"A Light To The World"

As our Lord God was establishing the Abrahamic Covenant He said to Abram in Genesis 12:2-3 "I will make you a great nation . . . and you shall be a blessing  . . . and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." We all know Abraham and his descendants became that great nation which is modern Israel. Well, did the second part of this prophesy also come to fruition in that Israel is a blessing to the whole world?

ABSOLUTELY YES! When did a promise from our Lord God not come true? Israel is known as a country that goes out of its way to provide aid to disaster victims around the world. They frequently are the first on the scene sending one of the largest and best equipped response teams. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was asked why does Israel always respond in this manner and he responded, "Because we are a light unto the nations. This is the great fulfillment of prophesy, Israel is fulfilling our deepest values."

You might be thinking that applies to Israel and is an old covenant prophesy. Does it also apply to me as a Born Again Christian? ABSOLUTELY YES! Jesus was addressing His disciples and followers in Matthew 5:14, 16 when He said, "You are the light of the world . . . let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." This is the exact same exhortation for Jew and Gentile.

Let us go a step further! Is there a current connection between Jew and Gentile? ABSOLUTELY YES!  Ephesians 2:13-18 is entitled "Reconciliation Of Jews And Gentiles." Verse 14 is the heart of this message and says, "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken the middle wall of division between us." Jesus has broken down the wall of division between Jew and Gentile and has made both one in God's sight and both are called to be a "Light Unto The World." HALLELUJAH! 

What can we learn from this vitally important message? Each day we should look for those God given opportunities to "Be A Light" to a hurting world and even look for opportunities to function together with our Jewish brothers and sisters.

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

Bold Statement

Last week the United States announced it was withdrawing from UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, because of its continual anti-Israel decisions. Heather Nauert speaking for the U.S. State Department said, "With this anti-Israel bias that is long documented on the part of UNESCO, that needs to come to an end."

In 2011, the U.S. stopped funding UNESCO because of a fifteen year old amendment stating the U.S. will stop financing any U.N. agency that accepts the Palestinian Authority as a full member. UNESCO has suffered funding declines since accepting the Palestinian Authority as a member. UNESCO was dependent on the U.S. for 22% of its budget or about 70 million dollars per year.

Last July UNESCO designated Hebron, a very important historic and holy site for the Jewish people, a Palestinian World Heritage Site. Also, in 2015 UNESCO adopted a resolution criticizing Israel for mishandling Heritage Sites in Jerusalem which was a total lie. Additionally, in May 2017, UNESCO passed a series of resolutions that denied Israeli claims to Jerusalem as it celebrated its 69th Independence Day.

Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., has repeatedly criticized the U.N. for what she called its anti-Israel bias. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the U.S. decision and pledged to withdraw Israel from UNESCO as well. He stated, "This is a courageous and ethical decision because UNESCO has become a theater of the absurd and instead of preserving history, it distorts it."

In Jeremiah 31:18-20 Our Lord God says, "Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob's tents . . . I will multiply them . . . And I will punish all who oppress them." Our Lord God is bringing back the Jewish people to Israel from all over the world, He is multiplying them in the process, and He will punish all who oppress them. Can we conclude that UNESCO is currently experiencing this punishment? Bless His Holy Name!

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

Frank  

"Operation Good Neighbor"

We all live in challenging and perilous times. Bible scholars believe we are living in a time when the "Rapture" of the church could happen soon, 2Thessalonians 4:16-17. One of the signs of this period is that good appears as evil and evil appears as good. The Christian church is under constant attack with abortion out of control and the definition of marriage being challenged. 

Israel was founded in 1948 and the next day was attacked by surrounding Arab countries and has had to fight a number of wars in addition to living with constant terror attacks. Equally abusive is the constant verbal attacks by the world-wide media illustrating Israel as more evil than good. In today's message, we are going to tell the truth about Israel covering just one aspect of all the good Israel does throughout the world.

"Operation Good Neighbor" is currently a massive humanitarian aid program for the citizens of Syria conducted by the Israeli Army. Syria has been involved in a Civil War for many years with their dictatorial leader Assad murdering over 200,000 Syrians. Israel is not involved in the war but has been ready to help out in any appropriate way.

"Operation Good Neighbor" was started in August of 2016 with more than 110 aid operations taking place. These aid operations have included distributing 360 tons of food, operating water wells and providing 50 tons of clothes, generators and anesthetics. Insulin was also provided for 100 diabetics and Israel has treated 4,000 Syrians in their hospitals. An Israeli Defense Forces spokesman said, "We cannot stand by watching a severe humanitarian crisis without helping the innocent people stuck in the middle of the conflict."

This Is The Truth About Israel! Let me encourage you to pray Psalm 122:6 each and every day but also speak the truth about Israel as The Lord gives you opportunities to do so. Hallelujah!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank 

The Truth Shall Set You Free

Our title for this week's message is from John 8:32 saying, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The majority of John 8 is an in depth teaching by Jesus in which He is speaking the Truth in that He only speaks the Truth from God and that this Truth will set people free from their sins. This type of Truth from the heart of Jesus is vitally important so that all peoples of the world can understand who He is and how they can receive Him as their Lord and Savior.

Another Truth is changing lives in the Middle East and is also setting people free. The monthly publication from the Bridges For Peace Ministry shared the story of two Arabs who have learned and experienced the Truth about Israel which has set them free from all the mistruths about Israel spoken in the Arab world.

Yahya Mahamid is from the same home town of the terrorists who murdered two Israeli guards at the Temple Mount. He spoke out against this path of violence that his brethren chose and a quarter million Arabs heard his message. Additionally, addressing a world-wide audience he stated, "Israel is the best country for Arab Muslims." He speaks openly that the Jewish people offer him acceptance and friendship proclaiming, "He is a proud Israeli."

Sarah Zoabi is an Arab mother from Nazareth who describes herself as an "Arab, Muslim, Israeli and proud Zionist." This is an extraordinary statement since it is extremely rare that you would see those four nouns grouped together. Sarah explained, "I believe in the right of the Jewish people to have their own country." She also has a message for other Arabs, "I want to say to the Arabs of Israel to wake up. Compared to other countries, we live in paradise."

Yahya and Sarah have learned the Truth about Israel and it has set them free! Please pray for all the Arabs in the Middle East that our Lord God will also set them free. Bless His Holy Name!

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

Frank