.

We sin because our relationship is external, rather than internal. We are depending on our own strength and not the supernatural power of G-D.

If you are reading this today and this applies to you, you can meet G-D at that fire today. {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.

Christians in Russia—the world’s largest country stretching across nine time zones—are discovering that a single bag of groceries can pave the way for the gospel to change people’s lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thousands of evangelical churches are hand-delivering groceries to the most vulnerable people in their communities—from the capital, Moscow, to the small towns and villages of the frozen Siberian tundra.

They’re not only surprising their neighbors with food packages—but they’re also sharing the gospel with many who’ve grown up in a spiritual vacuum with no knowledge or understanding of God.

“Across Russia and the former Soviet Union, millions of people live with no hope,” said Michael Johnson, president of Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association.

SGA partners with more than 6,300 evangelical churches in 10 nations in the vast region to deliver compassionate aid hand-in-hand with the gospel to the exact point of need.

‘Greatest Opportunity Since Fall of Communism’

“This is the greatest opportunity since the fall of communism for evangelicals to share the gospel message and the love of Christ in word and action,” Johnson said. “We hear stories of changed lives every day.”

Supported by SGA, evangelical churches across Russia and the former Soviet Union have proven to be a lifeline for thousands since the pandemic started in March. Russia has the fourth highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases—more than 780,000 and climbing daily.

In a nation where only one percent of the population is evangelical Christian, local believers are seizing the opportunity to “let their light shine” by visiting their neighbors—including widows, orphans, elderly shut-ins and those with disabilities—sharing food packages and having conversations about Jesus.

In response to the vast practical and spiritual needs in Russia and neighboring countries, SGA has launched a global campaign called “Christ Over COVID”—calling for prayer and urgent relief.

So far, Russian congregations supported by SGA and its donors in America have delivered enough groceries to provide more than 1.5 million free meals.

In Pokrovsk, a town in the far east of Russia, church members gave groceries and a Bible to Natalya, a mother of five abused by her alcoholic husband. Known for their love of vodka, more than 40% of working-age men in Russia die from drinking too much alcohol.

Local believers shared the gospel with Natalya and her husband’s brother, Sergei, and prayed with them. As a result, Sergei gave his life to Christ, and Natalya’s husband stopped drinking and got a job.

COVID-19 ‘Opening Hearts’ to Gospel

“Right now, the Holy Spirit is using COVID-19 to open hearts to the gospel like nothing we’ve seen since the fall of the Iron Curtain,” Johnson said.

As the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb, the stress on Russia’s health care system is overwhelming.

Members of a local evangelical church recently delivered 500 food packages to front-line medical workers caring for COVID-19 patients at a hospital in Tula, 120 miles south of Moscow.

The pastor also handed out Bibles, and told the health care workers: “We’d like to share with you that God loves you very much.”

In Russia, hospital staff often work in terrible conditions and are typically paid less than schoolteachers.

“We wish there were more people of light like you,” a hospital worker told church members.

“Right now, millions of Russian families are in dire straits, with no safety net or stimulus package to help them,” Johnson said. “Even in normal times, the average monthly salary in Russia is about $500, with many surviving on much less.” {eoa}

Founded in 1934, Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, ) helps “forgotten” orphans, widows and families in Russia, the former Soviet countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Russian-speaking immigrants in Israel—caring for their physical needs and sharing the life-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ. SGA supports an extensive grassroots network of local evangelical missionary pastors and churches in cities and rural villages across this vast region.

For part one of this two-part article, click here.

Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians with a command to the church there. He tells them to be “strong in the Lord and the power of His might.”

How? First, by knowing your position in Christ and secondly by actively exercising your faith by staying fit spiritually and using God’s prescribed armor and weapons.

Our strength is found in Christ: in His power and might. We are, in Christ, united with Him. The key is in the phrase “in the Lord.” The power is “located in” or “contained” in Jesus Christ (used nine times in Eph. 1).

Paul wants the reader to understand that we must be strong in Christ, be spiritually disciplined, and recognize we are fighting against unseen forces that influence and impact humanity with evil.

Paul wants the believer to understand that there exists spiritual kingdoms, or principalities, opposed to God’s kingdom. They are just as real as physical kingdoms, but they exist in spiritual realms.

Paul defines our struggle as being against nonphysical entities; he calls them principalities, powers and rulers in Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV).

Take terrorism, for example. Many in the secular world see it as a clash of cultures, the culture of Islam versus the Western culture. No, it is a spiritual conflict, with unseen forces at work influencing humanity.

The same is true regarding Marxist ideology and Communism versus freedom experienced in democratic, capitalist countries. Principalities and powers are influencing communist leaders to exercise totalitarian rule and oppression over people.

Ephesians defines these conflicts as spiritual—spiritual realms at war. The Greek word for principality (rulers) is archḗ, literally meaning origins or beginning. Kingdoms are called principalities because they were identified with a specific point where the power originated.

