Influence Without Control

You can’t make anyone do anything.
Not really.

You can coerce.
You can manipulate.
You can force.

But that’s not leadership. That’s control.

Nehemiah didn’t control people.
He influenced them.

And that’s the invitation:
To lead without control. To influence without a title.

You want to change your world?
Start here.

When the People Cry Out

Nehemiah 5:1–13

There’s a moment—
A shift.
A sound too raw, too human, too urgent to ignore.

It doesn’t come from enemies.
It comes from within the walls.
From the people we thought were safe.
From the voices we trained ourselves not to hear.

They weren’t strangers.
They were family.
The very people of God.

And they were being crushed.

The text says,

“There arose a great outcry...”

It wasn’t noise.
It was signal.

The kind that slices through distraction.
The kind that makes a true leader pause—
Not to analyze, but to act.

Nehemiah didn’t manage the crisis.

He embodied it.

He got angry.
But not the kind of anger that burns bridges—

The kind that builds new ones.

Because he knew:

• What’s the point of rebuilding walls if the people behind them are enslaved?

• What good is a move of God if it doesn’t move us toward justice?

• What’s the value of leadership that only asks, “What’s in it for me?”

Leadership isn’t about being in charge.
It’s about being in between.

Between the pain and the promise.
Between the silence and the sound.

1. Hear the Cry. Prophesy the Future.

Don’t dismiss what disturbs you.

Leadership begins with listening—not with the ears, but with the soul.
You can’t solve what you refuse to feel.

“There arose a great outcry of the people…” (Nehemiah 5:1)

Real leaders hear what others ignore.
And when they hear it—they speak.
They name what God is saying.
They create the future by declaring it.

2. Name the Wrong. Don’t Cover It.

Call it. Don’t coat it.

Injustice thrives in ambiguity.
Religious language has a way of making rot look holy.
But Nehemiah didn’t spiritualize sin—he exposed it.

“I was very angry… I brought charges against the nobles and the officials.” (Nehemiah 5:6–7)

Confrontation is compassion in motion.
When you name the wrong, healing can finally begin.

3. Expect Repentance. Build for Breakthrough.

Bold leadership breaks strongholds.

We’ve grown too used to managing dysfunction.
Nehemiah demanded change—and got it.
Not because he was loud, but because he was clear.

“We will restore… we will do as you say.” (Nehemiah 5:12–13)

When leaders speak with integrity, people respond.
Not just with applause—but with action.

You’ve heard something

A whisper. A rumble. A cry.

Maybe it’s not public.
But in your spirit, it’s loud.

This is your cue.
Not to wait.
Not to delegate.
Not to play it safe.

Because Kingdom leadership doesn’t wait for permission.
It answers the cry.

So—will you?

Will you rise?
Will you risk?
Will you lead?

Because heaven is listening.
And the people are crying.

Let it be you.
Let it be now.
Let it be loud.

Build And Defend

We love the idea of building

The thrill of starting something new. The excitement of vision, calling, purpose. The sense that we’re participating in something bigger than ourselves.

But what happens when opposition shows up?

What happens when the enemy sees what you're building and decides it’s worth tearing down?

Most people hesitate. They assume that if an idea is truly from God, it shouldn’t require a fight.

Nehemiah knew better. His people weren’t just building. They were battling while they built.

They worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other. They didn’t take off their armor. They never let their guard down.

Because if it’s worth building, it’s worth protecting.

We Build, but We Don’t Guard

It happens all the time.

A business launches, but no one builds the systems to sustain it.
A marriage begins, but no effort is made to protect it.
A dream is birthed, but distractions steal it away.

We ask for blessing but don’t build boundaries.

We cry out for breakthrough but don’t establish safeguards.

We get frustrated by attacks but never take steps to prevent them.

Nehemiah’s people understood that anything worth building will be challenged. So, they stayed ready.

If You Don’t Guard It, You’ll Lose It

"Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other." (Nehemiah 4:17)

Imagine building a house with one hand while holding a sword in the other.

It’s not convenient. But it’s necessary.

Because if you aren’t holding a sword, the enemy assumes you’re easy to take down.

