Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Bold Questions

Have you ever had intimate moments of prayer with God while in great distress? What do we say during times of crisis - how do we pray? Do we ask questions, complain or become full of doubt and fear? I could confidently say that I fall in the doubt and fear category. As long as I recognize this I am on the road to recovery!


During my reading this past week I found a man who was also in great distress and uncertainty. Not only for himself but his entire nation. He was a godly king and God Himself acknowledged this king of Israel as such. Here is what this king said to God during his time of great trial:


Are you not God in Heaven?


" Do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen? "


" Is there not power and might so that none can withstand You? "


" Are you not our God? "


" Did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Thy people Israel and give it to the seed of Abraham? "


" Did we not build You a sanctuary for your Name sake? "


" If when evil comes upon us as the sword, judgment or pestilence, or famine, and we stand before this house and in Thy presence and cry unto You in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help? "


Where did this man get his confidence and audacity to speak to God in such a manner? When I am in distress I tend to doubt, fear and think that God does not hear my requests or petitions; this king knew God on an entirely different level than I do. One has to be very intimate with another to demand answers as this king did of God!


The king did not go into a room in the palace and pray in this manner; he did so after gathering together the whole house of Judah!


The event is recorded for all of eternity in the Book of II Chronicles Chapter 20. God honored this kings cries. The armies that had gathered in the midst of Israel were soundly defeated and the King did not have to lift a finger! God sent ambushes among the enemy camps and they became so confused that they started fighting among each other until all were destroyed. The army of Israel did as they were instructed by God; " Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD! "


This battle is not yours, but Mine, said God. God honored the prayers of King Jehoshaphat. God was not at all offended by his boldness, his questions or his inquiries into the might of God. I feel very deeply that God honored this man because he was speaking from his heart, he was a godly king who tried to clean up the mess Israel always seemed to find herself in, and the prayers were honored in such a manner that it still blesses Believers and gives us great hope thousands of years later.


By the grace of God and the blood of the Lamb, I want to look up king Jehoshaphat when I get to heaven and give this man a great big West Virginia bear hug! What an example he was of the value of getting so intimate with God that we can enter into His throne room with boldness and confidence that our prayers are heard and the answers are on the way!

In the Book of Isaiah God asks us to present our case; in other words, lets talk and reason together. He desires our friendship, our fellowship, our communion and love. Take time and get to know Him on a deeper level. The rewards are beyond human comprehension.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Cloud And Manna-Eddie Santoro-Israel

The Cloud and the Manna
©June 22, 2010
by Eddie Santoro



God's supernatural leading and supply will help us reach the Promised Land in our lives.

The Torah portions this month have to do with Israel's traveling in the wilderness in the book of Numbers. By any natural measure their situation was impossible but the success of their journey depended not on the natural but on the supernatural.


Before them stood an awesome pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, in which dwelt the very presence of God. As that cloud moved, Israel would follow. It would take forty years, but that presence, filled with infinite love, would lead them to their destination. And that same God who would lead them would also supply all of their needs. Their sandals would not wear out, water would flow from rocks and manna would be supplied from heaven.


Several days ago in prayer the Lord showed me how our situation as New Covenant believers is like Israel so long ago. We too have a “promised land” that we are traveling towards but do not know how to get there. And like Israel, what we possess in the natural falls far short of what is needed in order to achieve the mighty calling that God has given us.


But in Yeshua, we also have a cloud that is leading us. God’s Spirit has not just put a final destination in our hearts but He is faithful to direct us each and every step of the way. And although in the natural we are weak and lacking, His power will supply all our needs.


He has put His very life within us by which we can do all things.

Promises - Promises!

" Remember Thy word unto Thy servant,
upon which Thou hast caused me to hope. "


If I am like most Believers, there are many things I know God has told me, no, promised me in the past. Is it a sin to remind God of His promises? Is it possible that He may have forgotten what He said? May it never be!


Men lie; God does not! While in the waiting period, things are happening to us that we often cannot perceive. God said He led the Children of Israel into the Wilderness to test them; to see what was in their heart. If He is God does He not already know what is in our heart? Yes, He does. But do WE know what is in our heart?