The ruler of a principality, árchōn, was a high official or a prince. Paul speaks of the árchōn that works in non-Christians (Eph. 2:2).

Consider what Daniel described when he encountered an angel after three weeks of prayer and fasting, “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia” (Dan. 10:13).

The English word prince is translated from the Greek Septuagint as árchōn. It is the same Greek word Paul uses in Eph. 2:2 and similar to archḗ in Eph. 6:12. The angel, sent to bring Daniel a message, was dispatched the first day Daniel began to pray but was hindered due to spiritual warfare in the heavens. Only after a higher-ranking angel, Michael, came to assist were they able to overcome demonic powers to reach Daniel.

Our warfare is not with others, but with anti-Christ powers that want to stop us, blind humanity and stop the advancement of God’s kingdom.

The enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy. He is a legalist and looks for ways to establish strategies against us, our families, our churches and society.

Our focus should not be on the enemy, rather on the glory and majesty of Christ. However, spiritual warfare is unavoidable; we cannot ignore this. Social justice activism has a place, but there is a danger in trying to transform culture by activism alone.

There is much warfare over America right now.

Unseen forces are at work through elements of the radical left, which is largely anti-Christ and anti-biblical, to allow a spirit of death to reign over our nation.

Our nation is guilty of over 50 million babies being aborted and killed since 1973. Late-term, partial-birth abortion is barbaric. Since the innocent killing of George Floyd, the energy of the radical left has been focused on overturning society as we know it. Yet, they are blinded to the scourge of death abortion has caused. For sure, racism is a demonic evil that must be stopped, but America is not systemically racist nor is our entire police force racist or corrupt.

In 2019, there were only 10 murders of African Americans caused by the police. Of those 10, only two were ruled as homicides and the officers subsequently charged. Compare this number to the thousands murdered last year, in our inner-city streets, by citizen against citizen. Where is the outcry by the radical left? Or the outcry about the millions of babies murdered through abortion? It does not fit their agenda, which is being influenced by unseen powers to enslave our nation to Marxism.

Consider how last week Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, “called for dismantling economic and political systems that serve as a ‘system of oppression,'” according to .

The Minnesota representative said last Tuesday that most conversations about police brutality and racial injustice do not go far enough in their call for change. She and others on the extreme left want a cultural revolution—to rewrite our Constitution, redefine cultural values and remove our liberties.

The enemy is attempting, through Marxist, socialist ideology, to remove Judeo-Christian values that are the foundation of our constitution and liberties.

Black Lives Matter—period. But so, do Hispanic lives, Asian lives, Caucasian lives. All lives matter—racism is never to be tolerated. As Christians, we celebrate and honor the civil rights movement championed by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in the ’60s. But the Black Lives Matter organization is dangerous.

Black Lives Matter, on its website, lists many goals—the majority of which most people would support, such as: “We work vigorously for freedom and justice for Black people and, by extension, all people.”

But despite such mainstream ideas, leaders of the Black Lives Matter organization come from a far-left point of view. The founders are Marxist.

Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors revealed on Fox News, “Myself and Alicia, in particular, are trained organizers. We are trained Marxists. We are super-versed on, sort of, ideological theories.”

Further, the organization is radically pro-abortion (20 million African American babies aborted since 1973) and against traditional sexual norms and family: “We foster a queer-affirming network.”

This should awaken us and cause us to seek God fervently in this hour. Our nation is being held hostage by the far left, Black Lives Matter organization and mob rule. People are being threatened, losing jobs and in fear when their views (present or past) contradict the values of the far left and Black Lives Matter. I submit to you there are unseen forces at work to rob us of civil liberties and religious freedom in the USA.

Church in America: to bring lasting societal change, spiritual breakthrough must occur. We must learn how to combat the enemy with kingdom authority and maintain that position. America needs an awakening!

I’ll continue this next week—keep the faith and stay strong in the Lord and the power of His might! {eoa}

Bob Sawvelle is the founding and senior leader of Passion Church in Tucson, Arizona. Passion Church is a vibrant, kingdom-minded church in the heart of Tucson that values God’s love and presence. He is a doctor of ministry, doctoral mentor for the Randy Clark Scholars cohort at United Theological Seminary (UTS), an adjunct professor teaching master’s-level classes in evangelism, discipleship and church planting with the Global Awakening Theological Seminary (GATS) and an online course facilitator for Global Awakening’s Christian Healing Certification Program (CHCP) and Christian Prophetic Certification Program (CPCP).

It’s a time of resignations and a season of chaotic transitions.

We’ll see serious resignations through at least the first half of next year.

Some of these resignations will be necessary. Some will come in the wake of enemy set-ups through tactics such as false accusations that bring scandal—if we don’t pray. Some will be shocking. Some will be welcomed.

CEOs will resign from major corporations. Politicians will resign from office. Church leaders will step down. Members will resign from churches in droves.

