Prophetic Prayer-Rescued from the Jaws of Death

As the World moves further away from the G3D of Creation, the persecution of His Followers will intensify. But now that everything the World put its trust in has begun to collapse, and they all cry out for help, trapped in the clutches of Destruction, whose desperate pleas will be heard?

After the exile of the Southern Tribes of Israel (Judea) by the Babylonian Empire, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that the most intellectually promising men be selected for service in the palace and the empire’s bureaucrat system. Of these men, Daniel and his three friends from the Tribe of Judah, Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah, were recognized for their wisdom and aptitude and sent to the academy for three years to learn how to read, write, and serve within the administrative system.

In order to cut off those who had been conquered from their previous heritage and history, the Babylonian Empire had people given new names. Daniel was known as Belteshazzar, Hananiah became Shadrach, Mishael was given Meshach, and Azariah named Abednego. But, despite having their names changed, Daniel resolved that he would maintain his dedication to keeping the G3D of Israel’s Commandments regarding dietary laws.

When Daniel asked the court official over them if they could eat a diet aligned with their religious obligations, to avoid eating blood and drinking wine, the court official informed them that he was afraid King Nebuchadnezzar would kill him for changing the menu. Babylonians, at that time, may have adopted the beliefs of the nations they conquered, that consuming animal blood and strong wine gave people greater life force, strength, and knowledge. Since the King was allocating food to his administrators from his own table, rejecting it was insulting, but doing so and handicapping your ability to serve him was worthy of death.

Daniel trusted that G3D would protect them and asked that a test be conducted that Daniel and his three friends be allowed to drink water and eat vegetables instead of their assigned meals for ten days to see how the dietary changes affected their health and ability to fulfill their duties. After ten days of this diet, popularly known as a Daniel Fast, they looked healthier and better nourished than the rest of the young men who at the royal food.

For their faithfulness in keeping G3D’s Commands & trusting in His Protection, He gave them greater knowledge and perception of all kinds of literature and learning. These blessings surpassed all man-made knowledge, as Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Their wisdom and understanding was ten times greater than all the magicians and enchanters in the entire empire (ref. Daniel 1).

Later, when the king had a disturbing dream, he summoned all the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to not only interpret his dream, but first tell him what it was to prove that they had received divide revelation. If they could not do this, they would be torn apart and their homes would be demolished. When no one stepped forward to the challenge, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that all the wise men in all of Babylon be executed.

When Daniel learned of what was coming, he told his friends to plead to G3D for Mercy, asking for insight as to the king’s dream and its interpretation. Later, Daniel received a vision and the mystery of the king’s dream had been revealed to him; he composed a song in praise.

After Daniel correctly recalled the dream and its interpretation to King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel was placed over the entire Babylonian province and was in charge of its wise men. Daniel also petitioned to have Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego appointed as administrators over the province while Daniel remained at the royal court.

Though they were separated, both groups would face daunting challenges that would greatly test their faith and the power of prayer.

After having his dream interpreted, King Nebuchadnezzar decided to replicate the statue from his vision made with gold and ordered that whenever fanfare was played before the image, everyone should bow before it, or else they would be thrown into a fiery furnace as punishment. It came to the King’s attention that Daniel’s friends refused to bow before the image and when confronted, they firmly declared that they would not bow to down to the golden image nor serve the Babylonian gods, because the G3D they serve would deliver them. Even if He did not, they would not disobey Him and serve their gods or bow before the idol.

The king was so enflamed from their insolence, they he ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. After being tied up, they were thrown into the furnace, where the king and his royal court watched in wonder. They saw four men walking around in the fire, one in the likeness of an angel. After the three men stepped out of the furnace, the king praised G3D and recognized that He had sent His Angel to protect them for their dedication. Afterwards, he promoted them to more prestigious positions (ref. Daniel 2).

Soon afterwards, the Babylonians were conquered by the Persians, but the new ruler, Darius recognized Daniel’s skill as an administrator and placed him as one of the governors over the kingdom. Jealous of his position, and knowing Daniel would not stop praying to G3D, lower ranking officials convinced King Darius to issue a decree that no one could pray to or worship any other god or human besides the king or they would be thrown into the lion’s den.