Our feelings have such an effect on our faith that we do not realize how much feeling influence our daily lives. Is it possible to have the exact opposite happen of what we expect to happen, and yet we still do not lose heart, or lose faith? Is it possible to reach the place of comfort and peace of a man like the prophet Habakkuk when he says in his last chapter that even if the fig trees do not blossom, the fields yield no fruit, there is no herd in the stall, STILL I will rejoice in the LORD? Was this man even human?


I feel very few Believers reach the point of this man of God. Our society laughs and scorns such thoughts. We're of the mindset that if our cheese burger and large fries are not ready when we pull to the drive through window to pay for our order, we are ready to sue the company. How can people of such a mindset even begin to comprehend the ways of God?


They cannot! It is impossible! Yet the majority of Believers fall into this category. I pull myself up by the nap of my neck and my bootstraps daily to keep trusting in His promises in His Book to those who believe on Him.


I am going to make a very bold statement - When this thing is all over, I'm very confident I will thank my Father in Heaven that He did NOT answer most of my prayers. If I were not in debt up to my eyeballs as the recent TV commercial says, how could I begin to comprehend a nation on the very edge of bankruptcy with millions of unemployed with no where to turn? Our State of WV this week sent letters to tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of people saying there is no money left to extend unemployment benefits; no further checks will be coming!


If I have not battled with an addition of cigarettes, how can I understand someone who has addictions themselves and wants to be delivered? If I did not have unanswered prayers, how can I look someone in the eye and still say God hears and answers prayers, just hang on; do not lose heart. If every prayer I ever prayed was answered when I thought it should be, if I had tens of thousands of dollars laid aside for a rainy day, if I always felt good and was always in good health, how does that glorify God? Does it take having every prayer answered when we want for God to
"buy" our loyalty? Is that what it is all about? Serve my God and He will give you things like He has given me? What kind of God is that? Does He have to pay those who love Him for their loyalty to Him? If we do not get what we want when we want it we will stop loving Him? To tell you the truth, I would not want someone of that mindset to even think about loving me!



God said in the last days that there would be a people in the midst of the fires that glorify Him! That brings Him glory; not having every whim and prayer answered. He said time and again that He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities; that our walls, no matter what that wall is, are always before Him. He could speak a word and the walls would disappear. Why does He not speak that work immediately when we ask? He could, you know.


I feel there are several reasons. We learn very important lessons, eternal lessons while on God's "waiting list". Even Christ had unanswered prayers. He prayed that if it was the Father's will to let the cup of death, rejection and torment pass from Him. It was not the Father's will. The Prophet Daniel was given visions that made his heart ache to know the meaning of the visions. God told Daniel to seal the book until the time of the end; it was not to be revealed to Daniel. The Apostle Paul sought that his thorn in the flesh be removed; God told Paul that His strength was sufficient. Paul learned that in his weakness, God was made strong. God was glorified through Paul's thorn.


Is He glorified in our thorn, whatever that may be?



Psalm 119:49-54 gives a snap shot of our lot on this earth. " Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction; for Thy word hath quickened me. The proud have had me greatly in derision; yet I have not declined from Thy law. I remember The judgements of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself...."


God remembers His words to us. We are His servants. His word causes us to hope. His word gives great comfort during our affliction. It quickens us; gives us hope and strength and the desire to continue in our walk with Him. The proud do have us in derision yet we do not act as they do. Our humility and dependence upon God and His promises will witness against the proud on the great day of judgement.


Like the Psalmist, we must remember God's judgments of old. God does not change, He remains forever. He will deliver His children and will give us just exactly what we need. Do not be discouraged, be encouraged! He hears every prayer whether spoken aloud to Him or in the groaning of our spirit. He is faithful and true to meet all of our needs.


In His time, we will wake up one day and will be changed into His likeness! A body likened unto His. Eternal and secure to be with Him forever and evermore. That, dear friend, is a promise we did not invent; it is His promise to all who love Him.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Prisoners Of Hope

Often it seems we are fighting a losing battle. We meet resistance on every side. I have been meditating on a verse in Zechariah for most of the week and the depth of the verses have built up my most holy faith.


Zechariah 9 states that by the blood of the covenant God has set the prisoners free from the pit. He instructs the prisoners to turn again to their stronghold. God calls these ones prisoners of hope. Faith is the substance of things we hope for; it is the evidence of things not yet seen, but by faith all things are possible. When those Christ met were uncertain or afraid they ask of Him that He increase and forgive their unbelief. I know that Christ respected their honesty to Him and He honored their request with additional faith as the circumstances required.


