Returning to Intimacy

Tag: Praise

  • The King Is Coming!

    DEVOTIONAL: “The Time Is Near—Jesus Is Coming Soon!”

    During Evening Prayer, the Book of Revelation has been taught with such power and clarity, revealing mighty truths that stir the soul and awaken the spirit. Each chapter, each verse, has become a trumpet blast, calling us out of complacency and into divine readiness. What once seemed sealed is now being opened with great urgency and grace.

    Revelation 10 and 11 reveal that the unveiling of Jesus is not only near, it’s happening now. The mighty angel lifting his hand to heaven declares there will be no more delay. Time as we know it is shrinking. Mercy is still available, but the window is closing. I’ve come to understand that God’s silence is not absence, it’s restraint. But soon, restraint will be removed, and righteousness will roar like a lion.

    The shaking in the earth is more than physical—there is a spiritual quaking. Hearts are growing colder. Pride is overtaking humility. Yet in the midst of this, God is raising up His remnant with prophetic fire—those who will boldly proclaim, “The King is coming!”

    The Lord is recommissioning His people in this hour. He is stirring the burden for souls, igniting the call to evangelize, to weep for the lost, to declare truth with love. We are not left in the dark. Ephesians 3 reminds us that this mystery of Christ—hidden for ages—is now made known by His Spirit. At the sound of the trumpet, the dead will rise, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52 says this transformation will be in an instant—from corruptible to incorruptible.

    Even death will not have the final word. Resurrection will.

    I’ve also been reminded of Daniel 7:13–14, where the Son of Man is given dominion and glory, His Kingdom will never be destroyed. No matter how dark it looks, Jesus reigns. He is not a forgotten King, He is a returning King. And His rule will be forever.

    Let this be the cry of the true church:
    “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
    The Spirit and the Bride say come.

    PRAYER: “Awaken Us, Lord, For Your Return”

    Father,
    We stand in holy awe of Your Word. Thank You for the revelation being poured out in this hour. Thank You for teaching us through the Book of Revelation, line by line, truth by truth. These are not just stories or future events, they are the unfolding of Your divine plan right before our eyes.

    Awaken us, Lord. Shake us from our spiritual slumber. Stir the burden for souls in us again. Where we have turned humility into pride, correct us. Where we have grown comfortable, challenge us. May our hearts burn with the urgency of heaven.

    Lord, we cry out for spiritual discernment. Let us not be deceived by the spirit of this age. Make us ready for Your return. Recommission us to preach, teach, love, and serve in the power of Your Spirit.

    Let us not fear, but believe. Let us not grow weary, but hope. Let us not be silent, but speak. For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

    The trumpet will sound. The sky will part. And we shall be changed.

    Come, Lord Jesus.
    We are watching. We are waiting. We are ready.

    In Your holy name we pray,
    Amen.

  • Jesus Is Coming Are You Sealed?

    A Call to Eternal Alignment

    In Wednesday Night Evening Prayer, Pastor Oscar asked 2 questions Are you sealed? Are your idols destroyed? These are not just poetic inquiries, they are eternal checkpoints. In light of God’s Word, they carry a weight that demands response.

    The first woe has passed, but Revelation 9:12 warns, “Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.” This is not the time to straddle the fence of faith. The seals are breaking (Revelation 6), judgments are falling, and heaven is preparing for the return of the King. The Lamb who was slain is now roaring as the Lion of Judah.

    In Revelation 11:15–19, the seventh trumpet sounds and declares, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” Heaven is not silent. The nations are enraged, but God’s wrath is just. The ark of His covenant is seen in His temple, reminding us that His promises are everlasting, and His justice will not be delayed.

    But what is He looking for?

    He is looking for a sealed people. In Exodus 10, the hardened heart of Pharaoh brought darkness that could be felt. Likewise, when hearts reject the light, judgment follows. But God always makes a distinction between His people and those who refuse Him. Are you dwelling in Goshen, or grasping for Egypt’s gold?

    Isaiah 42 reveals a God who does not share His glory. “Behold, My Servant… I have put My Spirit upon Him… I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.” Every high thing must come down. This is a divine demolition of idols, whether they be of culture, comfort, control, or cash.

