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Ep 8 - Occupy Till I Come: Worship ~ Prayer ~ Outreach · This Is That: Believe Again

• Yvonne Denise Hicks: You know, I've shared these God's stories because I've witnessed what can happen when believers worship, pray, and follow the leading of Holy Spirit. And I've seen enough to know that I want to see more. And there's still giants in the land, there's still broken walls and gates, there's still families, communities, cities and and nations in need of restoration. but I believe we're well able because it's not in our own strength. It's through the power of And so I just encourage you to get before the Lord, search his word, ask Holy Spirit to lead you in whatever assignment he's entrusted to you. Many of you already have, but if not, it's time to release the river within you. Greetings and welcome to This Is That Believe Again. I'm your host, Yvonne Denise, and today I want to share a few scriptures and and some of my God stories and experiences that have really shaped my understanding of the instructions that the Lord has given his followers to to occupy until he comes to release his river. of healing and deliverance and to transform cities, regions, and nations. And so I I've witnessed personally some remarkable things over the years. But there's a a question that it's been on my heart for all of us is is what we believe bearing the fruit of what Jesus required. And so that's why the title Occupy until I come worship prayer and outreach so I I wanted to start with a question that's you know been on my heart for for all of us is is what we believe really bearing the fruit of what Jesus required and so I'm gonna pray for us and so Father I thank you for this this word this time the these shared experiences that I'm gonna release, Lord. And I I pray for those who are are listening that they would catch it and and embrace it, Lord God, and and cry out to you and and and seek you further. And for those who are already doing things, Lord God, we pray for an increase of an anointing upon them, Lord God. We we pray, Father, that others will be drawn to them, Lord God, and and glean from them, Lord. And I I pray for multiplied success, Lord God, and in everything that they do, everything that you've given them to do, Lord God, in the name of Jesus. And so I I wanted to talk about a a few scriptures at first and and and and and an observation that I saw on on Facebook. It's a gal that I followed and and so I think about in these things I think about the the the parable in in Matthew th thirteen about the the wheat and the tares and they look similar but their fruit reveals the difference. One sustains, you know, wheat produces bread, right? And nourishes the body and the other doesn't. And so sometimes we can think that we're doing things and following the anointing, but you know, is there really fruit? Is is it's is it really what the Lord has directed or i is it bearing witness with your spirit by Holy Spirit, right? And so again that there is this a saying I I have it on to the side here, but it's It's it's it talks about you cannot lead people into depths you have never entered yourself. And so I'll I'll have that post and and that link you know in in the show notes. but if that really resonated with me because I've lived or been actively involved in the stories I'm gonna share today. and my hope is that they will be bread for you. And so I I just before I transition to sharing some of those stories, I I just want to share some of the scriptures and that the Lord gave, right? in Luke 19, 11 to 27, Jesus tells the parable of the nobleman who who goes away to receive a kingdom, but before leaving He entrusts his resources to his servants and tells them to conduct business until he returns. And so that's, you know, familiar in King James Version, that's the occupy until I come. And the BSB version is conduct business until I return. And so the emphasis here is just like the master expects his servants to do something with what has been entrusted to them. And they they were, you know, not instructed to withdraw. Become passive or simply wait, right? They were entrusted with responsibility. In Mark thirteen, thirty-two to thirty-seven, Jesus describes a man going away who leaves his servants in charge. And each servant has an assigned task, and they are instructed to remain watchful. And the master left his servants with work to do, and he expected to find them doing that when he returned. And so Watching and remaining ready to do what is is required of you, like not sloughing off, right? And not thinking, the master will not return or it's a far way off, that type of thing. And Luke eighteen, one to eight, Jesus is in and and and introduces the parable by teaching that his followers should always pray. And not lose heart. It's about the widow, right, who continually seeks justice, right, from from the unjust judge. And she keeps coming and she keeps she keeps knocking at that door, if you will. And Jesus, you know, contrasts that to you know how God is faithful. He hears, you know, his chosen ones crying out to you. And so Jesus marveled at her faith. And he asked, His disciples, right? When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? And so occupy, be faithful to your assignment, pray, and don't lose heart. And remember that Jesus has given us Holy