DOES GOD HAVE A DREAM FOR BLACK AMERICA?

Why I Believe ALL Black Lives

Really Matter to God.

(And they should matter to you also.)

Below is an SECTION of book that I just wrote "How to Fast Safely and Successfully", which will be coming out soon. I wanted to highlight a story. Not my story, but Gods' story. And the story of many amazing people. Below are a series of dreams, the body of Christ uniting together, and weak people fasting until...

Detroit and the African American Priesthood

Any able-bodied adult can do an Esther Fast. Seriously, unless a doctor says, “You can’t,” I want to encourage you to do an Esther Fast. That’s right, I want to invite you to fast and pray with your friends for three days without food and water. Why? First, this is one of the most powerful ways you can fast; powers and principalities of darkness are defeated. Also, powerful divine revelation from God about who He is and what He is doing is granted when you enter an Esther fast.

I have done several Esther fasts and all of them resulted in something powerful happening. Literally, every single time. I want to take time to tell you one such story. BUT WAIT! As you read this story, I want to encourage you to become inspired to do an Esther Fast with your friends. Remember, read your Bible until you find Jesus’s Dream and then fast and pray until you see His Dream come to pass.

This story is not my story. It is God’s story; His dream. I just read my Bible and one day found His heart, then like Peter in the Bible, I was invited to serve. As you read this story, you will understand that this is certainly not over. In fact, it is just beginning, and there is so much more to come.

JESUS’ DREAM: AFRICAN AMERICAN PRIESTHOOD

I was 30 years old when God’s Word struck my heart. What He said tied together years of encounters with Him. Seemingly random dreams, promises, and words all collided together in a moment, with just a still small voice, bringing clarity and life-giving vision. He said, “I [God] will raise up 1 million African American men that will stand as watchmen on the wall for Israel [Jerusalem].” Next, He fervently proclaimed, “Call them a radical Nazarite army and tell them to sing.” As those words saturated my heart, He continued, “They must first be a priesthood before me and then watchmen on the wall for Israel/Jerusalem.” SELAH. I stood still and waited.

In the middle of the living room, late one night in prayer, these words riveted my heart and held me in place. Two life-changing events happened that night. First, God began to connect different things that He had told and shown me since I was a little boy. I had many dreams about the African American people. As a gangly white country boy who grew up across the street from a cow farm, I did not come across many black people. However, I had always felt a draw to spend time, hang out, and live near my African American brothers and sisters.

Secondly, I knew that what God said was a Scripture verse from Isaiah 62:6-7. I want to take you on a journey and tell you a story, God’s story, and the story of others that spoke to me along the way. I want to bring perspective, biblical fortitude, and rich stories, which I believe are inspired by the Holy Spirit. So, let me start with the Bible verse the Holy Spirit spoke (Isa. 62:6-7), then I will share when Jesus quotes this verse while on earth in His earthly ministry.

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;

They shall never hold their peace day or night.

You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,

And give Him no rest till He establishes

And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” (Isa. 62:6-7)

Isaiah spoke these words after God shared His heart. How many times have you shared your heart with someone? (Did you really feel understood?) Do you really understand God’s heart in the Scripture above? If you do, and I hope you do, you would feel God’s earnest desire to dwell in His beautiful home in Jerusalem. And in His beautiful home, His children will love Him wholeheartedly while loving their neighbor as themselves. In Jerusalem, Jesus will have a beautiful Bride who loves Him with dove’s eyes (those are eyes of singular devotion). In Jerusalem, the worship room never stops and the sun does not need to shine, because God is that—Son!

But before God lives in His heavenly home in Jerusalem, He is going to lead a mighty victorious army. The army will be the greatest army ever established in world history. Men and women, young and old, vibrant and frail, rich and poor, standing before God in Heaven, but singing while on earth. The army will love; they will know it is all about that heavenly wedding to come. The army will sacrifice; they will not need the pleasures of this world and they will not waste their time or energy. This army will dance; they will joyfully think about His Kingdom come. This army will fast and pray; they will give up legitimate earthly pleasures. This army will sing; they will be watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem. God is inviting you into this army! Let me tell you how God led me on this journey.

