Anti-Semitism At Its Worse

I would think that most people have been saddened by the news of the latest Islamic terrorists attacks in Brussels, Belgium on March 22nd. There were bombing attacks at the Brussels Airport and the Maalbeek Metro Station which claimed the lives of 30 people and injured over 300. In the days following this tragedy there has been many signs of support from other countries for the victim's families. 

However, even in the midst of all these signs of support, Anti-Semitism has surfaced. Pro-Palestinian groups have attended gatherings supporting the people of Brussels and upon seeing waving Israeli flags they have either removed or torn apart these flags. In some cases, Israeli flags were burned and anti-Israel slogans chanted. 

These scenes are Anti-Semitism at its worse. The world wide hatred of Israel and the Jewish people even had to surface in a very solemn and tragic time for many people. Equally disturbing is the lack of outrage for this type of behavior by the world media. In one instance, a woman wearing a Palestinian scarf was seen tearing an Israeli flag apart in front of many television cameras. This behavior was not even mentioned at all in the commentaries. Apparently this type of behavior is considered normal by the world media.

Well, how do we who love and support Israel, respond to such reports? We need to pray continually and enthusiastically for our Lord God's Hand Of Protection for Israel and the Jewish people. I have personally formed the habit of praying Psalm 91 each day soliciting God's protection for those I love whether they are family, friends or Israel and its people.

Psalm 91:1-8

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of The Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust." 

Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His feathers,

and under His wings you will find refuge;

 His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,

 nor the arrow that flies by day.

Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand

at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes and 

see the punishment of the wicked.

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

Frank

Do You Know Him?

Holy Week is a very special time of the year when we remember the most important event in all of history, The Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ who is the true Son of The One True God. We pray The Lord will grant you an anointed and blessed Holy Week.

Our message this week raises the question, "Do you really know Him?" Luke 19:28-41 describes the Triumphant Entry Of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey near the Mount of Olives. The crowd along the route waved palm branches chanting, "Blessed is The King, who comes in the name of The Lord!" From all outward appearances, you would think this crowd knew who Jesus was! However, verse 41 says, "Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it." Why did He weep?

The crowd kept chanting what was a traditional greeting recited by pilgrims on their way to the Passover Celebration in Jerusalem. This chanting was the sign of respect for a royal person. They kept chanting "The King, The King" who they believed had come to rescue them from the Roman oppression. Jesus wept because He knew as they were praising Him, in a short time they would reject Him.

John 19:6-7 also illustrates how the people of Jerusalem did not know who Jesus was. As Jesus was on trial, Pilot said in verse 6, "I find no fault in Him." However, the crowd kept chanting, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him." 

They Did Not Know That This Same Jesus Was The Son Of God, 

Their Long Awaited Messiah And The Savior Of The World.

During this very special week, let me ask, "Do you know who Jesus is?" If you do not, please pray with me this most important prayer, "Jesus, I know I am a sinner, please forgive me of my sins, come and live in my heart, become my Savior and grant me Eternal Life with You in Heaven. Thank you Jesus, Amen."

He Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed, Hallelujah!

Frank

  

"Glorify Your Father In Heaven"

Matthew 5:16 says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Jesus was instructing His disciples to bring glory to His Father by letting their light shine to ALL people. Since we who know Jesus as our Savior are considered modern day disciples, this message is also for us. We can do this by doing good works which meet the needs of others. The Apostle Paul also pointed out that our good works do not save us but are clear evidence of our salvation. The Apostle James said, "I will show you my faith by my works." 

"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" Matthew 25:40. The King referred to in this verse is Jesus returning to judge the Gentile Nations. He is not judging based on their beliefs but on their works. Specifically, He is concerned about how the Gentile Nations have treated His nation. I have heard many different interpretations of this verse, however, it is clear, Jesus is talking about judging the Gentile Nations concerning how they have treated "My brethren" - The Jewish People.

In Mark 12:28-31 Jesus was asked, "What is the first commandment of all?" Jesus replied, "The first of all the commandments is 'Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God, The Lord is one. And you shall love The Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Christians are very familiar with this section of scripture but at times misunderstands that your neighbor also includes the Jewish people. Let us love ALL of God's people!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day,

Frank                  

Does God Keep His Promises?

We have raised an interesting question as the title for this week's message. THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING YES! Our Lord God has kept or will keep all the promises of the Old Testament, is answering His promises currently and will fulfill all of His promises of the New Testament. 

A prime example . . . We can read in the Old Testament that there are forty four prophetic scriptures which predict that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world and The Messiah. There is a chart in the New King James Prophesy Bible showing each Old Testament prophetic scripture and its fulfillment in New Testament Scriptures. Yes, our Lord God fulfills all His promises! 

Genesis 12:3 says, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you." Books have been written about various groups or individuals who have been blessed by blessing Israel but also who have suffered consequences for doing the opposite. Following are current examples of those who have not believed that God keeps the promises written in His Word.

Two church denominations are experiencing the consequences of their actions. The Presbyterian Church USA has long been very vocal about their anti-Israel stances. They are predicting they will lose as many as 400 thousand members in the next five years. Their stances towards Israel are not the only factor but appears to be one of them for their lose of membership.

The Methodist Church in the United Kingdom has been involved in boycotting Israeli products and at the same time has experienced a dramatic decrease in membership. This current stance by the Methodist Church is totally contrary to the views of its founder John Wesley who believed that the Jewish people should have its own homeland. They are boycotting Cadbury products whose founder was involved in the establishment of the Nation of Israel.

The question raised in our message today also applies to each one of us. Are we among those who bless Israel, do our families bless Israel, do our churches bless Israel, do our countries bless Israel? Let us pray in unison each day that more and more people world-wide will believe in God's promises especially in those that involve Israel and its people!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

"Thoroughly Equipped"

2 Timothy 2:16,17 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." I am sure all Christians have heard numerous times on Sunday mornings to spend time each day studying God's Word. Why is this important? I believe 2 Timothy 2:16,17 answers this question very effectively. However, for our message this week we want to concentrate on verse 17, "That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Jewish people throughout the world on March 23rd will start the celebration of Purim or the events of the book of Esther. There is much for all of us to learn as we study how Esther and her cousin Mordecai handled an extremely difficult situation and actually saved the Jewish people from destruction.

King Ahasuerus was king of Persia from 486 BC - 464 BC. In 483 BC the king held a banquet in preparation for a military campaign against Greece. At the same time, he also held a contest looking for a new queen and a young Jewish girl named Esther became queen. However, Esther did not reveal she was Jewish at the time.

Esther's cousin Mordecai warned the king of an assassination plot. A key Persian leader named Haman knew that Mordecai was Jewish and demanded that Mordecai bow down to him but he refused. Through bribery and deceit, Haman convinced the king to issue a decree that all the Jews would be killed.

As the story continues, we learn of the boldness and the obedience to the God of Israel by Mordecai and Esther. Mordecai refused to bow down to any other but the true God and then asked Esther to appear before the king and ask him to spare the Jewish people. After FASTING, and at the second of two banquets for the king, Esther pleas for her people before the king and accuses Haman of treachery. As a result, the Jewish people are saved, Haman is hung and Mordecai is elevated to a position of importance in Persia.

The story of Esther and Mordecai is a wonderful example for us. Esther 4:14 raised the question whether she became queen of Persia, "For such a time as this." The book of Esther clearly illustrates that she became queen to save her people but in the process she had to obey the God of Israel.

We live in challenging and perilous times. Christians and Jews all over the world are persecuted every day. I pray each of us are "Thoroughly Equipped" to react in a similar manner as Esther and Mordecai when necessary and appropriate.

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

Frank