When Daniel was caught openly disobeying the edict, King Darius tried to find a way to stop the deadly consequences, only to be reminded by his officials that no Persians laws could ever be revoked. As Daniel was being thrown into the lion’s den, the conqueror of the known world prayed “May your G3D, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

The king was not able to eat or sleep or be distracted in any way that night and at daybreak, he rushed to see what had become of Daniel. When the king asked if G3D had rescued him, Daniel proudly replied that He had sent his angel to shut the mouths of the lions and had not been hurt. King Darius issued a decree to the whole nation declaring the Power of the G3D who saves (ref. Daniel 6).

Each time they were challenged to break their loyalty and trust to G3D, Daniel and his friends refused to bend to the pressures of the World. Even as they gained more power and prestige, and were put in increasingly more dangerous situations, they continued to worship and trust Him.

While we might not be placed in such life-threatening positions, we will have our own unique challenges that will intimidate us to bend to society’s demands, dangling our reputations, careers, and relationships as collateral. It is in these moments that we need to realize that G3D will rescue us from anything that might threaten us, but we must place Him first in our lives and be willing to lose everything in the pursuit of serving Him. If we try to save our lives, we will lose them. If we live them worshiping and serving Him, we will experience the Power and Love of the G3D who Saves.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

Prophetic Prayer-
Prayer for Dominion

Only two verses were dedicated to his story, but the book launched about his prayer became a smash hit, selling millions of copies. Despite repeating his desperate cry to the Lord daily, many fail to have their petitions heard, because they have the wrong heart.

Jabez raised his request to G3D during a turbulent time in Israel. Each tribe’s members were responsible for conquering their inherited parcels within the Promised Land and Jabez’s tribe Judah was leading the charge. But because G3D had already promised that He would deliver their enemies into their hands, the men proceeded with great courage and were constantly victorious (ref. Judges 1:1-17). Jabez’s supplication that G3D would bless him and enlarge his territory came from asking for triumph in the challenge that the LORD had given him.

But many of the other tribes did not have faith that the G3D which had delivered them out of Egypt and had helped them conquer every enemy they had come across, would assist them in accomplishing the task He had given them. So rather than overthrow and expel the inhabitants like they had been ordered, they lived amongst them, intermarried, and adopted their false idols (ref. Judges 1 & 2). These other tribe’s failing to fulfill the LORD’s Command led to a dark time for Israel’s first families.

We know from the scriptures that His mother had maned him Jabez, because she had given birth to him in pain (ref. 1 Chronicles 4:9). Whether it was because Jabez was one of the last children born in Egypt before being freed, Jabez’s father was one of the many people who died after turning away from G3D, or Jabez was born during the Israelite’s 40 years in the Wilderness, we aren’t certain.

Jewish tradition holds that Jabez is actually a secondary name for Othniel, the First Judge of Israel. While it’s not scripturally confirmed, since it’s unclear in the Chronicles lineage who Jabez’s father was, it’s reasonable to assert that they were at least familiar with each other, since they are both of the tribe of Judah and lived in the same time period.

When the Israelites were trying to conquer their inheritance, Caleb, one of the previous scouts into the Promised Land, offered his daughter Achsah in marriage to whomever overtook the giants in the land of Debir. Othniel rose to the challenge, cleared the region, and married Achsah, but she requested of her father Caleb, that in addition to her dowry of dry fields in the lowlands, that she also be granted a spring/stream so that she could water her lands. Caleb, her loving and generous father, not only gave her the springs of the South that she requested, but also the springs in the Northern region, mirroring how G3D granted Jabez what he pleaded for (ref. Judges 1:11-15).

After Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, had died, they fell into idolatry and did evil in the sight of the LORD and forgot Him to serve false gods. G3D’s Righteous Anger was against them and He allowed to be conquered by the king of Mesopotamia and serve under him for eight years. The children of Israel cried unto the LORD and He raised up a deliverer: Othniel. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Othniel and he judged Israel and went to war against their oppressors and overthrew King Chushan-rishathaim. While Othniel served as Judge over Israel, the land had rest for those forty years (ref Judges 3:1-6).