My wife and I moved to Richmond, Virginia, to see this dream come to pass. God spoke absolutely clearly, beyond a shadow of a doubt, and told us to go to Richmond and we would see the beginnings of this grand adventure. (Note: my wife and do not think we are God's answer for the plight of black America. We are just a small part, but I believe a vital part.)

After moving to Richmond, Virginia, which was a former slave market in America, we spent three years praying daily and serving in the inner city. It was really important for me, a skinny white country boy, to move to a predominantly black community to learn empathy and serve without an agenda. During that season, we watched, learned, listened and served. We watched the heroes of the black community, moms and dads that had relatively nothing, but gave themselves to continue putting food on the table and paying their bills on time. We watched single mothers work their hands to the bone, and smile, thankful to raise their amazing families. I watched grandmothers, tired, long past tired, raise another generation of grandchildren so they could get a fresh start.

And we saw the pain. Young men, wanting to make a difference, wanting to be loved, wanting a chance to do something in life. Regrettably, they ended up in jail at a young age. We saw the single mom carrying a backpack and running drugs, just so she could put food on the dinner table. We watched moms have to go into subpar stores to buy food with little or no nutritional value. We listened to young men cry because they never knew their father, and they lived with the pain of this day in and day out. I had to watch a grandma try to sell me weed out of a van with her grandkids in the vehicle. Why? Not because she was an addict. She had to make money while watching her abandoned grandkids so they could have food that morning.

It is then that I learned something very profound. Not only was I white, but I had white privilege. (I am not a racist, nor did I ever know what white privilege was.) However, one evening I could not sleep so I sat outside on my porch. Not wanting to wake up my children, I lit a candle so I could read the Bible. At the same time there was a group of young men, who happened to be black, walking by. They saw me light the candle and then asked me if I was lighting it up (smoking weed), because they wanted to join. Not wanting to miss the moment, I jumped up to talk with the guys. Eventually, the leader sat down and talked. He asked me what it was like to be rich. I told him I am not rich at all. He said, “You have to be rich, you're white.” I laughed. But then, he proceeded to explain how he was brought up without a father in poverty, and he had never been outside of the city limits.

I pondered the words he said and thought deeply. I did have white privilege and did not even know it. (In the natural world I was living very close to the poverty line). However, I could pick up the phone if I was in need and call someone, and they would help me. I could walk into a bank and get a loan with little to no problem. I could walk into a store to shop, and most people would not think I am about to steal something. I could drive at night and would not get pulled over because of the color of my skin. It was at that moment that I saw this man's life and future life differently, and I was filled with empathy. After I finished my three-year task in Richmond, I moved my family back to the International House of Payer in Kansas City. (As you know from earlier, to serve God’s call for the Iranian woman.) It is here that I begin this story about Esther fasting.

6 MONTHS AFTER WE MOVED FROM RICHMOND TO KANSAS CITY

Holding the word that God would raise up 1 million African American men in my heart, I felt to share the word with my immediate prayer team. At that time in my life, I was a prayer room supervisor at the International House of Prayer. I was in charge of a small group of intercessors to provide pastoral oversight in their life. I loved my job and I absolutely loved the people I was called to serve. We met five days a week and encouraged each other, read the Bible, shared stories, and prayed with one another. One of those people was named Jong Kim.

Jong came from a very strict Asian family. He was well educated and his parents had hoped he would lead in the marketplace successfully. However, Jong had felt led to move to IHOPKC and join the staff. As his prayer room leader, I would meet with him regularly to discuss how he was doing and what he wanted to do. He felt content to serve in the prayer room, but I always knew no matter what God asked of him, he would do it. He was a faithful man.

One day, I shared with my team about the dreams I had for the African American people. I remember explaining with fervent passion about how God would raise up 1 million African American men to stand as Watchmen on the wall for Israel. I explained how this would be a part of revival in our nation. I shared how our nation had a Biblical call to provoke Israel to jealousy (Romans 11:11). But before we can provoke Israel to jealousy, we would have to unite across political and denominational lines (at the cross of Christ; Eph. 2:15-16). Paul proclaimed, “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” (Eph. 2:15-16).

God said, He would bring Peace but only by bringing Jews and Gentiles together through the Cross. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. Before God brings Jews and Gentiles together, He would have to unite Gentile believers together under the power of the Cross. And then He will have to unite Jewish believers (of Jesus as Messiah) together under the power of the Cross. And then He would unite them (Jews and Gentiles) together as Paul taught in Ephesian 2:15. But how would the unity come? Only through the Cross of Christ.