God has declared by His covenant with His Son that not one He has given to Christ will be plucked out of His hand! What a marvelous promise! It does not say that our feelings will be taken into consideration; we may feel we have failed, or feel we are falling short, or feel we are unheard, but an unconditional covenant does not go by our feelings. It is an established contract between the Father and His Son that we are His, for eternity!


One morning we will arise and the LORD will be seen over us and His arrows will go forth against the things that we have been fighting and He will defend us. The LORD God will blow His trumpet and go with whirlwinds to the south. The LORD of Hosts will defend us and devour our enemies. The LORD our God shall save us because we are of the flock of His people. A peculiar people that still keep our faith in Him no matter how hopeless things may seem.


We shall be as the stones of a crown lifted up as a banner in honor to Him and for His glory. For, how great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty!


Right now we receive from time to time mercy drops around us. But their is coming a day when we will be inundated with showers of blessing. And, yes, showers of blessing are what we need.


There shall be showers of blessing,
send them upon us oh God!
There will be times of refreshing,
sent from the Father above!

Showers of Blessing,
Showers of Blessing we need,
mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead!


Like Elijah bowed down with his head between his knees, seven time he prayed before he saw a cloud the size of a man's hand during a great drought. The showers that came inundated the entire land and we will see the same if we do not lose heart!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

In The Darkness!

I have been having some difficult days at work. The illnesses here at our home have added to the stress and tension. As everyone else in America and the entire Western World is finding out, a good job with benefits is very difficult to find, or keep, for that matter.


God has blessed me with County employment with some benefits that are rare now a days. The workload is heavy most of the time and the atmosphere is tense, to put it mildly.


But, the Scripture I have memorized over the years and additional passages I come across by the leading of the Spirit, just when I need something to bolster my faith, give strength in times of great trial and distress. This, I feel, is how spiritual muscle is developed. There is really no other way. Who wants to show up at heavens gates in the form of a marsh mellow or a jelly fish! Not me!


When there are trials, tribulations and troubles on every side, we take part in what Jesus experienced while He was here on earth in His human body. The Prophet Isaiah says that Christ was a man acquainted with grief, people deemed Him stricken and smitten of God, a man of sorrows and an acquaintance of grief.


Imagine that! God's Son, His only begotten Son; smitten with grief and a man of sorrows. The Bible says that we hid our faces from Him because of that! Hiding from God?


As Believers mature and earn "our badge" of suffering (sorry for the analogy) we can expect to be set aside, forsaken and downcast during these seasons. Those who have claimed in the past to be our Brother's and Sister's in the LORD will shy away as we go through these valley's. This is not unusual. I have sung the beautiful hymn, "To Be Like Jesus" hundreds of times. How can I expect to begin to take on His character, image and likeness unless I go through what He went through, in some measure?
It is like desiring to be a Green Beret, but never joining basic boot camp! The spiritual mirrors the natural. Things do not work that way in the natural, and they do not work that way in the spiritual.


During trying times, we must muster up, step up to the plate and go to bat, knowing that we are following in the footsteps of the One who says, " Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world..."


So do we, as we stay in, depend totally upon, and seek Him.


The LORD gave me a strong lesson this past week and I would like to share it with you briefly. Late at night after I get home from work I go outside and look up into the night sky. As always, my pitch black retriever goes out with me to see of there are any deer or fox in the yard. When I am ready to go in for the evening, at times, I do not see my dog and I stand on the walk calling him and become upset that he has disappeared, again. After calling several times he nudges my leg and looks at me as if I am crazy. He was standing beside me all of the time!


God reminded me that He is like that when we are in distress and feeling lost. He has PROMISED that He would NEVER LEAVE US or FORSAKE US! It is amazing that God had to use my pet to teach me a spiritual lesson I have trouble believing!

jrp 06.17.2010

AN OVERCOMER?

Nan's Corner: The Kingdom, Power, & Glory Who Are the Overcomers?
by Nancy Missler

King's High Way


The Kingdom Power and Glory - The Overcomer's Handbook



“He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:7)



Before we go further in our series on The Kingdom, Power and Glory, it’s important we again visit the topic of “overcoming,” as we stress this subject so often throughout these articles.


