Category: Prophetic Insights

Tax time is only three weeks away. For many it is a fearful experience, especially if there is an unexpected tax bite.

We believe you should “Render unto Caesar” that which is his (Matthew 22:21), but no more. Nor should we be destroyed form lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6) when it comes to taxes. With a little knowledge and a little faith, fear will evaporate.

Here are some fearless facts for you to consider:

1. File your returns on time even if you owe money. The IRS will let you pay your taxes over as much as 6 years and you will save the 25% late filing penalty. Attach Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request, if you need a payout.

2. Remember that you can extend the due date of your return until October 15 if you need more time to file. Be sure to file the extension request Form 4868 before this year’s due date of April 17.

3. Do not be afraid to take deductions you are entitled to. For example, people with large medical costs, who own their homes, and/or who make significant charitable gifts can often save taxes by itemizing their deductions.

4. Similarly, if you are self-employed, do not overlook your business mileage. You can write off 53.5¢ per mile. This will reduce both the income tax and the 15.3% self-employment tax.

5. You can make IRA payments in 2018 up to the due date of your 2017 tax return, and reduce your 2017 taxes. IRA limits are now $5,500 per year.

6. Those who received a subsidy for their health insurance will be required to recalculate the subsidy based on actual 2017 income. You will receive Forms 1095-A from insurance carries and you must file Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit. You may owe extra tax, or you may get a refund, but whatever the outcome it will be better than what the IRS will do to you if you do not file.

7. Remember that forgiveness of debt is not taxable if your net worth excluding your home is less than zero after the debt forgiveness. File Form 982.

8. You can always hire a tax professional if you do not know what to do about your taxes. Wise people take advice. (Proverbs 13:10)

This year, let faith rule over fear and gain the knowledge you need to master the tax demon in your life.

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War on November 11, 1918 and the 29th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989.

The city of Berlin was the epicenter of the ideological and military wars of the Twentieth Century. Those conflicts were rooted in the Nineteenth Century, when German theologians sold out to secularism, cast doubt on the scriptures, and destroyed the Christian faith of most Germans. The spiritual void was filled by a secular state religion and Darwinist survival of-the-fittest militancy. It is not a coincidence that the Germans brought the ancient Temple of Zeus from Pergamum, “where Satan has his throne” (Rev 2:13) to Berlin in the 19th century. And based on what followed it may truly be said that Satan moved with his throne to Berlin.

The First World War was welcomed by the militant Germans, who expected easy victories. They did manage to defeat the Russians, but at the price of helping to establish an expansionist Communist state. However, the Germans could not sustain the war in Western Europe and they surrendered on November 11, 1918. The Peace Treaty which followed in 1919 left the Germans humiliated and bitter, but they did not give up their militaristic spirit. They hardened their hearts, missing their chance to repent, and Satan remained enthroned in Berlin.

Feeding on that militaristic spirit, Adolph Hitler and his Nazis fashioned a new religion where the Germans would evolve into God-like super humans. Their version of the Godhood Religion, or New Age Religion, swept through Germany and led to the Second World War. Their early success in the war led them to attack the Russian Communists and they even declared war on the United States. All the while they were murdering Jews, Christians, and others who did not fit into their super human evolutionary vision. No one could doubt that Satan ruled through the Nazis in Berlin.

Judgment came to Berlin in 1945 as the Russian army destroyed the city, revenged itself on the population, and took the Temple of Zeus to Moscow. Berlin, and Germany, were divided between the Russians and the Western Powers. Yet, after the war, Berlin became the focal point of Cold War tensions as the Russians tried to force the Western Powers out. West Berlin became an embarrassment to the Russians as it prospered under free enterprise and democracy. Finally, in 1962, they built the infamous Berlin Wall to keep East Berliners from fleeing the Communist police state.

German Christians began to repent for their country and pray for deliverance from the Communist oppression, and in response God sent them a Polish Pope and an American President. Miraculously, the Russian tyranny simply fell apart under its own weight without a shot being fired. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 as the prayers of the Christians were answered in an unmistakable way.
The two days in Berlin show the horrible consequences of failure to repent and the power of God to move for those who reach out to Him in repentance.

