Bibi, Bold And Truthful

Last Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly. His message this year was similar to other years as he clearly pointed out the UN's excessive bias against Israel. For example, the UN passed 20 resolutions against Israel last year and only 3 against all the other nations combined.

However, this year Netanyahu shocked the audience by starting his message with the following bold statement, "Israel has a bright future at the UN." I believe he had everyone's attention! He continued, "Everything will change and a lot sooner than you think. The change will happen in this hall, because back home governments are changing their attitudes toward Israel."

More and more nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America are now seeing Israel as a partner in fighting terrorism and a partner in developing technology. Today, Israel has diplomatic relations with 160 countries. Many seek to benefit from Israel's creativity in agriculture, health and intelligence. Israel leads the world in recycling waste water. They recycle 90% of their waste water while the next nearest country only recycles 20%.

Probably the most surprising development is Israel's new relationship with other Arab countries. Peace treaties continue with Egypt and Jordan. Additionally, other Arab states are recognizing Israel is not their enemy, but their ally. Their common enemies are Iran and ISIS. As a result, their common goals are to become secure, peaceful and prosperous. 

Netanyahu had the opportunity to visit four African countries and while at the UN met with leaders from 17 additional African countries. He discussed ways Israel's technology could transform their countries.

The Israeli Prime Minister closed his address by saying, "I believe the day is not far off when Israel will be able to rely on many countries to stand with them at the UN. Slowly but surly, the days when UN Ambassadors condemn Israel are coming to an end." Yes, Bibi spoke with boldness and truthfulness!

Our message each week is read in many countries throughout the world. Recently, we have noticed a dramatic increase in the readership of France. We are very interested in why and how this is happening. Followers of this blog who are in France please email us at fgruber.prayerfocus@hotmail.com if you would like to comment.

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

Frank  

Honorable Men

Mohammed Dajani, a Palestinian professor stated recently that, "Palestinians must seek normalization with Israel in order to achieve independence." His purpose in making this bold proclamation was to promote mutual understanding between Israel and the Palestinians leading to a peaceful relationship. 

Well, how was the professor treated by his fellow Palestinians after this proposal? Not very well! He was targeted by the Palestinian Anti-Normalization Movement as a "Traitor" and his car was set on fire.

In an interview with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Dajani said, "The Palestinian cause must be won inside of Israel and that normalization is an essential step in the process to end the conflict. By ostracizing Israel, Palestinians threaten to eliminate the Israeli people from the cause of peace making peace improbable, if not impossible. Anti-normalization also violates the terms of the Oslo Accords which called for the end of incitement."  

Dajani was not alone in this type of treatment. Khared Abu Toameh who also promotes dialog between Palestinians and Israelis was ostracized in his community for his efforts. He said, "We need to sit together and understand each other." 

There is one who is willing to "Sit Together" with the Palestinians - Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. He has said numerous times he is willing and ready to meet with the Palestinian leaders. However, they are not willing. They have not even recognized Israel as a valid nation.

We praise our Lord God for these two bold and honorable men and pray there will be many more living in the contested Middle East who will speak the truth. Nothing Is Impossible For Our Lord God - Continue Praying!

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

Frank

Keep On Keeping On!

The title for our message this week is unique and interesting. It means to keep on doing what you are doing because it is important in the furthering of the Kingdom of God here on earth. 

David Jeremiah, author and Pastor of Shadow Mountain Church in San Diego, California, recently shared that while he was in Israel an elderly Jewish woman approached him and said, "Thank you for your friendship and support of Israel because Christians are the only friends we have." 

How important is our friendship with Israel? Witness the following three reports. Within the last week, Hamas and Iran met in Beirut, Lebanon. These two regimes have publicly and repeatedly promoted the destruction of Israel. When the meeting concluded, the two parties had agreed to work together in uniting the Muslim World to face the Zionist danger.

Last Monday night a rocket was launched from Syria into the Israeli Golan Heights. No injuries were reported, however, the Israeli Air Force retaliated against the Syrian Army. This event was the third Syrian rocket which has currently landed in the Golan Heights. Syria also reported that it shot down an Israeli jet but this has been denied by Israel.

Another report from Israel states they are bracing for an ISIS terror attack along their Southern border with Egypt. ISIS located in the Sinai Desert has been stealing armored vehicles and anti-tank missiles from Egypt. They have also gathered a supply of Russian made missiles.

We need to "Keep On Keeping On" being the only friends of Israel but they have another friend and the most important friend - Our Lord God! Psalm 125:1-2 says, "Those who trust in The Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so The Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever more." Zechariah 14:2-3 also says, "For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the woman ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle."

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Each Day,

Frank  

A God Of Righteousness And Justice

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of The Lord will accomplice this." Isaiah 9:6-7.

The above well known message from our Lord God predicted the birth of Jesus Christ and how He will rule and reign on David's throne in Jerusalem upon His return to earth. There are many facets to the reign of Jesus on earth but for our message this week we will concentrate on His ruling in righteousness and justice. They are both desperately needed in the world today especially in the Middle East.

One of the many descriptions of Jesus is "The Lord our Righteousness." The Book of Psalms reveals to us that none are righteous only our Lord God. However, Romans 5:19 calls us to be partakers of His Righteousness. Abraham became an heir of righteousness by his faith.

Psalm 45 says our Lord God loves righteousness and hates wickedness. The day is coming soon when The Lord our righteousness will be released from Heaven and take up the throne of King David in Jerusalem. Because of our faith in Him, we will become people of His righteousness. 

"He has shown you, O man, what is good and what does The Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8. There is much injustice today between the Jews and the Arabs in the Middle East. Ezekiel 47:22 says that the Jewish people should treat those that live among them as their own flesh and blood. This is God's way of justice. We hear on a regular basis numerous reports of them doing this but not always perfectly.

In Amos 5:23-24 our Lord God says, "Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream."

I pray for all of us that we will function in righteousness by our faith and in justice in our daily lives and pray all in Israel will do likewise.

May The Lord Bless You Today And Each Day,

Frank 

  

Only One True God?

Recently, Pope Francis argued that all religions worship God whether a person calls Him God, Buddha, Jesus Christ or Allah. He further stated, "In this crowd, in this range of religions, there is only one certainty that we have for all, we are all children of God."

Pope Francis was correct in that we are all children of God. However, we are children of the One And Only True God! After this One True God rescued the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt, He brought them to the base of Mt. Sinai. He summoned Moses to come up on the mountain and He welcomed Moses by saying about the Israelites, "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." Exodus 19:5-6. 

Then the One True God explained to Moses how the children of Israel were to obey Him. Exodus 20:1-4 says, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." There is no question about who is the One True God! He shall be obeyed and worshiped over any man-made false gods.!

The children of Israel obeyed the One True God but not wholeheartedly. As a result, the One True God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on the cross to save all man-kind and to forgive them of their sins. Hebrews 8:8 says, "Behold, the days are coming, says The Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah."

All man-kind lives under the New Covenant through the shed blood of Jesus Christ - True Son Of The One True God! Romans 10:9 says, "That if you confess with your mouth The Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." I trust you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, if not, today ask Him to come into your heart, to be your Lord and Savior also asking Him to forgive you of all your sins. 

Praise The Lord!

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

Frank