The Greek word “to overcome” is nikao (Strong’s #3528), which means “victory over hostile powers”; to subdue some-thing or to prevail over something. Suffice it to say, an over-comer is a conqueror, a winner or a victor. This victory has as its foundation the victory already won by Jesus Christ. He is the real conqueror, winner and true overcomer! Thus, the only way we can become overcomers ourselves is when we yield everything to Him and allow Him to conquer, subdue and prevail through us!



Overcomers are those faithful and obedient Christians who not only “talk” about doing the will of God, but who actually “do” it. As Matthew 7:21 says, “Not every one that saith unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.’” By doing God’s will, these believers are able to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.


NOTE: Again, we want to make something absolutely clear. When we speak of “overcomers,” we are not talking about those who are “perfect” or “religious” or “good.” We are not talking about a special class of Christians. We’re talking about those believers who simply recognize their choices, confess them, and then choose to turn around and go God’s way! As an example, I received a letter yesterday from an inmate in prison who shared, “This book has made me aware of every negative choice I make. And I now know what to do to get back right with God.”


Because this precious man is now recognizing his negative choices, repenting of them and choosing to turn around and do what God wants, he is an overcomer. And, if he as a prisoner can become an overcomer, then any of us can!


Remember David in the Old Testament? He too was an overcomer, and yet remember all the ways he blew it! The New Testament, however, calls him, “a man after God’s own heart.” Why? Because David knew how to confess his sin, how to turn around from following it and then how to go God’s way. This is the kind of “overcomer” we are talking about in these articles.


So, overcomers are not “perfect,” nor are they believers who “have it all together.” An overcomer is just a regular guy—but someone who has learned to choose God’s way. In our opinion, these “down to earth” believers are often more faithful over-comers than the most popular Christian TV personalities, writers and speakers. God knows our hearts and He knows which is which. Bottom line is: God is the real overcomer. And, we become overcomers only by repenting of our ways and choosing His.


Why Is Being an Overcomer So Important?


Okay, why make such a big deal about being an overcomer?


Because the Bible teaches we must learn to be overcomers in order to inherit the Millennial Kingdom and possibly rule and reign with Christ. Again, all Christians will enter the Millennial Kingdom, be “with Christ” and have eternal life. (John 14:3; John 3:16) But only the “faithful overcomers”—the ones who have fulfilled the “conditions” set down by God in His Word—will inherit and possibly rule in that kingdom.


Some of those conditions are Romans 8:17 and 2 Timothy 2:12, which both say, if we don’t suffer with Him, we will not be joint-heirs and reign with Him. (“Suffering” in this context simply is the result of “denying ourselves” and choosing to follow Him. When we bar ourselves from following what we want, feel and desire, it hurts and we do suffer.) Another condition is given in Matthew 24:45-47 which says, if we are not faithful, He will not make us rulers over all His goods. And, finally, there’s James 2:5 which tells us that if we don’t love Him, we won’t be heirs of the kingdom. (Be sure to see many other Scriptures that validate this in the endnote.1)



Consequently, there’s a difference between simply entering the Millennial Kingdom and being a “subject” there (which all believers will do) and actually inheriting that kingdom and being a “sovereign” there (which only the faithful overcomers will do). All born-again believers will enter, but only the over-coming Christians will rule and reign. The deciding factor is “how” we live our lives here and now. This life is the training ground. And this is why learning to become an overcomer is so very important.


The Message of Overcoming


The Bible teaches us that all Christians are called to be overcomers. But, the reality is that not all Christians choose to be. The question is why not?


The answer is twofold: It’s not so much that the Body of Christ doesn’t want to be overcomers. They do! It’s just that 1) many don’t want to give up their fleshly ways to follow Christ wholeheartedly; and 2) many of us have not been taught “how” to become an overcomer.


In the first part of the 19th century, the theology that we all must become an overcomer in order to reign in the Millennial Kingdom was taught, treasured and applied. Now, a hundred years later, this message has been so watered down that it has been replaced with a more liberal approach—that all believers will rule and reign with Christ. As a result, much “leaven” has been allowed to creep into the church and topics such as “over-coming,” “inheriting” and “ruling and reigning in the Kingdom of Heaven” have been neglected. These subjects have been avoided because:

1) they are very controversial;

2) they are divisive and can be fearful; and,

3) they don’t fill the pews like “messages of grace” do.