Spirit as our helper. And there there's some scriptures I just want to reference there. John 14, Holy Spirit is our is our helper and our teacher. In John 16, talks Jesus talks about the the spirit of truth will guide us right in acts 1 8 you know he he says that holy spirit will endue us with power to be witnesses to him to in in judea samaria and to the uttermost parts of the world right and in john 7 he talks about how holy spirit is the rivers of of living water and so i want to share with you just you know Some of my God stories. and so I'm gonna take you back to Philadelphia. I I was born and raised in in Philadelphia and when I got saved in like nineteen eighty one, I was in a master's program and I you know, kind of did part of that, but I was so broken. I was going for social work and I was just so broken that I I didn't complete it but I I had did finish my degree at University of Pennsylvania, got, you know, entrepreneurial management, political science and had come through that and God was so gracious and faithful to to really help me. I started feeling his presence towards those Those latter years there, you know, my junior year, my senior year, I had made so many mistakes along the way. And but the Lord wooed me. And I went to a Baptist church in the in the community, a choir that came through, kind of led me to that place. And so, but it was too far once I came. back home it was like you know, would be a three hour bus ride that you couldn't do on a Sunday morning 'cause of there those no buses running and that type of thing. So I I you know, got saved there, water baptized and I I came across the drama director of the the choir was a part of she was a spirit filled believer and sh she invited me over to dinner and she gave me scriptures and and and you know, tell me go go in this room, you know, read your Bible. Here's a book. You know, if if you want that, I'll I'll I'll help you. And she led me in prayer. I was like, absolutely. And it made such a huge difference in my life because the the struggle that I had with reading scripture, once I got spirit filled, it was just like Holy Spirit was there to just teach me. And I was like You know, all of a sudden the scriptures were were making sense. And so, in that season I would go to different churches and I would find out that peop the the pastors or the the elders didn't believe certain things. Like one didn't believe in the virgin birth and I was like, What? And you know, there was a a a church they came by that I I went there for six months and then they didn't believe that Holy Spirit was of today and I was like Spirit filled, speaking in tongues, you know, you know, getting healing and deliverance and things like that. And I was like, I didn't know what to do as a young believer. And so I just stayed home. There was good Christian television. Marilyn Hickey was one of those. She's home with the Lord recently. And just just an interesting time and season. I and I kind of like, Lord, I'm not going anywhere until you tell me, right? And so my cousin came. and shared about this this church and I had asked him to you know, he had a birthday in between and he said he had invited the pastor, so I kinda grilled the pastor at the the the cookout that was for his birthday. I had my list of questions and he answered the questions and so I was like, okay, I'll see you on Sunday. And so for I was there for a couple years. and and until you know the this is part of my God story that happened in in in nineteen eighty eight. And so it was a storefront church, only about fifty to sixty people, and it was in West Philly in a in a troubled neighborhood. Like there there was gangs and drugs and all kinds of stuff. There was a crack house across the street and just just things, but my my my pastor was like a father. And he was a full gospel businessman, anointed man of God, had a heart of gold. And he you know, we we did prayer walks through that community, just all kinds of different things. And then in 1988, there was an event in Washington, the Washington for Jesus with John and Ann Jimenez, and I later, you know, found out when the Lord had me kind of write some of these testimonies down that it w it was a a in April that this Washington for Jesus was and it was the anniversary date of when Robert Hunt planted the cross and dedicated the nation to the Lord in Virginia Beach. This church was based in Virginia Beach and it was a powerful, powerful time and and our our pastor had decided ahead of time that he was going to hire an evangelist and you know and we were gonna take that neighborhood, right? And and so the evangelist we we had and the church was really, really involved in stuff. We you know, I we we did Wednesday morning prayer, you know, I almost got a speed and ticket get getting there, but the you know, the g the officer was graceful, I was running late and that type of thing, but it was like slow down, you know. But We Friday night prayer time. we had a voluntary morning prayer chain. we worship in prayer, one another's houses, you know. I had my a longtime family friend, Mama Ann, she became a spiritual mum mother in those seasons. We would go hunt hunting for s shut ins, right, for prayer. And that was the season where I mean you could find known ministers coming into people's living rooms and you know be all packed and you know that kind of you