So, before we could unite together and provoke Israel to jealousy, we would then have to unite together and serve the African American men into their calling. The Lord has asked me 1000 times, “How can you unite together and provoke Israel to jealousy, and serve them unto their calling, when you have not learned how to unite, get low, humble yourselves, and serve the African American male into their calling?” There is no other way then the path that the Lord lays out.

(side note: The African American male is the only people group that is decreasing at an increasing rate; see http://www.theradiancefoundation.org/).

Also, when Jesus came as a baby, God had not spoken to the Jewish people for over 400 years. Jerusalem, and the Jewish people, were under intense Roman occupation, and also intense governmental persecution of their own Jewish leaders. The Jewish people were treated as second-class citizens in their own land. They suffered intense political, cultural, and economic pressure. Their only hope was for the Messiah to come and rescue them. But the prophet Micah had spoken some 700 years earlier, and said,

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,

Yet out of you shall come forth to Me

The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from of old,

From everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

What does this mean? Even though Israel was small, and suffered much, the Messiah would still come and bring forth salvation. Today, the African American brothers and sisters suffer intense persecution, but out of them, the African American male will arise and serve God’s redemptive plan for true peace; peace that only Yeshua can bring.

I continued to share that this would come with extreme tension. As the African American people would have to stand up and lead with meekness and humility, other races would have to reach out in empathy. I knew the path forward had to do not just with social justice, but with the cross of Christ.

I shared the stories of how my grandfather and grandmother had served the African American sharecroppers in the 1940’s and 50’s. They did this by building them homes, helping with food, providing spiritual instruction, and providing jobs. I explained how the KKK would organize, pressure, and protest against my grandfather and the community he worked with. I recalled stories of my grandfather and grandmother being shot at by the clan, buildings being destroyed, and other stories of fear and intimidation. But I remember my grandfather saying that's not the end of the story. God has something great planned for this nation and the black people.

I told our team how I believed God was going to move supernaturally in our land, but we all had to do our part. I remember looking at Jong that day; it was as if God had already spoken something in his heart. As I shared the story God had told me, God was mixing a dream that was already in his heart. I remember Jong stood up and walked out the door, and I never heard from him for the next 8 months. (More on this later).

ONE MONTH LATER

Then I was approached by a black woman one day. She was anything but ordinary. This woman had grown up under an intense and extreme parental situation only to overcome; today she is a Godly prophetic leader in our land. She had a strong desire for a generation to embrace their spiritual identity through intimacy with Jesus. She also had a passion to see healing between races, the ending of abortion, and revival in our land. (She later went on to lead a prolific prophetic movement called 818 The Sign Gathering).

She asked if I would pray with her in regards to these areas. Excited, I shared God’s dreams and desires for 1 million African American men to stand as watchmen on the wall for Israel. I asked if we could pray for this also. She agreed, and together, with a few friends, we started to pray together daily for 3 months, 5 times a week, for two hours each day. (That is 10 hours a week, over 3 months, which is 120 hours of prayer.) We prayed for the African American people, we prayed for the ending of abortion, and for revival in America. Sometimes it was hard, and sometimes there was a sense of God’s presence and His desire for revival. It was about that time that God began to speak to us about His plans and purposes for the city of Detroit.

Each time that we would gather, all were encouraged to share any dreams that they had. There began to be several dreams where God was speaking about His plans and purposes for the city of Detroit. Many people know Detroit as a failed economic area. But God was talking about touching the heart of people and bringing a spirit of revival. And I remember one day that forever changed my life as we stayed steady in fasting and prayer, bringing each dream before the Lord.

A man named Lou Engle burst through the door of our little prayer meeting one day, and made a ferocious statement, “Do we bring the call to Detroit?” Lou, or Papa Lou, as we affectionately call him, was a prophetic intercessor who led a ministry called The Call. (Today he leads Lou Engle Ministries). In 2000 Lou had sent out a call inviting people to stand for revival in the nation at the Washington D.C. Mall, and remarkably 400,000 young people showed up believing God would change the nation. Several things happened that day.

