Call A Time Of Prayer

The conflict in Gaza is now in the third week with Cease Fire talks taking place in Egypt. However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared this week the goal of Israeli Defense Forces is to destroy all tunnels in Gaza and those leading into Israel. Hamas keeps demanding for the "shipping blockade" imposed by Israel in the waters fronting Gaza be lifted. So it does not appear an end to the conflict is near.

Joel Rosenberg, Messianic author and journalist, wrote recently that Netanyahu needs to call for a time of prayer and fasting in Israel. He referenced 2Chronicles Chapters 6 and 20 when Kings prayed with the people of Israel and Judah.

King Solomon shortly after the construction of the new temple was completed "Stood before the altar of The Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands and said 'Lord God of Israel there is no God in Heaven or on earth like you, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.'" 2Chronicles 6:12,14. Solomon went on to pray "When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward the temple which I have built for Your name, then hear from Heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause." 2Chronicles 6:34,35.

"It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites came to battle against Jehoshaphat. So Judah gathered together to ask help from The Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek The Lord. Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before The Lord." 2Chronicles 20:1,4,13. Then The Spirit of The Lord came and said "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat! Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Now when they began to sing and to praise, The Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated." 2Chronicles 6:15,17,22.

Let us pray the leaders of Israel take the advice offered by Joel Rosenberg and call for a time of prayer and fasting and then observe how their Mighty God responds.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Each Day,

Frank

Whose Fault Is It?

We are now in the second week of this conflict between Hamas in Gaza and Israel with no end in sight. Hundreds of rockets from Hamas have been fired into Southern Israel but also toward Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israeli Defense Forces have responded by targeting Hamas leader's homes and rocket launch sites. All of this raises the following question - whose fault is it?

We need to go back a number of weeks looking at an incident when three Jewish teenagers hiking in Judea/Samaria were mudered by Hamas terrorists. Unfortunately, an Israeli Jew responded by killing a Palestinian youth. Hamas used this incident to dramatically increase the number and distance of rockets fired into Israel. As a result, we could say both sides are at fault. However, the conflict was dramatically escalated by Hamas.

I feel it is also important to examine the motives and techniques of warfare used by both sides. The motive of Hamas is and has always been to destroy Israel. Israel's motive in this conflict is simply to defend and protect its citizens.

The warfare techniques of Hamas are to shoot rockets into Israeli cities and towns with the goal of killing as many civilians as possible and to tunnel into Israeli towns to conduct terror raids. In contrast, Israeli Defense Forces prior to bombing a location to destroy Hamas operatives notify the citizens at that location to leave the area before the attack. Hamas responds by telling these same citizens to remain using its own citizens as hostages. An Israeli Air Force pilot noticed the citizens had not left and flew away without completing his bombing mission.

A heartwarming report out of Israel showed Messianic Jewish citizens praying together with Palestinian Christians. Hallelujah! We need to do likewise! Hebrews 4:16 says "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." In these days and times in which we live, we need to be BOLD in our prayer times of holding up Israel continually before The Lord especially for His hand of protection. Israeli leaders acknowledge their best friends are Christians praying and supporting them.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Each Day,

Frank   

Trust In The Lord

John Bolton, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, mentioned this week that he believes the Middle East is in the most turmoil since the 1967 War. Recently, we have been reporting about this new terror organization known as ISIS and we have learned that they have set goals for the next five years as follows: Remove the United States from Iraq, Get control of Iraq, Establish a Caliphate, Destroy Israel. Looking at these four goals, it appears three out of the four are almost accomplished.

News headlines of the last few days have unfortunatly illustrated a very serious and dangerous scenario in Israel. Since the beginning of July, Hamas in Gaza has launched over 200 rockets into Israel. Tuesday of this week more than 100 rockets were fired into Southern Israel but also some were sent over Israel's three most populated cities - Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa. Rockets over these cities are hard to accept and comprehend since I understand this is a first time event.

The Israeli Air Force has responded with numerous air attacks over Gaza targeting especially the homes of rocket launch sites and Hamas leaders. Notice many of the rocket launch sites are right in the center of civilian areas. Additionally, Israel has called up thousands of Reserve Troops and have gathered them on the border of Gaza for a possible ground assault.

A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT - In Joshua 1:5 The Lord spoke to Joshua saying "No man shall be able to stand before you. . .I will not leave you nor forsake you." Also, in Joshua 11:23 it says "So Joshua took the whole land." Joshua believed God and conquered the land. In Psalm 37:1-4 our Lord tells us not to be "envious" of the ungodly for their time is short. The Lord wants all of us to trust Him with all of life's circumstances. When David found tough times, he remembered the victories God gave him. In conclusion, The Lord desires we "Delight ourselves in Him" by praising Him even in our darkest hours.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

Ominous Signs

We have shared numerous times that Israel is surrounded by enemies who desire to destroy them. Almost every day the Israeli Defense Forces have to strike Hamas rocket launch sites in response to rockets launched into Southern Israel. This week there were reports of rockets launched into a day camp and students taking final exams heard rockets landing outside.

The new so-called unity Palestinian government including Hamas has illustrated that nothing has changed. Within the last few weeks, Hamas kidnapped three Israeli teenagers and this week we learned they have been found dead and there is no remorse from this new Palestinian government.

However, in today's message we want to concentrate on a new ominous threat to Israel and much of the Middle East. In Iraq, to the north east of Israel, a new Al-Qaeda inspired group called ISIS (Islamic State In Iraq and Syria) has been very active in conquering a number of northern cities in Iraq and approximately half of Syria. Ultimate plans for this new group include conquering Jordan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia with the ultimate goal of destroying Israel. Newest reports this week include their desire to conquer parts of northern Africa and eastern parts of Europe.

Curiously, all of this raises a very appropriate question. Do these events draw us closer to the last great battle called Armageddon? Revelation 16:12-16 refer to the Kings Of The East gathering at the River Euphrates, which is dried up, for the Battle of that Great Day of God Almighty. These Kings and their armies invade Israel and are ultimately defeated by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Revelation 19:18-21.

In these perilous times and in the times to come, please pray with me for all of God's people in the following manner: Dear Heavenly Father, You are the Name above all names, the Lord of heaven and earth, King of all kings, El  Elyon - Most High God, Captain of the Lord's Hosts. You Are The Commander of all commanders, the Commander of the armies of heaven who has no equal who cannot lose, and You are on our side. All power is Yours, Sovereign God our Father. Our weapons through God are mighty to pull down enemy strongholds. We yield all of ourselves to all of God. We pray this in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ.

Shalom,

Frank