know just just a really glorious glorious time and so our pastor heart and evangelists after this event and we were gonna take our our neighborhood and the first event you know not too many people came and so we the a couple friends who were you know they were the were part of the worship team I wasn't at that time And we we said, we need to pray and and and worship. So we did this worship and prayer at at their house for lunch, right? And we were gonna there was a outreach that afternoon. And I remember we got into a rhythm of of prayer and and I I felt like the there the like the room split, like the there was a an opening and I and I saw this tree You know, and I I remember reaching down as we were praying and I was I shook that tree like, let my people go, you know, that type of thing. And I remember when we w went back to you know, to to attend the the evangelism outreach, you know, it was stationed right out in front of the church and we were ministering to the people in in the crack house and other places. Twenty five people gave their lives to the Lord and I remember really ministering to this woman. She I was she was snotting and crying and and all of that and led them to the Lord. But they wouldn't come into the church. And and and you know, that troubled me, but I I just, you know, young believer didn't understand. So we we had but I you know, it w with the the prayer and the tree and the the shaking, I realized, you know, that there there's some connection there, right? You know, and and and doing things and I I didn't understand like the whole, you know, having you know, prophetic dreams and and prophetic acts and things like that. but they were happening anyway, even though didn't know but they were ha that's what was going on. And so the last event, the last evangelism outreach was in front of the pastor's house. It was a small park across the street. And we had a partner with another ministry that had really great worship and things like that and and we you know, had food and all of that and and in that little park and everything there there were men who slept in the park and all of that and it was well attended, people came, got fed, got clothes and stuff like that and and I could tell as as the the you know, the event was what was kind of winding down. You know, I just was so distraught in my spirit because I was like, Lord, these men are gonna be on this park bench tomorrow with full built bellies and clean clothes, right? And so I stepped out of the park in in that moment and I cried out to the Lord and I was like, Lord, where is your power that I read about in the word? You know, you you have one conversation with the woman at the well and it changed her whole life. And her name I found out later, her name was was Fultina and she became a powerful evangelist in in her time and was martyred for it for the Lord. I mean, she won that town and unashamed, right? And so I just again marveled at at those things and so the Lord in in that that next phase of things, I I had gotten a job. This was so it was still nineteen eighty eight, but the b by the next year, and I don't I can't even remember how I I got this job offer, but I got a job offer in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. And it required that I move. And so I, you know, consulted with my pastors and so forth and but I I just had a really difficult year. And so for me it just was like, okay, you know, and so I had to rent an apartment in in on the Pennsylvania side 'cause I think then I don't know if there was availability, but there were were apartments where you can get like reasonable and and short term leases and things like that. So I, you know, had to, you know, rent out my house and I, you know, went and rented an apartment. And this was a, you know, kind of a cool experience in terms of, you know, they you know, they packed me up, they they you know, had movers and you know, unpacked me and and all of those things. And so I was there this was January nineteen ninety. the first night date there again still a you know a heaviness but when I went to go to bed, right, and I'm I can't remember if I ever really drifted off the sleep, but but when I kind of looked up in in the in the night there was like a full blown like vision, you know, and I I had never had anything like that. But I was like watching a movie, a cinematic movie in my bedroom, right? Of and and what I saw was that there were this it was a small team of two or three people who were evangelizing this town, not getting much success and and that type of thing. And then, you know, I I I knew that the other part of the team came and it it looked like they were like up on a hill, right? I don't know how I could see all this, right? And so And they went to like a restaurant bar, right? And they they shut it down in in terms of they started doing worship and prayer. And I was a part of that. I remember it was like spiritual warfare type prayer without even really knowing what that was, right? And and having that and it was a rhythm like all night long, the the worship and authority and the prayer and the and the the worship and things like that and when the day broke it was like the glory of the lord like this river of glory just ran down the mountain and so th the small team of of outreach workers were were I mean healing anointing power prayer and I was like