Matthew 24:6-8 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must occur; but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
With everything happening in Israel, I’m often asked what I think will happen with the latest political situation in the holy land. Right now, we're getting ready to have the 5th election in the past 4 years. And, it may very well turn out to be another stalemate, as there appears to be no way to form a coalition according to the latest polls.
But the situation in Israel is typical of what’s happening all across the world. Within many nations around the world – Great Britain, France, China, India, Iran, Chile, Bolivia, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and even the United States, internal crises are either brewing or have already exploded into varying degrees of violence, armed conflict and/or civil war.
In the Olivet discourse recorded in Matthew 24, Yeshua prophesied that "... nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." The word "nation" in Greek is the word "ethnos", from which we get the English word "ethnic". All of this polarization and ethnic warfare which the media feed upon and incite is the work of the enemy as he stirs up the sinful nature of men.
Israeli politics are as vulnerable to this as any other nation since we are not yet under the loving and just authority of our true King. Yet, of course, we do need a government; but just maybe, the Lord is speaking to our nation through this political impasse; maybe He wants to remind us that, on our own, we are hopelessly doomed to conflicts and strife, and that we need to look to Heaven for His prophesied reign.
So, of course, we pray for the Lord's will in our political situation; but as we remember who we are, sons and daughters of the Most High from every tribe, nation and tongue we must resolve NOT to participate in the spirit of division, conflict, strife, violence, and hatred that is proliferating across the globe.
Our mandate as a kingdom of priests is to pray and let the world be blown away by our love. Crisis is everywhere, but the Chinese character for this word "crisis" also means "opportunity". Our opportunity in all this crisis is to stand out, stand apart and demonstrate faith, hope, and love which the Holy Spirit gives us through Yeshua. Amen?
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady who took him to the remains of a once beautiful old tree in front of her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Federal artillery fire. She looked to Lee for a word condemning the North or at least sympathizing with her loss. After a brief silence, Lee said, "Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it."
The Book of Daniel prophesied in this passage, that the Messiah will come and be cut off, and then the city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary (the temple) will be destroyed. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army led by Titus in 70 AD.
The Greek word 'aphesis' means forgiveness. But in this particular verse it’s translated as both deliverance and liberty. Isn’t it interesting that deliverance and liberty are directly tied together with forgiveness?
Joshua son of Nun had been commissioned by Moses to bring Israel into the Promised Land. He was a leader and a general. Having spied out the land and returned with the other 11 spies, he was fully aware of the impending battle and the ferocity of the enemy.There were giants in the land. Having miraculously crossed over the Jordan with all the people and 40,000 armed soldiers, Joshua sensed deeply his responsibility to protect and lead Israel to victory and the inheritance God had promised them.
One of the greatest moves of God took place in 1727 on the estate of Count Zinzendorf. Count Zinzendorf was a strong believer who was deeply influenced by the faith of his grandmother and aunt. At the tender age of 22, he opened a portion of his estate to refugees seeking asylum from the religious persecution throughout Europe.
We came across this story, about a man who was slowly losing his memory. After a lengthy examination, the doctor said that a risky operation on his brain might reverse his condition and restore his memory. However, the surgery would be so delicate that a nerve could be severed, causing total blindness.
What an amazing thought that a holy and infinite God dwells within our bodies when we come to faith! This awesome God so desires to inhabit our very beings ... wow!
Now imagine how that God is constructing this magnificent temple of living stones, believers around the world, and fitting us together into a masterpiece; stones of every color, every size, and differing weight, and fitting them TIGHTLY and perfectly together for His glory!