    Jesus echoed it plainly in Matthew 6:24 and Paul confirms in Romans 1: those who reject truth will be given over to their desires. God doesn’t force us, He releases us to what we choose. So again the question: Are you sealed by the Spirit of God, or by the systems of Mammon?

    Pastor Oscar taught further that dead religion must be healed. Lukewarm altars must be torn down. God is not calling us to a ceremonial faith, but to covenant intimacy. The shaking in the earth is not punishment, it’s invitation. We must come into agreement with eternity, not as a threat, but as a promise. To those who are sealed, these signs are not terror, they are confirmation that the King is drawing near.

    And so we pray for the Nations; Lord, we cry out for justice across the earth. Let the gospel run swiftly and You be glorified. Overthrow wickedness in high places. Send healing where religion has made You a monument rather than a movement. Wake us up. Burn away every idol in our lives. May Your Spirit seal us, mark us, and commission us for this final hour. We pray for those who still mock the cross, rescue them. We pray for the nations where light is dim, reignite the flame. Let the Lamb receive the reward of His suffering.

    The Lamb gives life. The destroyer torments and kills. Jesus is not just coming soon, He is coming for a sealed Bride, undefiled, watching and waiting, with oil in her lamp and no idol in her heart.

    So again, I ask:

    Are you sealed? Are your idols destroyed?

    Now is the time to choose.

  • The Urgency of The Hour

    In Evening Prayer, the teachings have been on the Book of Revelation. Beloved, the hour is late. The Spirit is stirring, and the sound of Heaven is growing louder. This is not the time to slumber. This is the time to stand, to weep between the porch and the altar, and to cry out for the mercy of our God.

    As Revelation 8:6 declares, “Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.” Trumpets are not sounded in silence, they are divine warnings, piercing the veil of our distractions. Heaven is not quiet. The prayers of the saints are rising like incense from the golden altar before God (Revelation 8:3-4). These are the prayers born of groaning, of travail, of urgent intercession for a world teetering on judgment.

    And yet, in the midst of it all, plagues, fire, smoke, and woe (Revelation 9), there remains a cry from the heart of the Father: Repent. Turn. Come home. God is not willing that any should perish, but desires that all would come to the knowledge of truth. But oh, the tragedy, as Revelation 9:20-21 reveals, “The rest of mankind… still did not repent.”

    There is no neutral ground. The seals are being opened by the only One worthy, the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 6). The earth shakes, the skies recede, and kings and slaves alike hide in fear. Yet the haunting question remains: “Who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:17).

    The answer comes swiftly in Revelation 7: Those whom the Lord has sealed. Those tethered to the Lamb, clothed in white, bearing His name and washed in His blood. The sealed are not marked by the world but by God, protected, preserved, and positioned for His glory.

    Even now, the Spirit of the Lord is strengthening His people from within, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). We will not endure in our own strength. We must be rooted in Christ, abiding in His Spirit, and anchored to His promises.

    This is not a time to be casual with our faith. The urgency of this hour calls for burning altars, not dim candles. We must return to the altar, not just to ask for things, but to offer ourselves as living sacrifices.

    Woe to those who refuse to hear. Woe to those who treat His coming as a fable or a far-off myth. Jesus is not returning as a Lamb, He is returning as the Lion, the reigning King, with fire in His eyes and justice in His hands. The window of mercy is closing.

    Let us be found ready.
    Let us be found repentant.
    Let us be found faithful.
    Let us be found sealed.

  • Oh Taste and See That The Lord Is Good!

    When the Spirit of God is alive within you, something shifts. You can’t hold back the praise that bubbles up from deep within your soul. There’s a fire that compels you to speak of His goodness, not out of obligation, but out of overflow. Like the woman at the well in John 4:10, once you’ve tasted the Living Water, silence is no longer an option.

    “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’” – John 4:10

    That one encounter changed everything for the Samaritan woman. Once weighed down by shame and isolation, she became a bold witness, running to her village with joy, declaring, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” (John 4:29).