Lord what is that you know what what What is that? Where is that? You know, and so I, you know, you tuck those things away, but I mean that was like mind blowing. And so I I loved reading books and I would always the bookstore was, you know, you know, I was probably funding someone's college education, you know, the with with how many books I I got. But I went to the bookstore and I came across this book called The Power of Worship and Praise by Terry Law. And so I read that book and I don't know if it was that book or I had gotten a s a second book. I can't remember, but this a portion of this book talked about his ministry and what he did. I believe that was still in in in Poland with the Living Sound group. I think that was the name of it. And they talked of and there was a passage in the book where he talked about, well, we went to this restaurant and bar and it it was it closed down so that they could do worship and prayer. and all that and and people would be lined up you know like around the block and everything and it's just a powerful ministry. and I was like I I was so amazed and and so you know you you kind of go along and and and and you know hear those different things and so forth and I I was just like wow Lord where is that? And so fast forward, you know, so Now it's twenty five plus years later, right? Alm close to twenty five. I hadn't really heard of anything about Terry Law, right? I you know, that was before we really had a lot of, you know, personal computers and and being able to do research and find people and blah blah blah, right? And so in twenty fourteen, December of twenty fourteen, I don't know even know how, you know, I I I took a look at there was a morning star video with Terry Law being interviewed, right? And I was like, My God, Terry Law you know, 'cause I was like I had never heard him, you know, and everything. So he was sharing about those times with the Living Sound group and Poland and he, you know, you you know, you do things and he was like I you know, at the time they didn't know whether it was really having any impact, right? They were behind their iron curtain then and all that kind of thing and And he ran into some people from Poland and they were like, no, you you know, th you there was a great move of God in Poland and and I, you know, it I I was just amazed and I recently looked looked that up to f kind of find out 'cause I was sensing that that movement had something to do with, you know, the the wal the communism falling and and the the wall coming down. And sure enough, I found this article and I'll I'll include it in the show notes where this guy was talking about he was having a conversation where you know discussing you know Poland and and different things, Terry Law and the the person said that actually the Pope at the time had communicated with that their team that i you know about you know the the the the Berlin Wall coming down and and they were like, you know, i it you know, it was this or there was that and and the Pope was like, No, it was it was Terry Law and and the movement of of God that he did in that and and Terry Law went to like North Korea. I mean just different places and everything and and I you know and I j just amazed at the power of that because I never thought that communism would fall. it w it was in our face, you know. And so just to to hear that potential of power of of worship and prayer. And in that interview, Terry Law went on to talk about why, you know, w why we hadn't seen he was like deep into these different nations that there he was called the storm chaser because he went in into dangerous places, you know, and administered the gospel without fear and worship and prayer and so forth. And he talked about this group of people and he was like they're they're very open, you know, to the gospel and he wanted to encourage them just like, you know, it was like just like the movement that happened and and where, you know, the iron curtain come there. This is a group of people that that have that potential of of really shifting things in the Middle East. And there's been prophecies and so forth about, you know, the million a s soul harvest, especially coming out of the Middle East and and all of that. And so he talked about these people and he described them. He was like, These are the Kurds and something burned in me and I was like, you know, so I, you know, after I watched the interview, I went to go look up the Kurds because as as a young believer when I finally went back home and you know after getting saved and so forth, I would get these dreams of different people groups. And so I got this map and put it in on my bedroom wall and, you know, used tape more than the push pins 'cause we were renting that house. And there was you know, I could tell things in South America. I could tell things I think that, you know, the Haiti we've we gone to Haiti like five five times and you know, and and and really I believe touch touch lives there and and you know, I I won't go down that rabbit hole but more there but I the the the people group that I couldn't recognize I so when I looked up the Kurds you know and because they they I don't know just different I hadn't seen this people group and when I looked up the Kurds when I saw their faces I was like these are the people of my dreams and so you know we we were able to actually that's the