A Thanksgiving Message

Thursday of this week is the one day of the year called Thanksgiving Day. It is when people should give thanks to Jehovah God for all His blessings. However, more often than not, it turns into a day when people eat too much and watch television. We believe everyday should be a day to give thanks to our God. The most important blessing to thank God for is sending His Son Jesus Christ to earth to fulfill His plan of salvation for all people! Bless His Holy Name! 

Hebrews 8 is entitled "A Better Covenant," verses 6,7 says, "But now He {Jesus} has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second."

The above verses indicate there was a problem with the Old Blood Covenant that God established on Mt. Sinai when He gave His Law to Moses for the Israelites. What was the Problem? God's people were never able to keep all His Law because of the "Sin Nature" received by all people in the Garden Of Eden.

Our Loving, Caring, Merciful God Had A Remedy. He Sent Jesus To Earth! Jesus responded to Jehovah God in Hebrews 10:9,10 saying, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God. He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Jesus came to earth to die for us carrying all our sins on a cross with Him. Isaiah 53:5,6 says, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord And Savior, all their sins are forgiven and they receive salvation and eternal life. Every day, not just one day a year, we should all thank and praise Jehovah God for His plan of redemption by sending Jesus to earth!

If you now realize it is time to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord And Savior, please pray this pray with me: 

Jesus, I know I am a sinner

Please forgive me of all my sins

I believe Jesus is The Son Of God

I confess Jesus died for me and God raised Him from the dead

Jesus, come and live in my heart as my Lord And Savior, Amen

Angels in Heaven are now rejoicing!

Blessed Thanksgiving,

Frank       

I Will Triumph In The Works Of Your Hands

Psalm 92:1-4 says, "It is good to give thanks to The Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, on an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound. For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands."

When Jehovah God established the Abraham Covenant He said "Israel will be a blessing to the world." This has been a reality throughout Israel's 72 years of existence. Israel sent experienced firefighters to help contain the forest fires in California. They commonly are the first on the sight of tragedies to provide care and expertise.

How does the world react? Overall, not well. In 2019, there were 2,107 anti-Semitic incidents in the United States, the highest number in 40 years. Also, in 2019 Germany had 2,032 anti-Semitic incidents; Great Britain had 1,805 and in France incidents increased 74% in 2018.

This raises a very important question - How do the Jewish people handle their harsh treatments in many parts of the world? Remember God called the Israelites to be "A Blessing To The World." Rabbi Jeremy Gimpel says, "Everything that happens is from God and ultimately for good, even if we do not understand it at the time. When a crisis hits, we know there is a purpose in the hardship. We look at a tragedy and know there is light hidden somewhere inside. In the face of heartbreak, we unlock what it means to be a Jew, to stand for compassion, love and truth. We Are Meant To Be A Light Unto The Nations." 

A special and encouraging  example of what it means to be a Jew is the story of Dov Kalmanovich. Dov was on his way home when a Palestinian lobbed a Molotov cocktail through the windshield of his car. By the time the flames were extinguished, 75% of his body was burned. Dov responded, "I decided to survive and not just to live but to live in order to serve." He became the deputy mayor of Jerusalem and often stands at the bedside of terror victims as a living testimony that evil does not have the last word. 

Psalm 92 encourages us to "Give Thanks To The Lord And Sing Praises To His Name." We believe this applies to all situations! In conclusion, let us always remember to "Triumph In The Works Of God's Hands."

May Our Dear Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day,

Frank          

Remember What God Has Done

Psalm 66:1-3 says, "Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, 'How awesome are Your works!'" The first part of verse three says we should say to God "How Awesome Are Your Works!" This will be the focus of our message particularly looking at the founding of Israel as a state.

As a cross reference to Psalm 66:3, sections of Isaiah 66 describe the miracle of the establishment of the State of Israel. Isaiah 66:8 says, "Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once?" Israel was declared a nation in one day! This was a supernatural miracle of Almighty God! Verse 8 even says, "Who has heard such a thing?"

How did this miracle take place and why is it so important? Jonathan Cahn, Messianic Rabbi and author in his recent book entitled The Book Of Mysteries said, "Their existence defies the laws of this world. They should, by all reckoning, not exist. In ancient times they lived among the Babylonians, the Hittites and the Amorites. But the Babylonians have vanished, the Hittites are gone and the Amorites are no more . . . But the Jewish people have not vanished but endured . . . They are the eternal nation . . . The Eternal, The hand of God, without it they would have ceased to exist years ago."

The establishment of the State of Israel for a specific assignment from God is explained in Genesis 12:2,3. Jehovah God is speaking to Abraham about his descendants, "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 

All Of This Miracle Has Come To Fruition! 

How important is this to God? Very important! This same message is repeated 21 times in the Book of Genesis! Let us say continually to Jehovah God - How Awesome Are Your Works!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Loving Care,

Frank  

The Glory Of The Lord

Psalm 72:8,9,11 says, "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him . . . Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him."

As we study the above verses from Psalm 72, we notice they refer to all people and all kings bowing before Jehovah God. Some might think this is a future event, however, our message will show this has happened in the past and will happen in the future. People Bow Down When They Experience The Glory Of God!

When the Israelites traveled in the wilderness they arrived at Mt. Sinai. Jehovah God called Moses to be in His presence on top of the mountain for forty days and forty nights to receive the Ten Commandants and the whole Law Of God. Exodus 34:29-30 says, "Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai {and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses' hand when he came down from the mountain}, that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone when he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone and they were afraid to come near him." 

Moses Experienced The Glory Of God!

Presently, when a person receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live within their heart. This means they have the presence of God with them at all times. Additionally, there are times in a Worship service or a prayer meeting when the supernatural presence of God appears and people fall or bow down, cry or prophesy. 

