Would God Ever Ask Us to Do Wrong?

No. But he might push to the limit our ability to trust him. The first words of this chapter—“Some time later God tested Abraham”—suggest that God never really intended the sacrifice of Isaac to take place. The point was the test: Did Abraham really trust God?

We are shocked by this situation today because we know the Bible’s strong commands against child sacrifice That’s what pagan gods demanded, not the holy God of Israel.

Because the Biblical laws against child sacrifice came later, we can’t be sure what Abraham understood about the practice. Even so, God had shaped Abraham’s values. This request would not have been consistent with God’s character as Abraham had come to know him to this point, so perhaps Abraham was confused by the nature of God’s command. But even though God commanded Abraham to sacrifice the son promised to him, the writer of Hebrews states that “Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead” (Heb 11:19). The laughter of disbelief when Abraham had been promised a son with his aged wife had become a firm confidence in the God who had made—and kept—that promise.

God’s command was harsh (even for the ancients). But Abraham believed God would fulfill his promise through Isaac. It makes us ask ourselves, will we entrust our futures unreservedly to the God Abraham trusted?

Taken from the NIV Starting Place Study Bible.

This Is Your Catch-up Year! - Andrew Towe, Chattanooga, TN - Jan 17, 2025

The "Underdogs" Are Going to Gain Ground

I heard the Lord say, "2025 is a catch-up year. This will be the year when those labeled 'underdogs' will gain ground and shoot ahead. The enemy has told many of them that it is too late, but I am a restorer of years. Where there has been fruitlessness, barrenness, and drought, [it] will now become an oasis, overflowing with the blessings of God."

This Is Your Catch-up Year!

My son Gabriel and I were at a theme park, walking through the long stretch of the queue that led to a certain ride, when he suddenly shouted, "Daddy, let's race!" Without a moment's hesitation, he bolted ahead. I quickly joined in, running past him at full speed.

I was flying, glancing back to see him giving it his all. However, I didn't notice that the path took a sharp right turn. In that instant, Gabriel seized the opportunity. He found himself on the inside of the curve while I was stuck on the outside.

To my surprise, my little seven year old beat me, the eight-mile-a-day runner!

He said, "Daddy, I catched up to you."

At that very moment, I heard the Lord say, "2025 is a catch-up year!"

Did you get that? It is not too late for you. If God spoke it, then He will bring it to pass. This is YOUR catch-up year!  continue >>>

A Golden Age of Awakening & a Renaissance of Righteousness - Jane Hamon, Santa Rosa Beach, FL - Jan 16, 2025

 

Breaking through Barriers and Setting the Stage for a Golden Age

As we continue into 2025, I want to share a prophetic word the Lord has given me—a word that I believe will stir your faith and position you for the days ahead.

As we closed out 2024, I recognized that the prophetic word I gave at the beginning of the year ("A Time of Victory Over Chaos") and the word I gave at Rosh Hashanah ("A Time of Navigating Contrary Winds") were still in the process of being fulfilled into the first quarter of 2025. These first months of the new year will be important for prayer and positioning, as the enemy will continue to stir the pot of chaos, crisis, and calamity not only in the USA but in the nations of the earth.

While there have been certain breakthroughs in the US election cycle, we should remember that the definition of the word "breakthrough" means "a military movement or advance all the way through and beyond the enemy's frontline defense." It means to overcome obstacles, barriers, and hindrances to progress. In other words, breakthrough is not the end of a matter but a new beginning.   continue >>>

January 15, 2025 -  What Does God Say About Rewarding Evil? - Karen Hardin

(NOTE: As this is such an important week, as the Biden Administration continues to use their last few days to bring more destruction on America before Trump takes over, and with the importance of our prayers for protection over the upcoming inuagaration and the future of Trump's work, we have chosen to share the same message and prayer from Monday's City-by-City.org email message. Can't pray over it too much, can we?)

AWARDS GIVE HONOR & RECOGNITION
Medals are typically given in recognition of heroic actions and service. They are to bestow honor. But in typical fashion, days before he will leave office, Biden has forever cemented his administration's honor of and commitment to evil.

Last week, Biden gave America’s highest award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom to two of the most corrupt and evil traitors to America. “Joe Biden awarded twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday, bestowing the nation’s highest civilian honor upon perhaps its least popular politician. White House ceremony attendees gave her a standing ovation,” stated Tucker Carlson. The award was also given to George Soros, the man who has single-handedly funded more soft-on-crime/communist party candidates inserting them in as governors, district attorney’s, etc, all over America.  (Link: https://bit.ly/BidenMedals)

Jan 14 - The Book of Revelation, Part 13 - Rick Joyner

       “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:1-3).