the stories of my going to Northern Iraq and so forth, that came out of understanding who they were from from Terry Law. I mean so it it's just a amazing how how things are connected. And I so honor the the people there because they have given up everything when you know You know, you've got Muslims stamped on your passport, your whole it's not just a church, right? It's it's it's it's life, right? And th when they when they supernaturally and sovereignly would have encounters with the Lord and just really powerful believers. And so I you know, I it it gives me hope when I when I have these dreams and connections and and they're real, right? And all of that and I I think about Alma Longa I always mess this up. Alma Longa, Guatemala and how they did worship and prayer and it was a it was a town that was just written with drunkenness and wife beating and the the jail was always full. But these pastors started worshiping praying, right, through through their villagent teaching and and and training Laney Hands and and and doing the stuff, right? and it it shifted the town. Like so the the jails are empty, right? The the bars are the Hallelujah laundry mat, the the the vegetables, the the j the fruit is of the land is responding. Like they got carrots the size of a a man's arm and and you know c cantaloupe or not cantaloupe, the the c cauliflower, the different you apparently I you know know nothing about plants but big, you know, cabbage. That's what I was thinking. And so I just really p powerful, powerful things and this gives me hope. And so I know there are giants in the land, but we are well able. And think about Joshua and Caleb. Caleb was from the tribe of Judah. David was from the tribe of Judah. Like Jesus was from the tribe of Judah. And so So I that kind of brings me, I wanted to the third God story I wanted to to really talk about. is a city that's pretty n near and dear to my heart. since childhood and it's Baltimore, Maryland. my mother was born and raised in Baltimore, and we spent a considerable amount of time there as a child. We first, you know, we would w take the train, right? I mean I it felt like every weekend. you know, at least twice a month or something. We w we were in Baltimore and I remember when we got a car, right, and we actually drove. I can't remember how l I'm gonna say I was really little because when I got to I d you know, don't know, I just knew Baltimore, right? So when I got to seeing we stopped at the state house there, but when I got to cr we crossed over into Maryland, right? I was like, Maryland I was thinking it was like Disneyland or something like that. And so you know, I I I do and say things that make for very humorous times for my family and friends. But I I just, you know, had a a burden for Baltimore and I had a couple c cousins who had had gotten killed, you know, assuming gang violence. I don't know the full extent of it. But I remember sensing that just like in all the cities, like the that th things were going down. I remember this, one of the major malls, like there was a shootout at the mall. I was like, a shootout at that mall, you know? It was a mall that we went to, you know, when we were there. And so I just it it it it troubled me and I remember when my My mom's favorite cousin passed. I I took a a trip to Baltimore and my sister and I. So I I left from Charlotte and had a lot of layover time and so I I went and walked through and I went to the the chapel there and the Lord had really been speaking to me a lot of things and particularly out of Jeremiah and out of all the passages, you know, when I went into the chapel, the book was opened to Jeremiah one. And so it was such an encouragement to me. So Jeremiah 110 says, see, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah asking, What do you see? And he said, I see a branch of an almond tree. And you have observed correctly, said the Lord. I am watching over my word to accomplish it. And just really powerful. So I I made my sister do a prayer walk and it was it was a season of there was encouraging words. I I kept hearing like there was men you know, worshiping down at the harbor and things like that. And so I I made my sister do a a a prayer walk there at that time and and just just just really longed for you know it to happen when the the the ship, you know, ran into the the bridge and all of that and it it just was troubling but so let me kind of go back. So that that was like in the twenty fifteen time in terms of when I I visited and we did the prayer walk with my sister and and then you know in May of twenty nineteen that good friends, John and Cameron had some of you if you've seen my page, Cameron's home with the Lord now. And so it just it was a time that we, you know, they asked our team, the ministry team that I had developed in, you know, the Lord through the Lord's direction, to come and help with a a a prayer and w worship and outreach gathering there in in Baltimore. So I I like to prayer walk when I'm I'm going to a new place and it's not a new place but for a new assignment. And so I I went to to Baltimore like Memorial Day weekend and was able to reconnect with one of my first cousins. But I I stayed in a hotel and I walked like the harbor in different places. I never knew there was a Star Spangled Banner museum. I I went to the museum. I went to a different Edgar Allan Poe I