As we remember these two days, let us not harden our hearts if God’s judgment does come, because the Lord sends judgment to bring righteousness (Isaiah 26:9). Let us learn from the German Christians to repent and ask God to deliver us from the consequences of our sin.

“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 will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” -2 Chronicles 7:14

              Last week the shadow of division deepened over America as political warfare reached new heights.

                Chaos erupted when president Trump fired FBI Director Comey. Democrats, who just the week before had excoriated Comey for his role in their 2016 election loss, suddenly found him to be a hero of the republic. Leakers in the government and even the White House fed the media’s frenzied efforts to demonize Trump. Of course, Trump and the Republicans have played into their enemies’ hands with mixed messages and inappropriate responses. Jesus warned that “Any Kingdom divided against itself will be ruined and a house divided against itself will fall.” (Luke 11:17). We are in grave danger.

If we want to heal our land, the first step is to humble ourselves, pray, and seek God’s face. (2 Chronicles 7:14). We believe that God is calling for a season of prayer during the Jewish season of Teshuvah, a 40 day period leading up to the Day of Atonement. The word “Teshuvah” literally means “to return to the presence of God”. This year there will be a spectacular Solar Eclipse on the First Day of Teshuvah, August 21, running from coast to coast, inviting us to return to His presence and warning us of the shadow of division. We must hear from Heaven to heal our land.

The second step to healing our land is to repent of our sins (2 Chronicles 7:14). In the Jewish tradition, Teshuvah is a time for repentance. We must return to God by repentance as individuals, as the Church, and as a nation. The Church, in particular, must repent of its sins of division. As Lou Engle has said “Only a united Church can heal a divided nation.” Please look at our website, Teshuvah2017.com, for more information. You can also read more about the prayer initiative in our book Teshuvah Eclipses, just released by Creation House.

The third step to healing our land is to join the movement to end the divisions in the Church. Many of the American Church leaders have begun reconciliation with the Vatican after Pope Francis sent a historic video to Kenneth Copeland in 2014. This year, 2017, there are a number of reconciliation meetings as we remember 500^th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, the 50^th anniversary of the Charismatic Renewal and the liberation of Jerusalem, and the 40^th anniversary of the great Ecumenical Charismatic meeting in Kansas City in 1977.

Perhaps the most important reconciliation event in 2017 will be held in Kansas City on October 24-26. The meeting will be a convocation of national leaders, from Kenneth Copeland to Cardinal Di Nardo, President of U.S. Bishops. Through prayer, worship, dialogue, and fellowship the spirit of reconciliation will imparted to local leaders who can impact their communities. To find out more, see their website, Karios2017.com.

The fourth step to healing our land, revival, can come as the Church displays visible unity and love. Jesus prayed for unity of the Church and added that unity would “Let the world know that you (God) sent me” (John 17:23).

We invite you to join us in prayer and repentance through Teshuvah 2017, and to join us in the great work of Christian reconciliation and healing our land.             

Resource Notes

January 19, 2014
Corporate Prayer Resources

The Year of Promise

A century ago Europe entered the year 1914 with great expectations.

The year 1914 marked 100 years of progress and increasing prosperity after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The Industrial Revolution had taken its course, as steamships replaced sailing ships; trains, cars and airplanes replaced horse and buggy; electricity lit up the night; and the telegram, telephone, and radios made instant worldwide communication possible. Prosperity rose as international trade reached record heights. Most people believed that there would be no end to human progress and prosperity.

Few people understood the dark forces which were loose in Europe in 1914. The science of the Nineteenth Century (mostly proven wrong in the Twentieth Century) had convinced many that their Christian religion was a relic of the past. Prominent Christian Scholars attacked the veracity of the Scriptures, further undermining the faith of the people. Darwin’s evolutionary theories were applied to people groups as a virulent strain of racism excused the European Colonization the world. And the race for colonies led to militant nationalism and an arms race which turned Europe into an armed camp. It just took spark to set the whole continents ablaze with war, and the progressive world of 1914 with it.