First, the lives of everyone who came were impacted through the inspirational worship, teaching, and prayer. Second, many historic ministries came forth, which had monumental impact in the areas of the gospel being preached and justice for the oppressed. We were also believing for the ending of abortion in America. Unfortunately, we have not seen this happen, but we believe the best is to come.

Lou had come to our humble prayer meeting because he heard we had been praying for the African American people and the city of Detroit. His team was also sensing from the Lord that God wanted to do something significant. He came to our meeting to hear the dreams and listen to what the Holy Spirit had been saying. After 40 minutes of sharing stories it was evident that God wanted to do something rich and vibrant in the city of Detroit that would have lasting impact.

I knew that God would do amazing things. I also know that He is able to do several things at once. God is the master chess player. He can play chess on 100 different levels at once. But in my heart, I knew that somehow, I had been called into this because to see young black men stand up as a radical Nazaire army that would sing. I continued in the cause because I believe God would raise up 1 Million African American men that would stand as Watchmen on the wall for Israel (Isaiah 62:6-7).

As we began to move towards the event in Detroit, several ministries came together. It is always extraordinary to watch the body of Christ arise and unite together. As we fasted and prayed, there was also much opposition. First, we were not able to get the building secure as we did not have the finances to do so. Second, it seemed that the local ministries were not as excited about the event as we were. We knew something supernatural had to be done.

Lou Engle follows the Daniel 10 Biblical principle for intercession. Lou understood that the battle was first won in the place of prayer and fasting. Daniel spent his whole life living, eating, and praying differently than the culture. Daniel 6:10 shows that Daniel prayed three times a day from his youth. Daniel chapter one affirms that after a 10-day fast, Daniel looked fitter than all of those around him, and God blessed him by making him ten times smarter than others, and gave him skill to understand all dreams and visions (Dan. 1:17). In Daniel chapter 10, we see Daniel fasting and praying, defeating the enemies of God in the heavenly realms in order to see victory on the earth. In fact, we see in Daniel 10, he is praying for the restoration of God's plans and purposes for Jerusalem just two years after the Israelites had returned to the land after fulfilling their 70-year judgment. Daniel understood how to win the battle in prayer.

In the same way, Lou began to ask if there was any place for a small group of people to live in a community while fasting and praying for God's purposes in Detroit and for the African American people. And this is where we find our friend Jong. Jong, after hearing the story about God's heart for the African American people (but not knowing we would eventually pray about the city of Detroit), had moved to Detroit from the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and he was now working with an after-school program. This after-school program occupied an old public school which was no longer functioning.

The building was unkempt and near falling down. A faithful man and his wife gave up their lives to serve the poor of the community and to provide a place for the children to come after school. There, they were able to get help with school, get fed a decent meal, and have an overall safe environment. The building's heating system did not function properly, so they had to plug stationary heaters in rooms. Jong approached this fateful man and his wife and asked if he could serve. Jong was allowed to work with the children and serve within the community.

Jong understood the importance of prayer for the salvation of Israel. Therefore, he asked the faithful man and his wife if he could use one of the rooms for prayer (Jong became a literal watchmen, and made the way for Detroit to also stand as praying watchmen for the salvation of Israel; Isaiah 62:1-7). So, Jong volunteered with the children and set up a room dedicated to prayer. He placed Scriptures on the wall for revival and transformation in the city of Detroit, as well as Scriptures for the salvation of Israel. Little did he know that little room would be the birthing center for transformative revival in the city.

11.11.11. THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CALL

We had already set the date for the event 11.11.11. This was going to be a Call event that was different in two ways. First, this would have the theme of God’s redemptive heart for the African American people. Second, this was going to be a 24-hour event, which we had never done before. However, there were some setbacks.

The first setback was that we did not have the building, Ford’s Field. When doing these large gatherings, you have to take time to build relationships with churches and city officials so that they release the venues at the proper times. Second, we did not have the finances. To do this event, you need at least 1.2 million dollars. Also, you need a story. (The story drives the mobilization for the event. Our story was heavenly and divine, but most people don’t really care enough about the African American people to be a part of a prayer event focused on them.)