think, you know, different places in in Baltimore. and and prayer walked and I I met with the pastors who we were going to be doing the ministry time with and and so we prayer walked the area around the the church and it was an area where my great uncles lived and and that the houses were boarded up and everything in disrepair and and my heart was just so grieved. And so one of the the things that we did, we prayer walked where you know, someone had been killed and we just was pray you know, praying over the land and it's like out of the corner of our eyes we could see you that we were starting being to be followed by, you know, the the gang leader leaders like wondering what we were doing. When we stopped to pray, they were like, Okay, you know, and they kind of backed off that type of thing. But so did that in and you know And then I was summoned by the Lord to to d celebrate Pentecost, the the ministry we were connected with had a a Pentecost conference in Jerusalem. And so I went there for that and my main assignment was to go to the garden tomb. And so I I did that and i in those those moments of of being at the garden tomb it it it's a reminder the tomb is empty. Christ has risen. And and just just marveling about that and his assignments and his his what he's done for us and what he's doing for us and what will ultimately you know, accumulate in in in us being with him face to face, you know, so to speak. And and I also had a opportunity to go to the they had I had no idea, they do this walk prayer walk, to the Western Wall. it starts at at night and it was the the the the walk that Roof went follow to meet with Boaz, right? And his her kinsman redeemer. And so I I d it that was a really interesting experience and just really powerful to just see the city like, you know, gather and and pray all night at at the the Western Wall and to to see the sunrise come up. And it re and I was reminded of a time in in the in two thousand and seven when I went my mom had just passed and I was helping to lead a a tour. to Israel and I had gone one of the places, you know, the regular places, but when we got to the southern steps of the of the Temple Mount we tried to go and and like have worship time. after it closed and that type of thing, you could get permission to go. And I remember I was grieving so so terribly but I I felt I felt like sucker punched if you will, in in my gut by these these I felt angelic presence around And it was like that, you know, I I can think of that as the place where Jesus came with the with the water from the pool of Saloon, right? And ta talking about, you know, out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water. And and that's the impression I got from, you know, the the angels were that that that out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water. And just and and I'll t talk about that more in a little bit but I wanna kind of capture w what happened. So the the event that we were doing in Baltimore, right, was September of of that year. And so I returned to Baltimore to to do that. We did training that different w we took turns kind of teaching different things and You know, and I I teach the Ephesians four, right? Equipping the saints, you know, letting them know who they are, their identity, what what God has said and and to pray with authority and and to to to study the history, no know know w who your enemy is in that area and how to break strongholds and to and to move about. And they got it. And it it was just I I was so encouraged by that and and then we had an outreach like the next day and we we were able to like feed people, clothe people, we did a worship time, w was able to minister to a lot of women that that came that just needed a touch from God, the struggling with, you know, just life and kids and just the poverty, the the condition around there and there was this young man who, you know, I was he he had come up and was asking, you know, questions and, you know, and I was what was like trying to lead him to the Lord. But he was ready. And he was like, No, I I'm ready for the prayer, right? And it's so powerful, such a a a a powerful time for that. And so it just kind of reminded me of Nehemiah, you know, like the the different when we were prayer walking and in and the condition of the area, like we we you see, you know, the destruction, right? You see the the walls are broken, the gates are down, the houses are in disrepair. And how, you know, Nehemiah prayed and fasted. He didn't stop there. He he went to the king. We have a king, right? He received the authority and the resources and he he traveled there and He assessed the damage, right? He he organized the people and he led the rebuilding. And his assignment, you know, involved, you know, government and and you know, they had to have security, right? You know, you d their sword in one hand and the travel in the in the other, you know, and and resources, right? The the financial resources and and the organization of everyone building in in front of their house, that whole practical thing that that Nehemiah had built and and it just reminded me of Isaiah sixty one. time that that was kind of the theme of the book that the Lord had me write and how we are oaks of righteousness and we are called to repair, rebuild, restore, right? The the the breaches and and to and