Call it a purge—partly demonic and partly divine.

I see a rash of resignations in many sectors. Some of them are resigning by God’s will. Some of them will be pushed out—even forced out (if we don’t pray). Some are deceived by enemy lies in the face of pressure to lead in the new normal.

I also see a time of chaotic transitions in the years ahead. I see overnight successes rising to power in the marketplace and in the seven mountains.

I’ll expound on resignations below.

When Samuel Stepped Down

Samuel stepped down by the leading of the Lord, though with grieving. We read about his transition in 1 Samuel 8, where Israel started demanding a king. Samuel was old, and he appointed his sons as judges over Israel, but they did not walk in his ways. They were dishonest, took bribes and perverted justice. Consider 1 Samuel 8:4-7:

And all the elders of Israel gathered together and they came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now, install for us a king to govern us like all the nations.” But the thing was evil in the eyes of Samuel, because they said, “Give us a king to govern us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in relation to all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but Me they have rejected from reigning over them.

Click here to read the rest of this story. {eoa}

Barclays, a British multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in London, has axed the account of a Christian ministry it accused of allegedly being engaged in “so-called gay ‘conversion therapy,'” several media sources have reported.

Core Issues Trust (CIT), which says it offers “talking therapy to people who want to explore moving away from unwanted same-sex attraction and gender confusions; more specifically the organization offers ‘SAFE-T’ (Sexual Attraction Fluidity Exploration in Therapy,” claims the move came after pressure from an LGBT social media campaign that targeted the group.

According to a CIT release, the ministry is “a nonprofit Christian ministry that supports men and women who voluntarily seek change in sexual preference and expression.”

CIT CEO Mike Davidson said Barclays provided no explanation to CIT for its decision and that Barclays’ decision resulted from an aggressive online campaign from opponents of the CIT ministry.

“On Friday 3 July Tweets appeared pressuring Barclays Bank to stop providing CIT with services,” the release said. “On Monday 20 July, Barclays appears to have agreed to this request by informing both CIT and IFTCC that their accounts will be closing in two months, mid-September. The International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice, a project supported by CIT has also received closure notice.

“Since 28 June 2020, CIT has faced a coordinated, aggressive campaign from activists who pejoratively label their work as ‘conversion therapy’. These incitements via social media have now been reported in detail to the Parliamentary Petitions Committee currently inviting evidence submissions of online abuse, and as Serious Incident Reports to the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland. Some of the abuse received has been reported to the police.”

In the release, CIT says it has “received well over 300 nuisance phone calls and numerous hateful messages. Its email address has, without consent, been signed up to porn sites such as PornHub, UK Lads, Lesbian Videos and a range of fetish sites. Bogus claims using the CIT email address for information about surgical procedures continues. A large volume of emails from mailing lists purporting to have received requests from CIT were also received—with the intention of discrediting and blacklisting the address as spam.”

Davidson said of the phrase “conversion therapy”:

“This is a pejorative, imposed term, coined by an American gay activist, Dr. Douglas Haldeman in 1991, that names some extremes such as electro-shock and aversion techniques only ever conducted by medics, long since abandoned from the 60s, or extreme behaviors already outlawed such as ‘corrective’ rape for which there are no prosecutions in the U.K. Because the term speaks of talking therapies and counselling as ‘pseudo-science’ in association with these extremes, to be heard defending talking therapy and counselling for unwanted same-sex attractions is then taken to be a defense of the indefensible ‘Conversion Therapy’ label. We reject this accusatory term.”

In its release over the weekend, Davidson said the social media pressure is akin to “mob rule.”

“A coordinated campaign has resulted in our ministry coming under immense pressure and key service providers cancelling their services, action which we consider to be discriminatory,” Davidson said. “The term ‘conversion therapy’ is being used as a catch-all phrase designed to discredit any help that people may provide to those with mixed sexual attractions who prefer their heterosexual side. This could include a listening ear, formal counselling or spiritual support.

“If a social media mob can cause a bank to close the account of a Christian ministry, then there is nowhere for biblically faithful Christian ministries to go. The U.K. is now becoming an intensely intolerant country. Key service providers have cancelled their services to a Christian charity because of a social media mob.”

Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said that Barclays and other similar institutions won’t stop this trend following its actions against Core Issues Trust. More will be forthcoming in the days ahead.

“If it is CIT first, it will be churches next,” Williams said in CIT’s release. “If banks and other service providers start to placate social media campaigns by unilaterally terminating their accounts then the U.K. will be a very difficult place for biblically faithful Christian ministries.

“This kind of demonization and refusing of services to a Christian ministry is reminiscent of how Jewish businesses were treated under Nazi rule. We call on the government to put a halt to this kind of mob rule and to assert the rights of biblically faithful Christian organizations to be serviced by businesses without facing such intolerant discrimination.” {eoa}