Dear Partners and Friends,

This month we celebrated America’s Birthday! The 4^th of July has always been a significant time for me and Heather, as it reminds us of 25 years ago when we were flying  home from our honeymoon and saw the sky beneath us light up with fireworks!

It was a wonderful memory for us, and still is, every 4^th of July. Just a few days ago, Heather and I celebrated our 25^th anniversary—we recounted our journey to this point and specifically the memory of flying back in from our honeymoon 25 years ago to the sight of 4^th of July fireworks all over the horizon from outside the airplane window. Gratefulness to the Lord was the main theme of that conversation. We recognized that all the ups and downs, losses, and tremendous victories brought us to the place we are today. Thank you, Jesus!

This month of July we celebrated our Independence Day as a nation. Going all the way back to 1776, America has been a miracle that should not have survived again and again. Something that amazes me is that there has been a lot of talk in recent years about not mixing patriotism with our faith, and that we as believers and preachers should stay away from political issues. Sometimes even preachers from outside of America will attempt to downplay the significance of American history as it relates to the church, and suggest that we as American believers, should not be patriotic or stand for liberty the way we do.

Newsletter continues below…

Demystifying the Prophetic – Now Available!

Never before has culture had a greater need for clear, prophetic insight, while never before has so much prophetic error and controversy swirled around us to discredit legitimate prophetic voices. Now, more than ever, true biblical prophecy must take its place at the forefront.

Joseph Z—an international prophetic voice—began encountering the voice of God from a young age through visions and dreams. With wisdom, accuracy, biblical balance, and experience, Joseph offers powerful keys to help you unlock the revelation, interpretation, and application of prophecy.

In Demystifying the Prophetic, Joseph Z will teach you how to:

• Identify real and false prophets
• Activate a clear-minded prophetic lifestyle
• Master your gifts and experiences
• Interpret trances, dreams, entities, déjà vu, and strange phenomena
• Recognize four types of prophets operating in the Church, government, and marketplace
• Discern the signs of the times

Mature prophecy in its pure operation stands unrivaled in power and accuracy against all counterfeit voices. The Church and the world desperately need and deserve this better class of prophetic experience. Jesus desires to work through you and equip you to prophetically navigate these last days!

Well, if I lived in a nation that didn’t support the things our forefathers fought and died to give us, then I might have the same point of view as them. As a matter of fact, it is good for those who live in nations outside the USA to really submit to the leaders of that nation according to Romans 13.

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

—Romans 13:1 

A powerful truth straight from the word of God, and many quote it when speaking of governmental oversight, which is a proper application. However, there is more to this scripture than making a simple statement about how a believer should operate regarding their government. In other words, we cannot overlook some of the context of this passage. After all, a text without context is a pre-text. 

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

—Romans 13:1-5 

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.

The question that must be considered is what happens when those appointed to leadership are no longer a terror to evil works, but rather pervert the authority given them and become a terror to good works? Then they are no longer fulfilling the office God provided as a service for the good of humanity. 

4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. 

Again here in verse 4 we see the same point made, that he is God’s minister to you for good; what happens and how should a believer respond when those appointed to leadership pervert the office God provided for the good of all, and they become a minister of evil? 

The same idea can be found in the second part of verse 4. In 4b it says, “…he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil…”   What happens when these appointed offices execute wrath on those who practice good? The answer simply comes down to the laws of that land. What does the highest law of the land state for that particular government? Now, if the government legally demands us to disobey the bible, we as believers must disobey. However, if it does not disobey the bible, we as believers, according to Romans 13, must abide by the laws of that land. Those who practice evil in the governing offices appointed by God to do good are perverting the purpose of why God gave that office to society. Does this mean as believers we are to storm the castle? To declare physical war? To act in violation of what scripture teaches us? Not at all! This means as believers we obey the word of God above all; like the statesman prophet Daniel did. When a law was passed forbidding him to pray, he changed nothing. To the contrary, Daniel continued doing his practice of prayer before God—even when the law forbade him to do so. Daniel did start a revolt and storm the castle. Yet please consider this, Daniel didn’t live in America. He lived under a king. What the king said went. 