As a result, these truths have become a foreign subject to a many, causing us to miss out on one of the most central messages of the entire Gospel.


Scripture exhorts every believer to become an overcomer so we might have positions of authority in the coming kingdom. In Revelation 3:21 for example, Jesus says, “To him that overcometh will I grant to set with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” What a glorious promise.


The Bema Seat Judgment at the end of this dispensation will reveal man’s response to this call. Some Christians will be shown to have overcome the world, the flesh and the devil and to have produced wonderful works of righteousness by the Holy Spirit. Others, however, will show that the world, the flesh and the devil overcame them. And, consequently, no “fruit” was produced.

To Overcome Means...

As we said, the inherent thought in the word “overcome” is to be a conqueror or victorious in a contest or conflict. Over-comers are those conquerors and those winners who have successfully run the race of faith and conquered the numerous obstacles encountered along the way. Overcomers are believers for whom special rewards are offered. (But again, these believers are not perfect, religious or good, they are just ordinary Christians who have made continuing “faith choices,” regardless of how they feel.)


Remember, we can only be “overcomers” because Christ lives in us. He is the true overcomer! (Romans 8:37) But, He can only overcome through us when we “choose” to surrender our “flesh” (go to the Cross) and then let His Life come forth. Un-fortunately, there is no middle road. We will either let Him overcome the world, the flesh and the devil through us (by be-ing “filled with the Spirit”), or we will be overcome by the same (because we have “quenched the Spirit”). There’s no such thing as being “half-filled”!


Promises to the Overcomers


Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation speak extensively about overcomers. It is to these overcomers that the “blessings” of the future kingdom are assured. Read some of the incredible promises God makes to these overcomers:


They will be clothed in white (Revelation 3:5a).

They will be “pillars” in the Lord’s temple (Revelation 3:12a).

They will be granted power over the nations (Revelation 2:26).

They will enjoy the tree of life (Revelation 2:7).

They will not be subject to spiritual death (Revelation 2:11).

Their names will be acknowledged by Christ (Revelation 3:5b).

They will be fed out of the hidden manna (Revelation 2:17a).

They will have a white stone with their name on it (Revelation 2:17b).

Christ will write His own Name upon them (Revelation 3:12b).

They will sit with Christ on His Throne (Revelation 3:21).

All of the above promises are Millennial in scope. These blessings clearly reveal that overcomers not only will enter the kingdom, but they also will have positions of significance there.


“He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” (Revelation 21:7)

Love For Us!

David Wilkerson Today THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010


THE UNRELENTING LOVE OF GOD


I want to talk with you about the word unrelenting. It means undiminished in intensity or effort—unyielding, uncompromising, incapable of being changed or persuaded by arguments. To be unrelenting is to stick to a determined course.


What a marvelous description of the love of God. Our Lord's love is absolutely unrelenting. Nothing can hinder or diminish his loving pursuit of both sinners and saints. David, the Psalmist, expressed it this way: "Thou has beset me behind and before…. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there" (Psalm 139:5, 7–8).David is speaking of the great highs and lows we face in life. He's saying,"There are times when I'm so blessed, I feel lifted with joy. At other times, I feel like I'm living in hell, condemned and unworthy. But no matter where I am,Lord—no matter how blessed I feel, or how low my condition is—you're there.


I can't get away from your unrelenting love. And I can't chase it away. Younever accept my arguments about how unworthy I am. Even when I'm disobedient—sinning against your truth, taking your grace for granted—you never stop loving me. Your love for me is relentless!"We need to consider the testimony of the apostle Paul.


As we read of Paul's life, we see a man bent on destroying God's church. Paul was like a madman in his hatred for Christians. He breathed out threats of slaughter against everyone who followed Jesus. He sought the high priest's authorization to hunt down believers so he could charge into their homes and drag them off to prison. After he was converted, Paul testified that even during those hate-filled years—while he was full of prejudice, blindly slaughtering Christ's disciples—God loved him.