So, Lou gathered the team together and said, “If we are going to host this 24-hour prayer event for God’s redemptive call for the African American people, then we will have to win the battle in the heavenlies. We have to go to Detroit and do a 40-day prayer and fasting strike. I have found a place where a young man has been hosting day and night prayer for the African American people in the heart of Detroit. We are going to go there, fast and pray for 40 days, and then believe God for a miracle.” (At this point I did not know that it was Jong who had paved the way in prayer to make this all happen.)

So, we went to Detroit, lived in the elementary school with blow-up mattresses on the floor for 40 days. The building had a rat infestation, so the after-school program would put out rat poison all over. The rats would eat the poison and die in random places. Many died behind the walls (boy did it stink). There was only heat in a few rooms with the portable electric heaters. There was no shower, but we found a janitor closet which had an old water spicket line hanging out of the wall. Whoever got there first was usually able to get a warm shower for about 5 minutes before it turned freezing just like the cold Detroit air.

We set up two prayer meetings. Since this was an event for God's heart and redemptive call for the African American people, we knew that we had to win the battle over racism. So, each day we stood on Eight-mile road and prayed for an ending of racism and revival in Detroit. Jonathan Tremaine Thomas, an African American leader who leads a ministry called Civil Righteousness led this section of our prayer time. As a show of humility, we stood in a line facing the road, with a black man or woman every other person. It was a powerful statement that gave us courage and strength as we prayed. And for 2 hours a day we prayed there, then we went back to the school, slept, and got up in the middle of the night to pray while the city was sleeping. And pray we did. Over the course of the 40 days, it seemed there would be no victory and we would not get the stadium. Then someone had a dream.

The dream was an invitation for us to do a 3-day Esther fast during the night watch. There was no guarantee that we would get the stadium, but there was an invitation from the Lord to fast and pray. Up to this point, I had done many extended water fasts, and was currently on a 40 day liquid fast. So, I was not that excited to go on a 3-day Esther fast with no water. But I was willing to do this because I had felt God’s heart and heard His plan for the African American people. It was actually not as hard as I thought it would be.

Jonathan Tremaine and I were sleeping in the prayer room. (We slept during the day, because remember, we were doing the night watch.) Both of us started the fast at the same time and encouraged each other that God was gracious and He would sustain us. We had to wake up around 1 pm, because we stood on Eight mile road praying for unity among races from 2-5pm.

It was during this time that two amazing things happened. First, we had been standing in prayer, asking for revival in Detroit and an end to racism along Eight mile road. There were several businesses in a shopping mall behind us. We really did not know what businesses were represented. However, during the Esther Fast, a man came out of his business and was mad at us. He said that his business had all but dried up. We were not trying to shut down local businesses. However, this man was selling marijuana for medicinal purposes. (We understood that most of the people going to this business were not there for medicinal reasons.) The second thing which happened was God gave me massive revelation.

GOD BRINGS DIVINE REVELATION DURING THE ESTHER FAST

I was reading in my Bible during the night watch as we prayed. I remember reading from Daniel chapter 10, Revelation 13, Revelation 17 and 18, and several other Scriptures. And most significantly from Zechariah 9:9-13 (particularly in verse 13), and how this would fit in with African American people.

The Coming King

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King is coming to you;

He is just and having salvation,

Lowly and riding on a donkey,

A colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

And the horse from Jerusalem;

The battle bow shall be cut off.

He shall speak peace to the nations;

His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea,

And from the River to the ends of the earth.’

God Will Save His People

11 “As for you also,

Because of the blood of your covenant,

I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

12 Return to the stronghold,

You prisoners of hope.

Even today I declare

That I will restore double to you.

13 For I have bent Judah, My bow,

Fitted the bow with Ephraim,

And raised up your sons, O Zion,

Against your sons, O Greece,

And made you like the sword of a mighty man.”

Verse 9-10 declares Jesus’s first coming. He came through the virgin Mary, just as Scripture declares, and He entered Jerusalem riding a donkey. Next, He went to the cross to save the world from its sins. Then verse 11-13 shares how God will set Israel free, from the waterless pit (earthly; imprisoned in other countries and eternally; hell, Luke 16:22-24), because of the blood covenant He made with Abraham (Gen. 15:9-11), and with Moses (Exodus 24:3-8; Exodus 29:38-46; Mark 14:24). This is a revelation that is already known. But what struck my heart and caused me to weep was verse 13.

