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Deuteronomy 28 contains the definitive list of blessings and curses—both of which come upon us and overtake us based on one principle: If we listen to and obey the voice of God. Many physical benefits are included.

As intercessor, Queen Esther placed herself in harm’s way, standing between all Jews and those who wanted to destroy them all. She stood her ground in the face of her own possible execution—fasting and praying to her God for three days and bringing about a change of heart in the King.

In order for us to be effective in praying for our nation, we must keep in mind the examples that Jesus presented to us in Matthew’s gospel. We were instructed to salt, light and a city that is set on a hill. What does that mean and how are we to implement it?

We all want our prayers answered, and that’s exactly what we’ve been discussing: How to pray and get what we pray for. The only kind of prayer that is acceptable to God is one that is directed by the Holy Spirit, for we do not know how to pray as we should.

Jesus stated this Himself: “If you ask anything in My name” and “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father might be glorified in the Son.” Who would want to bypass Him in the face of such promises? Jesus has done it all on our behalf.

If we wish to find God’s plan for our lives, we eventually realize that, as individuals, we are incomplete. We must become a committed member in the Body of Christ in order to function in accordance with God’s purpose. Joined with other members, we can work together to fulfill God’s plan.

God’s principles are always the same. He is going to re-gather Israel based on a covenant. The covenant will establish a new relationship of God to Israel as a husband. And it will bring Israel into a direct personal relationship with God where no mediator is needed.

When the Bible speaks about kingdom, it infers government. The gospel of the Kingdom of God is the Good News of the Government of God. That is the good news of the New Testament. If we meet God’s conditions, we can come under His government.

Today Derek speaks about the vine as presented in the book of Joel – and that is the Church. The restoration of the church is on a parallel with the fig tree: Israel. It’s part of God’s intervention on behalf of His people at the close of the age.

Today’s fruit of the Spirit Derek is speaking about is the fruit of gentleness. The word in the original Greek can equally well be translated as meekness. Some versions use one word, some the other. We need to bear in mind that gentleness includes meekness and meekness includes gentleness. But meekness is not weakness, as many people think. But, the exact opposite is the true: meekness is the demonstration of strength.