    When His River flows through us, it’s not just for refreshment, it’s for movement. It causes our mouths to open, our feet to go, and our hearts to burn with holy urgency. Whether we are with family, walking through pain, serving the broken, or simply going about our day, we are carriers of that water. And the world is thirsty.

    Let this Living Water rise up in you daily. Let it flood your spirit until you cannot help but glorify His name. Because once you’ve truly encountered Jesus, there’s no going back, and no staying quiet.

    Prayer:

    Lord Jesus, You are the Living Water, my source, my strength, and my song. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit that flows like a river through every dry and weary place in me. I don’t want a sip, I want to be saturated.

    Consume me, Lord. Let Your presence so fill me that I can’t help but speak of Your goodness. Give me the heart of that Samaritan woman who, once she recognized You, could no longer keep silent. Let every step I take and every word I speak testify of who You are.

    I need Your River, daily. Not for show, not for routine, but because without You, I have no life. Flow through me into the lives of my family, friends, and those desperately needing a touch from Heaven. Make me a vessel. Use me in the ordinary and the unexpected. May Your name be glorified through me wherever I go.

    In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  • Total Surrender!

    Jeremiah 2:8 KJV
    The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

    Out of all the powerful, prophetic words released today, this one struck me the most. At Mantle 2025, Apostle Jennifer Weaver delivered a sobering cry rooted in Jeremiah 2:8, a cry calling the Church to return to her first love, to cast down every idol, and to run back to the altar where God’s presence dwells.

    She said it plainly and prophetically: “We’ve made room for mixture in the church. We’ve tried to hold the Ark in one hand and the Asherah pole in the other.”

    This piercing truth revealed the heart of the matter, we’ve allowed compromise to take the place of consecration. We’ve wanted the presence of God while entertaining the idols of culture. We’ve wanted the glory without the groaning. But revival and idolatry cannot coexist.

    We want the mantle of power without the tears of surrender. But the Lord is showing us, before you wear the mantle, you must tear your garments.

    Just like Elisha in 2 Kings 2:12, who cried out as Elijah was taken into heaven and “tore his clothes in two pieces,” we too must tear away everything familiar, everything fleshly, and everything former before we can take up the mantle God is releasing in this hour.

    Apostle Weaver declared, “If you have a leader drawing you to themselves and not to Jesus, run! If you’re in a church where man is honored more than God, run!” Run to the Ark of Safety. The hour is late, and the urgency is great. The Church must arise, not in popularity, but in purity.

    Lord, give us back prayer. Give us back fasting. Give us back the altar. Give us God again, holy, unfiltered, and unmatched.

    This isn’t a season for shallow sermons or spiritual performance.
    This is a time to cry aloud and spare not. To deny ourselves. To take up our cross. To follow Him fully.
    Let every celebrity idol fall. Let every Asherah pole be torn down. Let every heart be made ready for the fire of God to fall again.

    It’s time for the Church to Wake Up and Rise! You cannot wear what you have not first torn in surrender. The old must die so the new can rise. The altar must burn before the mantle can rest.

    Run to the Ark of Safety before it’s too late. Tear your garments, rend your hearts, and return to the Lord.

  • Entertaining Angels Unaware

    Hebrews 13:2 – “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

    One day, I pulled into a gas station to put air in my tires. While waiting in line, I noticed a man who appeared to be homeless, joyfully chatting with another man who was filling his tire. What struck me immediately was that he wasn’t asking for anything, not money, not food. Instead, he was radiating joy, talking about the Lord with such passion that it began to stir something in me. His words were like light breaking through the clouds.

    When it was finally my turn, I stepped out unsure of how to use the air pump. To my surprise, the same man who had been encouraging others with the joy of the Lord came over to help me, just as cheerful, just as kind. As we worked together, our conversation naturally flowed toward Jesus. We didn’t talk about the weather or the day’s news, we talked about God’s goodness.

    After he finished helping me, he looked at me and said something I will never forget: “I see the joy of the Lord in you. May I give you a hug?” I smiled and said, “Most assuredly.”

    He didn’t want money. He just wanted to share the love of Christ.

