- NEW INSPIRATION EACH WEEK -
My name is Dumas A. Harshaw, Jr., Ph.D., founder and executive director of
My name is I have been in the pastoral ministry and a professor of theology for more than 30 years, serving churches and seminaries in California, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. My passion is to grow as a prayer warrior and to encourage others to experience the power of prayer in their lives, vocations and ministries. If you’d like to know more about me, click here.
“A Fresh Start”
Ezekiel 37:22-32
The prophet Ezekiel announced God’s judgment upon the nation of Israel in the sixth century as they lived in the clutches of captivity and exile. The pronouncements were written in approximately 571 B.C. and were directed to the Jews who lived in Babylonia. He was a younger contemporary of Jeremiah who delivered prophetic messages to the people of the covenant in Judah, while Ezekiel prophesied to those already exiled in captivity.
The prophecy begins with messages of doom and the promise of correction for God’s people in their sinful condition and rebellious ways (1:1-24:27) and continues with messages of moral judgment against nations that doubted the intention or ability of a divine intervention to save and redeem the people of the covenant. But they themselves would later learn of God’s ability to save by facing their own predicaments and learning how crucial it is to get help from the Lord (25:1-32:32).
After the fall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel prophesied a message of restoration and hope for the future (33:1-48:35). Through God’s holy standards and character, the people of faith can now experience a fresh start on their spiritual journey. The past was covered by the forgiving love of God, so they now stood with wonderful possibilities for personal, national, and relational deliverance. A significant aspect of the return to the priorities of covenant life was the restoration of worship at the center of their national life and their personal faith walk. But the fulfillment of these prophecies will be ushered in through the rule of the Messiah who will offer perfect fellowship with God and one another. When we focus our attention on Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and commit ourselves to worship in spirit and truth we will experience a fresh start.
Pastor Dumas A. Harshaw, Jr.
Call To Action Dumas Alexander Harshaw, Jr.
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Today America is at a crossroads, the question is, will we be a united nation with diversity, reflecting the “Beloved Community”, where everyone is valued, or we will be a broken, divided, resentful, and exclusive nation standing at the threshold of a “civil war”, in which case there will be no wholesome survivors.
As an Apostle of prayer and encouragement, sent and divinely prepared for such a time as this, I propose for people of faith and goodwill, to engage in a life of serious prayer and reflection. This is a time for dedicated spiritual warriors and anointed intercessors to heed the call of God in 2 Chronicles 7:14. This kind of spiritual warfare is intentional and entails significant action in doing good and performing the works of righteousness. This might be called pragmatic spirituality, engaged contemplation or simply following the example of Jesus Christ. We need people who are armed with the armor of God to take a stand for what is right. The contemplative life is more than simply praying about the challenges of our times, the life of contemplation is focus on prayer that ends in involvement with the world around for the cause of Christ.
The second aspect of my proposal is the commitment to take the role of an encourager. This is over and against negativity, hopelessness, despair, defamation of character or even the conditions that surround us. It means to speak with words of faith, affirmation, peace, positivity, uplift. It does however include speaking the truth in love and standing on principles, values and ethical standards that may confront the status quo.
These are not easy times that we live in, but they are critical times filled with the promise of victory, fulfillment, breakthrough and transformation.
Will you join me and see what the end will be?
“Nor by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of hosts.”
Zechariah 4:6
Dumas Alexander Harshaw, Jr.
Apostle of Prayer and Encouragement