Want to protect your marriage? Guard your words, your time, your priorities.
Want to keep your calling alive? Guard your focus.
Want to build a lasting legacy? Guard your habits.

Loose grips sink ships.

The solution is simple.

Guard it and grip it!

Stay Ready So You Don’t Have to Get Ready

"None of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand." (Nehemiah 4:23)

Most people think they’ll get battle-ready when the fight comes.

They assume they’ll develop discipline when life demands it.
They hope they’ll build resilience when hardship shows up.

It doesn’t work that way.

Nehemiah’s men slept in their armor. They were always ready.

You don’t wait until the attack to pray.
You don’t wait until the crisis to strengthen your marriage.
You don’t wait until the enemy starts taking ground to fight back.

Prepare now, so when the moment comes, you don’t have to scramble.

Find Your People and Fight Together

"In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!" (Nehemiah 4:20)

You can’t win this fight alone.

You need people who will rally when you’re under attack.
You need voices that will remind you of the vision when you’re ready to quit.

You need a team that doesn’t scatter when the enemy shows up.

Nehemiah’s men didn’t run from the fight. They ran toward it.

When your marriage is struggling, don’t isolate—get help.
When your business is under attack, don’t retreat—find support.
When you feel spiritually drained, don’t disengage—press into your community.

The enemy wants you alone. The wise know better.

What Are You Building and Are You Protecting It?

Most people don’t fail because they lacked vision.

They fail because they weren’t ready for resistance.

The difference between those who finish and those who quit isn’t calling, talent, or gifting.

It’s vigilance.

Are you guarding what God gave you?
Are you staying battle-ready?
Are you surrounding yourself with people who will fight with you?

Building is only half the job.

Protecting is the other half.

Altars Before Walls

If you walked into Home Depot today, you’d expect to see contractors, electricians, weekend DIYers. You wouldn’t expect to see a high priest in the tool aisle, picking out lumber, asking about the best fasteners, buying a tool belt.

But in the book of Nehemiah, that’s exactly what happens.

When the city was in ruins, when the walls were crumbled, when the people were vulnerable—the first person to step up and rebuild wasn’t a military leader, a politician, or a businessman.

It was Eliashib, the high priest.

Priests are builders.

Priests don’t just preach and pray—they build, restore, and rebuild.
They build altars. They build spaces for worship.

And in Nehemiah 3, they aren’t sitting in the temple. They’re out in the dust, rolling up their sleeves, rebuilding something deeply significant:

The Sheep Gate.

Not the main city gate.
Not the strongest part of the wall.
Not the marketplace or the palace.

The Sheep Gate.

Why does this matter?

Because before you build a wall, before you secure a city, before you protect anything that matters—you must restore the altar first.

The Sheep Gate was the entryway for the sacrificial lambs, the animals that would be brought into the temple for worship and atonement. This wasn’t just about fortifying Jerusalem. This was about making space for God again.

It was the only gate in the entire city that was consecrated—set apart for holiness. Because worship comes before strategy. The altar comes before the wall.

A Gate is About Access.

It’s not just a wall that keeps things out. It’s an entryway that allows something in.

So what do you think of when you hear the phrase sacrificial lamb?

You think of Jesus.

The One who gave everything. The One whose blood atones, whose sacrifice restores, whose presence transforms hearts.

And so, before you focus on building your career, before you strengthen your finances, before you restore your marriage or your ministry—ask yourself:

Is my heart open to the sacrificial lamb?

Building an altar doesn’t mean building a ministry. It doesn’t mean running out to serve, to fix, to make things happen. It means building a place of intimacy with God.

Before you work for Him, be with Him. Before you fix the wall, restore your worship.

Make sure your heart is in alignment with God. That your worship life is right. Because if the altar isn’t in place, anything you build will crumble.

If you try to build without this, your city might look strong, but it will be empty. The foundation will be off. The purpose will be lost.

But if the first gate you restore is the one that welcomes Jesus in—everything else will take shape the way it was meant to.

Start at the Sheep Gate.
Rebuild the altar before the walls.
Let the sacrificial lamb in.

Everything else follows.

The "Just Declare It" Myth

If words alone could change the world, Nehemiah could have stood at the edge of Jerusalem, stretched out his hands, and declared the walls rebuilt.