The apostle wrote, "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He said, in essence, "Even though I wasn't conscious of it, God was pursuing me. He kept coming after me in love, until that day when he literally knocked me off my high horse. That was the unrelenting love of God." Through the years, Paul became increasingly convinced that God would love him fervently to the end, through all his highs and lows. He stated, "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38–39).


He was declaring, "Now that I'm God's, nothing can separate me from his love. No devil, no demon, no principality, no man, no angel—nothing can stop God from loving me."

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Prayer Request

The child living with us is in the intensive care unit at city hospital here in Martinsburg, WV. Her DKH level is extreme, she may have strep throat and a mild sun burn.

The youth group at the church we attend had a car wash yesterday and that may explain the sunburn situation. The DKH level, a sugar diabetes issue, is unexplainable. Keep Janie Lynn in your prayers. She has been hospitalized five times since June of last year.

My wife Jane is having ear surgery tomorrow morning around 10 am at the same hospital. Jane has a hole in her ear drum and infection. Pray they can repair the hole in her ear drum and that the infection will clear up. She has been on antibiotics for two weeks.


This situation, in context with my blog entry last evening, God does fight for us! He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He has carved us into the palm of His hands. Those whom the Father has given to His Son will never be snatched out of His hand. It says nothing of how we may feel at any given moment; it says He is there!

We go through battles and times when we feel God is a million miles away; He is never gone! He is right here beside us in our trials, tribulations, doubts and fears.
When we go through these things and when it rains it pours, do not lose heart. He is a very present help in times of trouble.

Thank you for your prayers! We cherish them.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

God Fights!!

While reading this morning while having my first cup of coffee I stumbled on a verse that made me consider in a different way the battle's God fights on our behalf. Yes, God fights!


Briefly, remember in the Book of Daniel and Angel was dispatched from the Throne on Daniel's behalf with an answer to Daniel's prayers and he was delayed for 21 days while in battle with the Prince of Persia; apparently a demonic Angelic Being. There are many things going on in the spiritual realm that I do not understand. But never forget, God is in control. With a word He created everything that has ever been created or will ever be created. With a word He can destroy everything if He so desires. Our job is to believe what He has said, no matter how things may look at a given time. Our situation is only a snapshot in eternity.


In Psalm 78 : 54 God says, " He (God) brought them (the Children of Israel) to His holy land, To this hill country which His right hand had gained..." Why would God have to fight or use His right hand to gain anything? The earth is the LORD'S and the fullness thereof, I thought. It is God's, all of it, but as the Apostle Paul exhorts us by reminding us that our battles are not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness and wickedness in high (spiritual?) places.


Just what did the first Adam surrender as a result of his disobedience and subsequent fall from Eden and God? We will not have a clear picture of this event until we ourselves enter eternity. But, it is an awesome thought that God's right hand had to gain anything!


There are volumes that we humans do not know. How can the blood of Christ cleanse us from all sin; not just some sin, but all? We must take this by faith; it is an unshakable tenet of our salvation. We must never lose heart no matter how many times we fall, stumble or doubt. Christ said that those the Father has given Him are His, and no one, no being, nothing in this universe will take anything out of His hand! Never forget that; no matter how rough it may get.


For the Children of Egypt, He turned the rivers into blood, they could not drink from their streams, He sent swarms of flies which devoured them and frogs which destroyed them. He gave their crops over to the grasshopper and the product of their labor to the locust. He also destroyed the Egyptians vines with hailstones and their sycamore trees with frost.


He gave over their cattle also to the hailstones, and their herds to bolts of lightning. He sent upon them His burning anger, fury and indignation and trouble; a band of destroying angels were the Egyptians visitors! He leveled a path in His anger and did not spare their soul from death, but gave them over to the plague and even smote all the first-born of Egypt.


But His people? He led them like a flock! He guided them in the Wilderness and led them safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea engulfed their enemies!


Yes, God does fight!


To all who believe in Him, He promises that He is with us always; even to the end of the world. God is not a man that He should lie, or the son of a man that He should deceive us. His promises, hopes, battles on our behalf, and compassion's are renewed with each and every sunrise.


Truly, Great is the LORD! And greatly to be praised!