Depending on what nation a believer lives in, this will determine their responsibility as a citizen of that nation. The law of their government requires them to obey what their government says. Again, from a biblical perspective, any law that does not violate scripture is to be obeyed as a Christian believer.  

Let me attempt to clarify what I mean. We are to obey the laws and rulers of the land, which really means we are to strictly adhere to the constitution of the land. The only way we do not obey a law is if it directly violates the Word of God. Beyond that, we are to obey the governing authorities who are empowered by the written law of the land. 

In the case of the United States, it is first and foremost our constitution. If we are going to be biblical, then we must enforce the constitution and make sure those governing this republic are diligently executing the written requirements of our United States constitution. 

Romans 13 for an American means, enforce the constitution and submit to those governing who are in alignment with the constitution. To agree with anyone not governing in accordance with the constitution means they are unfit, and we should rightfully take action as citizens of this land and make the appropriate changes according to what our constitution provides. 

The word citizen means co-ruler. What a powerful thing! It reminds me of a much higher and eternal calling… the great CO-mission. In other words, it is not all top-down dictatorship, it is a cooperation between the ultimate law of the land and its people, much like the gospel is not God independently doing everything Himself, rather it is Him working through His church— “as He is so are we in this world…” 1 John 4:17. 

America as a nation is distinct in the fact that we were founded on “we the people.” It is for the people and by the people; here we believe in democracy that says those in high offices are our employees—because that is exactly what they are! In the United States, we do not work for our political officials, they are not to rule over us, they are servants and ministers of the people. 

We are not here to be told what to do by our government, we are to trust our leaders to rightly interpret the law of the land for us to abide by. Yet, as citizens of these United States, if we are going to adhere to Romans 13 and obey the governing authority and law of the land, we should be strictly following our Nation’s constitution and the coinciding documents on which our nation was founded. 

There is a reason America left tyranny and sought out religious freedom in a new world, they were done with the government telling them what to do and how to live. This makes America a special nation. Even our constitution was founded on the Bible. However, let me say this: God loves every nation and wants all people to hear the gospel. After traveling to many nations around the world and meeting so many precious believers, I recognize that God is certainly not American. He wills that all men be saved. God deals with nations differently than individuals, as well as how a nation and its actions affect Israel. Regardless of what modern day Israel does or does not do politically and morally, there is a covenant God has with Israel, and for any nation to walk in His blessing, they must abide by God’s blessing on His nation. 

As of recently, every time I hear one of our nation’s songs, from the national anthem to America the beautiful- even the pledge of allegiance, I’m nearly overwhelmed with tears of gratitude for such a great nation. Yes, there are many issues and heart-wrenching problems in this country, but God has certainly placed His hand and blessing upon this land. 

Nearly a year and a half ago I was given the assignment by the Holy Spirit to go to the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado, our home state. It was a prophetic act to be a prophetic watchman to America. Now The Lord has certainly given us an international calling in the prophetic, yet a special anointing for these United States. 

In conclusion, my heart is filled with fire to see this nation stand as one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. To see our children and grandchildren enjoy the freedoms and privileges that a nation founded on godly principles has offered many of us. 

This is partly why we do what we do. Through media, and our daily broadcast, we aim to reach as many people as we can. Our goal and mandate is One Million for a Billion! We know we are to raise up one million clear eyed, clear minded Holy Spirit reformers who will in turn stand up and win a Billion converts for our great God! We need to enforce the laws in America; we need to vote according to the Bible in the closest way possible, and we must do all we can to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to America. 

One last thought I would like to share with you this month. We just finished our July 4^th Prophetic State of the Union. My strong prophetic sense is that this is not the end. We are going to go through massive change and fire, but it will produce what I’ve seen in prayer; the new America. Not entirely a good thing, but also not the end. Please go back and watch that broadcast if you are able, as there is a lot I shared by the Spirit of the Lord. If you already watched it, I recommend  going back and watching it again, as I know it will encourage you for the days we are about to walk into. 

There is a great hope and a great future in front of you, regardless of what happens to America or any nation. Why? Because Jesus is Lord and He has given you a great hope and a future! I declare to you right now that your future is bright and God loves you! 

For Jesus, 

Joseph Z