to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, right? And so to raise up a generation, right? Raise up the waste places and then they shall, right? And they shall and they shall, you know, restore and move on. So I just wanted to to to mention that because you know we're we're called to serve in in different ways, right? And the government you know we we need judges, police we need business owners, we need educators, we need you know, physicians and ministers and parents and community lead leaders and you know, you think about Joseph, right? And and Daniel and Esther and Nehemiah and and and Matthew and in and and these things. So it's it's it's not just healing. It's not just deliverance which we must do, right? But it's also discipling nations and bringing the kingdom of God into into into the earth, releasing heaven on earth. And so I just wanted to talk a little bit about Baltimore today because they there was some great news in the last just a little bit, right? policies have been been and put in place and and reinforcements was sent out so that there are fewer homicides, 15% down. There's a new investment in at Sparrow Point. that's it's gonna create thirty one hundred permanent jobs, g good paying jobs. And you know, the port's gonna expand. and and Baltimore has a a history of of having been a part of building like their Empire State Building. I think they had things with the Golden State Bridge. I can't remember the the specifics on that, but it just it's it's a new day. and for for Baltimore just the power of God is hearing and answering prayers, the prayers of the people there and the prayers of of of of those in in our places and and so though so I just want to kind of bring it back a little bit about Jesus said what Jesus said about Holy Spirit because we're not called to do this in in our own strength and that that river of living water. That Jesus talked about and in John 7. And so it says it was on the last and greatest day of the feast. Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within them. He was speaking about the spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. For the spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not been glorified. But now he's been glorified, but we have to ask. And Ephesians four, the ministry gifts to equip the saints, right? and I wanted to bring it back to Ezekiel forty seven, one to nine, 'cause the river brings life and somebody has to go first. So this is Ezekiel forty seven and it talks about how the man was brought back to the interests of the of the temple. you know, how the the water was flowing and th through the north gate and the eastward gate and he had a measuring line and and so forth and he had to keep going, right? 'Cause the river couldn't be crossed because it had risen and it was d deep enough to swim in and the river it couldn't no longer be crossed on foot. And so Son man, do you see this? And then he led me back to the bank of the river. And when I arrived I saw a great number of trees along both banks of the river. Kind of reminds you of the Revelation, right? The end in time. But this is Ezekiel forty seven and this is what the Lord released while he was here. the Holy Spirit, the acts coming. And the water flows out to the eastern ridge region and goes down into the Arabah. And when it empy empties into the Dead Sea, the water there becomes fresh. And wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh. So wherever the river flows, everything will flourish. So the river is there, it's to flow out of our belly and bringing life. And so I wanna be encouraged. If you don't have resources of understanding things about Holy Spirit, I I will include that in the in the show notes. I did a whole training with the different scriptures and so forth and and references and you know to that. You can take a look at it and and and reach out if if if you need someone to pray with you. But so in closing, you know What has the Lord entrusted to us to you? Is what we're believing bearing the fruit that Jesus requires. John, Luke nineteen, conduct business until I return. Mark thirteen, each servant has an assigned task. Luke eighteen, pray and don't lose heart. And will he find faith when he returns? So I just want to end with this. You know, I've shared these God's stories because I've witnessed what can happen when believers worship, pray, and follow the leading of Holy Spirit. And I've seen enough to know that I want to see more. And there's still giants in the land, there's still broken walls and gates, there's still families, communities, cities and and nations in need of restoration. And but I believe we're well able because it's not in our own strength. It's through the power of And so Jesus has given us instructions and we have assignments and we have responsibilities and we have Holy Spirit. And so I just encourage you to get before the Lord, search his word, ask Holy Spirit to lead you in whatever assignment he's entrusted to you. Many of you already have, but if not, it's time to release the river within you. when Jesus is enthroned as Lord and King, we are occupied. Doing business on his behalf and being led by the Spirit of God, out of us will flow rivers of living water. And in the river there is life. So until now next time, look again, dream again, hope again, believe again, and check out those resources. God bless you. See you next time.