      This vision is first a revelation of Jesus. This should always be foremost in our minds as we study it. It is also a road map through the church age to the beginning of the age to come in which Christ will reign over the earth.

      At the time this vision was given to John, it was almost entirely a look into the future. As stated in the verse above, it began to unfold soon after John received it. It continued through the centuries of the church age until now. As we look back, most of it has now been fulfilled. However, what comes at the end is a spectacular consummation of God’s plan for the earth. Some of the most important events predicted in this vision come at the very end of this age, which is, conclusively, the time in which we’re now living.   continue >>>

25 Life Lessons for 2025 - Craig Cooney, Portadown, Northern Ireland - Jan 13, 2025

Today, I'm re-sharing a word about this being a "finishing season" and 25 lessons God taught me that may help you in this new year.

1. Lean Into Discomfort

Growth happens when we move outside places that are familiar, predictable, and comfortable. If you're not regularly doing something that scares you or makes you feel like a total imposter, you're probably living too small.

It's never too late to reinvent yourself or try something new. You don't have to keep doing something just because it's been a certain way for a long time.

If the way you're doing life isn't working, make a Spirit-empowered shift.

2. Know That He Is Involved in Every Detail

God is intimately and intricately involved in the details of your life. There is nothing He does not see. There is nothing He can't do. He is at work in people, situations, places, and hearts, working all things together for your good and His glory.

3. Don't Limit Yourself

Often we think of decisions as being "either/or." In many cases, God would say, "It's both/and."

Don't limit yourself or God to a very narrow range of possibilities. You are empowered and equipped to do so much more than you realize.  Continue >>>

2025 - Understanding the Times - Karen Hardin  - January 8, 2025

The date of this New Year on the Jewish calendar is 5785.

If you break it down based on numerical values:

  • 5 = grace
  • 7 = completion
  • 8 = new beginnings

On both sides of completion and new beginnings, it is bookmarked by grace. For those of us who see the election of Donald Trump as the grace of God rather than judgment AND that we are entering a time of new beginnings for America, this certainly seems fitting.  

Sometime in the spring (Trinity Sunday was May 22 that year, 1929) Lewis came to believe in God, though not yet in Christ:

You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him of whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. I did not then see what is now the most shining and obvious thing; the Divine humility which will accept a convert even on such terms. The Prodigal Son at least walked home on his own feet. But who can duly adore that Love which will open the high gates to a prodigal who is brought in kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance of escape? The words compelle intrare, compel them to come in, have been so abused by wicked men that we shudder at them; but, properly understood, they plumb the depth of the Divine mercy. The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation. (Surprised by Joy, Chapter 14)

From The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume I
Compiled in Yours, Jack

A Prophetic Prayer for 2025: This Is Your Sunrise Season - Jamie Rohrbaugh, Chattanooga, TN - Jan 5, 2025

 

Beloved, are you excited about 2025? I am personally so excited about this year. I love every new season, but I particularly love it when we get to pray over a whole new year.

The Lord has been speaking to me so much about 2025. For example, I believe He is saying that 2025 is going to be your "sunrise season."

He has also been telling me that we need to pray for His ABUNDANT LIFE to be manifest in every area of our own lives. Yes, He came that we might have abundant life, but have we ever thought to pray specifically for it? Now is the time!   CONTINUE >>>

Build It - Joe Joe Dawson, Texarkana, Texas - Jan 4, 2025

 

At the end of every year, the Lord gives me a "word" for the upcoming new year, and this year the word was "Build It." When the Lord first gave me this word, I was super excited because it was simple, powerful, and right up my alley.

As we have transitioned into 2025, I have never been in a better place for moving and advancing in everything that God has for me. Even my family is in the best place for us to move as one family unit, straight towards what the Lord wants in this upcoming year. Our church is in the best place it's ever been, our ministry is in the best place it's ever been, and this gets me so excited, because the Lord is saying that this is our year to "build."

This Is Your Year to Build   CONTINUE >>>

city-by-city banner

Pray Regarding the Vote Today at Noon! - The Need for Unity - Karen Hardin

Today at noon the U.S. House of Representatives will begin the process to vote in who will be Speaker of the House. With the slim majority held by Republicans, current Speaker, Mike Johnson, must have a near-unanimous vote of approval to remain as Speaker.

 This vote has far-reaching consequences if unity cannot be reached and a speaker cannot be decided on.

