“Son of Hamas” (2010) is the story of Mossab Hassan Yousef, son of a founding leader of Hamas. Mossab experienced his father’s humanity, witnessed Hamas’ duplicity torturing its own in Israeli prisons, was recruited as a spy for the Israeli Shin Bet for about ten years, then was converted to Christ. He wrote, “As long as we continue to search for enemies anywhere but inside ourselves, there will always be a Middle East problem.” “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
Promises
Enemy Shall Come In Like A Flood
“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19 KJV). This is a promise of the LORD’s clear, unrelenting, and overpowering response to any action of the enemy, which is presently or about to inundate us; but, on the sole condition, we cry out to Yahweh with absolute certainty that He alone can and will prevent or neutralize the opposition to our advantage.
Shall Not Lack Any Good Thing
“O fear the LORD, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want [lack] any good thing” (Psalm 34:9-10 KJV). God promises no lack of supply to those who fear or reverently trust Him. Saints describes the holy lifestyle of those supplied because they are seekers of the LORD. Compared to the hunger of young lions, His saints will be better cared for. Throughout the history of the godly, we do not know how God will keep His promises, but we know He will! Are we afraid of embarrassing God by asking Him to keep His Word? Or, are we more afraid of embarrassing ourselves? Again, it is God’s problem to keep His promises, not ours! LORD, increase our faith! Amen and amen.
Freely Give Us All Things
“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 KJV). How can anyone make such a broad claim? Even more, what is to prevent anyone from making an application of this promise that would unsettle especially parents in front of their younger children? This is how we teach ourselves the promises cannot mean what they sound like they mean. Or, do we diminish the value of the promises to make ourselves more comfortable with our religion? Shouldn’t we immediately determine in our heart that God means what He says, and it is His problem or business to use such inflammatory language that would excite the imagination of young children? “But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer [allow] the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14 KJV). LORD, grant us the heart and outlook of children that we may better imagine what you so generously offer to us. Amen and amen.
Children of the Righteous
The children of the righteous are those children which God has given to a Christian parent or parents. “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him” (1Samuel 1:27 KJV). Faith will die out on the planet in one generation, if we fail to raise our children in the “nurture and admonition of the LORD” (Ephesians 6:4 KJV). God gave children to the parents, not the state or church. Just ask the parents of Moses. The awesome duty of Christian parenting is more than providing food, clothing, shelter, education, and socialization. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1Timothy 5:8 KJV). Our children’s impression of who God is comes from how they see us act, not just our talk. I am still amazed at what I hear my children say all these years later. They were listening more than I thought! Would you do things differently? Of course you would! But, our Heavenly Father has especially given us His promise that our children will meet us in Heaven. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV). Do we believe it? Remember, Christian parent, you are not responsible to God for how He keeps His part of this promise. Do all you know how to do on your part, and leave the fulfilling to the God of the Impossible!
Blessing of the LORD Makes a Person Rich
“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22 KJV). Is God promising to make all His children financially rich? Certainly any disciple who is enriched must account for it from our Father’s blessing. Are we to limit this promise to financial blessings only? No, for we would be preventing God from granting us spiritual blessings, which far exceed the luster of money. If Yahweh has given you the faith to claim this promise to meet a financial need in your life, then “according to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29 KJV). Be sure to claim all the promise: “and He addeth no sorrow with it” (10:22). I take that to mean it is a blessing that brings joy with it. What a blessing to receive spiritual or financial blessing with the joy of the LORD!
Aging of America
The aging of America will become more predominant in our thoughts, as the birth rate of most nations shrinks — except India and the Third World. Who is looking after the world? Who’s going to take care of all the elderly? Whose idea was it to populate the earth? “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28 KJV). I still remember — almost a half century ago — the disdain of my state college professor towards that Scripture reference, when a vast auditorium went dark, and he displayed Genesis 1:28 to a large audience with sound, music, and an overwhelming pictorial montage of industrial pollution, overpopulation, urban sprawl, garbage, crime-ridden neighborhoods — the festering sores of humanity. Jesus answered the question of who would take care of everyone — God would. Humans must cooperate with God, but the buck stops at His desk to make everything work. “25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:25, 33-34 KJV). For our aging disciples, the LORD promises, “And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar [gray] hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you” (Isaiah 46:4 KJV). Hope lives where God reigns!
Why Doesn’t Everyone Finish?
Why doesn’t everyone finish their Pilgrim’s Progress journey to the Celestial City? “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14 KJV). A common saying in the world, ‘If it were easy, everyone would do it,’ makes a lot of practical sense. How does anyone know they are His chosen few? Peter answers that question. “2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [Greek, agapē, love]. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2Peter 1:2-10 KJV). Maranatha!
Not Our Problem to Figure Out How God Keeps His Promises
It’s not our problem to figure out how God keeps His promises. “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36 KJV). Believing God is more important than trusting ourself. Do we know enough? Have enough faith? Repented enough? Prayed and fasted enough? That’s important and good, but it comes down to Jesus’ question. “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28 KJV). The blind men replied, “Yea, Lord” (9:28). Without any more discussion, “then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened” (9:29-30). Do whatever possible thing God requires of you; but essentially, God is responsible for the impossible, because it glorifies Him the way He deserves. “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23 KJV). Let God be God, who is responsible for the results. Let us not try to be God’s Public Relations, if things don’t work out. We are only responsible for the possible, which our limited thinking can understand. Only believe God! May the God of the Impossible be glorified by our confidence in Him!
I Can Do All Things
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). What exactly does that mean? I can do everything God expects of me because I have the supernatural help of Almighty Christ. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18 KJV). We have the supernatural job of teaching a hell bent world about Christ. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (28:19 KJV). We have the Throne Authority of the Immortal Father, the Sin Conquering Power of the Risen Son, and the ‘You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide’ Targeting Power of the Holy Spirit. That sets our confidence at its highest! Hallelujah!
We Need A Miracle 
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