God Is Our Refuge And Strength

Our title for the message this week is from verse 1 of Psalm 46 in which  verse 6 says  "The nations raged." This certainly could be a description of the world in which we live and especially about the nations surrounding Israel.

Almost daily we hear of the extremely unstable conditions in Syria which is on the Northern border of Israel. Likewise on the Southern border is a similar unstable scenario in Egypt. Last Thursday, Israel closed an airport at Eilat on the Red Sea reacting to threats of rockets to be fired at the resort town. The next day five militants were killed and a rocket launcher destroyed resulting from what is believed to be an Israeli Drone attack.

Yes, we could say that Syria and Egypt are raging as Psalm 46 predicts. How should we as God's people and especially those living in Israel react to all this? We should turn to God's word in general and to Psalm 46 in particular for peace and comfort. Notice the following words of strength and comfort in Psalm 46: Verse 1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble; Verse 2 Therefore we will not fear; Verse 7 The Lord of hosts is with us, The God of Jacob is our refuge; Verse 10 Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Lord, we pray Your Words of peace and comfort in Psalm 46 and similar words in Your Holy Book will be real to the people of Israel each and every day and they also will remember how you have lifted them out of trouble and difficulty numerous times in the past and will do it now and in the future according to Your Word, AMEN!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank  

Obedience To The Lord God

The Israelis and the Palestinians are once again meeting eye to eye to try and resolve the supposed "land issue" in the Middle East. Similar talks over many years have started and stopped with little or no results. Those of us who love and know The One True God have been encouraged to pray for the participants. So this raises the question of how to pray most effectively?

The true and living Word of God is our best guide regarding how we should pray. It has been said that the Word of God contains the answers to all of life's challenges. Through His Word we learn how God responded to the actions of His people in the past but also to the prayers of His people.

For example, let us look at Abraham who was called "A friend of God" because of his obedience to God. The Lord said to Abram in Genesis 12:1 "Get out of your country. . .to a land I will show you." Abraham obeyed even though he had no idea where God wanted him and his family to go. Also, in Genesis 22 The Lord spoke to Abraham telling him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering on Mt. Moriah. The Abrahamic Covenant was to be continued through Isaac and Jacob and their descendants. Abraham again obeyed God and at the last moment God provided a ram as the sacrifice. God responded in verse 18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Contrarily, in Isaiah 48:17-18 The Lord proclaims to Judah the benefits of obeying Him and possibly even avoiding exile in Babylon "Thus says The Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel; I am The Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go. Oh, that you had heeded my commandants! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea." They disobeyed with resulting consequences.

Obey God or not - this is the real issue concerning the new talks. Will the leaders who serve The One True God seek His counsel and then obey? We can be those who pray on a regular basis bringing about their obedience to their God.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank

Doing What Is Right!

This week we have heard that Israelis and Palestinians have started to meet in order to establish parameters necessary prior to officially restarting the Peace Talks. In reality, the term Peace Talks is inaccurate. The name of the talks, if they happen, should have something to do with how much land does Israel have to surrender? This is always the criteria which is totally contrary to the will of The Lord God, Genesis 15:18. The land was given to Abraham and his descendants!

This battle over the land has been going on for a very long time. Toward the end of World War II, the question arose as to what is to happen to the Jews in Europe who have survived the Holocaust? At about the same time, for the first time officially, the Biltmore Declaration stated "Palestine should be established as a Jewish Commonwealth."

Additionally, President Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Josef Stalin in 1945 participated in the Yalta Conference to discuss land allocations after World War II ended. The Jewish Refugee problem was never discussed. As a result, President Roosevelt met with Saudi Monarch Ibn Saud in Egypt after Yalta. Saud's response to the plight of the Jews was "Arabs and Jews could never cooperate, neither in Palestine or any other country. Arabs would rather die."

Shortly after Yalta President Roosevelt passed away and Harry Truman became President. How would Truman handle the Jewish Refugee problem? Secretary of State Marshall felt the United States should not support the establishment of Israel as a Jewish nation. Truman had to make a difficult decision.

Israel was founded as a nation on May 14, 1948 with Truman's endorsement. What caused Truman's approval? He was raised a Baptist and studied the Old Testament and often quoted from Deuteronomy. In this book of the Bible The Lord God said to Abraham's descendants "Behold I have given up the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land." President Truman based his decision on The Word of God. He did What Was Right according to The Word of God. 

Let us all pray for today's leaders that they also will do what is right regarding the land issue in Israel!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank       

Chosen, Persecuted, A Blessing

Genesis 12:2-3 "I will bless you. . .and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Possibly you find the title for this week's message interesting and curious. At the same time I am sure you know who these above descriptive words are describing - the Jewish people. The above referenced verses of God's Word clearly points out that Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob will be blessed but also will be a blessing to the world. They are "Chosen of God."

However, along with being "Chosen" has come a lifetime of persecution. Their history reveals 400 years of bondage in Egypt; 70 similar years in Babylon; Pogroms in Russia and Spain; the Holocaust; tyrannical powers controlling their land; and currently continual attacks by surrounding enemy countries.

