“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:23-24 KJV). Who wouldn’t want to go home to heaven? Surely even the wonderfully blessed time we may be experiencing now holds no comparison to heaven. But, the people, family, brothers and sisters in Christ we benefit, who need us, draw us to stay. Most of all, where does the LORD want us, where will benefit Him the most?
Author: Ken
You Are Not The Only One
Unbelief cries out, “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me” (Romans 11:3 NIV). God responds, “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal” (11:4). So, if we are only representative of others like us, we should pray for them because their circumstances are like ours. Intercede and believe for them what God has made plain to pray for ourselves. Don’t hold back requesting for them what you would not want withheld from yourself. God’s kingdom must grow with faith like that!
Love And Hate With God
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity” (Hebrews 1:9 KJV). Love what God loves, and hate what God hates. We get into trouble when we do differently. If we do not consciously make the effort to place our affections on God first, we will balk and recoil, when asked to make a hard decision for God. Pray that God will grant us the willingness to do the right thing, when our hard times come. “He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD” (Psalm 33:5 KJV).
Praying for the Fulfillment of Prophecy
In Scripture, where can we see the necessity of praying for the fulfillment of prophecy? In the Babylonian Captivity, Daniel interceded for Israel to be allowed to return after 70 years (Daniel 9:2-3), just as promised by Jehovah (Jeremiah 29:10). If prophecy will be fulfilled because God promised it, why do we still need to pray? “I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them” (Ezekiel 36:36-37 KJV). In spiritual warfare, prayer is commanded, but it most importantly draws us to God, as well as extends His supernatural influence in this world. May Thy kingdom come, and Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.
A Reasonable God
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18 KJV). We are relieved to hear God announce His willingness to reason with us. If He was more harshly inclined, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy this opportunity to seek His better side. Just as gravity pulls our bodies down, our selfish actions push us away from God. Thank God, Jesus invited us, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 KJV).
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Jesus was very emotional about the Jews rejection of Himself. He considered them His, not because of their choice, but His choice. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not” (Matthew 23:37 KJV). Jesus also knew what Paul knew. “He is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Romans 2:29 KJV).
Antisemitism Is Not New
Antisemitism is hatred of the Jewish people, but even Jehovah hates His people, when they become arrogant and sin. “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward [or, perverse] mouth, do I hate” (Proverbs 8:13 KJV). Satan especially hates the nation of Israel because God set His love upon Israel to bless them as a people representing Himself to the nations. “I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them [Israel] to jealousy” (Romans 11:11 KJV).
Significance of Israel-Hamas Conflict (2023)
What is Israel’s importance, in light of the Israel-Hamas Conflict (2023)? Israel must somehow exist in the prophetic future. For Jehovah, Israel is the “apple of His eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10), not because they are stubborn, rebellious, or murdered His Son the Messiah; but simply because, He sovereignly chose them. Israel is the prophetic clock for gauging upcoming End Time events. Israel must continue to be a nation (1948) with a yet to be rebuilt Jerusalem Temple for Antichrist to desecrate with the “abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15 KJV). But, Israel will be converted from their rabid unbelief by the End of the Tribulation Week. Quite a miracle! “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8 KJV).
What About the Innocents?
In any conflict, innocent civilians become casualties. Terrorists hide behind the innocent to gain their goals and demonize their enemies, when civilians are harmed. Who are the innocents? If governments do not prioritize the protection of the innocent in their battle against terrorism, then they lose the support of those protecting the innocent. When either side focuses solely upon the utter destruction of the other, then the innocent inescapably become casualties. Again, who do either side — or, the world — deem to be the innocent? If both sides are unrelenting, then the question remains, What price is God willing to pay? “Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah [probably, er-Ram, three miles north of Jerusalem], lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel [Rachel] weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not” (Jeremiah 31:15, Matthew 2:18 KJV).
Diagnosing the Promises
“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 KJV). A promise like this means, surely the problem is with you, when it doesn’t work. When we view our circumstances solely from our perspective and not supernaturally, then we rob God of the opportunity to change us into His solution. The answer has always been staring us in the face. We simply have not given God the opportunity to be God. God has long been patient. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10 KJV).
We Need A Miracle 
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