But that’s not what he did.

Instead, in Nehemiah 2, he rode through the city at night, inspecting the damage for himself. He didn’t just listen to reports. He didn’t assume he already knew what was wrong. He put boots on the ground.

Because you will never transform a city you don’t take a step in.

And yet, modern Christianity has become obsessed with the idea that we can shape reality just by speaking. That we can declare prosperity without working, declare restoration without repentance, declare revival without actually stepping into broken places.

We’ve confused faith with sorcery. And it’s keeping us weak.

Authority Requires Commitment

Nehemiah had authority to rebuild the city because he was willing to enter it.

He didn’t stay comfortable in Persia, sending out prophetic decrees about Jerusalem’s future. He left his position, put himself at risk, and moved toward the ruins.

Authority is for those who make a commitment. And commitment requires action.

You cannot expect authority over a marriage you won’t invest in.
You cannot expect financial breakthrough while you continue to mismanage money.
You cannot expect a calling to grow if you won’t take even the smallest step toward it.

The kingdom doesn’t reward spectators. It rewards builders.

"Do you see a man diligent in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men." (Proverbs 22:29)

The "Just Declare It" MYTH

The idea that you can speak things into existence comes from a misunderstanding of Scripture.

People love to quote Job 22:28—"You shall decree a thing, and it shall be established." But they never mention that these words were spoken by Eliphaz, a man God later rebuked for false theology.

God does not obey our words. We obey His.

Nehemiah didn’t decree a rebuilt city—he stepped into a broken one.

Declarations without action are just spiritual noise.

Boots on the Ground: Real Faith Steps In

Look at every major moment of faith in Scripture:

• Moses didn’t just declare the Red Sea open—he stepped forward with his staff.

• David didn’t just declare victory over Goliath—he ran toward him with a sling.

• Peter didn’t just declare his faith—he stepped out of the boat.

• Jesus didn’t just declare salvation—He walked to the cross.

Faith is not just spoken—it is demonstrated.

"Faith without works is dead." (James 2:26)

You Can’t Rebuild From a Distance

Imagine if Nehemiah had stayed in Persia, sending letters, posting inspiring words about how “Jerusalem will rise again.”

That’s what many Christians do today. They talk about change but never step into the ruins themselves.

If you want to change something—your life, your marriage, your city—you must enter into it.

• Don’t just declare revival—walk the streets, meet the people, pray on location.

• Don’t just declare success—do the work, show up, build something.

• Don’t just declare breakthrough—identify the broken places, repent where needed, and step forward.

Spiritual authority belongs to those who commit.

And commitment isn’t verbal—it’s visible.

The Law of Kingdom Transformation

Nehemiah didn’t just talk about rebuilding. He walked through the ruins.

And when the enemy mocked him? He didn’t argue—he kept building.

Transformation always follows this pattern:

1. Step into the ruins (See reality for what it is—Nehemiah 2:12)

2. Make a plan (Strategize before acting—Nehemiah 2:17)

3. Start rebuilding (Put in the work—Nehemiah 3)

4. Push through resistance (Expect opposition—Nehemiah 4:1-3)

5. Stay until it’s finished (Don’t stop halfway—Nehemiah 6:15)

You cannot transform what you will not commit to.

Nehemiah had authority because he had skin in the game.

Do you?

The 4 Questions Builders Ask

Most people prefer a comfortable lie over an inconvenient truth.

They sugarcoat reality. They downplay their problems. They avoid the hard questions because hard questions demand hard answers.

But Nehemiah? He wasn’t afraid to look at the ruins.

He wasn’t a pessimist—he didn’t drown in despair. He wasn’t a naïve optimist—he didn’t pretend things were fine. He was a realist.

And reality is the foundation of every successful rebuilding effort.

The Brutal Honesty of Rebuilding

Before you can rebuild anything—a business, a marriage, a church, a reputation—you have to start by seeing things clearly. That means asking four hard questions.

1. What’s broken? Stop sugarcoating it.

If your marriage is in trouble, say it. If your business is failing, admit it. If your faith feels dead, acknowledge it. Pretending things are fine doesn’t make them fine. Clarity is the first step toward change.