If Othniel is the same man who cried out to G3D asking that the LORD’s Hand would be with him and keep him from evil so that he that he would not cause pain, it makes sense that he would desire G3D’s Guidance and Direction, not only during his military campaign, but more importantly during his forty year judgeship over Israel. His prayer that G3D would bless him and enlarge his territory, did not stop with the land that his father-in-law Caleb gave in addition to the dowry, but extended to his responsibilities as Judge that G3D had bestowed upon him to rescue Israel.

One of the most important details that implies Jabez is actually Othniel, is the fact that his story begins that “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers”. In a list chronicling the first families of Israel, with Othniel, Israel’s first Judge, being listed only a few lines later, such a title is extraordinary. But even if they are not the same person, Jabez’s standing in G3D’s eyes, helps us understand why his prayer was not only worth becoming scripture, but why G3D granted him what he requested.

At a minimum, we know Jabez first committed himself with G3D before he made his supplication. His asking to be given support and have his territory extended, lined up with his responsibility to retake the Promised Land. And his desire to be kept from evil to avoid causing damage, probably related to him trying to avoid becoming like the other Israelites who had fallen away from the LORD and His Will. Most importantly, he cries out to G3D, recognizing that he must rely on the Creator to accomplish all this.

If Jabez is actually Othniel, his prayer is compounded exponentially.

Not only does G3D protect Othniel during the initial siege of the Promised Land, He is also with Othniel while fighting giants in one of the most dangerous regions in the territory. After winning the equivalent of a princess as his wife, his new bride is wise enough to ask her father for water to provide for their lands and subsequently has her dowry doubled with some of the best land in the nation included. When the nation is conquered by outside invaders, Othniel is not limited to simply being remembered as the son-in-law of a famous Israelite leader, but has the Spirit of the Lord come upon him marking Othniel as the first Judge of Israel. With G3D’s Hand protecting and guiding him, he is able to repel the invading forces and maintains Peace in the land for forty years. But because Othniel was a righteous man, who sought to fulfill G3D’s Will, the Lord granted him what he requested.

Whether these two great men were one and the same, or simply relatives of some sort, is ultimately irrelevant. Their lives are testimonies to the power and requirements of the Prayer for Dominion.

We cannot pray for greater blessings and more power, influence, or responsibilities, until we have aligned ourselves with the Ways and Will of G3D. Even more so, we need to recognize that, like the children of Israel, once they become successful, many people forget Him, and do what is right in their own eyes. G3D will bless us in ways that are affiliated with our accountabilities to Him, but if asked, He will also protect us from the human temptations that come from gaining greater dominion. Jabez’s (and possibly Othniel’s) Prayer for Dominion was answered, because his heart was focused on the Will of G3D, rather than the desires of Man.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

Prophetic Prayer-
Understanding the Lord’s Prayer

While it is typically used as a standard format to teach young Christians how to pray, the Lord’s Prayer has deep prophetic implications. Too often mechanically rehearsed, this basic prayer teaches us how to ensure He hears us, but more importantly, how to prepare to hear our Father’s Voice.

Abba, Father, Jehovah, Hallowed by Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done. On Earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us today our Daily Bread.
Forgive us of our debts as we forgive all our debtors.
And bring us not into trials but deliver us from temptation.
Amen.

Though scholars still debate the colloquial interpretation that Abba means something similar to “Papa” or “Daddy”, this wasn’t the first time that Christ implies that only those who have an cherished and close relationship with Him would truly know G3D (ref. John 1:18). At the same time, the opening stanza, which started with a gentle intimacy, is juxtaposed by an open declaration that His Name should be respected, honored, and revered. At first glance it seems contradictory, yet it perfectly matches the expectations of a healthy relationship that one would have with their earthly father, one of familial love while also displaying admiration. Christ’s relationship with His Father is a prophetic precursor to the one we now are able to have with Him.

While several of the next stanzas are requests concerning our own needs and affairs, Christ teaches us that our focus should first be on His Kingdom and His Will. By addressing G3D with the adoration and admiration that He deserves, we can recognize that by concentrating on pursuing things that advance His Kingdom first, He is faithful to provide for all our anxieties which are inconsequential by comparison.

