This week I want to share another post from Dutch Sheets. Dutch is a well-respected, trusted teacher for this season of time we are in. He is a prayer warrior and believes in prayer in a mighty way. For years I have learned so much from his truth and wisdom. He writes and posts devotionals 5 days a week. With everything that is going on around us, Dutch gives great insight, thoughts on what to be praying for, and words to decree over our country. Hope you are as encouraged as I am that together we are and will make a difference in and for our country!
August 11, 2023 – Dutch Sheets – Give Him 15
I want to begin today’s post by praying for the tragic situation in Hawaii. Lahaina (and all of Maui) is one of our favorite places on earth. My heart breaks for them:
Father, we ask for much grace to be given to the people of Hawaii. The devastation there is truly heartbreaking. Comfort the families that have lost loved ones, and bring hope to those who have lost possessions. Give wisdom and understanding to leaders there, words that will bring peace, ward off bitterness, and produce hope; give them messages that will inspire the hearts of the Hawaiian people to turn to You and overcome in this devastating situation. We ask for this in Yeshua’s name, amen.
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The Necessary Partnership
“In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’” (Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV)
It is difficult for some people to believe God needs our cooperation, that He works on earth through humans, not independently of them. Their concept of God’s sovereignty simply cannot allow them to believe He would limit Himself in any way to the actions of people. But He has.
Regarding the need for prayer, the great E. M. Bounds said:
“God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil . . . The prayers of God’s saints are the capital stock of heaven by which God carries on His great work upon the earth. God conditions the very life and prosperity of His cause on prayer.”(1)
The belief that God does not need our involvement to accomplish His will is a great hindrance to heaven’s cause. I once heard the late great pastor/teacher, Jack Hayford, say, “The quest of Jesus Christ on the earth is greatly crippled by wrong notions of the sovereignty of God.”
The Scriptures are filled with examples of God needing the obedience, faith, prayers, decrees, and actions of people in order to accomplish His will (1 Kings 18; Ezekiel 22:30-31; Luke 19:41-44; and others). The Father’s desire and plan from the beginning was to partner with His family to establish His Kingdom principles on earth - as they are in heaven. Jesus restored us to the family and redeemed the plan, giving to the church the keys or authority of His Kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19).
He taught us to pray: “Thy Kingdom, come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Many of you are aware that the Greek verbiage of this verse actually tells us to command these things. We are told to ask and command. We are NOT commanding God, of course, but we ARE commanding for Him - as His representatives, and as He leads. We ask or petition FROM our Father; we command FOR Him in order to release His Kingdom will. We appeal TO heaven; we command FOR heaven.
Now, for a short biblical word study. The above phrase, “Thy will be done,” is important. The two words “be done” come from one Greek word: ginomai.(2) This word comes from the Greek words genos(3)/gen(4) and is linked to the concept of creating, reproducing, or birthing. We derive many of our English “gen” words from this Greek word, which can be easily seen in their spellings: generate, gene, genetic, generation, and so on. Again, the concept is creating, procreating, birthing, generating, etc. This meaning or concept is why the words “born” (gennao - John 3:3)(5) and “born again” (anagennao - 1 Peter 1:23)(6) are also formed from this same Greek word, gen. Don’t be overwhelmed by all the Greek. The point is that Christ’s phrase, “be done,” is linked to the concept of birthing or creating. He was saying: “Use My authority and command My will to be done, to become, to be generated, to be birthed/born in the earth, as it is in heaven.” Incredimazing! (Sometimes, one just has to make up a word!) When we declare God’s will and words, they carry His power to perform, create, accomplish, and give birth.
Consider these examples:
- We preach the gospel, declaring God’s words, and He uses them to cause individuals to be born again: “For you have been born again (anagennao) not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23 NASB).
- We meditate on the “seeds”(7) of God’s Word, which includes saying them, and they produce their fruit in us. (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23)
- We issue decrees for God, and the matters are established. (Job 22:28)
- With Christ’s authority, released through commands, we open and close doors, bind and loose demonic activity. (Isaiah 22:22; Matthew 16:18-19)
- At times, we are even led by Holy Spirit to command the dead to live, and they come alive! (Acts 9:40)
We, the church, ARE the voice of God here on earth! This is why He instructed us to “command the foreword.” We have been doing so, releasing His words which He said are never without power (Luke 1:37, literal translation), and always accomplish what He assigns them to do (Isaiah 55:11). We will continue to do so.
Our decree:
Let’s decree that Christ’s Kingdom authority “come,” and His “will be done” regarding the following:
- America’s foreword, live!
- Cape Henry’s well of covenant, flow to America!
- Bell of liberty, sound forth Christ’s salvation to all the earth!
- America, a nation “under God,” you will remain there!
- Evil in America, be shaken down!
- [Taken from the ,Charlie Shamp prophecy in yesterday’s post] Evil uprising in America, be uprooted! Wicked one in the courts, be silenced! God has said, “For what they attempt to do, I will turn around upon them, and they will fall upon their face in disgrace. Where they will attempt to prosecute, I will overturn and throw it out. The scales of justice will tip in your favor, and the bowls of judgment will tip over upon the wicked.” We agree with and declare this.
- Demonic destruction of America’s roots, we bind you! You will fail! The tamarisk staff of covenant will destroy your efforts. America SHALL be saved!
- Revival, come to America and the earth!
- Wind of God, blow! Dry bones, live!
- Children and youth, be rescued, delivered, saved!
- Campuses, receive your heavenly visitation! Prodigals, come home! Jesus Revolution, come!