The news reports this week reveal the possibility of Peace Talks starting again. Is this another form of persecution? I believe so! There have been many other peace talks that have taken place over the years with such titles as Madrid, Oslo, Camp David, The Road Map but nothing changes. What is the problem? In 2003, Zola Levitt stated "The answer to peace in Israel is simply for the Palestinians to stop killing Israelis. That is all that is needed. If tomorrow morning there were no Palestinians trying to kill Israelis, Israel would have no need to retaliate or arrest anyone." This is the Truth!

How have the Jewish people responded to being chosen, persecuted, and called to be a blessing? The Jewish people are a blessing beyond proportion relative to how few their people are in number. For example, although only 0.2% of the world's population, between 1901 and 2010 Jews won 27% of Nobel Prizes for Medicine, 25% for Physics and 42% for Economics.

God's Chosen People are an example of through much persecution they have learned to Trust In The Lord. We should pray daily for them as it appears new persecutions could be starting.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank    

A History Lesson

I would think that all those who have an interest in the events of the Middle East would agree their ultimate goal is for peace. United States Secretary of State John Kerry has been working towards establishing new peace talks without success. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is ready to participate immediately but without pre-conditions to the peace talks from the Palestinians.

As a result, there are barriers preventing even talking about peace but even bigger barriers to actually establishing peace. Many Israelis question whether their enemies have moved past their desire to eliminate the Jews and Israel. An Arab produced film currently in production will commemorate the extinction of an entire Jewish community, Khaibar. Chants of "Remember Khaibar" is chanted by Arabs across the Middle East. This does not sound like an attitude of working toward peace.

Also, a history lesson seems very appropriate for those chanting and others like them. Ezekiel 35 is titled "The Judgement of Edom." Approximately 2,500 years ago Edom housed millions of people located just southeast of the Dead Sea. Today, only a few people live there and it is totally desolate. What happened? Ezekiel 35:5,7,9 illustrates the following: "Because you had an ancient hatred and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword. . .thus I will make Mt. Seir {Edom} most desolate . . .I will make you perpetually desolate and your cities shall be uninhabited; then you shall know that I am The Lord." 

The story of the Edomites illustrates the truth and the power of the Word of God! Let us pray continually for God's Will and Purposes according to His Word will control events in the Middle East.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank

Egypt "In That Day"

News headlines during the last week have informed us that the Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt headed by Prime Minister Morsi has been overthrown by the Egyptian Army. A large portion of the citizens of Egypt through a poll taken indicated that 73% believed that the Morsi government was not capable of improving a very weak economy. Additionally, 22 million of these same citizens signed a petition to remove the Morsi government. An interim Prime Minister has been put in place who has promised a democratic election for a new government within six months.

How do these events in Egypt line up prophetically with the Word of God? Isaiah 19:18-25 address the spiritual condition of Egypt "In That Day" which most Bible scholars believe is when Jesus physically comes back to earth. Notice what is happening in Egypt "In That Day" in Isaiah 19:

"In That Day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of Hosts." vs. 18

"In That Day there will be an altar to The Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt." vs. 19

"In That Day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria." vs. 23

"In That Day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land, whom The Lord of Host shall bless." vs. 24 & 25

Could these events this past week in Egypt bring us closer to the return of Jesus to earth when Egypt will be worshipping The Lord our God with Israel and Assyria? Obviously, Israel is observing these events in Egypt very carefully especially in regard to the nomenclature of the next government since they still are observing a peace treaty with Egypt. We who love and support Israel need to pray earnstly concerning all these events.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank  

Celebration

Today is Independence Day when the citizens of the United States celebrate the anniversary of the founding of our nation with fireworks and gatherings of friends and family. Hopefully, some are giving thanks for our founding fathers who with the help of our Heavenly Father birthed this nation on Judeo-Christian values.

However, as we reflect on the current spiritual and moral climate of our country we find a far different picture than of the original founding principles. Abortions are being performed each and every day, fifty percent of marriages fail, our government is deeply in debt and even the Biblical definition of marriage is under attack. We are in great need of a Spiritual Revival!

Our Heavenly Father gives us clear instructions in IIChronicles 7:14 about our part before "He will heal our land." We are to "Humble ourselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways." Additionally, our Lord desires for us to bless Israel and then He will bless us and our nation. Genesis 12:3 says "I will bless those who bless you."

The last significant wave of salvation and faith expansion took place in the United States in the late 1960's and early 1970's. This movement of God was called "The Jesus Movement" and thousands of young adults and hippies became believers in Jesus. No doubt this movement of God was birthed on large numbers of people adhering to IIChronicles 7:14 and on blessing Israel.

I truly believe prayers for Israel were an important part of this movement of God because at the same time Israel was fighting the Six Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Believers and agnostics have testified to the awesome presence of angelic hosts during these conflicts. God's mercy caused Israel's triumphs.

Would we who love our country and Israel recommit ourselves this special day of remembrance to be in a spirit of humility and repentance for our country and pray continually and boldly for a spiritual revival movement of our God for the United States and Israel?

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

Frank