It is here that we discover our purpose.

We are to be stewards of the time, talents, and treasures that he has entrusted to us to accomplish the Sacred Directives that He has for His People. By first seeking to understand His Will, we can direct our lives to match His Resolutions. Thanks to the aid of modern day prophets, we can receive truly personalized direction in our lives to know what it is that G3D wants us to do regarding our careers, finances, and personal lives. But we must be willing to live our lives with His Will as our ultimate focus.

And if we are faithful, He will provide.

Though we tend to think of our daily bread in regards to our nutritional and financial needs at first glance, we often forget to be grateful for the ways He continually blesses us. When our finances and fridges are well stocked, it is not simply by our effort, knowledge, and hard work, but by His Grace. Those who are currently experiencing the effects that CVD-19 has had on our economy and the supply chain have a better understanding that we can do everything right according to the financial experts and still have struggles providing for our physiological needs. Outside of financial assistance, He also gives us the necessary resources to impact those around us in a way that is glorifying to Him. Whether it is additional patience, understanding, kindness or any other gifts from Heaven we pray for in our times of need.

But even with His overwhelming assistance, we will fail.

The majority of Old Testament Prophecy related to how Israel would be punished for their turning away from G3D or predicting the Final Sacrifice that would pay for all the sins of Mankind. While Christ has payed the Ultimate Cost, we must be aware that we have traded our lives for Eternal Salvation in an uneven exchange. Just as He continually forgave Israel, and permanently forgive His Followers, we must forgive the petty debts and trespasses others have leveled against us.

Despite being Forgiven, it does not mean life is without consequences.

Many of the issues in our lives are the result of our poor choices, but sometimes to accomplish His Will we will be placed in uncomfortable or even crushing circumstances that will test our Trust and Faith in Him. This is an opportunity for the gifts of prophecy and discernment to help you distinguish between trials that are meant to help you grow and develop your spiritual gifts and penalties stemming from walking outside of the pathway that you know He desires for you.

If we want Him to hear our prayers, we must first draw close to Him, making ourselves spiritually vulnerable and open while also showing admiration for His Greatness beyond comprehension. We need to arrange our thoughts to focus on fulfilling His Will and act accordingly, asking from our generous Father for anything that we might need to accomplish our roles. We will still make mistakes, but by His Unending Love we will be forgiven and should remember the unearned grace that has been extended towards us when dealing with other flawed humans. This does not absolve us of the retributions from living outside of His Divine Will, but by hearing His Voice we can recognize the difference between a challenge that will strengthen our connection and glorify Him, and a difficult situation He never wished for us to endure.

The Lord’s Prayer perfectly encapsulates PMT’s constant message that we should Pray, Hear, & Obey. By seeking first the Kingdom of G3D through prayer, listening to His Voice, & implementing His Will we will have our needs taken care of, but more importantly, we will grow closer to the One who created us and who has grand plans He wants to flow for our lives. We will better know our Father above, when kneel in prayer and make ourselves low.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

The Consequences of Prophecy-
Out of the Mouths of False Prophets

While it is easy to call out prophecies that fall short, it’s harder to recognize lying spirits that lead us into enterprises that will ultimately doom us. Our desires for greater wealth, renown, or influence to please ourselves and our egos can lead us into traps just as easily as culturally and self-imposed obligations to please others. Often lying tongues do not come from the mouths of false prophets, but from a guilt or desire to go down a path that you know is against His Will.

Three years after reconquering lands and cities that had been previously taken by the neighboring Arameans, wicked King Ahab sought to recapture a city that had not been returned under the conditions of the peace treaty between the nations. Ramoth-Gilead (Gilead Heights) was a Levitical city and city of refuge (Deuteronomy 4:43; Joshua 20:8; Joshua 21:38) in the Tribe of Gad’s territory, east of the Jordan River. While King Ahab of Samaria may have wanted the city back to cement his military victory over his defeated neighbors and secured a further foothold into their territory, he recognized that he could not reconquer the region without help from the Southern Kingdom of Judea.