2. What’s possible? Stop making excuses.

Yes, things are bad. But are they unfixable? Is there a way forward? A path to restoration? Nehemiah didn’t just see the ruins—he saw what could be rebuilt. He saw the future inside the destruction. That’s what leaders do. They don’t just see the problem; they see the potential.

3. Who’s with you? Not everyone near you is for you.

Some people will help. Others will watch. Some will believe in the vision. Others will quietly hope you fail. Nehemiah didn’t assume everyone was on his side. He identified his allies and strengthened his inner circle. Rebuilding is not a solo mission. Choose your team wisely.

4. Who’s against you? The enemy is watching you assess the ruins.

Not everyone wants you to succeed. Some people profit from brokenness. Some are threatened by your restoration. Nehemiah didn’t just inspect the walls; he was aware of the opposition. The moment you decide to rebuild, there will be resistance. Prepare for it.

The Hardest Step is the First One

The biggest barrier to change isn’t lack of resources. It isn’t opposition. It isn’t even failure.

It’s refusing to acknowledge reality.

You can’t fix a marriage if you won’t admit it’s broken. You can’t rebuild a business if you ignore the financial cracks. You can’t step into your calling if you refuse to assess where you actually are.

Nehemiah knew that seeing is the first battle. And so do you.

Before You Build, Face the Brutal Facts

This is where most people quit before they even start. It’s easier to talk about rebuilding than actually do it. It’s easier to hope things change than take responsibility for them. It’s easier to delay the hard conversations than face the truth.

But if you want to move forward, you have to see clearly. See the damage. See the possibilities. See the threats.

And most importantly—see it before your enemies see it.

Because the people who rebuild aren’t the ones who wait for things to magically improve. They’re the ones who face reality and move forward anyway.

You cannot fix what you refuse to face.

Delayed, Not Denied: The Purpose Behind God’s Timing

We inhabit a world obsessed with immediacy. Everything—our careers, relationships, even our spirituality—demands instant gratification. If we’re not moving, we assume we’re stagnating. But this is a false presupposition, an illusion constructed by an impatient culture. The truth is that God does not adhere to human timelines. He is not rushed. He is not pressured. And, as hard as it may be to accept, He is never late.

Nehemiah understood this. He had a vision—a burden, a calling. He saw the broken walls of Jerusalem and longed to rebuild. Yet, for months, he remained still. He waited. He prayed. He resisted the urge to act prematurely. And because of that, when the moment of opportunity came, he was ready.

Modern people struggle with this idea. We are told to “seize the moment,” to “act now before it’s too late.” But Nehemiah’s story teaches us a radical counterpoint: waiting is not passivity. Waiting is preparation.

So, what happens when we trust in God’s timeline? Nehemiah 2:1-8 offers three crucial lessons.

1. While We Are Waiting, We Can Be Maturing

The passage opens with what seems to be an innocuous statement:

"In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king." (Nehemiah 2:1)

At first glance, it appears trivial. But the weight of this statement is staggering. Four months had passed since Nehemiah first heard the devastating news of Jerusalem’s ruins (Nehemiah 1:1). For four long months, he carried this burden—yet he did not rush ahead. He did not abandon his post. He did not force the issue. He waited.

And herein lies the first lesson: The right thing at the wrong time can become the wrong thing.

We see this principle throughout scripture. Moses had a vision to liberate Israel, but his impatience led him to kill an Egyptian, forcing him into forty years of exile. Why? Because his character had not yet caught up with his calling.

Many of us carry a deep sense of purpose. We are pregnant with potential. But if we attempt to give birth to something before its time, the result can be catastrophic. A premature birth is always fragile—sometimes fatal. If we step into our calling too soon, we may find that the very thing meant to bless us becomes a burden we cannot bear.

So, if you find yourself waiting, do not fight it. Do not resent it. Understand that God is using this season to forge something in you that cannot be developed any other way.

