Hate never feels good directed against yourself. Hatred directed against Jews and Israel is in a category by itself. Islamophobia or indifference to the plight of Gaza feels no different, but for the simple observation that the satan especially hates Israel. “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt” (Hosea 11:1 KJV). This is not secular news analysis, but strictly biblical reasoning. “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes” (Romans 11:28). Satan’s rage against Yahweh is so great, he hates whatever God loves. And, it’s kind of strange, since modern, secular Israel is not the Israel of King David. It is as if the Almighty is allowing Israel’s circumstances to become so dire, they will have to acknowledge Him, again. But, the Christians will also have to come to terms with their understanding of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Daniel 9:27). How will Israel and the world receive the one who delivers world peace, but later requires worship as God on penalty of death (Revelation 13:15)? LORD, teach Your children who to trust and deliver them. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Spiritual Warfare
Power of the Resurrection
Humanity dreams of the potential of harnessing fusion or orbiting solar power plants to power the world, but Christianity yearns for a similar empowerment for the Church. The Father has already provided the foundation for that transformation through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We all know it is easy to die, but to come back from the dead by an act of indomitable will is the sole capacity of God alone. “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10 KJV). What God resurrects is forever. Settle for no substitutes! Unless we receive this miracle from the Almighty, the entire world is hopelessly lost! Unless the Church learns to carefully and prayerfully lean upon the Holy Spirit, we are holding back the LORD from unleashing His Resurrection power and transforming this earth into a Restored Eden. Good news: Resurrection power comes through intimate knowledge with Christ. However, a warning to the Church: Resurrection power also comes with suffering! We look forward to New Heavens and a New Earth, but how can we expect Him to return to reward us, unless our hand is on the plow laboring to build His Kingdom now — with Resurrection power? Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Racing With the Lord
They say you are known by the friends you keep. Jesus said, “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14 KJV). Moses asked the Israelites, “Who is on the LORD’S side?” (Exodus 32:26). If we run with the LORD, then we side against the devil. If we are part of the Body of Christ’s Church, then we are on Christ’s Team against a common adversary, the devil. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). We need carefully to determine our allies or teammates — “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2Corinthians 6:14) — then, make sure they consider us teammates, as well. We need to strive together for the best interests of Christ’s Team. Christian families need their spouses and children to strive together as a team against the devil. Churches need to pull together as a team against the devil, or we will certainly pull ourselves apart. “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Romans 15:30). LORD, when You return for us, may our hand be on the plow working the fields and building Your kingdom. Amen and amen.
My Servant Jōb
We don’t say it, but it’s hard not to feel, it wasn’t fair for Job, a “perfect” man (Job 1:8 KJV) by God’s own estimation, to be subjected to all the pain, suffering, and deprivation he endured at the hands of the satan. But, doesn’t God the Judge determine what is fair? The same kind of thinking was voiced about the blind man in the NT. “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:2-3). The Almighty never apologized to Job and said, ‘I did it to win a bet with the satan.’ After the Almighty responded out of the whirlwind, Job could only say, “Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:3, 6). LORD, may we be as Your servant Job. Amen.
How to Accomplish Something Good
“A Wasted Life” is not what any of us want memorializing us once we’ve departed this life, but our desire for recognition needs to be squarely placed at the feet of our Master. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21,23 KJV). Do you have a pet whose chief desire is your attention and approbation? A wagging tail and a doggie smile when they have been acknowledged? We’re more like that than we realize. Atta boy! Good girl! Not condescending for our pets, but we’re loved better by our Master than we treat our favored, time absorbing balls of fur. May we elevate our understanding of our relationship to the LORD, when He holds communion with us and explains to us what he is trying to accomplish with our existence. Who wouldn’t love such a Master! LORD, may we give back to You the love You have shown to us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Satan Benefits From Our Ignorance
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10 KJV). Though our adversary the devil desires the glory of the Almighty, he does some of his best work because of our lack of understanding of his diabolical plan of action. Our failure to comprehend his scheme of opposition to God’s design for our life is necessary so we will not fully embrace our true victory in Jesus — that the “power of Christ may rest upon me” (2Corinthians 12:9). The benefits of our ignorance are his, while he delays his final judgment, for he knows limited power can never defeat Omnipotence. He must satisfy himself with putting off as long as possible his final demise. Our goal then is to more fully investigate, understand, and put into action the “power of Christ” (12:9) that rests upon us. That power brings us into complete union with God. LORD, teach us the meaning of the “power of Christ” (12:9) that Your kingdom would come and Your will would be done on earth as it is in Heaven, in Jesus’ name we request it. Amen and amen.
Accentuate the Positive
Traffic slows on the freeway when there is an accident on the opposite side of the median strip — going the other direction! Why? Lookie-Lous [“Hey, look at that accident, Lou!”] even momentarily paying attention to someone else’s problem, cause snarled freeway traffic for a mile. Hard not to do it! News agencies say, “If it bleeds, it leads,” not just the tabloids next to the checkout aisles at the grocery store. The public views stories about sensationalism, and viewers attract advertising dollars readily. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2 KJV). Lofty sentiment, but it takes a True Believer to make it work. Our job is to set the example for the world to follow, not simply to follow the world. If no one listens, then that’s the Holy Spirit’s problem. Only God can work that in anyone. LORD, make us the “light of the world. A city that is set on an hill” (Matthew 5:14) to give Your Spirit the opportunity needed to bring people into a right relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, work that in us and them, we pray. Amen.
Jesus Said It Would Be This Way
When the world is making it hard to ignore all the calamities and tragedies all around us, then we are experiencing more than the everyday difficulties usually befalling us. Jesus did not come to bring a message of doom and destruction to the world, but to bring us the hope of forgiveness, restoration, and a new life in fellowship with Him. He only warned us about the tribulation we’d experience because we can’t escape this world without it. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 KJV). Jesus overcame, so we, too, would continually be overcoming. ‘Jesus said it would be this way’ is the theme of prophecy, so we should not become distracted by the calamities and quit living the supernatural, overcoming life of disciples of Jesus Christ. Then, God is glorified, and we will do the good we should. In the meantime, Lord Jesus come quickly, and help me to do all the good I can before the Father declares, Time is up, and we go Home. Amen.
Earthquake Rattles Northeast Cities (US)
Not the San Andreas fault of California, but New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington DC were hit with a 4.7-4.8 earthquake on Friday morning April 5, 2024 at 10:30 AM. Little damage or injuries, but the shallowness of the quake (5 km depth) made it easier for everyone to feel the shaking. The epicenter was just NE of Lebanon, NJ. As if the LORD is trying to get the attention of Americans to the grave crisis playing out in Lebanon of the Middle East, where the Israelis just assassinated senior Iranian commanders in Syria, threatening further enlargement of the proxy war Iran is conducting against Israel and the United States in Gaza and US military bases in the Middle East. “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Matthew 24:7 KJV). Remember, fulfillment of prophetic events, such as earthquakes, should calm us that the Father has everything under control. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Asymmetric Warfare
History is full of warring parties whose relative military powers differ significantly. This is asymmetric warfare. David versus Goliath. American colonists versus the British regular forces. The Viet Cong versus the American military. Hamas versus the Israelis. Do the weak actors, rebels, or insurgents always win? No. The underdog Americans won against the British in the American Revolution, but the more industrial Union defeated the more agrarian Confederacy in the American Civil War. Nations rise and fall because of the Unseen Hand of God. “6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel. 7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in My sight, that it obey not My voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them” (Jeremiah 18:6-10 KJV).
We Need A Miracle 
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