As we look back in amazement at the suicidal First World War, few of us realize the fragility of the world we live in. Trade and technology have taken us to new heights of prosperity, but the forces of darkness are ever present. Militant nationalism is rising as Russia seeks to regain its Empire, China flexes it muscles in East Asia, Iran works to dominate the Middle East and Islamists try to recreate the Caliphate. The colonial spirit of exploitation has morphed into homegrown repression in places like Zimbabwe (And most of Africa) and Venezuela. Even in the United States we see individual rights and religious freedom threatened by an ever growing government.

Yet the prophetic voices tell us that 2014 is a year of promise. Pastor John Hagee’s new book Four Blood Moons makes a convincing argument that God is planning to move in 2014. Our sister organization, The International Star Bible Society, concurs (See their Blog of 1/8/2014 “Blood Moons”). One prophet had a vision of two cities, one prosperous like Dallas and one desolate like Detroit. He was given to understand that the vision showed two alternative outcomes for the same city, with the message given that the choice was ours. Like the Europeans in 1914, we can choose prosperity or desolation.

We believe that 2014 can be a year of a great move of God. We need to repent and prepare our hearts to receive God’s blessings in the midst of the World’s turmoil.

Let us fearlessly take hold of God’s promise as we move into 2014.

           God has no trouble handling his own publicity.

            Last week the Skywatcher Journal, a blog of the International Star Bible Society, published a blog about the asteroid which passed within 18,000 miles of earth on February 15 (See their Blog of 2/13/13 “A Celestial Warning Shot”….http://starbiblesociety.com ). As if to draw attention to the warning, the most powerful meteor strike in 100 years exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk on the morning of February 15. This was not a coincidence.

            Many scientists now believe that events like the Biblical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah were caused by meteor strikes from objects like the near earth asteroid or the Chelyabinsk meteor. As the world becomes more and more like Sodom and Gomorrah, these “near miss” incidents are not “near misses” at all, but are celestial wake up calls from a God who hits what He aims at. There is still time to accept salvation and escape the judgment to come, but the time is running out.

            The Chelyabinsk meteor strike also conveys a solemn warning to the Russian nation, for the Russian city targeted is located in a region which contains major Russian nuclear weapon production and storage facilities. As we come up on the Jewish holiday of Purim, on February 24, celebrating the deliverance of the Jews from a Persian death plot masterminded by Haman, we are reminded that modern Persia also plans to destroy Israel and the Jewish people. And the threat to Israel has been magnified with the aid of Russian nuclear technology which the Iranians are now using to construct a nuclear bomb. The Chelyabinsk region is an armorer for the modern Haman plot to destroy Israel.

            So the Lord sent a warning to Chelyabinsk in the form of a heavenly fireball reminiscent of a nuclear explosion. Even though the blast was equivalent to a large nuclear bomb, God miraculously spared the lives of those He warned. As we thank the Lord for His mercy, let us pray that the eyes of the Russians will be opened to the Haman threat to Israel and, indeed, all of humanity, posed by the Iranian nuclear program. We ask that the Lord will speak to Russian Christians and embolden them to spread the good news of salvation to their people.

            And we thank the Lord that He has warned Haman’s Russian Armorer. May Haman’s modern plot against Israel be turned back as it was on Purim in ancient Persia.

        Most Christians recognize Nimrod as the builder of the Tower of Babel, but few know the whole story and recognize his influence down through the ages.

         The historical Sumerian Kings list records him as “Enmer Kar”, a name which translates into vowelless Hebrew as “NMR” (Nimrod) with the name “Kar” meaning “The Hunter” (as Nimrod is known in the Bible).  The Sumerians credit him with introducing the worship of the “Queen of heaven,” a false pagan goddess which has come down the ages as Inana, Asherah, Isis, Venus, and numerous others.  The Tower of Babel was a Ziggurrat, or a magical model of heaven, where the pagan “Gods” from heaven could be contacted.  Josephus tells us that Nimrod rebelled against God because he hated God for judging mankind in Noah’s Flood.   His name “The Hunter” indicates a violent disposition, and many believe that he was a Tyrant who hunted men.