2. While We Are Waiting, We Can Be Preparing

When Nehemiah’s moment finally came, he was prepared:

"And the king said to me, 'Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.' Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, 'Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?' Then the king said to me, 'What are you requesting?' So I prayed to the God of heaven." (Nehemiah 2:2-4)

Notice that Nehemiah does not hesitate. He does not fumble over his words. The king asks, “What do you want?” and Nehemiah is ready with an answer. Why? Because he had spent his waiting season preparing.

Too often, people mistake waiting for passivity. But waiting on God does not mean doing nothing—it means doing the right things in the right season.

• Nehemiah prayed – He spent four months in intercession, seeking God’s wisdom.

• Nehemiah planned – When the opportunity arose, he already knew what he needed: timber, travel letters, authority.

• Nehemiah positioned himself well – He remained faithful in his role, gaining trust with the king.

Many people are waiting for an opportunity, but if it arrived today, they would be unprepared. They want God to open a door, but they have not prepared for what lies on the other side.

David was anointed as king but spent years tending sheep. Joseph had a dream of leadership but spent years managing a prison before stepping into power. If God has not released you yet, it may be because He is still preparing you.

3. While We Are Waiting, We Can Allow God to Work Behind the Scenes

One of the most striking aspects of Nehemiah’s story is that while he waited, God was working behind the scenes.

"And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), 'How long will you be gone, and when will you return?' So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. And I said to the king, 'If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber…' And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me." (Nehemiah 2:6-8)

Nehemiah received more than permission—he received provision. God had softened the king’s heart before Nehemiah even asked. Historians suggest that this took place during a Persian feast when kings were inclined to show generosity. Some believe it may have even been the king’s birthday, a time when favors were traditionally granted.

In other words, God orchestrated the perfect moment.

Had Nehemiah spoken earlier, he may have been denied. Had he waited longer, the opportunity may have passed. But because he trusted God’s timing, everything aligned as it needed to.

Some of you feel like nothing is happening. But just because you cannot see God moving does not mean He is not working. While you wait, God is aligning the right people, the right opportunities, and the right circumstances.

Trust the Timeline

So, what does it mean to trust God’s timeline?

1. You wait, and in the waiting, you mature. God develops your character so that you can carry the vision without collapsing under it.

2. You wait, and in the waiting, you prepare. You refine your skills, your plan, and your mindset so that when the opportunity arrives, you are ready.

3. You wait, and in the waiting, God moves. He orchestrates events in ways that you could never manufacture on your own.

If you are frustrated in your waiting season, resist the urge to force the process. Trust that His timing is perfect. Nehemiah waited, and when the moment came, he was ready. His preparation met God’s opportunity, and everything shifted.

If you feel stuck right now, stop fighting the timeline. Let God mature you. Let Him prepare you. Let Him work behind the scenes.

Because when the time is right, nothing will be able to stop what He is about to do in your life.

The Church, Scandals, and Righteous Anger

If we haven’t met yet, my name is Darren Stott. I pastor a church called Eden in the greater Seattle area. I want to address something heavy today—not to create more harm, speculation, or stir up pessimism against the church, but to help people navigate ministry scandals honestly, deeply, and righteously. Because if we’re not careful, disillusionment can lead to disengagement, and disengagement from the body of Christ can be dangerous.

Recently, I came across a video of Dana White, the CEO of UFC, addressing one of his fighters, Bryce Mitchell, who had made some ignorant and outright ridiculous comments about Adolf Hitler. Dana White didn’t mince words. He didn’t sugarcoat or excuse it. He simply said, “Yeah, this is my guy. And what he said was stupid.”

Contrast that with what we see in the church when ministers fall into scandal. Where are the pastors, the leaders, standing up and saying, This is one of ours, and what they did was wrong?

Instead, we see defensiveness, silence, and sometimes even enabling. And in that vacuum of accountability, the internet—specifically, independent YouTube creators and podcasters—has stepped in.

The Rise of New Media and the Church's Response

We live in a new media era. The traditional gatekeepers of information—major news networks, denominational structures, and official church statements—no longer control the narrative. Instead, independent content creators, some of whom have never stepped foot inside a seminary, are exposing issues within the church with a level of depth and detail that institutional bodies have either ignored or suppressed.