They Are Experiencing The Glory Of God!

In conclusion, we look to the future. Revelation 19:4,6 says, "And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, 'Amen! Alleluia!' . . . And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings saying, 'Alleluia! for The Lord God Omnipotent Reigns!'" All saved people will spend eternity in Heaven worshipping God falling down before Him with the twenty-four elders. 

Forever, We Will Be Experiencing The Glory Of God! 

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

Frank

Why Do The Nations Rage?

Psalm 2:1 says, "Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?" We certainly live in a time when the nations are raging! Why is this happening and why is it happening now? This will be the theme for this message taken from Psalms 2 and 83.

Most Bible Scholars agree we are living in the End Times. 2Timothy 3:1-4 says, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." We should not be surprised, these are End Times Prophetic Events taking place!

Psalms 2 and 83 illustrate that God's people will be the focus of persecution. Psalm 2:2-3 says, "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against The Lord and against His anointed, saying 'let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.'" Psalm 83:2-4 says, "For behold, your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate you have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against your sheltered ones. They have said, 'come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.'"

Now For The Good News - God Is Still On His Throne And Is In Control And Will Bring Victory To All His People! Notice how God reacts to the nations raging in Psalm 2:4-5, "He who sits in the Heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision, then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure." Jehovah God laughs and brings the enemies of His people into distress! God Is In Control!

Psalm 83:15-18 shows how God reacts to the prayers of His people. He will "pursue their enemies, frighten them, fill their faces with shame, confound them, dismay them and cause them to perish." God Is In Control!

Yes, these are difficult and challenging times. However, God's people should not  be alarmed or dismayed. Psalms 2 and 83 Illustrate God Is In Control And Will Take Care Of His People. Bless His Holy Name!

May The Lord Bless And Keep You In His Care Today And Everyday,

Frank      

God Is Our Refuge And Strength

Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Everyone needs a fortress or a place of refuge when the storms of life come knocking at our doors. Martin Luther, who initiated the Reformation in the church, authored a worshiping hymn entitled "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." What is a fortress or a refuge? It could best be described as a stronghold or a shelter inside a wall to keep out the enemy.

Psalm 46:1 also says God is "A Very Present Help In Trouble." His help most frequently is a spiritual presence that defeats our enemies. However, at times it is a physical presence when God sends angels for our defense. We will look at a few examples of how God was a "Refuge and Strength" for the Israelites in the past, present and will be in the future. 

Shortly after the Israelites were released by Pharaoh out of Egypt, they came to the Red Sea. Realizing they could not cross the Red Sea, they also noticed the Egyptian Army was approaching them from the rear. Moses said, "Do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of The Lord." God then said to Moses, "Lift up your rod" and  God divided the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross to the other side. 

God Was Their Refuge And Strength, A Present Help In Trouble!

Let us now look at present day Israel who is surrounded by enemies. A terror group Hezbollah is located in Lebanon north of Israel, another terror group Hamas is to the south and the Palestinian Liberation Organization is located in Ramallah near Hebron. All have the same focus of destroying Israel. However, since Israel was founded in 1948, they have never lost a war! The Israel military forces reports enemy missiles headed for Tel Aviv are miraculously  diverted off their course. 

God Is Their Refuge And Strength, A Present Help In Trouble! 

Let us now look at the future of Israel. At the end of the Tribulation Period, the Anti-Christ will assemble the largest army in history to destroy Israel. However, Jesus Christ physically appears in the skies on a white horse and strikes down these armies with a sharp sword coming out of His mouth. 

God Is Their Refuge And Strength, A Present Help In Trouble!

Psalm 46 closes in verse 11 that says, "The Lord of Hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge." Psalm 46 is not only for Israel but also for all who call on The Name Of Jesus As Lord And Savior!

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

Frank 

Praise For Dramatic Deliverance

For  Zion's Sake Ministry is approaching the completion of eight years of sharing Jehovah God's message each week of love and support for Israel and that His Son Jesus Christ Is The Only True Savior Of The World. We are blessed and humbled to report that 40,240 people have received these messages in 20 countries. For Zion's Ministry functions on the basis of four scriptures: John 3:16, Genesis 12:3, Psalm 122:6 and Isaiah 62:1,6. Bless His Holy Name!

With the start of our ninth year of messages, we are beginning a new season based on the Book Of Psalms. What are the Psalms? The Book of Psalms is actually a Book of Worshiping God and Praising Him for who He is, what He has done and what He will do. When the Jewish people gather in their Synagogues, homes or at the Western Wall, they frequently are singing or reciting Psalms. Sometime this worship is accompanied by stringed instruments. This is why Psalms is called Sepher Tehilim, The Book Of Praises.

We will start this new season of messages by studying Psalm 30 that is referred to as "Praise For Dramatic Deliverance." Psalm 30:1-3 says, "I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You have healed me, O Lord, You have brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit." The first five words of the Psalm show proper honor and respect for our God. Whether we come before God to Worship Him, pray or ask for forgiveness, we should always show proper respect for who He is - King Of Kings and Lord Of Lords!

It is believed that Psalm 30 was written by King David and the remainder of verses one to three are remembering how God delivered the Israelites from the oppression of slavery in Egypt. Notice the following expression of thanks and praise to God:

You Lifted Me Up

My Foes Are Defeated

You Healed Me

You Protected My Soul

You Kept Me Alive

This Psalm ends by illustrating in verse 11 that Jehovah God "Turned mourning into dancing." No matter what trial or tribulation we might face in this world, God is always with us every step of the way and will deliver us and bring us to a better place! Hallelujah!

We also can learn from this Psalm that it started Praising God and ended Praising God - "O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever."

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Peace,

Frank