13 For I have bent Judah, My bow,

Fitted the bow with Ephraim,

And raised up your sons, O Zion,

Against your sons, O Greece,

And made you like the sword of a mighty man.”

God, as the Divine Warrior, would use Israel as a weapon to subdue the Gentiles. Judah would be His bow, and Ephraim would be His arrow. God is sovereign; He is in complete command of Israel’s affairs. Historically, this verse saw initial and partial fulfillment when the Jews overthrew the Greeks during the Maccabean revolts in the second century B.C. But the complete fulfillment is still in the future at Jesus' second coming. God will defeat the demonic power behind the “spirit of Greece.”

(It is important to know that God loves the Greek people. However, principalities and powers of darkness have led Greece at different times and tried to release a “spirit of Greece” or an anti-God/anti-Christ culture, which stood against the covenant of God and served idols, and came against the Jewish people.) But the Biblical fulfillment of the future end-time scenario is not just God against the Spirit of Greece. It also has to do with Islam. (Again, we do not hate Muslim people, they are amazing people. Instead, in love, mercy, and compassion we lay down our lives to preach the Gospel to them.) Consider this.

BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF GREECE AND PERSIA

The Bible shares the rich history of what God has done in Iran and will do. In Daniel 10, we see Daniel standing as a praying intercessor against the Prince of Persia; today the whole church will stand like Daniel, with the Iranian women in prayer (remember these amazing women), asking for His Promises for Iran to come to pass. Daniel 2 tells us that “The Rock” will smash the statue whose feet is of clay and iron;

CLAY (Prince of Greece, spirit of humanism/jezebel/harlot)

IRON (Prince of Persia, jihad, radical Islam).

Today, we are seeing the manifestation of the combining of the feet, and God is calling the praying church to arise and take our Biblical stand in prayer and fasting. (But this will not happen in its fullness until the African American believers are the primary leadership of the prayer movement at the end of the age; also we must first confront our toleration of the “clay” in our own hearts to have authority to pray against the “iron” across the face of the earth). In, Rev. 7:9 God is bringing revival to Iran. From, Isaiah 62:6-7 we can see that God has an army of Persian believers that will arise. Their hearts will be on fire with passion for Jesus and their songs of praise and prayers of prophecy will build a wall of intercession unto all Israel being saved.

During that 3-day Esther fast, my life was changed. I saw something amazing happen, and I was inspired to give my life to prayer. It was as if an angel had come down straight from God’s Throne and pointed out the Scripture’s meaning right into my ear. My heart burned within me as I read. At the same time, the Holy Spirit was bursting inside me like lightning as He revealed God’s plans and purpose. Prayer and fasting was the divine key that released understanding that brought revelation. God was going to raise up the African American people to stand as a witness against the Prince of Greece (the spirit of humanism/jezebel/harlot) and the Prince of Persia (jihad/radical Islam).

How? God raised up the Rechabites as a divine witness of a remnant of faithful Israelites during the Babylon judgment and captivity (Jeremiah 35). Revelation 10 declares that God would raise up 7 Thunders. The 7 Thunders are 7 different people groups from across the earth that stand as prophetic witnesses, living holy, standing against the Prince of Greece (global humanism) and Prince of Persia (Islam). During this 3-day Esther Fast, in the midst of Detroit, I was overwhelmed with Divine Revelation straight from the heart of God. Little did I know that God would actually answer this prayer, from this Revelation, in as little as 30 days. But that is not the only thing that happened during the 3-day Esther fast.

DIVINE REVELATION ON A FAST USUALLY FOLLOWS THIS FORMULA:

WORD + SPIRIT = UNDERSTANDING

The Word of God is sacred (holy). The writer of Hebrews taught that God’s Word was

alive and active (Heb. 4:12). This means that His Word is truth that will transform you, and that

it is the light to your path (Ps. 119:105), today and in the age to come. The Word also reveals the heart, longing, and loving affections of God, teaching you who He is and what He thinks about you. During your fast, as you search the Scriptures the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, will speak truth.