King Jehoshaphat was a pious king and “the LORD was with him, because he followed in the early ways of his father David” (2 Chronicles 17:3-4) and recognized the religious need to restore the City of Refuge to the Levitical Priesthood, which he had given authority to teach the Book of the Law of the LORD to the citizens of Judea (2 Chronicles 17:7-9). But King Jehoshaphat was also compelled through political pressures to assist King Ahab as well, since Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram had married the King of Samaria’s daughter, Athaliah.

There is a great irony in the names of these two rulers’ children. King Jehoshaphat who had been blessed greatly by his trust and service to G3D, had named his son Jehoram meaning “exacted by Jehovah”. Wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who had introduced worship of Baal and Ishtar on a national scale and curated the anger of the G3D of Israel, fittingly had named their daughter Athaliah meaning “whom G3D afflicts”. Predictably, this mixed faith political marriage led to tragedy for both families.

Wicked King Ahab hatched an ingenious plan to get the honorable and righteous King Jehoshaphat to agree to side with him in the invasion to take back the Gilead Heights. He invited the King of Judea to come down to Samaria and declared that the city belonged to them and that it was their duty to take it back. He pressed King Jehoshaphat asking if he would join him in battle. But the G3D fearing king replied first “I am as you are, my people are your people, my horses are your horses”, before stopping to inquire of the LORD.

Ahab called forth prophets of Adonai, and Ahab’s Prophets, as Jehoshaphat referred to them as, were all in agreement that the two kings should join forces and that they will have victory in battle.

King Jehoshaphat questioned King Ahab’s yes-men and asked if there are any prophets of Jehovah from whom they can ask for insight.

Since Ahab’s prophets were from the Northern Kingdom and were not recognized by King Jehoshaphat as legitimate prophets, it is heavily implied that they were part of the cult that worshipped the golden bull idols in Bethel and Dan which had been established by Samaria’s first king Jeroboam. Zedekiah, son of Kenaanah, the de facto leader of Ahab’s prophets, conducted an empty prophetic performance using a pair of iron horns declaring “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed”. The use of metal horns further connects these false prophets with Samaria’s calf worship cult.

King Jehoshaphat pressed further till King Ahab agreed to summon Prophet Micaiah son of Imlah, despite the fact that all of his previous prophecies had been negative declarations from G3D for Ahab’s evil behavior. When he arrived before the kings, Prophet Micaiah was instructed to match his prophecy to Ahab’s 400 sycophants.

When asked what would happen if they went into battle, Prophet Micaiah responded sarcastically and taunted that if they go they will prosper for Yahweh will give the city to the king. King Ahab wanted to hear these words, but recognized that Micaiah is being blatantly sardonic and demands that Micaiah tell him G3D’s True Message. Prophet Micaiah predicted that King Ahab would die in battle and explained how a lying spirit had entered the mouths of King Ahab’s false prophets to entice him to go into battle so Samaria could finally be rid of their most destructive ruler.

False prophet Zedekiah who had done the performance with the iron horns, slapped Prophet Micaiah across his face asking if that was the ear that the Spirit of G3D left Zedekiah to speak to Micaiah. Micaiah predicted that like the false prophets of Baal which had been executed in mass during their confrontation with Prophet Elijah, Zedekiah would have to go into hiding to avoid a similar death.

Though King Jehoshaphat questioned the authenticity of the prophecies that Ahab’s stooges had presented, and requested an honest prophet of Jehovah, he still went into battle with King Ahab as his ally even after Prophet Micaiah predicted the devastation that awaited them.

Perhaps he felt compelled by family politics and obligations to help his son’s father in law or a sense of religious duty to reclaim the city that belonged to the priests. Maybe it was a sense of honor to not go back on his promise to Ahab to join him in battle before inquiring of G3D first. In any case, all of these whispers in Jehoshaphat’s ears were just as destructive as Ahab’s false prophets’ lies.

It is foolish to deeply entangle yourself into something and try to seek G3D’s Guidance once you’ve already made a decision. If you weren’t going to follow the advice that His Messenger delivered, it would have been less destructive on you to have never inquired of the Lord. The consequences of listening to these falsities over His Word are devastating. Seek first the Wisdom of the Lord or you will be crushed by the stupidity of Men’s Logic.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator