DO YOU BELIEVE GOD SPEAKS TO US?

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Read Bill Yount’s story of how God broke through his doubts, to speak to Bill, and how it changed his life. Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice. His sheep spend time in His Word, they spend time in prayer and they spend time in praise. 

What’s keeping you from hearing God’s voice clearly? This is part 1 of Bill’s message on listening to God. The second part is what Bill believes God wants us do in this “crucial hour” we are in, leading up to His second coming. 

“As a new Christian, out of the gate running, hell took its best shot at me to abort the innate desire to ever hear God’s voice. A wedge of contention drove deep between my Bible teacher and me the moment he said, “God spoke to me.” Those words were alien to me. Immediately, my whole being was flooded with doubts as the enemy unleashed those infamous fatal words: “Indeed, has God said?” (Gen. 3:1). Surely this man had a big ego problem, thinking God Almighty would take the time to speak to him personally among the billions of people on earth.

I left the Bible study in frustration that evening, thinking he was certainly out of his mind. That crazy teacher kept me awake. An hour later a question walked into my bedroom, “But what if you could? What if you could actually hear God speak to you?” As I began to faintly consider the possibility of an answer, that question lit a fire within me that has never gone out. I thought to myself, if God could actually speak to me, I would be willing to wait 30 or 40 years to hear him speak one word: not a whole sentence but just one word.

God wants to speak to you. Two hours later, the Lord Himself walked into my sleepless night. He said, “Son, I want to speak to you more than you want Me to.”

From that moment, my journey began listening for His voice. Now you know what I live for. I live to hear God speak. My worst days have taught me:

When God speaks, you live. When God speaks, you’re healed. When God speaks, you’re delivered. Storm clouds scatter. Dead dreams thunder with life. I’m not talking about man speaking, but when God speaks, you live. His voice has brought me through hell and back, changing doctors’ reports and adding years to my life. The devil’s best shot missed me.”

Bill is a member of Bridge of Life in Hagerstown, Maryland, where he is an elder and a home missionary for the past 40 years. He faithfully served in prison ministry at Mount Hope Inc. for 23 years and now travels full-time, ministering in churches and Aglow circles. Bill has authored several prophetic books. His latest book is The Power of Real / Transparent Prophetic Encouragement. Visit Bill’s website at billyount.com.

 

ANGEL COLON KNEW HOMOSEXUALITY SEPARATED HIM FROM GOD

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TESTIMONY TO THE POWER OF PRAYER

Though Angel had grown up with a strong spiritual family who taught him right from wrong, He had forsaken them and God for drinking, drugs, and a lifestyle that drove him away from God.

Angel said, “The world told me I was gay, that my new identity was in the LGBT community, but at my heart, I missed worshipping the Lord. I was so consumed with drugs, alcohol and, most of all, homosexuality, that it took one of the worst massacres in U.S. history—and the power of a praying mother—for me to repent of my sin.”

June 12, 2016, changed his life in a way he never expected.

Angel Colon

“I headed to a friend’s housewarming party, where we all decided to head to Pulse nightclub in downtown Orlando.

I remember love and laughter until 2:02 a.m., June 12, 2016. I was on my way back from the bar with my final drink for the night to bid my friends farewell with hugs and kisses.

That’s when we heard the “big pop.” We know now Omar Mateen opened fire with a machine gun. We were like fish in a barrel.

I tried to run, but it was too late. The moment I realised it was a gunman, he was only a few feet away from me and took aim at my body. Shots riddled my frame.

As I struggled to my feet, I felt a foot step behind my left leg and heard a loud snap. My left femur shattered.

The only thing I could do was cover my head and pray that stillness would overtake my body. That last part wasn’t too hard given I couldn’t even feel my legs.

With chaos all around, I could hear the shots, the screams, the glasses and bottles all shattering.

I looked up and all I saw was bodies falling down one by one. I couldn’t believe what was happening.

Shots began again, but this time they were slow, methodical. Mateen didn’t want to leave anyone alive.

I begged my neighbor to pretend she was dead, but the closer the shots got, the louder she shrieked.

The footsteps were practically on top of us now. I held my breath and covered my face with my hand.

“Pop!” Her eyes closed slowly. I couldn’t believe I’d just witnessed this beautiful lady die in front of my face.

I was petrified knowing I was next. I heard the shooter behind me, gauging his next move.

That’s when I asked the Lord for forgiveness, to forgive me for failing Him, for turning my back on Him. I wanted to be at peace with God, but at that moment, my prayer changed to prophecy.

I prophetically claimed my life for the Lord. I told Him I would not leave that building dead, that I had a purpose and He would fulfill all the promises He made over my life. I knew in that moment that I was chosen and God had something big for me.

I promised Him I would worship Him for the rest of my days.

The very moment I said, “amen,” I felt the bullet. Heat swelled through my abdomen, and I was certain I was dead. But when I opened my eyes, I knew the Lord spared me.

The most traumatizing night of my life also revealed that God had answered the heartfelt cries I’d prayed for years.

Every night, I would ask the Lord, “Please, God, make something happen in my life that will make me return to You, that will make me leave this life of sin, leave the life of homosexuality that I know is not right in your eyes.”

And all the while I prayed, my mother prayed, too. For eight years, she faithfully asked the Lord for the return of her prodigal son.

Two years later, I’m still recovering, but I know beyond the shadow of a doubt what true love, true happiness and true peace really is.

I wake up every morning and say, “I am good with God.”

 

SATAN WILL DO HIS UTMOST TO REMOVE TRUMP FROM OFFICE

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President Donald Trump has declared that the United States of America will be a great nation provided its citizens remain open to the grace of God.

Speaking Thursday at the 66th annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., President Trump spoke about the link between faith in God and national greatness.

“As long as we open our eyes to God’s grace and open our hearts to God’s love, then America will forever be the land of the free, the home of the brave, and a light to all nations,” said Trump.

“When Americans are able to live by their convictions to speak openly of their faith and to teach their children what is right, our families thrive, our communities flourish, and our nation can achieve anything at all.”

Trump also touted the religious heritage of the United States, pointing to such things as the national motto “In God We Trust” on the money and “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, adding that “throughout our history, we see the story of God’s providence.”

“Our rights are not given to us by man, our rights come from our creator. No matter what, no earthly force can take those rights away,” stated Trump.

“That is why the words ‘Praise be to God’ are etched atop the Washington monument and those same words are etched into the hearts of our people. So today, we praise God for how truly blessed we are to be American.”

Trump’s remarks were part of the annual National Prayer Breakfast, a major DC-area event that features several members of Congress, world leaders, religious leaders, and other honoured guests.

The event is derived from the weekly prayer breakfast meeting held by members of the House of Representatives during the congressional sessions.

Republican Congressman Randy Hultgren of Illinois and Democratic Congressman Charlie Crist of Florida co-chaired the 2018 National Prayer Breakfast. Rep. Hultgren explained to the attendees how the weekly meetings work.

“We eat, we sing, we share praises and prayer needs. Then one of our members shares their stories and we pray,” explained Hultgren as part of opening remarks.

“We walk into that room as Republicans and Democrats, people from different generations, regions, and backgrounds. We do come in with our differences, with our strongly held views, but we always walk out with a little more understanding, more together, and more unified.”

During the introduction, Rep. Crist spoke about a wrist band that he got from a doctor that had the words of the Golden Rule, in which Jesus said “do unto others as you would have done unto you.”

“I wear it every day. I do so to remind myself that even in this noisy, conflicted, and sometimes acrimonious world of politics, that we want to treat everybody, everybody the way that we would like to be treated,” said Crist.

“I hope you all will take this sentiment with you today when you leave, remembering how Jesus wanted all of us to live, fairly and compassionately.”

 

REJECTION: HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT?

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JESUS IS OF COURSE OUR PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW TO HANDLE IT. HE WAS REJECTED BY THE NATION HE CAME TO SAVE.

Jesus faced it in the early phases of His ministry, in His own town of Nazareth, when people challenged Him with questions: Are you truly the Son of God?  Aren’t you the son of Joseph the carpenter?  Why do you think you are so special?  Can you truly do the things you say you can do?  Are you out of your mind?  To that, Jesus proclaimed, “No prophet is accepted in his own country.” Luke 4:24

Moses defended one of the Hebrews, because of his compassion for his own people, by killing an Egyptian who was beating on a Hebrew.  Soon after that, he attempted to mediate between two Hebrews and was rejected with this statement: “Who made you prince and a judge over us?” Exodus 2:14

Joseph was rejected by his family after sharing his dreams, his father responded, ”What is this dream that you have dreamed?  Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” Genesis 10. We know the end of the story; Joseph persevered, believing in God, despite the circumstances, knowing God was working out His purposes in Joseph’s life.

David – Who can forget the ridicule the future king of Israel received from one of his brothers for believing that he could bring down Goliath? “Now Eliab his older brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, ’Why did you come down here?  And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?  I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.’”  I Samuel 17:28

Martin Luther, after taking a stand for the truth of God’s word (sole authority) was rejected/persecuted by the church. He was willing to die to get the truth of God’s word out to the world – the Protestant Reformation – 500 year anniversary being celebrated this year.

As you can see, even the best of the best have been rejected: deliverers, kings, governors, and even our Saviour.

However, they did not allow their rejection to hinder their destiny. Instead, they managed to persevere in spite of the rejection, believing in their God and His purpose for their lives.  They fully embraced their destiny and allowed their conviction to shield them from the negativity. Not only did these people succeed, God also used them to help and save the very people that rejected them.

What can you do to ensure that the rejections you face do not hinder your destiny? 1. Accept rejection as a part of your journey. 2. Pray for those who reject you. 3. Daily study God’s word. 4. Embrace your comforter, the Holy Spirit and engage him as your counsellor and teacher – pray in the Spirit. 5. Resist the devil and he will flee. 5. Above all keep an eternal focus.

Rejection yields an opportunity to experience great mercy and favour from the Lord.

AMERICA’S PASTORS ARE UNITING TO SAY, ‘THE TIME TO REPENT IS NOW!’

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American Pastors Network, President Sam Rohrer hopes America, the church, pastors and believers are listening to the message God is sending in the wake of many natural disasters and unrest. He said, “periods like these were common in the Bible, where God gave his people warnings and implored them to repent.”

“So we must ask, ‘What should be happening in our country?'” Rohrer continued. “‘How should the American people be responding?’ We can tie these important questions to everything we see happening in our world—from hurricanes to earthquakes. God is indeed trying to get our attention. And everything fits within the context of taking heed of this warning, repenting and getting right with God. The American Pastors Network’s urgent message is: ‘Wake up, church!’ Do we understand? Are we hearing and is it leading to repentance?”

Rohrer added that pastors especially should be encouraging their people to listen to God’s message, ask “What are you saying, God?” and get on their knees to repent.

“The verse 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land’ was used widely during the presidential election of 2016,” Rohrer said. “But now, many have forgotten. The post-election message was that our nation had a short period of time—a small window of opportunity—to steer the ship right. What will the church do in that window? Go back to sleep or further engage? These past few weeks have been a very tangible wake-up call. We must look up and understand, and know that what happens in this country hinges on the people of God. Are they hearing, are they watching and are they responding?”

Rohrer and his fellow hosts of APN’s radio ministry, “Stand in the Gap Today,” which airs on 425 stations nationwide, have been addressing these timely headlines and their tie to biblical times.

In Isaiah Chapter 5, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed judgement on the Jerusalem of his day,” Rohrer said on a recent “Stand in the Gap” program. Could his words be the final words of judgement on America of our day? His message was one of final judgement. No more warnings. No more time. God said, I’ll destroy your nation because you’ve rejected my commands and despised My holy name. Therefore, My fearsome anger will come against you and no nation will stand against Me. In that day, Israel deserved God’s judgement. We in America should look in the mirror and consider our sins in light of Israel then: materialism; apathy; ignorance; moral relativism; addictions of all types; bribery and corruption; rampant dishonesty.

“Is not God clearly warning our nation?” says, Rohrer

 

A MESSAGE FOR CHRISTIAN SENIORS.

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Fruitful Seniors

“And now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.”
Joshua 14:10-11

Like Joshua, Caleb was such a senior. The Bible says in his 85th year he was as strong as he was 45 years earlier when Moses sent him, along with Joshua and 10 other men, to spy out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13). All the men were likely fit at age 40—after all, they had just walked from Egypt through the wilderness to Kadesh. But how many were just as fit 45 years later?

Joshua and Caleb

Perhaps Caleb was inspired by Moses who died at 120 years: “His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigour diminished” (Deuteronomy 34:7).

Our senior years should be as fruitful and productive as our younger years.

Be a good steward of your health. Plan on being able to serve God faithfully, until He calls you home. Retirement is not Biblical.

God will empower you to do the work, He calls you to do. Christians; you already have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit received when you were born again. Jesus paid the price to redeem you, so your Heavenly Father could send the Holy Spirit to produce the “fruit of the Spirit” in your life, and to give you the gifts of the Holy Spirit as needed for ministry. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Is He directing your path, your steps? Notice all three persons of the Trinity were involved in your redemption.

At 81, I know in my own strength I can do nothing of eternal value. You need to come to that place of total dependence on Him then God can use you. I guess it is easier at 81, to not be concerned with worldly agendas, but it is amazing how easy it is for the enemy to get you side tracked with things that look good, even ministry focused, but not God’s call. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

 

IS THE INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER A CULT?

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LISTEN TO MIKE BICKLE ON PRAYER AND THE BIBLE. A POWERFUL AND ENCOURAGING MESSAGE ON BIBLICAL AUTHORITY. JUST A SIX MINUTE MESSAGE ON WHY IHOP IS NOT A CULT.

ONLY A RADICAL CHURCH WILL SURVIVE THE COMING TRIBULATION

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The Coming Church: article by John Burton – see bio below. I suggest you reread these posts for further confirmation – Are our churches making disciples, July 16th – Church as God intended, July 26th – Wake up church, Aug 3rd – Church in the last days, Aug 9th – Building church God’s way, Aug 17th.

“The book that I’m currently writing will address some of the spiritual and practical changes that will come to the structure and expression of the church. Trust me, it will shock our nation severely.

Those who hold on to a structure or a ministry instead of Jesus Himself will not be willing to go where God is leading.

The coming church will be rooted in scripture. The biblical structure has been largely forsaken in traditional churches. What will the emerging church look like? Here’s just a small peek into a grand shift in the structure of the church:

1. Services will become more like prayer meetings. One of the greatest indictments on the church today is that prayer is not the driving force. Today, people tend to choose churches based on the appeal of the teaching and the worship instead of the fervency of prayer. If the church was a house of teaching or a house of worship, that would make sense, but it’s not. The church is a house of prayer for all nations. Every person in the church will function as a burning intercessor and the services will be marked by this unified groan of fiery prayer.

2. Personal need will give way to personal mission. Today, churches are often more like organic, socially driven hospitals. People tend to use the church as a way to meet their personal needs instead of serving it as a minister of God. This is going to change. Of course, there will still be personal ministry and true needs will be addressed.

However, instead of the church functioning as a hospital, it will once again function as a mission-driven military. The mission will take precedence. The saints will be equipped for service, not for personal survival. In this ancient and emerging model, there will be MASH units that will take very good care of the wounded with the primary purpose of getting the soldier back into battle. Apostles will again lead with governmental authority and pastors will be seen as the main leader less and less as they focus more on shepherding and less on primary leadership.

3. Teaching will be minimized while instruction is emphasized. Teaching is mostly for personal edification while instruction is mostly for corporate assignments. Today, most churches focus on teaching principles of Scripture, providing truths that will help believers navigate through their lives and giving nuggets of biblical info. While there will still be important Bible teaching, apostolic instruction will emerge as a necessary new ministry.

There is enough Bible teaching online, on CDs, in books and on video to turn every one of us into personal spiritual giants. We need to take it upon ourselves to grow. What is lacking, however, is apostolic leaders, military commanders who give instruction and assignments to a ready army. Teaching is personal growth-based while instruction is a call to corporate action for the sake of mission fulfillment.

An example of apostolic instruction is this: The apostolic leader gives a corporate assignment for everybody in the church to fast for a week and then show up together to prayer walk through the city streets. It’s a corporate call to action versus biblical study. It’s mission focused versus personal growth focused. Personal growth will be largely our responsibility between services so we can be ready to respond to the corporate instruction where we will receive our assignments.

4. We will gather together most days of the week. The 24/7 church will again emerge as the church drives culture instead of reacting to culture. Cares of life will lose their power as we simplify our lives and put corporate prayer and mission ahead of most everything else.

This may be the most challenging change for Christians. Today, Sundays are the days to set aside for corporate worship while we give precedence to our ‘normal lives.’ In the Coming Church, the very reason we live will be to pray on fire together every day, receive apostolic assignments and then move out into our lives as kingdom ambassadors. It wouldn’t be surprising if a tithe of our time is what became the standard. Two to three hours a day, whether it’s in the morning, afternoon or evening, or even in the late night hours, will be given by every believer to praying on site together with others, ministering and giving ourselves to intercession-fueled kingdom ministry. Of course, much of what we have been giving ourselves to will have to be eliminated so we have the time necessary to devote.

5. Worship will be supernaturally driven. There is a new sound coming to worship, and it’s not simply a new style. There is a supernatural, otherworldly groan of intercessory worship that will explode out of the entire body as a new breed of trembling worship leaders lead the way into the shock and awe of the glory of God. We will no longer simply sit in a pew or stand with a raised hand while a familiar worship song is sung.

The prophetic, groaning sounds of Holy Spirit facilitated worship will make it normal to shake and fall to our faces as we cry Holy! The natural, logical sing-a-longs will be no more. We will have a hard time standing as God’s Shekinah and Kabod glory resides in His church. Worship teams will practice less and pray in the Spirit with tears in their eyes more.

Of course, this is an extremely limited glance into the many, many changes that are coming. I wanted to share this to provoke you to preparation. There is much that you and I enjoy in the church, or that is comfortable to us, that we will have to let go. Again, the coming church will be troubling and shocking, but it will result in the power and life that we have been crying out for.

God is about to answer that cry.

I strongly recommend that you read my book 20 Elements of Revival. That book reveals much of the shift that we must embrace right now. If you truly take in all that it has to say, you’ll never participate in the church the same way again.”

John Burton has been developing and leading ministries for over 20 years and is a sought out teacher, prophetic messenger and revivalist. John’s mandate is to call the church in the nations to repentance from casual Christianity and to burn in a manner worthy of the King of kings. He is equipping people to confront the enemies of God (established religion, Jezebel, etc.) that hinder an extreme, sold-out level of true worship. He planted two churches, has initiated two city prayer movements and is currently directing a prayer and revival focused ministry school in Detroit called thelabuniverstity.com.

SALVO’S UNDERSTAND CHURCH UNITY ESSENTIAL TO IMPACT COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST

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Listen to Miriam Gluyas, the Divisional Commander for Salvation Army, NSW & ACT talk about the value of UNITY that was expressed by all those attending the recent National Gathering sponsored by One Heart Australia.

Join a prayer network in your region that is praying for revival and the churches in your area.

THE POWER OF PRAYER TO CHANGE NATIONS

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Some prophetic voices believe the United States of America shifted, spiritually, Oct. 21, 2016, on what may go down as one of the most important days in American history. Did this National Day of Prayer for First Nations affect the outcome of the November Presidential election? Does America get another chance to repent and change its course? Yes is does, under Trump. Under Hilary Clinton its course was clear, further moving away from God and increased marginalisation and then persecution of Christians.

Largely unnoticed, 1,000 Native American Indian tribes from the United States and Canada collectively forgave the U.S. government for breaking treaties with their ancestors during a public ceremony on the National Mall.

The National Day of Prayer for First Nations, held near the Washington Monument, included intercessory petitions, proclamations and declarations of forgiveness by leaders from All Tribes D.C., a fellowship of Christians representing 1,000 American Indians from the U.S. and Canada.

all-tribes-met-prayer

A full-blooded Euchee (Yuchi) Indian, Negiel Bigpond coordinated the first-ever national prayer gathering of Native Americans in the nation’s capital.

Like the annual May observance of the National Day of Prayer, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in 1952, First Nations intercessors will convene again in 2017 during the third week of October.

Dr. Billy Graham, whose son and daughter have served on the National Day of Prayer Task Force, is a prophetic voice who believes that forgiveness by Native Americans might be part of a spiritual awakening within the nation.

“The Native American has been a sleeping giant,” Graham writes. “He is awakening. The original Americans could become the evangelists who will help win America for Christ. Remember the forgotten people.”

Bigpond agrees that Native Americans have taken a good first step toward aiding national awakening by extending forgiveness to the nation.

“We chose to forgive the U.S., whether it asked for it or not,” said Bigpond, a fourth-generation pastor who offered forgiveness and spoke blessings over the nation alongside other tribal prayer warriors.

Bigpond, who has evangelised on 143 reservations, believes the U.S. has suffered spiritual consequences for breaking treaties with Native Americans.

In Scripture, breaking a vow or treaty brings a curse on the land, and the U.S. government broke every treaty it made with the Native American tribes, according to prophetic voice Rick Joyner, who called the prayer event one of the most important in the nation’s history from his ministry headquarters in North and South Carolina.

“This is very real,” Joyner said. “National injustices are a major issue we’re facing now, whether we want to or not, and this is a big one.”

Bigpond is an apostle at Morning Star Evangelistic Center in Oklahoma, which is affiliated with Joyner’s MorningStar Ministries.

The nation’s crises parallel conditions on the reservations, according to Bigpond, a certified drug- and alcohol-abuse counsellor.

“We don’t want the nation or our people to suffer further,” said Bigpond, who holds a doctorate in divinity and is a Euchee tribe chief.

Mary Faus, who represented the Ojibway and Cree tribes at the prayer event, said the unity and power of forgiving a nation that’s never apologised or asked for it was amazing.

“We believe this has shifted the nation and we are already feeling the effects of what was accomplished in D.C.,” said Faus, who is the director of a house of prayer in Pennsylvania and lead intercessor with husband Jon at Hope of Nations Christian Centre.

Joyner agrees that forgiveness and love are major weapons in waging spiritual warfare on behalf of the nation.

“This is one of the most noble acts of true Christian charity I have ever heard of by any people group,” Joyner said. “Very few may even know that anything special happened.

“Some of the greatest things happen that way, and only a very few who have their eyes open looking in the right direction, see them,” Joyner said.

Portions of a proclamation posted on the All Tribes D.C. website were read by tribal leaders gathered on the National Mall.

The proclamation reads in part, “We forgive every atrocity and broken covenant ever designed to destroy us as a race of people. We break every curse and renounce every lie purposed to decimate us as human beings.

“We forgive the government, the church and the educational system for the use of residential schools that attempted to destroy our culture and silence our voice as people by stealing our language.

“We stand in the gap for those who are unable or unwilling to forgive, and call upon the Master of Life, to forgive us for harbouring unforgiveness, resentment, hatred, bitterness and rage.

“We repent of every curse spoken over America by our ancestors and we release the power of forgiveness to bring healing and the peace of Creator God to this land.

“We declare and decree that our voice will no longer be silenced and that this nation and the world will hear our voice as we speak life and blessings over the Americas and the world.

“We stand in faith believing that our citizenship lies in heaven, and we too, all await the return of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Being all of one mind and heart, having compassion for one another, we declare our love as brothers; not returning evil for the evil perpetuated against us, but on the contrary we choose to release a blessing, knowing that the Father of us all has called us as his children to bless and not curse, that we may inherit a blessing. Amen.”

God is doing something in Australia as well, our Christian Aboriginal brothers and sisters are planning a Solemn Assembly Gathering in Canberra, hopefully in 2017, to join with Christians from all denominations to ask repentance from God and to forgive one another for past sins.