For 3 1/2 decades, leaders from around the nation have gathered for an annual leadership roundtable forum. As a participant for almost 30 years, I count it an honor to continue building strong friendships with fellow leaders whose passion is to “hear what the Spirit is saying to the church” and serve others as “sons of Issachar who understand the times with knowledge of what … [to] do” (1 Chron. 12:32, NASB 1995).
In prayer before departing for the gathering, I wrote down one text that I felt was God’s heart for this special event. “Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this” (Rev. 4:1b, NIV). I was encouraged greatly when one senior prophetic leader said at the outset of the forum what he believed was God’s desire for us. You guessed it, he quoted this passage!
Jesus said of the end times, “There will be great distress” (Matt. 24:21a), so we need to come up to the next level. Some people decline, others recline, many whine, but God intends us to shine!
3 Takeaways
1. It is time to awaken to the urgency of the hour, be equipped and fully engaged in the battle for the soul of America. “Besides this, you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep” (Rom. 13:11, ESV). Jesus commanded us to be salt, which prevents decay, and light, which dispels deception, which He said was the primary signpost prior to His return.
Pastors and people of God must renounce all complacency and the lie that we are not to be involved in the political realm (except for prayer and voting). In his farewell speech, George Washington reminded a young nation that “Religion is the source of morality and a necessary spring of popular government.”
John Adams declared, “Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it’s religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can stand.”
Charles Finney, champion in the Second Great Awakening stated, “Politics are part of religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to the country as part of their duty to God.”
Pastors in 1930 Germany succumbed to the seduction of noninvolvement in the political sphere, and this nation went from democracy to dictatorship, then destruction, in just six years! Read “Letter to the American Church” or watch the documentary (pastors are showing it on Sunday in their churches) and then join in today’s spiritual battle before it’s too late.
Progressive Marxists are showing in theaters an insidious, deceitful film entitled “God and Country.” Americans who love this nation, are patriotic and speak up boldly for traditional conservative values are mocked and misrepresented.
Leftists fear losing control in America as we move towards the 2024 election. “It’s the most important election in our history” is 100% true as darkness escalates!
2. Amid rising antisemitism, we must speak up for the Jewish people and show solidarity with them.
“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you” (Gen. 12:3a, NKJV). God expects us to take this Scripture seriously. It was a warning to the world when a Turkish political leader recently cursed Israel in their parliament, then was immediately struck down at the podium with a heart attack and died.
Individuals are attempting to portray Israel as the evil aggressor engaged in genocide of Palestinians and stealing their land.
Over 3,000 years ago God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and set apart the land of Israel “as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants” (Gen. 17:8b, NIV).
Jesus was a Jew. He’s still a Jew, and when we see Him face to face face in His glorified body, He’ll remain a Jew. He is eternally identified with the Jews.
If there were no Jews, there would be no Savior, no Bible, no patriarchs and no salvation (John 4:22). All of us owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the Jewish people and should boldly and practically show them our support.
At the roundtable we distributed a copy of a Statement of Solidarity to communicate to our local Jewish rabbis our repentance and support.
One leader shared how their community took out a full-page ad in the local paper. Another supplied beautiful crystal gifts to area Jewish friends to commemorate Kristallnacht, when the Jewish Holocaust began in Germany. Others cited financial offerings to help pay for military vests for Jewish soldiers.
As vicious Hamas terrorists launched the October 2023 war on Israel and reaffirmed with Iran their pledge to drive Israel off the map along with the United States, the “Great Satan,” the time has come for Christians to align with God’s chosen people.
3. The time has come to seek God afresh and take steps to help resolve the IHOP/Bickle situation that lingers, seemingly unresolved. The scandal that surfaced in the IHOPKC community and reverberated throughout the global prayer movement was addressed at the roundtable.
In past years Mike Bickle, as the pioneer of the modern day 24/7 intercessory prayer initiative, was a participant in the gathering. The sensitive manner in which the assembled leaders carefully interacted on the entire tragedy was a demonstration of Christian compassion (especially for all victims) alongside the call for genuine repentance.
Consideration for the possibility of biblical restoration was discussed. Yet one thing was preeminent: The clouds of ambiguity and mystery must be swept away. Our friend Mike must respond fully and face whatever God intends.
In the Bible, Paul, on three occasions, underscored the absolute necessity of having a clear conscience with God and man (“Roof off and walls down”). In the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they attempted to cover their sin, shift the blame and run away.
When we’ve acted contrary to the will of God, there comes a time when we’ve got to come clean. That time has come for our brother and friend.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man, his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:6-7, NKJV).
All sin must be confessed and repented of to proceed forward with integrity. Wherever there has been outstanding offenses, they need to be acknowledged to God and especially all victims. The circle of the sin is the circle of the confession. Like removing a cancerous tumor, it’s painful but necessary to proceed on the pathway to healing and health.
Oswald Chambers said in his classic “My Utmost for His Highest” that “An unguarded strength is a double weakness.” Therefore, there must be genuine accountability in the days ahead and trusted leaders serving Mike on his journey for whatever God reveals.
Daniel 12:10a (ESV) says regarding those in the end times, “Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white and be refined.”
We concluded with heartfelt prayer for Mike and all those involved in this tragedy (especially victims). We agreed, “Lord, what the enemy meant for evil, turn for good.”
Here’s the deal: In closing out this year’s roundtable, we left with renewed vision to know, love and serve our God at a new level. We’re convinced that “Those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits” (Dan. 11:32).