    But just as I was about to drive away, another man walked up and handed him $5. It felt like confirmation that God was watching over this moment. I felt stirred to bless him as well. I ran into the store to use the ATM, but when I came back out, he was gone. I drove around looking for him, but I couldn’t find him anywhere. It was as if he vanished.

    Before he disappeared, I had told him about The Sock Ministry, which helps feed and care for the homeless. His face lit up. “Oh, I know Jasper well,” he said. That sealed it for me. This wasn’t just a coincidence. This was divine.

    In that brief moment, I knew, I had encountered one of God’s messengers.

    Jesus Himself said in Matthew 25:40, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.” Our Savior knew what it was to be without a home. He walked among the poor and broken, and He calls us to do the same, not just with money, but with love, compassion, and dignity.

    Let us never forget: the homeless man or woman we pass by may be more than what we see. They might just be heaven-sent.

  • Rest For The Weary

    Yoked with Jesus

    In a world weighed down by sorrow, fear, and unrest, our souls often feel worn thin. We carry burdens that were never ours to bear alone, grief, confusion, division, uncertainty about the days to come. Yet Jesus lovingly calls to us in the stillness of our weariness:

    “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
    Matthew 11:28–29 (NKJV)

    He doesn’t offer temporary relief or shallow comfort. He offers Himself. When we yoke ourselves to Jesus, we find a rhythm of grace, a steady, sacred pace of walking with the One who carries the weight of the world. His yoke is not a burden, but a bond. He invites us to lay down what exhausts us and take up what restores us.

    In this sacred exchange, we receive His rest. Even when chaos surrounds us, natural disasters or man-made, war, grief, and injustice, we are anchored in the One who is Peace Himself.

    “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
    Isaiah 26:3

    Let us trust Him not only with our personal struggles, but with the deep cries of this world: the pain in Texas where families grieve their children, the unrest in nations torn by war and oppression, and the ongoing prayers for Jerusalem, the city close to God’s heart.

    “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
    Psalm 122:6

    In all these things, our only lasting hope is in Christ alone. He is the anchor of our souls and the Shepherd of nations. Let us come to Him, yoked to His love, resting in His sovereignty.

    Jesus, we come, tired, heavy, and sometimes unsure of how to carry the weight of what we feel. We yoke ourselves to You, our Rest and our Refuge. Thank You for inviting us to come close, not to perform but to simply be with You.

    We lift up our weary hearts and also the groaning of the nations. We pray for the families in Texas who are mourning deep losses, wrap them in Your arms, Holy Spirit, and give them rest that only You can give. Comfort them in ways no words could reach.

    We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We speak Your blessing over her walls and call for protection, restoration, and divine peace to settle over the land.

    We intercede for every nation in turmoil, where children are afraid, where bombs fall, where food is scarce, and where governments have turned cold. King Jesus, reveal Yourself as the Prince of Peace. Pour out Your Spirit on all flesh and draw the brokenhearted near.

    Teach us to walk daily yoked with You, learning Your rhythm of grace and truth. Anchor us in Your rest. Help us to fix our minds on You, trust You deeper, and cling to You through every storm.

    You are our only Hope. You are our steady place. We find peace in You.

    In Your holy name, Jesus,
    Amen.

  • God’s Love Never Fails

    Yesterday’s message from Pastor Mike was a timely word straight from the heart of God. Preaching from Malachi 1, Pastor Mike reminded us that love is the first word God speaks over His people. Before anything else, before obedience, before service, God declares, “I have loved you,” says the Lord (Malachi 1:2).

    Pastor Mike taught that God proves His love not by instantly changing our circumstances, but by giving Himself to us in the middle of them. This love is not just a feeling; it’s a choice, a covenant choice that God made with us long before we chose Him (1 John 4:19; Romans 5:8).

    Jacob wanted God, and even with his flaws, he was chosen because of God’s love and promise, not his perfection. Religion says, “If I obey God, He will love me,” but the truth of the gospel declares, “God chose me and loves me first, and that love stirs my heart to obey.”