And while some see this as a negative development—an untrained army of young YouTubers monetizing scandal—the truth is more complex. Many of these people have been deeply wounded by the church. Their anger is not baseless. It is a response to real pain, real betrayal, real hypocrisy. And for those of us within the church, the question isn’t, How do we shut them down? The question is, How do we respond righteously?

The IHOP Scandal and the Pain of Betrayal

The recent investigative report on IHOP (International House of Prayer) and its founder, Mike Bickle, has brought to light a staggering number of allegations—over 200 testimonies of abuse, grooming, and manipulation. If you have a heart, even a fraction of these allegations should break it. If you have any sense of righteousness, it should stir a deep, holy anger.

The church is meant to be a place of refuge, a sanctuary of safety. Yet, when institutions that claim to center on Christ instead become places of secrecy, coercion, and harm, the world takes note. And rightly so.

We saw this with the Catholic Church decades ago. Now, the microscope is on our own charismatic, apostolic, and revivalist circles. And while the enemy seeks to weaponize these exposures to discredit the faith entirely, we cannot allow that to deter us from seeking truth.

Because here’s the reality: Jesus himself got angry. He flipped tables in the temple because the sacred was being exploited. That was righteous anger. And what we see today—the exposure of deep-seated corruption—is something that should stir a similar reaction in us.

Processing the Truth Without Losing Faith

Many people right now are walking through a crisis of faith. Some are turning away from the church entirely. Others are throwing out anything supernatural, prophetic, or charismatic, as though spiritual gifts themselves are the problem rather than the individuals who abused them.

I get it. I’ve been there. I was hurt in the church, and I let my brokenness turn into bitterness. I swore I would never go back. But let me tell you what I learned: Forgiveness is not about feeling ready. It is an act of faith. It is choosing to release judgment, even when you don’t feel like it. And when you do, it breaks the power of bitterness over your life.

So if you’ve been hurt by the church, by a pastor, by a leader—say it out loud: I forgive you. Not because they deserve it, but because you deserve freedom. Say it in faith, and trust that the feelings will follow.

God is Revealing to Heal

There’s a lot of talk right now about “exposure.” But I don’t believe God is merely exposing to shame. I believe He is revealing to heal. The devil accuses to destroy. God reveals to restore. And while some leaders will fall and never return to ministry, others will repent, be refined, and be entrusted again—not because of their power, but because of their humility.

A new breed of leaders is rising. And you will know them not by their charisma, but by their character. Not by their authority, but by the way they steward it. They will be those who walk with a limp—because they have wrestled with God, and they have come out different.

The Lord showed me that these will be leaders who do not build platforms for their own names but create altars for His presence. They will not chase influence, but they will steward intimacy with God. These are not men and women who will be blinded by their own ambition, but those who have been broken in secret places and have learned what it means to be fully dependent on the Lord. They have walked through betrayal, failure, loss, and hardship—not as a badge of honor, but as a refining fire that has burned away pride and left behind only what is pure.

They will not manipulate, coerce, or deceive to gain a following. Instead, their authority will be evident in their integrity. You will know them not because they declare themselves as apostles and prophets, but because their lives bear the weight of true apostolic and prophetic responsibility. Their leadership will be marked by service, their power will be tempered by humility, and their influence will not come from the stage but from the depths of their prayer closets.

These are the ones who walk with a limp, not because they are weak, but because they have contended with God and have surrendered. They do not lean on their own strength but on the One who has carried them through the fire. They are leaders who have been crushed but not destroyed, who have been humbled but not silenced, and who have found their greatest joy in obedience rather than in recognition.

The Church is Not Finished

The enemy would love for us to believe that the church is beyond redemption. That it is not a safe place. That we cannot trust anyone. But let me tell you: The church is not done.

Yes, it is being refined. Yes, there is judgment in the house of God. But don’t let cynicism win. Don’t let bitterness steal what is holy. This is not the time to disengage. It is the time to lean in, to intercede, to be a priesthood that stands in the gap for the broken.

So guard your faith. Don’t throw out Jesus because of Judas. Don’t abandon the gospel because of grifters. Stay engaged. Process righteously. Fight for truth. And above all, walk in love—even when that love is fierce, unyielding, and unwilling to tolerate evil in the house of God.

Grace and peace be unto you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.