Have a wonderful Sabbath thinking upon Him.

jrpeacher
angelatjabbok@aol.com

Friday, June 11, 2010

Reverse Responsibility - Asher Instrater

Jewish Roots: Reverse Responsibility
©June 9, 2010 Asher Intrater


We Messianics have given thousands of teachings on Jewish roots, particularly from Romans 11. In that chapter Saul (Paul) is addressing a group of Italian Christians about the importance of their covenantal and spiritual connection with the Jewish people. Amen.



Recently I was meditating on the reverse implications of this passage; what would it mean if Saul were to address us. As he challenges the international Church to be connected to Israel through the Messianic remnant, the responsibility then falls on the Messianic remnant to be connected to the Church.


Romans 11:18 – You do not support the root, but the root supports you.


Often we have taught Romans 11 in a manipulative way in order to garner prayer support, financial support, and volunteer support from churches. But we are called to be supportive of them. This will demand a massive change of paradigm for the Messianic community. Let us garner our faith to support the international community of faith in prayer, in giving, and in encouragement.


Romans 11:17 – You were grafted in among them and became partakers of the root and fatness of the olive tree.


According to this verse, we Messianic Jews should be supplying spiritual life, vision, faith, love, revelation, covenant, prophecy, and kingdom truths to the greater body of believers around the world. We must have an attitude of giving, not taking. We must be filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit in order to be a source to others. We should be supplying spiritual life, not being parasites.


Romans 11:16 – If the root is holy, so are the branches.


The Messianic Jewish movement is called to be a source of holiness, purity, integrity, faithfulness, dedication, humility, and honesty to the international Church. Instead we have too often just given excuses for being carnal; we have let our traditions cover up for a lack of holiness. Let us take up our mantle to restore moral values and purity of motives to the greater community of faith, instead of peddling the ministry. Let us become a sanctifying influence to the Church.


Our very calling from the beginning of Abraham's covenant with God was to be a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:3). We want to bless not only from the Aaronic benediction from Numbers 6, but also the High Priestly prayer of Yeshua in John 17. The great commission of world evangelism was the motivation of the first century Messianic community. That should be our goal as well today, not only doing it ourselves, but motivating believers every where to do the same.



Being the chosen people has responsibilities toward the nations and the international church, not just privileges to be taken from them. Let us be the blessing God intended us to be.


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Why the Blockade?

There is only ONE reason for Israel's blockade of Gaza. It is to stop weapons smuggling into the hands of Hamas.

The claim to break the blockade for humanitarian aid is illogical. Aid and supplies both from this shipment and from trucks which bring in tons of supplies daily into Gaza are openly allowed by the Israeli government.

There is only ONE reason for the current flotilla to "free Gaza." It is to break the blockade in order to allow for weapons to be smuggled in.

It is worth recalling that Hamas is in a permanent state of war against Israel, calling for her total destruction. Since Hamas is the elected governing body of Gaza, Israel has no choice but to stop weapons shipment into Gaza until a peace agreement or security arrangement is established.

It is further absurd to call a movement "Free Gaza" when Israel pulled all Jewish settlers and settlements out of Gaza in 2005.

The flotilla confrontation last week was not an attack by Israel; quite the contrary. It was a planned invasion by the Turkish government, Jihad organizations, and leftist extremists.

It is a miracle that the young Israeli soldiers (boys in their late teens and early twenties, who landed on the boat with paintball guns!) were not murdered by the lynch attempt upon them.

Some Flotilla Web Responses and Resources:

The StandWithUs organization has set up a web site compiling relevant facts and media resources concerning the recent incident. I particularly suggest the y-tube recording of Netanyahu's response. Click at: www.flotillafacts.com

Here is a funny yet sarcastic musical parody of the cooperation between the leftist activists and the Islamic Jihadists who were aboard the flotilla ships. It is short (4:57) yet insightful. It's called "We Con the People" from Latma TV. (Click on English subtitles). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ66qEl-fqo&feature=channel


Here is an interview from the Jerusalem Post with the squad leader of the Israeli Navy team that boarded the ship and was involved in the lynch attempt and shooting. It is a first hand report and worth reading. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177445

Here is a video of Hillel Neuyer's insightful presentation at the U.N. Human Rights committee (4:57). Watch the amazing reaction of the chairman of the committee at the end of the presentation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obUhOcTSD1I

Here is an article from veteran Washington Post commentator Charles Krauthammer concerning the legality of the blockade and the purpose behind trying to destroy it. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060304287.html


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