    Pastor Mike also reminded us that what may feel like rejection could actually be God’s protection, as Psalm 37 encourages. Rather than letting our circumstances dictate our faith, we are called to look to Christ, who is unchanging and steadfast (Romans 8:38-39). If we ever find ourselves doubting God, we must return to His word and remember that nothing, no trial, no exile, can separate us from His love.

    Prayer:

    Father, thank You for Your unchanging love. Thank You for the word You spoke through Pastor Mike that reminded us of Your faithfulness and covenant love even in seasons of exile. Help us remember that Your love is not dependent on our circumstances but is proven through the gift of Yourself. Teach us to choose faithfulness even when we don’t understand what You’re doing.

    Lord, keep our eyes fixed on Christ and not our problems. When we feel rejected, remind us it may be Your protection. When we doubt, flood our hearts with the truth of Your word. Thank You for loving us first, and for choosing us despite our weaknesses. Let Your love flow through us so we can love others well. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • For Such A Time As This

    “Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” — John 20:29

    When God hides you, He is not rejecting you, He is honoring you. He is hiding you in His quiver until the right moment to reveal you.The hidden place is holy ground where our flesh is crucified and our character is forged. It’s where God prepares us for what He intends to reveal. Just as Esther was hidden before she was crowned, God conceals His chosen vessels until they are ready to walk in divine favor.

    Favor isn’t about impressing others; it’s about being appointed by God at the right moment. Esther stepped into favor because she aligned with God’s perfect timing, not her own agenda. What looked like delay was divine positioning.

    Remember:
    Darkness is not your burial ground; it is the soil of your becoming. Seeds don’t make noise when they rise, they simply break through.
    Our delays are not denials; they are the seasons where God grows us in faith, patience, and trust.

    So believe without seeing, for the One who hides you plans to reveal you. Trust His process, knowing that your quiet obedience today will yield a harvest of favor tomorrow.

    Father, thank You for the hidden seasons where You prepare us for greater things. Help us trust Your timing, even when we feel unseen or overlooked. Remind us that in the darkness, You are nurturing us to rise in faith and favor. May we believe without seeing, knowing You are faithful to complete the work You’ve begun in us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  • A Faith That Lives And Breathes

    Have Raith In God

    Yesterday’s message at church was filled with powerful truths, and I want to share what deeply blessed my heart: the call to live each day with faith to believe. Pastor Byron spoke from Isaiah 55:8-11, and other passages, but this passage especially stood out to me, stirring my spirit to trust God’s Word and His perfect plans:

    “So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

    Faith is not a one-time decision; it’s a way of life, a heartbeat that echoes the Word of God in every step we take. It’s faith that saves us, faith that teaches us to follow Jesus even when the path is steep, and faith that empowers us to rise up and claim the promises God has given us.

    Do you know how precious our faith is to God? He gave us faith so we could know Him, love Him, and walk with Him. Faith isn’t passive; it’s active, living, and breathing. It’s trusting that God’s Word over our lives will never return void. It will accomplish His desires, even when we can’t see it yet.

    Faith is what carried the woman with the issue of blood through the crowd in desperation, believing that if she just touched Jesus’ robe, she would be healed (Mark 5:25-34). Faith is what strengthened Joshua and Caleb to stand against the giants in the land, confident not in themselves but in the God who promised victory. Faith is what kept the early church pressing forward through trials, proclaiming the Gospel with courage.

    God is calling us today to live by faith:

    Faith to be saved, knowing Jesus paid it all.

    Faith to follow Jesus, even when it costs us comfort.

    Faith to take the land, stepping into every promise He has spoken over our lives.

    But faith must be voiced. Pastor Byron encouraged us to open our mouths and speak what God says in His word. Declare His Word boldly, because it’s His Word, not our circumstances, that defines our destiny.

    Let faith rise today. Let it stir in our heart like a holy fire. Let it lead us to walk with Jesus, love Him with abandon, and believe for the impossible. His Word is alive in us, and it will accomplish everything He has spoken.

    Father, thank You for the gift of faith. Help us to live by faith each day, to believe what You say over our lives, to follow Jesus with courage, and to take hold of every promise You’ve made. Let Your Word accomplish Your purposes in us, for Your glory alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.