The Spirit of God is a Counselor, a Guide (John 16:13), a Friend, and a Teacher (John 14:26). Also, the Holy Spirit has creative power, bringing living and fresh revelation to your heart, soul, mind and strength (Eph. 1:17). The Holy Spirit searches the deep things of the Father (1 Cor. 2:10-11). During the fast, as you search the Scriptures and seek the Holy Spirit, this provides the opportunity for you to enjoy and cultivate a fresh, vibrant, deep and loving relationship with God. He will bring divine revelation which leads to understanding.

As you combine the Word (lamp) with the Spirit (guide), you will grow in Divine Understanding (powerful revelation). Divine Understanding is like a rushing, life-giving waterfall in your life. Imagine a river flowing along a stream bed, quickly cascading over the edge, plummeting down, crashing upon the rocks below. The river bed is the Word, which provides firm foundations and boundaries, while the water is the Spirit of God, which flows along powerfully. The waterfall is the moment when the Word and the Spirit combine and LIFE explodes forth, taking

everything from one level to the next! Fasting and prayer provides the tools you need to go from one level to the next, so that Divine Understanding bursts forth out

of your innermost being like a waterfall of living water (John 7:38), touching the ends of the earth.

Upon the completion of the fast, I remember my first drink of water. After taking in nothing for 3 day, you love water. Water never tasted so good. Nor was it so satisfying. But what happened next left me crying and in awe of God.

THREE MORE MIRACLES

First, we did not have the finances for the event, and needed at least $1.2 Million to pull off a mediocre event. This would cover the cost of renting Ford’s field, pay to get the worship teams and speakers in place, and pay for the hundreds of additional costs. While we were praying, God was answering prayer. Just like when Abraham was walking up one side of the mountain to obediently sacrifice his son Isaac, he could not see that God was bringing the ram as an answer up the other side mountain. Upon the end of the fast, the financial miracle happens. Lou was handed the biggest check he had ever had in his life—$1 Million. (We were able to raise the rest in offerings.) Yep there is more!

Second, the event was less than 30 days out, and we had advertised it would be at Ford’s Field, but we did not have the field open to us. But with a miracle, God opened the door to the arena and set the stage for the 24-hour prayer event to sow into God’s prophetic redemptive plan for the African American people. The door was open, but it was more of a heavenly stake going into the ground agreeing with God’s plan. Now with the finances and the location given by God, what more could happen? Actually, the biggest miracle was yet to come.

DAVID WAS THE LIVING ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS

The biggest miracle came in the answer of a young black man who overcame the Prince of Greece (global humanism) and was divinely inspired by God and thrust as an arrow of light to fight against the Prince of Persia (radical Islam). How? The night that we held the 24-hour event, a young black man (we will call him David) who had grown up in horrible circumstances, was caught in a gay lifestyle, and fighting drug addiction came to us. Wanting to get free of the lifestyle, he had run away from the horrible living situation that he had been trapped in. He found himself in the freezing cold outside of the Arena. The security team was trying to get the homeless people away from the building, so he snuck into the “free” event. In his own words, “I just wanted to get warm.” During the event, after hearing the Gospel, David gave His life to Jesus. He then moved to Atlanta, joined a missions training school, moved to Northern Africa, and opened up a home to help orphan children say yes to Jesus. During the 3-day Esther Fast, God broke in and David became the living answer to the prayers.

THE STORY IS JUST GETTING STARTED…

This story is not over. In fact, it is in some ways just beginning. God has a plan for the African American people. But this plan is not just one of social justice, nor, I am afraid, is it one that can be won only from marches. Instead, this battle must be won before Jesus, in prayer first. We must pray with empathy for God’s redemptive heart for the African American people, search the Scripture for His Truth, and lay down our lives, again not for social justice only, but that Heavenly Justice would spring forth. (Truly the best is yet to come.) Currently, our team is working on debt reduction plans so that our black brothers and sisters can not only get saved, healed, and delivered, but they can achieve God’s call for their lives, just like David in our story.

NOW WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What about your story? What does God have for you? Remember, read your Bible until you find God’s dream, and then thrust yourself into that story with unrelenting prayer and fasting. Your weak yes, your voluntary weakness, will grow your heart in love with God and people. Also, it will bring you divine revelation of what God’s doing. Lastly, you will see the very answer to God’s plan come to pass right in front of you, just like we did with David. So, gather your friends to fast and pray safely and successfully. You may meet the life that you are meant to help change.