            Nimrod had set himself above the plans and purposes of God.  After the flood God had commanded mankind to fill the Earth, but Nimrod kept them under his thumb in Mesopotamia.  Nimrod went so far as to set himself up as the “Seed of Woman”, the Messiah promised in Gensis 3:15, to cement His political power. 

            But God sent the Tower of Babel judgment, producing a civil war which overthrew Nimrod and scattered humanity over the Earth.  Sadly, however, many ambitious men had learned from Nimrod and took the Nimrod Spirit with them to enslave their fellow men.

            So we see the Nimrod Spirit echoing through the ages as rulers like the Pharaohs of Egypt, the Kings of Assyria, Babylon, and Persia, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Stalin, Hitler and Mao Tse Tung, to name a few, follow Nimrod’s path to power.  The Nimrod Spirit comes upon those who want to rule over other men, establishing tyrannical government and putting themselves above God and His purposes.  The Nimrod Spirit deceives the followers of the Tyrant through a false religion such as paganism, or a false philoshphy such as communism, which legitimizes the power of the Tyrant.  For those who are not deceived, the Hunter rules through fear and terror.

            Even today, the Nimrod Spirit controls most of the nations of the Earth. Nimrod  is constantly looking for ways to subvert those nations with shared power or democratic institutions, as in the African tragedies of “one man, one vote, one time” after Colonialism or the subversion of Venezuela by Chavez.  Even in the United States individual liberties are being eroded by an increasingly powerful government.  Outside of government the Nimrod Spirit is active in large businesses and social institutions.  The Church is also plagued by the Nimrod Spirit as many pastors and leaders are more intent of building their own kingdoms than in building God’s Kingdom.

            The answer to the Kingdoms of the Nimrod Spirit is to move into the Kingdom of God.  God’s Kingdom comes within the believers, giving them discernment to see through Nimrod’s deceptions and power to overcome the fear weapon of Nimrod.  Christians should be on guard against the Nimrod Spirit in their churches, remembering that Jesus established a standard of Servant Leadership which is diametrically opposed to Nimrod.  Churches are to be run by the mothers and fathers, called Elders in the Bible, who are interested in the outcome of their flock, rather than Nimrod Spirit leadership which is often interested only in the income from the flock.

            Let us begin our warfare against the Nimrod Spirit at home by praying that the Nimrod Spirit will be exposed and driven out of our churches.  Pray for a revival of Servant Leadership and a spirit of Unity between church leaders which will bring them together to advance God’s Kingdom, not their own.

            Beyond the Church it is easy to identify the Nimrod Spirit in action.  Washington, D.C. is full of Nimrods, as are corporations, unions, universities, and the media.  Even Christians have been deceived by false philosophies such as socialism or the attempt to submerge individual rights into group rights, as in labor unions, creating group leaders who are often little Nimrods.  We are desperately in need of a Christian Awakening to remove the blinders and drive the Nimrod Spirit out of our government before it is too late.    Only a revival, expanding the Kingdom of God, can save us from the Nimrod Spirit.

            Throughout the world the Nimrod spirit continues its bloody march through history, keeping billions of people in tyrany and the resulting poverty.  As in America, the only answer is the Kingdom of God, which has liberated some two billion of us from the Kingdom of darkness by Satan, the ultimate Nimrod.   In the end Satan will rally the Nimrods of the Earth to fight against Jesus as He returns to establish the outward Kingdom of God, and then Nimrod Spirit will final  be broken.

            Until then, we must use the spiritual weapons of our warfare to keep praying for the expansion of the Kingdom of God and freedom from the Nimrod Spirit.

Dear Intercessors,