 Without a speaker, the House’s newly elected members can’t be sworn into office, or conduct any other business. If the process were to drag out too long, the House wouldn’t be able to participate in a crucial joint session with the Senate, scheduled for Jan. 6, when Congress must ratify President-elect Donald Trump’s electoral college victory.

 You can see where this could actually be a strategy to block/stop the certification of the election and keep things from moving forward.

 Please pray against any determination to make sure a speaker ISN'T decided on and that whoever is elected will be the best man/woman for the job to actually work with President Trump and get our nation back on tract.  

In this process over today and the next few days is where the RINOS expose themselves. Let's pray and pay attention.

Prayer for the Peaceful Transition of Government -  Jamie Rohrbaugh, IFA Contributing Writer | January 2, 2025

Reading Time: 4 minutes
 

Do you feel a sense of victory after this last election? If so, for many, the temptation is to sit back, rest, and cease from our contending. But, I encourage you today not to rest from your prayers, but rather to redouble your efforts.

Connect with others in your state in prayer.

 View Comments (16)

Although the American people won many victories for the cause of righteousness in this election, the enemy would love to stop our newly elected leaders from taking office.

That is why we must continue to pray. Only God—the One who brought us the victories we are standing on today—can preserve those victories and bring people into office. In order to see that happen, we must pray.   continue >>>

Running with Horses in 2025! - Faith Marie Baczko, Oakville, Ontario, Canada - Jan 1, 2025

Will You Run With the Horses?

God recently spoke to me from a prophetic word I wrote in my devotional book, Word to the Warrior: Devotional & Journal for the Army of God. The title of the chapter is "Will You Ride?"

"Will you run with the horses? Will you embrace the wind of the Spirit and run with My troops? Will you ride on the heights with Me over the heads of principalities and powers? Come away, and ride with Me over mountains and into valleys where you will bring My light!

"Throw fear and caution to the wind and follow My voice. I will never fail or abandon you! You have been created and chosen for this! You will feel My arms around you as We ride together releasing light and freedom to captive souls. They're waiting and groaning for your coming. Hear the sound of their cries."

Faith, Grit, Strength, and Fierce Determination   continue >>>

2025 and Beyond - Rick Joyner - Word for the Week

       2024 saw the beginning of a profound change in the political landscape of America. Some nations are ahead of America in this, and some are behind. However, it is obviously a worldwide movement. In 2025, both the changes and the battles over them will surely spread and deepen.

      It is going to be exciting and challenging to ride this extraordinary wave of change. Even so, it will leave us stronger and more stable. To prepare, we need to seek to understand what we learned through the turmoil of the last few years and apply those lessons. This will help us face the future from a more stable foundation so we can use these changes to build, not tear down.

      First, we should consider that human governments can only do some things well. Governments can actually be counterproductive when they engage in things for which they have no divine mandate. When governments get out of their lane, this inevitably results in discord and division. Take education, for example. When our federal Department of Education was formed in 1979, our education system was ranked near the top of the world. It then began a long slide toward the bottom. Why has this been allowed?   continue >>>

IFA - Intercessors For America - 2024: A Year in Revival
Lord, thank You for the many ways You’re reviving our nation! May we continue toward awakening!
Reading Time: 5 minutes
 

This year opened with 100,000 young people gathering at various events to worship the Lord, revival sparked on a dozen university campuses (all but one secular), and many events across the country and around the world give hope there’s more to come.

Let the IFA community know how to pray for you.

 View Comments (9)

Even secular political commentator Tucker Carlson believes we’re seeing revival.

I asked Dr. Vernon M. Whaley, Associate Provost of the School of Music and Worship Arts at Trevecca Nazarene University, if he believes we’re seeing another Great Awakening. He quoted the secular, liberal, and cultural political writer for the Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times Lauren Sandler from her book Righteous: Dispatches from the Evangelical Youth Movement: “We are poised before the next Great Awakening in American History.”  continue >>>

  1. Politics and Faith - Rick Joyner
  2. THEY WERE INVITED by Mario Murillo | Dec 24, 2024 | Mario Murillo Ministries 
  3. The Spirit Is Blowing a Fresh Wind on the Gift of Prophecy- Wanda Alger, Winchester, VA - Dec 21, 2024
  4. December 18, 2024 How Can You Leave 2024...and Make 2025 Better? - Karen Hardin
  5. NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THE CHURCH TO MAKE NICE WITH DEMOCRATS - Mario Murillo
  6. Hope for the Hopeless - Karen Hardin
  7. THE REFINER’S FIRE IS EXPOSING SINS OF THE HEART, MAKING WAY FOR HIS GLORY - Wanda Alger

  • You are here:  
  • Home